Treasures of Two Capitals

Day 1: Arrive to Moscow

Day 2: The Red Square and the Kremlin

Today, your guide will meet you at the hotel lobby and you will go on one of the most interesting tours in the world as we explore Moscow's most amazing sites. We will visit the famous Red Square and go inside St. Basil’s Cathedral, which was built by Ivan the Terrible in the 15th century. We will take you on a thorough tour of Russian history as we visit the Kremlin and the World War II Memorial in the Vorobyevi Hills Park. You will also have the opportunity to see the spectacular Cathedral of Christ the Savior, which was destroyed by the communists and restored only a few years ago. This tour will last about eight hours.

The Kremlin of Moscow is perhaps the most recognizable symbol of Russia and one of the world's most interesting castles. This ancient citadel was constructed in 1147 to defend the city from the Mongols and the Lithuanians. Moscow has grown beyond the original walls in that time, but the Kremlin has always remained a symbol of political power in Russia.

St. Basil's Cathedral is one of the most famous works of architecture in Moscow and its silhouette is one of the most recognizable symbols of Moscow and Russia. This colorful cathedral, also known as the Cathedral of Basil the Blessed, was built between 1555 and 1561.

The duration of the tour program for this day is 8 hours.

Optional evening activity: ballet or opera at the Bolshoi Theater. Please ask your tour specialist about the playbill and tickets.

Day 3: Moscow - St. Petersburg

One of the most interesting sights of Moscow is located deep underneath the surface. On Stalin’s order, Moscow’s Subway was built by the Soviets in order to display the advantages of socialism. Today, the Soviet Union is gone, but the beautiful, gigantic, underground city is still active and carries millions of passengers each day. We will even take you on a quick subway ride for a taste of Moscow living. Then we will head to the best art gallery in the city called Tretyakov Picture Gallery. In the evening you will board an overnight train that will take you to Russia's second capital - St. Petersburg.

Moscow Subway was constructed by the Soviets not just to streamline the city's transportation, but also to celebrate the accomplishments of the Soviet system. The entire subway is a work of art - socialist realism for the most part. On top of immense cultural value, Moscow's subway is a super efficient transportation system that carries 3 million passengers daily and spans the entire city in a star-like fashion. Interestingly, the Subway of Moscow was also designed to play the role of a nuclear shelter in case of a nuclear war.

Tretyakov Picture Gallery is Moscow's most famous collection of art and one of the world's top art galleries. The gallery started as the private collection of a wealthy Moscow merchant, Tretyakov, who lived in the 19th century and donated his collection to the city.

This evening, you will depart from Moscow and proceed to St. Petersburg. Economy air or first class train tickets are included in the price of your tour and so are the transfers to the airport or train stations. If you take a flight, you will be spending an extra night in St. Petersburg, but, if you take a train, you will experience the famous Russian trains.

NOTE: LATE CHECKOUT IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE PRICE OF THE PACKAGE. YOU WILL BE EXPECTED TO CHECK OUT IN THE MORNING. YOU WILL BE ABLE TO LEAVE YOUR BAGS AT THE HOTEL, OR YOU CAN REQUEST A LATE CHECK OUT. TO ARRANGE LATE CHECK OUT IN ADVANCE, PLEASE ASK YOUR TOUR SPECIALIST.

Day 4: St. Petersburg City Tour

Welcome to St. Petersburg - Russia’s northern capital. St. Petersburg was initially the capital of Russia for 200 years, until the Russian Revolution of 1917, and is still Russia's most beautiful and amazing city. With the canals of Venice, the palaces of Paris, and the Churches of Byzantium and Rome, you will not be disappointed by its beauty and culture. You will have some of the best guides in St. Petersburg in order to make the most of your visit to the spectacular St. Petersburg -- one of the top 10 travel destinations on the planet.

We have planned a panoramic tour of the city with stops at Peter and Paul Fortress, Church of our Savior on Spilled Blood and St. Isaac's Cathedral. The tour will last four hours so the rest of the afternoon is yours to rest or to explore the city independently.

Peter and Paul Fortress was designed to defend the city from naval attacks, but was used, instead, as a political prison for the dissidents during the tsarist regime and as a museum during the soviet era. After the soviets, the fortress became the tomb for the Russian imperial family.

The Church of the Savior on Spilled Blood was built to commemorate one of Russia's greatest emperors. Alexander II is most famous for liberating the Russian serfs, just two years before the abolition of slavery in the U.S. After he was assassinated in the middle of the street, a memorial, the Church of Our Savior on Spilled Blood, was erected on the very spot where he was killed.

St Isaac's Cathedral is one of the most impressive cathedrals in Europe. Because it is rich in decorations and artifacts and its gigantic golden cupolas are an excellent observation deck that overlook the entire city, it is one of the most popular tourist sights in St. Petersburg.

PLEASE NOTE: EARLY CHECK IN IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE PRICE.

Optional evening program: St. Petersburg boasts some of the best theaters in the world. Ask your tour specialist about the playbill and tickets. Or, learn more about the venues in ourGuide to St. Petersburg Theaters

Day 5: The Winter Palace and the Hermitage

This day is reserved for the infamous Hermitage Museum, which is to St. Petersburg what the Kremlin is to Moscow. The Hermitage is considered one of the top museums in the world. It is located in the Winter Palace of the Russian tsars, in the very heart of St. Petersburg. The Hermitage began as a private collection of Catherine the Great. When the Winter Palace was overtaken by the Bolsheviks in 1917, they did not dare destroy the art concentrated in it and, instead, transformed it into a museum. It would take about 3 years to see every exhibit in the Hermitage, but you will have an experienced guide show you the best of the Hermitage in five hours.

They say that if you were to spend three minutes by each of the exhibits in the Hermitage, it would take you three years to see all the works. But not to worry, you will have an experienced guide who will show you the best rooms and halls in just four hours. When the guided tour ends, you can continue exploring the palace on your own.

OPTIONAL TOUR OF THE DIAMOND ROOM (JEWELRY COLLECTION OF RUSSIAN EMPERORS): $105 PER PERSON.

Recommended activity for this afternoon: boat ride on St. Petersburg canals. Ask your guide where you can board the boat.

Day 6: Peterhof or Catherine's Palace

This day is reserved for the trip outside of the city to Peterhof or to the Catherine's Palace. During summer, Russian emperors stayed outside of the city where they built numerous summer palaces. Two of the most prominent palaces are Catherine's Palace and Peterhof. The two are located on the opposite ends of the city, each an hour away from the city center. Because of this you will have the option to visit either one of them.

Peterhof is a royal residence on the outskirts of the city of St. Petersburg. It is most famous for its fountain park, which rivals that of Versailles. Peterhof was the official summer residence of Russian tsars and is home to the Summer Palace. Duration of today's tour is 6 hours.

Lunch in Peterhof's cafe is included in the program.

Tip: It takes about one hour to get to Peterhof by car. A boat ride is an alternative option that is available during summer (price $35 per traveler).

Alternative option for day 6

Catherine's Palace was a gift from Peter the Great to his wife, Catherine, whom he loved very much. Catherine's Palace is located in the town of Pushkin (also known as Tsarskoe Selo) and is most famous for its Amber Room, which was looted during World War II by the Germans during their 300 day siege of St. Petersburg. The legendary room was only recently reconstructed.

The program includes lunch in Podvorye restaurant, which resembles traditional Russian houses and serves delicious authentic Russian cuisine, accompanied by folk performances. In the afternoon we will visit Paul’s Palace nearby.

Day 7: Departure

This is the last day of your tour. Your driver will take you to the airport. You will be leaving for home fascinated with Russia and her two beautiful capitals - Moscow and St Petersburg. And we hope you will want to come back to this very special country again some day.