Dates are flexible. This day-by-day plan is provisional until you choose exact travel dates.
After landing at Sheremetyevo International Airport, allow 1–2 hours for immigration, baggage collection, customs, and finding the correct exit. The Aeroexpress to the Belorussky area takes about 35–50 minutes, with additional time needed to reach your hotel by metro or taxi. In practice, budget roughly 2.5–3.5 hours from landing to your hotel, especially if you have checked luggage. Buy tickets through the official Aeroexpress app or at the airport; fares are usually around RUB 550–700. Keep some cash or an alternative payment method available, as foreign cards may not work reliably in Russia.
After dropping bags, take the metro or a taxi to Red Square—allow around 25–40 minutes, depending on your hotel and traffic. Spend about an hour wandering around the square, taking in the exterior of the Kremlin, St Basil’s Cathedral, and the historical buildings around Kitay-Gorod. This is best kept relaxed on an arrival day: the square is atmospheric in the evening, and you do not need a separate Kremlin entry ticket just to enjoy the exterior. If you arrive late, treat the area as a short walk rather than forcing a full sightseeing session.
Continue into GUM, directly beside Red Square, for about 45 minutes. Its illuminated glass roof, ornate galleries, and central fountain make it worth visiting even if you are not shopping; typical public hours are approximately 10:00 AM–10:00 PM, though individual businesses can vary. Finish with a breakfast-style dinner near Nikolskaya Street, where cafés and Russian restaurants are convenient for an easy first meal. Allow roughly RUB 1,500–3,000 per person for a comfortable dinner, and choose a well-reviewed venue rather than relying on the busiest tourist-facing menu. From here, the metro is usually the quickest way back to your hotel, while a taxi is more comfortable if you are carrying luggage or arriving after a long flight.
Start early at the Moscow Kremlin Museums, allowing around three hours for the Armoury Chamber and Cathedral Square. This is the day’s most time-sensitive stop: book separate timed admission in advance through the official Kremlin ticket service, and allow 30–45 minutes for security and walking to the entrance. The Armoury’s displays of regalia, Fabergé eggs, and ceremonial objects are especially worthwhile; Cathedral Square gives you the best sense of the Kremlin’s scale. Leave a little flexibility, as entry can be slowed by security or ticket checks.
Walk or take the metro to Cathedral of Christ the Saviour for about an hour. The interior is grand and active rather than museum-like, so dress modestly and avoid visiting during a service if you want a quiet look around. From Kropotkinskaya, continue by metro or taxi toward Patriarch’s Pond—roughly 15–25 minutes depending on traffic—and spend an hour wandering the pond, Malaya Bronnaya Street, and the Bulgakov-associated lanes. For a casual lunch between the Kremlin and cathedral, Stolovaya 57 in GUM is convenient, though expect a queue at midday; budget roughly RUB 700–1,200 per person.
Head to Yeliseevsky Food Hall on Tverskaya Street for its ornate interiors and a short tasting stop; it is better for browsing and snacks than a full meal, and prices are higher than an ordinary canteen. Then ride the metro on a self-guided architecture route through Mayakovskaya, Novoslobodskaya, and Komsomolskaya—allow about 90 minutes, using a standard metro fare and avoiding the busiest commuter period if possible. Finish at Dr Zhivago near Okhotny Ryad, where the dining room has memorable Kremlin-facing views. Reserve ahead, especially for a window table, and expect approximately RUB 3,000–6,000 per person; allow extra time for coat check and a leisurely dinner.
Take the Sapsan from Leningradsky Station to Moskovsky Station, allowing roughly four hours onboard. Check out of your Moscow hotel around 6:30–7:00 AM so you have time for the station transfer, luggage, security, and boarding; arrive at least 30 minutes before departure. Reserve tickets through Russian Railways (RZD), as the more convenient morning departures and lower fares can sell out. After arriving in Saint Petersburg, allow 45–75 minutes for luggage collection, the taxi or metro to your hotel, and check-in.
Once settled, begin with Nevsky Prospekt, the city’s lively historic spine. Spend about 90 minutes walking west or east from your hotel, ducking into courtyards, bookshops, and small cafés rather than trying to cover every landmark. A short walk toward the Griboyedov Canal brings you to the Church of the Savior on Spilled Blood. Allow about an hour inside and outside; its mosaics are especially vivid even in poor weather. Opening hours vary by day and religious services, so check the official schedule and reserve admission if required. Keep some flexibility here—winter sidewalks can be icy, and walking distances feel slower with luggage and an early start.
Continue along Nevsky Prospekt to Kazan Cathedral, whose broad semicircular colonnade faces the avenue. Entry is generally free, but it remains an active place of worship, so dress modestly and expect occasional service restrictions. The church usually takes around 45 minutes; check current opening conditions before relying on a late visit. The cathedral, canal, and avenue are close enough to walk between, though a short taxi ride is sensible if the weather turns unpleasant.
Finish at Marketplace near Nevsky Prospekt, an easy, informal first-night option after the train journey. Choose Russian dishes or international stalls, and budget approximately RUB 1,000–2,000 per person. It is self-service and practical rather than atmospheric, but convenient for an early meal; check the branch’s current hours, as they can change seasonally. After dinner, return to the hotel on foot if nearby or use a taxi app—Saint Petersburg’s central streets are pleasant to explore, but avoid a long walk if you are tired from the transfer.
Start at Peter and Paul Fortress on Petrogradsky Island, ideally around 9:30 AM. This is the city’s birthplace, and the quiet fortress walls are especially atmospheric before the larger tour groups arrive. Allow about 2½ hours for the grounds and Peter and Paul Cathedral, including ticket queues; cathedral and museum access may be sold separately, so check the official museum schedule in advance. From central hotels, use the metro to Gorkovskaya and walk roughly 10 minutes, or take a taxi during the morning rush—allow 25–40 minutes door to door.
Cross back toward the center and have a quick lunch near Palace Embankment before entering the State Hermitage Museum. A reserved timed ticket is essential, and security and cloakroom queues can still add 20–40 minutes. Spend about three hours concentrating on the Winter Palace state rooms and a few selected galleries rather than trying to cover the entire complex; the museum is enormous and tiring when rushed. Admission commonly falls around RUB 500–1,000 depending on the ticket type, but verify current prices and opening days before booking. Afterward, step directly into Palace Square for around 45 minutes: walk toward the Alexander Column, look back at the Winter Palace façade, and take a short breather before the final sightseeing stop.
Continue on foot to St. Isaac’s Cathedral, roughly 10–15 minutes from Palace Square. Allow about 1½ hours for the richly decorated interior, and add the colonnade only if it is open and the weather is clear; winter wind can make the climb and viewing platform uncomfortable. Check the cathedral’s current visitor schedule because religious services and seasonal hours can affect access. Finish with dinner at Palkin on Nevsky Prospekt, reached by a short taxi ride or a 20-minute walk. Reserve ahead, dress smart-casual, and budget approximately RUB 3,000–6,000 per person. The restaurant is a good place to slow down after a full museum day, with traditional Russian dishes in a historic setting; check the bill carefully for any service charge.
Start at the Fabergé Museum, reached easily by metro to Gostiny Dvor or Nevsky Prospekt, followed by a short walk toward the Fontanka. Allow about two hours for the imperial eggs, jewellery, and ornate decorative arts; book a timed ticket through the museum’s official channels, as same-day availability can be limited. Afterward, walk around 15–20 minutes toward the Mikhailovsky Garden, passing the quieter canals and grand façades around Arts Square. The garden is a pleasant pause—keep this stroll unhurried rather than treating it as another major sightseeing stop.
Continue into the Russian Museum, directly beside the garden. Allow roughly 2½ hours for its broad collection of Russian icons, portraits, landscapes, and nineteenth- and twentieth-century art. Check the official opening schedule before setting out, since museum closure days and temporary exhibitions can change; combined or timed tickets may be available. For lunch, use a café around Arts Square or Nevsky Prospekt rather than leaving the area, then take a taxi to New Holland Island—usually around 15–25 minutes depending on traffic. Spend the late afternoon walking the landscaped former industrial site and choosing one of its cafés for coffee or a light snack. Entry to the island is generally free, while food and drinks commonly cost around RUB 500–1,500.
From New Holland Island, take a taxi or public transport toward Vladimirskaya for Kuznechny Market, allowing about 20–30 minutes. Browse the produce stalls, pickles, pastries, and prepared foods, but check the market’s current opening days and closing time before relying on it; it is best visited in the early evening while vendors are still trading. Finish at Krysha 18, near Nevsky Prospekt, by taxi or a short metro-and-walk connection. Reserve if possible, especially for a window or terrace table, and expect approximately RUB 2,000–4,000 per person for dinner. In colder weather, confirm that the rooftop section is operating and request an indoor table with a view instead.
If you have a morning flight, begin at Yusupov Palace only if your luggage and airport timing allow it: the palace’s interior tours are generally timed, and the Rasputin-related rooms may require a specific ticket or tour slot. Allow about two hours, plus roughly 15–20 minutes to reach the Mariinsky Theatre on foot or by taxi. The palace is on the Moika Embankment, so leave a little buffer for cloakroom procedures and tour entry rather than planning this as a quick drop-in.
Continue to the Mariinsky Theatre and spend about 45 minutes around Theatre Square, admiring the historic theatre district from outside. A full opera or ballet performance is not realistic before an airport departure unless you have a late flight and have already secured tickets; performances can run several hours. From here, take a taxi—usually the simplest option with luggage—to the Vasilyevsky Island Spit, allowing approximately 20–30 minutes depending on traffic.
At the Vasilyevsky Island Spit, take a short final walk beside the Neva for views of the Rostral Columns, the river, and the city skyline. Keep this to about an hour, particularly in cold or wet weather, as the waterfront can feel considerably windier than the central streets. Then continue to Kokoko for an early lunch; reserve ahead if possible, and budget roughly RUB 2,000–4,000 per person. Allow about 1½ hours, but confirm the restaurant’s current service hours before relying on it for a flight-day meal.
After lunch, collect your bags and transfer to Pulkovo Airport by taxi or pre-booked car. From central Saint Petersburg, allow 45–90 minutes for the drive, with traffic being the main variable; public transport is less convenient with luggage. Aim to reach the airport around three hours before an international flight, or according to your airline’s stated recommendation for a domestic departure. Keep the airport transfer flexible—if your flight is early, skip lunch or shorten the sightseeing rather than risking the journey.
No packing list attached yet.