Day 1 ISTANBUL – MOSCOW
We meet at the international departures terminal of Istanbul Airport three hours before the flight. After the baggage, ticket, and boarding procedures, our flight to Moscow with Turkish Airlines begins. Upon our arrival in Moscow, we proceed with our special bus for the city tour. Key sites in the historical center, which has been a scene of political and social upheaval, include Red Square, the interesting St. Basil's Cathedral with its onion-shaped colorful domes, the Kremlin Palace, the Bolshoi Theatre, Tverskaya Street, Gorky Park, Novodevichy Convent, Swan Lake, Luzhniki Stadium, Sparrow Hills, and Moscow State University, which will be seen panoramically. After the tour, we transfer to our hotel. Accommodation at our hotel.
Day 2 MOSCOW
After breakfast at the hotel, there will be free time. For guests who wish, we will set off for an optional tour of the Moscow Metro & Arbat Street & Nazım Hikmet's Grave & Kremlin (95 Euro). During our metro tour, we can visit the stations adorned with paintings, motifs, and mosaics that could envy art galleries, sample the best of Russian and world cuisines at elegant cafes that rival Paris, and watch the locals who have immersed themselves in the flow of life. The Moscow Metro, initiated by Stalin in 1931, is widely accepted as the most beautiful metro in the world in terms of interior design and decoration, even when compared to the metropolises of New York, Paris, or London. Arbat Street, which runs through the middle of Moscow, is a traffic-free thoroughfare that everyone passing through the city enjoys walking along from one end to the other. Here you can browse the colorful shop windows and taste the best of Russian and world cuisines. We will then visit the grave of the great poet Nazım Hikmet. There will be free time for lunch, and after that, we will begin our Kremlin tour. Our visit to the Kremlin, which has become a symbol of both Moscow and Russia since its establishment in the 12th century, will include the 9 churches in the palace garden, the Bell Tower made with 2 tons of silver and 25 kg of gold weighing 201,924 kg, the 15-ton cannon made in 1586 that was never used, and the 1-ton projectiles. After the tour, we transfer back to our hotel in Moscow and have free time to relax. For guests who wish, we will set off for an optional Radisson Cruise on the Moscow River (70 Euro). In the evening, we will enjoy a different perspective of Moscow's magnificent historical buildings illuminated by lights during this cruise. After the tour, we transfer back to our hotel in Moscow, and there will be free time to relax. Accommodation at our hotel.
Day 3 MOSCOW – ST. PETERSBURG
After breakfast at the hotel, we will check out of our rooms and transfer to the train station for our train journey to Saint Petersburg. We arrive in St. Petersburg, known as the Venice of the North and the Imperial Capital of Russia, and we will conduct our city tour. We will pan to see the city's Champs Elysees, Nevsky Prospect, Palace Square, where the Winter Palace is located and the first Russian revolution began in 1905, the Hermitage Museum, which has the world's largest art collection, the Aurora Cruiser, the Old Port lighthouses, Peter and Paul Fortress Cathedral, Kazan and St. Isaac Cathedrals, the Arts Square, and Peter the Great's Bronze Horseman monument. After the tour, we transfer to our hotel in St. Petersburg and have free time to relax. Accommodation at our hotel.
Day 4 ST. PETERSBURG
After breakfast at the hotel, there will be free time. For guests who wish, we will set off for an optional tour of Pushkin Town & Catherine Palace and New Holland (100 Euro). We will start our tour with Catherine Palace; with the full splendor of Baroque architecture welcoming us, we feel the magical harmony of blue and gold as we step inside. As we walk through the dimly lit Amber Room, the warm glow of amber surrounds us, giving us the chance to see the splendor of history up close. While wandering through the corridors, the silence echoing from the high ceilings whispers the grandeur of past centuries. When we step out into the palace gardens, we take a short walk amidst the serenity of the manicured landscape and reflections in the ponds. Next, we head to New Holland to encounter a more modern face of the city. Upon arrival on the island, the warm atmosphere of the restored brick buildings and the energy of contemporary art immediately envelop us. As we walk through the open areas, we witness how history and modern life can coexist harmoniously. We explore the small design shops, take a break on the grassy areas, and observe the liveliness around us. At the end of the day, we return to our hotel, enjoying the pleasant fatigue of experiencing both the traditional and modern sides of St. Petersburg. Accommodation at our hotel.
Day 5 ST. PETERSBURG
After breakfast at the hotel, there will be free time. For guests who wish, we will set off for an optional tour of the Hermitage Museum & Cathedrals (95 Euro). Firstly, we visit one of St. Petersburg's most magnificent museums, the Hermitage Museum. As we explore this magnificent palace complex at the heart of the city, we get the chance to see both the splendor of the Tsarist era and some of the world's most valuable art pieces up close. The Hermitage Museum, which houses approximately 4 million pieces from the Tsarist period and is located alongside the Neva River, is the largest museum in the world and Russia, and is in the Guinness Book of Records for having the most paintings. As we wander among masterpieces from great masters like Leonardo da Vinci and Rembrandt, we embark on a delightful journey into the depths of history. After our museum visit, we will proceed with a short walk to St. Isaac's Cathedral. This splendid structure, with its massive columns and golden dome, captures our attention as we enjoy a panoramic view of the city. Then we head to Kazan Cathedral; located on Nevsky Boulevard, this impressive structure captivates us with its architecture and spiritual atmosphere. We take a short break in the peaceful ambiance of the cathedral's interior and respectfully observe the local community's worship. Our final stop of the day is the Savior on Spilled Blood Cathedral, characterized by its colorful domes and a symbol of St. Petersburg. Inside, adorned with mosaics, we sense a mesmerizing atmosphere. Here we have plenty of opportunities to take photos. After the tour, we transfer back to our hotel in St. Petersburg and have free time to relax. For guests who wish, we will set off for an optional Dinner Show with Russian Night (110 Euro). At Troyka, one of Russia's most famous restaurants styled like "Cabaret," we enjoy our dinner accompanied by mesmerizing dance performances by a Russian dance troupe before returning to our hotel. Accommodation at our hotel.
Day 6 ST. PETERSBURG – ISTANBUL
After breakfast at the hotel, we transfer to the airport at the time specified by our guide. We fly to Istanbul on Turkish Airlines' scheduled flight. Upon our arrival at Istanbul Airport, our tour and services conclude.
OPTIONAL TOUR 430 Euro
Hermitage Museum and Cathedrals Tour (95 Euro), Pushkin Town & Catherine Palace and New Holland (100 Euro), Moscow Metro & Arbat Street & Nazım Hikmet's Grave & Kremlin (95 Euro), Radisson Cruise on Moscow River (70 Euro), Dinner Show with Russian Night (110 Euro). Children aged 0-2 are free, and those aged 3-10 receive a 25% discount.
Children aged 0-2 are free, and those aged 3-10 receive a 25% discount.
OPTIONAL TOUR 270 Euro
Hermitage Museum and Cathedrals Tour (95 Euro), Pushkin Town & Catherine Palace and New Holland (100 Euro), Moscow Metro & Arbat Street & Nazım Hikmet's Grave & Kremlin (95 Euro)
26 May
TK413 IST-VKO 07:10 – 11:00
TK402 LED-IST 12:50 – 16:55
— Turkish Airlines scheduled flights from Istanbul (IST) to Moscow (VKO), return from St. Petersburg (LED) to Istanbul (IST) economy class flight ticket
— Airport taxes
— 5 nights accommodation with breakfast in 4* hotels
— Airport - hotel - airport transfer
— Economy class train ticket between Moscow and St. Petersburg
— All city transfers with our private buses
— Moscow City Tour
— St. Petersburg City Tour
— Professional Turkish-speaking guidance and assistance services
— TURSAB professional liability insurance
— Visa application fee and service charge
— Travel health insurance
— Lunch and dinner not specified in the program
— All personal expenses and hotel extras
— International departure tax
— Extra tours and entrance fees to museums and archaeological sites
— Driver tips 10 Euro per person (optional)