DAY 01 ISTANBUL AIRPORT – ST. PETERSBURG
Meeting at 05:30 in front of the Turkish Airlines check-in counter at Istanbul Airport. After passport, ticket and luggage procedures, departure to St. Petersburg at 09:10 on Turkish Airlines flight TK401. Arrival in St. Petersburg at 13:00 local time, followed by passport procedures and meeting with our guide. Then, we head to the panoramic city tour of St. Petersburg with our private vehicle. During our panoramic city tour, we will have the opportunity to see the streets that showcase works from the world's most famous architects and artists, as well as the historical and touristic points of the city. Notable places included are Nevsky Prospect, Old Port Lighthouses, Mint, Clock Tower, Peter the Great Statue, Winter Palace, Palace Square, Admiralty Building, and Aurora Cruiser. After the city tour, we will transfer to our hotel. Free time and accommodation at our hotel in St. Petersburg.
At the end of the tour, our guests who wish can participate in the optional Russian Night Tour organized by our guide. We recommend not to miss the opportunity to watch the magnificent dance shows at Troika Restaurant, one of the finest restaurants in St. Petersburg, with dinner included. Return to our hotel after the tour.
Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
DAY 02 ST. PETERSBURG
After breakfast, free time. For those who wish, there are optional Hermitage, Peterhof, and Canal Tours available. The Hermitage Museum, located on the banks of the Neva River, is one of the largest museums in the world and Russia, housing approximately 4 million pieces from the Tsarist period. It has entered the Guinness Book of Records for having the largest collection of paintings. After the tour, guests who wish can participate in the Peterhof Palace Tour. This summer palace, located on the coast of the Gulf of Finland, is a magnificent complex designed by Peter himself and constructed by the Italian architect Rastrelli. It is shown as a rival to the Palace of Versailles in Paris; embellished with 150 monumental fountains and 4 waterfalls. Then, we continue our program with the Canal Tour. Accompanied by our guide, we enjoy a pleasant trip to see St. Petersburg from the canals to the Neva River. After the tour, transfer to the hotel. Overnight at our hotel.
DAY 03 ST. PETERSBURG
After breakfast, free time. For those who wish, there are optional Pushkin (Tsar Town) and Peter & Paul Tours available. This area, built by Empress Catherine in the 18th century, covers approximately 600 hectares and is known as Tsar Town. The main building of the complex is the Catherine Palace. The Amber Room, located in the palace, may occasionally be closed for visitation due to the high volume of visitors during the summer months. There is also a famous school where renowned Russian poet Pushkin was educated. Later, guests who wish can participate in the Peter & Paul Fortress Tour. The fortress, built by Peter in the 1700s, is the first structure in St. Petersburg and is located on the Neva River. The cathedral within the fortress contains the graves of the Romanov dynasty. The angel figure on top of the cathedral, the tallest structure in the city, is one of the symbols of St. Petersburg. After the tour, transfer to the hotel. Overnight at our hotel.
DAY 04 MOSCOW – ST. PETERSBURG (TRAIN JOURNEY)
After breakfast at our hotel, we check out of our rooms and transfer to the train station. After the train journey between St. Petersburg and Moscow, we arrive in Moscow and are welcomed. Then, we start our panoramic city tour of Moscow with our private vehicle. During the tour, places such as Red Square, St. Basil's Cathedral, the Kremlin Palace, Bolshoi Theatre, Tverskaya Street, Gorky Park, Novodevichy Monastery, Luzhniki Stadium, Lenin Hill and Moscow University will be seen panoramically. After the tour, transfer to the hotel and free time. For those who wish, there is an optional Russian Folk Dance Show Tour available. In this show, staged by one of Russia's most important ensembles, we will have the chance to get to know Russian culture closely through classical and modern dances. Return to the hotel after the tour. Overnight at our hotel.
DAY 05 MOSCOW
After breakfast, free time. For those who wish, there are optional tours available to the Kremlin Palace, Moscow Metro, Arbat Street, and Nazım Hikmet’s Grave. During our tour, we will visit the Kremlin Palace, where the working office of the President of Russia is located, the Cathedral of the Ascension of the Virgin Mary, and the world's largest bell. Next, we will use the internationally renowned Moscow Metro for transportation. Afterward, there will be free time on Arbat Street, one of Moscow's most famous streets. You can shop here or spend time in cafes. Our tour will continue with a visit to the Novodevichy Monastery and Nazım Hikmet's grave. After the tour, transfer to the hotel. Overnight at our hotel.
DAY 06 MOSCOW – ISTANBUL AIRPORT
After breakfast, free time. At the time determined by our guide, transfer to the airport. After passport and check-in procedures, we depart for Istanbul on Turkish Airlines flight TK416 at 20:10. Arrival in Istanbul at 00:20 local time. End of our tour.