St. Petersburg, Russia
+ Optional Moscow Extension
This AstridTravel Club Trip to St. Petersburg will take travelers on an immersive journey through the exciting history and awe-inspiring splendor of Imperial Russia. Take a private stroll through the historic Hermitage Museum before official opening hours, visit the extraordinary palaces and parks which were once home to some of Russia’s most famous rulers, dine in fabulous Romanov-era restaurants, revel in the alluring tales of Russia’s past, and soak in the insight provided by local VIP guides and experts. This trip is perfect for history buffs, architectural enthusiasts, art aficionados, and intrepid travelers of all kinds.
Interested in this trip? Fill out the form at the bottom of this page.
This Trip at a Glance
Discover the Splendor of Imperial Russia
Dates: TBD | Price: $5,600
Moscow Extension +$2,300
This trip is luxury in style, featuring exquisite accommodations, amazing restaurants, exclusive private tours led by expert guides, and much more. The pace of this trip is moderate, and participants should be comfortable walking and standing for extended periods of time.
If you wish to take this trip at another date, either solo or with a group of your own, contact us and we’ll work with you to customize this trip for your needs.
The Itinerary — 7 Days, 6 Nights
Day 1
Tsar Restaurant. Photo source.
Arrive to St. Petersburg by early evening. A driver will pick you up from the airport and transport you to the five-star Belmond Grand Hotel Europe located in St. Petersburg’s chic Nevsky Prospekt.
Meet your ATC Trip Host and fellow travelers in the downstairs lobby and get acquainted over welcome drinks before kicking off the trip with an introductory lecture led by historian, Alexei Leporc on the topic of the Imperial Splendor of St. Petersburg.
After the lecture, enjoy a Welcome Dinner fit for royalty at Tsar Restaurant. Here, you will have a culinary experience which will make you feel as if you have been transported back through time to the illustrious Imperial Romanov era. After dinner, return to the hotel for a good night’s rest.
Meals Included: Dinner
Day 2
Inside the Hermitage Musuem.
In the morning, embark on a private tour of the Hermitage Museum before official opening hours to avoid the crowds. Gain access to the magnificent Winter Palace, home of the Imperial family before the Russian Revolution and the Diamond Treasury, which houses some of Russia’s most prized pieces of jewelry including the famous jeweled eggs created by the Fabergé firm and ancient Greek and Scythian excavated gold.
Afterward, enjoy lunch at a local restaurant and drink in panoramic views of the Neva River and the some of St. Petersburg’s most notable sites.
After lunch, visit the historical birthplace of St Petersburg, the 16th-century Peter and Paul Fortress. Then continue the journey to St. Isaac’s Cathedral, one of the world’s largest and most opulent domed cathedrals in the world characterized by its hefty use of gold leaf, marble, semi-precious stone and mosaic tile detailing.
In the evening, attend a world-class performance at the beautiful Mikhailovsky Theater.
Meals Included: Lunch
Day 3
Catherine Palace Interior.
Meet your guide in the morning, and take a short drive to the royal village of Pushkin where you’ll tour Catherine Palace, a magnificent country palace built in 1717 for Catherine I. At around 1066 feet across, the palace is a striking blaze of white, gold and blue. The interior exudes luxury with beautiful rooms like the Amber Room being regarded by some as the “8th Wonder of the World”.
After touring the palace and accompanying gardens, enjoy a traditional Russian meal and ethnic music at a local restaurant.
Continue the journey to Pavlovsk Palace, another exquisite Imperial sanctuary which originally belonged to Emperor Paul I and his wife. The Palace is a marvelous specimen of Russian Classicism - elegant and refined with utterly exquisite decor. Afterward, enjoy a scenic carriage ride through Pavlovsk Park, once the largest landscaped area in the world.
Return back to the hotel and enjoy leisure time to refresh before venturing to Nikolaevsky Palace where you will attend a spirited, traditional Russian Folk Show and afterward enjoy dinner in the beautiful Russian Vodka Room No. 1.
Meals Included: Lunch, Dinner
Day 4
Peterhof Palace and Gardens. Photo source.
In the morning, take a hydrofoil ride across the river to the exceptionally grand Peterhof Palace, founded by Peter the Great in 1706. Located on the shore of the Baltic Sea, it is the most magnificent residence of the Russian Imperial family and a jewel of Russian art. Tour the palace grounds and wander through the famous gardens, which feature over 170 fountains and dozens of gold-gilded sculptures.
Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant before departing for Oranienbaum, an Imperial Palace founded by Aleksandr Menshikov, the right-hand man of Peter the Great, in 1707. Later in its history, this palace was to become the summer home of Peter III and his wife, Empress Catherine the Great. It was Catherine who ordered the building of The Chinese Palace near Oranienbaum in 1762. Though The Chinese Palace may seem modest from the outside, no expense was spared in the decoration of the seventeen decadent rooms inside. Perhaps most notable is the Glass Beaded Salon which features 12 panels of richly colored tapestries, each covered in sparkling glass beads.
Following the tour, enjoy a traditional Russian dinner at Katusha Restaurant.
Meals Included: Lunch, Dinner
Day 5
Cathedral of the Savior on the Spilled Blood. Photo source.
Your first stop of the day will be to the Cathedral of the Savior on the Spilled Blood, built in 1883 on the site where Tsar Alexander II had been assassinated two years earlier. Constructed in a “traditional Russian” style, the cathedral took 24 years to complete. Today, it’s distinctive onion domes and exquisite mosaic icons are an opulent shrine to Alexander II which continue to draw visitors from around the world to marvel at this spectacular work of Russian architecture.
Continue on to the Russian Art Museum, an impressive collection of everything from 12th century masterpieces to modern avant-garde Russian works including controversial Socialist Realism pieces from the Stalin era.
Enjoy Lunch at Baku Restaurant for a taste of authentic Azerbaijanian cuisine and afterward enjoy a leisurely boat ride through the St. Petersburg canals which is lined with some of the most beautiful buildings and residences in the city.
In the evening, enjoy a pre-theatre dinner at The Repa and meet and converse with a Russian prima ballerina before attending a ballet performance at the famed Mariinsky Theatre.
Meals Included: Lunch, Dinner
Day 6
Yusupov Palace. Photo source.
Meet your guide in the morning and embark on a private tour of the magnificent Yusupov Palace, the private residence of the wealthiest family in Russia before the Revolution. Step back in time and stroll through this lavish estate which features original furnishings, an exquisite private theatre, and a wine cellar that happens to be the site of Rasputin’s murder in 1916.
Continue the journey to the Fabergé Museum which contains more than 4,000 works of Russian decorative and fine art - many of which have been repatriated as part of a project to recover lost Russian cultural assets.
After the tour, have lunch at a lovely Georgian restaurant and enjoy leisure time to shop and relax.
In the evening, you’ll meet the Senior Curator of the Marble Palace for an after-hours tour of the palace and the private quarters of Great Prince Konstantine.
Finally, board the Volga-Volga for a luxury dinner cruise, our Farewell Dinner, on the Neva River.
Meals Included: Lunch, Dinner
Day 7
Transfer to the airport or continue on to Moscow.
Accommodations: The Belmond Grand Hotel Europe
Room at the Belmond Grand Hotel Europe. Photo source.
Originally opened in 1875, the Belmond Grand Hotel Europe is the oldest and most historic hotel in the city. Located on the fashionable Nevsky Prospekt, many internationally famous artists, film stars, diplomats, sultans, and princesses have stayed in this beautiful hotel. With sparkling marble floors, ornate chandeliers and walls of priceless art, this hotel exudes refined elegance. Yet at the same time, it is a place full of character and charm. Perhaps it is the rich 140-year-old history and the warm and friendly service which create an overall sense of welcome at this spectacular Russian hotel.
St. Petersburg Photo Gallery
Scroll to the bottom of this page for pricing and additional trip information
Moscow Extension: September 21 - 24
Day 7
The Bolshoi Theatre. Photo source.
Check-out of the Belmond Grand Hotel Europe in St. Petersburg and travel with your guide to the railway station where you’ll board a high-speed train to Moscow. Once arriving in Moscow, you’ll be escorted to the historic, five star National Hotel, a Luxury Collection hotel.
Once you have checked-in and grabbed a quick lunch you’ll embark on a City Tour of Moscow which includes some of the city’s most famous sights such as Vorobiyovy Hill, Newmaiden Nunnery, and Poklonnaya Hill.
Later, visit St. Saviour Cathedral, one of the tallest Orthodox Christian churches in the world.
Following the tour of St. Saviour Cathedral, return back to the hotel to relax and refresh before attending a performance at the world- famous Bolshoi Theater in the evening.
Meals Included: Dinner
Day 8
The Red Square, featuring St. Basil’s Cathedral (left). Photo source.
Your first stop on this day’s tour will be to the Kremlin, the Russian citadel and birthplace of Moscow which dates back to 1156. Venture inside historic cathedrals as well as the Armory Chamber, an amazing assortment of tsarist paraphernalia, and the Diamond Fund, an extensive collection of some of Russia’s most valuable gems.
Afterward, have lunch in the Red Square, Moscow’s most famous landmark and home to the colorful, onion-domed St. Basil Cathedral - the most iconic structure in Moscow.
Tour St. Basil’s Cathedral and learn of its construction as ordered by Tsar Ivan the Terrible as well as its seemingly miraculous survival over the years of tumultuous Russian history. Continue the journey to the Romanov’s Chambers, a 16th- century house turned museum which once belonged to the ancestors of the Romanov dynasty.
Return to the hotel and enjoy leisure time to refresh before departing for dinner at Pushkin Café, one of Moscow’s most famous and beloved five-star restaurants.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 9
Kolomenskoye Palace. Photo source.
The first stop on this day will be to Kolomenskoye, the gigantic wooden Palace of Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich, father of Peter the Great. A stroll through this marvelous royal estate will provide unique insight into the gilded life that Russian tsars and tsarinas lived over 200 years ago.
Journey back to Moscow where you’ll enjoy a 3 course lunch at Brothers Tretyakov Restaurant located inside the Tretyakov Gallery, the world’s most famous museum of Russian art. After lunch, you’ll be guided through this cherished Russian art collection which is comprised of more than 130,000 pieces and provides the viewer with a rich and revealing look into the history of Russia.
On the way back to the hotel, journey through the Moscow Metro System and take note of it’s opulent, palace-like design. Featuring fine art, sculptures, marble arches, crystal chandeliers, and mosaic tile, Moscow’s metro system is a fascinating remnant of the Soviet era.
Conclude the trip with a fabulous Farewell Dinner at Doctor Zhivago - one of Moscow’s best choices for fine Russian cuisine.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 10
Transfer to Moscow airport for return flight home.
Meals Included: Breakfast
Moscow Photo Gallery
Accommodations: The Hotel National
The Hotel National is a five-star hotel housed in an incredibly charming, historical building located in the heart of Moscow. Built in 1903 by famed Russian architect Alexander Ivanov, the Hotel National is an iconic landmark. Styled with authentic 19th-century furnishings and decor, this hotel exudes character. It features two fabulous restaurants, one a luxurious caviar bar and the other a fashionable Russian restaurant with stunning decor, magnificent views, and cuisine so divine, reservations are required at least a week in advance. While certainly a classic, the Hotel National is anything but an ordinary hotel.
Additional Trip Information
Inclusions — St. Petersburg
6 Nights at The Belmond Grand Hotel Europe
All tours mentioned in the itinerary
5 dinners and 5 lunches
Private English- speaking guides
All museum entry tickets
Transportation
Early entrance into the Hermitage Museum
Private canal boat ride
Dinner with a Russian ballerina
Private after-hours visit into Marble Palace
Private visits into Yusupov Palace and Faberge Museum
Ballet tickets for Mariinsky theatre
An AstridTravel Club Trip Host on-site
Inclusions — Moscow
3 nights in the National Hotel
3 breakfasts, 2 lunches, 3 dinners
Departure transfer in St.Petersburg with guide’s assistance
Business class train tickets
Arrival transfer in Moscow with guide’s assistance
Private English speaking guide services as per the itinerary
Bolshoi tickets
All museum entrances mentioned in the itinerary with skip-the-line passes
An AstridTravel Club Trip Host on-site
Exclusions
Airfare
Meals not specified in itinerary
Miscellaneous personal expenses
Travel Insurance
Payment Schedule — St. Petersburg only
$1,300 deposit is required upon booking
$2,800 payment due on or before May 1, 2021
$1,500 payment due on or before June 1, 2021
Monthly payment plans available. Contact us for details.
Payment Schedule — with Moscow extension
$1,600 deposit is required upon booking
$3,200 payment due on or before May 1, 2021
$3,100 payment due on or before June 1, 2021
Monthly payment plans available. Contact us for details.
Cancellation Policy
Cancel your trip 90 days or more prior to departure, and you will receive a full refund of any monies paid to the ATC. Cancel your trip between 89 - 60 days prior to departure, and you will receive a 50% refund. Cancel your trip between 59 - 30 days prior to departure and you will receive a 25% refund. Cancel your trip less than 30 days prior to departure, and you will receive no refund.
All cancellations must be sent via email to contact@astridtravel.com and are effective the date we receive this correspondence.
ATC reserves the right to cancel this trip for any reason. Such reasons include, but are not limited to, attaining an insufficient number of participants necessary to make the trip feasible, weather, and similar unforeseen circumstances. In such event, you may choose to either receive a full refund or apply your payments to another trip if approved by ATC.
Traveler Requirements
Travelers must have a passport that is valid for at least 6 months following the return travel date.
Travelers are responsible for making their own flight arrangements.
Travelers must provide a copy of their desired flight reservation before booking to ensure that all information is correct. If you would like assistance booking your flight, please contact us.
Travelers must purchase travel insurance to go on this trip. In the event that you are unable attend this trip due to an illness, family emergency, missed or canceled flight, act of terrorism, natural disaster, etc., Astrid Solo Travel Advisor, AstridTravel LLC, the AstridTravel Club LLC, nor any affiliated person or party will be held responsible for payment repatriation. Protect yourself against any unforeseen trip disasters and purchase travel insurance. More details will be provided after you make a trip reservation.
Interested in Joining?
If you are interested in this trip to St. Petersburg, fill out the brief, no obligation, interest form below and we will reach out to you via email. Please feel free to include any questions or comments you might have about this trip.