Winter Romance and New Year Fun in the Russian Capitals (CB-10)

Our driver will be waiting for you in arrivals at St Petersburg’s airport with a Go Russia sign board ready to transfer you to the hotel.

Today’s program takes us 25km south of St Petersburg to Tsarskoe Selo, home to two magnificent palaces set in extensive grounds. Alexander Palace was home to the last family of tsars. Neighbouring Catherine Palace, where we will visit, is a lavish, Italian-designed Baroque masterpiece. Its legendary Amber Room features exquisite mosaic panels which have been painstakingly recreated following the loss of the originals in World War Two. Outside the palace, you’ll enjoy an atmospheric ride in a troika, a traditional Russian horse-drawn sleigh. Later, you’ll head to Nikolaevsky Palace for a performance of the colorful folklore show, “Feel Yourself Russian” where you’ll be able to listen to traditional Russian folk songs, admire the flamboyant costumes and watch engaging dances from the country’s different provinces.

Dignified St Petersburg, seemingly frozen in time since the days of the Tsars, is the most European of all Russian cities and the focus today is on exploring the city known as the “Venice of the North”. You’ll take in the Peter and Paul Fortress, St. Isaac's Cathedral and the Church of Christ's Resurrection (The Saviour of the Blood) as well as paying a visit to the Aurora, the ship whose cannon on Lenin’s orders gave the signal to begin the Great Social Revolution. In the afternoon, free time has been set aside for independent sightseeing or shopping. The highlight of your evening will surely be tonight’s ballet performance in one of St Petersburg’s many delightful theaters. Note that schedules are released approximately two months in advance and tickets are subject to availability; transfers to the theater are not included.

Of the six buildings that form the Hermitage, one of the largest and oldest museums in the world, the Winter Palace is perhaps the best known. The Hermitage was once the home of the Tsars. Its buildings house an extensive and unmissable collection of over 3 million works of art from a host of famous names including Leonardo da Vinci, Raphael, Van Gogh and Monet. Together with the paintings, you’ll be able to see icons, old coins and opulent jewelery, creating a memory you’ll treasure long after you return home. Later, our driver, holding a Go Russia sign, will collect you from the hotel lobby to transfer you to the railway station for your overnight train to Moscow. You’ll have the option of traveling in first or second class, and for the most discerning customer, we recommend the luxurious Grand Express’ compartments. More like a hotel on wheels, carriages feature spacious WiFi equipped sleeping compartments with toilets, showers, air-conditioning, comfortable sofas, an LCD TV and DVD-players.

On your arrival in Moscow, our driver will meet you with a Go Russia sign board at the end of the platform. You’ll enjoy a traditional Russian breakfast in a nearby cafe before an early check-in at the hotel. Later you’ll have an included city tour by car, pausing to discover some of Moscow’s most iconic sights: Red Square and the 16th century Cathedral of St. Basil, the Russian Orthodox cathedral of Christ the Saviour with its tragic history and the fascinating cemetery at New Maiden’s Convent. Stopping near the Moscow State University, you’ll have a panoramic view of the city with the Olympic Luzhniki stadium in the foreground and the golden domes of the Kremlin in the distance. Finally, we’ll take you on a guided tour of the Moscow Underground. More than just a public transport network, the Moscow Metro’s stations are resplendent with decadent marble, mosaics, stained glass and sculptures.

Today, we return for a closer look at Red Square. It takes its name from the Russian word for red which once meant beautiful, and we’re sure you’ll think it’s aptly named. You’ll recognize the familiar domes of St Basil’s Cathedral, be intrigued by Lenin’s embalmed body at the Mausoleum and be impressed by the scale of the GUM department store which occupies almost the whole of one side of the square. With our included excursion to the Kremlin’s grounds and cathedrals, you’ll have the chance to delve into the interiors of the former residence of the Tsars. In Cathedral Square, you may even sense the spirits of Ivan the Terrible, Boris Godunov, and the early Romanovs. Inside the Armoury Museum, you’ll almost be overwhelmed by the sheer scale of the collection of treasures, including such exhibits as the chalice of Yuri Dolgorukiy, the helm and armor of Boris Godunov, over fifty Faberge eggs, priceless antique weaponry and many other works made of precious metals and stones.

Today’s program provides an opportunity to get out into the fresh air with our visit to the famous Gorky Park - an amusement park named after the Russian writer Maxim Gorky. This huge park on the edge of the Moskva River leads to the old Golitsyn Hospital and the Neskuchny Palace. It’s popular with locals for sport, yoga and even dancing but in the festive season, we’d recommend you try our suggestions for optional winter activities, ice skating or one last troika ride.

Our driver will meet you with a Go Russia sign board at the hotel lobby ready to transfer you to the airport for your flight home.