A New Year Celebration at the Tsar's Ball in St Petersburg
Programme Overview
Duration: 6 days
Experience New Year somewhere different with this 6-day itinerary showcasing St Petersburg's highlights and the spectacular New Year Tsar's Ball.
Highlights: St Petersburg, Hermitage, Yusupov Palace, Pavlovsk Palace, Troika Ride, Tsar's New Year Ball at Catherine Palace, tea with a local Russian family, Russian Museum, Mariinsky Theatre backstage tour
Arrive St Petersburg - 29th December
Upon arrival at St Petersburg airport you will be met in the arrivals hall by your guide and privately transferred to your luxurious hotel in the city centre where your Guardian Angel will assist you with check-in.
Overnight: Grand Hotel Europe
St Petersburg: Hermitage with Gold Room, Yusupov Palace - 30th December
The Hermitage museum is situated in the lavishly decorated Winter Palace and occupies six magnificent buildings with three million pieces of artwork from the Stone Age to modern times. The main building and largest part of the museum is the rococo-style Winter Palace, residence of the Czars from 1762 to 1917. The museum was commissioned by Catherine the Great and she and her successors built the Hermitage collection in large part with purchases of private collections of the Western European aristocracy and monarchies. Visit the museum with your private guide and also pay a special visit to the Gold Room and its exquisite collection of Scythian gold.
Enjoy lunch at leisure before visiting the opulent Yusupov Palace nearby, home to Russia’s wealthiest family before the revolution. As well as visiting the beautiful state and private rooms (including the exotic Moorish Room) we will also visit the basement room where the ‘mad monk’ Rasputin was poisoned in 1916.
This evening you may wish to have dinner at one of the city’s finest restaurants. Your Guardian Angel will provide a list of recommended restaurants and help you with the table reservation.
One of our preferred restaurants is the “Tsar”, located in a building with rich historical background, on Sadovaya St. 12. The eatery offers its guests delicacies of Russian State royal cuisine. Looking at the menu, guests will be transported to the 19th-20th centuries, when some amazing and unique dishes were considered standard cuisine for the daily Royal table.
Overnight: Grand Hotel Europe
Meal Plan: B
St Petersburg: Pavlovsk Palace with Troika horse ride, Tsar's Ball at Catherine Palace - 31st December
Travel south out of St. Petersburg for a morning visit to Pavlosk Palace which remained a royal residence until 1917. Pavlosk’s park of woodland, rivers, lakes, and classical statues is one of the most exquisite in Russia and the Great Palace is a classical contrast to Catherine’s Palace. After a visit of the interior, you will enjoy a ride in a horse drawn troika, three horses will pull you along on a big carriage, colorfully painted in a traditional Russian style. The fervent ring of the bells tied to a bridle will be your accompanying music.
Afterwards enjoy lunch at the lively country restaurant Podvorie Dacha, where President Putin has celebrated his birthday. Return to St. Petersburg with time to prepare for the evening ahead.
This evening depart hotel for unforgettable night at the Tsar’s Ball at Catherine Palace.
The ball has been successfully organized annually since 1994 and takes place in the magnificent Catherine Palace in Tsarskoye Selo on the 31st of December. The palace hosts the Ball with the authentic atmosphere of unequaled pomp. Guests will experience an evening of true romance and splendor echoing the imperial traditions of a bygone era.
On arrival at Catherine Palace, enjoy a welcome by the Military Brass Orchestra while Royal Hussars with torches escort you to the building. Upon entering the Palace guests are invited to sip a cocktail on the Grand Staircase before making their way through the beautiful baroque rooms to the Throne Hall for dinner. The fabulous 5 course dinner is accompaniment by a Symphony Orchestra, Classical Balalaika Orchestra as well as ballet and opera performances and is followed by a bell concert and fireworks display in the park as the clock strikes twelve. After midnight a Russian folklore show, Cossack show and String and Jazz Orchestras will play into the early hours making for a truly special and greatly memorable New Year celebration.
Overnight: Grand Hotel Europe
Meal Plan: B
St Petersburg: Tea with a local Russian family - 1st January
This morning is at leisure to relax and enjoy the facilities at the hotel. You may wish to attend a New Year’s Brunch at the historic Europe restaurant of your hotel.
You may like to spend the afternoon exploring St. Petersburg. Perhaps visit the traditional Christmas Market at the Ostrovsky Square where you can continue in the festive spirit with games, carousels, food and souvenirs as well as live music concerts.
In the late afternoon, we are delighted to introduce you to a local Russian family who would love to invite you to their home for a traditional tea of Russian ‘Baranki’, cookies and stewed fruit. Gain a genuine and privileged insight into Russian life and culture as you engage in a fascinating conversation with your hosts.
Enjoy the evening at leisure.
Overnight: Grand Hotel Europe
Meal Plan: B
St Petersburg: Russian museum, Mariinsky Theatre Backstage tour - 2nd January
Today visit the Russian Museum, which showcases the history of Russian art from the 10th through to the 20th centuries. The expansive collection is housed in four buildings within walking distance of each other and part of the Mikhailovsky Palace. There are over 40,000 exhibits to discover which have only been on public view since the end of the Soviet era.
You may wish to stop for lunch at “Sadko” restaurant. The stunning interior invokes thoughts of a flower gallery and red blooms fill the walls. The hip atmosphere and staff go well with traditional Russian food styled with modern twist.
Afterwards allow us to treat you to a unique and captivating backstage tour of the Mariinsky Imperial Opera Theatre. Explore unseen areas of the theatre including backstage, the wardrobes and the rooftop where the decorations are made. The theatre is called Mariinsky in honour of Maria Fedorovna, the wife of Emperor Alexander II. Built by architect Cavos in 1859-1860, it was inaugurated in 1860. Today the Mariinsky Theatre is one of the most beautiful in the world, famous for its renowned performers such as Marius Petipa, Matilda Kshesinskaya, Anna Pavlova, Rudolf Nyreev, Michael Barishnikov, Fyodor Shalyapin and others. The theatre has witnessed the triumphs of several generations of opera and ballet stars.
Return to hotel and have some time to prepare for the evening when you may wish to return to the world-famous theatre to attend a spectacular performance of Russian ballet or opera, made all the more enchanting having experienced the atmosphere backstage.
You may want to conclude your day with a Russian dinner at the Demidov restaurant, situated in one of the most beautiful spots of old St. Petersburg on the Fontanka River embankment in front of the St. Michael’s Castle. Three halls of the restaurant boast a cosy and stylish interior. The antique porcelain working fireplace and the engravings of views of old St. Petersburg make the classical interior of the White Hall unbelievably beautiful. The menu is based on traditional Russian recipes from the time of Peter the Great and in the evenings the restaurant provides entertainment in the form of a Russian and Gipsy romance show or classical music.
Overnight: Grand Hotel Europe
Meal Plan: B
Depart St Petersburg - 3rd January
Today you will be privately transferred to the airport to take your flight back home.
Meal Plan: B