Compare From Stockholm to Moscow by Europamundo Vacations vs Northern Capitals & Russia - Small Group, 2023 Small Group by Insight Vacations

Day 1: Stockholm

Today’s Highlights: Arrival. Transfer to the hotel. Welcome to Europe!!!. On arrival at the airport we shall be waiting to transfer you to the hotel. You can enjoy free time until your tour starts, information about the meeting place and start time can be found on the information boards in the hotel reception area.

Day 2: Stockholm

Today’s Highlights: Sightseeing of Stokholm. We take a panoramic tour of this very beautiful capital city, built on 13 islands joined together. We will see the Gamla Stan or the “City Between the Bridges”, the old quarter of the city, full of life where there are many monumental buildings. Alongside the main square of Stortorget stands the Nobel Museum (which pays tribute to the winners of the Nobel Prizes), the Cathedral and the Royal Palace. We can also enjoy a pretty view from the Fjällgatan viewpoint. Then free time, we recommend visiting the museums and parks. Another possibility is to visit to the City Hall and to the Vasa Museum.

Day 3: Stockholm - Stockholm-Turku Ferry

Today’s Highlights: Ferry to Finland. Enjoy a free day of leisure in Stockholm. In the evening we will board a modern ferry traveling overnight to Finland, where accommodation will be in double cabins with private bathrooms.

Day 4: Stockholm-Turku Ferry - Naantali - Helsinki

Today’s Highlights: Forests, lakes, pleasant landscapes. As we arrive to Finland, we recommend that you go to the ship’s deck for sunrise, enjoy mesmerizing landscapes from the sea as we sail along Aland Islands, hundreds of islands covered by forests. We disembark the ferry and have time to walk around Turku, a city with a very strong Swedish influence. We continue our journey to the neighbouring city of Naantali, a very picturesque town with wooden houses next to the sea. We travel on until we arrive in Helsinki, reaching at lunchtime. In the afternoon enjoy leisure time; you will be able to explore the city, with its old market, buildings with Russian influence and churches.

Day 5: Helsinki - Helsinki-Tallinn Ferry - Tallinn

Today’s Highlights: Stage by the sea with beautiful landscapes on the way out of Helsinki. We enjoy a boat trip to Suomenlinna Islands, a group of islands where we can witness a great fortress that used to protect the sea entry to the city, it has been declared World Heritage. Take time to walk around, it is possible to cross the islands through small pedestrian bridges. Later we will board a ferry to Estonia. The ferry trip will be around 2 hours 30 minutes. During the departure from Helsinki you have great views of the surrounding islands. On to Tallinn!

Day 6: Tallinn

Today’s Highlights: city tour of Tallinn. Tallinn, the capital of Estonia is a wonderful city with a well-conserved medieval centre. We will enjoy a comprehensive tour of the city, its walls, churches, squares, and its medieval streets filled with tourist attractions. An afternoon at leisure.

Day 7: Tallinn - Narva - St. Petersburg

Today’s Highlight: From Estonia to Russia. Today we leave Estonia and travel to Russia. We stop in Narva with time to see the impressive fortress by the river, on the border between the two countries. Border procedures (which can sometimes take time), then we will take our included lunch once in Russia. We make our way to St Petersburg, arriving and going to the hotel.

Day 8: St. Petersburg

Today’s Highlight: Panoramic visit of St. Petersburg. Catherine Palace. With a local guide we begin the panoramic visit of this beautiful city crossed by the Neva River and built on 40 islands. St Petersburg is the second most important city in Russia and capital of the Russian Empire. This imperial city reveals the history of the Russian tsars through its museums, palaces, and architectural wealth. The visit includes the Peter and Paul Fortress (entrance included), origin of the city. The city is surrounded by numerous palaces. We take an excursion, with a guide and tickets, to the Catherine Palace which is located 25km from St Petersburg. It was the Tzars summer Rococo residence. Note: Depending on availability, Peterhof Palace may be visited instead of Catherine Palace. The Peterhof Palace, with very similar characteristics, was also a former residence of tsars.

Day 9: St. Petersburg

Today’s Highlight: Hermitage Museum. Today we have a visit to the Hermitage Museum, a fantastic art museum located in the building that was the Tsars’ Winter Palace (visit with guide and tickets). Enjoy a free afternoon at leisure.

Day 10: St. Petersburg - Novgorod - Valday - Tver

Today’s Highlight: Russian plain, woodlands and lakes. Novgorod. Dinner included. We continue our journey to Novgorod, an exciting city that was one of Russia’s most important political and cultural centres. We will visit its Kremlin (guide and entrance included), the former market district, the court of Yaroslav. Lunch included. Followed by a relaxing lunch. Then to Valday, a picturesque little city by a lake. We will visit the ancient monastery on an island in the lake before going on to Tver. Dinner included.

Day 11: Tver - Sergei Posad - Suzdal

Today’s Highlight: Along tiny roads to see the rural areas of Russia, passing many pretty villages on our way. Lunch included. We start the day with a stroll in Tver, a city on the banks of the Volga River that was the centre of a small state that was Moscow’s main rival. After this, we will see some of the cities of the Golden Ring. A brief stop in Klin where we find the house of the brilliant composer Tchaikovsky. Then we carry on to Sergiev Posad, where we will see the Monastery of the Trinity, considered Russia’s most important spiritual centre. Lunch included. In the afternoon, we travel along small roads that pass through historical cities of the Golden Ring; Alexandrov, with its Kremlin dedicated to Ivan the Terrible. Yuryev Polskiy, a small provincial city with its historical Kremlin. Our route continues to Suzdal, where we will visit the wooden Architecture Museum, which illustrates the former peasant life with houses built of trunks, mills and the Church of the Transfiguration. During dinner (included) enjoy a folkloric group who will accompany us with the sound of balalaikas (not included if there are fewer than 15 participants in the group).

Day 12: Suzdal - Vladimir - Moscow

Today’s Highlight: Sightseeing of Suzdal. Lunch included. In the morning we will see how the famous Matryoshka dolls are made and painted, and you will get an opportunity to learn how to paint them. Then we visit Suzdal, which for many is the most beautiful of the cities of the Golden Ring, with its canals, flowers, domes on the horizon, which give the city a fairytale-like appearance. We visit the city with a local guide and enter the Kremlin and the cathedral (tickets included),. At the Monastery of St Eugen we will hear the bell concert. After this, we travel to Vladimir, lunch included. Then we continue to Moscow, where we will arrive in the late afternoon.

Day 13: Moscow

Today’s Highlight: City tour of Moscow with entrances. We will start our day with an exciting visit to Russia’s huge capital city. This city unites past, present and future in a very unique way. We will visit the immense avenues, elegant shopping areas, the Red Square where Lenin’s Mausoleum is, Saint Basil’s Cathedral, the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour. We will also enter the Kremlin with a visit to two of its main cathedrals. We will try (not guaranteed) to coincide with the ceremonial military parade in Sobornaya Square. Enjoy the afternoon at leisure.

Day 14: Moscow

Today’s Highlight: Viewpoint over Moscow. Great Patriotic War Museum. We will learn more about the history of Russia and its capital. We will pass by the university viewpoint, with its fantastic view over the city where newly married couples leave flowers (we could go to the viewpoint after Saturday’s visit instead of Sunday) and we will get to know (including entry) the Great Patriotic War Museum (World War II) that also shows us many aspects of the Soviet period. Free afternoon.

Day 15: Moscow

After breakfast, transfer to the airport and end of our services.

Day 1: Welcome to Berlin

On arrival at Berlin's Brandenburg Airport, transfers depart at 10.30, 13:00 & 16:00. In the afternoon, perhaps visit the KaDeWe department store - the shopping centre of West Berlin which during 40 years of division, became the shop window of the West. At 18:30, join a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience with your Travel Director and travel companions at the Kreuzberger Himmel restaurant. Discover how this establishment helps support refugees as they integrate into German society over a Welcome Dinner with wine.

Day 2: The Spirit of Berlin Relaxed Start

In the morning, sightseeing with a Local Expert takes you along the Unter den Linden, past the Humboldt University and Opera House. Stop a while on Museum Island before passing Brandenberg Gate, a symbol of the reunification. See Norman Foster’s glass dome which crowns the Reichstag building before embarking on a journey through the Tiergarten. Spend the afternoon exploring at your leisure or relaxing at your hotel.

Day 3: Across the Sea to Copenhagen

Depart Berlin and continue through northern Germany to Rostock for the sea crossing to Denmark. A peaceful journey through Danish countryside brings you to the capital, Copenhagen. In the evening, delight in the enchanting atmosphere of the famous Tivoli Gardens.

Day 4: Wonderful Copenhagen

With a Local Expert, begin your sightseeing with a visit the Christiansborg Palace, seat of the Danish Government, to marvel at the opulent interior. Journey past Copenhagen Cathedral and the university to see Rosenborg Castle, the Renaissance Stock Exchange and Amalienborg Palace, home of the royal family. Visit the waterfront to admire Hans Christian Andersen’s Little Mermaid gazing across the harbour. The rest of the day is at leisure.

Day 5: To Stockholm, City of Islands

Enjoy a view of Kronborg Castle, reputedly the Elsinore home of Hamlet, during the short ferry crossing to Sweden. Your journey then continues through fertile farmlands, dotted with neat farmhouses and barns. Travel along the shores of peaceful Lake Vättern to Stockholm, beautifully situated on an island studded bay.

Day 6: Stockholm and a Baltic Cruise

With a Local Expert, visit the imposing City Hall with its impressive Gyllene salen, the Golden Hall, covered with 18 million gilded mosaic tiles and the Blå hallen, the Blue Hall, is the venue for the Nobel Prize banquets. Cross the harbour to Gamla Stan, the medieval heart of the city to see the cathedral and the Royal Palace. In the afternoon, board your cruise ship for the overnight voyage to Finland. Enjoy dinner onboard and then take in the breathtakingly beautiful scenery from the comfort of your A-Class, sea-view cabin, while the northern sun hangs over the horizon, showing almost no sign of setting in mid-summer.

Day 7: Fashionable Helsinki Relaxed Start

Disembark your Baltic cruise and explore Helsinki, the trendsetting city of top fashion and design, alongside a Local Expert. Wander through the aromatic stalls of a traditional food market and sample local produce like liquorice or smoked reindeer.

Day 8: St. Petersburg

From Helsinki, you will travel through rural lands and villages, following the coast of the Gulf of Finland. Tonight, dine in a local restaurant

Day 9: The Gardens of Petrodvorets

Join a Local Expert to see the Church of Our Saviour on Spilled Blood and the bustling main street of the city, Nevsky Prospect. Cruise by hydrofoil along the Baltic shore to Peter the Great's summer residence of Petrodvorets, which for over 200 years was used for official ceremonies, lavish feasts and formal receptions. Alight to explore the grand gardens and see cascading fountains.

Day 10: High-Speed Train to Moscow Relaxed Start

Visit the opulent Winter Palace with your Local Expert. This is the former home of the Tsars, but now houses the Hermitage Museum. Witness a treasure trove of magnificent works of art, ranging from Egyptian carvings to Impressionist masterpieces. Board your high-speed Sapsan train and relax in modern luxury and comfort as you swoop to Moscow in just a few hours.

Day 11: Moscow, a Russian Revelation Relaxed Start

Begin your exploration of the Russian capital with a Local Expert. Start in Red Square, lined by Moscow's landmark buildings. At one end rises the onion-shaped domes of St. Basil's Cathedral, in front of the Kremlin stands Lenin's Mausoleum, while on the opposite side, the grand GUM department store offers a variety of glamorous goods. Explore Moscow with Insight Choice. Choose to visit an ornate metro station with your Local Expert. Alternatively, take a stroll through the popular Zaryadye Park and enjoy great views of your surroundings.   In your free time, why not witness the crown jewels and Fabergé Egg collection of the Imperial Russian Family?

Day 12: Moscow at Leisure Relaxed Start

Enjoy a relaxed start and a full day set aside to explore Moscow at your own pace. Perhaps visit the Borodino Panorama Exhibition or enjoy an Optional Experience in Zagorsk, the renowned centre of ancient Russian art and architecture?

Day 13: Minsk, the Supreme Soviet City

Take an included flight to the Belarus capital of Minsk, rebuilt after the war in utmost Soviet style.

Day 14: Minsk Sightseeing and Vilnius Relaxed Start

Your Local Expert will take you along wide avenues, passing gargantuan concrete buildings, a legacy of Minsk’s Soviet past. Lenin still stands in front of the Government headquarters! See the obelisk in Victory Square honouring the heroes of World War II and the Church of St. Simon and Helena. Continue to Vilnius, the capital of Lithuania. In the evening, you can choose from a variety of hand-selected local restaurants on your Dine-Around Evening.

Day 15: Vilnius and the Castle of Trakai

Walk along the streets of bohemian Užupis, a Vilnius neighbourhood that proclaimed itself a republic in 2002. A member of the government introduces you to its quirky history and artistic flair. A highlight of your travels will be a visit to the fortified island castle of Trakai. Originally built in the 15th century and now restored to all its glory, this red-brick castle is located on an island in Lake Galvė.

Day 16: Rejuvenated Warsaw

Pass lakeside Augustow during a scenic journey through Masuria, a region blessed with a plethora of lakes and forests. Your destination will be the Polish capital, faithfully rebuilt after the devastation of World War II.

Day 17: Exploring Warsaw Relaxed Start

Join a Local Expert for an exploration of the city. Pass the tiered Palace of Culture and stroll through Łazienki Park to the Chopin Memorial. Take a moment to reflect at the Monument to Ghetto Heroes, before walking to the Market Square in the Old Town. In the evening, join your newfound friends and Travel Director for a Celebration Dinner at a local restaurant and enjoy a fine selection of local dishes, with wine.

Day 18: Depart Warsaw

Your transfers will arrive at Warsaw airport at 07:30 and 10:00.