An Art Lover's Guide to Russia Tour | Yampu Tours

Custom Travel Experiences Since 1998

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An Art Lover’s Guide to Russia Tour

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PRIVATE TOUR - 10 DAY SAMPLE ITINERARY

FROM £$ 5686

Private Tour Highlights

  • Visit the Old Tretyakov gallery to see the collection of Russian art, sample local food and then walk around the historic district of Zamoskvorechye.
  • Get up close to the world of the contemporary art and visit the Garage Museum.
  • Enter the Kremlin walls to feel the country's past and present and immerse into the city's ancient spirit.
  • See the collection of priceless Easter eggs that Faberge created for the Imperial family at the Faberge Museum.
  • Enjoy a regal reception to Russia with an exclusive tour of the palace of Romanov dynasty, complete with a glass of champagne.
  • Take in the city of St. Petersburg from a different perspective aboard a canal cruise after visiting the Palace Square and its Impressionist Gallery.
Interested in this tour?   Let us build you a customized quote based on your budget.

Tour Overview

Though Russian art may seem to be a mystery to outsiders with its exotic forms, strong fascination with iconography, and its famed onion-domed churches, these features separate Russia from the western world. Alongside a private Yampu Tours guide, experience Russia’s unique and historic art scene with An Art Lovers Guide to Russia Tour.

Upon touchdown in Moscow, Yampu Tours’ travelers will be enthralled by the city’s intricate architecture with a city highlights tour. Visitors will have the perfect introduction to the city’s history upon stepping into the Kremlin, the most important historical and political center of Russia, before admiring the colorful domes of St. Basil’s cathedral in the Red Square.

While in Moscow, art lovers will have several days to explore the city’s numerous museums. The tour includes a stop to appreciate the contemporary art exhibits at Garage Museum, a visit to the largest Russian outdoor museum, and a tour of the premier venue for XX century Russian art at the New Tretyakov gallery.

The tour then continues to St Petersburg, where art aficionados can appreciate the Palace Square’s prestigious architecture and the majestic Catherine’s Palace. While in St Petersburg, travelers will enjoy a regal reception to Russia with an exclusive tour of the Romanov dynasty’s palace. Included is a private concert of compositions by various Russian composers to immerse guests in the Russian aristocratic era’s unforgettable atmosphere.

Finally, while at The State Russian Museum in St Petersburg, travelers will have an entire day to take in the creme de la creme of Russian art, including a visit to the Faberge Museum with its collection of priceless Easter eggs created for the Imperial family. The tour comes to an end with a visit to the most famous church in the city, the Church of Our Savior on the Spilled Blood. Built-in memory of Alexander II, the church’s five onion-domes are exuberantly decorated and covered with jeweler’s enamel that leaves a long-lasting impression.

Inclusions
Price includes domestic and regional flights within the itinerary; all hotel accommodations including daily continental or buffet breakfast and daily city tax; all transfers between airports and hotels with assistance and baggage handling; guided tours in English including entrance fees.
Exclusions

International airfare (unless specifically included), airport departure taxes that must be paid on-site, gratuities, meals not mentioned, soft drinks and alcoholic beverages with meals, early / late check-out, room service, visa fees/services and other personal items or services not mentioned.

Best Time to Travel
JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN
JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC

Best Good Consult

Package Price: From £$ 5686

Prices shown above are per person. Hotel categories do not adhere strictly to international ratings; Yampu has evaluated the hotels according to destination and availability. Prices include local airfare (where applicable), hotel accommodation including daily breakfast; all transfers with baggage handling, all guided tours in English and all entrance fees.

Please note that prices are subject to change based on availability and seasonality, especially during the holiday season from December 20th through January 5th each year. Please contact a Yampu Travel Specialist for more information on best times to travel.

Trip Type:

All our trips are operated on a private basis unless specified otherwise. This is only a sample itinerary; your Yampu Tour Consultant will personalize this trip for you according to your available dates, interests and type of hotels. This is your trip and we will work on making it perfect!

Tour Itinerary

Day
1

Overnight Flight to Russia

International overnight flight to Moscow, Russia.

International overnight flight to Moscow, Russia.

Day
2

Welcome to Moscow!

Upon arrival to Moscow airport, you will be met at the airport and privately transferred to your hotel. Feel free to have a welcome drink during check-in.
Moscow is home to several UNESCO World Heritage Sites, and is well known for its display of Russian architecture, particularly its historic buildings such as the Saint Basil's Cathedral, the Red Square, and the Moscow Kremlin, of which the latter serves as the seat of power of the Government of Russia.

Upon arrival to Moscow airport, you will be met at the airport and privately transferred to your hotel. Feel free to have a welcome drink during check-in.
Moscow is home to several UNESCO World Heritage Sites, and is well known for its display of Russian architecture, particularly its historic buildings such as the Saint Basil's Cathedral, the Red Square, and the Moscow Kremlin, of which the latter serves as the seat of power of the Government of Russia.

Day
3

Moscow Highlights Tour & Dinner a la Russe

Today, we offer you some insights into the rich history of Moscow. Take a Metro ride with your guide and stop to explore the grandeur of its most impressive stations.

Then, enter the Kremlin walls to feel the country's past and present. The Kremlin is an old fortress and the most important historical and political center of Russia. You will see the Kremlin's compositional center and look into the three main cathedrals - the Assumption, the Annunciation and the Archangel's Michael cathedral.

Step into Red Square to admire the colorful domes of St. Basil's cathedral. You will view famous landmarks including the Savior Tower, the Kremlin walls, GUM department store, the State Historical Museum and Lenin's mausoleum.
Then, drive around the Kremlin and reach the Christ the Savior Cathedral, a church with a controversial history. Then, you'll view the New Maiden Convent - the "Convent of the Broken Hearts". Later, visit Bow Hill to commemorate the fallen in the World War II and learn the story from the Russian perspective.

In the evening, you will enjoy a luxurious dinner a la Russe, and soak up the unique atmosphere of downtown Moscow.
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Day
4

Old Tretyakov Gallery & Its Neighborhood Tour

Take the Metro to your next touring point, while appreciating more exquisite stations. Visit the Old Tretyakov gallery to see the collection of Russian art. Sample local food and then walk around the historic district of Zamoskvorechye. Here you can catch a glimpse of pre-Revolutionary Moscow.

Take the Metro to your next touring point, while appreciating more exquisite stations. Visit the Old Tretyakov gallery to see the collection of Russian art. Sample local food and then walk around the historic district of Zamoskvorechye. Here you can catch a glimpse of pre-Revolutionary Moscow.

Day
5

Garage Museum & New Tretyakov Gallery Tour

Get up close to the world of the contemporary art and visit the Garage Museum. Walk along the embankment from Gorky Park to the Park of Arts Muzeon. It is one of the largest Russian outdoor museums where the statues of disgraced leaders share their place with diverse creations by contemporary sculptors. To complete the topic, visit the New Tretyakov gallery - the premier venue for XX century Russian art - to see the reflection of the controversial times in arts and discover Social realism.

Get up close to the world of the contemporary art and visit the Garage Museum. Walk along the embankment from Gorky Park to the Park of Arts Muzeon. It is one of the largest Russian outdoor museums where the statues of disgraced leaders share their place with diverse creations by contemporary sculptors. To complete the topic, visit the New Tretyakov gallery - the premier venue for XX century Russian art - to see the reflection of the controversial times in arts and discover Social realism.

Day
6

Kremlin Day Tour with Rail to St. Petersburg

Enter the Kremlin walls to feel the country's past and present and immerse into the city's ancient spirit. Learn how Kremlin grew out of an old fortress to the political center of Russia. Visit the Armory Chamber that houses a collection of unique jewelry, and some of the priceless Easter Eggs by Karl Faberge. Depart from Leningradsky railway station to St. Petersburg by rapid train Sapsan (4 hours). Upon arrival you will be met and escorted to your hotel.

Enter the Kremlin walls to feel the country's past and present and immerse into the city's ancient spirit. Learn how Kremlin grew out of an old fortress to the political center of Russia. Visit the Armory Chamber that houses a collection of unique jewelry, and some of the priceless Easter Eggs by Karl Faberge. Depart from Leningradsky railway station to St. Petersburg by rapid train Sapsan (4 hours). Upon arrival you will be met and escorted to your hotel.

Day
7

The Hermitage & The General Staff Building Tour

View the Palace Square and take in the spectacular panorama of the General Staff building, Alexander column, and the Hermitage. After a lunch-break admire the Impressionist Gallery located in the General Staff Building directly across from the Winter Palace to see the collection of impressionist and post-impressionist work; as well as examples of neo-classical, romanticism, Barbizon School and an extensive collection of German art. Enjoy the canal cruise and see the city from a different perspective.

View the Palace Square and take in the spectacular panorama of the General Staff building, Alexander column, and the Hermitage. After a lunch-break admire the Impressionist Gallery located in the General Staff Building directly across from the Winter Palace to see the collection of impressionist and post-impressionist work; as well as examples of neo-classical, romanticism, Barbizon School and an extensive collection of German art. Enjoy the canal cruise and see the city from a different perspective.

Day
8

Catherine's Palace & Peterhof Fountains Tour

Depart to Pushkin or Tsarskoye Selo, just outside St. Petersburg to admire the majestic Catherine's Palace and its main attractions - the mirrored Grand Ballroom and the opulent Amber Room. Continue to the beautiful Catherine Park surrounding the palace. Enjoy an unforgettable tour to Peterhof Park - the "capital of fountains".

Then, enjoy a regal reception to Russia with an exclusive tour of the palace of Romanov dynasty, complete with a glass of champagne. Experience the estate like the Tzars did with a private concert. Virtuosi of the Mariinsky and Mikhailovsky Theatre will perform compositions by various Russian composers for your pleasure and delight, including pieces by Rachmaninov and Tchaikovsky. Each performance is complemented by a short story about the composers and the history of the work performed.

Then explore the spacious rooms uninhibited, uncovering the unique decorative style of each space. The palace is the only mansion that was preserved during the Second World War. You will learn about to the history of the palace that survived the revolutionary changes of the eras and find out more about the people who lived in these royal surroundings. The evening will immerse you in the unforgettable atmosphere of the Russian aristocratic era.
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Day
9

Masterpiece of Russian Museum & Faberge Eggs Tour

Meet your expert guide to explore The State Russian Museum housing creme de la creme of Russian art, ranging from historic to contemporary times. Then visit the Faberge Museum to see the collection of priceless Easter eggs that Faberge created for the Imperial family. Continue past the Field of Mars and the Summer Gardens to the most famous church in the city the Church of Our Savior on the Spilled Blood.

Meet your expert guide to explore The State Russian Museum housing creme de la creme of Russian art, ranging from historic to contemporary times. Then visit the Faberge Museum to see the collection of priceless Easter eggs that Faberge created for the Imperial family. Continue past the Field of Mars and the Summer Gardens to the most famous church in the city the Church of Our Savior on the Spilled Blood.

Day
10

International Flight Home

At the appropriate time, you will be met at your hotel and privately transferred to the airport for your flight home.

At the appropriate time, you will be met at your hotel and privately transferred to the airport for your flight home.

Moscow, Russia

Petersburg, Russia

Places You'll See

  • Moscow

    A city that combines the past and the present, Moscow is where old buildings live together with modern high rises. Moscow is home to more than 500 museums, 3 UNESCO World Heritage sites, and several world architectural records. Moscow’s rich architecture can also be seen underground: the central metro stations—real “palaces of the people” with mosaics, paintings, stucco, and dazzling illumination. Moscow is a metropolis that has everything: the best restaurants, fashionable nightclubs, skyscrapers, dizzying views, and even peaceful old courtyards where time has stood still for more than a century.

  • St. Petersburg

    Serving as Russia’s cultural capital, Saint Petersburg is one of the most beautiful cities in the world. The Hermitage, the Russian Museum, Saint Isaac’s and Kazan cathedrals, the Church of the Savior on Blood, Peter and Paul Fortress, Nevsky Prospect and the Summer Garden are some of the attractions that need no introduction. But Saint Petersburg also has attractions outside the city: Tsarskoye Selo in Pushkin, Pavlovsk and, of course, magnificent Petergof. Visitors come from all over the world to see this unusual city during the white nights, to visit the royal palaces and parks, the fairytale fountains and movable bridges.

Hotel Options

4 Star Properties

Moscow : Tverskaya Marriott

St. Petersburg : Crowne Plaza Ligovsky

5 Star Properties

Moscow : InterContinental Tverskaya

St. Petersburg : Grand Belmond

Testimonials

Lisa

Traveled March, 2017

Already planning a return for next year!

Kenya is on record on FB and Instagram as the best vacation ever that the Ahmads have taken! Thank you for all your efforts and attention to detail which made transfers and bookings so easy. I am still in Nairobi with friends about will reach out when I return to share details. Already planning a return for next year! 🙂

Traveled To

Winnie T

Traveled October 2019

Awesome Trip

The itinerary to South Africa was super and the arrangement was trouble free. Everything happened on time. The stay in the Safaris was awesome. Thanks to Karolina Guilcapi who made our trip so pleasant.

Traveled To

Joel M.

Traveled August, 2014

Everything was perfect! Guides were wonderful!

Everything was perfect! Guides were wonderful! I especially loved the Chitwa Chitwa. The experiences here were fabulous, including eating dinner with a family of elephants, including a baby. From our room and the lodge we saw a herd of Hippos, crocodiles in the morning and two lions. On the drive we saw an Impala in a tree which had been killed by a lion. Then shortly thereafter we saw a leopard leap up into the tree to eat the impala. We also went to an art opening, and liked a painting so much that we decided to buy it and take it home. It was her first painting to sell and she was so happy she gave it to me. I hope in some way my trip to South Africa, may have changed this student’s life, who will now have more confidence as an artist.

Traveled To


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