The silver necklace of Russia. St. Petersburg and Vyborg. 5-day Summer tour

Breakfast at the hotel (if the "no breakfast" tariff is not selected).

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

Bus tour "Resplendent St. Petersburg".

The tour presents the city as a single organism, where the granite rim of rivers and canals, the golden glow of spires and domes, the stone decoration of grand ducal palaces and numerous temples create a unique image of the resplendent Northern capital.

Guided tour of the Hermitage.

The Hermitage occupies a very special place among the art museums of the world. It began as a private collection of Empress Catherine II and remained closed to the general public for a long time.

In the middle of the 19th century, the museum became public. Now his collections number more than 3.5 million exhibits.

Among them are masterpieces by Leonardo da Vinci, Rembrandt, Impressionist paintings, antique sculpture, Egyptian antiquities, a real mummy and much more.

Boat trip "Northern Islands of the Neva Delta" (duration: ~1h 45 min).

The Northern Islands of the Neva Delta boat trip on a two–deck motor ship is one of the most popular urban routes.

During one trip, you will be able to see the historical center of St. Petersburg with its main symbols – the Winter Palace, the Peter and Paul Fortress, the Arrow of Vasilievsky Island, and the ultramodern buildings of the city's recent history – the Gazprom Arena stadium in the form of a flying saucer and the tallest skyscraper in Europe – the Lakhta Center.

The comfortable ship will delight travelers with a large promenade deck with panoramic views.

There is a restaurant with a chef's signature menu on board the ship.: You can order a full lunch, a light salad, or a cappuccino with dessert to make your trip even more enjoyable (on your own for an additional fee).

The end point of the program is the pier (the nearest metro station is Admiralteiskaya).

Program duration: ~5 hours.

Breakfast (self-order a dry ration at the reception the night before).

08:00 Departure from the Oktyabrskaya Hotel (Ligovsky Prospekt, 10), including for the Moscow, Azimut and A Hotel Fontanka hotels (pick up 30 minutes before departure) – at 07:30.

You get to the place of departure for the tour on your own.

It is possible to order an individual transfer from the hotel to the departure point for an additional fee.

Guided tour "Vyborg: a journey to the Middle Ages along the Royal Road".

Vyborg is a unique city with a rich history, after visiting which you will find yourself in Medieval Europe on the territory of Russia.

Church of the Transfiguration of the Lord in the city of Zelenogorsk.

On the way to Vyborg, the bus will stop in the city of Zelenogorsk at the main attraction of these regions.

Here, in the park, stands the Lutheran Church of the Transfiguration of the Lord, a magnificent creation by the famous Finnish architect Josef Stenbeck.

In the same area, like a white swan across the waters of the bay, the white-stone Church of the Icon of the Mother of God is located among the pines and firs.

Visit to the State Historical, Architectural and Natural Museum-Reserve "Monrepos Park".

Monrepos – "My peace", "My rest" – Russia's only rock landscape park of the Romantic era, "Finland in miniature".

The park embodies the whole nature of the Karelian Isthmus and fascinates with its natural nature.

Pines and fir trees grow on the high hills, rocks and marshes "side by side".

You will be able to admire the beauties of its wild nature and see the Hermit's Hut, the Narcissus spring, as well as the St. Peter's Gorge. St. Nicholas and the grotto.

Many famous people visited Monrepos: Baratynsky, Batyushkov, Denis Davydov, Anna Kern, Glinka, Vladimir Solovyov.

In 1863, Emperor Alexander II visited Monrepos, having heard about the beauty of this place and wishing to see it personally.

Lunch at a cafe in the city (optional, on-site payment).

Visit to the Castle Island. Sightseeing of Vyborg Castle.

Vyborg Castle, founded in 1293, during the Third Swedish Crusade. The castle was built according to medieval canons, when artillery was not yet used on the battlefield, and the main military force was mounted knights.

After the tour, you will be able to visit the exhibitions on the territory of the fortress on your own (for an additional fee).

Important! The St. Olaf Tower is closed for reconstruction.

Old Town tour.

Sightseeing tour of the city, during which you will slowly walk through the narrow cobbled streets and ancient squares of this amazing city, which attracts tourists and travelers from many countries.

You will see the military fortifications of the XIII – XIX centuries, admire the "cascade of squares": Cathedral – Pioneer – Market.

Visit the monument to Thorgels Knutsson, the founder of Vyborg, and stroll along the Bolshoy Kovsh embankment, as well as visit the Burger Manor, where you will have the opportunity to taste Scandinavian gleg, Swedish lemonade, or just drink coffee with a local pretzel.

Visit the Panzerlax Bastion and the Alvar Aalto Library (guided tour of the library for an additional fee).

The Panzerlaks bastion is the most important element of the fortress structure on the coast of Vyborg Bay.

Next to the bastion, in a green square, is the central library, designed by Finnish architect Alvar Aalto in the style of functional modernism, which is characterized by a combination of the rigor of functionalism and the gentle smoothness of natural lines.

The wave-shaped acoustic ceiling of the lecture hall, which has now been restored according to the original drawings, as well as the original lighting of the reading room with round windows located on the ceiling, caused a sensation in the architectural world.

Sunlight enters through them, while the walls of the hall do not contain windows.

Place of completion of the program: gost. Oktyabrskaya, Ligovsky ave., 10, metro station Pl. Uprisings."

Program duration: ~ 14 hours.

Breakfast at the hotel.

Free day.

Breakfast at the hotel (if the "no breakfast" tariff is not selected).

Room release.

You can leave your belongings free of charge in the hotel's luggage room or take them with you on the bus.

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

Bus tour to Peterhof "There are fountains shining with silver..."

The tour will give you an unforgettable encounter with one of the most famous suburban imperial residences. The road that will lead us to Peterhof still cherishes the traces of bygone centuries. The preserved monuments and manors recreate the atmosphere of rural life in Russia at the end of the XIX – beginning of the XX century.

Peterhof Fountain Park tour.

The Lower park has an area of 102 hectares and stretches for more than 2 kilometers along the shore of the Gulf of Finland. It took incredible efforts to turn the deserted swampy shore of the Gulf of Finland into a luxurious park with fountains and cascades.

Moreover, all the work was done manually – tons of fertile land were imported, ornamental trees and shrubs were planted, which were able to take root in the cold northern climate.

Peterhof is the capital of fountains, a magical garden with a palace topped by a golden vase standing on the roof. Its base is the Grand Cascade, an incredible aquatic extravaganza with fountains and sculptures.

The jet of the most famous fountain "Samson" rises to the height of a seven-story building. In terms of splendor and richness of decoration, Peterhof surpassed its prototype, the French Versailles, and became the most striking palace ensemble in Europe.

The place of the end of the program: the city center, Moskovsky railway station (metro station "Pl. Uprisings").

Program duration: ~5.5 hours (ending at ~14:30).