3 - Day Complete St Petersburg (39388) (Visa Included)

THIS TOUR IS A SMALL GROUP TOUR WITH A MAXIMUM OF 20 PASSENGERS, RESERVE EARLY!!

All cruise clients taking tours in St Petersburg will require a Visa, Cruising Excursions will arrange this for you at no extra cost.

You will be met at the port by a Cruising Excursions representative who will then guide you to your air-conditioned vehicle ready to commence your tour.

Day 1: Board your transportation for a narrated drive to the suburbs of St Petersburg: you will head to the south to see the Tsarskoye Selo (Pushkin) and to the west to see Peterhof, passing Stalin-era buildings, modern residential apartments and dachas (country houses). Heading west to Peterhof, you will see the industrial and residential areas of St. Petersburg, some former mansions of the Russian nobility, Alexandria Park and the Peter and Paul Cathedral in Peterhof.

This comprehensive, full-day tour will give you a unique opportunity to admire the Russian tsars' splendid 18th century palaces and parks.

Catherine Palace: designed by Rastrelli, this ornate, Baroque palace is over 1,000 feet long and features an ornate blue facade. Gold onion domes crown the palace's north end, the site of the chapel. Your tour visits the White Vestibule, Grand Hall, the Amber Room, the Portrait Hall, the Crimson Pilaster Room and more.

Palace of Paul: the palace is famous for its incredible interiors, great art collection and one of the largest landscaped parks in Europe. You'll be able to admire Emperor Paul I's elegant rooms and the charming rooms of his wife, Maria.

Peterhof Park: another former summer Imperial residence. Set in magnificent gardens, Peterhof is reminiscent of Versailles. It was almost completely destroyed by the Nazis in World War II, but has been restored to its full splendour. The gardens are dotted with charming pavilions, summer houses and are also home to Peterhof's famous fountains, including the Samson Cascade and the ever-popular Joke Fountains, one of which sprays anyone who steps on a particular paving stone.

Take a Metro ride: St. Petersburg's stations are worth seeing for their beautifully decorated interiors. Many are adorned with crystal chandeliers, marble vestibules and beautiful frescoes.

Complimentary with this tour (if weather permits): a one-way trip by hydrofoil. This is the fastest and the most enjoyable way of travelling between Peterhof and St. Petersburg.

Day 2: One of the world's most magnificent cities, St Petersburg stretches over forty four islands. The city was built by Peter the Great in the 18th Century to rival the splendour of Paris and includes a wealth of palaces, churches and museums.

Your full day of sightseeing includes a general sightseeing tour of the city, plus visits to the Hermitage, the world-famous art gallery; Peter & Paul Fortress, where St. Petersburg started; and the Church of our Saviour on Spilled Blood, one of the City's landmarks. There will also be several photo stops and opportunities for shopping.

The Hermitage: The Tsars' former Winter Palace and four other buildings that house one of the world's premier art collections. Your 3-3.5 hour guided tour will take you through rooms which contain over three million pieces of art, including paintings by Da Vinci, Rafael and Rembrandt. Designed by Rastrelli, the Baroque Winter Palace boasts patterned parquet floors, ornate staircases and moulded and decorated ceilings.

Peter and Paul Fortress: originally built to protect the city from Swedish attack, the fortress soon became Russia's Tower of London and a place for political prisoners - including Peter the Great's own son.

The Peter and Paul Cathedral: the city's tallest structure in the days of Peter the Great; even today, only the television tower exceeds it in the height. The ornate interior boasts gilded iconostasis, 18th century paintings and icons, and the tombs of many tsars and tsarinas, including Peter the Great and Catherine the Great.

The Church of our Saviour on Spilled Blood was built on the spot where Emperor Alexander II was mortally wounded. The interior of the church is decorated with incredibly detailed mosaics, designed and created by the most prominent Russian artists of the day.

Day 3: This full day tour includes a visit to Yusupov's Palace, to the opulent St Isaac's Cathedral and to the Cathedral of our Lady of Kazan. Plus, why not do what the locals do? Take a shopping bag and explore a colourful food market.

Explore the Yusupov Palace, a museum which provides a sneak peek into the lives of 19th and early 20th century Russian aristocrats. The palace is full of exotic rooms such as the Moorish Room, a wonderful Rococo theatre that is still used for concerts. The Yusupov Palace is perhaps best known as the site of the murder of Grigori Rasputin, a man with mystical powers who influenced the family of the last Russian tsar, Nicholas II.

The St Isaac's Cathedral is the former principal Orthodox cathedral of the country and one of the most visited city landmarks. The exterior of the cathedral barely hints at its breath-taking interior, which is adorned with gold, semi-precious stones, mosaics and oil paintings.

The Cathedral of our Lady of Kazan is located on the main street of the city. It was inspired by St Peter's Basilica in Rome. This impressive church became a monument to Russia's victory after the war of 1812. The church has regular services and it is also home to a museum.

Locals sell fruit and vegetables from their dachas (country houses) in the markets; you can taste honey, pickles and cottage cheese.

WHAT'S INCLUDED:
English Speaking Guide
Air-Conditioned Vehicle
Entry Fees for the above program
Bottle of water each day
Rain Poncho
Photo Permits

NOT INCLUDED:
Lunch
Tipping
Metro Fare (1$)

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:

How much is the metro ticket? The cost of metro is around one ruble to be paid locally, your guide will assist in obtaining your tickets.

Is the meal included within the tour price? No, we do not include lunch on this tour, however there will be plenty of opportunity to get something to eat around the different venues you are visiting, your guide on hand will be able to suggest some restaurants to use.

If your cruise ship arrives on a Monday when the Hermitage is closed does that mean, we will not be able to visit the Hermitage? Please do not worry, in this instance we will reverse the order of the days, so you will get to see the Hermitage on the 2nd day. This will be the same with other venues where possible.

Can I do this tour if I am in a wheelchair? This tour is not recommended for wheelchairs, we would highly recommend a private tour for your comfort, as there is a lot of walking involved.

What currency do I need to take on the tour? A lot of the shops will accept Euro or USD, however, some of the smaller souvenir stands only accept Russian Rubles. Most of the shops and venues for lunch will accept credit cards where stated.

What time will my tour start? We will start this tour around 9am (depending on your cruise ships arrival time). You will need to pass through security with your tourist tickets (visas) we have provided for you, our guide will be waiting within the terminal with a Cruising Excursions sign. Please do not forget your tourist tickets as you will not be allowed to pass through security without these.

This states a small group tour, how many people will this tour be for? The tour can run with as little as 2 guests and a maximum of 20 guests, however this will depend on number of guests reserved.