Grand 3 Day Shore excursion

Highlights

• The Hermitage (Winter palace included)
• Nevsky prospect walking tour
• Church on the spilled blood
• Peter and Paul Fortress
• Canal boat tour
• Burial vault of Russian kings
• St. Isaac's cathedral
• The Russian museum
• Impressive Metro Stations of the soviet period
• Peterhof Fountain park
• Cottage palace
• City tour with photo stops
• Tsarskoe Selo - Catherine palace with amber room

I offer visa-free private, individual tours and shore excursions. Please bear this in mind when comparing services and prices. Other guides and tour companies may quote for you joining one of their group tours.

Price: 735USD per person for a 3 day tour

Notes:

• these prices are not applicable to single travelers
• discounts are provided to 7 people groups or more
• school children and students have a discount IF they provide their ISEC student card
• depending on arrival day the order of the itinerary may need to be changed to allow for non-working days in museums etc.

• Professional licensed guiding service
• Transportation by comfortable vehicles: car or minibus depending on the size of the group
• No-line entrance tickets to all sights according to the program
• Visa free waiver ticket for cruise passengers
• Bottled water

About the tour

• I do not start programs with a transfer to Pushkin or Peterhof as it is about a 1½ hour trip. In the beginning of the day it is just boring, but in the middle - after you have already been walking and sight-seeing for few hours it will provide a well needed rest, so you are refreshed for the next stage of the tour.

• Standard programs can be changed in any way to meet your personal requirements. However the daily rate of a customized tour - depending on the inclusions - will come to 300-400USD per person per day against 245USD for a standard one.

Itinerary:

Day 1

9.30-9.45: Meeting in the port

You will see me waiting for you once you have disembarked and cleared passport control.

Meeting in the port.

10.00-13.00: Hermitage with the early admission.

We enter before the official opening time, and marvel at the magnificent interiors of the winter palace while viewing the stunning collections of European art which are displayed in the museum.

I am happy to adapt the tour to your interests: it can be focused on the history of Russian royal family plus the most impressive interiors OR on the art collection - we can agree it in advance.

Peacock clock in the Hermitage museum.

13.00-14.00: Lunch or coffee break at a local cafe.

Pelmeni - a traditional dish.

14.00-15.00 Church on the spilled blood.

We will tour St Petersburg’s most elaborate church marvelling at the dazzling exterior and an interior decorated with some 7000 sq metres of mosaics, Italian coloured marbles and decorative stones from the Urals and Altai region.

Church on the spilled blood

15.30-16.30: Tour of St. Isaac's cathedral

This lavishly decorated building is the largest cathedral in St. Petersburg and a recognisable city landmark thanks to its imposing golden cupola. We will have a guided tour inside and learn about some of the interesting history of this unique building.

St. Isaac's cathedral

16.30-18.00 Transfer back to your ship.

Optional stop enroute for souvenir shopping.

You can buy many interesting and unique souvenirs in Russia such as Replica Fabergé Eggs, Porcelain, Lacquered Boxes, Amber items - and of course our famous "matryoshka" nesting dolls.

Display of traditional nesting dolls.

Day 2

9.30-9:45: Meeting in the port - transfer to the city center

Meeting in the port.

09.45-11.00: Travel to Tsarskoe Selo

Situated in the town of Pushkin a few miles from St. Petersburg this is the famous former suburban imperial residence of Russian tsars in St Petersburg which they used in the summer. After several hours of sight-seeing you may even appreciate the rest that the short journey affords. As an added benefit we will pass by some interesting sights enroute.

Catherine Palace in Tsarskoe Selo.

11.00-13.00 Catherine palace with amber room

This is the main visitor attraction at Tsarskoe Selo for good reason. Here we will see spectacular state rooms intricately decorated, interesting art collections and as the crowning glory we will visit the famous and incredibly beautiful Amber Room. Next we will walk in the formal garden of the palace, moving into the landscape park, and enjoying as we go the sights of the surrounding decorative statues and pavilions.

The Amber room in Catherine Palace.

13.00-15.00:Lunch and return to the city center.

We will have a light lunch at a local restaurant with more opportunity to chat about history and life nowadays in Russia. Then we will make the return journey back to the city center.

Pancakes - a traditional light meal for Russians.

15.00-16.30: The Russian Museum.

The State Russian Museum is the world's largest collection of Russian art, based in the impressive Mikhailovsky Palace. Here we will see a rich collection of paintings by great russian artists such as Sishkin and Repin.

Russian Museum

16.30-17.30: Nevsky prospect walking tour

We start with a relaxed walking tour along the main street Nevsky prospect - mixing with locals and seeing the astonishing buildings of the former Russian capital (a visit to Kazan cathedral is included).

Gostiny Dvor on Nevsky Prospect

17.30-18.00 Transfer back to the ship with photo stops

On the way back to the port we will have the opportunity to take a few photos of the city landmarks. This is the best time for photos as the afternoon light is less harsh and more flattering, with the added advantaged that there are fewer people to obstruct the views.

Bronze Horseman

Day 3

8:15-9.00: Meet in the port

Meet and transfer to city center to start the tour.

Cruise ship port

9.00-9.45: Metro Stations

We will tour the most impressive palatial stations in St. Petersburg where we will see grand columns, marble interiors and ornate decorations of the soviet period.

Metro Station

9.45-11.00: Transfer to Peterhof by comfortable mini-bus.

We will travel a short distance to Peterhof. Situated by the gulf of Finland this palace and amazing fountain park was founded by Peter The Great and is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Comfortable a/c mini-bus.

11.00-12.00: Cottage Palace.

First we will see the Cottage Palace, which is interesting as it is completely different from other palaces. This was the only one built for private life, not for impressing foreign ambassadors.

Cottage Palace

12.00-13.00: Lunch in a local restaurant.

Local restaurant

13.00-15.00: Fountain park of Peterhof.

With over 140 fountains it is no wonder that Peterhof is often referred to as a Russian Versailles. In addition to the impressive Grand Cascade and magnificent Samson fountain we will see many other interesting and beautiful fountains and statues. As we stroll around the park we will even see funny trick fountains which amuse both children and adults alike.

Fountains at Peterhof

15.00-17.00 Transfer back with photo stops

On the way back from Peterhof we will stop by some interesting city landmarks, have a quick look around, and take a few photos. This is the best time for photos as the afternoon light is less harsh and more flattering, with the added advantaged that there are fewer people to obstruct the views.

Chesma church

17.00-17.30 Transfer back to the ship

Return back to the ship and bid farewell to St. Petersburg.

Leaving with happy memories