Palaces and manors of the St. Petersburg nobility

Breakfast at the hotel.

09:00 Meeting with the guide in the hotel lobby.

Bus tour to Peterhof "Seaside paradise of Great Peter".

The tour introduces you to one of the famous suburbs of St. Petersburg - Peterhof, which for two centuries has been a brilliant suburban seaside imperial residence.

The excursion route runs along the southern coast of the Gulf of Finland along a scenic road, which in the first quarter of the 18th century was compared by foreign travelers to "a charming crossing from Paris to Versailles."

To this day, this road is rich in historical, architectural and landscape art monuments of the XVIII-XIX centuries, which remind of the illustrious owners of country estates and outstanding architects who turned the deserted southern coast of the Gulf of Finland into a wonderful necklace of palace and park ensembles.

Excursion to the Catherine Building Palace.

The Catherine Building is a small chamber palace next to the Montplaisir, built for Elizabeth Petrovna and rebuilt for Catherine II. From here she began her triumphal march to the Russian throne.

Today, the main halls of the palace feature a unique collection of furniture made from various types of trees, as well as personal belongings and memorabilia of those emperors who owned the palace at various times.

The main attraction of the Catherine Building is the famous Russian or Guriev service. Made at the Imperial Porcelain Factory in St. Petersburg, it numbered more than 4,500 items and was used at state dinners in the Winter Palace, and since 1848 in the Grand Peterhof Palace and in the Catherine Building.

With its artistic decoration, the service glorifies Great Russia and the people who inhabit its vast expanses.

Lunch at a cafe (for an additional fee).

Guided tour of the Lower Fountain Park.

The tour introduces the unique layout of the Lower Peterhof Park and the original water supply system to its numerous fountains. The glitter of gilding, the sound of water, marble sculptures, the Baltic breeze – all this emphasizes the idea of Russian domination of the sea, creating an unforgettable feeling of celebration.

End of the program: hotel.

Program duration: ~8 hours (ending at ~17:00).

Breakfast at the hotel.

09:30 Meeting with the guide in the hotel lobby.

Bus tour "Secrets of the Russian Throne. Emperors and favorites."

The fate of the entire Russian Empire was decided in St. Petersburg, and at the same time the private life of the crowned heads took place. Who, when, and for what merits was given the right to enter the royal chambers "without being informed"? What does the word "favorite" literally mean? When and why did favoritism flourish in Russia? Is it interesting? Then this tour is for you!

A walk through the Summer Garden.

This is the oldest garden in St. Petersburg, a favorite vacation spot for citizens and visitors of the city. It arose by the will of Tsar Peter at the very beginning of the XVIII century. Shady alleys, many sculptures and original fountains, the play of water, greenery and light – this is what still fascinates the Summer Garden of all its visitors.

Cruise along the Grand Neva River with access to the Gulf of Finland (~1h 45 minutes).

Your walk will take you through the most beautiful part of the grand Neva River, and will also cover the modern part of the city: the Gazprom Arena Stadium and the Lakhta Center. The best route to explore the city for the first time. On the double-decked motor ship you can relax and admire the grand center of St. Petersburg and the Gulf of Finland. You can dine on board, choosing delicious dishes and drinks from the menu (on your own for an additional fee).

Excursion to the Hermitage.

The Hermitage is one of the most famous museums in the world. His collection includes more than 3 million exhibits, which are priceless treasures of world art. After the tour, you will be able to walk around the museum on your own and examine its exhibits in more detail.

The place of the end of the program: the Hermitage (the nearest metro station is Admiralteiskaya).

Program duration: ~6.5 hours.

Breakfast at the hotel.

09:00 Meeting with the guide in the hotel lobby.

Exclusive program "One day at the noble manor. The ball at Marino Manor".

Not far from St. Petersburg, on the banks of the Tosno River, there is the former Marino noble estate. For two centuries, its history has been linked to the famous noble families of the Stroganovs and Golitsyns, and the current owner, Galina Georgievna Stepanova, is trying to revive the former splendor of the estate.

The wonderful landscape park and the old manor house, the highlight of which is the amazing "museum" basement, are already pleasing to the eye.

During the tour, we invite you to spend the whole day in a real noble manor, to feel the special world of the household of a noble family. We will remember the owners of these lands, the traditions of manor life, and the entertainment enjoyed by high society in the bosom of nature.

We will stroll through the magnificent manor park, unravel the mysteries of the old manor house, admire the restored interiors of its state halls, attend a tea ceremony and, dressed in historical costumes, become participants in a noble ball.

End of the program: hotel.

Program duration: ~9 hours.

Breakfast at the hotel.

10:00 Meeting with the guide in the hotel lobby.

Bus tour "Luxury and secrets of ancient palaces".

During the tour, you will get to know St. Petersburg, which still remembers the days of imperial luxury.

You will see all the famous imperial and grand ducal palaces of the city on the Neva, find out what their creators and inhabitants believed in, whom they loved, what they despised, how events unfolded not only in the "parade", but also in the daily life of aristocrats, full of intrigue, secrets and riddles.

Excursion to the Faberge Museum – the most famous private museum in St. Petersburg, located in one of the old mansions of the city on the banks of the Fontanka River. At the beginning of the 21st century, the Naryshkin-Shuvalov mansion was transferred to the cultural and historical foundation "Connection of Times" and extensively renovated.

Its restored interiors now feature more than 4,000 jewelry masterpieces by Russian masters, among which the products of the famous Faberge company occupy an honorable place.

You will admire the magnificent halls of the old St. Petersburg mansion, see not only the famous Easter eggs, but also a wide variety of jewelry items – fantasy objects, jewelry, silverware, interior and iconic objects.

Excursion to the Yusupov Palace.

The Yusupov Palace on Moika will welcome you with a snow-white marble staircase, moldings, mirrors. You will walk through the main halls of the palace, visit the brilliant, miniature home theater, which looks like a precious music box.

The place of the end of the program: the city center, the nearest metro station "Sadovaya".

Program duration: ~5 hours.

Breakfast at the hotel.

09:00 Meeting with the guide in the hotel lobby.

Bus tour to Tsarskoye Selo and Pavlovsk "The Palace Necklace of St. Petersburg".

Located very close to each other, these two palace and park ensembles have almost nothing in common: one impresses with grace and dazzling luxury, the other with impeccable taste, harmony and grace.

One was a representative residence, in which the richest decorations were created "for the unified glory of the All–Russian Empire"; the other was a private property of the imperial family - "an ideal place for an ideal life."

Excursion to the Catherine Palace with the Amber Room.

Guests of Tsarskoye Selo are stunned by the fantastic luxury of the Catherine Palace. One of the halls of Rastrelli's Golden Suite is the famous Amber Room, stolen by the invaders during the Great Patriotic War and recreated by St. Petersburg restorers, whose work you can appreciate during a tour of the Catherine Palace.

Lunch at a cafe in the city (for an additional fee).

Transfer to Pavlovsk (~20 min.)

Excursion to the Pavlovsk Palace.

The Pavlovsk Palace captivates absolutely everyone with its harmony and grace. Surrounded by a magnificent park in the valley of the picturesque Slavyanka River, it embodies all the originality of the Russian and European artistic culture of the XVIII century. During the tour of the palace, pay attention to the collections of watches, mirrors and porcelain items on display.

End of the program: hotel.

Program duration: ~9 hours.

Breakfast at the hotel.

Self-release of rooms before 12:00.

You can leave your belongings in the luggage room of the hotel.

Free day.

The departure time for excursions can be changed to earlier or later.

It is possible to change the order of excursions, as well as replace them with equivalent ones.