A delicious symbol of St. Petersburg is the smelt. Gastronomic tour

We invite you to take a short gastronomic trip to the Northern capital. Petersburg is not only a splash of champagne, the smell of coffee, but also everyone's favorite little smelt fish.

The Smelt is Coming! festival is waiting for us – one of the most interesting, colorful and delicious events in the Leningrad region, a walk along Nevsky Prospekt, during which we will get acquainted with the legendary St. Petersburg cafes and restaurants, acquaintance with such pearls of St. Petersburg as the Eliseev Palace and the Faberge Museum. During this tour, you will learn why St. Petersburg is a typical European in its gastronomic character, what we call symbols of St. Petersburg cuisine and why pastry shops and bakeries are so popular in the city.

Location

Saint-Petersburg
from
$108
+ tickets to the starting point of the tour
No need to pay now
Duration
3 Days
2 Nights
Departures
  • Group departures
    • Dates for next season
    • 16 – 18 May, 2025
or
Accommodation
  • Hotel
    2 nights
Comfort
  • Upscale
  • Premium
Difficulty
Easy
Suitable for everyone
Group
Up to 50 people
Minimum age
5 years old
Group meet at
Saint-Petersburg
Contact the tour coordinator
Weekdays: 8am - 8pm
Weekends: 8am - 7pm (GMT +3)
Or text us in messengers

Tour highlights

The Smelt Festival is coming!
You will find smelt cooking workshops, fishing competitions, a craft fair and a music show
Legends of gastronomic St. Petersburg
On the main avenue of the city you will visit all the most famous cafes and restaurants of different eras
The Sparkling World of Faberge
You will get acquainted with the jewelry masterpieces of the museum and walk through the fantastic halls of the Shuvalov Palace

Itinerary

  • Day 1 - Arrival in the city. Walking tour "Legends of gastronomic Petersburg" with tastings

    Arrival in St. Petersburg. 

    Independent check-in at the hotel. 

    Things are handed over to the hotel's luggage room.

    (For an additional fee, an individual transfer: please specify the prices).

    12:30 Meeting of tourists at the Moscow railway station at the monument to Peter I.

    13:00 Meeting of tourists on the square. The Museum of Fine Arts at the Pushkin Monument in front of the Russian Museum (for guests from the hotels Katarina Art, Izzy at Gostiny Dvor, Asteria, Dostoevsky, Port Comfort, Talion).

    Bus tour "Legends of gastronomic Petersburg".

    St. Petersburg officially has the status of the culinary capital of Russia. On the tour "Gastronomic Petersburg" we will talk about how the gastronomic habits of the inhabitants of the capital of the Russian Empire changed, what dishes the Russian monarchs preferred and how bread was baked in different eras. During a walk through the city center, you will find out where oranges and pineapples were brought to the Winter Palace, when coffee and chocolate appeared in Russia, and when the first pastry shops familiar to us started working in the city. We will see the most luxurious shops and restaurants of imperial St. Petersburg, talk about the dynasties of bakers, confectioners and winemakers, as well as see the modern gastronomic centers of the city.

    Tasting of a "purely St. Petersburg hot dog" with smelt in the food mall "VOKZAL 1853".

    VOKZAL 1853 is the largest food mall in Russia and in Europe, which will unfold in the historic building of the Warsaw Railway Station. Three floors and 34,000 square meters will unite the entire gastronomic, entertainment and business life of St. Petersburg. It is here that we will try the legendary St. Petersburg fish. 

    Transfer to Gostiny Dvor/Nevsky Prospekt metro station for guests from Izzy u Gostiny Dvor, Katarina Art, Talion hotels.

    Transfer to the metro station "Ploshchad Vosstaniya" for guests from the hotels "Novotel", "Dostoevsky".

    Free time.

    In the evening, we recommend taking a walk along one of the "restaurant" streets of the city: Rubinstein Street, Nekrasov Street or Zhukovsky Street, where gastronomic and wine bars, hookah bars and classic pubs with fun parties, jazz concerts and karaoke are waiting for you in almost every house. You will surely meet here companies of Petersburgers and guests of the city, strolling from one institution to another.

    Additionally:

    Boat tour "Along rivers and canals". You will have an exciting journey through Northern Venice, which Peter the Great dreamed of creating. You will see its picturesque water streets and openwork fences, humpbacked bridges and front facades, which are perceived from the water in a completely different way than from the land. (700 adults, 500 pupils, 650 students, 650 pence).

    Additionally:

    Visit the Petrovskaya Aquatoria mock-up theater, where you will plunge into the life of the city in the first half of the XVIII century. Thanks to moving objects, modern light, sound and visual effects, Petrovsky Petersburg will come to life in front of you (500 vzr., 300 shk., 400 stud., 400 pence.).

    3 more photos
  • Day 2 - Staraya Ladoga and the Smelt Festival is Coming!
  • Day 3 - Completion of the program. Excursion to the Eliseev Palace and the Faberge Museum
Difficulty
Suitable for everyone

Accommodation

Accommodation
  • Hotel
    2 nights
Comfort
  • Upscale
  • Premium

The tour provides accommodation in a St. Petersburg hotel of your choice.

Excursion package without accommodation: 10,800 rubles. 3 days.

The cost of the tour for 1 person / rub. depending on the accommodation:

Dostoevsky 4* (Saint Petersburg), Buffet breakfast - 25 minutes walk to the Arts Square

Check-in datesDouble room with separate bedsSingle roomDouble room with separate bedsTriple (2 main+additional beds)Single room
 StandardSuperior
17.05.241650020800171001670022100

Izzy at Gostiny Dvor 3* (St. Petersburg), Buffet breakfast - 15 minutes walk to Arts Square

Check-in datesDouble room with a double bedSingle roomDouble room with separate bedsTriple (2 main+additional beds)Single room
 SmartComfort
17.05.241650020700175001660022700

We recommend it Katarina Art Hotel 4* (Saint Petersburg), Buffet breakfast - 4 minutes walk to Arts Square

Check-in datesDouble room with separate bedsSingle roomDouble room with separate bedsSingle roomDouble room with separate bedsTriple (2 main+additional beds)Single room
 SmartStandardComfort
17.05.2416500213001730023300188001750026300

We recommend it Rossi Boutique Hotel and Spa 4* (Saint Petersburg), Buffet breakfast – prices later

Novotel 4* (Saint Petersburg), Buffet breakfast - 22 minutes walk to Arts Square

Check-in datesDouble room with separate bedsSingle roomDouble room with separate bedsSingle roomDouble room with separate bedsTriple (2 main+additional beds)Single room
 StandardPremiumSuite (former Junior Suite)
17.05.2419500256002200030600232002120033100

 Discount for children under 16: 250 rubles.

IZZZI Hotel at Gostiny Dvor 3* or Katarina Art Hotel 4* or 2 nights
IZZZI Hotel at Gostiny Dvor 3*

IZZZI Hotel at Gostiny Dvor is conveniently located in the Central District of St. Petersburg, less than 1 km from the Faberge Museum, a 16-minute walk from the Anna Akhmatova Museum and 1.6 km from Mayakovskaya Metro Station. The reception is open 24 hours a day and free Wi-Fi is available. Guests can enjoy the on-site restaurant or use the shared kitchen. It offers family rooms.

Some rooms have a safety deposit box. Each room has a private bathroom with a shower and slippers. Rooms at the IZZZI u Gostiny Dvor Hotel are equipped with a flat-screen TV and a hairdryer.

A la carte or buffet breakfast is served in the morning. The IZZZI Hotel near Gostiny Dvor has a children's playground.

6 more photos
Another option
Katarina Art Hotel 4*

The Catherine Art Hotel is ideally located in the Central District of St. Petersburg, less than 1 km from the State Russian Museum, a 14-minute walk from the Summer Garden and 1.5 km from the Anna Akhmatova Museum. It offers a restaurant, a 24-hour front desk and free Wi-Fi. Guests can use the concierge service. An airport shuttle and bicycle rental service are available.

Each room here will provide you with a flat-screen TV and a work desk. The rooms are equipped with a private bathroom. Towels and bed linen are provided. All rooms are equipped with a safe.

A buffet breakfast is served every morning at the Catherine Art Hotel.

5 more photos
Another option
Dostoevsky Hotel 4*

The Dostoevsky Hotel is conveniently located next to a metro station, a 5-minute walk from Nevsky Prospekt and less than a 10-minute walk from the Alexandrinsky Theater. St. Isaac's Cathedral is 3 km away.

The rooms are equipped with a minibar and a flat-screen TV with satellite channels. The bathrooms are equipped with a hairdryer and free toiletries.

Guests can work out in the gym and relax in the sauna. A ticket service and a tour desk are available at the reception. Its staff will also recommend the most interesting events in St. Petersburg. A currency exchange service is also available.

2 more photos
Another option
The hotel "Novotel St. Petersburg Center"

The Novotel St. Petersburg Center Hotel is the heart of the Northern Capital, a ten-minute walk to the Anichkov Bridge and the Fontanka River embankment. Mayakovskaya Metro Station is 770 m away, and Vosstaniya Square is 670 m away.

We offer four types of rooms, such as: standard "Novation", Premium category with an updated design concept and two-room Junior Suites. The rooms are equipped with beds, Wi-Fi, flat-screen TV, refrigerator, tea set, hairdryer, air conditioning. The facilities include a private bathroom.

A buffet breakfast is served every day. The hotel also has its own pastry shop. All desserts are made from exclusively premium products. In the evening, guests can relax in the Gourmetbar restaurant, which serves delicious dishes and cocktails. On weekdays, the restaurant serves a business lunch, the menu of which is updated on a daily basis. Taste combinations can surprise even the most demanding gourmet. In addition to a private restaurant, nearby buildings house such establishments as the cafe “Layer” and the restaurant “BabJib".

The hotel provides 9 conference rooms for various kinds of events.

The Colosseum Concert Hall is 200 m away, and the Italian Park is 870 m away. 1.41 km away is the theater "I am an Actor!". Pulkovo Airport is 14.5 km away. Moskovsky Railway Station is 660 m away.

4 more photos

Tour conditions

Group
up to 50 tourists
Minimum age
5 years old
Duration
3 days 2 nights
Group meets at
Saint-Petersburg

Included in price

  • accommodation, when choosing a rate with accommodation;
  • breakfast, when choosing a rate with accommodation;
  • radio equipment (headphones);
  • guided tours and daily transportation services according to the program;
  • tickets to museums according to the program;
  • guide support.

Paid extra

  • air and railway tickets to St. Petersburg and back;
  • lunches and dinners;
  • accommodation and breakfasts, when choosing a rate without accommodation;
  • additional excursions;
  • private transfer to and from the hotel;
  • the resort fee of 100 rubles / day will be paid by guests directly at the hotel, and cannot be included in the tourist package (from 04/01/2024, an experiment on the introduction of a resort fee will start in St. Petersburg);
  • personal expenses.

It's important to know

Are there discounts for the tour?

Yes, the discount is available for children under 16 years of age – 250 rubles/person.

What are the check-out hours at the hotel?
Are plane/train tickets included in the tour price?
Is insurance included in the price of the tour?
What important information do you need to know about the tour?

Dates and Prices

The tour dates are not confirmed yet. Please, for clarification
  • from
    $108
    16 – 18 May, 2025 3 days 2 nights
    Submit request
    No need to pay now

Reviews

  • M
    Maria
    19 Nov, 2024
    about provider
    The tour was absolutely wonderful! I fell in love with the city! The guides were incredibly knowledgeable and engaging, sharing fascinating stories and little-known facts about the lives of the emperors that you won’t find in ordinary history books (they even recited poetry at times). I was thoroughly impressed with the entire experience and will definitely be coming back next year
    19 Nov, 2024
  • I
    Irina
    18 Nov, 2024
    about provider
    Thank you to the tour team for a fantastic experience! The hotel was great, the food delicious, and the excursions both informative and enjoyable. Overall, everything was excellent—we couldn’t be happier!
    18 Nov, 2024
  • SM
    Svetlana Matafonova
    5 Nov, 2024
    about provider
    The tour organization is impeccable.
    5 Nov, 2024