RUSSIA FOR ME
ITINERARY
Day 1 – Arrive in Moscow
When you touch down in Moscow, our representative will meet you at the airport and arrange for you to be driven to your hotel.
Top tip
We haven't arranged any excursions for your first day in Russia, so it's up to if you'd like to explore the city independently, or just relax in your hotel and recover from the flight. There are lots of restaurant options in the vicinity, but the hotel also offers a choice of five restaurants. Take your pick of a range of different cuisines, including Russian, where you can try national dishes, such as borsch (beetroot soup), pelmeni (dumplings) and buckwheat with chicken.
Day 2 – City tour of Moscow
Your first full day in Moscow you will have a guided tour of the major cultural and historical sites of the city. We visit Red Square and the Moscow State University on Lenin Hill, where there are outstanding views over Moscow. On the way down, we pass through the Memorial Complex at Poklonnaya Hill and Victory Park, where the impressive Triumphal Arch is sited. Then it's back to the city streets, taking in Kutuzov Avenue, New Arbat, Boulevard Ring and Pushkin Square, before ending up at Tverskaya Street
Guided tour of Moscow’s Underground – explore one of the masterpieces of the Soviet era created in the Socialist Realism style. The Moscow Metro, with its stations decorated with marble, mosaics, stained-glass panels and bronze sculptures, looks more like a vast art museum. It was one of the proudest achievements of the Soviet era and it still beats many other European underground systems with its ultra-reliable service.
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Once the tour is over and you're back at your hotel, we suggest you visit the Vodka Museum, which is also situated in the Izmailovo Kremlin, and is worth popping into. You can find out all about Russia's celebrated drink, including its history and how its made. It's quite symbolic that this museum was transferred from St. Petersburg to Moscow, because this is where this drink was invented in the 15th century.
Day 3: Guided tour of Kremlin and the metro
The heart of the city and some say also of Russia is the Kremlin, a kind of mini-city contained behind walls featuring cathedrals, armories and palaces. Not just the official residence of the Russian president but also a place for ordinary Muscovites to hang out, discover more about Russia's imperial history and the revolutions that took place during the 20th century.
You'll also visit the Armoury Museum. The Armoury’s collection is overwhelming. It contains such exhibits as golden and silver works of applied art by Russian, European and Oriental masters, priceless weapons and other works made of precious metals and stones and a unique collection of over fifty Faberge eggs.
We'll head down to the city's famed metro system, which is no ordinary underground network. The tunnels and subways are decorated in the unique Socialist Realist style, which incorporates fancy gilding, bright mosaics and marble features. A grand way to travel!
Top tip
When today's tour is done, we suggest you stay in the city centre to explore it independently. Alternately once you back to your hotel, we suggest you visit the Izmailovo Kremlin, only a two minute walk away, and renowned for its flea market. A treasure trove of old and new, it's bound to throw up some pretty unique souvenirs, such as matrioshka dolls, antique silver, jewellery, samovars and icons.
Day 4: Kolomenskoye Estate - UNESCO Heritage Site and Former Tsar Residence Guided Tour
Kolomenskoye is a former royal estate and one of the most picturesque and enjoyable of Moscow’s out-of-town attractions. This 15-17th century Tsarist estate is preserved in its original layout and comprises of unique architectural monuments, including the Church of the Ascension (1532).
We will visit the stunning, recently reconstructed Wooden Palace of the Tsar Alexey Mikhailovich Romanov (17th century) often referred to as ‘an eighth wonder of the world’. Here, you will have a unique chance to see the way of life of the Russian Tsars. The building represents a huge maze of intricate corridors, with 250 rooms. Famous for its fairytale roofs, the Wooden Palace was constructed without using saws, nails, or hooks.
In the evening your driver will meet you in the lobby to take you to the train station, where you will take an overnight train to beautiful St Petersburg.
Day 5: St Petersburg city tour
Your first day in St Petersburg is based around a guided tour of its key landmarks, including the pretty canal systems, which have earned the city its nickname, Venice of the North.
You'll see the impressive Peter and Paul Fortress, the gold-draped Church of the Saviour on Spilled Blood, as well as St Isaac's Cathedral, which now houses a Russian orthodox museum.
Day 6: The State Hermitage Museum
A guided tour of the Hermitage, former residence of the Russian Tsars (famous Winter Palace) and one of best museums of the world. This stunning palace, an architectural masterpiece in itself, contains a collection over 3,000,000 works of art re presenting the development of world culture and art from the Stone Age to the 20th century. The collection includes works of Leonardo Da Vinci, Titian, Raphael, French impressionists, sculptures and treasures icons, coins and Tsar’s jewellery. The Hermitage is an unforgettable place to visit
Top tip
Come evening, a Russian folk show at the beautiful 19th century Nikolaevsky Palace provides a brilliant opportunity to enjoy the culturaltraditions of Russia. Using common household items such as wooden spoons to make music, over two hours, the dynamic, colourful display of songs and dances from regional Russia is bound to dazzle and entertain. Tickets for the show can be bought from our office.
Day 8: Departure.
After taking time to pick up some final mementos and souvenirs, a driver will pick you up from the hotel lobby to take you to the airport.
If you would like to spend a day longer in Russia, visit Sergiev Posad or include Novgorod in your trip, have a look at our other tours to
Day 7: Tsarskoe Selo guided tour
This small town situated outside St Petersburg was once home to royalty and rivals Versaille in the extravagance of its palaces. Perfect examples of the baroque style, the buildings are distinctively decorated in blue, white and gold on the outside, but it's the interiors which will really get your motor running.
A tour round the iconic Catherine Palace is not to be missed - its unique Amber Room, which is literally lined with slabs of real amber and decorated with golf leaf, brings a whole new meaning to the word glow. Prepare to be dazzled too by the Grand Hall, which features massive arched windows, a myriad of mirrors and lots of gold leaf.
After the sun goes down, there's an opportunity to experience Russian ballet at its best at the famous Mariinsky Theatre, a theatre with a long history in St Petersburg. When the theatre opened in 1860 it quickly became the pre-eminent music theatre of the late 19th Century, premiering many works by Tchaikovsky, Mussorgsky, and Rimsky-Korsakov.
