Moscow, St. Petersburg, and the Golden Ring Tour10 Days | Moscow, Vladimir, Murom, Suzdal, St. Petersburg, Peterhof, Pushkin, Pavlovsk

Arrive in Moscow, meet your driver, and transfer to the hotel (check in is possible from 14:00). Free time. Overnight at the hotel.

After breakfast, take a guided tour of Russia’s capital city, Moscow. Like Rome, this is a city on seven hills. Your tour of the metropolis starts at Vorobyovy Gory (Sparrow Hills) in the south-west of the city. Elevated 78 metres above the river, these hills are Moscow’s main panoramic viewpoint. They offer excellent views of most of the city’s attractions: the Kremlin, Stalin’s famous “Seven Sisters” skyscrapers (such as the main building of Moscow State University), the modern Moscow City skyscrapers, the Presidium of the Academy of Sciences, Russia’s “White House”, Shukhov Tower, Luzhniki Stadium, and the Ostankino TV Tower. After visiting Vorobyovy Gory, descend to the Memorial Complex on Poklonnaya Gora (Victory Park) to see the Church of St. George the Victorious, the Triumphal Arch, and the major street of Kutuzovsky Prospekt. Then, visit the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour, one of the tallest Orthodox churches in the world. The original cathedral was destroyed in the 1930s by order of Stalin and only rebuilt in the 1990s. The cathedral has a 69-metre-high dome, on the inside of which are beautiful images from the New Testament. Continue the tour at the famed Red Square, walking past St. Basil’s Cathedral, Lenin’s Mausoleum, the famous GUM department store, the monument to Minin and Pozharsky, and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Alexander Garden. The day ends at the impressive Kremlin and its cathedrals (closed on Thursdays). Overnight at the hotel.
Duration of sightseeing tour: 8-9 hours

After breakfast, visit the largest museum complex in Moscow, the Tsaritsyno State Historical, Architectural, Art and Landscape Museum-Reserve (closed on Mondays). Explore the late 18th century Palace Complex, which was the residence of Empress Catherine II near Moscow. The tour includes visits to the permanent exhibition of the Grand Palace and Bread House, as well as exhibitions at the Middle Palace (Opera House) and Small Palace. End the excursion with walks through the historical Tsaritsyno Landscape Park to see the ponds and pavilions and the modern park with its fountain and flower beds. Free time. Overnight at the hotel.
Duration of sightseeing tour: 4-5 hours

During your free time in Moscow, we offer the following optional activities (at additional cost):
Visit to the Armoury in the Kremlin (except Thursdays);
Night city tour: ‘Evening lights of Moscow’;
River cruise on the motor ship ‘Flotilla Radisson Royal’;
Tickets to the Bolshoi Theatre, concerts, the circus, or other performances.

Breakfast, followed by hotel check-out. Transfer to the train station to take the train from Moscow to Vladimir (190 km, 2 hours). Upon arrival, meet your driver and transfer to the hotel. Take a sightseeing tour of Vladimir, part of the “Golden Ring” of ancient towns in northern Russia. The tour encompasses Cathedral Square, the heart of the city; the Golden Gate, the famous triumphal arch that became the historical symbol of the city and the entire Golden Ring; the Assumption and Dmitrievsky Cathedrals, which are beautiful examples of 12th century Russian white stone carved architecture; and the “Old Vladimir” Museum, with its displays on the city’s history and impressive views from its observation deck. Free time. Overnight at the hotel.
Duration of sightseeing tour: 3-4 hours

After breakfast, meet your guide and transfer to Murom (137 km). This city, located on the left bank of the Oka River, is one of Russia’s oldest. Explore the historical part of the city, including the Trinity Convent and the Annunciation Monastery, both of which hold important relics, and the Spaso-Preobrazhensky Monastery, which is one of the oldest in Russia. Continue to Oksky Park to see the Monument to Ilya Muromets and then take a tranquil 1-hour boat cruise to see the panoramic views of the city from the river. Afterwards, visit the “Bread Room” Museum to learn about the history of gingerbread in Russia and take a master class on painting gingerbread. Return to Vladimir. Overnight at the hotel.
Duration of sightseeing tour: 5-6 hours

Breakfast, then transfer to Suzdal (40 km), also part of the famous “Golden Ring” of medieval Russian cities. This UNESCO World Heritage city boasts unique examples of ancient stone architecture: the Suzdal Kremlin, with the Nativity Cathedral (1222), the famous Bishops’ Chambers, and the wooden St. Nicholas Church. You’ll also discover a complex of other Orthodox architectural monuments including the Spaso-Yevfimiev Monastery (where you may get to hear the famous bells ring), the Spaso-Preobrazhensky Cathedral, the Assumption Church, the St. Nicholas Hospital Church, the Church of the Entry into Jerusalem, and the two-colour belfry. End the day with visits to the Pokrovsky Monastery and the Museum of Wooden Architecture. Return to Vladimir. Overnight at the hotel.
Duration of sightseeing tour: 6-7 hours

During your free time in Vladimir, we offer the following optional activities (at additional cost):
Master classes on making patchwork or amulet dolls;
Mead tasting.

After breakfast, check out of the hotel and transfer to the train station. Take the morning train from Vladimir to St. Petersburg (880 km, 6 hours 30 minutes). Upon arrival, meet your driver and transfer to the hotel. In the afternoon, take a guided sightseeing tour of the elegant city 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). Finally, explore the Holy Trinity Alexander Nevsky Lavra, the city’s first and largest monastery. Overnight at the hotel.
Duration of sightseeing tour: 3 hours

After breakfast, visit 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. You’ll also walk past the legendary revolutionary naval cruiser, Aurora, which played a key role in the 1917 Bolshevik Revolution. After lunch, 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. After a walk through the palace’s Lower Park, return to St. Petersburg. Free time. Overnight at the hotel.
Duration of sightseeing tour: 6-7 hours

During your free time in the evening, we offer the following optional activities (at additional cost):
Boat tour along the rivers and canals;
Night city tour, which includes watching bridges open;
Tickets to the Mariinsky Theatre.

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. After a short stop for lunch, visit the Pavlovsk Museum-Reserve, a monument of cultural heritage recognised by UNESCO. The heart of the museum-reserve is the Pavlovsk Palace, a former summer residence that Catherine II had built for her son, Pavel. The palace is famous for its collection of more than 60,000 valuable exhibits and for its park that, with an area of more than 600 hectares, is one of the largest in Europe. Return to St. Petersburg. Free time. Overnight at the hotel.
Duration of sightseeing tour: 8-9 hours
* Closed on Tuesdays and rearranged for another day within the tour program;
** Closed on Fridays and rearranged for another day within the tour program.

Breakfast. Check-out of the hotel by 12:00. Free time until your transfer to St. Petersburg International Airport. Departure. End of the tour.

Economy:
Orion / Vladimir / Russian Village
Comfort:
Park-hotel Voznesenskaya Sloboda / mini-hotel Vladimirsky Dvorik

Economy:
Ibis St. Petersburg Centre / Station Hotel L1 / Hotel Bristol / Mini-hotel Centre
Comfort:
Solo Sokos Hotel Vasilievsky / Original Sokos Olympia Garden / Vedensky Hotel / Park Inn by Radisson Nevsky