Location: St. Petersburg
Top Things to do in St. Petersburg
Top Restaurants in St. Petersburg
Countries
The 10 Best City Tours in St. Petersburg, Northwestern District
The second largest city in Russia, St. Petersburg is the country’s cultural heart. View splendid architectural gems like the Winter Palace and the Kazan Cathedral, and give yourself plenty of time to browse the world-renowned art collection of the Hermitage. Sprawling across the Neva River delta, St. Petersburg offers enough art, nightlife, fine dining and cultural destinations for many repeat visits.
Restaurants in St. Petersburg
1. Comfortable 2-Day Private Shore Excursion in St Petersburg with Free Time
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 3 reviews
Choose this easy private shore excursion in St Petersburg to enjoy the sightseeing at your own pace. Your friendly local guide will make you familiar with the most famous landmarks of the city without spending too much time in the museums or being rushed. The program includes the Hermitage Museum, the Spilled Blood Church, fountain park of Peterhof and Catherine's Palace. You will have about two hours of free time to stroll along Nevsky prospect (the main avenue) to do some shopping or simply walk along the streets, squares or parks. Perfect choice for families and for those who want to experience the atmosphere of St Petersburg's everyday life. This private shore excursion includes visa-free arrangements to make your trip worry-free.
Inclusions: All taxes, fees and handling charges, Visa-free arrangements (please, provide the passport data at booking), Guaranteed to skip the long lines, Headsets to hear the guide clearly (for groups 6+), Professional & friendly guide, Port pickup and drop-off, transport by air-conditioned car/minivan, Bottled water
Exclusions: Meals
Reviewed By 605stephanf
We had a wonderful trip to Russia and an amazing tour of St Petersburg in early February before the start of the pandemics. The guide for the 2 day tour (I forgot her name) was the best person to do this job . Personable, friendly and informative. She took us to the museums and palaces as well as to nice places for lunch. I was amazed by the Russian churches I have never seen that much gold in any other place. Thanks to the guide and the driver it was possible to see so much more than we could have seen on our own even in a week. BTW traveling in February was not as cold as I imagined. I would recommend this tour to anyone.
2. Private Imperial Residences Day Trip to Peterhof and Catherine Palace by Car
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 29 reviews
Discover Catherine Palace and its famous Amber Room, located in Tsarskoye Selo (Pushkin). Tour the Catherine Palace, a magnificent example of rococo architecture, and the beautifully manicured palace gardens. Marvel at the Grand Palace, Lower & Upper gardens and amazing fountains of Peterhof. Tour the lush chambers inside the Grand Palace. Stroll the gardens and delight at the lavish fountains. Enjoy a 7-hour guided private tour where you will see opulent architecture and elegant rooms.
Inclusions: Entrance tickets to the museums, Professional licensed private guide, Transportation by private comfortable business-class vehicle, Professional driver, Hotel pick up and drop off
Exclusions: Food and drinks, Gratuities
Reviewed By spencmoonlight
Over the years we have dealt with a number of private tour agencies and I am sure that Horosho is one of the we have ever used. Our family of four enjoyed a delightful day trip of Peterhof with Olga. She is thoroughly knowledgeable, personable and has a good sense of humor. She was sensitive to our time issues (off to the railway station immediately after our tour) and managed to teach us an amazing amount about the building (Grand Palace) in Peterhof during 5 hours. This is a delightful tour which gave us a great overview of the history of the area. Of course it wasn't easy to organize this tour due to COVID restrictions but anyway we travelled from Moscow (where we worked) to St Petersburg to see famous sights before finally coming back home to the USA. My wife, our two sons and I felt it we learned and experienced a lot! Not to mention that Olga was delightful to spend the day with, answering all of our questions, so I highly recommend the tour. Stay safe, guys! Thank you for making this tour possible!
3. One-Day Trip to St Petersburg from Moscow by Train
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 6 reviews
Take this chance to see the cultural capital of Russian during this one-day trip from Moscow. Catch a high-speed train to St Petersburg that will take you just 4 hours to reach the city center. Your private guide and driver will meet you at the train station and take you to a complete city tour with multiple stops. You will visit the Hermitage Museum, the Church on the Spilled Blood and a romantic boat ride along the rivers and canals of Sr Petersburg. Enjoy some spare time for picture taking, shopping and a coffee stop before you take the train back to Moscow.
Inclusions: All taxes, fees and handling charges, Professional local guide in St Petersburg, Round-trip transfer from the hotel to the train station and back, Transport by air-conditioned car/minivan in St Petersburg, Bottled water, Headsets to hear the guide clearly (for groups 6+), Round-trip train tickets to St. Petersburg and back to Moscow, All admission fees SKIP-THE-LINE
Exclusions: Meals
Reviewed By 605stephanf
We had a wonderful trip to Russia and an amazing tour of St Petersburg in early February before the start of the pandemics. The guide for the 2 day tour (I forgot her name) was the best person to do this job . Personable, friendly and informative. She took us to the museums and palaces as well as to nice places for lunch. I was amazed by the Russian churches I have never seen that much gold in any other place. Thanks to the guide and the driver it was possible to see so much more than we could have seen on our own even in a week. BTW traveling in February was not as cold as I imagined. I would recommend this tour to anyone.
4. 2 day St Petersburg private tour
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 16 reviews
During this 2 days private tour of St Petersburg you will see all the main attractions of the city - the Hermitage museum, St Isaac's cathedral, the Savior on Spilled blood church, Peter and Paul fortress and will visit Peterhof fountain park. The tour combines walking and the use of public transport that will give you a local feeling and will allow you to see some of the most beautiful metro stations. A sample tour program is like: Day 1 10:00 - meeting at the hotel, city tour, visit to St Isaac's cathedral 11:30- 13:30 - Hermitage museum tour (impressionist collection not included) 13:30 - 14:30 - lunch (payed extra) 14:30 - 16:30 - city tour continues, visit to the Spilled blood church The Hermitage schedules certain admission time, so the actual order of visits may be different. Day 2 10:00 - 15:00 - tour of Peterhof by public transport, a stop to see some beautiful metro stations 15:00-16:00 - lunch break (payed extra) 16:00 - 17:00 - tour of the Peter and Paul's fortress
Inclusions: Professional guide, Hotel pickup and drop-off, Public transportation costs (metro and bus)
Exclusions: Lunch, Tickets to any museums not listed in the tour program
Reviewed By doggmommy-1
My husband and I had this tour in March 2020, we LOVED it, it was MARVELOUS, and you should do it too! I have to say my husband and I were stunned at how beautiful the palace was. Mind blowing as was the experience, we also realized we really would not enjoy The Catherine place much as we did without all the information our brilliant, knowledgeable and funny guide told us, about the Russian court dances, and fan language, and secrets of the royal court and personal life of the tzars and tzarinas. It’s also totally worth it to to have a private guide and a private tour too, as you get into the palace in no time skipping all the enormous lines. (Yes, even in March this year!) On the same day we did the metro tour. And again even if you know where to go without a guide it would be just a selfie-trip, with Alice however it became a true cultural experience and at times a revelation. I always pick little private agencies for my trips and I always find out I’m right to do so because they have personal approach to clients and the guides are usually the best there because they value their reputation. I was glad that this agency really did their best for me and my husband and will surely be using them again! Thank you Alice so very much. Sent from my iPhone
5. State Russian Museum - Private Tour with Skip-The-Line Tickets
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 1 reviews
All roads in St Petersburg lead to the fine art, and on this tour you will unleash your inner art aficionado in the State Russian Museum with a private local guide. Soak into Russian history and art as it covers all historical periods and trends in the development of Russian art for more than 1,000 years: from 10th to 21st cc. Founded in 1895, the State Russian Museum is the largest museum of Russian art in the world. The museum complex consists of 5 buildings: the Mikhailovsky Palace, the Benois Wing, St Michael’s Castle, the Marble Palace, the Stroganov Palace. The collection of over 400.000 units includes paintings, drawings, sculptures, coins, crafts and folk art. After the tour take your time to enjoy the Mikhailovsky Garden and Summer Garden before getting back to the real world. Check out the Peter I Summer Palace, the Cabin of Peter the Great, the Tea House and the Coffee House for a complete experience in St Petersburg’s heartland.
Inclusions: All taxes, Friendly local guide, Private tour, Multiple start times available, Expert advice where to go and what to do after the tour, Flexible customizable itinerary, Must-see local experience, Meeting in the hotel, Entrance fee is included to one museum of your choice
Exclusions: Gratuities
Reviewed By Peter F
Lovely way to view the city. Lighting by night extremely beautiful. Irina was kind,professional, and very accommodating particularly considering she picked us up at our hotel and walked us to the boat launch. Irina’s English language skills were quite good and we learned a lot from her. Irina, thank you for a great excursion.
6. Tour of Pushkin Catherine Palace and Peterhof Grand Palace
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 5 reviews
No visit to St. Petersburg is complete without a trip to at least one of the world-famous Imperial palaces in the city's suburbs. A showcase for the wealth and tastes of the Emperors of Russia from Peter the Great onwards, these extraordinary estates boast sumptuous palaces, extensive landscape gardens, and a treasury of art and history.
Inclusions: All taxes, fees and handling charges, Professional licensed guide, Guaranteed to skip the long lines, Hotel pick-up and hotel drop-off, Transportation by air-conditioned comfortable vehicle, Private Tour
Exclusions: Food and drinks, Gratuities
Reviewed By Mary-Ellen E
We had a three day private tour of St Petersburg with guide Dimitri and driver Alexander. We couldn't have asked for more. Dimitri was delightful and didn't talk too much, so we were able to enjoy the beauty and extravagance of the city without unwarranted distraction. Alexander was a great driver who was always waiting in the easy to spot red van. Everything was very organised, which allowed us to see much more than we had would have otherwise. Express entrance to the churches and palaces was fantastic. Dimitri also suggested excellent places to lunch and helped us search high and low for a particular hard to get souvenir. Thanks guys!
7. Light 2-Day Shore Excursion in St Petersburg with Canal Cruise
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 4 reviews
Choose this private tour of St Petersburg to have a simple sightseeing program that allows spending time in the city walking, shopping and discovering the local life. You will visit such landmarks as the Hermitage, the Lower Park of Peterhof and the Church on the Spilled Blood. In the afternoon, take a scenic canal cruise to see the city from the water. Enjoy the easy pace of the tour and local attractions not included in the regular tour programs.
Inclusions: All Fees and Taxes, Visa-free tour tickets (please, provide the passport data at booking), Port pickup and drop-off, transportation by air-conditioned car/minivan, Professional & friendly guide speaking the language of your choice, Headsets to hear the guide clearly (for groups 6+), Admission fees to museums per program SKIP-THE-LINE, Bottled water, Ponchos in case of rain
Exclusions: Meals
Reviewed By 605stephanf
We had a wonderful trip to Russia and an amazing tour of St Petersburg in early February before the start of the pandemics. The guide for the 2 day tour (I forgot her name) was the best person to do this job . Personable, friendly and informative. She took us to the museums and palaces as well as to nice places for lunch. I was amazed by the Russian churches I have never seen that much gold in any other place. Thanks to the guide and the driver it was possible to see so much more than we could have seen on our own even in a week. BTW traveling in February was not as cold as I imagined. I would recommend this tour to anyone.
8. St Petersburg City Tour by Vehicle with Peter and Paul Fortress Visit
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 4 reviews
To be fully aware of the size of the city (5 million inhabitants!) and the extraordinary richness of its monuments and remarkable sites, there is nothing better than a panoramic city tour by transport, which ensures to discover in half a day the main beauties of the northern capital. A comfortable vehicle will take you through the historic centre of St Petersburg, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, along its canals and quays, which often qualify the city of Venice of the North. You will make different stops on the major squares and landmarks of the city. You will have the chance to visit the Peter and Paul Fortress and to see all the most famous monuments of St. Petersburg. Your certified guide will be able to enlighten you with his comments and anecdotes on this city tour, which will undoubtedly remain one of the highlights of your stay in Saint Petersburg.
Inclusions: Entrance tickets to Peter and Paul Fortress, Private transportation, Services of a licensed guide for 4 hours, Hotel pick-up and drop-off
Exclusions:
Reviewed By mariasK7452YP
We visited the museum of cosmonautics in Moscow and it was an excellent experience! Amazing place packed with lots of interesting information. Maria, our guide was truly knowledgeable, very kind and she answered all the kids’ questions. Strongly recommend it.
9. The General Staff Building (the Impressionists Collection)
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 1 reviews
Visit the General Staff Building, a part of the Hermitage Museum Complex, and discover the collection of Impressionists and Post-Impressionists. The bright colors and the original shapes of the paintings will not leave any art lover indifferent.
Inclusions: Ticket to the General Staff Building
Exclusions:
Reviewed By 605stephanf
We had a wonderful trip to Russia and an amazing tour of St Petersburg in early February before the start of the pandemics. The guide for the 2 day tour (I forgot her name) was the best person to do this job . Personable, friendly and informative. She took us to the museums and palaces as well as to nice places for lunch. I was amazed by the Russian churches I have never seen that much gold in any other place. Thanks to the guide and the driver it was possible to see so much more than we could have seen on our own even in a week. BTW traveling in February was not as cold as I imagined. I would recommend this tour to anyone.
10. Small Group Visa Free St. Petersburg 3-day Grand Shore Excursion
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 68 reviews
You are so fortunate to have a three-day stay in St. Petersburg! We have a very special tour to offer you: apart from all the most popular sights, our 3-day St. Petersburg Grand Tour includes the splendid Faberge Museum and the tour of world renowned Impressionists Collection in General Staff building! Enjoy more advantages of the best tour product we designed!
Inclusions: Lunch, Lunch, Lunch, Visa-waivers for cruise ship passengers, Expert, professional and personable guide for 2 days, Experienced and conscientious driver with a comfortable A/C vehicle for 2 days, All port fees and local Russian taxes, 1 bottle of still water (0.5L) per person per day, Personal audio receivers with earphones, All photo permissions, Subway ride, Canal cruise (boat ride)
Exclusions: Gratuities: Recommended gratuity is 10% for the guide and 5% for the driver, given separately
Reviewed By misterfuss
This review is long overdue. We engaged Alla Tours the last week of June 2012. It was very satisfactory experience. We arrived on a cruise ship with three days for seeing sights in Saint Petersburg. Russia does not allow tourists to visit freely without an escort. I contacted Alla in advance for a driver escort and sent along a detailed map showing exactly what I wanted to see. I made clear that a guide providing narration was not necessary. Additionally the escort needed to understand that my spouse and I are a male couple. My itinerary was esoteric with architecture and art ranging from subway stations, social realist monuments, czarist churches, Art Nouveau residential neighborhoods, to a canal boat ride. It all worked as planned and I thought the price was reasonable. It is a good memory.
TAGS
