3 Days In St. Petersburg - A Shoretrips Premium Shared Van Tour

3 Days In St. Petersburg - A Shoretrips Premium Shared Van Tour Photo #1 of 2 Photo copyright ShoreTrips.com.

Overview

Here's a smart way to stay within your budget--share a van with others.

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 you are not overwhelmed with cathedrals but, instead, 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 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.

ShoreTrips' PREMIUM van tours are a perfect choice if you are looking for a deluxe tour that's economical but without the crowds of a big bus.

We will confirm your reservation when we have at least 6 passengers booked. You will be notified about two weeks prior to the start of the cruise with options of more expensive private trips if we are not able to run the shared tour.

Day 1
Your pickup at the ship will bring you into St. Petersburg for an introductory tour of the city. You can expect to see the most beautiful, historical places in St. Petersburg, with photo stops along the way. Your English-speaking guide is well-acquainted with his/her native city and will prove to be an excellent escort as you see Nevsky Prospekt; the National Library, Kazan Cathedral; the Square of Arts, including the Russian Museum, the Ethnographical Museum, and Michael's Castle; The Admiralty; and Theatre Square with the famous Mariinsky Theatre.

If you're lucky, you may catch a glimpse of the brides and grooms dressed in full regalia and lined up at the government building for their weddings, as marriages take place all day long, almost every day.

You'll receive a guided tour of the Peter and Paul Fortress, the city's original citadel and the cathedral located within, the final resting place of many czars.

For a unique view of the city and its many landmarks, board a boat for a ride through the rivers, canals, and channels that bind St. Petersburg together.

It's time for a break with a delicious lunch, which is included in your tour. Refreshed, your day continues with a tour of the colorful Yusupov Palace, a lush home with spectacular interiors and the site of the assassination of the infamous Rasputin.

From here you'll visit one of the city's most stirring monuments, the Church of the Spilt Blood. Its vivid colors, fine craftsmanship, and splendid architecture will take your breath away and provide long-lasting memories.

Next, you'll travel to the Shuvalov Palace, located on the Fontanka River and receive a guided tour of the world-famous Faberge Museum. You'll marvel at the largest collection of Faberge works in the world, including the famous Imperial Easter eggs.

The tour concludes with a return 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 again greet you as you begin your morning with a stop to admire one of St. Petersburg's fabulous, sparkling clean subway stations, complete with chandeliers, en route to the suburb of Peterhof. You'll receive a guided tour of one of the small Peterhof palaces, either Monplaisir or Marly Palace, or Bath Block as well as a visit to the magnificent Fountain Park. The entire complex is a marvel of beauty and engineering, dating from the 1700's.

Moving on, your driver will proceed to the suburban town and administrative district of St. Petersburg, Pushkin. This is a great place to take a lunch break, after which you will stop at the Tsars Village and receive a guided tour of Catherine Palace and the opulent Amber Room.

As your busy day draws to a close, you'll be taken back to your ship, or you may choose to participate in an evening activity prearranged by ShoreTrips.

Day 3
By now, you'll feel that it is your good friend meeting you at the ship. Today you will spend your time in the city, beginning with a visit to a Russian food market or grocery store for a taste of local culture.

Continuing on, a guided tour awaits at the incomparable Hermitage Museum, the second-largest art museum in the world, with early admission to avoid the crowds and enhance your visit.

You'll be ready for a break, including lunch, before visiting the General Staff Building. This immense, bow-front building is home to a vast collection of impressionist and post-impressionist art that will leave you...impressed.

A guided tour of St. Isaac's Cathedral, with its large central dome, rounds out the day. This Neo-classical church is the 4th largest cathedral in the world and currently houses an Orthodox Museum.

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