Jewish St. Petersburg 2 day Tour

The Jewish St. Petersburg 2 day Shore Excursion: Day 1

For some, today’s stops are the true reason to visit St. Petersburg. The Hermitage and the Winter Palace are the sites of many infamous moments in Russian history. The precocious behavior of Catherine the Great, the death of Alexander II, the Sunday Massacre, and the speeches of Lenin to the citizens after the successful Revolution, all occurred just outside, on the balcony, or within the walls of these Russian landmarks.

You will have an opportunity to see the massive art collection belonging to Catherine the Great which is now housed in the Hermitage .  

Just outside the Hermitage, in the middle of the square, you will see the monument to Alexander I honoring his defeat of the mighty Napoleon. (Did you know that following the defeat of Napoleon in Russia, Alexander I led his victorious troops all the way to Paris?)

Following your visit to the Hermitage , you will visit the sites most closely associated with Jewish culture in St. Petersburg.   The first stop is the Grand Choral Synagogue. The Synagogue complex includes Grand Choral Synagogue, Small Synagogue, kosher restaurant “Le’chaim”, kosher store and Mikvah.

Being the only synagogue in the city, the Choral Synagogue has become the center of Jewish life in St.-Petersburg.
Next you travel across the city to the St. Petersburg Jewish Community Center YESOD. This center is astounding with its education programs, Jewish Heritage programs and language training programs*.

To finish your tour you will visit the Jewish Cemetery. Please note, the Jewish Cemetery is about a 40 min drive from the center of St. Petersburg. You may want to replace this visit with something else. To make a good decision we suggest you read our blog.

There are many sites of interest for persons interested in the development and history of the Jewish faith in St. Petersburg. We cover as many as time will allow on a cruise excursion.

*Ask us if you would like to arrange an extended visit for young adults or adults. Short "camps" can be organized in which the participants would would learn about the Jewish faith, its history in Russia and other, secular, history, culture and education programs.

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The Golden Ring Tour: Day 2

Today your St. Petersburg guide will meet you at your hotel and you will take the short walk to the Hydrofoil pier. The modern hydrofoil will take you to Peterhof. Peterhof is considered by many to be the Crown Jewel of sights in all of Russia. Built by Peter the I, the palace is Peterhof. 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.

In addition to the Peterhof Palace and gardens you will visit some of the sights many visitors do not have time to visit (time permitting). The first of these is the Czars bath house (known as a Banya) and the kitchens. Secondly, you will visit the underground grotto and see how the fountains work.

After lunch you begin your journey to the Catherine Palace. The clients of RussianTourGuide.com universally consider this to be one of their favorite stops. The Catherine Palace is home of the world famous "Amber Room". The Amber Room has only been available for viewing in the last few years after the government spent many years of painstaking reconstruction. It is assumed that the original version of this amazing room was stolen by the Nazis during World War II,

The Catherine Palace is located in the village of Pushkin (named for the famous poet). The area is also called "Tzarskoe Selo" or "Village of the Czars".

Many think that the Palace is called "St. Catherine's Palace" but it is not. It is the Catherine Palace which is named for Catherine I, the second wife of Peter I (the Great). Later, the palace was greatly enhanced by Catherine II (the Great). During World War II the palace was almost completly destroyed and the priceless Amber Room stolen. Soviet craftsmen and artists spent the next 50 years restoring this national treasure to its present day beauty.

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The Jewish St. Petersburg Tour:

Summary of the features of your tour:

• Personal guide each day.
• Car and driver
• All museum admissions.
• Visa Free documents
• Evening performances of ballet, opera and symphony orchestras are available and we welcome the opportunity to organize them. .

Secular only, group tours are available, at less cost due to higher demand.

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