DAY 1 ISTANBUL AIRPORT – ST. PETERSBURG
Meeting in front of the Turkish Airlines international departures counter at Istanbul Airport at 04:10. After passport, ticket, and baggage procedures, departure for St. Petersburg with Turkish Airlines flight TK401 at 08:10. Following our arrival in St. Petersburg at 11:55 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 the works of the world's most famous architects and artists are exhibited, as well as the historical and touristic spots of the city. Nevsky Prospect, often featured in the 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. After 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 the restaurant's availability.) Transfer to our hotel after the tour. Overnight at our hotel.
DAY 2 ST. PETERSBURG
Free time after breakfast in the morning. 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 and housing approximately 4 million works from the Tsarist era, is one of the largest museums in the world and Russia. It has entered the Guinness Book of 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 decorated with 150 monumental fountains and four waterfalls. Afterwards, we continue our program with the Canal Tour. Accompanied by our guide, we take an enjoyable 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 breakfast in the morning. There is an opportunity to participate in the optional Pushkin (Tsarskoye Selo) Tour and Peter and Paul Fortress Tour organized for guests who wish. Built in the 18th century by Empress Catherine and referred to 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 sometimes be closed to visitors due to high density, especially during the summer months. There is also the school where the famous Russian poet Pushkin studied located in this region. Afterwards, guests who wish may 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 tombs belonging to the Romanov Dynasty. The angel figure on 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 in the morning, 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 being greeted, we start the Moscow Panoramic City Tour by private vehicle. During the tour, Red Square, St. Basil's Cathedral, the Kremlin Palace, the Bolshoi Theatre, Tverskaya Street, Gorky Park, the Novodevichy Convent, Luzhniki Stadium, Sparrow Hills, and Moscow State University are among the places to be seen panoramically. 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 show staged by one of Russia's most important troupes, we will have the opportunity to get to know Russian culture closely accompanied by classical and modern dances. Return to our hotel after the tour. Overnight at our hotel.
DAY 5 MOSCOW
Free time after breakfast in the morning. Guests who wish may join the optional Kremlin Palace, Moscow Metro, Arbat Street, and Nazım Hikmet's Grave Tour. During our tour, the Kremlin Palace, which also houses the working office of the President of Russia, 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. Then, 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 Nazım Hikmet's grave located there. Transfer to our hotel after the tour. Overnight at our hotel.
DAY 6 MOSCOW – ISTANBUL AIRPORT
Free time after breakfast in the morning. Transfer to the airport at the time determined by our guide. After passport and check-in procedures, departure for Istanbul with Turkish Airlines flight TK416 at 19:25. Arrival in Istanbul at 23:25 local time. End of our tour. Hoping to meet you on our next tour.
