St Petersburg Tours, Vacation, Travel Packages & Experiences
Our St. Petersburg Tours and Trips
Known as the cultural capital of the country and a highlight of many Russia vacations, St. Petersburg is a beautiful city offering a blend of European architecture and Russian history. Situated on the eastern tip of the Baltic Sea, St. Petersburg is Russia’s second largest city, and has the Neva River running through its centre.
St. Petersburg was founded by Peter the Great in 1703 AD, who then moved Russia’s capital from Moscow to St. Petersburg in 1712. It remained the seat of the Romanov Dynasty and the Imperial Court of the Russian Tzars, as well as the seat of the Russian government, for another 186 years until the communist revolution of 1917. Known as Petrograd in 1914 during World War I, and later Leningrad in 1924, in honor of communist revolutionary and founder of the Soviet Union, Vladmir I. Lenin, St. Petersburg returned to its original name in 1991, after the fall of the Soviet Union. Once nicknamed ‘Venice of the North,’ St. Petersburg offers beautiful sites along the Neva River, including ornate, Baroque bridges, along with scenic canals. With an offering of an opera or ballet performance, a scenic canal tour, and a dining experience featuring Russian crepes and caviar, St. Petersburg is one of the most romantic cities to be enjoyed while on Russia vacations. This imposing historic building was reconstructed during the reign of Catherine the Great (1729-1796) who ordered three adjoining buildings to become what we today know as the Winter Palace and the Hermitage Museum. The Winter Palace was home to the Czars from 1732 to 1917, when the Soviets stormed the palace during the Russian Revolution. The palace has around 1500 rooms, 117 staircases and almost 2,000 windows. The Hermitage exhibits in the Winter Palace relate to Peter the Great (1672-1725) and include paintings and personal artefacts from Peter I’s reign as well as the Czar’s gilded carriage. You can visit the Czar’s private rooms including his study and dining room. This is one of the oldest museums in the world, founded in 1764 by Catherine the Great and opened in 1852. There are over 3 million works in this vast building. To see the whole museum on a Russia vacation would take days on end. Every type of art from every possible era is included in the museum, while the State Rooms with their period furniture and decoration are just as important and impressive as the art. In the Treasure Galleries, there are priceless items including Sarmatia goldwork and Faberge eggs. Some of the rooms are used to display art and others period furniture. There is everything here from ancient Egyptian artefacts to modern art. This is the original citadel of St. Petersburg founded by Peter the Great in 1703. In the early 1920s, it was used as a prison and execution ground by the Bolshevik government. In 1924, it was converted into a museum and today, it is the State Museum of the History of Saint Petersburg. The fortress contains several buildings clustered around the Peter and Paul Cathedral and is the burial place of all the Russian Czars from Peter the Great (1672-1725) to Alexander III (1845-1894). This beautiful building has a golden dome which dominates the city’s skyline. The cathedral is the second tallest building in St. Petersburg after the Peter and Paul Cathedral, built between 1818 and 1858. Today it’s a museum, although church services are held throughout the year in only one of the cathedral’s chapels. If feeling energetic on Russian tours, you can climb the 262 steps to the colonnade around the dome and experience wonderful city views. The cathedral’s interior is decorated with masses of gold, malachite, lapis lazuli and bronze. This is a 1900 Russian-protected ship, currently preserved as a museum ship. The Aurora played an important role in the Bolshevik Revolution of 1917. It fired a blank shot at the Winter Palace then the residence of the Provisional Government, giving the signal to the workers, soldiers and sailors of the city to storm the palace. This incident was the beginning of years of Communist leadership. This is a property formerly owned by the affluent Yusupov family until the palace was confiscated in 1917 by the Bolsheviks. This palace is best known as the site where Rasputin, a confidant of Nicholas II, was assassinated. Today the murder has been recreated with wax models, documents and photographs in a special assassination exhibition. There are more than 40,000 works of art in the palace, including works by Rembrandt and sculptures. For over 200 years, this theatre has been home to one of Russia’s best opera and ballet companies. The theatre has neoclassical designs with Byzantine motifs, gilding and a ceiling fresco by Enrico Franciolli. There is an amazing chandelier designed by Albert Cavos. There are no tours of the theatre so you need to attend a performance to see inside its beautiful interior. The Russian Museum contains the world’s largest collection of Russian art with over 400,000 exhibits from the 10th to the 21st Century consisting of all types and schools. There is contemporary photography, contemporary art, folk art, decorative art, applied art, drawings, watercolours, prints, numismatics, sculptures and paintings. The museum complex includes the Mikhailovsky Palace, Marble Palace, Stroganov Palace, Mikhailovsky Castle, Summer Garden, Peter I’s Summer Palace, Peter the Great’s Cabin and the Mikhailovsky Garden. This palace and gardens are the Russian equivalent of Versailles in Paris and are a UNESCO World Heritage site. The palace estate is made up of more than one palace but the Grand Palace is the main attraction. The palace estate was commissioned by Peter the Great to be more impressive than all other European palaces and was completed in 1721. More than 20 museums exist in the complex. The Grand Palace and other palaces within the estate are lavishly decorated with priceless works of art and exquisite craftsmanship including antique authentic period furniture. The gardens are dominated by huge and intricate fountains. The Upper Garden has many fountains including the Grand Cascade with 64 fountains. This was originally a small palace given as a gift to Catherine I from her husband Peter the Great. The palace was enlarged under architect Rastrelli. The reconstruction was completed in 1756 with a palace complex covering one kilometre/half a mile in circumference. More than 100 kilograms/220 lbs of gold were used in the decoration. Today the palace houses a museum which presents the 300 years of the structure’s history. The decor, mosaics, murals and stucco work are outstanding. Especially remarkable are the staterooms designed by Rastrelli. In front of the palace are the former palace gardens which now make up Catherine Park. For some additional reading, the following articles are from our blog “Globetrotting with Goway”….. a great source of information for those people who are, or who want to be, world travellers! Moscow and St. Petersburg: Two Splendid Cities to Explore on a Russia Vacation Make 2019 Your Year for a Goway Cruise Vacation Ten Iconic Sites to See on a Europe Vacation Explore Host Nations of the World Football Stage Soviet Russia 100 Years Later: Explore its Communist Past on a Russia Vacation Extend your Stay Consider an additional stopover to your Russia vacation at one of Goway's other European destinations. You can choose from a Paris vacation, a London vacation or an Amsterdam vacation. This can be done stopping over en route to or from Russia.St. Petersburg Travel Information
History of St. Petersburg
St. Petersburg Travel Highlights
The Winter Palace
The Hermitage Museum
Peter and Paul Fortress
St. Isaac’s Cathedral
The Aurora Battleship
Yusupov Palace
Mariinsky Theatre
The Russian Museum
Peterhof Palace
Catherine Palace
"Globetrotting with Goway" blog articles
St Petersburg, Russia
12 Trips Available
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Moscow, St. Petersburg and Helsinki Discovery
MODERATE | TAILOR-MADE: Discover the artistic and cultural heritage of Russia and Finland. In Russia, you’ll explore the metro system of the capital Moscow and the revolutionary history of St. Petersburg before connecting to Helsinki to tour the architecturally-stunning landmarks of the Finnish capital.- Duration:
- 9 Days
- Prices From:
- US$ 1,004
- Trip Type:
- Classics (Bestsellers), Tailor-made Travel Ideas
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Cultural Finland & Russia: Helsinki, Finnish Lapland & St Petersburg
DELUXE | PRIVATE-GUIDED: This 9 day tour starts in the vibrant seaside city of Helsinki where you will spend 2 nights taking in all the city has to offer before heading 150 miles north of the Arctic Circle in Finnish Lapland. Stay 2 nights enjoying the incredible beauty of arctic wilderness before travelling by train from Helsinki to St. Petersburg for the remainder of your vacation. Visit the must-see sights in St Petersburg including Peter and Paul Fortress, St. Isaac's Cathedral, the Hermitage and more!- Duration:
- 9 Days
- Prices From:
- AU$ 4,161
- Trip Type:
- Active & Adventurous, Multi Country Vacation Ideas, Private Experiences, Tailor-made Travel Ideas
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Discover St. Petersburg
MODERATE | TAILOR-MADE: Get to know Russia’s “treasure house” with its vivid history and its many iconic sites. The past and present will come together on a tour of the highlights. Also enjoy spending time in one of the world’s greatest museums, the amazing Hermitage.- Duration:
- 4 Days
- Prices From:
- US$ 402
- Trip Type:
- Stopovers/City Breaks, Tailor-made Travel Ideas
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Best of Russia, the Baltics and Poland Coach Tour
FIRST-CLASS | ESCORTED COACH TOUR: On this encompassing survey of northern Europe and Russia, you'll discover Moscow and its imposing Kremlin, admire art nouveau architecture in Lithuania’s Vilnius and see a city risen from the ashes of war in Warsaw, Poland. This and so much more is yours to discover, all with the help of licensed local guides, on this sweeping, first-class coach tour.- Duration:
- 14 Days
- Prices From:
- US$ 3,326
- Trip Type:
- Bucket List Travel Ideas, Escorted Coach Touring
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Cruising the Baltics with NCL: Copenhagen, St. Petersburg, Helsinki & More
FIRST-CLASS | CRUISE: Experience six incredible cities during this unforgettable cruise of the Baltics. Embark from Copenhagen, Scandinavia's most cosmopolitan city, and experience the fascinating Brandenburg Gate and Reichstag in Berlin, Peter the Great's Kadriorg Palace in Tallinn, the palaces and cathedrals of St. Petersburg, and so much more.- Duration:
- 12 Days
- Prices:
- On request
- Trip Type:
- Cruises & Sailing, Multi Country Vacation Ideas
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Luxury on the Volga: From Moscow to St. Petersburg
DELUXE | CRUISE: Enjoy four decks of luxury onboard the MS M. Rostropovich as you sail between Russia’s most famous cities, Moscow and St. Petersburg, uncovering a wealth of history and nature along the way.- Duration:
- 8 Days
- Prices From:
- US$ 2,282
- Trip Type:
- Cruises & Sailing, Luxury and Beyond
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Luxury on the Volga: From St. Petersburg to Moscow
DELUXE | CRUISE: Enjoy four decks of luxury onboard the MS M. Rostropovich as you sail between Russia’s most famous cities, St. Petersburg and Moscow, uncovering a wealth of history and nature along the way.- Duration:
- 8 Days
- Prices From:
- US$ 2,282
- Trip Type:
- Cruises & Sailing, Luxury and Beyond
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Fabulous Scandinavia & Russia: Copenhagen, Oslo, Moscow & More
FIRST-CLASS | ESCORTED COACH TOUR: Fabulous is the word for this combination of Norway’s amazing fjord scenery, stops in Oslo, Stockholm and Copenhagen and the magical iconic cities of St. Petersburg and Moscow. This unforgettable tour includes everything - majestic scenery, amazing culture and history and much more.- Duration:
- 18 Days
- Prices From:
- US$ 4,077
- Trip Type:
- Escorted Coach Touring, Multi Country Vacation Ideas
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Classic Moscow to St Petersburg by High Speed Train
Explore the great monuments and mysteries of Moscow before spending three nights in beautiful Saint Petersburg, Russia’s most European city.- Duration:
- 6 Days
- Prices From:
- US$ 841
- Trip Type:
- Classics (Bestsellers), Rail Travel Ideas, Stopovers/City Breaks, Tailor-made Travel Ideas
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Classic St Petersburg to Moscow by High Speed Train
Explore the cultural capitals of enigmatic Russia. Spend three nights in beautiful Saint Petersburg, Russia’s most European city, before exploring the great monuments and mysteries of Moscow.- Duration:
- 6 Days
- Prices From:
- US$ 803
- Trip Type:
- Classics (Bestsellers), Rail Travel Ideas, Stopovers/City Breaks, Tailor-made Travel Ideas
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Colours of the Baltics: Stockholm to Moscow
Visit three amazing yet very different Baltic cities which include elegant, yet innovative Stockholm, world design leader Helsinki, and St. Petersburg, Russia's most European city and one of the most beautiful and enchanting cities anywhere. Then go on to magnificent Moscow to continue your Russia adventure.- Duration:
- 11 Days
- Prices From:
- US$ 2,920
- Trip Type:
- Escorted Coach Touring, Multi Country Vacation Ideas
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The Tsar Route: Helsinki to Moscow
FIRST-CLASS | ESCORTED COACH TOUR: Delve into the history and decadence of Imperial Russia on this journey through Helsinki, St. Petersburg, and Moscow. During your Russia vacation, you'll explore imperial palaces and museums, marvel at mighty churches and monasteries, and travel into the heart of one of the planet's mightiest nations.- Duration:
- 9 Days
- Prices:
- On request
- Trip Type:
- Escorted Coach Touring
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