Curious St Petersburg. Out of the ordinary

The trip is for those who would like to avoid stereotype excursions in St.Petersburg and want to feel the underground atmosphere of one of the most attractive cities of the world looking at it from the inside. You will have a chance to walk in the labyrinths of mystical courtyards instead of front streets with crowds of tourists, to listen to splendid stories full of enigmatic legends, unknown historical details and even jokes. Only in St.Petersburg the visitors are given a chance to learn how the main characters of Fedor Dostoevsky lived, to visit the fortress where the author's mock execution was carried out, to see a gloomy house of a Russian mystic, Grigori Rasputin, to find yourself in the place where famous underground rock bands used to gather. In the cities' unusual museums you will be able to walk up the observation platform of the water tower enjoying the excellent views over the river, to taste the Russian vodka, to get to know more about innovative art, to try to interpret your dreams in Sigmund Freud's Dream Museum. The city will open its doors for you turning a common visitor into a real city dweller. Geographic Bureau will provide you with our experienced guide who specializes in extraordinary tours in the Northern Venice.
 

Please note that we can extend or reduce the program according to a personal request. The recommended hotel can be replaced for any other suitable one if necessary.
 

OUTLINE ITINERARY
 

Day 1. Friday. Arrival in St.Petersburg. Meeting at the airport. Transfer to the hotel. Along the route you will listen to some interesting and unexpected facts of the city's history and drive through Moscowsky prospect looking at Leningrad architecture of the 1930s.Accommodation at the “15th Line” hotel (managed by Geographic Bureau). The hotel is located in Vasilyevsky island, the biggest island and the cultural center of St. Petersburg. There are majestic architectural ensembles, stylish embankments, scientific institutions, libraries, graveyards, river ports, old districts and modern tower buildings here. Free time.

Day 2. Saturday. Excursion “Mystical St.Petersburg”. Beginning at 10-00. The Northern Capital has always been famous for its numerous legends and mysteries. Artful cabals, terrible crimes and rebellions used to be arranged here. During the excursion you will see a gloomy house of Grigori Rasputin, a Russian mystic who is perceived as having influenced the latter days of the Russian Tsar Nicholas II and his family. You will see a famous rotunda in Gorohovaya street, the place for secret meetings of masons in the 19th century and gatherings of rock bands in the 70-s of the last century. Another mysterious place for visit is Mikhailovsky Castle. The Russian Tzar Pavel the First was killed in the building more than two hundred years ago but some fatal coincidences still happen here nowadays. During the excursion you will come across the Gothic yard of bats and you will also try to guess the riddles of Sennyaya square that is described in books by Fedor Dostoevsky. Duration of the excursion is 3 hours. After the excursion you will have lunch in one of the cozy cafes in the city center. Back to Vasilyevsky island. Walking tour through mysterious courtyards of Vasilyevsky island. You will see Gothic chapel, modern graffiti, unofficial sculpture or a so-called gryphon nest – the building where according to a legend the real gryphons lived. Duration is 2 hours. Additionally, in the evening we can offer a tour on the Jazz motor ship on the Neva river. You will have a charming cruise with an opportunity to listen to local jazz bands and even dance there. Duration is 2 hours.

Day 3. Sunday. Excursion at metro. The beginning at 10-00. St.Petersburg metro was created as an underground architecture and even as a bomb shelter. You will visit some of the most attractive metro stations decorated with marble, embossed sculptures and crystal chandeliers. Duration is 40 minutes. Walk along Nevsky Prospekt. You will look into small courtyards, see the stone sculptures of animals and people. You will know the reason why the cat's monument was erected, where the elephants bathed and why one of the crossings is named “bloody”. Duration is 2 hours. Bus excursion “Unusual museums”. Undoubtedly the main museums like Hermitage and Russian Museum hold the biggest collections and attract crowds of visitors. But St.Petersburg is also rich for smaller original museums which attract visitors due to their unique collections, such as the Museum of Vodka, the Water Museum, the Doll Museum! During our tour you'll get a chance to see their uncommon exhibits. After the visit to the Vodka Museum you will have lunch at the specific Russian restaurant located in the same building. Duration is 4 hours including lunch. End of excursion near the hotel. Free time

Day 4. Monday. Transfer to the airport. Departure.