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Daniele
Just Starting
Joined: 25 Jan 2009
Posts: 1
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 Posted: Sun Jan 25, 2009 5:17 pm Post subject: How much days in Moscow and how much in St.Petersburg ? |
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Hello ,
I would to have some days holiday in Russia, and I would like to visit Moscow and San Petersburg.
I have to organize the duration:
Possibility 1:
Moscow : 3 full days to visit the city and 4 night
St.Petersburg: 6 full days to visit the city and 6 night
Possibility 2:
Moscow : 4 full days to visit the city and 5 night
St.Petersburg: 5 full days to visit the city and 5 night
ps some people says me that St.Petersburg is better than Moscow and you have more to visit.
Thank you for your help .
Bye bye
Daniele |
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everbrite
Just Starting
Joined: 10 Sep 2008
Posts: 4
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| Posted: Mon Jan 26, 2009 12:22 am Post subject: dividing time between Moscow and Petersburg |
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It is difficult to make a recommendation when you don't indicate your particular interests. I usually recommend dividing them evenly unless you have some particular interest.
For the sake of convenience here are some suggestions assuming that this is your first time to each of these cities and you have about 5 days in each:
My personal suggestions for 5 days in Petersburg would be as follows:
day 1 - St. Petersburg city tour including the Peter and Paul Fortress, St. Isaac's Cathedral, Church on the Spilled Blood, and walk along Nevsky Prospekt to see some other notable buildings - note that these places are all open on Monday and since lots of other things are closed on Monday, this is important to keep in mind.
day 2 - full day at the Hermitage including the number 2 Gold Room which requires a special ticket. Buying this ticket entitles you to see the whole museum for the day and actually costs less than the regular admission. (There is a cafe/buffet in the museum where you can get a snack. Take is slow and enjoy yourself.)
day 3 - Catherine's Palace in Pushkin and if you want to push, you could also visit the Pavlovsk Palace (this is easily all day and it might be too tiring to do both)
day 4 - Palace of Peter I and fountains in Peterhof, and take the hydrofoil back to Petersburg for a change of pace. (you could also visit the Chinese Pavilion in Lomonosov but this would make for another long day) The fountains won't be in operation until May 1st so you might want to consider a day trip to Veliky Novgorod.
day 5 - Yusupov Palace and the Menshikov Palace which focus on two different periods of Petersburg history. Yusopov Palace is where Rasputin was murdered in 1914 and the Menshikov Palace was the home of Peter the Great's side kick two hundred years earlier.) Yusopov Palace needs to be booked in advance.
Check out the walking tours offered by Peterswalk.com - some of them are very interesting.
In summer one evening take a night time boat ride through the canals. Be sure to bring along a jacket and a blanket as it does get chilly on the water.
For another evening check out if there is anything playing at the Mariinsky Theater. They have a website which usually has the program for the next month or so.
For another evening, if you are traveling with others, consider visiting a real Russian banya complete with dining room, swimming pool and sauna. Note that they don't permit you to bring birch branches, but you can bring in all the prepared food you want, and they provide tea service. Although the hotel itself is nothing to talk about, the sauna at the Hotel Neva is relatively new and quite nice. You and perhaps up to 7 of your closest friends can rent it for several hours in the evening and have a pleasant time. There is a 24 hour grocery around the corner at which you can get supplies for a nice supper. The Hotel Neva is located at 17 Tchaikovbskovo Ulitsa, about 10 minutes walk from the Chernyshevskaya Metro Station. Telephone number for the sauna is +7 (812) 278 05 12.
My personal suggestions for 5 days in Moscow would be as follows:
day 1 - Kremlin including the Amory Museum and the Diamond Fund - this is open on Monday and closed on Thursday.
day 2 - KGB Museum in the morning (this requires reservations - only place I know that offers these tours is Patriarshy Dom) and then walk in Kitai Gorod and Red Square in the afternoon. Walk along Tverskaya Street around the Bolshoi Theater.
day 3 - Church of Christ the Savior, Novodevichy Convent and Cemetery - I know it sounds weird visiting a cemetery but it is very interesting. Lots of famous people buried here and the sculptured headstones and monuments are worth seeing and then out ot the MGU campus and the Sparrow Hills overlook. These are all on the red line of the metro
day 4 - If you are interested in art, then consider either the Pushkin Art Museum and the Prechistenka/Ostozhenka area plus a walk up Bolshaya Nikitskaya Street or the Tretyakov Gallery and Zamoskvorechye area including the Park of the Fallen Heroes and the New Tretyakov Gallery. The Pushkin is international artists and the Tretyakov is Russian artists.
day 5 - a day trip to Sergiev Posad which was the home of the Patriarch of the Russian Orthodox church and historically the seat of the Church. This can be coupled with a stop in Abramstevo, a late 19th century artist colony.
Other options: one of these estates: Kolomenskoye, Ostankino, Kuskovo if the weather is nice and you want to picnic.
If you are there on a weekend, then go to Izmailovsky Park metro and the crafts fairgrounds at Vernisazh.
Do a tour of the metro stations.
Check out the walks offered by Patriarshy Dom. They are unusual.
If you like old buildings consider a tour of the Grand Palace within the Kremlin. I think only Patriarshy Dom can arrange it.
If you are there is summer then consider these options:
Take the boat ride during the week from Kievskaya Metro/Vokzal to NovoSpassky Monastery.
If you enjoy classical music, check out what is performing at Kuskovo or Ostankino, both are interesting venues for performances and were Sheremetevo estates.
Ruth[/url] |
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bunker6
Frequent Guest
Joined: 31 Jul 2008
Posts: 37
Location: Princeton, NJ / St. Petes, Russia
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| Posted: Mon Jan 26, 2009 12:27 pm Post subject: |
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There's actually more to see in St. Petersburg.
If someone can give you a good car ride around Moscow — you've seen most of it. Another two days for taking those standard Red Square photos and you're done.
In St. Pete's you'll do the walking part. Countless palaces, museums, theaters, — and more in suburbs. Medieval castles, ancient Russian monasteries, parks... I had no problem putting together a 10-day agenda for newcomers.
Come in Summer (May through September)! |
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Saville
Just Starting
Joined: 31 Jan 2009
Posts: 7
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| Posted: Sat Jan 31, 2009 10:46 pm Post subject: |
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I think it's worth spending a little bit longer in St. Petersburg - though I'm biased!
Generally, though, people I know who have done dual centre visits like yours have preferred St. Petersburg, and found that they'd rather have had more time there than in Moscow. I guess that's because St. Petersburg is the cultural centre and so has more to offer a tourist than Moscow, which is big and exciting but essentially a political and economic hub.
There's also quite a bit in the suburbs - I recommend Pushkin (fantasic palace) and Peterhof (palace and fountains, and my former stamping ground!) above all. You don't say when you're visiting, but if it's off season check whether everything in the suburbs is open first.
Also, it's a pleasure in St.Petersburg to just lose yourself wandering along Canal Griboyedov or the Fontanka/Moika rivers. They're not at all touristy once you're away from Nevsky Prospekt, but replete with interesting and beautiful buldings and bridges. You get much more of a feel of the real city in these areas, I think. Walking around the streets of Moscow does not have the same appeal. |
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Arina8
Frequent Guest
Joined: 30 Aug 2008
Posts: 27
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| Posted: Sun Feb 01, 2009 1:34 am Post subject: |
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| bunker6 wrote: | There's actually more to see in St. Petersburg.
If someone can give you a good car ride around Moscow — you've seen most of it. Another two days for taking those standard Red Square photos and you're done.
In St. Pete's you'll do the walking part. Countless palaces, museums, theaters, — and more in suburbs. Medieval castles, ancient Russian monasteries, parks... I had no problem putting together a 10-day agenda for newcomers.
Come in Summer (May through September)! |
Medieval castles and ancient monasteries??? The city is not that old. Very beautiful, though.
I guess, you failed to see Moscow. Red Square is for tourists who do not care much about the feel of the city.
It's Moscow which has ancient monasteries and numerous mansions and parks. Plus, the Golden Ring is within easy reach (Suzdal is only 3-4-hour drive and Sergiev Posad is much closer). |
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Varrah
Lounge Lizard
Joined: 26 Jun 2008
Posts: 80
Location: St.-Petersburg, Russia
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| Posted: Sun Feb 08, 2009 11:57 pm Post subject: |
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| It was about suburbs. There're several castles near or not far from St.-Petersburg. Like Koporie, Korela, Vyborg. One could also visit Pskov, Staraya Ladoga, Novgorod etc. |
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Gustavo
Frequent Guest
Joined: 21 Sep 2008
Posts: 33
Location: Chile
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| Posted: Mon Feb 16, 2009 8:03 am Post subject: |
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This has to be the hardest part while planning a trip to Russia. How much time will I spend in each city.
So far, Im planning for 1 week in each city (Ive always felt a rare connection with Moscow, and would be delighted just walking there). The other week or 10 days will be spent in the Golden Ring. |
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