KINGS & QUEENS: ST. PETERSBURG & MOSCOW SUMMER 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 for St. Petersburg on a scheduled Pegasus Airlines flight. Arrival in St. Petersburg, known as the Venice of the North and the Imperial Capital. Greeting and panoramic St. Petersburg city tour by our private bus. During our tour, the Pushkin Monument, Gostiny Dvor, Aurora Cruiser, Beloselsky-Belozersky Palace, Admiralty Building and Moskovskaya Street are among the sights to be seen. After the city tour, transfer to our hotel and free time to relax. Our guests who wish may join the Russian Evening with Dinner and Show Program to be organized by our guide as an optional activity (110€ per person). Overnight at our hotel.

DAY 2                 ST.  PETERSBURG

After breakfast, free time. Our 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] to be organized by our guide as an extra (105€ per person). Our first stop is the Hermitage Museum, one of the world's largest museums, known as the most important place 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 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 outstanding 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 Nevksy Avenue. Return to our hotel after the tour. In the evening, you may ask our guide about alternatives such as concerts, events and restaurants and receive information. Overnight at our hotel.

DAY 3                 ST.  PETERSBURG

Free time after breakfast. Our guests who wish may join the Pushkin Town Tour to be organized by our guide as an extra (75€ per person). 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 was educated. Our tour continues with a panoramic visit to Catherine Palace. A magnificent structure reflecting the grandeur of the Baroque period and built in 1717, the palace has undergone many transformations since its original design. Known in the late 18th century as the summer palace of Empress Elizabeth and Catherine the Great, the palace is today one of the important historical structures of Russian architecture that must be seen. After our visit around the town, return to St. Petersburg and free time. Our guests who wish may join the Peter and Paul Fortress Tour to be organized by our guide as an extra (55€ per person). Founded on May 27, 1703, by Tsar Peter I, the ruler who founded the city, on Hare Island in the Neva River, the fortress is considered the birthplace of St. Petersburg. Initially built as an earth-and-timber fortification, the fortress was rebuilt in stone in subsequent years. Used for defensive purposes throughout history, the fortress complex also housed 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 structure 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 landmark structures. The tombs of many Russian rulers and members of the imperial family, from Peter the Great to Nicholas II, are located here. After our tour, transfer to the hotel. Our guests who wish may join the Magnificent Bridges & Neva River Boat Tour to be organized by our guide as an optional activity, one of the most special ways to experience the unique atmosphere of St. Petersburg, offered only during the summer season and taking place at night (75€ per person). In the evening, we join our boat tour to experience this unforgettable night and witness from the Neva the city's silhouette transformed into an entirely different sight by the lights. Organized especially during the “White Nights” season, this tour offers a unique opportunity to discover the romantic and mysterious atmosphere of the city during the enchanting hours when the sky remains bright for a long time. As the night progresses, St. Petersburg's historic structures, magnificent palaces and elegant architecture, reflected in the river, seem like a fairy-tale scene. As our boat glides along the Neva, you will have the opportunity to discover the city's most characteristic points from a different and impressive perspective. The highlight of the night is the beginning of the city's famous bridges, especially the Palace Bridge, rising one by one. The slow opening of the gigantic bridges and their magnificent appearance dividing the night between the two banks create one of the most impressive views unique to St. Petersburg.During the tour, you will learn interesting information about the city's past, architecture and the importance of the Neva River in St. Petersburg's history through our guide's commentary, while photography enthusiasts can capture exceptional shots. This special night spent among St. Petersburg's lights, the calm waters of the Neva and the historic bridges rising toward the sky will be one of the most beautiful memories of your trip, remaining in your memory for a long time. Transfer to our hotel after the tour. Overnight at our hotel.

DAY 4                 ST. PETERSBURG – MOSCOW

Transfer to the train station by our private bus in the early morning with a breakfast box. Boarding the train and departure for Moscow. Upon arrival at Moscow train station, we will be greeted and begin our 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. Our guests who wish may join the Evening Dinner Cruise on the Moscow River aboard the Luxury Radisson Boat to be organized by our guide as an optional activity (125€ per person). You will enjoy dinner aboard the luxury boat and the opportunity to view Moscow under the night lights. At the end of the tour, return to our hotel by private bus. Overnight at our hotel.

DAY 5                 MOSCOW

Free time after breakfast. Our guests who wish may join the Moscow Combined Tour to be organized by our guide as an extra (120€ per person) [Moscow Metro & Arbat Street & Novodevichy (Nazım Hikmet) Cemetery]. Our tour begins with a visit to Novodevichy Cemetery, where the grave of our famous poet Nazım Hikmet is located. We will also see the graves of important people who hold a place in Russian history. Next is the Metro tour; in addition to 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 every part of the city. It is Europe's busiest metro system, serving millions of passengers every day. What makes the Moscow Metro truly unique is the architectural beauty of many of its central stations. Riding the metro not only provides a quick escape from Moscow's notorious traffic, but also offers a way to admire the city's architectural heritage, with each station telling its own distinctive historical story. Our tour continues along Arbat Street, one of Moscow's most historically important and fascinating streets. As you walk along its cobblestone paths, you are not merely moving through a physical space, but also stepping among the layers of Russian history and culture. The street's vibrant atmosphere and history dating back to the 19th century have long made it a hub for artists, writers and musicians. Charming street cafés, unique shops and street performers contribute to its bohemian character, 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 historically comes from the Russian word “krasnaya,” meaning 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 square's name reflects both its striking appearance and its importance as a symbol of Russian heritage.After our walk through Red Square, 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 increased its 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. Overnight at our hotel.

DAY 6                 MOSCOWA – ISTANBUL

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