In-depth St. Petersburg Tour6 Days | St. Petersburg, Peterhof, Kronstadt, Pushkin

In-depth St. Petersburg Tour

Discover more of St. Petersburg with our extended 6-day tour. Absorb the city’s elegant European style and get a fascinating insight into Russian history as you visit palaces, churches, and other historical and cultural sights. Highlights of this in-depth St. Petersburg tour include exploring the vast art collections of the world-renowned State Hermitage Museum; venturing beyond the city to the Peterhof Palace’s stunning gardens and fountains, the splendid Catherine Palace, and the old centre of maritime trade and defence at Kronstadt; and free time for optional excursions such as boat cruises, ballet performances, and visits to many other interesting museums and palaces.

Tour itinerary:

Day 1: St. Petersburg – Arrival
 
Arrive in St. Petersburg, meet your driver, and transfer to the hotel (check in is possible from 14:00). Free time. Overnight at the hotel.
Day 2: St. Petersburg
 
Breakfast, followed by a guided tour of St. Petersburg. The tour starts at Nevsky Prospekt, the city’s central artery and the main place for Petersburgers to meet each other and take walks. As you follow this famous thoroughfare, you’ll come across numerous historical attractions including the Anichkov Bridge over the Fontanka River (one of the symbols of the city), Catherine’s Garden, Gostiny Dvor, Griboedov Canal, the Admiralty, the Field of Mars, Palace Square (the location of the stunning Winter Palace), and Senate Square (the site of the “Bronze Horseman”, the impressive statue of the city’s founder). Continue to the famous religious monuments of St. Isaac’s Cathedral (the world’s fourth largest Christian church), the colourful Church of the Saviour on Spilled Blood (which is decorated with beautiful Byzantine mosaics), and Kazan Cathedral (the city’s main church, where the main icon of the Kazan Mother of God is kept). Explore the Holy Trinity Alexander Nevsky Lavra, the city’s first and largest monastery, before walking past the legendary revolutionary naval cruiser, Aurora, which played a key role in the 1917 Bolshevik Revolution. End the day with a tour of the Peter and Paul Fortress, a fascinating monument of military history and architecture. In addition to the St. Peter and Paul Cathedral, where all Russian emperors are buried, see the Triumphal Gate of the fortress, the Petrovsky Gate, the fortress bastions that became Russia’s political prison in the 19th century, the Mint, and the Commandant’s pier. Return to the city. Overnight at the hotel.
Duration of sightseeing tour: 6-7 hours
Day 3: St. Petersburg – Peterhof – Kronstadt – St. Petersburg
 
After breakfast, drive out of the city to Peterhof (40 km), learning about the history of the old Peterhof road on the way. Visit the Great Peterhof Palace, the former summer imperial residence and the centre of social life in the 18th century. Admire the stunning gardens and fountains and see many of the more than 1,500 rare exhibits of furniture, paintings, fabric, and porcelain. Continue to the old port city of Kronstadt (33 km) on the island of Kotlin, via the tunnel under the Sea Canal that connects the mainland to the island. Explore this former centre of maritime trade and defence, including the defensive and hydraulic structures, the monument to Admiral Makarov, the Petrovsky Marina, the Italian Palace, and the Arsenal building. End the tour of Kotlin Island with a visit to the Naval Cathedral, the main church of the Russian Navy and a monument to the country’s dead sailors. Return to St. Petersburg. Overnight at the hotel.
Duration of sightseeing tour: 6-7 hours
Day 4: St. Petersburg
 
Start your day at the Yusupov Palace (closed on Thursdays), which holds an important place in Russian history as the location of Rasputin’s assassination. Highlights include grand halls, the family’s living quarters, an exhibition on the assassination, and the tranquil palace gardens. Continue to the State Hermitage Museum, one of the world’s largest and most impressive art museums, which is set within the stunning Winter Palace. Take a guided tour of the museum’s most impressive exhibits, including Western European paintings and sculptures, primitive art from the Caucasus, and Egyptian and Classical antiquities. Free time to continue exploring the Museum or rest of the city on your own or to do an optional activity (see below). Overnight at the hotel.
Duration of sightseeing tour: 5-6 hours
Day 5: St. Petersburg – Pushkin – St. Petersburg
 
After breakfast, drive to Pushkin (Tsarskoye Selo) (30 km) to visit the Catherine Palace, one of the Romanov dynasty’s most splendid country residences. Start with a stroll through the Catherine Garden, which consists of two zones: the Old Garden and the English Landscape Park. The highlight of the visit is the restored Amber Room, a 100 square metre hall decorated with amber panels. This room, which some people have called the “eighth wonder of the world”, was gifted by the Prussian King Frederick to Peter the Great’s summer residence in 1716. The Amber Room’s original décor was unfortunately lost during World War II. However, it was recreated in 2003 to celebrate the 300th anniversary of St. Petersburg. Return to the city. Free time. Overnight at the hotel.
Duration of sightseeing tour: 5-6 hours

During your free time in St. Petersburg, we offer the following optional excursions and activities (at additional cost):
State Russian Museum (Mikhailovsky Palace)
Mikhailovsky Castle
Menshikov Palace
Pavlovsky Palace
Peter the Great Museum of Anthropology and Ethnography (Kunstkamera)
Peter the Great’s Cabin
Grand Model of Russia (a vast indoor scale model depicting Russia’s scenery, buildings, and everyday life)
Petrovskaya Aqvatoria Museum-Model of St. Petersburg and Suburbs of the 18th century
Boat tour along the rivers and canals
Night city tour, which includes watching bridges open Tickets to performances at the Mariinsky Theatre.

Day 6: St. Petersburg – Departure
 
Breakfast. Check-out of the hotel (by 12:00). Free time until your transfer to St. Petersburg International Airport. Departure. End of the tour.
  • All transfers (1-2 pax by sedan type car, 3-7 pax by minivan, 8-13 pax by 30 seat bus, 14+ pax by 40-50 seat bus);
  • Accommodation based on double/twin room sharing, breakfasts included;
  • Sightseeing tour programme in each city with local, English-speaking guides;
  • Entrance tickets to sights as per itinerary;
  • Visa support for Russian tourist visa;
  • In groups of 11 or more travellers, 1 person travels free of charge and is accommodated in a single room.
  • Tour leader to accompany the travellers for the whole period of the tour;
  • Full board (lunches and dinners);
  • Hotel charges for additional services;
  • Consular fees for Russia tourist visa;
  • Tips/gratuities for guides and drivers (although these would be appreciated);
  • International flight tickets before and after the tour;
  • Personal travel insurance.

 

Accommodation:

Economy Option
Comfort Option
St. Petersburg - 5 nights
Ibis St. Petersburg Centre, Station Hotel L1, Hotel Bristol, Mini-hotel CentreSolo Sokos Hotel Vasilievsky, Original Sokos Olympia Garden, Vedensky Hotel, Park Inn by Radisson Nevsky