DAY 1 ISTANBUL AIRPORT – ST. PETERSBURG
Meeting in front of the Turkish Airlines international departures counter at Istanbul Airport at 05:30. Following passport, ticket, and baggage procedures, departure for St. Petersburg on Turkish Airlines flight TK401 at 09:10. Upon arrival in St. Petersburg at 13:00 local time, passport control and meeting with our guide. Afterwards, we depart by private vehicle for the St. Petersburg Panoramic City Tour. During our panoramic city tour, we will have the opportunity to see the streets where works of the world's most famous architects and artists are exhibited, as well as the historical and touristic points of the city. Nevsky Prospect, frequently featured in works of famous writers, the Old Port Lighthouses, the Mint, the Clock Tower, the Peter the Great Statue, the Winter Palace, Palace Square, the Admiralty Building, and the Aurora Cruiser are among the sights to be seen. Following our city tour, transfer to our hotel and free time. In the evening, guests who wish may join the optional “Russian Night Tour” organized by our guide. You should not miss the opportunity to watch magnificent dance shows accompanied by dinner in St. Petersburg. (The Russian Night Tour may be organized on different days depending on restaurant availability.) Transfer to our hotel after the tour. Overnight at our hotel.
DAY 2 ST. PETERSBURG
Free time after morning breakfast. There is an opportunity to participate in the optional Hermitage, Peterhof, and Canal Tours organized for guests who wish. The Hermitage Museum, located on the banks of the Neva River, is one of the largest museums in the world and Russia, housing approximately 4 million works from the Tsarist era. It has entered the Guinness Book of World Records for having the largest collection of paintings. At the end of the tour, guests who wish can join the Peterhof Palace Tour. Located on the shores of the Gulf of Finland, this summer palace is a magnificent palace complex whose plans were personally drawn by Peter and built by the Italian architect Rastrelli. Presented as a rival to the Palace of Versailles in Paris, the structure is adorned with 150 monumental fountains and four waterfalls. Then we continue our program with the Canal Tour. Accompanied by our guide, we take a pleasant trip seeing St. Petersburg from the canals this time, extending all the way to the Neva River. Transfer to our hotel at the end of the tour. Overnight at our hotel.
DAY 3 ST. PETERSBURG
Free time after morning breakfast. There is an opportunity to participate in the optional Pushkin (Tsar's Village) Tour and Peter and Paul Fortress Tour organized for guests who wish. Built in the 18th century by Tsarina Catherine and known as the Tsar's Village, this region covers an area of approximately 600 hectares. The main structure of the complex is the Catherine Palace. The Amber Room located in the palace may occasionally be closed to visitors, especially due to high density during the summer months. The school where the famous Russian poet Pushkin studied is also located in this region. Afterwards, guests who wish can join the Peter and Paul Fortress Tour. Having the distinction of being the first structure built in St. Petersburg by Peter in the 1700s, the fortress is located on the Neva River. The cathedral inside the fortress contains the tombs belonging to the Romanov Dynasty. The angel figure at the top of the cathedral, the highest structure in the city, is one of the symbols of St. Petersburg. Transfer to our hotel at the end of the tour. Overnight at our hotel.
DAY 4 ST. PETERSBURG – MOSCOW (TRAIN JOURNEY)
After breakfast at our hotel, we check out of our rooms and transfer to the train station. Following our train journey between St. Petersburg and Moscow, upon our arrival in Moscow and welcome, we begin the Moscow Panoramic City Tour with our private vehicle. During the tour, Red Square, St. Basil's Cathedral, the Kremlin Palace, the Bolshoi Theatre, Tverskaya Street, Gorky Park, Novodevichy Convent, Luzhniki Stadium, Sparrow Hills, and Moscow University are among the places to be seen panormically. At the end of the tour, transfer to our hotel and free time. Guests who wish may join the optional Russian Folk Dances Show Tour. In this performance staged by one of Russia's most important troupes, we will have the opportunity to get closely acquainted with Russian culture accompanied by classical and modern dances. Return to our hotel after the tour. Overnight at our hotel.
DAY 5 MOSCOW
Free time after morning breakfast. Guests who wish may join the optional Kremlin Palace, Moscow Metro, Arbat Street, and Nâzım Hikmet's Tomb Tour. During our tour, the Kremlin Palace—where the office of the President of Russia is also located—the Cathedral of the Assumption, and the world's largest bell will be seen. Afterwards, transportation will be provided via the world-famous Moscow Metro for its architecture. Afterwards, free time will be given on Arbat Street, one of Moscow's most famous streets. Here you can shop and spend time in cafes. Our tour will continue with a visit to the Novodevichy Convent and Nâzım Hikmet's tomb located there. Transfer to our hotel after the tour. Overnight at our hotel.
DAY 6 MOSCOW – ISTANBUL AIRPORT
Free time after morning breakfast. Transfer to the airport at the time to be determined by our guide. Following passport and check-in procedures, departure for Istanbul on Turkish Airlines flight TK418 at 15:15. Arrival in Istanbul at 19:15 local time. End of our tour. Hoping to meet on our next tour.
