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.
Unlock the secrets of the Amber Room in the magnificent baroque-style Palace of Catherine the Great during this tour. The Park surrounding the palace is a wonderful work of Russian gardening art from the 18th and 19th centuries, combining the masterpieces of architecture with nature's beauty.
Not enough time and you need to hurry-up to get the best from Saint-Petersburg in several days? Take a unique chance to participate in the private combined tour with very informative guide knowledgeable of Russian history. The Hermitage State Museum, speed-ship to the Peterhoff Fontaine Complex with...Read more
Feel the beauty of Saint-Petersburg from water! Don't forget to take your camera to make unforgettable breathtaking pictures of Saint-Petersburg, it's canals and bridges. Go under the widest bridge in the world - the Blue Bridge! Admire golden wings of flying lions on the Bank Bridge and give a kiss...Read more
Your evening tour of Saint-Petersburg begins at 5 pm by attending an unforgettable show of the traditional Russian dances and music in a cozy and nicely decorated Concert House. Adore an incredible display of Russian performing arts and romantic music. Players will entertain you as you have an elega...Read more
St. Petersburg is one of the most beautiful cities in the world. It looks completely different from water, and a river cruise will show you parts of the city which are missed during a general city tour. The city is situated on 42 islands, being washed by more than 90 rivers, Neva’s arms and channels...Read more
St Petersburg is extremely famous for it's many Theatres and of course the Ballet. When porting overnight why not reserve the ballet in one of the most famous theatres in St Petersburg, the Palace Theatre for performances such as Swan Lake, The Nutcracker or Don Quixote (this depends when your cruis...Read more
St. Petersburg is one of the most picturesque cities in the world, built in 1703 by Peter the Great around a network of canals, and this tour will ensure that you experience the beauty which St. Petersburg can offer.
We invite you to take a 2-days tour of St. Petersburg right from your ship pier. St.Petersburg is a city of great culture and amazing history, a city looking out to the future and a city rooted in the past. Witness some of the world’s most famous art, literature and history, ever created, with a kno...Read more
Enjoy and discover St. Petersburg in the special full most comprehensive 2-day program. A fluent in English and knowledgeable guide is highly recommended in order to understand fully the richness of the Russian culture. You will visit Peterhof, a capital of the world's most wonderful fountains, Push...Read more
If this is your first visit to this beautiful City, this is the most comprehensive, deluxe and memorable tour you can take. Experiencing Catherine's Palace, the Hermitage, Faberge Museum, a canal cruise, the summer garden, Peter and Paul's Fortress and the Church on Spilled Blood and much more of th...Read more
Immerse yourself in the spectacular sights of St Petersburg during a 2-day shore excursion to the remarkable Russian city. Marvel at the imperial majesty of Catherine Palace and Peterhof; absorb the sacred ambiance of the Church on the Spilled Blood and Peter and Paul Cathedral; and visit the Hermit...Read more
Ideal for experienced travellers, who have already been to St.Petersburg and want to experience something new! During this two day program you will get to know: Learn all about Soviet Heritage and Soviet history, Try original pishki at one of the oldest Soviet café, Hear interesting facts about most...Read more
Ideal for first-time visitors, who want to see the main highlights of St.Petersburg on a moderate pace as well as do some shopping and enjoy scenic views of the city with no hurry!
This memorable tour will take you around the city to admire its beauty, you will see the Fortress of Peter and Paul - ...Read more
During this three day program you will visit 2 main Russian cities - St.Petersburg and Russian Capital - Moscow, will learn the present and past history of St Petersburg and Moscow, find out about the Romanov dynasty (facts and anecdotes), discover St, Petersburg as the cultural capital of Russia an...Read more
This is the most comprehensive tour one may take if porting in St.Petersburg for 3 days only. You will have a chance to see all must-sees of St.Petersburg as well as visit Russia's capital - Moscow!
Spend an unforgettable comprehensive 3 days in St.Petersburg - Northern Capital of Russia! During this three day program you will get to know: Present and past history of St Petersburg and its founder Peter the Great, The Romanov dynasty (facts and anecdotes), St. Petersburg as the cultural capital ...Read more
Spend an unforgettable comprehensive 3 days in St.Petersburg - Northern Capital of Russia! During this three day program you will get to know: Present and past history of St Petersburg and its founder Peter the Great, The Romanov dynasty (facts and anecdotes), St. Petersburg as the cultural capital ...Read more
The Russian history of ballet dates back to as early as the 17th century during the reign of Peter the Great. Everything else has changed but the ballet has remained the same. The breathtaking beauty of the setting, the idiosyncrasies of Russian theatre-goers and the historic atmosphere should be mo...Read more
If you’re short on time and don’t wish to apply for a Russian visa, then this is the tour for you, a 72-hour trip taking in the highlights of Russia’s two largest cities. Our professional guides and drivers will ensure that you see all the major sights of elegant St Petersburg and buzzing Moscow. Yo...Read more
A once-a-year opportunity to visit capital cities on the Baltic Sea and stop in St. Petersburg for 3 days without Russian visa. Visit Stockholm, Helsinki, Tallinn, St. Petersburg and Riga and celebrate New Year's Eve onboard Princess Anastasia
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.
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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.
