Itinerary

Day 1 Moscow

The focal point of Moscow is Red Square, on one side of which is the Kremlin surrounded by a thick red fortress wall containing 20 towers altogether. There a several gorgeous buildings in the square including the Uspensky Cathedral, the 14th-century Grand Kremlin Palace, the golden-domed Belfry of Ivan the Great, and the renowned St Basil’s Cathedral, famous for its brightly colored domes. Lenin’s Mausoleum is also located in Red Square and is still open to the public on certain days. Outside Red Square, Tverskaya Street is one of the main shopping streets. Old Arbat Street is a pedestrian zone with crafts and artists’ stalls and street performers. The world-famous Bolshoi Opera and Ballet Theater at Teatralnaya Square dates from 1824. Novodevichy Convent near Sportivnaya metro station houses a museum of rare and ancient Russian art, and is one of the finest examples of 16th- and 17th-century architecture in the city. The Metro system itself is steeped in history, with many of stations featuring beautiful decoration. Other sites include the superb Tretyakov Gallery, the Annunciation and Our Lady of Kazan Cathedrals, Gorky Park, and the macbre KGB museum.

Enjoy an airport transfer with private vehicle and driver.

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Located in the center of Moscow, Arbat Hotel (3*) is set amidst vibrant nightlife and brushes with Russian culture. The hotel is near a range of diverse restaurants and bars, retail and entertainment outlets, as well as various museums. Behind the hotel is the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, surrounded by marvellous old buildings. With its 102 comfortable rooms, Arbat Hotel can accommodate up to 200 guests and its newly constructed restaurant will satisfy a variety of tastes. Within easy access to Smolenskaya and Arbatskaya Metro station, this hotel is in an ideal location to discover Moscow.

Overnight at Arbat (3*).

Day 2 Moscow

Enjoy a full day city tour of Moscow. View the panorama of the Kremlin from the Sophiskaya Embankment, Lubyanka Square, Tverskaya Street, Christ The Savior Cathedral, New Arbat Street, The White House of Russia and Victory Park, view of St. Basil Cathedrals, Kremlin Walks, Lenin Mausoleum, Alexabdrovsky Garden, Manezh Square and shopping. Tour the Kremlin, the city´s former military fortification, a palace, an armoury, the sovereign treasury and the workplace of the Russian President. The Armoury Palace features weaponry, imperial regalia and unique art. (Entrance inside Kremlin Walls and Armoury Chamber included in tour price).

Overnight at Arbat (3*).

Day 3 Moscow

Novodevichy Convent was founded at the beginning of 16th century. The complex consists of 15 buildings, surmounted by golden domes. For 400 years the Novodevichy Convent was part of important historical events, connected with the names of Ivan the Terrible, Boris Godunov, Sofia and Peter I. For several years, it was even used as a place of imprisonment for disgraced women from noble families. Visit the interesting cemetery, a charming sight, rich in the spirit of the past, hidden behind a wall in the Twentieth century inner city. Visit the Tretyakov Gallery, the largest museum of Russian art in the world. The museum represents the history of Russian art from the ancient periods. Its superb collection consists of numerous icons, paintings, sculptures and graphics. Entrance fees to the Monastery and Gallery are included in the tour price.

Enjoy a port transfer with private vehicle and driver.

The Grand Express is currently changing the standards of overnight railway travel. 'Grand Express' truly is a hotel on wheels and offers guests spacious sleeping carriages with a full set of amenities one would expect from a high quality hotel. The train also offers Grand de Luxe class carriages with comfortable and functional interiors and exquisite service. The restaurant is open from departure to arrival and serves hot and cold snacks, European and Eastern inspired dishes, as well as a selection of wines and drinks. Breakfast is also available. Combine your travels with a good night’s sleep, and arrive to St. Petersburg rested and ready for discovery.

Overnight at Overnight Grand Express Train.

Day 4 St. Petersburg

St Petersburg is known as a cultural center and for its elegant buildings, and is spread over 42 islands in the delta of the River Neva. In comparison to Moscow, which tended to be more Eastern in character, St Petersburg has always retained a European flavor and was intended as a ‘Window to the West’. It was built by Peter the Great in 1703 and remained the capital of Tsarist Russia for 200 years. Wide boulevards, tranquil canals, bridges and some of the best examples of tsarist architecture gave rise to the epithet the ‘Venice of the North’. The Palace Square and the Winter Palace (Hermitage Museum) are among the most popular attractions for enthusiasts of Russian history.

Avail of a private train station transfer with private vehicle and driver (local language speaking) in St Petersburg.

Take a panoramic tour and get acquainted with the main architectural and historical monuments of St Petersburg, ride along its main streets and prospects, and enjoy its splendid parks and gardens. Drive along world famous "Nevsky Prospect" lined with marble palaces of Russian royalty and aristocracy, with most fashionable boutiques. View Monastery of Alexander Nevsky with its magnificent Trinity Cathedral and its cemetery where Dostoevsky, Tchaikovsky and other world celebrities were buried. Visit St. Peter and St. Paul's fortress, view St. Isaac Cathedral with «The Bronze Horseman». Drive by Summer Garden with the oldest royal stone palace and breathtaking collection of Italian statues and sculpture set in a natural surrounding. Stop in the Field of Mars with the eternal flame lit in the centre of the monument to victims of revolutions and wars, at the Resurrection Cathedral on the Spilt Blood at its background, one of the most unusual monuments of Russian Orthodox. Drive through the Square of Arts which is a perfect classical ensemble of the city, enjoy an overwhelming beauty of the third largest square in the world, the Palace Square with the Alexander Column, the Triumphal Arch of the general Staff building, and the Winter Palace complex. Entrance fee to Peter and Paul's Fortress is included in the tour price.

Pushka Inn (3*) is ideally located in historical part of St. Petersburg, a one minute walk from the Hermitage and the Palace Square. Hotel rooms boast refined decor, comfort and the latest technologies;a union of luxurious architecture and modern equipment. Most of the hotel rooms have magnificent views to the Moyka river embankment. The hotel's restaurant serves European & Russian cuisine and the English speaking staff serves a buffet breakfast with fresh homemade pastries, every morning. Enjoy your morning coffee and set out on a walking tour of the city.

Overnight at Pushka Inn (3*).

Day 5 St. Petersburg

Enjoy a private guided 5hr tour of the Hermitage and admire the gems of the collection. During the tour you will see the State Rooms of the Winter Palace, a part of the collection of paintings of Old Masters and other exciting exhibits and works of art. Value the splendour of the Gala stair-way, Peter's Memorial Hall, the Armorial Hall, the Gallery of 1812 with its numerous portraits, the Pavilion Hall and its various amusements and other gala rooms. You are sure to enjoy the works of applied arts, precious items and paintings. The collection of Western European art, numbering over 600,000 items, is considered to be one of the finest in the world. It presents all the stages of the development of art from the Middle Ages to the present. Enjoy masterpieces by outstanding Western European artists, as Leonardo da Vinci, Raphael, Giorgione, Titian, Michelangelo, Francisco de Goya, Renoir, Picasso and others. You will have an opportunity to see such world-famous masterpieces as works by Degas, Renoir, Pissarro, Van Gogh, Gauguin and others. Admire the richest collection of ancient and early medieval items, works of art from Ancient Greece and Rome, fabulous treasures of oriental culture and wonderful European art. (Entrance fee to Hermitage Museum is included in the tour price).

Overnight at Pushka Inn (3*).

Day 6 St. Petersburg

Enjoy the excursion to one of the most beautiful summer residences of the Royal family, Peterhof. The world-famous palace, fountain and park is an outstanding landmark of Russian artistic culture of the 18th-19th centuries. Learn from your private guide about the fate of the palace and the parks during the World War II, see the pictures representing the palace and in process of restoration works. Walk through the various fountains of different sizes and shapes in the lower Park, and admire the beautiful gardens. Continue with Yusupov Palace, one of the most mysterious places in St. Petersburg. Yusupov Palace once belonging to princes Yusupovs noble family is one of the most beautiful palaces in St. Petersburg. Princes Yusupovs had always been in the center of high life. The palace retains its genuine interiors of the 19th century. The cellar of the palace became the setting of the murder of one of the most scandalous figures in Russian history -Grigory Rasputin. The legendary favourite of the wife of Emperor Nicolas II, Rasputin convinced the royal family that he possessed supernatural powers and that only he could cure the heir to the throne Alexis, who suffered from haemophilia. Rasputin had strong influence on the decisions of the tsar and tsarina. Nowadays the cellar houses an exhibition about the life of Grigory Rasputin.

Avail of a private train station transfer with private vehicle and driver (local language speaking) in St Petersburg.

Overnight train St. Petersburg-Tallinn, private cabin.

Overnight at Tallinn overnight train.

Day 7 Tallinn

Tallinn is an ancient Hanseatic city and the capital of Estonia, Tallinn has a wealth of historical and architectural monuments, particularly in the old town center which is dominated by the soaring steeple of the medieval Town Hall (14th to 15th centuries), the oldest in northern Europe. More than two-thirds of the original City Wall still stands and a superb view of the narrow streets, the gabled roofs and the towers and spires of old Tallinn is afforded from Toompea Castle, situated on a cliff top. A favorite recreation spot is Kadriorg Park, which contains the palace built for Peter the Great. The Open Air Museum offers visitors a glimpse into the way of rural life in the 18th and 19th centuries.

Train station transfer with private vehicle and driver.

After being picked up at the port, your half day guided tour starts at St.Charles’ Cathedral and the National Library in the city center and goes on to Pirita where the Olympic Yachting Regatta was hosted in 1980. Here you can take a look at the Olympic Center from the other side of the Pirita River. Continue to visit the ruins of St.Bridget’s Convent. On the way back to the city, a stop is made at the Song Festival Grounds, the venue of the 120-year-old Estonian song festival tradition. Afterwards, drive by the residential area of Lasnamäe and pass Kadriorg Park and Palace. Start your short walk at the Toompea Hill. Tallinn was founded on Toompea in the 11th century. Visit the Parliament building and Alexander Nevsky Cathedral with its onion domes, built in 1900. Visit the Dome Cathedral, built 13th-14th centuries, with its interesting collection of coats-of-arms, tombstones. The tour then takes you to two viewing platforms that offer breathtaking panoramic views of Tallinn. In the Lower Town, the tour passes St. Nicholas Church, and ends in the Town Hall Square where you can see the Town Hall Pharmacy, and the Town Hall, a Gothic masterpiece before you are brought back to you cruise. Entrance fees are included in the tour cost.

Situated in the old city of Tallinn, My City Hotel (4*) is surrounded by the business and entertainment districts and is adjacent to fashionable shops and restaurants. Reflecting a tradition of classical style and elegance, the hotel offers a charming setting, ideal for any traveler. All 68 elegantly designed guest rooms feature amenities to satisfy the needs of the most demanding customer and include a computer with high-speed internet in each room. The warm atmosphere and professional staff of My City Hotel will make your stay in Tallinn pleasant and memorable.

Overnight at My City Hotel (4*).

Day 8 Riga

Riga is one of the most beautiful of the Baltic cities featuring remarkable Gothic, Baroque, Classical and Art Nouveau buildings. The center of the city is considered to contain the finest concentration of Art Nouveau buildings in Europe and has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Old Riga contains a remarkable diversity of architectural styles, perhaps best epitomised by the Dome Cathedral. Begun in 1211, the building has been added to throughout the centuries, resulting in a fascinating blend of Romanesque, Gothic, Renaissance, Baroque and Classical styles. The numerous other historical buildings in Riga bear witness to Latvia’s chequered history. Since its restoration after World War I, the old quarter of the city has been a protected area. Merchants’ houses from the Middle Ages such as the Three Brothers and the 24 warehouses in the old quarter are also picturesque examples of Latvian architecture.

Transfer from Tallinn to Riga, stop in Parnu, Estonian "Summer Capital", with your private vehicle and driver.

Enjoy a half day tour (3 hours) to Jurmala, a world-famous seaside resort situated only 20km from Riga. The natural curative features of this place had already been well known more than one hundred and fifty years ago. Nowadays boundless golden beaches, blue sea, salubrious air and the unique beauty of pine forests attract tourists from all over the world. Jurmala is a cozy European town composed of houses plunged into the parks and forests. Here you can come across wooden country houses of the beginning of the 20th century as well as modern cottages.

Located in the historic town of Riga, next to the US Embassy and the city park, Radisson BLU Ridzene (4*) offers a luxurious and private retreat with great attention to detail. This hotel is a true retreat for discerning travelers and for locals who appreciate the quiet lobby bar and elegant restaurant. Inviting and elegantly decorated guestrooms have all the amenities you would expect, while the lobby, restaurants and bars as well as the spa, are so inviting you may almost not want to step out into the bustling city, full of entertainment, shopping and cultural events. Feel at home from the moment you step into the hotel lobby; a great place to start your city vacation in Riga.

Overnight at Radisson BLU Ridzene (4*).

Day 9 Vilnius

Vilnius is surrounded on three sides by wooded hills and situated in a picturesque valley formed by the rivers Neris and Vilnia, the ancient yet modern center of the city lies on the southern or left bank of the river. Vilnius' Old Town is the biggest in Europe and is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Unlike Riga and Tallinn in the other Baltic Republics, Vilnius is not of Germanic origin. Almost all major European architectural styles are represented, although ultimately it was the Baroque which came to dominate. The heart of the capital is the beautiful and spacious Gediminas Square, the main feature of which is the Cathedral built in the Classical style. Other interesting churches are the Gothic St Ann’s Church and the St Peter and St Paul’s Church. To enjoy a view of the whole city, visitors should climb the Gediminas Tower. High on a hill in the center of the city, it rises above Vilnius and is the symbol of the Lithuanian capital.

Enjoy a private transfer from Riga to Vilnius. During your transfer visit Rundale Palace located 66 km away of Riga. One of the most beautiful baroque palaces in Latvia was built in 1736-1740 as a summer residence for the Duke of Courland, Ernst Johann Biron. The palace was designed by outstanding Italian architect Francesco Bartolomeo Rastrelli, the creator of the Winter Palace in Saint Petersburg. The Rundale Palace is unique; it is one of the few remaining places in Latvia, where the very essence of the 18th century may still be experienced. During this tour you will have a local guide at your disposal. Continue your tour with Hill of Crosses. Entrance fee to Rundale Palace is included in the tour cost.

Built in 1983 and thoroughly renovated in 2003, Reval Hotel Lietuva (4*) is the tallest hotel in the Lithuanian capital. As the largest hotel in the region, it is a great landmark that is perfectly located in the center of Vilnius, on the banks of the River Neris. The hotel has great dining options and formal, as well as informal dining atmospheres are available at all times of the day and night. Work out in the fitness suite, relax in the sauna or explore the hotel’s wellness services.

Overnight at Radisson BLU Lietuva (4*).

Day 10 Vilnius

The capital of Lithuania, Vilnius, is one of the oldest cities in Europe. In the 14th century, at the foot of the hill, the town started to develop. In 1503, Vilnius was surrounded by the defensive wall and since then the town was growing outside. Old Town of Vilnius is not only one of the most beautiful, but one of the biggest in Europe. The heart of Vilnius, Old Town, is a mixture of different epochs and architectural styles. Light and elegant town architecture is presented by the gothic buildings: Church of St Francis, Church of St Anne, and others. Austere Renaissance buildings - Gates of Dawn, St Michael Church, some of the university buildings - add classical sounding to the Old Town ensemble. The Noble Cathedral and Tower Hall, the outstanding examples of Classicism, dominate the Cathedral Square. The masterpiece of Vilnius baroque by right is considered to be St Peter and St Paul's Church. There are more than one thousand archeological, historical, architectural and cultural monuments in the Old Town. That's why in 1994 Vilnius was included in the list of UNESCO world cultural heritage. Visit Vilnius Cathedral and Town Hall Square, Vilnius University, built in various styles: gothic, renaissance, baroque and classicism. Continue to St Anne's and Bernardine Churches, Gate of Dawn and St Peter and Paul's Church.

Overnight at Radisson BLU Lietuva (4*).

Day 11 Warsaw

Warsaw (Poland’s capital and largest city), was almost completely destroyed during World War II. Following massive and painstaking reconstruction, Warsaw’s Old Town (Stare Miasto) on the west bank was authentically reconstructed from original plans and is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Among the most notable landmarks of the Old Town are the Royal Castle, King Zygmunt's Column, Market Square, and the Barbican. The Polish capital plays an important role in the country’s cultural life, and now features over 20 museums. One of the best is the Warsaw Historical Museum, which traces Warsaw’s history and shows films shot by the Nazis showing their systematic destruction of the city. In 2004,

Airport transfer with private vehicle and driver.

Take your flight from Vilnius to Warsaw today.

Meet your driver for a private airport transfer.

The Holiday Inn (3*) is located in the heart of the city, adjacent to the Palace Of Culture & Science and across from the central train station. Situated in the city center, only a few steps from the business and shopping district, it is also near main attractions. The small, well-kept guest rooms have modern art, coordinated spreads, drapes in gold or blue hues and a full set of amenities. In addition to two restaurants serving a rich variety of dishes, there is also a coffee house, pastry shop and two fully licensed bars. Descend to the hotel's lower level where you will find the whirlpool, sauna, solarium, exercise bike and treadmill. The Holiday Inn Warsaw Hotel is the perfect place to stay for both business and leisure travelers.

Overnight at Holiday Inn (3*).

Day 12 Warsaw

Enjoy a private, guided tour of the Summer Palace and Park. The palace was the former residence of King Jan 2nd Sobierski, is often called "Little Versailles". Its magnificant interiors include furniture and china from the period of Sobieski's victory over the Turks at the gates of Vienna in the 17th century. The grounds consist of English park, and Italian Baroque garden and rode garden.

Enjoy a private, half day tour to the Royal castle in the company of local guide with private transportation. The Royal Castle was the seat of the Mazovian Princes, residence of the Polish kings, seat of the Senate, and the place where the Polish Constitution was signed. The site is a symbol of Polish statehood, where many historic events took place, including the passing of the first Polish constitution on 1791. The castle dates back to the 13th century, though it owes its current shape to the early Baroque period. Sigismund Tower, 60m tall and crowned with a high cupola, dominates over the façade. Enjoy a tour of the castle which showcases its magnificant interiors: the Court rooms, the Parliamentary rooms and the Royal appartments. Numerous paintings displayed include portraits of Polish monarchs and the works of Canaletto.

Overnight at Holiday Inn (3*).

Day 13 Krakow

Kraków is the second largest and one of the oldest cities in Poland. It has traditionally been one of the leading centres of Polish academic, cultural and artistic life and is one of Poland's most important economic centres. After the invasion of Poland by Nazi Germany at the start of World War II, Kraków was turned into the capital of Germany's General Government. The Jewish population of the city was moved into a walled zone known as the Kraków Ghetto, from which they were sent to extermination camps such as Auschwitz and the concentration camp at Plaszów. In 1978, UNESCO placed Kraków on the list of World Heritage Sites.

Meet your driver for a private train station transfer.

Take the train to Krakow.  Trains run roughly every hour.

Meet your driver for a private train station transfer today.

Surrounded by a lush garden, Leopolis (3*) is a cozy hotel located in a peaceful area abundant in greenery, away from the bustle of the city streets. Each room is well-appointed and features modern amenities, ensuring a restful stay. The hotel restaurant specializes in European cuisine, with grilled dishes served in the garden in the summer months. A number of attractions are located nearby such as Decius and Jordan Park, Zoological Garden and Kosciuszko Mound, visible from the hotel’s courtyard. Enjoy the hotel’s peaceful setting away from the busy city center, yet close enough to be able to visit various local attractions.

Overnight at Leopolis (3*).

Day 14 Krakow

All over the world, Auschwitz has become a symbol of terror, genocide, and the Holocaust. Auschwitz was designed as the venue of the "final solution of the Jewish question in Europe". From spring 1942 until the fall of 1944, transport trains delivered Jews to the camp's gas chambers from all over Nazi-occupied Europe. It was the largest Nazi extermination camp, and site of the biggest genocide. The area is well preserved and nowadays it houses the Holocaust Museum, listed as being UNESCO Heritage site. The tour will include a 15-minute documentary movie serving as an introduction, then a visit to the brick-mortar barracks in Auschwitz I, and the extensive area of the large wooden extermination camp at Auschwitz II – Birkenau.

Half day tour of the Wawel Hill. This Gothic Royal Castle was built on the remains of a 10th century settlement. The magnificent Renaissance interiors contain numerous paintings, furniture and national memorabilia. Collection of famous "Wawel Tapestries" designed and made in Flandre, especially for the castle’s interiors, is truly unique. The renowned Sigismund Chapel with gold-plated dome is one of them. The Cathedral is also a necropolis of Polish Kings, Dukes and noble citizens, buried in numerous crypts, sarcophaguses, tombs and chapels. A walk down the river concludes the tour, and leads to a limestone cave, which is said to be the shelter of a legendary dragon.

Overnight at Leopolis (3*).

Day 15 Krakow

Czestochova holds the most famous sanctuary of the Virgin Mary in Poland, and it is the destination of annual pilgrimages of Roman Catholics . The originally Gothic, now extended church contains the miraculous painting of "Our Lady of Jasna Góra", "The Black Madonna", Poland’s most precious relic. The Jasna Góra treasury includes a magnificent collection of goldsmithery treasures and the most valuable national mementoes. The monasrty's defensive walls, bastions and moat were added on 1430.

Overnight at Leopolis (3*).

Day 16 Krakow

Airport transfer with private vehicle and driver.

Depart from Krakow international airport - end of itinerary.

Overnight at Depart.

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