St.Petersburg Rail Tour

Day 1: Arrival in St. Petersburg.Transfer to the hotel Spare time in the city.

Day 2: City tour. Drive along the Neva Embankment and Nevsky Avenue, passing the Bronze Horseman, the Academy of Arts, St. Petersburg State University and the Field of Mars, around the Theatre Square (Mariinsky “Kirov” Opera and Ballet House), Ostrovsky Square (Alexander Theatre) and the Square of Arts (Michael Theatre and Russian Museum). Photo-stops on the Spit of Basil Island, in St. Isaac’s Square, by the battle-ship “Aurora”, near the Smolny Institute and St Nickolas Naval Cathedral.
St. Peter and Paul Fortress – the birthplace of St, Petersburg. A walk around the grounds, a visit to St. Peter and Paul Cathedral – the burial place of Russian Tsars and Tsarinas. A visit to a former imperial political prison is also available, if desired. Return to the hotel (if desired).Spare time in the city.

Day 3: State Hermitage Museum – one of the best art collections in the world. The Gala-rooms of the Winter Palace, the Italian Renaissance, Dutch, Flemish and Spanish old masters (Rembrandt, Rubens, Van Dyke, El Greco etc), and the French Impressionists collection.Palace Square – the main square of the city. The wonderful view of the Winter Palace. The Alexander Column – the monument to the victory of Russia over Napoleon. The General Staff building with the Chariot of Glory over its arch. Return to the hotel (if desired).Spare time in the city.

Day 4: “Peterhof” – the former summer residence of Russian Emperors, famous for its magnificent fountains. Visit to the Grand palace and Lower Garden. Return to the city. Return to the hotel (if desired).Spare time in the city.

Day 5: Spare time in the city.

Day 6: Yusupov Palace. It used to belong to one of the wealthiest and most powerful noble families of Russia – the Yusupovs – before the October Revolution in 1917. Visit to the grand halls, private rooms, the exhibition rooms dedicated to the murder of Gregory Rasputin – one of the darkest and most mysterious figures of the first half of the XX century. The palace is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site.Church of the Savior on Spilled Blood. The interior of the church is completely covered with mosaics. It was built as a memorial to the Russian Emperor Alexander II on the very spot where he was mortally wounded by a terrorist. St. Isaac’s Cathedral – the fourth tallest cupola construction in the world, and formerly the main Russian Orthodox church of the country.Spare time in the city.

Day 7: Imperial summer residence“Tsar Village”. Visit to the Catherine Palace known worldwide for its unique Ember room. A walk around the park. Spare time in the city.

Day 8: Check-out of the hotel.Airport/railway station transfer.