Experience Russia decked in wonderful Christmas lights on this festive 10-day tour. Dive into the traditions of Orthodox Christmas and find out why New Year's Eve is the main holiday for locals. All the must-visits are covered, such as Moscow Red Square, St Basil's Cathedral, Tretyakov Gallery and the famous Moscow Underground. Visit St Petersburg for real winter spirit and see the gorgeous Catherina and Peterhof palaces. Meander the city with an expert local guide showing you off-the-beaten path sights. Finally discover the real winter landscapes with visits to the Golden Ring cities; Suzdal and Vladimir, which are small and charmingly historic. Note - Christmas takes place in Russia on January 7th, with New Year celebrations on December 31st-January 1st and January 13th-14th. Decorations and activities are present throughout December and January.
Day 1 - Moscow
- Visa information for Russia
- Arrival transfer from Moscow airport to your hotel
- Time at leisure in Moscow at Christmas and New Year
Day 2 - Moscow
- Explore central Moscow at Christmas time
- St. Basil's Cathedral (winter)
- State Historical Museum (winter)
- Lenin's Mausoleum (winter)
- The GUM Department Store
Day 3 - Moscow
- Tretyakov Art Gallery: private tour
- Moscow Underground Tour
Day 4 - Moscow
- Traditional meal with a local family
- Practise skating in Gorky Park
Day 5 - Vladimir, Suzdal
- Private car transfer from Moscow to Vladimir
- Explore Cathedral Square at Christmas time
- Golden Gates in Vladimir
- Church of the Intercession on the Nerl - in winter
- Private transfer from Vladimir to Suzdal
Day 6 - Suzdal, Moscow
- Visit Pokrovsky Convent (winter)
- Visit to Monastery of Saint Euthymius (winter)
- Walking around trading rows and local market
- Tour to Suzdal Kremlin
- Open-air Museum of Wooden Architecture
- Private transfer from Suzdal to Moscow
Day 7 - St. Petersburg
- Transfer from your hotel in Moscow to the railway station
- Fast train from Moscow to St Petersburg
- Walking St Petersburg Tour at Christmas
Day 8 - St. Petersburg
- Excursion to the Hermitage
- Home cooked St Petersburg and local market
Day 9 - St. Petersburg
- Guided tour to the Faberge museum
- Artistic Saint-Petersburg
Day 10
- Transfer from St. Petersburg to the airport
The most popular and best time to go to Russia is during the summer months of June, July and August, where the days are balmy and long. That being said, it can easily be argued that there isn't a bad time to go to Russia, as all the seasons are equally wonderful in their own ways. The snow begins to melt in April and the cool, sunny spring days (right through til early June) are ideal for exploring the cities of St Petersburg and Moscow. Easter is hugely important to Russians making this a very interesting time to visit too. The summer months are popular for the Trans-Siberian Railway, but again this runs year round (even through the frozen months) and you will perhaps find the quieter periods more enjoyable. Autumn (September - October) is a beautiful golden time to visit, and many say that seeing Russia sparkling under blankets of snow over the winter (November - February) is well-worth the plummeting temperatures. Christmas in Russia is on the 7th January, so the sparkling markets are still open early in the year and this is a lovely, quiet time to explore the cities.
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