Things to see & do in
St Petersburg, Russia
For nearly 200 years, St Petersburg was the capital of Imperial Russia, home of Tsar Nicolas II and, later, the cradle of the Russian revolution. The government only returned to Moscow in 1918, following the fall of the tsars. However, as the home of the Hermitage, one of the largest art museums in the world, and over 50 theatres, it’s still considered by many to be Russia’s cultural capital. It’s a city that has stirred Russia’s greatest writers, and where the first seeds of democracy sprouted.
Our Russia Holidays
Moscow to St Petersburg holiday in Russia
Fascinating history and architecture
Kamchatka holidays, small group tour
Explore Russia’s Kamchatka peninsula
Siberian Tiger & Amur Leopard tours in Russia
Track tigers in snowy Russian backcountry, accompanied by an expert guide of Durminskoye Reserve
Kamchatka and Chukotka wildlife cruises, Russia
Explore wild Kamchatka's volcanoes, fjords and wildlife
Russia holiday, a taste of Russia
Russia a land of mystery and intrigue
Russia holiday, St Petersburg and Karelia
Multi-activity cultural trip to Northern Russia, tailor-made
Russia history and culture holiday
Explore Russian history and culture
Moscow and St-Petersburg holiday in Russia
The best of Russia in 12 days
Chukotka and Wrangel Island cruise, Russia
Authentic Arctic Festival & wildlife including Polar Bears
Trans Mongolian Eastbound, St Petersburg to Beijing
Overland from the Baltic Sea to the Chinese capital Beijing
Moscow to St Petersburg holiday
See the Winter Palace and the Red Square
Trans Siberian Railway holiday, Russian Summer
Remarkable Moscow to Vladivostok train journey, Tailor-Made
Kamchatka & the Commander Islands wildlife cruise
Grizzly bears, volcanoes, birds, wildlife & marine life
Kamchatka cruise in Russia, ring of fire expedition
Discover dramatic scenery & birdlife in the Russian Far East
Trans Mongolian tour, departing Ulaanbaatar
Trans-Mongolian adventure Ulaanbaatar to St Petersburg
Winter Trans Siberian rail holiday
Siberian snowscapes from Vladivostok to St Petersburg
St Petersburg to Vladivostok on the Trans Siberian
Russia, Mongolia & Japan on the Trans-Siberian Railway
Trans Mongolian explorer holiday
Experience China, Mongolia, Siberia & Russia’s Golden Ring.
Russian Arctic Circle cruise with Wrangel Island
Unique expedition across the top of the world
Maslenitsa winter festival in Russia
Experience Maslenitsa, Russia's exciting winter festival!
Kuril Islands cruises, bird watching cruise, Russia
Explore wildlife-rich Kamchatka, Commander & Kuril Islands
Kamchatka photography holiday in Russia
Photograph brown bears in remote Far Eastern Russia
Chukotka and Wrangel Island wildlife cruises, Russia
Explore Russian Arctic - home to Polar Bears, walrus & more
North East passage cruise, Russia
Northeast Passage - travel the world's most famous sea route
Mount Elbrus climbing expedition, Russia
Elbrus with an international guide and doctor
Northern Europe tour, small group
All the charms of Northern Europe in 2 weeks
Trans Mongolian railway holiday
Ride the Iconic Trans-Mongolian Railway in all it's glory.
18-25 Trans Mongolian tour, 21 days
An epic 3 weeks on the ultimate Trans Mongolian journey.
Siberian tiger photography tour
A photopraphy unique tour to photograph wild Siberian Tigers
Russia holiday, Spring to Autumn
Explore Russia's present and former Capital, tailor-made
Highlights of St Petersburg
Hermitage Museum & Winter Palace
Exploring the city on foot
In this ‘Venice of the North’, founded on 42 islands, every bridge and alleyway has featured on the pages of one of its resident writers, from Dostoyevsky to Tolstoy. History is immortalised on every corner. Even the apartment blocks, still existing as original Soviet communal flats, provide a unique opportunity to experience a part of St Peterburg’s living past. Along your walk, stop off at the Peter and Paul Fortress, the foundations of the city, view the intricate Easter eggs at the Fabergé Museum and visit St Isaac’s cathedral and the dazzling Church of the Saviour of the Spilled Blood.Peterhof Palace
Catherine Palace
At the request of Peter the Great’s second wife, Catherine, a royal summer residence was built just south of St Petersburg, in the town of Pushkin. Catherine’s daughter, the Empress Elizabeth, perhaps encumbered by her mother’s outdated tastes, later hired Italian architect Bartolomeo Rastrelli to appropriately redesign most of the palace. The resulting flamboyant, 325m, gilded Rococo façade hides a stupefying series of gemstone-lined rooms, the pinnacle of which is the legendary Amber Room. The priceless original amber was stripped out by German soldiers during World War II, along with much of the interior, never to be seen again. At an unimaginable expense, the entire palace has since been fully rebuilt, right down to the last amber tile. Visitors are greeted with firm instructions to wear tapochki, cloth slippers, over their shoes at all times.Russian Tea Culture
The traditional centrepiece of the Russian table is the samovar. This 300-year-old urn is an indispensible part of Russia’s culture – early miniature ones were even made as the original travel kettle. Tea is always accompanied by something to eat, often gingerbread or wafers, but most commonly baranki. A popular teatime snack since the time of Peter the Great, these doughy bread rings were typically baked and threaded together like a necklace with string. The smaller version, sushki, is dried after baking. Enjoy after a thorough dunking in your tea.Our top Russia Holiday
Moscow to St Petersburg holiday in Russia
Fascinating history and architecture
2021: 19 Jun, 3 Jul, 17 Jul, 31 Jul, 7 Aug, 14 Aug, 11 Sep, 18 Sep, 25 Sep, 2 Oct, 9 Oct, 23 Oct
2022: 19 Mar, 26 Mar, 2 Apr, 9 Apr, 16 Apr, 23 Apr, 14 May, 21 May, 11 Jun, 18 Jun, 2 Jul, 9 Jul, 16 Jul, 23 Jul, 30 Jul, 6 Aug, 13 Aug, 20 Aug, 10 Sep, 17 Sep, 24 Sep, 1 Oct, 8 Oct, 15 Oct
Practicalities
Unlike eastern Russia, notorious for its long and very cold winters, western Russia enjoys a less extreme, continental climate. St Petersburg is milder than Moscow, although prone to unpredictable weather throughout spring and summer. Trips usually run from March to October, while the best time to go to Peterhof Palace is from late May until October, when the spectacular palace fountains are in action. Winter clings to St Petersburg until March, when temperatures finally rise above freezing and Neva Bay begins to thaw. You’ll be in for a treat if you visit St Petersburg over the Christmas holidays, when gleaming palaces are dusted with snow and frozen rivers transform into al fresco ice rinks.