St. Petersburg & Moscow Tour - with Pegasus Airlines

Day 1 ISTANBUL – ST PETERSBURG We meet at the departure terminal of Sabiha Gökçen Airport three hours before the flight. After luggage, ticket, and boarding procedures, our flight to St. Petersburg begins with Pegasus Airlines scheduled flight. Upon arrival in St. Petersburg, considered the Venice of the North and the Imperial Capital of Russia, we will conduct a city tour. We will see Nevsky Prospekt, the Champs Elysees of Petersburg, Palace Square where the Winter Palace is located and where the first Russian revolution started in 1905, the Hermitage Museum which has the world’s largest art collection, the Aurora Cruiser symbolizing the revolution, Old Port lighthouses, Peter and Paul Fortress Cathedral, Kazan and St. Isaac Cathedrals, Art Square, and the Bronze Horseman statue of Peter the Great from a panoramic view. After our tour, transfer to our hotel in St. Petersburg and leisure time to rest. Accommodation at our hotel. Day 2 ST PETERSBURG After breakfast at the hotel, leisure time. For those interested, we depart for an optional tour to Pushkin Village & Peterhof Palace Park & Catherine Palace (€155). The summer palace located by the Gulf of Finland, built after Peter’s own plans and designed by Italian architect Rastrelli, is a magnificent complex rivaling Versailles in Paris, with 150 monumental fountains and four cascades enhancing its gardens. Despite severe damage during World War II, it was restored exactly as originally built. After the Peterhof tour, free time for lunch, then we proceed for the Pushkin Village & Catherine Palace tour. The village, built in the 18th century by Grand Catherine, is a complex of palaces and buildings. The main building is Catherine Palace. The Amber Room here is very fascinating but often difficult to visit in summer due to high demand. This famous town, where the aristocracy met the Tsar family during the Tsarist era, also features the school where the famous poet Pushkin studied. Afterward, transfer to our hotel. Accommodation at our hotel. Day 3 ST PETERSBURG After breakfast, leisure time. For those interested, there is an optional tour to the Hermitage Museum & Cathedrals (€110). We will visit the Hermitage Museum, one of St. Petersburg’s most magnificent museums. While exploring this breathtaking palace complex in the city center, we will witness the splendor of the Tsarist period and view world-renowned masterpieces. The Hermitage Museum houses about 4 million works and is one of the world’s largest museums, with the most extensive collection of paintings, earning a Guinness World Record. We will stroll among works by Leonardo da Vinci, Rembrandt, and other masters, embarking on an enjoyable journey into history. After the museum, a short walk will take us to Saint Isaac’s Cathedral, which impresses us with its massive columns and golden dome, offering a panoramic view of the city. Next, we head to Kazan Cathedral, with its striking architecture and spiritual atmosphere, located on Nevsky Prospekt. We will observe local worshippers in a peaceful environment. As the final stop, we visit the Church of the Savior on Spilled Blood, decorated with mosaics and an enchanting interior. Great photo opportunities. After our tour, transfer back to our hotel and leisure time. For those interested, there is an optional evening dinner Russian Night (€130). Held at Troyka, one of Russia's most famous restaurants with a cabaret-style program, we enjoy a delightful dinner with captivating Russian dance performances, then transfer to our hotel. Day 4 ST PETERSBURG – MOSCOW After breakfast at the hotel, the rooms will be vacated, and we transfer to the train station for our train journey to Moscow. Upon arrival in Moscow, our private bus takes us on a city tour. We will see the historic center of Red Square, the colorful onion-domed St. Basil's Cathedral, the Kremlin Palace, Bolshoi Theatre, Tverskaya Street, Gorky Park, Novodevichy Monastery, Swan Lake, Luzhniki Stadium, Sparrow Hills, and Moscow University from a panoramic view. After the tour, transfer to our hotel. For those interested, an optional Moscow River Cruise with Radisson Cruise (€95) will depart in the evening. On this tour, which starts near evening, we will enjoy seeing Moscow’s majestic historical buildings illuminated from a different perspective. Afterward, transfer to our hotel for rest and leisure. Day 5 MOSCOW After breakfast, leisure time. For those interested, an optional tour to the Moscow Metro, Arbat Street, Nizami Ganjavi Cemetery, and the Kremlin (€120) is available. On the metro tour, visit underground stations decorated with art similar to galleries, featuring motifs, mosaics, and paintings. Experience cafes rivaling those in Paris, sample the best examples of Russian and world cuisines, and watch the lively local life. The Moscow Metro, initiated by Stalin in 1931, is considered the most beautiful metro system in the world for its architecture and decorations, even though it ranks in size with New York, Paris, and London subway systems. Arbat Street, crossing the heart of Moscow, is a traffic-free pedestrian street lined with colorful shops where you can stroll and enjoy delicious local and international dishes. We will visit the grave of the great poet Nâzım Hikmet. Lunch will be free, and in the afternoon, we begin our Kremlin tour. Built in the 12th century, the Moscow Kremlin is an iconic symbol of Russia. We will see the nine cathedrals in the palace gardens, the Church Bell Tower with 156 bells, the Tsar Bell weighing 201,924 kg, the 15-ton cannon built in 1586 that was never used, and the 1-ton cannonball. After the tour, transfer to our Moscow hotel and free time to relax and explore. Day 6 MOSCOW – ISTANBUL After breakfast, we transfer to the airport at the time specified by our guide. With Pegasus Airlines’ scheduled flight, we return to Istanbul. Upon arrival at Sabiha Gökçen Airport, our tour and services end.