Private: St. Petersburg Classic With Jewish Highlights One Day Tour

St. Petersburg Classic With Jewish Highlights One Day Tour Photo #1 of 2 Photo copyright ShoreTrips.com.

Overview

Integrating Jewish heritage into Russian history brings it all home.

In a city like this, there is never enough time, but we feel this itinerary will satisfy any visitor. You will spend some time exploring life in St. Petersburg's Jewish community, both the past and the present. To see all of the Jewish sights takes about three hours. For the balance of the day, if there is time, your guide will help direct you to those places he/she feels you would enjoy best.

If you desire to see something that is not a part of this day, please contact ShoreTrips and we will see if we can make it happen. This excursion is a non-visa tour for cruise ship passengers. According to Russian Federation law, visas are not required for shore excursions if you book through companies that are officially licensed and authorized by the Russian government to receive foreign cruise passengers and to operate inside St. Petersburg port areas. We will supply you with the tour ticket, which is called a blanket visa or booking confirmation, and you will pass the customs/immigration offices.

Your tour begins in the old district of Kolomna, which was the center of Jewish life in the 19th century. It was here that the Great Choral Synagogue was built and, amazingly, functioned continuously throughout WWII. The second largest synagogue in Europe, it contains a main hall for Sabbath services, rooms for the rabbi and cantor, a lovely wedding hall, a meeting hall for community members, a library, and a mikva in the basement. Next to the main building is a small synagogue for daily services. Outside, there is a stunning feature: a lifesize photograph of the Jerusalem Wailing Wall that has been transferred to fabric and hangs on a long brick wall.

Next to the synagogue is a restaurant and shop with kosher food, as well as beautiful Russian-made souvenirs. The St. Petersburg Conservatory, founded by Anton Rubinstein in the 19th century, claims many outstanding Jewish graduates such as Heinrich Veniavski, Leopold Auer, Yasha Heifetz, Yefrem Cimbalist, and Misha Elman, to mention just a few.

Downtown St. Petersburg also has some historical sights associated with the first Jews of the 18th century. You will see the ornate palaces of the Ginzburgs and the Polyakovs--the two powerful dynasties of Jewish bankers and industrialists. Nevsky Prospect, the city’s central shopping street, boasts the Vavelberg Bank building constructed for the Vavelberg family, the wealthiest bankers of Poland, along with other famous structures.

During this tour you will learn a lot about Jewish organizations, of which there are 40 in this city. One of them is the well known Hesed Avraam, the Jewish Cultural Center, which features a range of activities, including social programs, medical care, a foreign language club, a handicrafts club, and more.

Your guide may not be Jewish, but will have connections to the Jewish community.

- There is a discount for one child per two adult spaces. If you are traveling with a child 17 years and younger, contact ShoreTrips for a discounted rate.
- This excursion is a non-visa tour for cruise ship passengers. According to Russian Federation law, visas are not required for shore excursions if you book through companies that are officially licensed and authorized by the Russian government to receive foreign cruise passengers and to operate inside St. Petersburg port areas. We will supply you with the tour ticket, called a blanket visa or booking confirmation, which you will pass to the customs/immigration offices. Due to the length of time needed to acquire these tour tickets, we ask that you please MAKE YOUR BOOKING NO LESS THAN 2 WEEKS BEFORE THE DAY YOU LEAVE HOME. Thank you.
- We will need the following information at the time of booking: Each passenger's full name as it appears in their passport; Citizenship; Date of birth; Passport number; Passport issue date; Passport expiration date; Arrival date into St. Petersburg; Departure date from St. Petersburg.
- Any information forwarded to Shoretrips necessary to obtain a visa must be exact. We will pass on a $10 processing fee if corrections are necessary after we receive the visa. This is a per person fee, charged for each visa that requires changes.
- This tour includes standard admission to all museums in the program, guide's services for 1 day, driver's services for 1 day, car or minivan (Mercedes), and all port fees.
- Though we have included admissions, there is often an optional charge for photo and/or video use in palaces and museums. It is a nominal fee and must be paid upon entry. The Jewish community centers also expects a donation for all who choose to enter it. A $20.00 minimal per person donation is expected. Since some opt to donate more, this cost is NOT included in your tour cost.
- Cost of food and beverage is not included. Suggestions will be supplied by your guide for lunch that will be quick and typical.
- Gratuity is not included. We suggest a 10% gratuity to your guide and 5% to your driver.
- Some of the museums may be closed on certain days. We will substitute another appropriate venue when this happens. The Hermitage Museum is closed on Mondays, Catherine Palace and the Amber Room are closed on Tuesdays, and The Church of Spilt Blood is closed on Wednesdays.
- If your cruise ship departs at 7 PM or earlier your itinerary will be adjusted. Some locations, depending on the day, will have to be skipped. This is due to the working hours of local museums.

- VERY IMPORTANT: YOU MUST BRING YOUR RUSSIAN TOURIST TICKETS (BLANKET VISA) WITH YOU AS WELL AS YOUR SHORETRIPS TRAVEL VOUCHER OR YOU WILL NOT BE ALLOWED TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS PROGRAM. IF YOU FAIL TO BRING THESE THERE ARE NO REFUNDS.
- PLEASE MAKE SURE THAT YOU OPEN YOUR RUSSIAN TOURIST TICKETS ON A LAPTOP OR REGULAR COMPUTER AS MOST SMART PHONES OR TABLETS DO NOT SUPPORT PDF FORMAT AND YOU WILL SEE THEM BLANK.
- You are not able to move around St. Petersburg alone. Your blanket visa requires you to travel only with a guide.
- SHORETRIPS WILL SEND YOUR BLANKET VISA AFTER THE BOOKING IS CONFIRMED. THIS IS A DIFFERENT DOCUMENT THAN YOUR PRE-PAID VOUCHER, AND YOU MUST HAVE A PRINTOUT OF YOUR TRAVEL TICKET/BLANKET VISA BEFORE YOU DEPART. If you cancel your trip after the travel tickets have been issued, a $75 per person fee will be charged.
- ShoreTrips and our partners do our best to ensure that every stop described is available for your visit. There are some times when a site or building is closed at the last moment with little to no warning. We assume that those in charge make those decisions based on external information and for the visitors’ safety and we apologize when this causes inconvenience and disappointment.
- Certain days some of the museums may be closed. We will substitute another appropriate venue in that case. Usually it is not possible to visit a synagogue on Saturday or Jewish holidays, but your guides will work with the community and do their best.
- Guests with pacemakers might be asked to show a pacemaker ID card for security purposes at the entrances to museums. Please bring your card along if applicable.

Days offered: 7 days a week

Departures:

• 08:00 AM, duration: 8 hours