Tour highlights
Moscow :
The Moscow Kremlin
It is a historic fortified complex at the heart of Moscow. The complex serves as the official residence of the President of the Russian Federation. The Moscow Kremlin submitted to UNESCO World Heritage. The existing Kremlin walls and towers were built by Italian masters over the years 1485 to 1495.
Tretjakov Art Gallery
This spectacular museum is an essential destination for budding Russophiles and all visitors to Moscow. For most Westerners, Russian art is something of a The Tretyakov gives you the chance to discover the rich tradition from which these great artists sprang onto the world stage. The gallery has 62 rooms and 100,000 works charting the development of Russian painting from the 10th to the end of the 19th Century.
Diamond fund
Piter The Great believed that the most precious items should belong to the state. Diamond Fund exhibits a unique collection of gold, platinum, precious stones, pieces of state regalia, medals, jewellery, and of course- diamonds including the 190 carat eponymous Orlov diamond, the Great Imperial Crown with boasts an eye-watering 4936 diamonds, the world’s largest sapphire, and several Faberge eggs.
St. Basil’s Cathedral
Every capital has a well-known landmark making it easily recognizable. In Moscow, the Cathedral of the Protecting Veil of the Mother of God, better known as the Cathedral of St. Vasily the Blessed (or St. Basil’s Cathedral, as it is often called in English), standing in Red Square is such a landmark. Can you believe that the cathedral’s original color was said to be white to match the white stone of the Kremlin? You will know much more amazing fact about history of the cathedral by the end of the tour.
VDNKH (All-Russian Exhibition Centre)
If Moscow seems a bit crowded and you just need to take a break - visit "VDNH"! It used to be the exhibition ground where people could see the outstanding achievements of Soviet economy. You'll walk by fountains, retro-styled pavilions, stunning flowerbeds, and even statue of Lenin! Consider taking a photo of pavilions. They have that imperial, "Soviet" look and will make a great exhibits of your photo collection.
Underground Bunker Tagansky
After a ride on a rapid elevator 65 meters under the ground you will see one of the most secret military facilities of the USSR – a Secured Command Post «Tagansky». During the visit you will pass through the secret tunnels, see samples of arming and communication equipment.
GULAG Museum
An estimated 20 million people died during Stalin's reign of terror. At the height of the terror, in the 1930s, victims accused of plotting against Soviet power were executed en masse. Visitors of this unique museum can see what was the life in the camps and read about the experiences and suffering of individual prisoners.
Moscow Metro
Take the Moscow Metro Tour and discover why Moscow subway is recognized as the most beautiful in the world! "They used to have palaces for king's, we are going to build palaces for the people!" said one of the main architects of the Soviet subway. Live like a true Russian by experiencing the Moscow Metro which spans nearly the whole of the capital with over 185 miles of track carrying over 7 million passengers daily.
Cosmonautics Museum
Apart from anything else, the shear aesthetic beauty of the displays should impress. The other-wordly sheen of the hi-tech materials used to construct space craft is extraordinary when seen close-up and, combined with a host of cosmos-themed artwork, the exhibition is a compelling reminder of the time when space exploration was still viewed unequivocally as mankind's last great adventure.
St.-Petersburg :
The State Hermitage Museum
For those wanting a greater insight into Russian culture and history, the Hermitage's extensive collection of artworks literally paints a picture of the nation's captivating past. In fact it's one of the largest and oldest museums in the world! The museum was founded in 1764 and nowadays, the Hermitage has about 2.7 million exhibits and displays a full range of world art.
Tsarskoe Selo: Catherine palace and Amber room
If any proof is needed for the extravagance of Russia's Imperial rulers, then it can be found in the fact that, in less than two centuries, the Romanov Tsars established this suburban estate named TsarskoeSelo (Tsar village) - that, in terms of grandeur and excess, outstrip even famous French Palaces and gorgeous Italian Villas. The Amber Room in the Palace was a complete chamber decoration of amber panels backed with gold leaf and mirrors. Due to its singular beauty, it was sometimes dubbed the "Eighth Wonder of the World".
Church of the Savior on the Spilled Blood
The Cathedral is a unique masterpiece combining the old Russian style of architecture, talent of the best Russian artists and Italian stone carvers, and the art of Roman mosaic. 7 500 square meters of mosaics cover almost all the surface of the walls and ceilings.
St.Isaak's cathedral
One of the most stunning structures in the world, the interior decoration of the cathedral is a symphony of gold, marble, lapis lazuli, malachite and porphyry. The walls and vaults are covered with painted and mosaic compositions, and the cathedral itself dominates the central part of the city. Around the cathedral, stand 112 columns, each of granite monolith weighs 114 tons.
Novgorod Sightseeing Tour
The name Novgorod means "New City", but today it's in fact one of the oldest Russian cities with the oldest Russian cathedral on the territory of our country. This cathedral – St. Sophia, which of course bares some links to St. Sophia in Constantinople. The History of Novgorod is very rich and tragic, and you will hear a lot of stories about it from your guide, who will no doubt mention the most famous and really unique thing about Novgorod – they used to have a republic in the 12th -14th centuries!
Open-air Museum "Vitoslavitsy"
Vitoslavlitsy Museum is located on the banks of Lake Myachino and the Volkhov River. Izbas (village houses), chapels and churches form streets like those in old Russian villages. Restorers managed to preserve the unique works of Novgorodian carpenters.
Staraya (Old) Ladoga
Old Ladoga recently celebrated its anniversary - "the ancient capital of Northern Russia" turned 1,250 years. The eldest architectural monuments of Staraya Ladoga are the remains of the 12th c. stone fortress and the northernmost churches of pre-mongolian Rus - the Assumption cathedral and St. George's church with the 12th c. frescoes.
Sightseeing tour "Lenin is alive"
You will be told the history of magnificent Saint Petersburg that became the cradle of the Revolution and then in 60th the centre of alternative cultural life in the USSR. The main accent will be put on the person of Lenin, whose name was given to the city in the soviet times and whose personality still plays an important role in the nowadays St.Petersburg life.
The State Museum of Political History of Russia
The building which houses the museum itself played a significant role in history. This attractive art nouveau mansion was originally built for Mathilda Kshesinskaya, the prima ballerina at the Mariinskiy and Nicholas II's mistress before he became an Emperor. The exhibition is based on the collection of the now-defunct Museum of the Revolution, which contained artifacts gathered by key players in the Revolution long before the museum itself was actually established, including their own personal effects, documents, posters, pamphlets, and banners.
Battle Ship Aurora
Travel back in time by stepping on board the memorial ship Aurora, which played an important role in the Bolshevik Revolution of 1917. The cruiser Aurora was built between 1897 and 1900 by the "New Admiralty" in St. Petersburg and joined Russia's Baltic fleet in 1903. On the night of October 25-26 1917, it fired a blank shot at the Winter Palace (then the residence of the Provisional Government), giving the signal to the rebellious workers, soldiers and sailors of the city to storm the palace.
Lenin Museum in the Smolny Institute
The Smolny Institute was opened by Catherine the Great as an educational establishment for the girls from the most noble families. Later on that very building became the head quarters of the Revolutionary Uprising. Lenin lived and worked there for several months. He and his wife occupied only two small rooms, one was a study, and the other was a living room. Obviously you will be shocked by the simplicity of the everyday life of the Great Leader.
Peter and Paul Fortress
Located on the banks of the beautiful Neva River, the towering Peter and Paul Fortress dominates the skyline of St Petersburg. Built in 18th century, the fortress is a must-see attraction for anyone interested in the city's rich history. The fortress is also home to the famous Cathedral of St Peter and Paul, the city's oldest, dating back to 1712.
Art Center Pushkinskaya 10
For long years the native culture in the USSR had been divided on "official" (Soviet) and "nonofficial" one. “Pushkinskaya-10″ is the brightest representative of the second one. It began when a group of independent artists and musicians occupied a condemned building on Pushkinskaya Street. Nowadays “Pushkinskaya 10” is a museum of nonconformist art and a center that supports creative people to do their own art projects.
Peterhof
One excursion that you will definitely want to take! A splendid park on the shore of the Baltic Sea with more than 150 fountains, 4 big cascades, beautiful palaces, blooming flowers and friendly squirrels – this place is really a must to visit. As of today the Peterhof is decorated by the biggest system of water cascades, fountains and sculptural elements in the world.
Summer Garden
The Summer Garden is one of the places where you can feel the atmosphere of Peter`s time. The garden, with a collection of sculptures and the Summer Palace that was the first Emperor`s residence, constitute a single museum complex. The Summer Garden is a pearl in the garden necklace of Petersburg. It was laid out in 1704. Time has changed the garden a lot; however, its original planning still remains.
Cruise by private boat
A boat trip is a very pleasant, interesting and romantic way to explore the city. St. Petersburg is often called the Venice of the North. It lies astride 42 islands washed by 65 rivers and canals. You will go along the old canals, tiny rivers and under the bridges. You will discover completely different city and it will be easy to imagine yourself in the 18th - 19th century St. Petersburg, where canals and boats existed - busses did not.
Cabin of Peter the Great
The Log Cabin of Peter the Great is situated on the right bank of the Neva river, in the shade of large oaks. The cabin, which is the only wooden structure of the city foundation period that survived until today, was constructed within a very short time - from the 24th to the 26th of May, 1703 and was the first residence of Peter the Great in Saint Petersburg.
Grand Maket Rossiya
The national show-museum “Grand Maket Rossiya” doesn`t have analogs in the world. It is a unique chance to walk around the whole country from Kaliningrad to the Far East. The dynamics and richness of the layout is given by hundreds of moving trains and cars. There are more than 2 kilometers of railways on the layout and smart cars move according to traffic regulations. Thousands of miniature figures create thematic scenes. More than 800 thousand light-emitting diodes provide the alternation of day and night.
Nevsky Prospect
Nevsky Prospect is St. Petersburg’s main avenue and one of the best-known streets in Russia. Cutting through the historical center of the city, it runs from the Admiralty to the Moscow Railway Station and then, after a slight kink, to the Alexander Nevsky Monastery. In the very first days of St. Petersburg it was simply the beginning of the road to the ancient city of Novgorod, but it quickly became adorned with beautiful buildings, squares and bridges and became the very center of the bustling, rapidly growing city.