“New Year in Saint-Petersburg“ (5 Days /4 Nights)
St. Petersburg is beautiful in any season. New Years time is especially beautiful. The city decorated in glittering lights endlessly reflected in windows and snow is incomparable. Have a ride along endless embankments, walk across numerous bridges and you will see a different city showing it’s charm from the darkness of winter nights. Visit amazing fairy-tale palaces and parks, enjoy a New Year’s Gala in a exquisite palace interior or have a party at a folk restaurant, get a “troika” (three-horse drawn sled) ride or enjoy a traditional Christmas “Nutcracker” performed by the famous Russian ballet dancers.
Day 1: 29 December
Arrive to Saint-Petersburg. Transfer airport-hotel. Accommodation in chosen hotel.
Day 2: 30 December
Sightseeng City Tour. This tour is a great start to your trip and the best way to get acquainted with all of the city´s major highlights. You will see Nevsky Prospect, Kazan Cathedral, Winter Palace, Vasilevsky Island, Church of Saint Nicolas the Mariner, Kunstkamera.
Visit to the Peter and Paul Fortress - a symbol of St. Petersburg and also the oldest building in the city. While there, you will visit Peter's Cathedral, the burial place of the Russian Tsars from Peter the Great onward.
Lunch in a local restaurant.
Visit to the Hermitage, one of the greatest and largest art museums in the world. The museum consists of five historical buildings including the Winter Palace - the residence of the Russian Tsars. The museum contains over 3 million pieces of art with dates ranging from high antiquity to the present day. Among the Hermitage's treasures are artworks by Leonardo da Vinci, Raphael, Titian, Rembrandt, Rubens and a large collection of impressionists and post impressionists. Walking tour. Overview of the area surrounding the Hermitage. Return by metro.
Optional: Celebration of the New Year with folk show: drive in a coach-and-three accompanied by a glass of vodka and a snack.
Day 3: 31 December
Visit to Pushkin (Tsarskoye Selo), the famous imperial residence in the baroque palace that was designed by Rasstrelli in the 18th century and that contains the legendary “amber room” a truly unique work of craftsmanship.
Lunch in «Podvorie» restaurant designed as a traditional Russian log house.
The ride in a Russian troika (coach-and-three).
Visit the Palace of Pavlovsk, the residence of Paul the First, Catherine the Great’s son, built by the best classical architects of the18th Century. Almost entirely destroyed during WWII, today it’s completely restored and makes a wonderful impression by its elegant and harmonious mood and collections of porcelain, tapestries and paintings. Return to St. Petersburg.
Optional: New Year's party (see the options)
For the New Year's party we offer you a special party at the typical restaurant: supper with animation including hors d'oeuvre, main dishes, desserts and drinks, champagne (menu for your information).
Or:
The New Year's party in the palace of Grand Duke Vladimir or in the palace of Grand Duke Nicolay.
Day 4: 01 January
Day 4: 1 January.
Visit the Alexander Nevsky Monastery where you can attend orthodox service. This Orthodox monastery was founded by Peter the Great and consecrated to the patron of St. Petersburg, St. Alexander Nevsky. The prestigious cemeteries of the monastery house the graves of some of Russia's historic and cultural giants, including Tchaikovsky, Dostoyevsky, Glinka and others. During the transfer the guide will show you the most interesting places of St. Petersburg Christmas fair and tell you about the history of Russian New Year's traditions.
Day 5: 02 January
Optional: VVisit Yussupov’s palace, home of the richest Russian noble family. It has highly ornate interiors and its Italian inspired theatre is a real jewel. The infamous Rasputin was killed here on 16th December 1916.
Transfer to the airport. Departure.