Duration
Reviews
Transport
This route is an 8 day trip covering 3 of Russia’s most popular cities, including Moscow and St Petersburg. You’ll spend 7 nights in your accommodation and 1 night on the train, with the other train travel taking place during the day.
Route
- St Petersburg
- Yaroslavl
- Moscow
Share This
Trip Style
If you’ve covered most parts of Western Europe and are looking for a little bit of a challenge, why not venture East. Europe’s most vast and varied country, Russia borders both Finland and China… what better way to explore such an immense land than by rail? In this trip you’ll check out 3 of the country’s most beautiful cities, as well as the rugged landscapes in between. Questions about visiting Russia? Check out Portia’s blog here.
Trip Description
Russia is historic and mysterious on an epic scale… start your discovery here
Explore the spires and palaces of St Petersburg, Yaroslavl and Moscow, and lose yourself in the fairytale landscapes of the world’s largest nation. Start off in the City of the Tsars – discover the beautiful National Ballet, Winter Palace and Catherine Park. Walk along the harbour in the midnight sun – during May and June the legendary “White Nights” play host to a huge variety of concerts and shows throughout the city.
Next you’ll explore Yaroslavl – it’s a world heritage city and sits at the heart of the “Golden Ring” of Ancient Russian cities which have all played an important historical role in the region. This winter wonderland is a haven for snow lovers – the Volga river freezes solid every winter as temperatures drop well below freezing. In Summer explore the beautful spires and traditional architecture of the city’s old town.
A quick train journey and you arrive at your final stop – Moscow. The iconic power house of Russia is home to some of the country’s most famous landmarks. Red Square, with its neighbouring St Basil’s Cathedral as well as The Kremlin is a must. But don’t miss out on the more underground aspects of the city – from its stylish coffee houses to the famously exuberant nightlife. Moscow’s hipster culture is alive and thriving, so you shouldn’t struggle to find a stylish brunch joint to sooth any resulting hangovers.
This route requires a Russian tourist visa, not included in the price. You can apply for this up to 6 months before your trip. Once you have the visa, you MUST enter Russia within 6 months otherwise it will expire. Euroventure is not able to provide visas, however we can supply supporting documents for your application for a fee of £3 per hostel/hotel. For information on how to apply, please go to your nearest Russian Embassy website and look up the entry requirements for your nationality. Make sure you allow plenty of time to process this (at least 2 months).
What's included?
- All overland transport tickets from the first to the last city, as shown in the key.
- Any Interrail or Eurail passes if required, based on the best value for you.
- Compulsory seat reservations on high-speed rail, night trains or ferries.
- Accommodation in top-rated, centrally located hostels or hotels, tested by us.
- Walking directions between the stations and your booked accommodation.
- Optional walking tours, pub crawls and other activities at our partner hostels.
- A personalised travel booklet with maps, language guides, top tips, and more.
- Access to your itinerary, tickets and documents on the Euroventure App.
- Access to our 24hr emergency phone number while you’re away.
The Route
Itinerary
If you’re looking to explore a fascinating and sometimes overlooked part of the world, our Russia trip is perfect for you. You’ll visit three of the country’s most beautiful and popular cities, travelling on a mix of day and night trains. Please note you’ll need a tourist visa to enter Russia.
St Petersburg (2 Nights)
Saint Petersburg is the city of the Tsars. From glorious opera houses to underground music scenes, classical masterpieces to street art – immerse yourself in kaleidoscopes of Russian colour and culture. When you’re done, make the most of the city’s famous White Nights to party into the early hours – you can sleep when you’re dead.
Highlights
- Marvel at the incredibly ornate “Church of the Saviour on the Spilled Blood”, Pushkin and Catherine Palaces.
- Join local residents for all night parties in June – during Summer’s “White Nights”, the sun barely sets.
- Discover authentic bargains at Udelka flea market on the weekend
Yaroslavl (2 Nights)
Check out traditional Russian Hospitality in Yaroslavl – one of the “Golden Ring” cities famed for their beauty and historical importance. Explore the gorgeous cathedrals and churches, with golden domes and elaborate frescoes. Make sure you get a pic of the grand Cathedral of Assumption!
Highlights
- Join Yaroslavl’s locals and kiss for good luck by the Volga River
- See the UNESCO heritage area of the city which is teeming with museums and churches.
- Head to Pivoteka Pinta and drink the best beer in town.
Moscow (2 Nights)
Russia’s Capital, home to the grand treasures of the Tzars, Russia’s modern political hub (The Kremlin) and more cultural heritage than you can shake a stick at; it’s clear that any trip to Russia starts with Moscow. For this particular journey, it’s also your gateway to Siberia. Here is the starting point of the Trans Siberian Express – one of the World’s most iconic trains journeys.
Highlights
- Check out Red Square and St Basil’s Cathedrals – arguably Russia’s most famous sight
- Eat your way through delightfully stodgy cuisine – potatoes, Borscht, any kind of meat you can imagine and plenty of local beers (and maybe vodka) to wash it down.
- Sweat out all the toxins you’ve acquired in a classic Russian Banya, or bath house.
How to get there
The quickest and cheapest way to get to and from the UK will be to book a budget flight. Use a search engine such as Kayak or Skyscanner to do this. Alternatively, if you want to travel from the UK to Russia and back by train, why not have a look at our Northern Loop.
Optional Extras
Reviews
4.9 Average
544 Reviews
Overall Rating
1 day ago
The tour was really well organised and took all the stress out of all the transfers and finding trains etc. The hostels were all clean and helpful and any issues were sorted very quickly . My tour leader Tom (aka Liam Payne) was super helpful and knowledgeable about the areas (best places for food etc) . Great sense of humour too haha
Overall Rating
2 days ago
A great way to meet new people and a good introduction to more independent travelling with the security that most tend to fear when it comes to travelling solo! Tom was friendly and efficient in his job offering advice and recommendations where he could ensuring we were having the best time. Would definitely recommend to others looking to explore more/build up confidence to solo travelling!
Overall Rating
2 days ago
I can't recommend Euroventure highly enough. In August 2019 I went on the 3 Week: Islandbound adventure. From my first approach to Euroventure to my return from my trip they were absolutely brilliant. The organisation of transfers and accommodation was first class. Before my trip any concerns or questions I had were responded to almost immediately. I fully intend to book my next adventure with them.
Overall Rating
4 days ago
I recently returned from the Central Europe tour and I couldn't have asked for a better trip with Euroventure! I booked a group tour so it gave me the chance to meet likeminded people plus you don't have the stress of arranging everything. I highly recommend this if you're apprehensive about travelling alone. I feel so much more confident to travel solo in the future thanks to this trip. Our tour leader Tom was fantastic, making sure the trip ran smoothly and made great recommendations on food and things to do in every city as well as advising which metro links and stops we would need to go to, to get to certain places. While remaining professional throughout the trip, he was very friendly, extremely patient and a good laugh. I will definitely be booking another trip with Euroventure in the near future.
Overall Rating
1 week ago
Just returned from my month long trip round Europe. The Euroventure team tailored my trip to my every need, the customer service during the booking process was excellent and any changes or queries I had were quickly and efficiently dealt with. My trip was amazing, the hostels booked were great, the team were responsive when I got lost on the trains in Poland and the travel book provided was unbelievably helpful. I could not have hoped for a better experience and would highly recommend Euroventure to anyone planning a trip. Cannot wait to start planning my next trip with them!
Questions & Answers
Don't see the answer you're looking for?
Need to find flights? Find the best deals on Skyscanner.
Travel with Confidence
We are a members of ABTA, which means you have the benefit of ABTA's assistance and Code of Conduct. We provide full financial protection for your money.
Meet The Team Behind Your Trip
