PRIVATE: 3 DAYS ST. PETERSBURG AND MOSCOW HIGHLIGHTS TOUR
PRIVATE: 3 DAYS ST. PETERSBURG AND MOSCOW HIGHLIGHTS TOUR
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ShoreTrips says...
Pre-planning your time in St. Petersburg is essential to your feeling of well-being and if you want to see a little of Moscow as well, this 3-day excursion has a great balance. You will enjoy your guide throughout and feel as if you are leaving behind a new friend at the end. Choosing a private tour will always allow you a little less tension as the service will move at your pace.
This excursion is a non-visa tour for cruise ship passengers. According to Russian Federation law, visas are not required for shore excursions if you book through companies that are officially licensed and authorized by the Russian government to receive foreign cruise passengers and to operate inside St. Petersburg port areas. We will supply you with the tour ticket, which is called a blanket visa or booking confirmation, and you will pass the customs/immigration offices
Day 1
An early pick up at the ship will bring you into St. Petersburg for an introductory tour of the city. Afterward, drive to Peterhof to visit the lovely gardens, beginning with a walk through Fountain Park and the Upper Gardens. Energizing yourself for the afternoon, you will break for lunch, determining your stop with the help of your guide. Ready, you will move on through the Tsars' Village and head for your inside guided tour of Catherine Palace including the Amber Room.
Your van will be chatting about those palaces on your return ride to the city, where you will visit the subway station. Always more to see here and you cannot leave without your inside guided tour of St. Isaac's Cathedral. Its history is wonderful to hear but pales once you enter the Church of Spilt Blood, always an incredible visit. Where to look first, as your guide fills you in on the background of this magnificent monument. You will have plenty to talk about once you board your ship for dinner and a good night's sleep.
Day 2
An early morning transfer from your ship to the train station begins your day. The "Sapsan" high-speed train will take you easily to Moscow. You are already in the middle of Moscow when you arrive and your city tour will take you past Red Square, the Cathedral of Christ the Savior, and the Metro tour which includes the most beautiful stations.
A quick stop for lunch will follow your introduction to Moscow and your guide knows the best places with fast service and is happy to recommend.
Next, you will head over to the Kremlin grounds where your imagination will take over. (On Thursdays, the Kremlin is closed and you will receive a guided tour of the Tretyakov Gallery instead.) Then, enjoy a visit to Saint Basil's Cathedral. A quick ride to the train station and then a high-speed train ride back to St. Petersburg finishes the day as we will bring you back to your ship for some well-deserved rest.
Day 3
Greet your guide this morning as we head to the Hermitage Museum for early admission, before the official museum hours. Several hours of walking with your guide will deliver the magnificent story of the cluster of buildings that comprise the museum and its contents. A lunch stop will follow before you head to the Yusupov Palace, which is a must-see. This is the perfect way to end your stay in the city.
- This Tour Includes:
- Round trip transportation from the cruise ship pier
- English-speaking driver/guide
- Blanket visa, port fees, all local taxes
- Standard admission fees to all museums listed in the itinerary
- Metro visit fees
- Early admission to the Hermitage Museum
- Guide’s services for 3 days
- Driver’s services for 3 days (Comfortable car [Mercedes}/ minivan with A/C)
- Photo and video permissions at the museums (except for Yusupov Palace)
- Head sets for the groups of 10 and larger
- One bottle of water per person per day
- Roundtrip Train tickets to/from Moscow Economy Class (Optional Upgrade information below under Special Instructions)
- Additional Languages Available
- Arabic
- French
- German
- Italian
- Japanese($)
- Korean
- Mandarin($)
- Portuguese
- Russian
- Spanish
- *Possible upcharge at checkout for languages denoted with ($) symbol.
Days of Operation
Departures (local time)
- 8:30 AM (34 hrs) Days 1: 8:30am-6:30pm. Day 2: 6:00am-11:30pm. Day 3: 9:00am -5:00pm.
Transfer / Meeting Instructions
No Taxi Required Specific pick up or taxi instructions will appear on your voucher after you purchase your trip.Special Instructions
• We will need the following information at the time of booking: Each passenger's full name as it appears in their passport; Citizenship; Date of birth; Passport number; Passport issue date; Passport expiration date; Arrival date into St. Petersburg; Departure date from St. Petersburg.
• Any information forwarded to ShoreTrips that is necessary to obtain a visa must be exact. We will pass on a $10 processing fee if corrections are necessary after we receive the visa. This is a per person fee, charged for each visa that requires changes.
• This includes standard admission to all museums in the program, guide's services for 3 days, driver's services for 3 days, car or minivan (Mercedes), permit for photo and/or video use in palaces and museums (except for video use in Yusupov Palace), and all port fees.
• The TRAIN RIDE is almost 4 hours each way. We include Economy Class seats, which has adjustable back rest, foot rest, arm rest, reading lights, folding table, built-in audio and video outputs. You are able to upgrade to Business Class, which adds leather seats, electrical outlets, Wi-Fi, Drinks and Hot Meals. You can also upgrade to First Class, which has everything listed plus Recliner Seats. Children must be seated in the same section as adults, even those children who 6 years and under who are exempt from the excursion cost.
• This tour includes permits for photo and/or video use in palaces and museums (except for photo and video use in Yusupov Palace), and all port fees. There is a nominal fee for video use in Yusupov Palace, which must be paid upon entry.
• Cost of food and beverage is not included. Suggestions will be supplied by your guide for lunch that will be quick and typical.
• Gratuity is not included. We suggest a 10% gratuity to your guide and 5% to your driver.
Restrictions
• PLEASE MAKE SURE THAT YOU OPEN YOUR RUSSIAN TOURIST TICKETS ON A LAPTOP OR REGULAR COMPUTER AS MOST SMART PHONES OR TABLETS DO NOT SUPPORT PDF FORMAT AND YOU WILL SEE THEM BLANK.
• You are not able to move around St. Petersburg alone. Your blanket visa requires you to travel only with a guide.
• SHORETRIPS WILL SEND YOUR BLANKET VISA AFTER THE BOOKING IS CONFIRMED. THIS IS A DIFFERENT DOCUMENT THAN YOUR PRE-PAID VOUCHER, AND YOU MUST HAVE A PRINTOUT OF YOUR TRAVEL TICKET/BLANKET VISA BEFORE YOU DEPART. If you cancel your trip after the travel tickets have been issued, a $75 per person fee will be charged.
• If there are 16 or more people in your group, please pre-purchase your lunch in both St. Petersburg and Moscow.
• Please note: When necessary, we will adjust your itinerary in response to museum closings.
• On Mondays, the Hermitage, the General Staff Building (impressionists), the Grand Palace at Peterhof and the Ethnography Museum are closed and will be replaced with other sites.
• On Tuesdays, the Catherine Palace with the Amber Room and the Russian Museum are closed and will be replaced with other sites.
• On Wednesdays, the Church on Spilt Blood and St. Isaac's Cathedral are closed and will be replaced with other sites.
• On Thursdays, the Kremlin Grounds are closed and will be replaced with a guided tour of the Tretyakov Gallery. PLEASE NOTE: The order in which the sites are seen on Thursdays will vary slightly.
• The Treasure Gallery, has 2 sections. The first, called the Gold Rooms has works from Eurasia, the Black Sea Littoral in antiquity, and the Orient. It consists of around 1,500 works made from gold and dating from the 7th century B.C. to the 19th century A.D. The main idea of the second section, which is called the Diamond Rooms, is to show the development of the jeweler's craft over the course of mankind's many centuries of history from the third millennium B.C. to the start of the 20th century. THE DURATION OF EACH OPTIONAL ADD ON IS 1 HOUR. THIS MEANS THAT IF YOU BOOK THE GOLD ROOM OR THE DIAMOND ROOM, YOU WILL SPEND LESS TIME AT THE HERMITAGE MUSEUM SEEING PAINTINGS, SCULPTURES, ETC.
• If you would like to visit the Gold or Diamond Room, please book it during check out. Please note that it is the same price if there is one person in your party or 8 people, as it is a charter rate, not per person. If you are unsure of how to book it please contact ShoreTrips. This extra fee is charged by the museum for a pre-arranged visit.
• RESERVATIONS FOR THE GOLD ROOM AND/OR DIAMOND ROOM IN THE HERMITAGE MUST be booked by the 15th of the month PREVIOUS to your visit. No reservations will be accepted after that date.
• If you would like to include the Faberge Museum into the tour, please note the additional cost. This portion of the tour is non-refundable and will mean that you will have less time in other sites. The cost is per group, not per person, and must be booked in advance. If you would prefer to add this after your normally scheduled tour time, please contact ShoreTrips for pricing.
• If you wish to add an evening activity, such as a theater performance, a folkloric show, a boat trip, or even a typical Russian dinner experience, please choose one from the add-on options.