ESN HYY GRAND RUSSIAN ADVENTURE TO ST PETERSBURG, NOVGOROD AND
MOSCOW!
Price from 325 € +visa (from 75 €)
Discover the three Russian capitals on our one week road-trip.
See impressive St Petersburg, historical Novgorod, dramatic
Moscow and the timeless Russian countryside between them!
Get ready for the extreme Russian experience See you on the Red Square!
Including:
 Ferry trip Helsinki-St Petersburg in economy class cabin
 Guided city tour of St Petersburg
 Guided tour of the Hermitage museum
 Accommodation in a central hostel in St Petersburg (rooms for 4-10 people) 3 nights
 Accommodation in a central hostel in Moscow (rooms for 4-10 people) 2 nights
 Bus trip St.Petersburg-Novgorod-Moscow-St.Petersburg
 City tour of Novgorod and visit of the monastery
 City tour of Moscow
 Ferry trip St Petersburg-Helsinki
 Medical Travel Insurance (covers medical expenses during the trip up to 3000 EUR)
For extra cost:
 Consular fee +processing for the Russian visa In average 75 € for most of the EU citizens.
 The guided activies during the trip. They can be prepaid online or purchased on the spot.
ST PETERSBURG
NOVGOROD
MOSCOW
Also known as the Venice of the
North. Former capital of the
Russian Empire 1712-1918.
Hundreds of stunning palaces and
even more museums .
The old Russian capital and
Hanseatic trade center founded
by Vikings in the 9th century.
Famous for its architecture and
old monasteries.
The capital of the Russian
Federation with population of 12
Million people. Symbol of the
Russian heartland, soul and power.
This city will not leave you cold!
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ITINERARY (PRELIMINARY)
DAY 1
17.00 Check-in at Helsinki West Terminal.
19.00 Ferry Departure from Helsinki to St Petersburg
DAY 2
09.30 Arrival in St Petersburg
11.30 Guided city tour of St Petersburg
15.00 Check-in at the hostel
21.00 The Russian dinner party 30 €
DAY 3
09.00 Departure to the Catherine’s palace
10.00–12.00 Catherine’s Palace 20 €
15.00 St Petersburg Cathedrals tour 20 €
19.00 Opera or ballet in some of the St Petersburg venues (prices from 40 €)
DAY 4
10.00–14.00 Guided tour of the State Hermitage Museum
15.00–17.00 St Petersburg Cathedrals tour 20 €
21.00–23.00 The Limousine party 20€
DAY 5
09.00 Check-out. Departure to Novgorod.
13.00 City tour of Novgorod +visit of one of the monasteries
Free time in the city for lunch etc.
18.00 Bus departure to Moscow
23.00 Arrival in Moscow, lodging in hostel
Getting the Russian visa:


DAY 6
10.00 City tour of Moscow, Red Square, Lenin mausoleum
13.00 Visiting the Moscow Kremlin 15 €
18.00 Moscow State Circus 15 €

DAY 7
11.00 Check-out.
13.00 Visiting the Cold War Museum 25 €
Free time in Moscow
19.00 Bus departure to St Petersburg. Overnight driving.

DAY 8
10.00 Arrival in St Petersburg
11.00 Possibility to visit the State Hermitage Museum
17.00 Bus transportation to the ferry terminal
19.00 Ferry departure to Helsinki

Almost all the foreign citizens
need a visa (a special travel
permit) in order to travel to
Russia.
Getting the Russian visa is not
complicated since we take care
of most of the consulate
paperwork
Passangers need to submit their
passport, one passport picture
and a signed visa application
form in a travel meeting or send
them us via registered mail to
Finland
Travel meeting are held in
universities weeks prior to the
trip departure.
Visas and passports are
delivered back on the day of
departure. It is possible to
deliver passports also to home
addresses for extra cost by post
or DHL
IMPORTANT! Read the visainstructions from this link! >>>>
DAY 9
08.30 Arrival in Helsinki (local time)
2
GUIDED ACTIVITIES IN ST PETERSBURG
THE RUSSIAN DINNER WITH A FOLK MUSIC SHOW
Price: 30 €/person. Duration: 2,5-3 hrs
Definitely one of the funniest programs! First we indulge ourself with traditional Russian dishes
and beverages. Vegetarian option is also available. The highlight of the program is the colourful
folk show, consisting of songs, dances and games. Na zdorov'ye!
ST PETERSBURG NIGHT FEVER!
Price 20 €/person. Duration 1-1,5 hrs.
Discover the St Petersburg by night with style and glamour! A limousine ride takes you around
the most spectacular places of the city with some stops for taking pictures. Eventually the limo
drops you at one the trendiest night club, where you will bypass the queue. (Price does not
include the night club entrance). Limousines are loaded with sparkling wine and own drinks can
be brought aboard.
THE STATE HERMITAGE MUSEUM
Inclusive in the package (normally 10 €). Duration 2-3 hrs.
The third biggest art museum in the world bases on the collections of the Russian royal families
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starting from the 18 century. The museum locates in formal imperial residences, housing
millions of exhibits in hundreds of rooms. Take a tour to the most important exhibits and parts
of the museum, learn the interesting backgrounds and get a guaranteed entrance without
queuing! The tour is given in English by a professional local guide.
THE CATHERINE’S PALACE
Price 20 €. Duration about 5 hrs
The Catherine’s palace is one of the most well known summer residences of the Russian royal
family. It’s a gorgeous baroque-style palace locating about 30 km from the city centre. On the
way to palace you will see not only important historical sights but also suburban districts, those
are quite contrastive to the historical city centre. A walk in the Catherine’s park is a relaxing
experience after spending a busy day in the city. The tour inside the palace takes about 1 h.
CATHEDRALS OF ST PETERSBURG 20 € Duration about 2-3 hours.
This tour includes three cathedrals from three different centuries. We start with impressive St
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Nicolaus cathedral- built in beautiful baroque style in 18 century. This cathedral was
exceptionally working also during the Soviet Union and is still very popular. Second cathedral
is St Isaac’s – one of the biggest dome cathedrals in the world and a true demonstration of
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ambitions of the Russian Empire during the second half of the 19 century. The last cathedral
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dates back to 1907, even though it reminds us the 16 century cathedral from Moscow.
Cathedral on the Spilled Blood was built on the assassination site of beloved Tsar Alexander II
and for this cathedral the artist applied the latest mosaic techniques and lot of precious
materials.
OPERA OR BALLET IN THE MIKHAILOVSKY, MARIINSKY OR HERMITAGE THEATRE
Price from 40 €/person. Duration 2-3 hours depending on the performance.
St Petersburg is known as the cultural capital of Russia. There’s a possibility to attend a world
famous ballet or opera performance. You can book tickets through us to the performance
scheduled for your trip, buy them on-line at theatre web pages or try your luck at a box office.
Check the playbill at: www.mikhailovsky.ru and www.mariinsky.ru
3
GUIDED ACTIVITIES IN MOSCOW
THE KREMLIN
Price 15 €/person. Duration 2-3 hrs.
The Kremlin is the oldest part of Moscow, housing the political headquarters of the Russian
Federation. It’s the symbol of the Russian heartland, its mystery and power. The guided tour
allows you to visit the Kremlin grounds and the ancient cathedrals, were the Russian Tsars
were crowned and buried through the centuries.
THE MOSCOW CIRCUS
Price 15 €/person. Duration 2 hrs.
The Moscow circus is world famous and definitely worth seeing! A world-class performance!
However, we need to warn that the performances contain a lot all kinds of circus animals…
THE COLD WAR MUSEUM
Price 25 €/person. Duration 2-3 hrs.
If you are interested in the political history of Moscow in the Soviet period, this excursion is for
you! It contains an excursion to an enormous mid 60's bomb shelter, which was built into a
modern command centre in case of a nuclear attack. During the tour you will be shown a
video,
try Soviet uniforms, dissemble AK-47 and enjoy a military lunch – buckwheat porridge and
100 gr of vodka, leaving you a good after taste of the underground experience.
4
STUDENT’S SURVIVAL GUIDE TO RUSSIA
Moscow and St Petersburg are not more dangerous than any average European city. However, it’s recommended to use
your common sense. By following the instructions below you should be on the safe side.
1. Russian life style is full of speed and so is their traffic culture! Be extra careful when crossing streets! Do not
assume drivers to slow down and stop even if you are on a zebra crossing!
2. Use only bottled water for drinking - it is inexpensive and sold everywhere. Tap water is not drinkable, but it can
be used for taking a shower and teeth brushing.
3. Buy vodka only in shops- not in the streets or market places, if you don’t want it to be home distilled.
4. Don’t drink too much! Drinking alcohol in public places is prohibited. There is a face control to all the night clubs.
If you’re fairly drunk, you will not get in. Besides, Russian policemen are allowed to pick any heavily drunken people
off the street. They don’t usually harm anyone, but the nightly adventure to the police station might get expensive.
5. Always carry the hotel card and some sort of ID with you. (Needed when changing currency etc.) If asked by
policemen, always tell that you’re a foreigner and show the hotel card.
6. Never move alone on the streets in the night. Take care of your friends.
7. Take care of your belongings especially in crowded places. Keep your wallet, mobile phone, digital camera and ID
in a safe place. Hand bags are the easiest catches for pocket thieves. Women should take care of their hand bags.
8. Don’t pay too much – prices tend to rise dramatically for foreigners. 100 roubles is a lot of money in Russia.
Remember to bargain whenever you’re buying something especially on market places.
9. Don’t keep all of your cash and credit cards in your wallet. Use a money belt, which is harder to get lost or stolen.
10. Don’t check valuable belongings in cloak rooms (such as cash, digital camera, passport, wallet, mobile phone
etc). Museums, restaurants and night clubs do not bear any responsibility for disappeared items.
11. Do not take pictures in the Finnish-Russian border, the military zone and St Petersburg underground. Taking
photos is also forbidden in museums without a permit.
EMERGENCY
In a case of emergency, sickness or accident, contact your group leader immediately. He will contact the medical care, and
you will receive help as soon as possible. Doctors will arrive straight to the hotel. Your travel insurance covers all the
medical costs and the medical treatment is free of charge. If the group leader is not available, contact the hotel reception.
Remember to save all the receipts and doctor’s statement for medical treatment and medicine. Insurance company will
refund all the expenses to your bank account with upper limit 3000 €.
ATTENTION! Insurance does not cover self inflected cases, such as anything involving the consumption of alcohol or
drugs.
Russian emergency call is 112.
You will get faster help from private clinic, co-operating with the insurance companies:
MEDEM hospital in St Petersburg,6 Marata Ul. (100 m from Nevsky Pr. And Metro Mayakovskaya) tel +7 (812) 336-3333
AMERICAN CLINIC in Moscow, www.americanclinic.ru, Москва, Грохольский переулок, дом 31,
tel ( +7 495) 937-5757
5
GETTING AROUND
Although our hotels are centrally located, the distances in the city are really big. Public transportation works fine, but you
always need to know where you are going. Tour conductor can help you to use the following transportations. By night
avoid walking alone in the city.
METRO (UNDERGROUND) is the fastest and probably easiest way of getting around. Metro schemes of Moscow and St
Petersburg have a simple layout: Each radial line has its own name, number and colour on the metro map, and you can
get from practically any station to another with a maximum of two transfers.
Besides, the metro stations are built into palaces and can be considered as a must-to-see sight! Subway works daily 05:55
–00:30. Underground is especially crowded from 4-8 PM and there may be also pickpockets lurking for tourists. Keep your
personal property in a safe place, never carry money, passport mobile phone, camera etc. in your hand bag or back bag.
Please notice that drinking alcohol, smoking and is strictly prohibited in the underground! In St Petersburg subway it's
also prohibited to take pictures, yet this is allowed in the Moscow subway.
The metro tickets are sold at the
entrance. Moscow subway uses
magnetic cards for 1-60 trips, in St
Petersburg you can purchase only singleentrance tokens, which look like coins.
One ride costs 22 roubles (0,6 €). Tokens
and cards are inserted in a slot of one of
the entrance gates. You can use all the
metro lines without distance limits. In
Moscow metro, remember to remove
the card after inserting it – otherwise the
gate does not open.
A metro station
sign in Moscow.
Entrance gates in
the Moscow
metro. Wait until
the green light is
lit after inserting
and removing
you card.
Direction signs in
the metro station.
You can follow the
lines by their
color, indicated in
the metro map.
Line transfer sign.
”Переход на
станцию”
”Perehod na
stanciju”.
Different stations
are connected
with passages.
TAXI When the public transport doesn’t work , you can easily hail
down a “LADA” by holding your thumb down – any car will work as
taxi. Do not enter the car, if there’s someone apart from the driver.
There are also many non-local drivers those are not familiar with
the city. If drivers asks “can you show the way?” it's better to take
next one. Destination and price are negotiated before entering the
car. Just say the point of destination and the price, make sure that
the driver understood – and off you go! Usual fare is 100 rubles for 510 km depending on your negotiation skills. Using seatbelt is recommended.
No horse play in
the escalators!
Always hold to the
right, the left side
is for people in
hurry.
Exit to the city sign. ”Выход в
город” - ”vyhod v
gorod”.
MARSHRUTKA There's a network of official minivan-taxis called "marshutkas", because they have
a certain traffic route. Nevertheless, you can catch a "marshrutka" almost anywhere on the street,
and the driver will drop you to anywhere you want to along the route. All you have to yell is
“Ostanovites, pozhaluista!” Tariffs for the trip vary from 10 to 30 roubles.
6
MOSCOW – THE HEART OF RUSSIA
Moscow is the biggest city of Russia with its 10 million inhabitants. Nowhere are Russia's contrasts more apparent than here medieval monasteries, monumental Soviet structures and ultra-modern monoliths stand side by side. Lamborghinis and Ladas
are racing the same streets in the fast-paced but often jammed traffic.
Unlike St Petersburg, Moscow was built over centuries. It was first mentioned in medieval chronicles in 1147. It became the
heartland of the centralized Russian State, withstanding countless wars and turmoil. The Kremlin walls have witnessed the raid
of Tatar Mongols, terrors of Ivan the Terrible, the brutal intrigues for the Russian throne, the invasion of Napoleon, the
formation of Soviet Union, the bloody reign of Stalin, tensions of the Cold war; and recently, the first steps towards democracy in
Russia.
Today Moscow is the most important economical and political centre in Russia. It is well known also for the rich cultural life, for
instance the Bolshoi and Maly Theatre are world famous. And the city keeps growing and growing...
SIGHTS IN MOSCOW
The Red Square, the old market place of Moscow, was a world famous scene of Soviet military
parades. However, the name “Red square” has nothing to do with socialism. “Krasny” is old Slavonic
for “beautiful”, and that is what the Red Square really is, especially at night with its glowing red stars
and romantic illuminated St-Basil’s cathedral.
The Lenin Mausoleum remains one of the strange relics of the Soviet era. Uncle Lenin has lain
embalmed in his pyramid-like granite tomb since his death in 1924. No longer are there lines of
thousands of pilgrims, but the uniformed guards make sure that the visit to the Mausoleum is still
treated as a serious affair. Every now and then Lenin's body is taken to special “treatments”.
Open daily 10.00-13.00, closed on Tuesdays and Fridays.
The Kremlin is the oldest part of the city, the heart of Russia symbolizing its mystery and power. On
these ancient grounds tsars were crowned and buried. Kremlin was the headquarters of the USSR,
and nowadays houses the highest administration of Russia. Inside the Kremlin walls there are
medieval cathedrals and historical monuments. Kremlin houses also the Armoury Gallery, a treasure
house of the Russian Tsars. Open Mon-Wed, Fri-Sun 10.00-17.00. Closed on Thursdays.
The Old Arbat pedestrian street is surrounded by narrow streets and mansions dating back to the
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18 and 19 centuries. Arbat is one of the oldest and most appreciated districts in Moscow, often
mentioned in songs, poems and literature. Along the street you’ll find restaurants, cafés, art
galleries, souvenir shops, street artists and musicians. Metro: Arbatskaya, Smolenskaya
The Bolshoi Theatre was founded in 1776. It has become world famous for its talented actors, artist,
dancers, composers and singers. They created the most distinguished ballet and opera
performances, and have passed on this tradition from generation to generation. The spectacular old
scene is currently under construction and the performances are given on the new stage.
Metro: Teatral'naja. Performances start at 19.00 by default.
The All-Russian Exhibition Centre (VDNH) is a gigantic exhibition park dedicated to the
achievements of Soviet science and economy. There are pavilions for all the fields you can imagine –
space technology, nuclear energy, engineering, agriculture etc. Everything that is represented is
bigger than life. Golden statues of Soviet workers tell the tale of an everlasting friendship between
socialist nations. Metro: VDNKH (ВДНХ)
Sergiev posad (Zagorsk) is a colourful village on the outskirts of Moscow. The Trinity Monastery of
St. Sergius has been the most important centre for pilgrimages in Russia for 500 years. The
monastery is a complex of churches with fairytale gold and azure onion domes. The excursion
familiarizes you with the Russian orthodox religion, its history, customs and traditions.
7
The Pushkin Museum of Fine Arts is the largest museum of European art in Moscow, located just
opposite the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour. It is famous for genuine collection impressionist and
Post-Impressionist artwork, including top works by Van Gogh, Gauguin, Picasso, and Matisse.
Many of these masterpieces were added after the revolution in 1918 from the State Hermitage
museum, The State Museum of New art and also after WWII from museums of Dresden and
Berlin.
Open Tue-Sun 10.00-19.00, on Thursdays 10.00-21.00, closed on Mondays. Metro: Kropotkinskaja.
The Tretyakov Art Gallery was founded in 1892 by the famous art collector Pavel Tretyakov. It’s a
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repository of Russian art from the 11 to the 20 century. The gallery represents sacred icons and
paintings representing Russian realism, symbolism, impressionism and Art Nouveau. Of these
paintings the most well known are The Volga Boatmen, The Last day of Pompeii, Ivan the Terrible
after killing his son, as well as the masterpieces of Chagall, Kandisky and Malevich.
Open Tue-Sun 10.-20.00. Closed on Sundays. Metro: Tretyakovskaya
Kolomenskoe dates back to 1240 when the inhabitants of Kolomna, seeking refuge from the TatarMongol invaders, founded a settlement here. It is located on a beautiful hill beside the Moscow
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River. From the 14 century on, it was the family estate of the Grand Dukes of Muscovy and later
the Tsars of Russia. For instance Peter the Great spent his childhood here. The Ascension church in
Kolomenskoe is included in the list of U.N. World Heritage sites. Metro: Kolomenskoe.
The Cathedral of Christ the Saviour is the world’s biggest orthodox cathedral. Opened in 1883
after decades of construction, it commemorated the victory over Napoleon in 1812. The cathedral
was blown away with dynamite in 1931 in order to replace it with the massive Palace of the
Soviets. Due to lack of funds, the gap was filled with an open-air pool. With the end of Soviet rule,
the Russian Orthodox Church raised funds for rebuilding the cathedral, which was opened in 2000.
St Basil’s cathedral was commissioned by Ivan the Terrible and built on the edge of the Red Square
between 1555 and 1561. Legend says that the Tsar ordered the architect to be blinded to prevent
him from ever creating anything to rival its beauty again. The cathedral was built to commemorate
Ivan the Terrible's victory against the Tatar Mongols in 1552 in the city of Kazan. Every detail of the
cathedral displays religious symbolism.
The State Historical Museum, in a red brick palace with silver a roof, towers opposite St. Basil's
Cathedral on the Red Square. Opened in 1894 by Tsar Alexander III, it traces the national history
and development of Russia and its people from ancient times to the present. It houses a
fascinating series of archaeological exhibitions, with more than 4,5 million objects and 15 million
pages of historical archives. Open: Mon, Wed-Sun 10.-18.00. Closed on Tuesdays.
The Novodevichy (New Maidens’) Convent was founded in 1514. It served as a retirement home
for royal and noble women, who either chose or were forced to take the veil and remain in the
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safety and seclusion of the convents for the rest of their lives. Later in the 17 century, after the
war against Sweden and Poland, the badly damaged nunnery was reconstructed according to old
Moscow baroque style. Some of the most celebrated people of Russia and the USSR are buried in
the convent’s cemetery. Metro: Sportivnaya.
The Moscow's Metro (subway) stations are often called "the people's palaces", for their posh
designs and lavish use of marble, mosaics, sculptures and chandeliers. Built during Stalin's rule,
these metro stations were supposed to display the best of Soviet architecture and represent the
wealth of Soviet citizens. Today the Moscow Metro consists of 11 really efficient subway lines with
over 160 stations.
The state museum of the Great Patriotic War 1941-1945 is a huge museum and memorial
complex dedicated for the WWII, opened in 1995. Here you can see an open-air exhibition of
different tanks, cannons, mortars and other examples of Soviet military equipment as well as an
indoor exhibition of authentic weapons, military vehicles, uniforms, medals, photos, documentary
films, letters from the battlefield, works of art, pictures, posters and other documents of the wartime. Open Tue-Sun 10.-18.00. Closed on Mondays and the last Thursday of each month. Metro:
Park pobedy.
8
SAINT PETERSBURG – THE VENICE OF THE NORTH
Often referred to as “the Venice of the North”, St Petersburg is an extraordinary and ravishingly beautiful city. Founded by
the Russian Tsar Peter the Great in 1703, it was meant to become Russia’s “window to Europe” – an important trade
access point to the Baltic Sea and the most modern capital in Europe.
The best architects and masters of many trades from Russia and Europe were invited to plan the new capital. The
impossible plan became true in a few decades – St Petersburg was the capital city of the Russian Empire from 1712 until
1918. The complete historical city centre with its stunning river views, hundreds of brigdges and waterways surrounded
by palaces now belong to the UNESCO world heritage list.
The city is full of dramatic history, cultural pleasures and architecturally unique sights. It's the second largest city in Russia
with population of 4,7 Million inhabitants.
SIGHTS IN ST PETERSBURG
The State Hermitage Museum, the former Winter Palace, dates back to the middle of
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the18 century. Today this gorgeous manifestation of Russian Baroque ranks as one of the
world’s finest art museums. Based on collections of Russian royal families, it houses more
than 2,7 Million exhibits representing all major art styles and artists, such as Leonardo Da
Vinci, Michelangelo, Goya, Picasso etc. Open Tue-Sat 10.30-18.00. Closed on Mondays. On
Sundays, public holidays and pre-holidays the museum is open until 17.00.
Peterhof - The summer palace at Finnish Gulf is located 30 km from city center. Founded by
the order of Tsar Peter the Great, it was meant to beat Versailles in glory and splendor. The
complex of verdant gardens, luxurious baroque residences, genuine fountains and cascades
of marble and gold still remain as impressive as they were on 18th century. Fountains are
open from May to October. Open Mon-Sun 10.00-18.00, fountains work until 16.00. How to
get there: From metro station “Baltiskaya” a bus or minibus connection to PeterhofПетергоф.
Catherines’ Palace in the “Village of the Tsars” is an outstanding summer residence of the
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EmpressCatherine I, dating back to the beginning of the 18 century. It has recently been a
very popular sight, due to opening of the newly renovated Amber chamber. Each of the
imperial residents has decorated the palace according to their own tastes. The palace was
an important scene in the history of Russian royal families and was especially relevant in the
life of Catherine the Great. Open Wed-Sun 10.30-17.00. Closed on Tuesdays.
How to get there: From metro station “Moskovskaya”, a minibus connection to “Tsarskoe
selo – Царское село”.
The Russian Museum in Mikhailovsky palace is the world’s largest museum of Russian art.
It covers the entire history of Russian fine art from the tenth century to the present. It
reflects virtually every form and genre of art in Russia, including a unique collection of old
icons, paintings, graphic art and sculpture, decorative and applied art, folk art and
numismatics, as well as the world's finest collection of Russian avant-garde. Open
Mon,Wed-Sun 10.00-17.00 Closed on Tuesdays. On preholidays open until 16.00
Pavlovsk is a palace and park ensemble outskirts Saint Petersburg close to the Catherine’s
palace. Dating from the late 18th to the 19th century, Pavlosk was the summer residence of
the Russian emperor Paul Iand his family. The landscape park covers an area of 600
hectares. The exhibition covers treasures of the royal family together with an excellent
collection of portraits by Russian artists, and a number of Pavlovsk landscape paintings and
drawings. Following a long restoration, the ravishingly beautiful private rooms of Empress
Maria Fedorovna are finally open to the public. Open: Tue-Sun 10:00 – 17:00. From metro
station “Moskovskaya”, a minibus connection to “Pavlovsk – Павловск”.
9
St Isaac’s cathedral dominates the horizon of St. Petersburg with its golden cupola. The construction
of the gigantic cathedral took 40 years (1818–1858) and cost life of thousands of workers. Inside
there is room for up to 14 000 people. The interior is decorated with paintings, icons, frescos,
mosaics and golden relieves. On the colonnade, there is a panorama terrace over the city. Open TueSun 10-17:00. Closed on Wednesdays.
The Cathedral on the Spilled blood, also known as the Cathedral of the Resurrection of Christ, was
erected on the place where Tsar Alexander II was assassinated in 1881. The cathedral was built in
the distinctive old Russian style, similar to St Basil’s Cathedral in Moscow. The interior was decorated
with priceless mosaics. Badly damaged during the revolution, it was opened to public only in 1997
after more than 20 years of renovation.
Open Tue-Sun 10-17:00, Closed on Wednesdays.
The St Peter and St Paul fortress was built as Peter the Great invaded the delta of Neva River in the
war against Sweden in 1703. It is considered to be the first structure of St Petersburg. The military
fortress later became a prison for political “dissidents”, such as Dostojevski, Gorki, Trotskij, etc. The
golden spire dome of St Paul’s cathedral is the best known landmark of the city. Nearly all the
members of the Romanov royal family are buried inside the cathedral. The Fortress houses the
museum of St Petersburg’s history. Open Tue-Sun 10-17:00.
The Kunstkamera is the first Russian museum dedicated to natural sciences. It contains an exhibition
of rarities, collected by Russian and European scientists and travellers, some of them by Peter the
Great himself. It is said that to encourage people to visit the museum, visitors were offered vodka
for free. The offer is not valid anymore, but the exhibits of ethnography, anthropology and anatomy
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from the 18 century are worth seeing. A word of warning: some specimens of anatomic
abnormalities are pretty freaky. Open Tue-Sun 10-17:00.
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The Cruiser Aurora, is a battleship from the beginning of the 20 century. It took part to the RussoJapanese war in 1905 and WWI. It became a legendary symbol of the October revolution in 1917, by
giving blank cannon shot as a signal to assault the Winter Palace, which resulted in victory for the
Bolshevik Party. To commemorate this event, the ship was moored at the river embankment and
opened as museum. Open Tue-Sun 10-17:00 (no admission)
The Smolny Convent
The Bronze horseman
The Kazan Cathedral
The Sphinx On The Neva
MUSEUM ADMISSIONS AND FOREIGNER PRICES
Average admissions for museums are 10 € (350 roubles) for foreign adults and 5 € (175 roubles) for students and children.
Russians have different prices, which are 2-20 times cheaper. The official explanation why foreigners have to pay more is
that the foreigners pay the “full price” and Russian tickets are subsidised. Only if you are fluent in Russian, you can try to
purchase a Russian rated ticket.
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A MENU DECODER
Меню = menyu = Menu на английском – na angliiskom = in English
Горячие и холодные закуски – goryachie i holodnye zakuski = hot and cold appetizers
Салад – Salat = Salad
Бутерброд – Buterbrot = Sandwiches
Блинчики – Blinchiki = Pancakes
Закуски – Zakuski = Starters (e.g. salted cucumbers, fish, vegetables)
Супы – supy = Soups
Борщ – Borsch = a meat soup with vegetables and beetroot
Солянка – Solyanka = A meat or fish soup with vegetables.
Щи – Scschi = a cabbage soup
Горячее – goryachee = Main courses
Мясо – Myaso = Meat
Говядина – Govyadina = Beef
Свинина – Svinina = Pork
Баранина – Baranina = Mutton (lamb)
Курица – Kurica = Chicken
Язык – Yazyk = Tongue
Рыба – Ryba = Fish
Гарниры – Garniry = Side orders
Картофель фри – Kartofel fri = French fries
Картофельное пюре – Kartofelnoe pyure = Mashed potatoes
Рис – Ris = Rice
Греча – Grecha = Buckwheat
Овощи отварные – Ovoschi otvarnye = cooked vegetables
Напитки – napitki = Drinks
Безалкогольные – bezalkogolnye = non-alcoholic
Сок – Sok = Juice
Апельсиновый – Apelsinovyj = Orange juice
Яблочный – Yablochnyj = Apple juice
Ананасовый – Ananasovyj = Pineapple juice
Томатный – Tomatnyj = Tomato juice
Вода минеральная – Voda mineralnaya = Mineral water
С газом – S gazom = With sparkles
Без газа – Bez gaza = Still (without sparkles)
Кола – Kola = Coke
Лимонад – Limonat = Lemonade
Молоко – Moloko = Milk
Чай – Chai = Tea
Кофе – Fofe = Coffee
Aлкогольные – alkogolnye = alcoholic
Пиво – Pivo = Beer
Вино – Vino = Wine
Водка – Votka = Vodka
Коньяк – Konyak = Cognac (brandy)
Шампанское – Shampanskoe = Sparkling wine
Виски – Viski = Whiskey
Simple sentences!
Пожалуйста! –pozhaluista = Here you are!
Спасибо! –spasiba = Thank you!
Oчень вкусно! – оchen’ vkusna! = Really tasty!
Счет, пожалуйста! = Can we have the bill,
please!- schyot, pozhaluista
Hint!
On weekdays many restaurants in Russia offer
“business lunch” (бизнез-ланч) at reduced
price between 11.00 and 15.00 sometimes until
16.00. I
Unwritten rules in Russian restaurants:
-To avoid misunderstandings and surprises,
always ask for the menu in English! Do not
order anything without knowing the price!
-Bills are usually given per table –not per
person. If you are many, prepare your
calculators and a lot of patience.
-Tipping is common, but not required. 10 % is
average, but it’s up to your discretion. Some
places add it automatically to the bill.
-Prepare enough time for everything – orders
take at least 20-30 minutes, some times even
longer. Service in the low-budget restaurants
can be extremely slow, especially if you are
more than 10-15 people.
RECOMMENDED RUSSIAN DISHES
Борщ – Borsch, a meat soup with vegetables and beetroot, which gives the soup red colour.
Солянка – Solyanka, A meat or fish soup with vegetables.
Пельмены – Pelmeny, a meat staffed ”ravioli”, which most of the Russian eat daily
Шашлык – Caucasian spit-roast meat, usually lamb or pork. Very delicious!
11
EATING OUT
There’s a big restaurant boom going on in Russia, and new restaurants are born every day in Moscow and St Petersburg.
Especially thematic and exotic restaurants are really popular nowadays. Below we have listed some student-friendly
restaurants, with price level 10-20 € for an average meal.
MOSCOW
Russian and European food
Mu-Mu (МуМу) A chain of restaurants, buffet style tasty Russian food. Pick and choose, service also in English. Located
right at the station “Elizarovskaya” (one stop from VDNKh) and on the Arbat walking street. Dinner 5-12 €. Myasnitskaya
ul 14 (m. Lyubyanka), Prospect Mira 114 (m. Alekseevskaya), Ulica Arbat 45/24 (m. Arbatskaya or Smolenskaya)
Yolki-Palki (Елки Палки) A chain of restaraurants, Russian food, interior and national costumed waiters. Friendly service,
menu also in English. Dinner 7-15 €. Prospect mira 118 (metro Alekseevskaya), Novyj Arbat ul 11 (m. Arbatskaya),
Neglinnaya ul. 8/0 (m. Kuznetskij Most), Klimentonovski pereulok 14 (m. Tretyakovskaya).
Drova (Дрова) An inexpensive restaurant-chain. Russian and Japanese kitchen. One of the restaurants is close to Red
square. Business lunch for 4 €. Dinner 7-15 €. Nikolskaya 5, The Red Square.
Okhotnyj ryad (Охотный ряд) Snack shops, cafes, pizzerias etc in a huge joint restaurant downstairs the underground
shopping center next to Kremlin in Manezhnaya square.
ST PETERSBURG
Russian and European Food in the city center
Laima-bistro. a popular chain of bistros offering a selection Russian and European fare including a rich assortment of
desserts at reasonable prices. 16/30 Nabereznaya Kanala Griboedova
U teschi na blinah A Russian fast food chain. A full lunch or dinner with salad, soup, main course, desert and drinks costs
around 10 €. Ligovski prospect 29, Gorohovaya ulica 40
Bistro “ILI” Bystro is Russian for fast. Russian and European food for affordable prices. Nevski prospect 62.
Propaganda European, Russian, International. Offers a variety of cuisine including modern Russian, traditional European
and international cuisine, and a wide selection of cocktails in a tasteful and stylish interior. Business lunches, buffet tables
and internet-café. Nabereznaya Reki Fontanki 40.
Café Saint-Petersburg A small but cosy restaurant close to the cathedral on the Spilled blood. The menu is not very
special, but the food is fine and prices are more than reasonable. Nabereznaya Kanala Griboedova 10
CCCP A small restaurant-cafeteria in Soviet Union style. Average bill 15-20 €. Nevski prospect,opposite to Gostinyj dvor
Put’ k Kommunizmu (The Road to Communism) If you're feeling nostalgic for a bit of old-time Soviet cuisine, you can find
it at art cafe Road to Communism. The walls here are decorated with old posters and flags, while a wealth of other
authentic trinkets serve as a reminder of a bygone age. Average bill 15-20 €. 45 Ulitsa Zhukovskogo
Stolle Café A conditoria-cafeteria, especially famous for its sweet and savoury pies. Konyushenij pereulok 1/6.
International
Ил Патио – Il Patio A popular pizzeria chain, offering traditional Italian pizzas, pastas and grill food. Inexpensive.
Business lunch on weekdays from 5 euros. Nevski prospect 182, Nevski prospect 30.
Tandoor Serves a wide selection of authentic Indian dishes in an Indian-style interior 2 Voznesensky Prospect
Yakitoriya Japanese cuisine including many kinds of sushi and sashimi and more than 20 varieties of kebabs in a fine
setting with panoramic views of the Alexandrinsky Theater and the Catherine Garden. 5/7 Ostrovskogo Ploschad
Япошка – Yaposhka A new popular restaurant chain. Tasty sushis, affordable prices and good service.
Nevski prospect 175, Nevski prospect 60.
Vegetarian
th
Idiot Vegetarian restaurant in the style of 19 century. All courses include a vodka shot. In the menu “gentlemen’s kit 30
€”, including an array of appetizers, 1 litre of vodka, and taxi to the nearest hospital. 82 Naberezhnaya Reki Moyki
Troitsky Most A tasty and cheap vegetarian restaurant. Alcohol and smoking not allowed. 6-ya Liniya 27 (metro
Vasileostrovskaya)
12
CLUBBING GUIDE
Russians love to party! The crazy nightlife in Saint Petersburg and Moscow is definitely worth experiencing!
UNWRITTEN RULES IN THE RUSSIAN NIGHT LIFE
 There is a security and face-control in each club. You are not allowed to be drunk, drink in front the club, bring
any food, drinks, chocolate, candies or even chewing gum to clubs- they will be confiscated and not returned!
 Cloakroom is free of charge, however – DO NOT LEAVE ANYTHING VALUABLE IN YOUR JACKET OR BAG – Digital
cameras, cash, mobile phones are often reported missing
 Do not smoke or drink on the dance floor
 If you break a glass you are most likely to pay a fine 2-10 €.
 Throwing up results in a fine of 20-30 €
 If you misbehave or violate club rules, you risk to get yourself and your friends thrown out of the club
 Please check the prices from the menu and do not order just “beer” or just “vodka”. There are big price
difference between local and imported brands. Order only from the drink list. Bartenders usually speak
English.
 Taxis right in front of the night clubs are reliable but more expensive than a car, hailed from 50 meter away
the club entrance. Use your common sense and do not enter a taxi, if driver does not seem to know
whereabouts of your hotel.
 Timetravels Ltd is not liable for the time you are spending in the night club. Tour guides and student union
representatives are not obliged to watch after you. This part of the program is on your risk.
 Changes in the club list below are possible; some information may not be up to date.
MOSCOW CLUBS
DANCE CLUBS
Karma bar A really nice, safe and friendly club with international athmosphere. Eurodisco, house, salsa dance, sushi-bar
etc. Pushechnaya ul. 3 (metro station Lyubyanka or Kuznetsky Most) Open Thu- Sun 22:00-06:00. Entrance free until
21:00, after 5-8 €
Propaganda One of the hip places of the city, popular among clubbers and music fans. Downtempo, TripHop, AcidJazz,
House by the best Russian and visiting foreign DJs. There’s also a restaurant in the club, which has really good food at
reasonable prices! Kitchen works until 23:00. By midnight, the tables and chairs are taken away, and people start to dance
cooling down only by 3-4am. B. Zlatoustinskiy (pereulok, # 7. tel. 924-5732. metro Kitai Gorod), Open: mon-fri 12.00-6.00,
sut-sun 15.00-6.00. Dance events start at 00:00.
ROCK CLUBS
Kitaiskij lechik- Китайский летчик (The Chinese pilot) If you’re into rock music, this is a place for you. Live concerts daily,
starting at 23:00. There’s also a nice restaurant in the club. Metro ”Kitay-gorod”, Ljubanskij proezd 25. Лубянский проезд,
дом. 25. Тел.: (495) 623 28 96
JAZZ CLUBS
B.B.King is a Bar&Restaurant for blues and jazz lovers. Address: Sadovo-Samotechnaya str. 4 | Phone: +7 (495) 299-8206
ST PETERSBURG CLUBS
DANCE CLUBS
Modnyj Dom TG Closest night club to hotel Moscow, which is actually a nice one. Two dance floors, lounge, house and
hip hop music. Poltavskaja ulica 7, metro “Ploschad Vosstania” or “Ploaschad Alexandra Nevskogo.”. Admission 300
rubles.
Ugly Coyote An international club chain, based on the movie with same name. Go-go dancers cheer the people up,
provocating people to party harder. Girls are allowed to dance on the bar desk! Liteinyj prospect 53. Metro
Mayakovskaya. Admission free for girls (all days), guys free Mon-Thu but on Fri-Sun admission 500 rubles.
Shine A trendy night club in the city center – house music, thematic parties. Dumskaja ulica 4, metro Gostiniy dvor.
Admission around 300 roubles..
Rossis’s A newish club opened in the facilities of Rossi’s restaurant. Strip tease and euro dance guaranteed. On Thursday’s
13
free entrance and “Soviet champagne” for girls until 23:00. Ulica Zodchego Rossi d. 1/3, Metro “Gostinyj Dvor”.Admission
300 rubles.
Marstall Usually packed with foreigners whose passport gets them in for free. Marstall runs an array of strip shows, with
athletic strippers and creative costumes. Bar and restaurant. Strip shows start at 11pm. 5 Kanal Griboyedova Tel:
3157607 Metro: Nevsky ProspectOpen: daily from 12pm to 6 am Admission 200 rubles.)
Club Metro is the Dinosaur of the St Petersburg night clubs. The biggest night club has been working already 10 years
with the same concept. There are several dance floors (R'n'B, Russian pop and Eurodance). Really strict face control and
security – even chewing gums and chocolate is confiscated. Clientèle consists mostly of people under 20 years old.
Address Ligovski Prospect 174. Metro Ligovskij prospect. Admission 300-500 roubles.
UNDERGROUND
Griboyedov A friendly club, located in a former bomb shelter. Ecstatic entertainment, warmed up by a rave-house-jungleacid-jazz music. Occasional cultural events aimed at displaying the latest achievements of independent intellectuals,
infamous artists and other mushrooms. Cheap drinks! !2 Voronezhskaya Ulitsa. Metro: Ligovsky Prospekt. Open 11:0005:30 Tue-Sun. Door: €2 to €5.
Datscha is Russian for a summer cottage. The club is definitely small - it consists of two rooms and a dance floor, which is
always full! This is why you often see people chilling out in front of the club, especially in summer time. DJ:s play usually
very interesting mixes of progressive House and R’n’B! Crazy but friendly athmosphere and inexpensive drinks. Admission
100 roubles. Ul. Dumskaya 9, M Gostinyj Dvor.
Fidel Pretty much the same as Datscha, just with some more seatings provided.
ROCK
Fish-Fabrique is a small club, where the young international bohemia (students) go to get drunk and meet locals. Some
nights famous and not so famous bands perform independent music on a small stage. 10 Ulitsa Pushkinskaya, entrance
from Ligovsky prospect. Metro: Ploschiad Vosstania. Open 17:00-05:30
JAZZ CLUBS
For Jazz lovers we can recommend the following restaurants. Please notice that they close early and live bands start to
play already at around 19.00-20.00. It’s recommended to book table in advance.
Jazz Time Bar Concerts start Tue-Sun 20:00-22:30. Admission 50-100 rouble. Mokhovaya ul. 41, metro Gostinyj Dvor.
JFC Jazz Club Open daily 19:00-23:00. Admission 100-200 roubles. Ul. Shpalernaya 33, metro Chernyshevskaya.
Jimi Hendrix Blues Club A nice club restaurant, dedicated for Jimi Hendrix. Open daily 11:00-23:00. Admission 100-150
roubles. Liteiny pr. 33, metro Mayakovskaya.
14
RUSSIAN FOR BEGINNERS
In Russia you may notice, that the local people are quite poor in English. If you were ignored when asking help, it doesn’t
mean that the Russians are rude and impolite – most of they are just too embarrassed to speak English. Remember, that
Soviet Union was a closed country, and although foreign languages were taught in schools, no one really had a chance to
use or practice it. Luckily enough, younger generation knows English much better. However, it’s never too hard to learn
couple of basic sentences for communicating with the locals, or just “spasibo” for thank you and “na zdorovye” for cheers!
So, let’s go for it!
How to use the “Russian for beginners”
The pronunciation is marked in the brackets after Russian word. Double dots after vowel means that the vowel is
pronounced long. An apostrophe (´) before the letter E, means that the letter is pronounced more like “ie”. The apostrophe
in the end of the word marks Russian letter “Ь”, that means that the letter before is pronounced soft.
Examples:
Кошка (ko:shka) – the word is pronounced “kooshka” (cat)
Девушка (d´evushka) – the word is pronounced “ dievushka” (girl)
Мать (mat´) – letter ”t” is soft (mother)
THE CYRILLIC ALPHABET
Russian alphabet consists of 33 letters divided into 11 vowels, 20 consonants and 2 letters which do not designate any
sounds(*). Each letter can be either capital or small. The letters can also be printed or handwritten.
In Russian alphabet there are 33 letters and in English 26.
Below is given Russian alphabet in the order that it occurs in dictionaries and other places.
01 А а - A (America)
12 К к - K (Ken)
02 Б б - B (Ben)
13 Л л - L (Linda)
03 В в - V (Victor)
14 М м - M (Mary)
04 Г г - G (Gloria)
15 Н н - N (Nancy)
05 Д д - D (Don)
16 О о - O (Olga)
06 Е е - YE (Yeah)
17 П п - P (Peter)
07 Ё ё - YO (Yolk)
18 Р р - R (Russ)
08 Ж ж - ZH (Vision)
19 С с - S (Sam)
09 З з - Z (Zebra)
20 Т т - T (Tom)
10 И и - I (Italy)
21 У у - U (Moon)
Y (Boy) (Short I)
22 Ф ф - F (Fred)
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
Х х - H (Herb)
Ц ц - TS (Science)
Ч ч - CH (Charles)
Ш ш - SH (Short)
Щ щ - SHCH (SH + CH)
Ъ ъ - Hard sign
Ы ы - Hard I
Ь ь - Soft sign
Э э - E (Emma)
Ю ю - YU (Yuko11 Й й Я я - YA (Yard)
SOME BASIC WORDS IN RUSSIAN
In English
Restaurant
Night club
Hotel
Taxi
Subway
Bus
Street
Café
Numbers:
1 один
2 два
3 три
4 четыре
5 пять
in Russian
Ресторан
Ночной клуб
Гостиница
Такси
Метро
Автобус
улица
Кафе
odín
dvá
trí
chetýre
pyát
How pronounced (accent on the letter with ”´” )
restorán
nochnój klub
gostínica
taksí
metró
avtóbus
úlica
Kafé
6 шесть
7 семь
8 восемь
9 девять
10 десять
schést
syém
vósyem
dyévyat
dyésyat
50
100
200
300
400
500
1000
пятьдесят
сто
двести
триста
четыреста
пятьсот
тысяча
pitdsy´at
sto
dv´yesti
trísta
chetýresta
pitsót
tísyacha
BASIC SENTENCES IN RUSSIAN
In English
Hi!
How are you?
Nice to meet you!
Thank you!
I’m sorry!
How much is it?
Here are you!
A bottle of vodka, please.
Yes
No
To the hotel ”Moscow”!
Could you help me, please?
How to get to…
For 100 roubles
I don’t speak Russian
I don’t understand
Goodbye!
See you!
Bye!
Welcome!
Where is the metro station?
I have a problem…
Pour me more vodka, please.
What is your name?
How old are you?
My name is…
I love you!
in Russian
Привет!
Как дела?
Очень приятно!
Спасибо!
Извините!
Сколько стоит?
Пожалуйста!
Пожалуйста, бутылку водки.
Да
Нет
До гостинцы «Москва», пожалуйста!
Помогите мне, пожалуйста!
Как доехать до…
За сто рублей?
Я не говорю по-русски.
Я не понимаю
До свидания!
До встречи!
Пока!
Добро пожаловать!
Где здесь станция метро?
У меня проблема…
Налейте мне еще водки, пожалуйста.
Как тебя зовут?
Сколько тебе лет?
Меня зовут…
Я люблю тебя!
Pronounced
Priv’é:t!
Kak dilá:?
Ó:chen’ priyátno!
Spasí:bo!
Izviní:te!
Sko:l’ka stóit?
Pozh:álusta!
Pozhalusta, butylku vodki.
Da
Nyet
Do gostínicy ”Maskvá:” pozhaluista!
Pomogíte mnye, pozhá:luista!
Kak doyéhat’ do...
Za sto rubléi?
Izvini:te, ja ne govoryu po-russki
Ya ne ponimá:yu
Do svidá:nya!
Do vstréchi!
Poká:!
Dobró pozhálovat’!
Gde zdes’ stá:nciya metro:?
U menjá: problé:ma…
Naleite mnye yescho vodki, pozhaluista
Kak teb´ya zavút?
Skól´ko teb´ye let?
Men´ya zavút…
Ya ljyubl´yu teb´ya!
CHEERS!
НА ЗДОРОВЬЕ!
NA ZDAROV´E!
ABOVE: ST PETERSBURG MAP, BELOW: MOSCOW MAP (CITY CENTER)
Legend:
X1= Meeting point #1 on parking lot behind the St Basil Cathedral
X2= Meeting point #2 on the Eternal Flame (Tomb of the Unknown Soldier)
1. The Red Square and the Lenin Mausoleum
a) Restaurant ”Drova”
2. The Kremlin (Entrance)
b) Okhotnyj Ryad (several restaurants)
3. The Bolshoi Theatre
4. Arbat pedestrian street
5. Central telegraph (post office)