Itinerary – 5 day Visa Free St Petersburg Tour

“…A HUGE thank you to SELECT Tours & Cruises for helping me organise this wonderful surprise holiday for my husband and daughter this year. From making the enquiry, your staff could not have been more helpful, particularly Masha who guided me through the requirements making the whole process so very easy and meeting all the extensions I wanted for this very special VISA FREE visit to St. Petersburg and Estonia.  My family came back buzzing, saying it was the best city holiday EVER, an experience they will never forget, everything being so fantastically arranged by SELECT and your Tour Guides were the icing on the cake !!!! Please pass on our thanks to everyone for making this dream visit come true…” CB from UK 

Day 1 – Check-in and Departure

You may check in from 15.00 hrs, so please arrive in good time at the terminal for your 18:00 hrs departure aboard overnight ferry M.S. Princess Anastasia.  Enjoy the dining and entertainment facilities on board, as you sail across the Gulf of Finland towards Russia.

Check in:
Depending on which date and route you have chosen, your boarding details are as follows:
In Helsinki – arrive for check in at 15.00 hrs. West Terminal 1, West Harbour, Helsinki
In Tallinn – arrive for check in at 15.00 hrs. Reisiterminal A Passenger Terminal, Sadama 25-2, 10111 Tallinn, Estonia

Overnight on the ferry.

Day 2 – St Petersburg

After breakfast on the ferry, please disembark promptly on arrival at 09.00 hrs. You will be met at the exit of the ferry terminal by our guide to commence your panoramic tour of the beautiful city of St Petersburg.  Today, whilst passing by some of the highlights of the city, the true highlight is our visit today is the world famous State Hermitage Museum: A guided visit of the Hermitage museum and the magnificent collection of art in the winter palace of Catherine the Great. One of the largest museums in the world, founded in 1764; its collection includes over 2.7 million items, including masterpieces of Leonardo Da Vinci, Raphael, Rodin, Rembrandt and Rubens. The Gala rooms of the Winter Palace, a former royal residence, are open for visitors.

After todays’ tour, your guide will accompany you to your hotel (at around 17.00- 17.30 hrs) where you check in for 2 nights. At leisure to enjoy your first evening exploring this magical city.

Entrances: Hermitage Museum

Overnight at your hotel.

Day 3 – St Petersburg

After breakfast at your hotel, your day is your own, at leisure to explore independently.

Alternatively, you may pre-book to join us on our OPTIONAL tour (not included) to Catherine Palace and Peterhof Lower Gardens: 
Departing at 09.30 hrs, today we visit two of St Petersburg’s dazzling highlights: Our guide will meet you in reception for a tour which includes a visit out of town to Catherine Palace, in the town of Pushkin (formerly Tsarskoye Selo), 29km south of St. Petersburg. The construction of the palace for Empress Catherine started in 1717. A park in the French style was laid out around the palace and in the middle of 18th century Tsarskoye Selo became the official royal residence. This palace is famous for the ‘Amber Room’, now completely restored to its former glory and for the mirrored hall.
We also visit Peterhof Lower Gardens* (or Menshikov Palace when fountains are closed).  We visit the beautiful gardens of Peterhof.  This magnificent estate on the Gulf of Finland is remarkable for the sheer variety of styles encompassed in its garden layout and features. Representing nearly two centuries of European aristocratic fashion executed to the highest standards, Peterhof is like an encyclopaedia of park design through the age of empire. Particularly impressive is the fact that the master landscapers and garden designers who worked on the estate at Peterhof managed to overcome the extremely inclement conditions of the northern climate to create a wonderland of greenery and flowers, sweeping vistas and ornate architectural decorations

Return to your hotel at approx 17.00 hrs. There will be time to stop for tea/coffee/lunch (at your own expense, not included)

Optional Tour: Catherine’s Palace, Peterhof Lower Gardens (or Menshikov Palace when fountains are closed)

n.b.:
The fountains in Peterhof Gardens are not operational from October to early May. At these times, Peterhof Gardens tour will be replaced with Menshikov Palace.
This tour is not available for guests on 29 May tour, as the Palace will be closed on your free day. We will suggest an alternative tour

Overnight at your hotel.

Day 4 – St Petersburg

10.00 hrs: After breakfast and check out, your guide will meet you in reception. Today we visit three different locations in the city, Peter and Paul Fortress which guards the city of St Petersburg, and is located on the island, facing the Hermitage museum. The Cathedral here is the oldest building in St Petersburg and now houses the remains of the last Romanov tsars.     Included today is a tour of the Church on the Spilled Blood, with five domes, it is St Petersburg’s most elaborate church with a classic Russian Orthodox exterior, and an interior containing 7000 sq m of mosaics.  Its colloquial name refers to the assassination attempt on Tsar Alexander II on the same spot in 1881.  Time is allowed for you to visit the exquisite *Faberge Museum, the worlds largest private Faberge collection housed in a former noble residence, the Shuvalov Palace, in the centre of the city. Pre-booking is no longer possible, payable locally.

After todays’ tour, your guide will take you to the ferry port for embarkation at approx. 17.00 hrs. Ferry departs 19.00 hrs.

There will be time to stop for tea/coffee/lunch (at your own expense, not included)

n.b.
* Please note visitors to the Faberge museum are provided with audio guides (pay locally)

Included Entrances: Peter and Paul Fortress, Church on the Spilled Blood.

Overnight on the ferry.

Day 5 – Arrival and Disembarkation

Enjoy breakfast on board and prepare t0 disembark.
Your tour concludes on arrival*.

Disembarkation:
Depending on which route and date you have chosen, your disembarkation details are as follows:
In Helsinki – morning arrival at West Terminal 1, West Harbour, Helsinki
In Tallinn – morning arrival at Reisiterminal A Passenger Terminal, Sadama 25-2, 10111 Tallinn, Estonia

n.b. Days, timings and order of visits may change due to local conditions.
All services subject to availability and confirmation.

*For Tours starting or ending in Tallinn, we offer a 2 night Tallinn package with one transfer and introductory walking tour.

The 72 hour Visa Free St Petersburg tour is the perfect way to enjoy a city break to St Petersburg, without the cost or time required to obtain a Russian visa.
This is a Russian government initiative and is available to foreign visitors of any nationality*, travelling by ferry from Helsinki and departing by ferry on the designated Visa Free St Petersburg programme.

IMPORTANT:
Your passport must be valid for minimum 6 months after exit date from St Petersburg.
If you require a visa to enter Finland, it must be multi-entry type.
If you have official residency status, as a foreigner, you must show proof of residency.
If you were born in Russia and now have a foreign passport – you are eligible for Visa Free travel ONLY if you have formally renounced your Russian Citizenship.
Some nationals may apply for an e-visa prior to travel, it is not necessary on our Visa Free tour, but worth applying for if you would like to plan a longer stay.

Visa Free St Petersburg Tour Accommodation

We use four star hotels for our programme, usually, Ambassador Hotel or Solo Sokos Hotel Vasilievsky. Due to high occupancy levels at certain busy times of the year, we may use other similar hotels.

Solo Sokos Hotel Vasilievsky ★★★★

The Solo Sokos Hotel Vasilievsky is situated in the historical centre of St. Petersburg, on the 8th Line of the Vasilievsky Island, close to the Embankment of river Neva. The most famous landmarks of St. Petersburg are located just a 10-15 min walk from the hotel on the other side of the Neva: The Hermitage Museum, St. Isaac’s Cathedral and The Admiralty. The comfortable rooms of Sokos Hotel Vasilievsky are elegantly decorated and the warm colors make you feel like at home. Repin Lounge Restaurant & Bar, an easy-going and relaxed restaurant, is the hotel’s heart, serving the classics of Italian-American cuisine with a new twist and also Russian cuisine classics by our Chef. The Lounge Bar with its comfortable couches and armchairs is a great place to relax after a busy day.

MS Princess Anastasia – St Peterline

Deck Plan

Princess Anastasia is a modern passenger ferry with a total passenger capacity of 2 500 seats. On board there are 834 cabins and a car deck for 580 cars. The guests aboard the cruise ferry can enjoy the advantages of comfortable cabins and a wide range of entertainment to please any taste: restaurants, bars, Duty Free shop, SPA, gym, beauty salon, cinema and playroom for children. The show programme aboard the ship is presented by the brilliant St. Petersburg Music Hall Ballet Theatre and by a famous night club network.

Onboard Payments: Euros, Russian roubles, US dollars and Swedish kronas are accepted currency. There are no ATMs, however there is an exchange office where the afore-mentioned currencies are accepted.
Visa, MasterCard and Amex are accepted, however Amex is not accepted in some of the bars.

Class A (Outside Cabin)

1-4 persons on Decks 4, 5, 6 (8.5 sq m)

Outside cabin (with window). 2 lower berths (some cabins with extra 2 upper berths for max 4 persons).
Closet for your clothes, air conditioned with en-suite sh/wc.
Children aged 7 years or older must , have a separate bed in the cabin, as for an adult.

Class B (Inside Cabin)

1-4 persons/ decks 4, 5, 6 (8.5 sq. m)

A great combination of price and quality!
An inside cabin, 2 lower berths (some cabins with extra 2 upper berths for max 4 persons).
Air conditioned with en-suite sh/wc.
Children aged 7 years or older must have a separate bed in the cabin, as for an adult.

Visa Free St Petersburg Tour (5 days)
Departure Dates and Prices 2021 per person in EURO
Price for 2 persons (twin cabin).

(Single supplements apply – subject to minimum two persons on tour)

Twin cabins only (no double cabins)
For 3 persons sharing cabin and hotel room, price is the same (includes upgraded hotel room)  
Single supplement applies, please see price table
Subject to availability (minimum 2 persons)

Optional Supplements (minimum 2 persons):

€105 per person: 1 night pre tour in Radisson Blu Seaside Hotel in twin. Incl. breakfast
€115 per person: 1 night pre tour in Radisson Aleksanteri Hotel, Helsinki in twin. Incl. breakfast
€185 per person: Optional tour Day 3 (minimum 2 persons)

Tallinn – 2 night package (4 or 5 star Hotel):
Post tour: Meet our guide on arrival in Tallinn, a transfer will take you to your hotel to drop your luggage, then with our guide, explore Tallinn’s charming Old Town on our walking tour. You may check in for your 2 night stay upon your return. (Hotel upgrade available, please see below).
During the tour you will visit the historic Town Hall Square and learn how the weather-vane got its name and what was invented in the Town Hall Pharmacy. You will see medieval churches, the city’s oldest building – the Dominican Monastery (dating from 1246), the city walls and enjoy the views from Toompea Hill. You will also visit the Parliament of Estonia and Alexander Nevsky Cathedral. St. Catherine’s Passage is one of the Old Town lanes and St. Catherine’s Guild is a collection of craft workshops, where traditional artists create and sell glassware, hats and other goods. After this introduction to Tallinn, you are free to explore independently.

Pre tour: Arrive at your hotel independently and check in for 2 nights. The next day, after breakfast, our guide will meet you for your walking tour.
On your day of departure, we provide a transfer to the ferry.

Tallinn Package Price per person in Euros (in 4 star Hotel dbl/twin):
225 EUR per person (minimum 2 persons)*
120 EUR per person – Single room supplement (minimum 2 persons)
409 EUR per person – Single price for solo travellers

*Upgrade to 5 star Hotel Schlossle or Hotel St Petersbourg in the Old Town of Tallinn from only €105 per person  (subject to availability).

Includes:
– One Transfer
– 2 hour walking tour
– 2 nights in 4 star Nordic Hotel* (or 5 star hotel at additional fee)
All tour dates in 2021
Subject to availability

Visa Free St Petersburg Tour
Price Includes:

• Round trip ferry tickets on MS Princess Anastasia. (Two nights on board in selected cabin)
• 2 nights in 4 star hotel (Ambassador Hotel, Solo Sokos Vasilievsky Hotel or similar)
• Breakfast daily (hotels and ferry)
• Free Wi-Fi in Solo Sokos Vasilievsky Hotel
• Professional Guide for excursions and transfers
• Transportation to/from hotel
• City tour
• Tours to include :
  Peter and Paul Fortress
  Hermitage museum
  Church on the Spilled Blood
• Transportation for excursions
• Harbour fee
• Fuel fee

 Not included in our Visa Free St Petersburg Tour price:

• International Flights
• Optional Excursion Day 3
• Entrance fee to Faberge Museum (pay locally)
• Gratuities / tips for guide and driver
• Any meals, beverages, sightseeing entrance fees not specified in the inclusions
• Wi-Fi on the ferry (pay locally)
• Photo and video charges at museums and places of interest
• Extra personal costs incurred at the hotel
• Hotel registration fee payable locally in St Petersburg – 200 RUB (approx. 3 EUR) per person

Note: For information on connections between Helsinki Airport, Railway Station and Port please see the Helsinki Port Website.
For Tallinn please see Tallinn Passenger Port details
Your final documents will have details of your departure and arrival terminals

Notes

• 1. Tour operates with minimum 2 persons
  2. Your passport must be valid for minimum 6 months after exit date from Russia
  3. New style UK passports must be signed before arrival in Russia
  4. You may not stay ashore more than 72 hours
  5. You may not travel outside the St Petersburg region
  6. 72 hour Visa Free applies to all nationalities, including those holding valid multi-entry visa for Finland*.
     *n.b. Persons born in Russia may enter on other passports ONLY if they have formally renounced their Russian Citizenship
  7. You must be in possession of all required documentation to check in (valid passport, residency permits etc)
  8. We reserve the right to substitute an alternative hotel in St Petersburg of similar standard if the featured hotel is not available due to high occupancy.
     If no similar hotels available, we will offer an alternative. This may incur a supplement depending on availability.
  9. Itinerary  may change due to local conditions.
  10. It is the responsibility of all passengers to ensure that they arrive in good time for the ferry.
      If you miss the ferry, 100% cancellation fee applies to all services; similarly, passengers must be at the hotel at the specified pick-up time for the departure transfer.
  11. All bookings are subject to availability.
  12. Onboard Payments: Euros, Russian roubles, US dollars and Swedish kronas are accepted currency.
      There are no ATMs, however there is an exchange office where the afore-mentioned currencies are accepted.
      Visa, MasterCard and Amex are accepted, however Amex is not accepted in some of the bars.
  13. We are not responsible for any changes in the Mobylines ferry schedule
  14. West Terminal 1, Tyynenmerenkatu 8, Helsinki Port details
  15. Tallinn Passenger Port details