Historical & Heritage Tours in St Petersburg

Head beyond St Petersburg center for a visit to Tsarskoye Selo and its most famous attraction: Catherine Palace. Learn about historic sights en route to this famed former Imperial family summer residence, including one of the area's only remaining statues of Vladimir Lenin. Skip the entry lines and enjoy a private guided tour of the late-Baroque palace, including the private chamber of Alexander I and the opulent Amber Room, painstakingly recreated after Nazi soldiers looted the original during WWII. Afterward, spend some time exploring its surrounds - where photo ops are plenty.

See another side of St. Petersburg, which was known as Leningrad for much of the 20th century, on this tour that focuses on sites related to the Siege of Leningrad during Word War II. As you visit memorial locations and battlefields, you'll hear about the events and effects of the siege, one of the most destructive in history, during which hundreds of thousands of citizens died from air raids, starvation, and more between 1941 and 1944.

Delve into one of St. Petersburg's must-sees on a private 3-hour tour of the Peter and Paul Fortress and Cathedral. Experience the daily firing of the fortress' cannon, and visit the cathedral, set within the walls. View the church's interior, home to the tombs of the Romanov tsars; learn about the dynasty's history, and see the bell tower and gold-needle spire. Plus, admire the city panoramas from Vasilievsky Island. Upgrade to included entrance fees.

Enjoy an exclusive tour of Catherine Palace after-hours, and step back in time into a world of Baroque balls and period decor. Travel by comfortable vehicle to the Tsarskoye-based summer home and begin your evening with a visit to the former Imperial Stable Houses, home to nearly two-dozen ornate carriages. After a greeting from the Imperial Orchestra enter the palace itself, where you'll toast Catherine the Great's 'arrival' with champagne, witness costumed dancers perform in the Grand Ballroom and revel in the classical sounds of a string quartet.

Delve into the heritage of St. Petersburg's Jewish community on this private tour. After a panoramic sightseeing drive, visit the 19th-century Grand Choral Synagogue, Europe's second-biggest, and St. Petersburg's main Jewish worship house. Plus, discover the arts heritage of Russia's Jewish peoples at the Museum of Ethnography and visit the YESOD Center, a Jewish community hub that hosts music and cultural events. Private transport, entrance fees, and hotel pickup and drop-off included.