Days
Price from
- Start
- Moscow, Russia
- Finish
- St Petersburg, Russia
- Destination
- Russia
- Style
- Peregrine
- Code
- PCRH
- Physical rating
- Trip rating
- 12 reviews
- Ages
- Min 15
- Group size
- Min 1, Max 12
Why you'll love this trip
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Join in local life and customs as you share a meal in a Russian home in the fairytale-like Golden Ring town of Suzdal
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Soak up the atmosphere of Moscow’s Red Square and Kremlin, which has for centuries been at the very centre of Russian history
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Marvel at the opulence of Peter the Great’s grand palace gardens and fountains of Peterhof
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Discover treasure-upon-treasure at the incredible art collection housed in St Petersburg’s Hermitage Museum, the former Winter Palace of Catherine the Great
Is this trip right for you?
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This trip is a comfortable way to see the highlights and learn the history of Russia’s most iconic sights, using private transport and high-speed day trains.
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We pack a lot into this short itinerary, so be prepared for days full of activities. We highly recommend staying additional days in St Petersburg and Moscow to get the most out of these fascinating destinations.
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We recommend packing light and compact for this trip, as you will need to be able to carry your luggage on and off public transport, and to and from accommodations.
Gallery



Itinerary
Accommodation
- Marco Polo Presnja Hotel or similar (1 night)
Included Activities
- Complimentary Airport Arrival Transfer
Optional Activities
- Moscow - Moscow Underground Urban Adventure - EUR56
- Moscow - Moscow Behind the Icons Urban Adventure - EUR56
- Moscow - Modern Moscow Urban Adventure - EUR38
Meals Included
There are no meals included on this day.Special Information
Your hotel in Moscow is the 4 star rated boutique Marco Polo Presnja, built in 1904 and retaining its grand sense of history. The hotel is located approximately 10 minutes walk from the central Tverskaya/Pushkinskaya Metro Station and around 30 minutes on foot from Red Square. The Metro is the easiest way to get around the city as taxis can be expensive and traffic conjested, although do be warned it can be very busy during peak times. There are escalators in combination with stairs and tunnels, so using the Metro does still involve a lot of walking. It's not too difficult to navigate once you get the hang of it and many of the stations are sights in themselves. Your leader can give you an orientation to help you make the most of the Metro.The arrival transfer is only valid if arriving on Day 1 or if you have booked pre-trip accommodation through us. Please provide your flight details at the time of booking, or at a minimum 14 days prior to travel, as we may not be able to confirm a
Accommodation
- Pushkarskaya Sloboda Hotel or similar (1 night)
Included Activities
- Suzdal - Home-cooked dinner
Optional Activities
- Suzdal - River Cruise (Commentary in Russian only) - RUB350
- Suzdal - Mead Tasting - RUB280
- Suzdal - Belfry Climb - RUB100
Meals Included
- Breakfast
- Dinner
Special Information
Since we only stay in Suzdal overnight, it's suggested to bring an overnight pack with you while leaving your main luggage at the hotel in Moscow.Accommodation
- Marco Polo Presnja Hotel or similar (1 night)
Included Activities
- Suzdal - Guided Walking Tour
Meals Included
- Breakfast
Accommodation
- Marco Polo Presnja Hotel or similar (1 night)
Included Activities
- Moscow - Kremlin & Armoury Guided Tour
Optional Activities
- Moscow - Izmailovo Vernisazh Markets - RUB10
- Moscow - Victory Park Museum - RUB400
- Moscow - St Basils Cathedral - RUB500
- Moscow - Tretyakov Art Gallery - RUB500
Meals Included
- Breakfast
Special Information
On occasion Lenin's Mausoleum and Red Square may be closed to the public during regular opening hours for special events or without prior warning. As Moscow's premier tourist attractions, tickets for the Kremlin and Armoury are in high demand, and the Moscow Tourism Administration sets strict quotas to control visitor numbers. Time in each area is also limited to 90 minutes, with any exceptions possibly resulting in the guide losing their license. We ask for your understanding that the guide is under pressure to keep to the schedule. The Diamond Fund isn't included in your tour, but after the Kremlin and Armoury there may be time to visit. Entrance tickets can be purchased in the ticket office at the Armoury. The Diamond Fund is open for visitors from 10am-1pm and from 2pm-4pm. Thursday it is closed. Please talk to your leader at the Group Meeting if you are interested in this option so they can investigate pre-booking tickets.A living museum, St Petersburg is a blend of baroque European architecture and Russian royal history, built by the Russian Tsar Peter the Great, whose legacy can be felt in its enigmatic streets and showcase cathedrals and museums.
Accommodation
- Grand Tchaikovsky Hotel or similar (1 night)
Included Activities
- Moscow - Red Square & Lenin's Mausoleum
Meals Included
- Breakfast
Perhaps take a boat to see landmarks from a Neva river cruise or climb the belfry of St Isaacs Cathedral for a rare high view of the city. Then of course there are the world class performances at the Mariinsky Theatre to occupy your evening.
Accommodation
- Grand Tchaikovsky Hotel or similar (1 night)
Included Activities
- St Petersburg - Hermitage Museum
Optional Activities
- St Petersburg - Boat Trip (price from) - RUB700
- St Petersburg - Saint Isaac’s Cathedral Colonnade - RUB400
Meals Included
- Breakfast
Special Information
Remember to reserve a concert of performance in advance by booking the tickets online. In particular we recommend you see what's playing at the Bolshoi in Moscow (www.bolshoi.ru) or Mariinsky (www.mariinsky.ru), as it may be difficult to get tickets when you are there, especially during White Nights (mid-summer) in St Petersburg.Accommodation
- Grand Tchaikovsky Hotel or similar (1 night)
Included Activities
- St Petersburg - Peterhof Park & Fountains
Meals Included
- Breakfast
Special Information
Please note that your tour includes entrance to the main park, but does not include entry into the Palace itself, which requires an additional ticket (optional). If you would like to remain at Peterhof and see the Summer Palace you will need to make your own way back to St Petersburg. Some other optional sights in the park may also attract additional entrance fees.On occasion our groups have been unable to visit Peterhof due to tickets being booked out or the park being closed without warning for an official delegation. At these times we will visit an alternative park in another of St Petersburg's suburbs.
Optional Activities
- St Petersburg - St Petersburg like a Local Urban Adventure - EUR50
- St Petersburg - St Petersburg Discovery Urban Adventure - EUR50
Meals Included
- Breakfast
Meals
7 breakfasts, 1 dinnerTransport
Private vehicle, Taxi, high-speed train, Public bus, MetroAccommodation
Feature Stay Moscow Hotel (3 nights), Hotel (4 nights)Included Activities
- Complimentary Airport Arrival Transfer
- Suzdal - Home-cooked dinner
- Suzdal - Guided Walking Tour
- Moscow - Kremlin & Armoury Guided Tour
- Moscow - Red Square & Lenin's Mausoleum
- St Petersburg - Hermitage Museum
- St Petersburg - Peterhof Park & Fountains
Dates & availability - 2021 season
Trip departures are unavailable.
There are currently no scheduled departures on our Essential Russia trip. If you are interested in other trips in the region visit one of the links below.
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Important notes
1. A complimentary airport arrival transfer is included; valid if you are arriving on Day 1 or if you have booked pre-tour accommodation through us. You must provide your flight details to your booking agent at least 14 days prior to travel.
2. A single supplement is available if you’d prefer not to share a room on this trip. The single supplement applies to all nights of your trip and is subject to availability. Please speak to your booking agent for further information.
3. Please provide the following details exactly as they appear in your passport at the time of booking so that we can book your train tickets. Ticketing fees may apply for amendments to details within 45 days of departure, and in some cases, you will be required to cover the cost of issuing a new ticket if an amendment occurs.
• Your full name (first, middle, last)
• Passport details (number, nationality, issue and expiry dates)
• Date of birth
• City of birth

Essential trip information
Want an in-depth insight into this trip? Essential Trip Information provides a detailed itinerary, visa info, how to get to your hotel, what's included - pretty much everything you need to know about this adventure and more.
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