Moscow & St. Petersburg Tour R-4* Hotels etc.
Istanbul Airport - Moscow
Meeting with our valued guests at 05:35 at the international departures terminal of Istanbul New Airport, and after baggage and check-in procedures, departure to Moscow at 08:25 on THY flight TK 413. Arrival in Moscow at 12:25, and after being greeted at the airport, departure by our private vehicle for the “Moscow Panoramic City Tour.” During the panoramic Moscow city tour, the places we will see include the historic Red Square, which has witnessed political and social turmoil; the colorful, onion-shaped St. Basil’s Cathedral located there; the Kremlin Palace; the Bolshoi Theatre; Tverskaya Street; Gorky Park; Novodevichy Monastery; Swan Lake; Luzhniki Stadium; Lenin Hills; and finally Moscow University, all of which will be seen panoramically. At the end of our tour, transfer to our hotel and free time.
Moscow
After breakfast at our hotel in the morning, free time. Those who wish can join the extra Kremlin Palace & Moscow Metro & Arbat & Nazim Hikmet’s Gravesite Tour. The Kremlin, where Russian President Vladimir Putin also has his office, houses the Assumption Cathedral, considered Moscow’s most important church since the 14th century, as well as the world’s largest bell. We will continue our tour with the Moscow Metro. The Moscow Metro, launched by Stalin in 1931, is today compared in size with the metro systems of New York, Paris, or London, yet its interior architecture and decoration are universally accepted as making it the most beautiful metro in the world. Arbat Street, which runs through the center of Moscow, is a traffic-free road that everyone who comes to this city visits at least once and enjoys walking from one end to the other. Here you can browse the colorful shop windows, taste the finest examples of Russian and international cuisine, sit in chic cafés that would rival Paris, and best of all, sit on a bench and watch the Russians who have given themselves over to the flow of life. If you want a Moscow souvenir, this is the right place. Afterwards, we will continue our tour with Nazim Hikmet’s grave. We will depart from our hotel for the visit to Novodevichy Monastery (where Nazim Hikmet’s grave is also located). One of Russia’s most important monasteries, Novodevichy was founded in 1524 and, over time, became the place where the stars of many tsar candidates faded. Although Napoleon ordered its destruction in 1812, the nuns managed to prevent this decision. During the visit, we will see Nazim Hikmet’s grave, which is located within the monastery. After the tour, transfer back to our hotel. Overnight at our hotel.
Moscow - St. Petersburg (Train Journey)
After breakfast at our hotel in the morning, we check out of the rooms and transfer to the train station. Following our train journey from Moscow to St. Petersburg, upon arrival we are met and then depart by private vehicle for the “St. Petersburg Panoramic City Tour.” During the panoramic city tour, we will have the opportunity to see the streets where the finest examples of the world’s most famous architects and artists are displayed, as well as the city’s historical and touristic sites. Among the places to be seen are the famous Nevsky Prospect featured in the books of renowned writers, the Old Harbor Lighthouses, the Mint, the Clock Tower, the Statue of Peter the Great, the Winter Palace, Palace Square, the Admiralty Building, and the Aurora Cruiser. After our city tour, transfer to our hotel. Free time and overnight at our hotel in St. Petersburg. At the end of the tour, guests who wish may join the “Russian Night Tour,” which will be organized as an extra by our guide. You should not miss the opportunity to have dinner at Troika Restaurant, one of St. Petersburg’s finest restaurants, and watch magnificent dance shows. After the tour, transfer back to our hotel. Overnight at the hotel.
Saint Petersburg
After breakfast, free time. Guests who wish may join the extra tour organized as the “Hermitage, Peter and Paul, and Canal Tours.” Located beside the Neva River, the Hermitage Museum houses approximately 4 million works from the Tsarist era and is one of the largest museums in the world and in Russia; because it has the largest collection of paintings, it has also entered the Guinness Book of Records. Afterwards, accompanied by our guide, we will begin our canal tour, during which we will see St. Petersburg once again from its canals and continue all the way to the Neva River. After the tour, we will proceed to Peter and Paul Fortress. Built by Peter in the 1700s in St. Petersburg as the first structure there, the fortress is located on the Neva River. In the cathedral inside the fortress are the tombs of the Romanov Dynasty. At the end of the tour, transfer to our hotel. Overnight at our hotel.
Saint Petersburg
After breakfast, free time. Guests who wish may join the optional “Peterhof and Tsarskoye Selo Tours” organized for an additional fee. On this tour, we will have the opportunity to see the summer palace located on the Gulf of Finland, which Peter designed himself and had built by the Italian architect Rastrelli. A rival to the Versailles in Paris, this magnificent palace complex is adorned with 150 monumental fountains and 4 waterfalls in its gardens. Although it suffered great damage during World War II, it has been restored in full splendor, faithful to its original architecture. Afterwards, we will visit the park, palace, and building complex built by Catherine in the 18th century and known as Tsarskoye Selo. Covering an area of 600 hectares, the main building of this town is Catherine Palace. Its Amber Room is extremely interesting, though due to heavy crowds especially in the summer months, many tourists may not be able to visit it. In this famous town, where the aristocracy of the Tsarist era met the imperial family, there is also the school where the famous poet Pushkin studied. At the end of our tour, transfer to our hotel.
St. Petersburg - Istanbul
After breakfast, free time. At the time determined by our guide, transfer to the airport. After our arrival, following passport control and check-in procedures, we depart for Istanbul on Turkish Airlines scheduled flight TK 402 at 13:55. Arrival in Istanbul at 18:00 local time. We hope to meet you again on our next tour.
What's Included
Turkish Airlines economy class flights between Istanbul Airport – Moscow and St. Petersburg – Istanbul Airport.
2 nights in Moscow, accommodation with bed + breakfast in 4* hotels.
3 nights in St. Petersburg, accommodation with bed + breakfast in 4* hotels.
All transfers within the program.
Train ticket between Moscow and St. Petersburg.
Panoramic city tours of Moscow and St. Petersburg.
Airport taxes.
Hotel taxes.
Experienced Turkish-speaking tour leader service
Mandatory travel insurance (professional liability insurance).
2 nights in Moscow, accommodation with bed + breakfast in 4* hotels.
3 nights in St. Petersburg, accommodation with bed + breakfast in 4* hotels.
All transfers within the program.
Train ticket between Moscow and St. Petersburg.
Panoramic city tours of Moscow and St. Petersburg.
Airport taxes.
Hotel taxes.
Experienced Turkish-speaking tour leader service
Mandatory travel insurance (professional liability insurance).
Not Included
All personal expenses and hotel extras.
Exit fee for leaving the country (may be paid to the relevant banks or the treasury counter at the airport).
All optional extra tours specified in the program.
Museum and archaeological site entrance fees.
Lunch and dinner.
Domestic connecting flights.
Russia visa fee:
For holders of a burgundy passport, the visa must be obtained electronically from https://evisa.kdmid.ru/. The application must be made no later than 20 business days before the tour start date. Although the visa fee varies due to exchange rates, it averages between 50–60 USD per person.
Visa is not required for holders of a green passport. They need to obtain a QR code through the application.
A 100% surcharge applies for guests over 70 years of age
Exit fee for leaving the country (may be paid to the relevant banks or the treasury counter at the airport).
All optional extra tours specified in the program.
Museum and archaeological site entrance fees.
Lunch and dinner.
Domestic connecting flights.
Russia visa fee:
For holders of a burgundy passport, the visa must be obtained electronically from https://evisa.kdmid.ru/. The application must be made no later than 20 business days before the tour start date. Although the visa fee varies due to exchange rates, it averages between 50–60 USD per person.
Visa is not required for holders of a green passport. They need to obtain a QR code through the application.
A 100% surcharge applies for guests over 70 years of age
Prices are calculated per person in a double room.
For reservations made, a penalty fee will apply for train tickets between Moscow and St. Petersburg in case of cancellations made 90 days before the travel date. This fee varies between 80 and 120 Euro.
In case of operational disruptions that may occur during the train journey between Moscow and St. Petersburg, the alternative transfer will be by air.
Hotel check-in times are between 16:00–17:00, and check-out times are between 10:00–12:00.
If more than one hotel alternative is offered in the same destination and/or only the hotel category is specified, the hotels to be stayed at will be notified to you 48 hours before the departure date of the tour.
Due to occupancy, changes may occur in hotels; however, the hotel category will not change.
Twin (TWIN) beds can be provided in some hotels. During hotel accommodation, requests for room type changes are at the hotel’s discretion.
We kindly request that prices be checked before making a purchase.