Two-day private tour of St. Petersburg
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PRICE
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REQUEST
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This reasonably intensive two-day tour is designed for cruise-ship passengers, but is equally suitable for all travelers who want to see the top sights of the city in 48 hours with a good balance between comfort and maximum activity.
On the first day, guests enjoy an introductory tour of all the major downtown sights by bus, followed by a visit to the artistic treasures of the world-famous State Hermitage Museum. The day is rounded off with a boat trip along St. Petersburg's beautiful central rivers and canals. Day two takes in the glorious Imperial estates to the south of St. Petersburg, with visits to Tsarskoye Selo and Peterhof, both of which vye for the title of the "Russian Versailles". If that's not enough, the tour finishes in time on both days to allow for visits to the ballet or other evening entertainments, which can be booked separately.
Itinerary
Day 1| 9:00am – 12:30pm |
City bus tour
This tour gives your guide the opportunity to introduce you to St. Petersburg, giving an overview of the city's fascinating history and culture, while also showing you the main landmarks of Nevsky Prospekt and the Neva River embankments, including the Winter Palace and St. Isaac's Cathedral. The tour halts for a visit inside the Peter and Paul Fortress, the magnificent island fortress founded by Peter the Great, the highlight of which is the stunning Ss Peter and Paul Cathedral, the final resting place of nearly all the Romanov Tsars and their families.
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| 12:30pm – 1:30pm | Lunch |
| 2:00pm – 4:30pm |
Visit to the State Hermitage Museum
The Hermitage is one of the world's great repositories of art and cultural artifacts, and this tour can only scrape the surface of its vast collections. Nonetheless, it gives visitors the chance to view the spectacularly ornate state rooms of the Winter Palace and the highlights of the collection of Western European art, including masterpieces by Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, Rubens, Rembrandt, Caravaggio and Poussin, to name but a few. You will also get to see what most visitors consider the true highlights of the Hermitage's art collections, the works of the impressionists and post-impressionists in the General Staff Building, including Matisse, Monet, Gaugin and Picasso.
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| 5:00pm – 6:00pm |
Canal tour
This hour-long boat trip along the central rivers and canals of St. Petersburg is a great way to see the city from a different perspective, including the palace-lined embankments of the Moyka and Fontanka Rivers and the famous bascule bridges across the Neva River, as well as new vistas on the Winter Palace and the Peter and Paul Fortress.
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| 3:30pm – 4:30pm |
Return to St. Petersburg with tour of the metro
On the journey back to the city center, the group will take a brief tour of the Saint Petersburg Metro, the deepest underground railway in the world. One of the greatest urban developments of the Soviet era, it is famous for its beautiful marble-clad stations and dizzyingly long escalators.
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| 9:00am – 12:00pm |
Transfer to Tsarskoye Selo (Pushkin) an tour of the Catherine Palace
This visit to the fabulous Imperial estates to the south of St. Petersburg begins with the Catherine Palace at Tsarskoye Selo. Almost as famous as the Winter Palace and designed by the same architect, Francesco Bartolomeo Rastrelli, the Catherine Palace was originally built for Empress Elizabeth then expanded and adapted by Catherine the Great, who used it as her main summer residence. Of particular note is the celebrated Amber Room, an extraordinarily ornate chamber originally gifted to Peter the Great by King Frederick William I of Prussia.
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| 12:00pm – 1:00pm | Transfer to Peterhof |
| 1:00pm – 3:30pm |
Tour of the park at Peterhof
The first of the grand Imperial residences in St. Petersburg's suburbs, Peterhof was founded by Peter the Great and embellished by his descendants to create one of the world's most magnificent residential estates. This brief excursion takes in the highlights of the grand landscaped gardens, including the world-famous fountains, and allows time for lunch in one of the park's cafes.
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| 3:30pm – 4:30pm |
Return to St. Petersburg with tour of the metro
The journey back to the city center includes a brief tour of the Saint Petersburg Metro. One of the greatest urban developments of the Soviet era, it is also the deepest underground railway in the world, and famous for its beautiful marble-clad stations and dizzyingly long escalators.
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NB This itinerary is designed for summer visits (May to October) and may not be available on every day of the week, depending on visitor attraction opening schedules.
Itinerary and route details
Tour start point
By agreement, at client’s hotel, at passenger sea port.
Tour finish point
By agreement, at client’s hotel, at passenger sea port.
Length of tour
9 hours (Day 1) and 7.5 hours (Day 2)
Approximate schedule
| Day 1 | |
| 9:00am – 12:30am | City bus tour |
| 12:30pm – 1:30pm | Lunch |
| 2:00pm – 4:30pm | Visit to the State Hermitage Museum |
| 5:00pm – 6:00pm | Canal tour |
| Day 2 | |
| 9:00am – 12:00pm | Transfer to Tsarskoye Selo (Pushkin) an tour of the Catherine Palace |
| 12:00pm – 1:00pm | Transfer to Peterhof |
| 1:00pm – 3:30pm | Tour of the park at Peterhof |
| 3:30pm – 4:30pm | Return to St. Petersburg with tour of the metro |
Days on which tour is available
Daily in summer (May to October), itinerary may vary depending on the days of the week.
Attractions visited during tour
- Peter and Paul Fortress
- State Hermitage Museum
- Tsarskoye Selo
- Peterhof
- St. Petersburg Metro
Extra options (free)
None
Extra options (paid)
None
Languages tour is available in
English, Spanish, German, French.
Transport
Bus/minibus/car, metro, boat.
Breaks for meals/refreshments
A break for lunch is included in the itinerary. Choice of restaurant or café can be arranged with guide during tour or in advance.
Travelers
Who is the tour for?
Russian citizens, foreign tourists, cruise ship passengers.
Physical intensity of tour and health restrictions
The tour is by bus or car, but does require some walking and long periods of standing in museums. If you have mobility issues or are a wheelchair user, please inform us in advance so that we can make all necessary arrangements.
Minimum recommended age for children
14 years
Payment
Included in tour price
- Admissions tickets
- Guide services
Not included in tour price
- Lunch
Further information
Important information
This relatively intensive two-day tour gives visitors the chance to see nearly all St. Petersburg’s major visitor attractions at a reasonable pace in two days. Nonetheless, each day involves over eight hours of sightseeing, so the tour can be quite tiring.
Main tour highlights
The highlights of this tour are the three greatest of the palaces that were once home to the Romanov Tsars – the Winter Palace (now the State Hermitage Museum) and the suburban estates at Peterhof and Tsarskoye Selo.
