Jewish Heritage Tours to Russia
Jewish Tours in St. Petersburg & Moscow

Gain a rare and privileged insight into the soul of this intricate civilization, birthplace of Tolstoy, Dostoyevsky, Stravinsky and Rachmaninoff. The Kremlin and Red Square make Moscow synonymous with exotic travel. The Jewish Center is a beacon for Moscow's Jews. Elegant, stately St. Petersburg, with imperial palaces, takes you back to the world of the Czars. Thriving Jewish schools and the Jewish Center (opened in 2005) are bound to inspire you.(Anyone for borscht, blintzes or babkas?). These Russian Jewish tours are rich in substance and will leave you with lasting memories.

Day 1 Monday Arrival in St. Petersburg
Welcome to Russia! Upon arrival, you will be met by your guide and transferred to your hotel in the center of St. Petersburg. En route, enjoy a brief orientation to this grand city. Welcome Dinner. Check in at Hotel. 

Day 2 Tuesday St. Petersburg
Breakfast. This morning, enjoy a peek into the world of Jewish St. Petersburg as you enjoy a full day of sightseeing. Visit the Grand Choral Synagogue, consecrated in 1893. Thanks to the gracious patronage of Lily and Edmond Safra, this Moorish-style masterpiece of architecture has recently been restored to its former glory, and now contains a thriving Jewish day school. Next, visit the YESOD center. In the afternoon,  visit to the world-renowned Hermitage Museum. This collection, begun by Catherine the Great, includes more than two and a half million works of art, representing different ages, cultures and peoples. Admire the masterpieces of Leonardo Da Vinci, Titian, Raphael, and Rembrandt, works of the French Impressionists, and the magnificent interiors of the Winter Palace. Hotel.

Day 3 Wednesday St. Petersburg
Breakfast. Begin the day with a tour of Pushkin, the Czar’s village, and home of the Russian Imperial family. Visit the 18th century Baroque-style Catherine’s Palace, the largest Royal summer residence (designed by famed Italian architect Rastrelli). Admire the Cameron Gallery, designed for Catherine the Great’s special dinner parties, and stroll the French and English gardens. Next, see the “Formula of Sorrow” Jewish memorial in Pushkin. This memorial was created in 1991 to commemorate the deaths of 10,000 local Jews during the Nazi occupation. Afterwards, a short drive takes you to the nearby town of Pavlovsk, summer residence of Paul I. Lunch at Pavlovsk Palace restaurant followed by a visit to the late 18th century Classic style Grand Palace of Paul I, built by European architects in style of a grand Italian palazzo. Hotel.

Day 4 Thursday St. Petersburg - Moscow
Breakfast. Enjoy the morning at leisure. At noon, depart for a visit to the Yusupov Palace, once privately owned by one of Russia’s richest aristocrats. See the grand reception and private halls of the Yusupovs. Later, descend to the ground floor dining room - and stand on the very site where Gregory Rasputin was assassinated in 1916 by aristocratic plotters (with young prince Yusupov at the head). In the late afternoon, continue to the train station and board the express train to Moscow. Upon arrival in Moscow, transfer to the hotel. Hotel.

Day 5 Friday Moscow
Breakfast. Begin your sightseeing tour of this important capital. The tour will include a visit to the Moscow Jewish Center and Memorial. In the afternoon visit the Tretyakov Art Gallery. This teeming museum houses the world's largest collection of Russian art, boasting more than 50,000 items. Later, return to the hotel. Friday night Dinner. Hotel.

Day 6 Saturday St. Moscow
Breakfast. Depart on a tour of the Kremlin, whose foundation in the 12th century heralded the birth of the great city of Moscow. At the center of the Kremlin’s architectural layout is Cathedral Square, where the four main Cathedrals are located. Next, visit the adjacent Armory. Russia’s most venerable museum possesses a priceless collection of Imperial treasures. These include ancient state regalia (including the Czar’s coronation dress), the largest collection of gold and silver by Russian craftsmen, a vast array of ceremonial weapons, and glorious carriages. In the afternoon, walk along Red Square, with its spectacular, onion-domed Cathedral of St. Basil. Drop in for a visit at the bustling GUM Mall (Russia’s biggest). Remainder of the day at leisure. Farewell Dinner. Hotel.

Day 7 Sunday Departure from Moscow
Breakfast. After breakfast, transfer to the airport.