Welcome to Russia

The world's largest country offers it all, from historic cities and idyllic countryside to artistic riches, epic train rides and vodka-fuelled nightlife.

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Historic & Contemporary

If ancient walled fortresses, glittering palaces and swirly-spired churches are what you’re after, focus on European Russia. Here, Moscow and St Petersburg are the must-see destinations, twin repositories of eye-boggling national treasures, political energies and contemporary creativity. Within easy reach of these cities are charming historical towns and villages, such as Veliky Novgorod, Pskov and Suzdal, where the vistas dotted with onion domes and lined with gingerbread cottages measure up to the rural Russia of popular imagination.

Arty & Adventurous

Whether you’re a culture vulture in search of inspiration from great artists and writers or an adventure addict looking for new horizons to conquer, Russia amply delivers. Tread in the footsteps of literary greats, including Tolstoy and Pushkin, on their country estates. Ski or climb lofty mountains in the Caucasus, go trekking or white-water rafting in the Altai Republic, hike around Lake Baikal, or scale an active volcano in Kamchatka – the variety of possibilities will make your head spin.

Off the Beaten Track

Russia’s vast geographical distances and cultural differences mean you don’t tick off its highlights in the way you might those of a smaller nation. Instead, view Russia as a collection of distinct territories, each one deserving separate attention. Rather than transiting via Moscow, consider flying direct to a regional centre such as Rostov-on-Don, Irkutsk or Yekaterinburg and striking out from there. With a welcome spread of Western-style hostels and hotels around the country and the ease of booking trains and flights online, it's simple to organise this kind of trip yourself.

A Riddle Worth Solving

We won’t lie: bureaucracy and occasional discomfort and inconvenience, particularly away from the booming urban centres, remain an integral part of the Russian travel experience. However, a small degree of perseverance will be amply rewarded: one of the great joys of travel in Russia is being swept away by the boundless hospitality of the people. Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn and Winston Churchill both wrote famous lines about Russia being an enigmatic riddle. Embrace this conundrum and you, too, are sure to find yourself swept away by a passion for Mother Russia.

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$210 Shore Excursions

St. Petersburg Shore Excursion 2-Day City Group Tour with Visa

Day 1: 8:30 am Meeting by the ship. (Please note: the start time of the tour is given approximately and will be adjusted depending on your ship's arrival time). City tour includes driving and photo stops in the most beautiful, historical places of St Petersburg. A visit to a subway station and a farmers market 10:00-11:00 am Driving to Peterhof 11:00-12:30 am Guided tour of the Upper Gardens and Lower Fountain Park 12:30-1:30 pm Lunch (optional) 1:30-2:30 pm Driving to Pushkin city  2:30-4:00 pm Inside guided tour of Catherine Palace with the Amber Room 4:00-5:00 pm Driving to the city.  5:00 pm Return to the ship or evening optional program (theatre/folk show/boat trip) Day 2: 7:30 am Meeting by the ship. Continuation of the city tour 8:30-9.30 am Boat ride along rivers and canals 10:00-12:00 pm Guided tour of the State Hermitage museum (early admission, before the official opening hours) 12:15-12:45 am Inside guided tour of the Church of the Spilt Blood  1:00-2:00 pm Lunch (optional) 2:15-3:15 pm Stroll along Nevsky prospect. You will find yourself in the heart of St. Petersburg, feel the vibe of the city, pass by iconic buildings, including the oldest shopping mall – Gostiny Dvor. You will also get a unique chance to learn more about Russian local life and walking along the busiest thoroughfare of the great city. If time permits, there will be a shopping stop 3:30-4.00 pm Inside guided tour of St. Isaac's Cathedral 4:30 pm Return to the ship Please note: The timing and sequence of the museum visits are given approximate and depend on the days of the week The sequence of the tour can be changed by your guide because of the traffic and museums' days-off In order to minimize the flow of tourists inside the museum, the Hermitage authorities reserve the right to adjust the entrance time slot

$295.77 Shore Excursions

St. Petersburg Visa-Free 2-Day Shore Excursion with Boat Ride

Note: Below is a SAMPLE itinerary. The actual tour sequence will vary depending on overcrowding at venues, museums’ closing days, and traffic conditions.Day 108:30am-09:00am Meet and greet at the port09:00am-11:00am City sightseeing tour. A visit to the Metro station / ride on the subway (optional, if time permits)10:00am-10:45am A visit to Peter and Paul's fortress and cathedral, the burial place of the Russian Emperors11:00am-11:45am Drive to Peterhof Fountain Park11:45am-01:00pm Walk in the Peterhof Fountain park and Gardens01:15pm-02:15pm Lunch at a local café02:15pm-03:15pm Drive to the Tsars’ Village (summer residence)03:15pm-05:00pm visit to the Catherine's palace with the Amber room and a walk in the park***05:00pm-06:00pm Drive back to St. Petersburg06:00pm Return to the ship Day 208.00 am Meet at the ship08.30-09.30 am Sightseeing tour by boat along canals and Neva river10.00-12.00 pm Visit and guided tour to the Hermitage Museum (Pre-booked entry time*)12.00-01.00 pm Lunch at a local café01.00-01.30 pm Excursion in the Church of Our Saviour on the Spilled Blood02.00-03.30 pm A visit to the Yusupov Palace, site of Rasputin's murder03.45-04.30 pm A visit to St.Isaac's cathedral 05.00 pm Return to the ship *Please note: Entry times will vary as pre-booked time slots are scheduled to minimize waiting are assigned solely by the Hermitage museum.***Substitution on certain dates–Due to the 2018 World Cup and a record cruise season, on certain dates there may be extensive waiting times, overcrowding or limited availability to Catherine's Palace. The substitute visit will be the Faberge Museum or Pavlovsk Grand Palace and is intended to provide a more comfortable and enjoyable visit to St. Petersburg.
$87.68 Tours & Sightseeing

Tour of Pushkin (Tsarskoye Selo) and Catherine Palace

A pleasant walk through the park will let you feel like you're an important guest in the Residence of an Empress.The town of Pushkin, which was called Tsarskoye Selo until 1917, is 24 km (14.9 miles) south of St Petersburg. It was the residence of the Tsars from the beginning of 18th century onwards (from the mid-18th to the early 19th century palace and park complex were built, including the Catherine and Alexander Parks). The Catherine's Palace is one of the best examples of Russian baroque. It’s also famous for housing the world famous Amber room, a complete chamber decoration of amber panels backed with gold leaf and mirrors. Due to its singular beauty, it was sometimes dubbed the "Eighth Wonder of the World". After several other 18th-century renovations, it is covered with more than 55 square meters and contained over six tonnes of amber. Then stroll along the alleys of the Catherine Park, a wonderful work of the Russian art of gardening from the 18th and 19th centuries, which combines the masterpieces of architecture with the beauty of the transforming nature of the north.You have the opportunity to include with your tour a visit to the magnificent Pavlovsk Palace, which was the summer residence of the great Paul I, which is only a 5 miles drive from Pushkin. The interiors have influences of many cultures, as there were several architects throughout the years. Inside the palace you'll see the Egyptian Vestibule, the Italian Hall, a Greek Hall with French furnishings and Paul's War Hall.After visiting the Pavlovsk, you can relax in the beautiful palace gardens, where where Johann Strauss once performed with his orchestra. Have a seat in one of the many pavilions -- the Temple of Friendship, the Colonnade of Apollo, the Pavilion of the Three Graces, the Dairy Farm or the Rose Pavilion.
$210 Shore Excursions

St. Petersburg 2-Day Shore Tour: Hermitage, Catherine Palace

Founded by Peter the Great in 1703, St. Petersburg remains one of the world’s most beautiful cities. This comprehensive, 2-day shore tour makes it easy to discover its many charms, from palaces and parks to canal trips and cultural evenings out. Lasting for roughly 17 hours across two days (or 20 hours, should you sign on for an optional, 3-hour evening extension), this tour is the perfect introduction to the city. On the first day, disembark from your ship after arriving in the city, and head straight out on a city orientation tour of the city center. You’ll have interior visits to landmarks like the Hermitage Museum, Church of the Savior on Spilled Blood, St. Isaac’s Cathedral and the Winter Palace, punctuated with a stop for lunch. You'll also take an hour-long cruise on the River Neva. At 5:30pm, choose to return to your ship or use your 3-hour extension to see the city after dark. Explore or dine out independently, or sign on for optional evening activities (available for an extra fee), including a visit to the Faberge Museum, a pub crawl, a visit to the ballet, or a guided walking tour. On the second day, meet your guide at 8am at your port and venture just beyond the city limits to Pushkin, where the Catherine Palace — one of the world’s great palaces — is located. Spend the morning exploring the palace and its grounds before breaking for lunch, after which you’ll visit Peterhof, a seafront palace complex that’s famous for its sprawling gardens and many fountains. Wind down the tour and return to St. Petersburg, where you’ll go for a ride on the metro, famous for its baroque decoration. The tour concludes when you’re returned to your ship one hour before departure.Please see the Itinerary for details on each day of the tour.
$60 Sightseeing Tickets & Passes

St. Petersburg Hermitage Museum Skip-the-Line Ticket and Tour

Meet your art-loving guide in Palace Square and walk to the nearby Hermitage Museum. As you stroll, hear how the legendary building was founded in 1794, when Catherine the Great used it to house her small, private art collection, and then became a public museum in 1852. Since then, the Hermitage has grown into one of the world’s greatest art museums with a vast collection of more than three million items spanning Western European, Oriental, Classical, Egyptian and prehistoric treasures.The museum draws the crowds, and entrance lines can be long. If you’re visiting between May and September, enjoy early access to the museum, heading inside with your guide before the doors open to the general public. At other times, your skip-the-line ticket gives you fast-track access: simply walk past the main entrance line with your guide and start your tour.Once inside, absorb the museum’s grandeur as your guide explains how it’s laid out over five different buildings, including the Winter Palace, a former residence of Russia’s Romanov Tsars.Explore the opulent state rooms and chambers of the Winter Palace with your guide for a window into the Tsars’ extraordinary extravagance.After your 3-hour tour finishes, say goodbye to your guide in the museum and either stay longer to view more of main collections on your own — your ticket is valid for the whole day — or leave the Hermitage there and then.Please note: Early access to the Hermitage Museum between May and September is subject to approval by the museum.
$32.73 Tours & Sightseeing

Grand Tour of St Petersburg

You have the option to combine the Grand Tour St Petersburg with the following tours: Grand Tour St Petersburg + Peter and Paul's FortressThe Peter and Paul Fortress - the oldest and most historical construction in Saint Petersburg and put up for fortification purposes but never been attacked. It had for almost two centuries served as a burial place for Russian emperors. The last Russian tsar, Nicholas II, and his family were buried in the cathedral's small St Catherine chapel in 1998. Grand Tour St Petersburg and St Isaac's CathedralSt Petersburg Highlights Tour visiting magnificent St Isaac's Cathedral, formerly the Russia's principal cathedral. Grand Tour St Petersburg and Hermitage MuseumHermitage - the second largest art museum in the world and the main tourist attraction of St Petersburg. See all the great masterpieces of the world's art in several hours with a comment of a knowledgeable expert-guide. Grand Tour St Petersburg, Peter and Paul's Fortress, St Isaac's Cathedral,Savior-on-blood Church , Lunch and Hermitage MuseumComprehensive all-day tour of St Petersburg sites, including Peter and Paul Fortress and Cathedral, spectacular St Isaac's Cathedral, an elegant lunch and a 2-hour guided excursion to the famous Hermitage Museum.

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