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Leave the Port of St Petersburg when your cruise ship docks, and see the city's highlights on a full-day shore excursion with a private guide! Explore the State Hermitage — the museum commonly known as the Hermitage — with its extensive selection of artwork that chronicles prehistoric times to the modern day, and then learn about the history of Peter and Paul Fortress on a walking tour. Head inside the stunning St Peter and Paul Cathedral as well as St Isaac's Cathedral, and then pose for photos by iconic landmarks including the Church of the Saviour on Spilled Blood.
This private tour operates with a flexible itinerary, meaning the guide can tailor it to the sights you want to see.
After meeting your private guide at the Port of St Petersburg, hop inside your minibus and set off to explore the city. As you travel, sit back and relax while your guide chats to you about St Petersburg's culture, sights and history. If there is something you particularly wish to see, simply let your guide know; your itinerary is flexible and can be tailored to your preference.
Your first stop is the Hermitage, St Petersburg's incredible art museum. Having started out as a small collection of artwork by Empress Catherine II to impress her guests, the Hermitage has grown into one of the world's premier art museums, holding a treasure trove of Western European, Oriental, and prehistoric artwork. Enjoy a 2-hour tour around its main rooms and learn about paintings by the likes of Da Vinci, Monet and Rembrandt, as well as seeing grandiose architecture by Rastrelli. Highlights of the Hermitage include Da Vinci's Benois Madonna.
Head out of the museum, enjoy a quick break for lunch (own expense), and then travel to Peter and Paul Fortress, one of the oldest buildings in the city. Built to protect St Petersburg from a predicted invasion by the Swedes, the fortress was never actually used as a defense structure and went on to become a fearsome prison, instead. On a walk around, see features such as Trubetskoy Bastion — the former main political prison of the Russian Empire — as well as the Russian Orthodox St Peter and Paul Cathedral with its magnificent Baroque interior.
Having explored the fortress and its sites, head into the city center for a visit to St Isaac's Cathedral, the golden-domed place of worship that was built during the reign of the Romanovs. Walk around and marvel at its marble exterior before heading inside to see its equally lavish interior. Compare its ostentatious design with the attention-grabbing Church of the Saviour on Spilled Blood — one of the city's iconic sights. Pose for photos against its brightly-colored façade and hear tales of Tsar Alexander II, a reformist assassinated on the spot where the church was later built.
Continue exploring the city center and enjoy photo stops at other top St Petersburg attractions including the Russian battleship cruiser Aurora, Palace Square — home to the colorful Winter Palace — and Vasilievsky Island. After seeing the sights, travel back to the Port of St Petersburg, and then finish your private tour with a port drop-off.
