Founded in 1703 by Tsar Peter the Great, St Petersburg is the most European and culturally significant of Russia’s cities. The city quickly saw the construction of many beautiful eighteenth century Baroque buildings. The latter became the residence of the Tsars.
The city is also noted as the starting point for the Communist revolution in 1917 which brought Lenin and his Bolsheviks to power. After Lenin’s death in 1924, the city was renamed Leningrad in his honour. During WWII, the Germans laid siege to the city for 900 days but it did not surrender. However, the price was very high; 700,000 out of three million Leningraders perished. After the collapse of Communism in 1991, the city reverted to its original name.
Moscow has been Russia’s capital since 1918. At the city’s heart lies the Kremlin, dating back to the late fifthteenth century. Like Leningrad, it too was besieged by the Germans, but the city held firm in what became known as the Great Patriotic War. The war figures prominently in Russian history and with good reason; eighteen million Soviet soldiers and civilians died to defeat Hitler.
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Key Study Areas
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Location Click here to view map
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History Excursions
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Our best value sample itinerary from £965
6 Days to Moscow & St Petersburg
Day 1:
Travel to Moscow by air and meet your transfer to take you to your accommodation.
Day 2:
Morning tour of Moscow including the Stalinist 'wedding cake' architecture, the White House, Lenin's library, KGB Headquarters, the Red Square with St Basil's Cathedral, the Historical Museum, GUM store and Lenin's Mausoleum. Enjoy a panoramic view over the city. Visit the Museum of the Great Patriotic War in the afternoon. Enjoy an evening at the circus.
Day 3:
Visit the Kremlin and explore the Red Square including Lenin's Mausoleum. Depart on the overnight sleeper train to St Petersburg.
Day 4:
Arrive at St Petersburg in the morning and transfer to your accommodation. Spend the morning on a guided coach tour. Highlights include the Winter Palace, Aurora, and Church of the Spilled Blood. Visit the museum of the Defense and Siege of Leningrad in the afternoon.
Day 5:
Half day excursion to visit St Isaac's Cathedral. Spend the afternoon visiting the Hermitage Museum and the Museum of Political History followed by a folklore evening.
Day 6:
Check out of your accommodation and time permitting visit to the Piskarovskoye War Memorial. Meet your transfer to the airport for return flight.
