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ST. PETERSBURG BY RAIL 2006
4 days / 3 nights, Helsinki - St. Petersburg - Helsinki
Departures: Mondays, April 10 / May 01, 15, 22, 29 / June 05, 12, 19, 26 /
July 03, 10, 17, 24, 31 / August 07, 14, 21, 28 / September 04, 18 /
October 09 / November 13 / December 30* 2006
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Welcome to Russia! Your journey by rail from Helsinki crosses over the Russian border to visit St. Petersburg, home of the Tsars. Recently celebrating its 300th Anniversary, the magnificent city of St. Petersburg entices with a legacy of history, the arts and striking beauty. St. Petersburg is a city of canals and rivers, built on 101 islands, joined by 350 graceful bridges over the Neva River, thus earning the name " Venice of the North". The city, once the capital of Russia, is a bustling world capital of art, culture, history, music and luxury. Majestic palaces, extravagant mansions and richly decorated cathedrals, create a regal ambience all around St. Petersburg, one of the most beautiful cities on the globe. Visit Pushkin, St. Isaac's Cathedral, and the world-famous Hermitage Art Museum. A multilingual tour leader will accompany you throughout the tour, which introduces the main sights of the city in four days.
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Day 1 HELSINKI - ST. PETERSBURG (B, D, Train)
Czarist Colors
After boarding the early Finnish Sibelius train from Helsinki to St. Petersburg enjoy breakfast. Upon arrival in the "Venice of the North", the orientation tour takes you to the Bronze Horseman, Admiralty, Nevski Prospekt and Palace Square. This magnificent Russian city owes much of its special atmosphere to the painted façades of magnificent architecture. The tour continues to the very roots of St. Petersburg, founded by Peter the Great, as he laid the foundation of the first fortress on an islet in 1703. This island, the Peter-and Paul Fortress, has become the chief monument to its founder's reign. Dinner at local restaurant. Dinner and overnight at tourist-class hotel Moskva or similar in St. Petersburg.
Day 2 ST. PETERSBURG - HERMITAGE - ST. ISAAC'S (B, L, D, Coach)
Along Canals and Boulevards
The day begins with an excursion to the Hermitage. The Hermitage was established in the year 1764, as Catherine II bought paintings made by famous Dutch painters. After the revolution in 1917 the amount of exhibits tripled and now it contains 2,400,000 pieces of art. The Hermitage collection offers art lovers special highlights such as Leonardos, Raphaels and Titians. After lunch, served in a local restaurant, you visit the third largest Cathedral in the world: the Cathedral of St. Isaac. The cathedral was designed by a French architect Auguste Montferrand, and the construction took 40 years - from 1818 to 1858. Dinner and overnight at tourist-class hotel Moskva or similar.
Day 3 ST. PETERSBURG - PUSHKIN (B, L, D, Coach)
18th-century Russian Luxury
In the year 1708 Peter I gave his wife Catherine Aleksejevna an estate in the outskirts of St. Petersburg. As the summer residence of Russian Czars for two centuries Zarskoje Selo, later Pushkin, was developed into one of the most magnificent and richest residences in Europe by the most famous architects and craftsmen of the time. Lunch in a local restaurant and transfer to city centre. Leisurely afternoon for strolling and shopping along Nevsky Prospekt. Dinner and overnight at tourist-class hotel Moskva or similar.
Day 4 ST. PETERSBURG – HELSINKI (B, L, Train)
Breakfast at your hotel. Spend your last morning at leisure. After lunch at the hotel, transfer to the railway station and afternoon departure to Helsinki, where you arrive late in the evening.
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Departure Dates 2006
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Mondays: April 10
May 01, 15, 22, 29
June 05, 12, 19, 28
July 03, 10, 17, 24, 31
August 07, 14, 21, 28
September 04, 18
October 09
November 13
December 30*
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Prices in US Dollars
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Sep / Oct / Nov / Dec / April
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Per person in double room
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1,060
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Single Supplement
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195
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3rd person in double room
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995
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*Supplement for Dec 30th
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295
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May / June / July / August
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Per person in double room
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1,175
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Single Supplement
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195
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3rd person in double room
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1,065
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Included
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3 nights accommodation in twin-bedded renovated rooms with bath or shower at
tourist-class Hotel Moskva or similar
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4 x breakfasts
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3 x luncheons
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3 x dinners
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Finnish "Sibelius" train, Helsinki - St. Petersburg - Helsinki
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Seat reservations in second-class compartments
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Transfers from/to Train Station in St. Petersburg
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Orientation tour with English speaking guide
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Excursions in Russia are guided in English
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Hermitage Art Museum, approx 3-4 hours
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Entrance fees according to the program
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Multilingual tour leader starting from Helsinki
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Service charges and taxes on included items
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Not Included
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Please note:
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Meeting Point and Time in Helsinki:
Railway station by the "Sibelius" train to St. Petersburg 30 minutes prior to departure.
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Visa for Russia
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A Russian Visa is compulsory for all passengers on the tours to Russia. Each passenger must apply for the visa in his/her country of domicile. The visa application must be accompanied by confirmation documents. To obtain the necessary support letter, we need to know the personal data of each passenger at the time of booking (i.e. surname, first names, date of birth, sex and passport number). For the support letter, there is a handling fee of USD 25, which is charged per party traveling together. In addition there is a booking fee of EUR 35 added by the tour operator in Finland to the tour price per person.
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Add-ons: Tour Options
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Additional nights in Helsinki
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Moscow extension
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Silja Line Cruise, Helsinki to Stockholm
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Silja Line Cruise, Helsinki to Tallinn
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List of Hotels
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Night 1, 2 & 3
Hotel Moskva
St. Petersburg / Russia
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