Two Capitals

Arrival in St. Petersburg.

On arrival in St. Petersburg you will be met by our friendly representative who will escort you by car or mini bus to your hotel. On the way to the hotel, you will have the opportunity to get your first glimpse of this truly unique and beautiful city. After settling in at the hotel, you can sit down to a short lunch (optional), to prepare you for the city tour.

We get down at major beautiful photo panoramic spots and also with visits inside the Cathedrals.

• The Spit of Vasilevsky (St. Basil’s) Island with stop at the river Neva panorama water front.
• Cabin Of Peter The Great.(First Residential Building in St. Petersburg).
• Peter and Paul Fortress.(First Official Building of St. Petersburg). Visit to the cathedral on the territory of the fortress is optional.
• University Embankment with photo stop to Antique Egyptian Sphinxes.
• Menshikov’s Palace.
• St. Isaac's Cathedral with St. Isaac's Square.
• Church on Spilled Blood.
• Kazan's Cathedral.

In the evening you will have free time to stroll along the city streets and to dine at a restaurant of your choice. If you would like recommendations on good places to eat, just ask us.

Overnight at the Saint-Petersburg hotel.

Breakfast at the hotel.

After breakfast we will head to one of the greatest and largest art museums in the world - the Hermitage. The museum consists of five historical buildings including the Winter Palace - the residence of the Russian Tsars. The museum contains over 3 million pieces of art with dates ranging from high antiquity to the present day. Among the Hermitage´s treasures are artworks by Leonardo da Vinci, Raphael, Titian, Rembrandt, Rubens as well as many others. We will spend 5 hours at the museum, however, to view the collection in its entirety would take almost 15 years, spending 8 hours a day in the museum and taking one minute to examine each exhibit.

the evening, enjoy a ballet or opera performance at the Mariinsky Theater - one of the world´s greatest musical companies (optional). Another option would be to attend one of Russia´s premier folk shows, "Feel yourself Russian!" The show is performed by the best folk company in the city. During the intermission, delicious Russian appetizers will be served. (optional)

Overnight at Saint-Petersburg Hotel.

Breakfast at the hotel.

After breakfast we will visit the Palace and Park of Tsarskoye Selo, a former country residence of the Russian emperors. It is a fascinating monument of the world´s architectural and gardening arts of the XVIII-XIX centuries. Its 3 parks occupy an area of 600 hectares on which are located over 100 architectural monuments: from magnificent palaces and grand monuments to intimate pavilions and park sculptures designed by masters of the Venetian school such as P. Baratta, A. Tarsia and D. Bonazza. The center of Tsarskoye Selo is Catherine Palace, containing exquisite decorative objects, furniture, Russian and Western-European paintings, unique collections of porcelain, amber, arms and decorative bronze sculptures. The Palace also contains the Amber Room - a truly unique work of craftsmanship – a room made entirely of amber. The room was looted by the Nazi’s during WWII but luckily most of its pieces were recovered. The room was fully rebuilt in 2003. Tsarskoye Selo was also the main residence of the last Tsar Nicolas II and his family.

Lunch at the Famous Russian Village Restaurant Podvorie.

En route visit the War Memorial (The monument to second world war/Heroic defenders to Siege of Leningrad)

At midnight you may take a boat ride.

River and Canal Cruise for 2 hours:

• Private boat (cruise) booked only for you. It’s not the common city boat, but a private charter personal boat. No outsiders would be present. (optional)
• Snacks and drinks on board can be arranged as per the guests wish. Dinner can be organized on the boat.
• Look at the beauty of St.Petersburg from a completely different perspective, you would not be able to believe that this was all built a couple of centuries ago. After this tour you will understand why the city is nicknamed as The Venice of the North.

Overnight at Saint-Petersburg Hotel.

Transfer to Moscow.

Lunch at the hotel (or any other place).

Excursion to the Moscow Kremlin and Kremlin Cathedrals. (please note that a visit to the Armory Chamber and the Diamond Fund is not included in the tour price. It can be added upon request for extra payment). The Kremlin is a fascinating structure, at the same time it is an ancient tower, the city´s former military fortification, a palace, an armory, the sovereign treasury and the workplace of the Russian President. The Kremlin is the center of Russia´s political life and State power and has been home to Tsars, General Secretaries of the Soviet Union and Russian Presidents. The Kremlin has always been the spiritual centre of Russia. You will see several ancient cathedrals on its territory the most famous of which are the Assumption Cathedral, the Archangel is Cathedral and the Annunciation Cathedral.

Red Square is just outside the Kremlin´s walls. While walking on Red Square you will admire the Mausoleum of Lenin, the clock on the Savior (Spasskaya) Tower - showing the most correct Moscow time, the History Museum, the beautiful Cathedral of the Intercession (the Church of St Basil the Blessed), Kazansky Cathedral and many other outstanding pieces of Russian architecture.

In the evening, enjoy a ballet or opera performance at the Bolshoi Theater - one of the world´s greatest musical companies (optional).

Overnight at Moscow hotel.

Breakfast at the hotel.

During the tour we will walk around major cultural and historical points in Moscow. We will visit Lubyanka Square – the world-famous KGB centre of the Soviet epoch, and the Teatralnaya Square next to Bolshoi Theatre. Then we will continue our walk through the small central streets and lanes where every building has its own unique and interesting story. Most of them currently represent Russian theatres, hotels, museums or state institutions. We will also visit Tverskaya Street – the main and the busiest street in Moscow – with lots of shops, restaurants and unique combination of old, Stalin and modern architecture. We will then take a stroll along the pedestrian zone near the Red Square.

Visit the following:

• Red Square
• Lenin’s Tomb
• GUM Department Store
• Manezhnaya Square
• Tverskaya Street. Visit YELISEYEVSKY.

Overnight at Moscow.

Our professional guide will escort you on a route that includes Vorobyevi Hills where you will get an incredible view of the city from an observation point, you will proceed to Moscow State University which is an example of architecture from the time of Stalin and one of Russia is leading schools of higher education, then on to Novodevichiy Convent, the Diplomatic Village, Victory Park, the Triumphal Arch, Kutuzovsky Prospect, the Arbat and much more.

Tretyakov Gallery. The exotic boyar castle on a little lane in Zamoskvorechie contains the main branch of the State Tretyakov Gallery, housing the world’s best collection of Russian icons and an outstanding collection of other pre-revolutionary Russian Art.

Buy lunch at Danilovsky Market (optional). Eat at Gorky Park.

Novodevichy Convent and Cemetery built in the 16th and 17th centuries in the so-called Moscow Baroque style, was part of a chain of monastic ensembles that were integrated into the defence system of the city. The convent was directly associated with the political, cultural and religious history of Russia, and closely linked to the Moscow Kremlin. It was used by women of the Tsar’s family and the aristocracy. Members of the Tsar’s family and entourage were also buried in its cemetery. The convent provides an example of the highest accomplishments of Russian The museum`s collection now consist of about 12,000 items, including old Russian paintings, fabrics from the 16th—20th centuries, items from precious metals and stones, liturgical items, and vestments, made by the best artists, jewelers and embroiderers.

St. Sofia’s Embankment, a splendid panoramic view of the Kremlin. (Drive through- Car stopping not allowed).

The Victory park - Biggest Victory park in world. Visit the Museum and Borodino battle scene (Borodino Tickets price not Included in the Price).

Visit to Izmailovsky Market.

Overnight at Moscow hotel.

Breakfast at the hotel.

Tour of the Moscow Metro system and the Old Arbat street. The Moscow Metro is one of the largest and most grandly built metro systems in the world. It was meant to be a showcase of the Soviet Union´s achievements both for the Russians themselves and visitors from abroad. The stations are all uniquely designed with decorative elements including mosaics, statues, marble floors, walls and staircases to name a few. The tour will then proceed to Old Arbat street, one of Moscow is oldest streets. The street has gone from being the headquarters of Ivan the Terrible is secret police, the Oprichina to the center of aristocratic life in Moscow in the 18th century to finally being the center of the Russian intelligentsia and bohemian life in the capital. You will be told of the street´s interesting history and view the street´s artisan culture. You will also have the opportunity to view and purchase souvenirs from the street´s many craftsmen.

Lunch in a local restaurant (optional).

Pushkin State Museum. This is Moscow’s premier foreign-art museum, split over three branches and showing off a broad selection of European works, including masterpieces from ancient civilisations, the Italian Renaissance and the Dutch Golden Age. Artists such as Botticelli, Tiepolo and Veronese are all represented. The highlight is perhaps the Dutch masterpieces from the 17th century, the so-called Golden Age of Dutch art. Rembrandt is the star of the show, with many paintings on display, including his moving Portrait of an Old Woman. The rest of Europe is also well represented from this period.

Cathedral of Christ the Savior. It is one of the largest Orthodox church in the world. The building is magnificent, but not as old as it looks, it was rebuilt in 2000 (the original was demolished by the order of Stalin). One of the highlights of the Cathedral is the panoramic view from the 40-meter-high observation platform.

A walk along Moscow’s boulevards, a historical and cultural centre of Moscow with its museums, theatres and memorial places.

Overnight at Moscow hotel.