MOSCOW · ST. PETERSBURG
Moscow & St. Petersburg Tour – 6 Days / 5 Nights
From $899 per person
- Duration: 6 Days / 5 Nights
- Stay: Moscow 2N + St. Petersburg 3N · 4★ hotels
- Meals: Final dinner + departure breakfast
- Group: Guided tour · private transfers
- Guide: Guide: English, Turkish
- Cancellation: Free cancellation up to 7 days
Tour Overview
6-Day Moscow and St Petersburg Tour with the Sapsan High-Speed Train
This 6-day Moscow and St Petersburg tour covers Russia’s two great cities in five nights: two in Moscow and three in St Petersburg, linked by the Sapsan high-speed train. You land at Moscow airport (DME or SVO), are met and transferred to a central hotel, and on the last day are driven to Pulkovo Airport.
Moscow brings Red Square, the Kremlin grounds and Armoury, a guided tour of the Metro’s ornate stations and a stroll down Arbat Street. After the four-hour Sapsan ride you cruise the canals of St Petersburg, then spend one day at the State Hermitage Museum and Peterhof Palace and another at the Church of the Savior on Spilled Blood and Catherine Palace with the Amber Room in Pushkin. The entry tickets for the Hermitage, Kremlin and Peterhof are already included.
It suits first-time visitors to Russia, couples and culture lovers who want both capitals with a local guide. The package includes 4★ central hotels (or similar), airport transfers by Mercedes Vito, the Sapsan tickets and the canal boat tour; international flights are not included. Continuing east? See our Moscow and Dagestan tour or the Caucasus and Russia tour packages.
Highlights
- Red Square, Kremlin and Armoury
- Guided Moscow Metro and Arbat Street
- Sapsan train, Moscow to St Petersburg
- Canal boat tour in St Petersburg
- Hermitage Museum and Peterhof gardens
- Catherine Palace and the Amber Room
Quick facts
- Peterhof’s fountains run seasonally, from May to September; that is also a good time to visit.
- Optional: an evening ballet or opera at the Mariinsky Theatre on day five.
- Visa requirements depend on your nationality; we provide the invitation / support documents where required.
- Never travelled this far? Read our first-time travel abroad guide.
Day-by-Day Itinerary
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Day 1Arrival in Moscow & Red Square Orientation Walk
On arrival at Moscow airport (DME or SVO) our assistant meets you and a Mercedes Vito takes you to your central 4★ hotel, a transfer of roughly one to one and a half hours depending on traffic. After check-in, rest for a while, then take a gentle orientation walk to Red Square, the cobbled square beside the Kremlin where the red walls and towers and the colourful domes of St. Basil’s Cathedral are lit after dark. The rest of the evening is free for dinner and leisure.
Overnight: Moscow — 4★ central hotel (or similar)Transport: Airport transfer by Mercedes Vito ~1–1.5 hTour: Guided tour with a local guideEntrances: none -
Day 2Kremlin & Armoury, Moscow Metro and Arbat Street
Begin at the Kremlin with your guide, walking through its grounds and visiting the Armoury, the museum that holds the treasures of the tsars. Entry tickets are included. Afterwards descend into the Moscow Metro, where ornate stations built as underground “palaces for the people” are explored on a guided tour, and finish the day with a stroll down Arbat Street, a pedestrian street lined with cafés and souvenir shops. In the evening you return to the hotel. Your guide tells the story of the Kremlin and of the Metro stations, and a café break on Arbat fits in.
Overnight: Moscow — 4★ central hotel (or similar)Transport: Walking and Metro with your guideTour: Guided tour with a local guideEntrances: included (Kremlin grounds and Armoury) -
Day 3Sapsan Train to St. Petersburg & Canal Cruise
Transfer to the station and board the Sapsan high-speed train to St. Petersburg; the journey takes about four hours, city centre to city centre. On arrival, a boat tour takes you along the city’s canals, passing palaces, bridges and historic façades from the water. You then check in at your St. Petersburg hotel. The evening is at leisure, ideal for a first stroll through the centre of the former imperial capital. The train covers the distance between the two cities in comfort. The canal tour is a good first introduction to a city built around its waterways.
Overnight: St. Petersburg — 4★ central hotel (or similar)Transport: Sapsan high-speed train ~4 h (included); transfersTour: Guided tour with a local guideEntrances: canal boat cruise included -
Day 4Hermitage Museum & Peterhof Palace
Start in the morning at the State Hermitage Museum, housed in the Winter Palace, one of the great art collections of Europe, with your guide leading you through the main galleries. In the afternoon travel out to Peterhof Palace on the Gulf of Finland, whose terraced gardens, known as the Russian Versailles, are laid out with fountains and statues. The fountains run only seasonally, from May to September. Entry to the Hermitage and the Peterhof gardens is included. Your guide introduces the main works of the museum. In Peterhof you can walk the gardens, which can be visited even when the fountains are not running.
Overnight: St. Petersburg — 4★ central hotel (or similar)Transport: Vehicle transfer to Peterhof ~45 min each wayTour: Guided tour with a local guideEntrances: included (Hermitage and Peterhof gardens) -
Day 5Church of the Savior on Spilled Blood & Catherine Palace
In the morning visit the Church of the Savior on Spilled Blood, known for its colourful domes and its walls covered in mosaics. Then travel to the town of Pushkin for Catherine Palace, the blue-and-white baroque residence of the tsars, and its Amber Room, a chamber decorated with amber panels. The late afternoon is free for souvenirs on Nevsky Prospect, and in the evening you can add an optional ballet or opera at the Mariinsky Theatre. The final dinner closes the stay. Your guide tells the stories of the palace rooms and the church.
Meals: DinnerOvernight: St. Petersburg — 4★ central hotel (or similar)Transport: Vehicle transfer to Pushkin ~40 min each wayTour: Guided tour with a local guideEntrances: not included; payable on-siteOptional: Optional evening ballet or opera at the Mariinsky Theatre (not included) -
Day 6Departure from St. Petersburg
After breakfast at the hotel, the morning is free for last walks, a coffee on Nevsky Prospect or final souvenir shopping, depending on your flight time. A vehicle then transfers you to Pulkovo Airport (LED), where our services end. Please keep in mind that the transfer takes about 45 minutes depending on traffic, so we recommend leaving the city at least three hours before an international departure. We hope the two imperial capitals leave you with lasting memories. Plenty of time is left for last preparations at the hotel.
Meals: BreakfastOvernight: —Transport: Airport transfer to Pulkovo ~45 minTour: Guided tour with a local guideEntrances: none
Places Along the Route
Red Square
Moscow’s cobbled central square runs along the Kremlin wall. Red-brick towers, domes and old trading arcades surround it, and the whole scene looks especially striking once the evening lights come on.
St. Basil’s Cathedral
A 16th-century church ordered by Ivan the Terrible, with colourful onion domes that each crown a separate chapel. Its patterned outline is a recognisable symbol of Moscow and glows in warm evening light.
Moscow Kremlin
The walled heart of Moscow holds palaces, cathedrals and bell towers behind red-brick walls. The Armoury displays the crowns, thrones and state carriages of the tsars, and the Kremlin and Red Square form one UNESCO site.
Church of the Savior on Spilled Blood
Built on the spot where Alexander II was fatally wounded in 1881, the church is covered inside and out with mosaics. Its multicoloured domes make it a landmark beside the Griboyedov Canal.
Catherine Palace
The blue-and-white baroque summer residence of the tsars at Tsarskoye Selo, in the town of Pushkin. Its gilded halls and the reconstructed Amber Room show the court life of the 18th century.
Moscow Metro
Stations opened from the 1930s were designed as grand public halls, with marble, mosaics, chandeliers and bronze statues. A short ride between a few of them makes a quick visual introduction to Soviet-era design.
Arbat Street
A long pedestrian street in the old centre, lined with cafés, bookshops, street musicians and souvenir stalls. It is an easy place to slow down, have a coffee and watch everyday Moscow pass by.
Hermitage Museum
Housed in the Winter Palace and neighbouring buildings on the Neva, the museum was founded by Catherine the Great in 1764. Its halls hold paintings, sculpture and applied art from antiquity to the 20th century.
Peterhof Palace
Peter the Great’s seaside residence on the Gulf of Finland stands in terraced gardens with gilded statues and the Grand Cascade fountains. The fountains run seasonally, while the park can be enjoyed in any season.
Nevsky Prospect
The main avenue of St. Petersburg runs from the Admiralty towards the Alexander Nevsky Lavra, lined with 18th and 19th-century façades, shops and cafés. It suits a relaxed walk and last souvenirs.
Why Choose This Moscow & St Petersburg Tour?
Both Russian capitals in six days, joined by the four-hour Sapsan train, with the Hermitage, Kremlin and Peterhof tickets already included, so you buy no entry tickets and arrange no rail journey yourself.
- Sapsan between the cities — The Sapsan high-speed train to St Petersburg takes about four hours, city centre to city centre, and is included, together with a canal boat cruise on day three.
- Key entries already included — Entry to the Hermitage, the Kremlin grounds with the Armoury, and the Peterhof gardens is in the package; Catherine Palace tickets are paid on site.
- Metro and Arbat with a guide — Day two joins the Kremlin and Armoury to a guided Moscow Metro tour of its ornate stations and a stroll down Arbat Street, led by a licensed local guide in English or Turkish.
- Two hotels, five nights — Two nights in Moscow and three in St Petersburg, in 4★ central hotels (or similar), with Mercedes Vito airport transfers on arrival and departure.
- Invitation letter and optional ballet — TourQuaz provides the invitation letter for your Russian visa application; the visa itself is separate. An evening at the Mariinsky Theatre on day five is optional, with tickets not included.
- Licensed local agency — TÜRSAB A-group licence #18154, Istanbul-based, rated 5.0 on Google (15 reviews), free cancellation up to 7 days before the start date.
Your Hotels on This Tour
These are the hotels we use on this tour, so you know where you’ll stay and can explore them before you book. Your final hotel is confirmed with your booking; if a listed hotel is unavailable on your dates, we reserve another hotel of the same category (or similar).
Moscow · 2 nights
4★ hotel in Moscow area
Hotel confirmed with your booking (or similar)
Meals as named in the program
St. Petersburg · 3 nights
4★ hotel in St. Petersburg area
Hotel confirmed with your booking (or similar)
Meals as named in the program
Tour Price & Booking
What’s Included
What’s Not Included
Optional Upgrades
Private guide, hotel upgrades and extra nights available on request — ask us on WhatsApp.
Good to Know
Cash and Currency
Bank cards issued abroad do not work in Russia. Bring cash and exchange it into rubles (RUB) for meals, souvenirs and tips.
Peterhof Fountains
The Peterhof fountains run from May to September; outside this season the gardens can still be visited.
Entrance Tickets
The Hermitage, the Kremlin grounds with the Armoury and the Peterhof gardens are included. Catherine Palace and the Church of the Savior on Spilled Blood are paid on site.
Visa
Visa rules depend on your nationality; we provide support documents where required.
Pick-up Times
Your exact pick-up time is confirmed with you the day before each tour.
Hotel Check-in & Check-out
Standard hotel check-in is from 14:00 and check-out is until 12:00. Early check-in or late check-out depends on availability; ask us and we will request it.
Dietary Requirements
Halal and vegetarian options are available. Please tell us about any dietary needs when you book.
What to Wear
Please dress modestly when visiting mosques and religious sites: shoulders and knees covered, and a scarf for women. Comfortable walking shoes are recommended on every tour.
Cancellation Policy
- For a full refund, cancel up to 7 days before the start date.
- If you cancel less than 7 days before, the amount paid is non-refundable.
- Changes made less than 7 days before the start date cannot be accepted.
- If the tour is cancelled due to poor weather, you'll be offered a different date or a full refund.
Payment
Reserve now, pay later (no credit card required). A 30% deposit secures your booking after we confirm availability; the balance is due 15 days before the start date.
What guests say about TourQuaz
"Super und zuverlässige Organisation unseres Fimenausflugs. Zuverlässige Abholungen zu vereinbarten Zeiten und hilfreiche Tips beim Programm vor Ort.
Vielen Dank an das ganze Team. Jeder Zeit wieder!"
"Everything was very good specially the staff there
Special thanks to Mr. Emre for amazing efforts and support during all visit in istany"
"معاملة راقية تجربة تستحق الإشادة شكرا على حسن التعامل"
Frequently Asked Questions
It depends on your nationality. We provide support documents where they are required for your booking; the visa itself is not included in the price.
The price starts at $899 per person. It covers 5 nights in 4★ central hotels (or similar), private airport transfers by Mercedes Vito, the Sapsan train from Moscow to St. Petersburg, the canal boat cruise, the guided Metro and Arbat Street tour, entry to the Hermitage, the Kremlin grounds with the Armoury and the Peterhof gardens, a local guide, the final dinner on day 5 and breakfast on the departure day. International flights, the visa and other tickets are not included.
On day 3 you take the Sapsan high-speed train, included in the package. The journey takes about four hours, from city centre to city centre, and is followed by a canal boat tour in St. Petersburg.
Entry to the Hermitage, to the Kremlin grounds with the Armoury, and to the Peterhof gardens is included. Catherine Palace and the Church of the Savior on Spilled Blood are not included and are paid on site.
You arrive at a Moscow airport (DME or SVO), where our assistant meets you, and on day 6 you leave from Pulkovo Airport (LED) in St. Petersburg. The transfer to Pulkovo takes about 45 minutes, so we recommend leaving the city at least three hours before an international departure.
Bank cards issued abroad do not work in Russia, so bring cash and exchange it into rubles for meals, souvenirs and tips.
The fountains run only from May to September. The gardens can be visited when the fountains are not running, and entry to the Peterhof gardens is included.
No. An evening ballet or opera at the Mariinsky Theatre on day 5 is optional, and the tickets are not included. Ask us when you book if you would like to add it.
Children aged 0–2 travel free; children aged 3–7 get a 30% discount when sharing the room with adults. Tell us the children’s ages when you book, so that we can check the Sapsan and hotel arrangements for your group.
Free cancellation: cancel up to 7 days before the start date for a full refund. Reserve now, pay later (no credit card required). A 30% deposit secures your booking after we confirm availability; the balance is due 15 days before the start date.
