St. Petersburg is considered Russia’s tourist capital and sees as many as 5.5 million visitors through its streets every year. From November to March, St. Petersburg transforms into a winter wonderland and sets an enchanted city scene for travellers, and Australian-based tour company 56th Parallel is leading small-group tours there.

Historic quarters and cultural landmarks in St. Petersburg are perhaps best viewed under a blanket of thick Russian snow, and its scenic city views and elegance should be enjoyed from the window of a warm hotel room. Despite the low temperatures, the bustling city life of St. Petersburg certainly doesn’t cool down. The St. Petersburg tour takes guests to the city’s many theatres, museums, bars and restaurants in Russia’s cultural hub.

The St. Petersburg: Winter Fairytale tour is six days in Russia’s tourist capital, treating guests to the luxury and grandeur of St. Petersburg’s theatre district and Hermitage Museum, challenging perceptions at contemporary museums and community project spaces, and including a taste of both the traditional Russian countryside and urban city life in St. Petersburg.

The tour includes a tour of Saint Isaac’s Cathedral, the largest Russian Orthodox Church in the city with a famous gold-plated dome and tours through a city at its most stunning with snow topped roofs and white paved streets in winter. Visits to the Peter and Pauls Fortress, State Museum of Saint Petersburg History and a 19th century Russian prison will teach guests about St. Petersburg’s rich history.

This small group tour explores the emerging contemporary art scene in St. Petersburg where guests will hear from St. Petersburg locals who have seen it grow from an underground youth movement to a cultural phenomenon. Visits to the ETAGI multifunction art space and Erarta Museum and Galleries of Contemporary Art are two highlights of the six-day tour through the city.

The St. Petersburg Winter Fairytale also includes a trip to a traditional Russian village where guests will experience the local way of life, hands-on: from horse-riding and sledding through the grounds, as well as cooking workshops and a visit to an authentic Russian bathhouse to partake in a common pastime loved by locals.

The tour will also treat groups to a glimpse at St. Petersburg’s luxurious imperial past, with visits to the Gold and Diamond Rooms of the Hermitage Museum where displays include jewellery, antiques and treasures from nomadic and soviet cultures in Russia. The tour will also include a day trip to Tsarskoye Selo, the former residence of the imperial family in the town of Pushkin, where guests will step foot on stunning grounds brimming with historical significance, incredible architecture and grandeur.

Staying at The Courtyard St. Petersburg Vasilievsky or Three Mosta Boutique Hotel, this six day tour of St. Petersburg incorporates elements of culture, history and luxury, treating guests to the complete St. Petersburg winter experience.

 

MEDIA CONTACT: 
Michael Schneider 
michael@56thparallel.com 
61412587785