Saint Petersburg

Come discover the Venice of the North! Considered by some as the most beautiful city in the North, the ancient capital of the Tsars holds priceless treasures of architecture and culture.

During this tour you will discover the majestic imperial buildings, royal gardens and classical artistic masterpieces of St. Petersburg, but you will also be driven off the beaten path in places where you can feel the dynamism and the revolutionary spirit of this city in constant mutation. 

Arrival: Check-in the hotel around 2pm and take your first steps in the neighborhood. 

6pm Meeting with the group

Meeting at 6 p.m. in the lobby of the hotel. We will then head to the cafe next door for a quick welcome orientation, and to get to know each other over a round of drinks before a nice dinner altogether. 

Initiation to the Russian language

We will meet you at 9 am in the lobby of the hotel to accompany you to our language school where you will receive Russian language introductory courses. During 3 hours, certified teachers teach you the basics of the language (alphabet, usual formulas of courtesy, vocabulary and expressions) in order to acquire a certain level of autonomy that will help you to orientate yourself in the subway and in the city, solving practical questions (ask for the toilets, the prices, a train ticket, etc..) as well as getting in touch with the local population.

Soviet lunch (included): At lunchtime, we take you to the most typical and popular place the city has to offer: a Soviet canteen

Walking Tour (Nevsky Prospekt & Historical Center)

Nevsky Prospect is a must-see on your first day in the city. The avenue is 4.5 kilometer long and stretches at the very heart of Saint Petersburg. A great number of churches, shops, palaces, and luxury hotels line the famous street. Some of the most beautiful buildings in St. Petersburg can be found here. In particular, our guide will take you to the three main churches of the city: the massive Kazan Cathedral, the St. Isaac's Cathedral - which is the largest orthodox basilica in the world - and the Church of the Savior on Spilled Blood,  probably Saint Petersburg’s most iconic sight which marks the spot where Alexander II was assassinated in 1881. We will also stop by the astonishing Elisseiev Grocery and the magnificent Singer House ("Dom Knigi" in Russian, which means “Books' Home”). 

Boat trip on the canals Or traditional Russian banya

During the evening we will continue our immersion in the city by boat on the beautiful canals of the Venice of the North (May to September) or by a session of the traditional Russian bath: the Banya (from October to April).

The Winter Palace

We will meet you at 9 am in the lobby of the hotel and head towards the Winter Palace of Empress Catherine the great for a guided visit of the fascinating State Hermitage Museum. This museum is not only one of the oldest (if not the oldest one) art museums in the world, it is also the second largest and one of the best. It was founded in 1764 when Empress Catherine the Great acquired an impressive collection of paintings from the Berlin merchant Johann Ernst Gotzkowsky. It has been open to the public since 1852.

Lunch (included): we will have a lunch in one of our favorite Art Cafe of the imperial capital.

Discovering Saint Petersburg imperial splendor: Faberge Museum & Yusupov Palace 

After lunch, your guide will firstly lead you to a guided tour of the Fabergé Museum, a privately owned museum established in order to repatriate lost cultural valuables to Russia. The museum is located in the center of Saint Petersburg at Shuvalov Palace on the Fontanka River. The museum's collection contains more than 4,000 works of decorative applied and fine arts, including gold and silver items, paintings, porcelain and bronze. A highlight of the museum's collection is the group of nine Imperial famous Easter eggs created by Faberge for the last two Russian Tsars.

The tour continues with a visit to the Music Museum and ends with a visit to the fabulous Yusupov Palace.

Tsar Summer Palace

We will meet at 10:00 at your hotel and head to Peterhof Palace, one and a half hour drive away. This huge Palace was built by Tsar Peter the First to outshine Versailles. The construction of the residence, that was as beautiful and splendid as the best residences of European monarchy, including the French Versailles, started in 1714. This seaside paradise was built, as a grandiose triumphal memorial glorifying the greatness of Russia, in conquering the much needed and desired access to the Baltic Sea, during the Great Northern War. From may to September you can also visit the Grand Cascade, an impressive set of fountains and sculptures. 

Free time

After we returned to Saint Petersburg city center you will have some time to discover the city by yourself, to rest or to restore yourself while waiting for the evening classical music concert. 

Classical Music Concert 

In the evening, the Immersion team invites you to attend one of the greatest monuments of Russian culture: a concert of classical music. An art in which Russian musicians, composers and conductors have undoubtedly acquired their nobility. Prepare for an extraordinary moment in front of the beauty of the place, the orchestra and the sublime mastery of the greatest Russian musicians.

Discovering the "Tsar’s Village"

Meet at 9:00 at your hotel for a departure to Tsarskoye Selo (meaning the "Tsar Village" in Russian). Once there, your guide will take you to the Pavlovsk Palace: Pavlovsk, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is renowned for the splendor of its interiors housing, many 18th century furniture, sculptures, and paintings, but also for the beauty of its English park.

Farewell Drink 

On your way back from Tsarskoye Selo, Immersion’s team will offer the group a farewell drink to conclude the trip and say goodbye to this amazing city … or rather see you soon!

For those who leave us, they will have the opportunity to experience St. Petersburg Nightlife, recognized for its vivacity and creativity. For the others, we will head to the train station to take the night train towards Petrozavodsk, the first step to an incredible weekend in Carelia.