Visa-Free St.Petersburg Tour
Go to Russia VISA FREE and experience St Petersburg, one of the must see cities of Europe! With optional extras ranging from traditional dinner and folk show to visiting world famous palaces, you know you’re in for a good time. We travel with big overnight ferries between the cities, so while traveling you have a cabin, can go out for a drink in the bar, go to the sauna or show your moves on the dance floor!
Departure dates: 23-29 October, 6-12 November 2018
Duration: 7 days/ 6 nights
Departure/arrival city: Stockholm, Helsinki
Price: 305-335 Eur
Discount for students: 20 % (possible to add when making online booking)
! Important information - to join this trip you need to have travel Passport valid for at least 6 months! ID-card is not valid for this travel! Kindly read the Visa-Free Travel Info below before you make the booking!
Please note that the departure point is Viking Line ferry terminal in Stockholm (Stadsgården, Tegelvikshamn). You need to make your own way to the departure point!
Included
- All ferry tickets (Stockholm-Helsinki-St.Petersburg-Helsinki-Stockholm)
- Russia entrance fee for visa-free travellers
- 6 nights’ accommodation in shared rooms/cabins, bedlinen included (4 nights in B- or C-class cabins without window on overnight ferries; 2 nights in the hostel).
- 2 hostel breakfasts
- Transport to and from the ferry terminal in St Petersburg
- Guided bus tour in St Petersburg (museum fees not included, entrance is optional)
- Guided tour in the Hermitage Museum (free for students)
- Guided city walk in Helsinki
- Service from a Scanbalt tour manager and local guides
Highlights
- Visit St Petersburg - one of the world’s top destinations!
- Spend 4 crazy nights on the Baltic ferries
- Visit Helsinki - capital of Finland
Excluded
- Meals
- Optional activities
Watch our movie to see how fun the tour is ;)
Accommodation
We stay 2 nights in a centrally located hostel (4-10 beds in room) and 4 nights in cabins on overnight ferries (4 beds, B- or C-class cabin without window). The hostel has kitchen facilities, free wifi, and 24h reception. Ferries have tax free shops, bars, restaurants and disco. Bed linen and towel is included both in the hostel and on the ferries.
Transport
We travel with overnight cruise ferries and use local buses in St.Petersburg and Helsinki. Note that there is no free wifi on the St.PeterLine ferry going to St.Petersburg and back.
Tour Program: Visa-Free St.Petersburg
Day 1. Stockholm-Helsinki
We meet in the afternoon at the ferry terminal and catch the overnight boat to Helsinki. Get to know your travel mates, dance, party and enjoy the boat trip!
Day 2. Helsinki-St.Petersburg
In the morning we arrive in Helsinki - the capital of Finland. We take our time to explore the city and in the afternoon we meet in the ferry terminal to get on the overnight boat that takes us to St.Petersburg. Welcome the passengers who join in Helsinki.
Day 3. St Petersburg
In the morning we arrive in St.Petersburg. After going through the passport control, we are finally in Russia! We get on the bus and are ready to explore the city! Our local guide will give the overview of St.Petersburg and of course we will make photo stops in most interesting and picturesque places.
We check-in to our hostel in the afternoon. We live close to Nevsky prospekt, which is the main avenue of the city, and there are plenty of restaurants, cafes and shops in walking distance.
Evening is free to explore the night life of St.Petersburg. Everyone is welcome to join the late-night limousine ride (optional activity).
Day 4. St Petersburg
Day 4. St Petersburg
Today we get the chance to visit the world-famous Hermitage museum (included for all). The rest of the day is free time to explore the city on your own. In the evening, everyone is invited to enjoy the traditional Russian dinner. This is definitely the best way to experience Russian culture – taste local cuisine and meanwhile watch local artists perform traditional songs and dances! (optional activity).
Day 5. St Petersburg-Helsinki
This is a free day for you to explore St.Petersburg on your own. Our local guide will help you with suggestions of places to visit. We also invite everyone to join us for an optional half-day excursion to one of the massive imperial palaces outside the city - Catherine Palace situated in Tsar’s Village (or Peterhof Park on May and June departures). On the way back to the city, there is a possibility to make photo stop at Soviet Siege Memorial and at the monument to Vladimir Lenin.
The bus will be back in the city in the afternoon. You will have some free time and later we depart to the harbour to cath the ferry back to Helsinki.
Day 6. Helsinki-Stockholm
We arrive early morning, and after crossing the border control we say good-bye to those who finish their tour in Helsinki.
*Those who continue to Stockholm - today is a free day for you in Helsinki! If there’s good weather we would recommend a visit to one of the islands, the nearby fortress island Suomenlinna, where Swedes and Russians once fought or Zoo park in Korkeasaari. You can take a nice ferry ride from the central harbour. Late afternoon we meet again and get on the boat for Stockholm. Last night of the tour - enjoy disco, karaoke and bars on the ship!
Day 7. Stockholm
Arrival at Viking line Terminal 10 AM. All good things come to an end, and so is our journey! Now you are back home with lots of new friends, great pictures and memories!
* Program for those who start/finish in Stockholm
Optional Activities: Visa-Free St.Petersburg
Optional activities are open for booking online. If there are free places left, it's also possible to book on the spot!
NB! Note that if you have signed up for an optional activity, you have to take part of that activity or pay for it without participation. If just not showing up, you will have to pay afterwards.
Tsar's Village and Catherine Palace
A half-day tour, which takes you to Tsar’s Village – former country residence of the Russian Royalty, 25 km south-east of St. Petersburg. The Catherine Palace is a splendid example of the Russian Baroque. During the guided tour we see the highlights: Great Hall and the Golden Enfilade of state rooms, including the world-famous Amber Room. The park area also has a lot so see: small palaces and intimate pavilions, lovely bridges and marble monuments.
Driving out of the city gives us the opportunity to visit more of St.Petersburg suburb area. If time allowes, we make photo-stops at Siege Memorial and Monument to Vladimir Lenin.
Price: Students 30 Eur (non-students 35 Eur)
Price includes: local guide escorting the group from St Petersburg, transport in tourist bus, stops on the way, entrance to the palace park, entrance to Catherine Palace.
Duration: 5h
*Takes place: March-April and all autumn departures
Price includes: local guide escorting the group from St Petersburg, transport in tourist bus, stops on the way, entrance to the palace park, entrance to Catherine Palace.
Duration: 5h
*Takes place: March-April and all autumn departures
Peterhof Park
Peterhof Park, which is actually a series of palaces and gardens, located in Saint Petersburg, Russia, laid out on the orders of Peter the Great. These Palaces and gardens are sometimes referred as the "Russian Versailles". The palace-ensemble along with the city center is recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Peterhof is just as famous for the parks and its great fountains as for the palace buildings.
Price: Students 25 Eur (non-students 35 Eur).
Includes: Entrance to the park area, transport in tourist bus, information from a local guide.
Duration: 5h
*Takes place: May and June departures
Includes: Entrance to the park area, transport in tourist bus, information from a local guide.
Duration: 5h
*Takes place: May and June departures
Traditional Russian Evening
This is definitely the best way to experience Russian culture – taste local cuisine and meanwhile watch local artists perform traditional songs and dances!
Duration: 2h
Price: 24 Eur
Price includes: dinner with Russian specialties - starter, main course, dessert; performance by group of local dancers and musicians.
Price: 24 Eur
Price includes: dinner with Russian specialties - starter, main course, dessert; performance by group of local dancers and musicians.
Limousine tour - St.Petersburg by night
Glamorous and fun limousine ride, that takes you along the night streets of the city, regular stops are made by main city sights.
Duration: ~2h
Price: 15 Eur
Price includes: Limousine tour with stops, included local sparkling wine.
Activities that are not orginised by Scanbalt:
Classical music and ballet
If you are interested in experiencing classical music and ballet the Marinsky and Hermitage Ballet are world class. We recommend you to visit their website where you also can book tickets.
If you are interested in experiencing classical music and ballet the Marinsky and Hermitage Ballet are world class. We recommend you to visit their website where you also can book tickets.
http://www.mariinsky.ru/en /
https://hermitagetheater.com/
There might be some good last-minute offers available in the ticket-booths on the streets.
There might be some good last-minute offers available in the ticket-booths on the streets.
Visa-Free Travel Info
To join this tour you don't need a VISA but you need to have travel Passport allowing crossing borders between non-Schengen countries and valid for at least 6 months after the tour finishes.
Please note, that ID card is not enough to travel to Russia
We highly recommend you to make travel insurance valid in Russia for this trip
If you are not citizen of EU, Norway or Switzerland, please pay special attention to info below:
- If you require a Schengen visa to stay in EU, kindly make sure it's a multiple-entry visa. Single-entry Schengen visa is not valid for this trip!
- If you have already stayed in European Union (for example, in Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Finland, etc.) for more than 90 days - you need to have a valid residence permit in the country you currently reside (temporary one is also suitable). Those who will not be able to present their valid residence permit card when checking-in to the ferry to St.Petersburg, will not be allowed into Russia, and can be sent directly to their home country!
Note that the passenger him or herself is responsible for arranging the necessary travel documents and making sure they are valid as requested.
Before making the booking, please be sure you have all the required documents for this trip (Passport, residence permit, if needed) and will be able to present them and the departure point.