Private: St. Petersburg Classic With Jewish Highlights Three Day Shore Excursion Package

St. Petersburg Classic With Jewish Highlights Three Day Shore Excursion Package Photo #1 of 2 Photo copyright ShoreTrips.com.

Overview

Enjoy three private, fabulous, worry-free days in a magical city while we do the thinking for you.

Three days in St. Petersburg will allow you to see those historic spots that are musts, but you will also have the time to see some of the lesser-known places that really give you a sense of St. Petersburg's past and its cultural achievements. We have created a balance so that you will enjoy a great mix of worthwhile sights.

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.

Day 1
The Jewish portion of your tour may be done on any of the three days. Your guide will suggest which day would be best based on what is happening in the city. 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.

This portion of your day will take up to three hours, depending on your interests. Some of the cultural aspects of Jewish St. Petersburg will overlap with the regular introduction to the city. You will work with your guide to arrange to see those attractions that are of most interest to you. The order in which you will do them will be different than below.

Your next stop today is the colorful Yusupov Palace, a lush home with spectacular interiors and the location of the assassination of the infamous Rasputin. You'll also see St. Issac's Cathedral before returning to your cruise ship, unless you have booked an optional theater performance, folkloric show, boat trip, or even a typical Russian dinner experience for the evening with ShoreTrips.

Day 2
The familiar face of your guide will greet you again today as you begin your morning with a ride to Peterhof. We will begin with a visit to the glorious Fountain Park, which is often called the Russian Versailles.

Lunch will follow and your guide will suggest a spot that will be quick and typical, as well as fairly priced. From here, you'll travel to Pavlovsk Palace. This 18th-century Russian Imperial Neo-classical residence was built by the order of Catherine the Great for her son, Grand Duke Paul. You'll enjoy both the beautiful interiors and the interesting stories this palace holds.

At the end of the day, you will return to your cruise ship or participate in an evening activity prearranged by ShoreTrips.

Day 3
By now, you will feel that it is your good friend meeting you at the cruise ship pier. Today, you will spend your time in the city, starting with a tour of the Hermitage Museum, one of the largest museums of art and culture in the world. We will also visit the Jewish section at the Russian Museum of Ethnography, which will give you a comprehensive insight into the life of Jewish people on the territory of Russia.

Lunch can be leisurely if you wish, or perhaps you'll want to choose something again that is quick and see something that caught your eye. Your guide will bring you to a launch site after lunch and you'll take a tour on the canals and rivers, where you will see breathtaking palaces and buildings from the water side.

A late afternoon return to your ship will find you satisfied that your time was wisely spent, as well as wondering when you might be able to return to this city of energy and magic.