KING & QUEEN: ST. PETERSBURG & MOSCOW WINTER 2027 (LED-VKO) PC

DAY 1                  ISTANBUL – ST. PETERSBURG

Meeting at Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen Airport International Terminal 3 hours before the flight. After baggage, ticket and passport procedures, departure to St. Petersburg on a scheduled Pegasus Airlines flight. Arrival in St. Petersburg, known as the Venice of the North and the Imperial Capital. Welcoming and a panoramic St. Petersburg city tour by our private bus. During our tour, the Pushkin Monument, Gostiny Dvor, the Aurora Cruiser, Beloselsky-Belozersky Palace, the Admiralty Building and Moskovskaya Avenue are among the sights to be seen. After the city tour, transfer to our hotel and free time to relax. Guests who wish may join the Russian Night and Show Program with Dinner organized by our guide as an optional activity (110€ per person). Accommodation at our hotel.

DAY 2                 ST.  PETERSBURG

Free time after breakfast. Guests who wish may join the St. Petersburg Combined Tour [Hermitage (entrance included) & St. Isaac's Cathedral & Kazan Cathedral & Palace Square & Church of the Savior on Spilled Blood] (105€ per person), organized by our guide as an extra. Our first stop is the Hermitage Museum, one of the largest museums in the world, known as the most important attraction in St. Petersburg and fully deserving of this title. Its collections contain more than 3 million works of art, including artifacts from Antiquity, Western Europe, the Middle East and many other historical periods. The museum's history dates back to 1764, when the Russian Empress Catherine the Great purchased a vast collection of Western European works of art. During the tour, you will visit the historic rooms displaying the museum's most prominent works. During our tour, we take a journey through history with visits to the historically significant Church of the Savior on Spilled Blood and Kazan Cathedral. You can enjoy the city by taking a guided walk through Palace Square and Nevsky Avenue. Return to our hotel after the tour. In the evening, you can ask our guide for information about alternatives such as concerts, events and restaurants. Accommodation at our hotel.

DAY 3                 ST.  PETERSBURG

Free time after breakfast. Guests who wish may join the Pushkin Town Tour (75€ per person), organized by our guide as an extra. This famous town, where the aristocracy of the Tsarist era met with the Tsar's family, is also home to the school where the poet Pushkin studied. Our tour continues with a panoramic visit to Catherine Palace. A magnificent building reflecting the grandeur of the Baroque period and constructed in 1717, the palace has undergone many transformations since its original design. Known as the summer palace of Empress Elizabeth and Catherine the Great in the late 18th century, the palace is today one of the important historical structures of Russian architecture that must be seen. After our tour of the town, return to St. Petersburg and free time. Guests who wish may join the Peter and Paul Fortress Tour (55€ per person), organized by our guide as an extra. Founded by Tsar Peter I, the city’s founder, on May 27, 1703, on Hare Island in the Neva River, the fortress is considered the birthplace of St. Petersburg. Initially built as an earth-and-wood fortification, the fortress was rebuilt in stone in subsequent years. Used for defensive purposes throughout history, the fortress complex was also home to the famous Trubetskoy Bastion, where political prisoners were held. The Peter and Paul Cathedral within the fortress was built between 1712 and 1733 and was the city's tallest building for many years. With its tower, approximately 122.5 meters high, and the golden angel figure at its summit, it is one of the city's iconic landmarks. The graves of many Russian rulers and members of the imperial family, from Peter the Great to Nicholas II, are located here. Transfer to our hotel after the tour. Accommodation at our hotel.

DAY 4                 ST. PETERSBURG – MOSCOW

Early in the morning, transfer to the train station by our private bus with the breakfast-box we will receive. Boarding the train and departure for Moscow. Upon arrival at Moscow train station, we will be welcomed and begin a panoramic Moscow city tour by our private bus. During our tour, Tverskaya Street, the Moskva River, Poklonnaya Hill, the famous Bolshoi Theatre, Red Square and the Kremlin Palace Square are among the sights to be seen. At the end of the tour, transfer to our hotel, room allocation and free time to relax. Guests who wish may join the Moscow River Luxury Radisson Boat Cruise with Dinner (125€ per person), organized by our guide as an optional activity. You will have the opportunity to enjoy dinner on the luxury boat and view Moscow under the night lights. Return to our hotel by private bus at the end of the tour. Accommodation at our hotel.

DAY 5                 MOSCOW

Free time after breakfast. Guests who wish may join our guide's Moscow Combined Tour (120€ per person) [Moscow Metro & Arbat Street & Novodevichy (Nâzım Hikmet) Cemetery], organized as an extra. Our tour begins with a visit to Novodevichy Cemetery, where the grave of our famous poet Nâzım Hikmet is located. We will also see the graves of important figures who have made their mark on Russian history. Then comes the Metro tour; besides being a practical way to get around the city, it is an experience in itself, offering a glimpse into the heart of Russian history and culture. Opened in 1935, the metro has since become one of the largest and busiest metro systems in the world, with 268 stations covering all corners of the city. It is Europe's busiest metro system, serving millions of passengers every day. What truly makes the Moscow Metro unique is the architectural beauty of many of its central stations. Riding the metro not only offers a quick escape from Moscow's notorious traffic, but also a way to admire the city's architectural heritage, with each station telling its own unique historical story. Our tour continues along Arbat Street, one of Moscow's most historically important and fascinating streets. As you walk along its cobblestone roads, you are not only moving through a physical space, but also stepping through the layers of Russian history and culture. The street's lively atmosphere and its history dating back to the 19th century have long made it a center for artists, writers and musicians. Charming street cafés, unique shops and street performers contribute to its bohemian atmosphere, creating a space where the past and present coexist seamlessly. You will also have the opportunity to shop on historic Arbat Street. Free time after the tour. In the afternoon, our first stop is Red Square. The name Red Square comes from the Russian word “krasnaya,” which historically meant both "red" and "beautiful." Although "krasnaya" is mostly associated with the color red today, in ancient times it also meant something beautiful or magnificent. Therefore, the name of the square reflects both its striking appearance and its importance as a symbol of Russian heritage. After our walk through Red Square, we visit the Kremlin; it is not only Europe's largest active fortress, but also one of the most powerful symbols of Russian history and authority. Originally built to protect the citizens of Moscow, the word "Kremlin" means "fortress within a city," an apt description of its imposing walls and strategic location. Over the centuries, as Russia grew in power, the Moscow Kremlin became the center of the country's political, religious and cultural life. Today, the Kremlin is recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and remains one of Russia's most iconic landmarks. You will experience the Kremlin's rich history up close. Return to our hotel and free time at the end of the tour. Accommodation at our hotel.

DAY 6                 MOSCOW – ISTANBUL

After breakfast at the hotel, free time until the time determined by our guide. Guests who wish may join the Izmailovo Shopping and Market Tour (40€ per person), organized by our guide as an extra. During our tour, you will have the opportunity to shop at the market, famous for its antiques and souvenirs, accompanied by our private bus and guide. After the tour, we transfer to the airport. Following baggage, ticket and passport procedures, departure for Istanbul on a scheduled Pegasus Airlines flight. Arrival in Istanbul and the end of our services.