1 Day St. Petersburg Tour Peterhof
Contents
These links are an index to this page.
NOTE this tour is based on a 9 a.m. meeting at your hotel and concluding at 17:30 (8 hours and 30 minutes). It is designed to give you as much opportunity to see St. Petersburg as possible.
Purchasing
If only one person signs up for a day, a $200 up charge will be applied.
Price per person: $235.00
Attractions
These are links to detailed descriptions of the attractions visited on this tour.
Optional Evening Events
These links are an index to this page.
Tour Description
You will be met at the hotel by your personal tour guide and driver. You will be given the driving "overview" tour of the city. During the city tour, your driver will stop for photo making and to give you the opportunity to take short walks in the most picturesque and famous places of St. Petersburg. During the first hour you will visit the sites you will see from the outside only. Since many of the larger venues open later, this is the best use of your time. During the driving tour, you will be able to familiarize yourself with beautiful St. Petersburg, the "Venice of the North". Later in the morning your guide will take you to the tourist sites that have just begun to open for visitors.
Our first major visit is to Peterhof, considered by many to be the "Crown Jewel" of sights in all of Russia. Built by Peter the I, the palace is magnificent by itself, but combined with the gardens and the fountains, it truly is a wonder. Today, the Peterhof fountain ensemble consists of over 150 fountains and four cascades. The piping system occupies 54km. Much of the system remains in place as planned by Peter the Great. All of these fountains generate power naturally, from downhill momentum. There are no pumps on any of the fountains.
Each year hundreds of thousands of tourists, from all over the world, visit this "capital of fountains" to enjoy the unforgettable miracle of Peterhof. This park is breathtaking. The Palace at Versailles was the inspiration for Peterhof and Peter the Great was determined to make this palace even grander.
Our next stop for the day is the Fortress of St. Peter and St. Paul and the cathedral. The first building in St Petersburg, the Fortress of St. Peter and St. Paul is a treasure trove of history. Famous prisoners, like Dostoevsky, spent many anxious days in captivity here. You will visit the Cathedral of St Peter and St Paul, which is the principal building within the walls of the fortress, and here you will see the tombs of the Russian Emperors. There your guide will tell you the history of the Russian Imperial House of Romanov, starting from the time of Peter the Great and finishing with the sad story of the last Romanovs — Nicholas II, Alexandra and their children. There is an interesting story regarding the weather vane on the tip of the cathedral spire... your guide will give you the details.
LUNCH: We have included in the price, a lunch which has been chosen and prepared especially for our group. Clients are always impressed with the quality and taste of the meals they experience while visiting St. Petersburg.
After lunch, you will visit the Bronze Horseman. This is a Massive Equestrian statue of Peter the Great. It was dedicated in 1782 as a tribute from Catherine the Great. The pedestal weighs 1,625 tons. To pose for photographs on ones' wedding day is supposed to bring good luck.
Next you will visit the signature site on the skyline of St. Petersburg, the Church on the Spilled Blood. It was built as a memorial to Czar Alexander II on the site of his assassination. While the outside of the Church on the Spilled Blood is impressive, wait until you go inside! You will see the preserved sight of the bomb blast that fatally injured the Czar and the efforts of thousands of man hours in artistic restoration of the mural covered walls.
After the visit to the Church on the Spilled Blood we will take time for dinner and offer our guests a driving / walking tour to see the Palace Square and the Hermitage, (outside only) , St Isaac's Cathedral (outside only), Mariinsky Theatre (outside only) and the famous Nevsky Prospect.
What your are receiving for your tour fee...
This tour is 8 hours and 30 minutes long. Lunch is included. You will be a private party or group which does not exceed 10 persons.
There are approximately $70 USD in admissions and lunch costs, per person, included in your tour.
There are 9 hours of private vehicle time and professional guide time included in your tour.
This is a great tour and fantastic value!!
Some guests may want to avail themselves of one of the optional events for which there is an additional fee. They include:
Optional Evening Events:
As the center of culture in Russia, you should consider attending one of the many evening events.
They include:
Price per person: $125
- Ballet — St. Petersburg has many ballet venues. On any given evening it is common to have 3 or 4 different performances from which to choose.
- Russian Folk Show in the Nickolaevsky Palace.
- Dinner in a Russian Home — This is always a favorite of our clients. The hosts are personal acquaintances who strive to give clients an opportunity to see a "native Russian" side of St. Petersburg.
- Private Power Boat Canal and Neva River Tour
Private Powerboat Canal and Neva River Tour
Price per person: $75
Whether you elect to do any other of the above-mentioned events or not, you should take advantage of the special power boat tour of St. Petersburg's canals with an exhilarating ride down Neva River.
This is a special treat as your guide gives you the narrative while you motor through the city for a tour perspective like no other. We know the boat owner personally and he is a gem. Visitors to St. Petersburg love this special ending to a fantastic day. The cost of this tour is $250 and is divided by the number of clients on the tour. For the young tourists, the fast tour of the Neva is very exciting. For everyone it is a chance to sit, relax and enjoy the sights. This tour is also available with food and drinks available to enjoy while you cruise. Let us know your wishes!!
Russian Folk Show
Price per person: $85
Enjoy this lively folk show in the beautiful downtown palace. Some shows are known for being less that professional. This is not one of them. You will be buying the CDs !
We include the extra time for your driver to return you to the ship after the performance.
If there is not a FYR performance on the date of your visit, there will be a refund.
Russian Visas
Regarding the need for a Russian Visa for Cruise Ship Passengers: If you book your excursion with us, we take care of everything. We need your passport details (not the passport) and you will be provided with the "Visa Free" documentation needed to disembark in St. Petersburg. Other visitors to St. Petersburg will need a tourist visa. www.RussianTourGuide.com can help you with all aspects of your visit to Russia including the visa.
RussianTourGuide.Com is pleased to collaborate with numerous travel agents around the world.
If you would like our tour but prefer to work with your local agent, ask your local agent to contact us. We will be happy to collaborate with your local agent to make your travel planning "seamless"!
Contingency Planning: Working with an experienced tour company can offer unexpected benefits. Your guide has much experience with almost all situations which arise with tourists and can probably craft a solution for any contingency. Your guide also has phone access to support from our staff in the USA. If needed, she can contact us to assist you. While you travel in Russia we can facilitate services such as:
- Cash advance (for example in the case of a lost or stolen credit card).
- Foreign exchange.
- Provide Russian phones for your use while visiting.
- Medical facilities with English speaking physicians in St. Petersburg.
Price per person: $235.00
www.russiantourguide.com
108 May Apple Way
Landrum, S.C. 29356 USA
+1 864 906 0481
