From the exquisite palaces of the tsars in St Petersburg to legendary Red Square and the mighty Kremlin in Moscow. Take in the best of Russia's biggest cities and visit beautiful and historic Novgorod, which straddles the Volkhov River, on this 9 day tour.
Trip Highlights
Included
Not Included
Itinerary
St Petersburg
Saturday. Welcome to Russia and the start of your holiday. There's an arrival transfer from St Petersburg Pulkovo Airport to your hotel and check in. At 7pm meet your guide and the rest of the group for dinner at the hotel and an informative welcome meeting.
Overnight: St Petersburg | Dinner
St Petersburg City Tour
Today we explore the beautiful city of St Petes. Travelling by coach we make our way along the famed Nevsky Prospekt, past the museum and university districts. A few photo stops will be made along the way to see the magnificent St Isaac's Cathedral and The Bronze Horseman. Then we visit Peter and Paul Fortress and the beautiful Peter and Paul Cathedral, which houses the majority of the tombs of the Romanov monarchs. We also pay a visit to the exquisite Church on Spilled Blood.
After a hearty Russian lunch we enjoy a guided tour of the Hermitage Museum in the striking Winter Palace. The museum houses one of the biggest and best art collections on earth.
During our time in St Petersburg there will be optional excursions available such as an evening at the ballet or a boat trip along the canals. All optional excursions are subject to availability - book and pay locally.
Overnight: St Petersburg | Breakfast, Lunch
Peterhof or Catherine Palace
St Petersburg is known as the City of Tsars and today we head out of the city to explore one of the tsars' lavish palaces. We visit Peterhof Palace and its beautiful gardens on the Gulf of Finland in the summer (May to mid October) and in the winter we visit Catherine Palace at Tsarskoe Selo (or Pavlosk Palace if Catherine Palace is closed).
Located in the Gulf of Finland, Peterhof was the summer residence of the tsars and the spectacular gardens are referred to as the Russian Versailles, with sweeping vistas and incredible gold fountains which form a Grand Cascade. In winter we visit magnificent Catherine Palace which is bedecked in gold and it's the lavishly decorated interiors that really catch the eye here. The legendary Amber room is the real highlight, golden from floor to ceiling.
The rest of the day is free for you to spend at leisure in St Petes. Most of the attractions are dotted along and just off the main thoroughfare - Nevsky Prospekt and it's an easy city to navigate.
Overnight: St Petersburg | Breakfast
Free time in St Petersburg
St Petersburg – Novgorod. Enjoy a leisurely morning in St Petersburg, giving you the opportunity to simply relax or perhaps shop for some souvenirs. Lots of Russian memorabilia can be found at the canal side market near the striking Church on Spilled Blood. This afternoon we drive to Novgorod, arriving in time for dinner and a steamy Russian banya (sauna) remember to pack your swimwear.
Overnight: Novgorod | Breakfast, Dinner
Veliky Novgorod
Novgorod – Moscow. Historic Novgorod (aka Veliky Novgorod) is one of Russia’s oldest cities. Straddling the Volkhov River this beautiful city dates back to the 10th century and is often referred to as the Birthplace of Russia. A guided tour of city takes in the ancient Kremlin, the cathedral and other sights of interest. Located on the west bank of the Volkhov River, the Novgorod Kremlin fortress was mentioned in chronicles as early as 1044 and today's walls and towers, despite being re-built in the 14th century, are impressive all the same. Tonight we have dinner and there's time to relax before travelling by overnight sleeper train from Novgorod to Moscow.
Overnight: Sleeper Train | Breakfast, Dinner
Moscow's Red Square
Early this morning we arrive into Moscow - the capital that spawned dozens of spy novels. After dropping off our luggage at the hotel we ride on the city's efficient Metro to Red Square, where our guided walking tour begins, taking in the jewels of Russia’s capital. At the southern end of Red Square, feast your eyes on the wildly coloured, turban domed St Basil’s Cathedral, an enduring Russian symbol commissioned by Ivan IV (aka Ivan the terrible) in 1555. Flanked on one side by the walls of the Kremlin, this famous square is also home to Lenin’s Mausoleum and the ritzy and historic GUM department store. After our walking tour the rest of the day is free to spend at leisure in the capital. Moscow has a wealth of amazing galleries, museums and shops to explore.
During our stay in Moscow there will be the chance to join one of our optional evening excursions, such as the Kostroma Folk Show and a Moscow by Night coach tour and cruise. All optional excursions are subject to availability, and are booked and paid for locally.
Overnight: Moscow | Breakfast
The Kremlin
This morning we head back to Red Square to pay our respects to Vladimir Lenin - the famous Russian revolutionary, at his eerie mausoleum. It is here that his embalmed body has lain in state since his death in 1924. Then we continue to the Kremlin - Russia’s bastion of political might, where we enjoy a guided walk through the grounds, seeing numerous government buildings, gold-domed cathedrals and the tsar bell.
Overnight: Moscow | Breakfast, Lunch
Optional Soviet Bunker tour
Today offers free time for you to continue exploring this exciting city, or you can book our Inside a Soviet Bunker add-on. Head 65 metres underground and explore the Underground Cold War Museum - a Stalinist-era Soviet Bunker that up until recently was a top secret symbol of Soviet Power. This optional excursion also includes a tour of Moscow's magnificent Soviet-era metro. With its beautiful mosaics and sculptures the metro is known as Stalin's finest architectural achievement.
For those wanting to shop for some last minute souvenirs, the wonderful Izmailovo Market is just a short stroll from our hotel. This sprawling market lies behind the walls of an ancient kremlin and sells everything from matryoshka dolls to fur hats. Don't forget to bargain!
Overnight: Moscow | Breakfast
Moscow
Sunday. Our tour ends after breakfast and hotel check out.
Breakfast
Upgrade to a private tour!
We now offer a private version of Russian Revolution. Experience one of our most popular Russia tours, travelling in the comfort of your own bubble, surrounded by family or friends. Our private Russian Capitals Past & Present 9 day tour can depart on a date of your choice, subject to availability, with a minimum of two travellers.
Prices & Dates
Departure dates are guaranteed with a minimum of 4 persons. 'Twin Share' prices are per person when there are 2 people sharing a room. 'Single Room' prices are applicable to those who don’t have anyone to share a room with or anyone wanting the privacy of a single room.
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Extra Prices
Hotels
The hotels listed below are ones which we frequently use on this tour. We reserve the right to substitute these hotels to ones of a similar standard.
Grand Hotel Tchaikovsky, St Petersburg
Grand Hotel Tchaikovsky is conveniently located on a quiet street in the Tsentralny District of St Petersburg, just 650m from Chernyshevskaya metro station and 3km from the city centre. With a beautiful historic facade and a modern interior, this comfortable 4 star hotel offers 70 spacious guest rooms which overlook the city. Rooms are fully equipped with a jacuzzi bathtub, minibar, fridge, flat screen cable tv and free WiFi. A tasty and generous buffet breakfast is served daily in the hotel restaurant and guests can relax with a drink at the hotel bar after a busy day of sightseeing.
Yurievskoe Podvorie Boutique Hotel, Novgorod
Yurievskoe Podvorie is a traditional Russian farmstead hotel, located in one of the most picturesque corners of Novgorod, surrounded by lush forest. This charming boutique property has 20 guest rooms, which are spacious and comfortable, with en suite bathrooms, tv and mini bar. Guests can enjoy hearty Russian cuisine at the hotel's two restaurant halls and let off some steam in the traditional Russian banya (sauna).
Izmailovo Delta Hotel, Moscow
The 4 star Izmailovo Delta Hotel forms part of the huge Izmailovo Gamma Delta complex, which was built to accommodate guests and participants of the 1980 Olympic Games in Moscow. Offering comfortable guest rooms with modern amenities, the complex also boasts 16 restaurants and bars serving Russian and international cuisine, a SPA, gym and swimming pool, in addition to shops, a bank and post office. Conveniently located with the Partizanskaya Metro Station just 350 yards away, it's a quick 10 minute metro ride to Red Square where you can take in the highlights of the capital. The hotel is also ideally located for souvenir shopping, with the famous Izmailovo Market just a short stroll away.
Our guide Alexandra was amazing - super fun and interesting and helpful. Itinerary was good with lots of interesting stuff and enough time in each place. Pretty good value with quality of hotels and included meals.”
Great tour, enjoyed every minute. Our main guide and local guides were highly knowledgeable and the itinerary was spot on. Olga looked after us very well and we appreciated her sense of humour and expertise. All in all a great success and I now feel I know Russia from first hand experience rather than just reading about the country in the media. ”
Great Tour and Guide! Had a good experience! Keep it up!”
Hi there
I had the most wonderful opportunity to go on one of your tours. It was Russian Revolution from 8th July to 16th July.
I would like to compliment your tour guide, Olga Neuymina, (from St Petersburg) who was absolutely fantastic. Not only is she very knowledgeable about the history of her country, she is also very enthusiastic.
She could answer any questions and never got tired of the many I asked her! She is also very kind, patient, friendly and a real asset to your company.
Because of her efficiency, the trip went like clock-work, all the sites offered were covered in ample time.
Usually there is a small hitch on a tour, but this one had absolutely no problems as Olga is very well organised. Nothing was too much trouble for her.
I would highly recommend this tour to my family and friends especially because of Olga – she really “made” this one of the most memorable and enjoyable experiences of my life.
I look forward to other On the Go tours in the future. ”
Olga was extremely personable and engaging. She provided us with ample information everywhere we went and answered all questions posed to her. She took the time to get to know us and ensure we got to see everything we wanted. She was fantastic!!”
Daria (Dasha) was excellent, I cannot fault her. Everything was explained clearly to us regarding the tour, she was punctual and her history knowledge was outstanding. Any questions we had she was able to answer. She made us feel as if we were truly having a Russian experience in all the activities, and if there was something I wished to do during free time she gladly explained to me transport instructions or organised it for me. ”
Daria [Dasha] what absolutely brilliant. She completely made this trip for us. She was knowledgeable, friendly and welcoming and heaps of fun. She looked after us fabulously. I would happily do a tour with Daria again any time.”
I had a great time on the tour, Dasha was excellent and I learnt to much about Russia and Russian Culture. I really enjoyed the variety of activities and places we went but I would have liked the option to pre-pay for some of the optional excursions! I ended up spending a lot more than I was expecting in country because of the excursions all being paid locally ”
Maria was very knowledgeable about places we went. Very easy to get along with, and open to discussing pretty much anything. Took the time to find out things we might like to do during free time, and made sure that we were given the information needed to find the places. I quite enjoyed visiting with her on the trip, and hope that others who take this tour, are as lucky as I was, to get her for a guide.
As for the tour, I personally, would have preferred spending more time in St. Petersburg, and Novgorod (countryside), than in Moscow. It almost seemed as if other than the Kremlin and St. Basil's Cathedral, unless you were doing optional excursions, that was all there was to do there, in relation to the tour. There seemed like so much more to see and do and explore in and around St. Petersburg, with all the churches, palaces, the various canals, and shops and the Hermitage, which was my personal highlight of the tour.”
Excellent tour made better by our first class tour guide, Dasha. Dasha had excellent knowledge of the country, the history and the places we visited. She handled any issues capably and without fuss. Excellent work.”
In Brief
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Our guide Alexandra was amazing - super fun and interesting and helpful. Itinerary was good with lots of interesting stuff and enough time in each place. Pretty good value with quality of hotels and included meals.”
