Package: 22-Night Trip to Moscow, St. Petersburg, and Kazan

About the destination: Moscow, the sprawling capital of the Russian Federation, is a city where centuries of history meet bold modernity. Its skyline is crowned by the colorful onion domes of Saint Basil’s Cathedral and the imposing red walls of the Kremlin, while glass skyscrapers gleam in the Moscow City business district. Walking through the city center, you’ll find grand boulevards, ornate metro stations that resemble underground palaces, and wide squares that have witnessed some of the most significant events in Russian history. Begin your visit in Red Square, Moscow’s iconic heart. Here you can tour the Kremlin’s cathedrals and armory, admire Lenin’s Mausoleum, and explore GUM, the historic department store turned luxury shopping arcade. Nearby, the State Tretyakov Gallery offers a deep dive into Russian art, from medieval icons to avant‑garde masterpieces, while the Bolshoi Theatre invites you to experience world‑class ballet and opera in an opulent setting. Beyond the historic core, Moscow’s neighborhoods reveal a more intimate side of the city. Arbat Street, one of the oldest pedestrian avenues, is lined with cafés, street musicians, and souvenir shops. In contrast, the former industrial areas along the Moscow River have been transformed into creative clusters, with contemporary art centers, trendy restaurants, and lively nightlife. Parks like Gorky Park and Zaryadye provide green escapes, with bike paths, open‑air concerts, and panoramic views of the city. Moscow is a year‑round destination, but each season offers a different atmosphere. In winter, the city turns into a snowy wonderland with festive lights, ice rinks, and Christmas markets, while in summer, long daylight hours bring outdoor festivals and riverside promenades to life. Whether you’re drawn by history, culture, or urban energy, Moscow rewards curious travelers with a rich and multifaceted experience.

About the destination: Inextricably tied to the major events of the Soviet Union, St. Petersburg cannot escape its imperial past. Physically, at least, St. Petersburg has been the city of the tsars since Peter the Great founded the city in a bog and moved the capital here from Moscow in 1712 to provide greater contact with the West. Many of the major baroque and neoclassical buildings and well-designed streets and landscaped parks are the work of imperial French and Italian architects. St. Petersburg, Russia’s second largest city, is often referred to as Russia’s Western Gate, and the City of White Nights. For a splendid overview of the city, climb the dome of St. Isaac’s Cathedral on Isaakievskaya square, a massive example of 19th century civic-religious architecture; its dome is covered in pure gold. Nearby, on Senate Square overlooking the Neva, is Falconet’s Monument to Peter the Great. Peter and Paul Fortress was founded by Peter the Great and was erected in just one year between 1703 and 1704 during the Great Northern War against Sweden. The fortress was never used to defend the city but it was used as a political prison under the Tsar. Inside the fortress is the main attraction for visitors: the Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul containing the tombs of Peter the Great, Catherine the Great, Nicholas II and other tsars. Nevsky Prospect is St. Petersburg’s main avenue and one of the best-known streets in Russia. The buildings along Nevsky Prospekt are a treasure house for art-nouveau-fans. Nevsky Prospect is also the city’s central shopping street and the hub of the city’s entertainment and nightlife. Even if the rest of the city were non-existent, the Hermitage alone would merit a week-long visit to St. Petersburg. Located in the magnificent, luxurious Winter Palace, former residence of the tsars, this collection of art unquestionably ranks among the world’s finest. But before you immerse yourself in the art, take in the main halls where the tsar reigned and entertained, especially the awesome Malachite Hall, where the provisional Government held its last meeting before the revolution exploded around it. Cool and aristocratic St. Petersburg is a magnificent city with beautiful architecture everywhere. Often described as the Venice of the North, St Petersburg is a city defined by water. Whether you’re cruising the elegant canals, crossing one of the 342 bridges in the city, or just watching them being raised over the mighty Neva River at night to allow ships to pass through, you’re never far from water in St Petersburg.

About the destination: Kazan is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Tatarstan, located on the Volga River, and is often referred to as the third capital of Russia. The Kazan Kremlin is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. In recent years, Kazan has earned a strong reputation as a sports city thanks to significant investment in sporting infrastructure. It hosted the 2013 Summer Universiade, the 2015 FINA World Aquatics Championships, and was one of the host cities for the 2018 FIFA World Cup. Kazan is home to Orthodox and Catholic Christians, Muslims, Protestants, Jews and a range of smaller religious communities. A visit to the city offers a unique chance to enjoy striking natural surroundings and to explore important historical and cultural landmarks such as the Kazan Kremlin, the Kazan trading quarter, Kazan State University and the Old Tatar cemetery. You can connect with a living, ancient history at sites like the Saints Peter and Paul Cathedral, the Virgin Monastery of Raifa, the sacred sites of Bolghar on the Volga, and the village of Kyrlai, where history is reflected both in the architecture and in the enduring traditions you’ll encounter throughout your trip.