Most of the cities were either founded by a decree or originated as trade centers. Both cities, Helsinki and St. Petersburg were founded by decrees and historically built as the capitals of their countries. Each city has its own history, culture and traditions. Many an architect, and thousands of common people contributed to the planning and decoration of both cities. During this tour you will get an opportunity to see the historical and cultural monuments of the cities and to learn about the ways of life of their citizens, about their problems and concerns.

Day 1

Arrival in Helsinki. (The city was founded in the 14th century); transfer to the hotel "Arthur" (a privately owned hotel in the very center of the city), check-in, dinner at the hotel.

Day 2

Breakfast. Sightseeing tour of the city (Senate square, Dome Cathedral, market place, harbor, the temple cut in the rocks); lunch, check-out, departure to Vyborg by motor coach. Vyborg is a Russian border town situated within 130 km from St. Petersburg. It was founded in 1293 as a Swedish trade sea port on the premises of the older Russian settlement dating back to the 12th century. Arrival at Vyborg check-in at the hotel 'Druzhba', dinner at hotel

Day 3

Breakfast. Sightseeing tour of Vyborg; lunch, check-out and departure to St. Petersburg. Check-in at the hotel "Pribaltiyskaya", dinner.

Day 4

Breakfast. Sightseeing tour of the city (Basil's Island, Admiralty, Palace Square, Smolny Cathedral, etc.), tour of the Peter & Paul Fortress, (the day of its foundation is considered to be the birthday of St. Petersburg), visit to the St. Peter & Paul Cathedral, the burial ground of the Romanov's dynasty. Lunch in a downtown restaurant; afternoon tour of the State Hermitage Museum to see fabulous collection of the masterpieces by the 'Old Masters', the gala and the private rooms of the Russian Royal families in the Winter Palace. Dinner at the hotel

Day 5

Breakfast. Trip to Pushkin and Pavlovsk. Tours of the Catherine's Palace, designed by a famous Italian architect Rastrelli in the lavish Russian baroque style, and known as the most feminine of all the palaces of the Russian tsars; a stroll in the vast park. Tour of the Emperor Paul's Palace built in the neo-classical style and famous for its elegancy. Lunch a typical Russian with a Russian folklore show. Return to St. Petersburg, time at leisure in the center of the city, stroll along the main avenue, Nevsky prospect, and visit to the farmers' market. Dinner at hotel.

Day 6

Breakfast. A 190 km trip to Novgorod,. which is situated on the banks of the Volkhov river, 6 km away from the Lake Ilmen. Novgorod, one of the oldest cities of Russia, formerly known as Novgorod the Great, used to be the centre of the foreign trade of the country, and was its only outlet to the western world before St. Petersburg sprang up to life in the beginning of the 18th century. The old Russian Chronicles refer to its existence as far back as the 9th century as 'a big trading town which lies on the ways from the Varangians to the Greeks'. The city is filled with Russian history and legends, the ancient unique art and architecture.

Arrival in Novgorod, check-in at the hotel "Beresta", lunch in a downtown resturant, afternoon sightseeing tour including visits to the ancient Kremlin, the Yaroslav Court, the St. George's Monastery, and the wooden architecture museum in the open air. Farewell dinner in a Russian styled restaurant by the Kremlin walls. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 7

Breakfast. Departure by motor coach to St. Petersburg. Transfer to the airport for flight home.