72 HRS VISA-FREE OPTION FOR CRUISE SHIP PASSENGERS:
Cruise ship passengers visiting St. Petersburg do not need a Russian visa, provided they are staying in the city for no longer than 72 hours. Therefore, if you book a cruise and St. Petersburg is one of the calls, you DO NOT NEED to get a Russian visa before you depart. The 72-hour exemption for cruise ship passengers does not mean that visitors have three days free in St. Petersburg. The limitations are the following: you have to sleep on the ship (not a problem for most cruise passengers), you will also have to be accompanied at all times on shore by a licensed tour guide and follow a pre-arranged schedule from the moment you leave the ship in the morning to the moment you step back on board in the evening. Cruise operators will expect their clients to book the St. Petersburg tours offered on-board or during booking, but in fact, there are essentially three options for cruise passengers visiting St. Petersburg:
1. Book the tour recommended by your cruise operator (in advance or onboard)
This is certainly the simplest option, the path of least resistance even. However, beyond the lack of choice in what you see and do in St. Petersburg, the tours offered by your cruise operator or booking agent are likely to be significantly more expensive than tours you book independently.
2. Book a tour independently (in advance in at least 2 weeks before you arrive at the port of call)
Though you may be encouraged to think otherwise, the tours offered by your cruise operator or booking agent are not the only options for cruise ship passengers to see St. Petersburg visa-free. There are a number of independent companies in St. Petersburg with the necessary licensing to offer shore tours for cruise ship passengers without Russian visas. Not only will this option give you much greater choice in terms of what you can see and do - as well as a wide range of more original and unusual tours, many companies will give you the option of designing your own itinerary - tours booked with independent local companies are in general considerably cheaper than those offered by your cruise operator.
We are happy to offer you check out the SHORE TOURS THAT WE OFFER IN ST. PETERSBURG ON THIS PAGE BELOW
3. Get a Russian Tourist Visa
If you wish to explore St. Petersburg on your own while not accompanied by any tour company, as well as if you wish to spend overnight not on the ship, you will need to secure an independent tourist visa to Russia. So if you prefer to be truly free to do what you want while in St. Petersburg, the only option is to obtain Russian Tourist Visas before you depart on your cruise. This is essential if, for example, you plan to meet up with friends or family in St. Petersburg, or if you want to enjoy the city's colourful nightlife (especially tempting if you're visiting during the White Nights). If staying out late is part of your reason for wanting a Russian Visa, then it's probably also worth booking accommodation in St. Petersburg as there are likely to be restrictions on returning to your ship after a certain point in the evening.
There is a set of obligatory documents you have to collect to apply for your Russian Tourist Visa, and VISA INVITATION is one of them, which you can order from us https://www.uvisitrussia.com/russian-visa/. Сost is 10 USD each. To make an order you need to insert the dates of your stay in Russia and info from your passport. After getting the visa invitation, you will need to address to Russian Visa Application Center in your country for visa processing itself (they will advise you in the visa processing cost, time etc.)
Travelling without a Russian visa does impose some limitations on your time in St. Petersburg, but at the same time gives you an excellent opportunity to explore the city with a knowledgeable guide. If it is not what you want, then it's certainly worth considering the option of getting a Russian Tourist Visa before you start your cruise.
Learn all about St Petersburg’s history and sights on a 4-hour walking tour, led by a private guide! Head off to discover top St Petersburg attractions like Palace Square, Winter Palace, Senate Square, St Isaac's Cathedral, the Church of the Saviour on Spilled Blood and more.
St. Petersburg is one of the most picturesque cities in the world and this tour will ensure that you experience the beauty which St. Petersburg can offer. St. Petersburg was built in 1703 by Peter the Great around a network of canals.
If you want to travel at your own pace and with no hurry, a professional licensed guide and private car for 8 hours is your option! There is nothing quite like having a holiday under your own steam! No entrance fees included.
Experience a St. Petersburg panoramic drive which takes you to the best of the city´s famous landmarks in the comfort of your private vehicle. Visit State Hermitage museum, one of the largest museums in the world. Its exhibitions include over 3 million exhibits representing Antiquity, Western Europe...Read more
If you are looking for a great way to see St Petersburg without too much walking this tour is for you. Experience a wonderful panoramic city tour of this magnificent city taking in the most important sights of the area including Peter and Paul's Fortress, the Church on Spilled Blood and St Isaac's C...Read more
A fascinating panoramic half day tour of this magnificent city which cannot be missed, you will get to see Peter and Paul's Fortress, the Church on Spilled Blood and St Isaac's Cathedral, the Hermitage, Neva River, Nevsky Prospect. Once we have had a fantastic ovrview tour we then head off for vodka...Read more
This one-day tour from St.Petersburg to Russia's capital includes major highlights of Moscow, such as Red Square, the Kremlin Cathedrals and Armory. Feel the energy that has always made Moscow one of the most exciting cities on earth.
A fascinating panoramic half day tour of the city which cannot be missed, you will get to visit Peter and Paul's Fortress and Cathedral and see other magnificent sights of St.Petersburg.
Explore the city of St Petersburg with a professional English speaking guide. This Essential Collection Tour will allow you to see the most sought after sights of this grand area at a budget cost including the Hermitage which is one of the most visited places in St Petersburg. Visas are included wit...Read more
This full day tour provides a visit to the exclusive Yusupov's palace as well as an overview of the opulent St Isaac's Cathedral and the Cathedral of our Lady of Kazan. In addition a visit to a wonderful local food market.
This is a fantastic opportunity to enjoy the spectacular sights of St Petersburg with a full day of sightseeing including visits to the Hermitage, the infamous art treasury, the Peter & Pauls fortress and many more. You'll even get the chance to do a little bit of shopping and enjoy some lovely ...Read more
A wonderful private full day tour, which will take you to some of the wondrous places in St Petersburg including - The Palace of Catherine and Peterhof Park, the fountains of Peterhof and a sightseeing tour of the area.
Experience one of our most popular one day tours in St Petersburg. This will take you on a journey of lifetime memories, visiting the Hermitage one of the most famous and well known Museums, Church on Spilled Blood and the picturesque Peterhof Park. A full day tour is required to get the sense and t...Read more
Explore St.Petersburg at its glory during a short sightseeing tour around the city and then head directly to one of the world's most beautiful and remarkable places - Tsarskoe Selo (Pushkin) with its fabulous Catherine the Great's Summer Palace and its mysterious Amber Room! This 6-hour tour is a fa...Read more
This private tour combines visits to the former splendid summer palace of Catherine-the Great in Tsarskoe Selo (Pushkin) as well as an exploration of one of the world's most renowned art collections at the winter palace of the Royal Family - Hermitage.
This tour is perfect to have a general city overview by car as well as by boat while heading off to world's biggest fountaions complex Peterhof by hydrofoil. You will also have an awesome chance to visit one of world's greatest museums - Hermitage.
Visit the brilliant residence of Russian emperors and it’s magnificent fountains park in Peterhof. Expansive gardens with numerous fountains and pavilions, a wonderland of greenery and flowers, sweeping vistas and ornate architectural decorations will be the sole focus of this outing. The summer tri...Read more
Our flexible payment options allow you to pay [deposit_value]% of a deposit first and the remaining [remain_value]% in [deposit_days] prior to your tour date - payment can be done both online or over the phone. This gives you the peace of mind knowing your spaces are booked on the tours and that you do not miss out on making the most of your time in Russia.
Also you [discount_text] get the best, top-rated and most experienced and knowledgeable hand-picked tour guide appointed on a priority basis. In our experience, exceptional travel experiences are almost always delivered by exceptional people. With that in mind, we utilize a comprehensive approach to select and employ the best tour guides only. Multilingual and well travelled, each possesses deep insight into the diverse attractions and cultural patterns throughout the region. With us guides undergo a rigorous selection process, achieving outstanding knowledge of local culture and language. Rest assured that the best tour guides only will be working on the tours to give you excellent opportunity to explore the best of the sights during both short and long-term stay in Russia.
Our flexible payment options allow you to pay [deposit_value]% of a deposit first and the remaining [remain_value]% in [deposit_days] prior to your tour date - payment can be done both online or over the phone. This gives you the peace of mind knowing your spaces are booked on the tours and that you do not miss out on making the most of your time in Russia.
Also you [discount_text] get the best, top-rated and most experienced and knowledgeable hand-picked tour guide appointed on a priority basis. In our experience, exceptional travel experiences are almost always delivered by exceptional people. With that in mind, we utilize a comprehensive approach to select and employ the best tour guides only. Multilingual and well travelled, each possesses deep insight into the diverse attractions and cultural patterns throughout the region. With us guides undergo a rigorous selection process, achieving outstanding knowledge of local culture and language. Rest assured that the best tour guides only will be working on the tours to give you excellent opportunity to explore the best of the sights during both short and long-term stay in Russia.
I just wanted to write and thank you for arranging our visit to St Petersburg.
It was a memorable highlight of my wife's holiday.
Our guide Svetlana was very personable, very helpful.
Again, my warmest thanks for helping to arrange this for us.
The Best of Two Capitals
We provide a wide variety of exciting, appealing, and enriching shore excursions at prices lower than those of the cruise lines...
How do we do it?
While other companies sell cruises and other forms of travel, we focus exclusively on shore excursions. We utilize this expertise to select the highest quality shore excursions delivered by local experts in the most cost effective manner for our customers. Since we are not a large cruise line catering to thousands of customers per day, our shore excursions allow you to travel in much smaller groups offering a more personalized experience. In fact, for groups of 4 or more, we can usually arrange a private shore excursion for less than the cost of a large cruise line tour. We also offer a large number of unique cruise excursions that cannot be purchased from the cruise line. We encourage you to spend time on this site looking through the wide variety of shore excursions and to call us for personal advice. To help you navigate our web site, you can view shore excursions based on Excursion Size as well as Excursion Type...
Excursion Sizes:
Private Shore Excursions allow you to travel with your party alone and, in many cases, to fully customize your tour. For groups of 4 or more, we can usually arrange a private shore excursion for less than the cost of a large cruise line tour.
Small Group Shore Excursions generally range in size from 2-20 people, providing a more personalized experience than the large excursions offered by the cruise lines.
Standard Shore Excursions typically range from 20-50 people. These tours are similar in size to those of the cruise lines. While these shore excursions are larger in size, our focus on quality remains extremely high.
Excursion Types:
Scenic Shore Excursions provide up close and personal access to some of the most spectacular natural environments on Earth.
Cultural Shore Excursions allow you to experience the customs, heritage, and local flavor of the destinations.
Active Shore Excursions offer a multitude of exciting and adventurous experiences.
Water/Beach Shore Excursions provide unique ways to enjoy the ocean, beach, and sea life.
Cuisine Shore Excursions allow you to sample the local culinary delights.
Sign in to our website using your Facebook or Google+ account.
Why Do You Need Our Travel Expert
Contact our experts, and they will help you to plan your best trip to Russia, with attention to every detail!
Our Experts have been in the travel industry for many years, guarantee to offer first class customer service, excellent value for money and unbiased advice. They are standing by to find and build your dream holiday to one of the world's most fascinating destinations - Russia. Your personal Travel Expert will guide you through each stage of the travel process, from choosing a program that fits you best to support during your trip.
Just tell us your e-mail, and we'll take care of everything!
Your tour request has been received. Thank you ! We have sent you the confirmation message to [email]
Please make sure that you receive this message (sometimes e-mail messages may go to the spam/junk mail). If you did not get this message, it means you will not get message with the tours' selection as well. If you use a Yahoo!, Gmail, AOL or Hotmail, we recommend to add request@uvisitrussia.comto your address book.
We recommend to leave your phone number. If we will not heard back that you received the e-mail with the tours' selection, we will contact you by phone. And you will not miss the best tour for you.
Thank you ! Your request for Travel Expert assistance has been sent. We will e-mail you within 1 hour.
Sorry, some changes needed
Add your E-mail
There was a problem with your request
Missing contact person. Please correct and try again.
I just wanted to write and thank you for arranging our visit to St Petersburg. It was a memorable highlight of my wife's holiday. Our guide Svetlana was very personable, very helpful. Again, my warmest thanks for helping to arrange this for us.
