RUSSIA FOR ME

Built on 101 islands and criss-crossed by 350 bridges, St Petersburg is often called the Venice of the North. It's certainly as beautiful as its namesake – but boasting a myriad of museums and a range of impressive architecture, it's got an important historical past and a vibrant cultural life too.

Your six day escorted holiday provides a real experience of Russian culture and a chance to learn more about its history and traditions. Majestic palaces, extravagant mansions and highly decorated cathedrals are all on the itinerary.

A tour of the biggest museum of Russian art, the Russian Museum, is high on the agenda, as is an escorted trip to the legendary State Hermitage Museum, which houses one of the largest art collections in the world. The Catherine Palace, a jewel of Russian baroque architecture, is also bound to amaze. Its Amber Room is sometimes considered the eighth wonder of the world.

Highlights

• Brush up on your knowledge of Russian fine art with a trip to the Russian Museum

• Take a stroll along the city's main thoroughfare Nevsky Prospekt, which is lined with some of the city's most important buildings, bridges and squares

• If you chosen to visit in the warmer months, take a river cruise

• Scale the dizzy heights of St Isaac's Cathedral to gaze over this beautiful city

• Visit the Hermitage, which composed of five main buildings and exhibiting works from the Stone Age to the modern day, is absolutely MASSIVE! remember to bring your best walking shoes and eat a hearty breakfast before you set out.

Escorted around St Petersburg by our highly knowledgeable and friendly guides, this is a holiday you won't forget in a long while.