RUSSIA: Detailed Itinerary and Expenses

#FORMOTHERRUSSIA SIGHTSEEING SOLO TRIP

#Russia #Moscow #SaintPetersburg

September 12-16, 2024 (Moscow and Saint Petersburg, Russia)

1RUB = 0.63PHP (Russian Ruble RUB to Philippine Peso PHP)

Itinerary and Expenses within Russia (5D4N)

PREBOOKED:

PHP3129.55 – Russian E-Visa Single Entry AED191

PHP1620 – PH Travel tax

PHP2435 – BigSky Nation Wi-Fi rental (8 days multi-country trip) via Lalamove (pickup and delivery own account) used CC promo SECBANK30 for 33% discount.

PHP1288 – Standard Insurance via GCash

Accommodation via ZenHotels:

PHP892.34 – TimeLapse Hostel USD15 (1night) single capsule (shared bathroom) breakfast included

PHP3,618.47 – Nevskij Dom Guest House USD62 (2nights) economy single attic room, for 1 adult breakfast included

PHP1,575.68 Nevskij Dom Guest House USD28 (1night) economy single attic room, for 1 adult breakfast included

TRIPdotCOM Pre-booked Activities:

PHP623.53 – Moscow Kremlin Cathedral Square

PHP1,355.40 – Catherine Palace and Park

PHP378.85 – The Hermitage Main Museum Complex

Russiantrain.com Sapsan Train:

PHP4,941.05 – Moscow to Saint Petersburg Sapsan bullet train Standard Seat Only RUB6689

PHP5,217.02 – Saint Petersburg to Moscow Sapsan bullet train Standard Seat Only RUB7489

Paid using in Russian Rubles RUB:

RUB600 – Aeroexpress train SVO airport to Belorussky Station

RUB900 – Moscow Troika reloadable Card (RUB150 deposit with load 750 RUB)

RUB604 – Saint Petersburg Podorozhnik reloadable Card (RUB80 deposit and load with 524 RUB)

RUB51 – suburban train from Vitebsky Vokzal to Tsarskoye Selo (Catherine Palace)

RUB600 – Aeroexpress train Belorussky Station to SVO airport

Airline to Moscow: China Eastern Airlines (From Incheon and going to Fukuoka) ICN-PVG-SVO and SVO-PKX-KIX-FUK (booked via TRIPdotCOM)

Airline from Manila: Cebu Pacific MNL-ICN-FUK-MNL (Booked Nov072023 Php2 base fare RT) + 20kg baggage FUK-MNL PHP5,284.55

TOTAL EXPENSES (EXCLUDING AIRFARE, FOOD AND PASALUBONG): PHP29,644.63

Highlights per City:

MOSCOW Москва “a river at a wetland or a marsh”

Moscow Kremlin and Red Square (UNESCO World Heritage Sites)

Moscow Kremlin Museums and Attractions

-Dormition Cathedral (Успенский Собор)

-Cathedral of the Archangel (Архангельский собор)

-Cathedral of the Annunciation (Благовещенский собор)

-Residence of Patriarchs and Church of the Twelve Apostles (Патриарший дворец и церковь Двенадцати апостолов)

-Church of the Deposition of the Robe (Церковь Ризоположения)

-Ivan the Great Bell Tower (Колокольня Ивана Великого)

-Tsar Bell (Царь–колокол)

-Tsar Cannon Царь-пушка

-Palace of the Facets

-Grand Kremlin Palace

-Armory Chamber

-Senate Palace

-Arsenal

-State Kremlin Palace

Red Square Красная площадь and Other Spots

-St. Basil’s Cathedral Собор Василия Блаженного

-State Historical Museum Государственный исторический музей

-Lenin’s Mausoleum Мавзолей Ленина

-Kazan Cathedral Казанский собор

-GUM Государственный Универсальный Магазин

-Resurrection (Iberian) Gate Воскресенские (Иверские) ворота

-1812 Patriotic War Museum Музей Отечественной войны 1812 года

-Cathedral of Christ the Savior

-Kremlyovskaya Embankment

-Alexander Garden

-Exhibition of Achievements of National abbreviated as VDNKh

-Moscow City Skyscrapers

-Kremlin in Izmaylovo

-Moscow Metro Picturesque Stations

SAINT PETERSBURG Санкт-Петербург “Saint Peter’s castle”

Historic Centre of Saint Petersburg and Related Groups of Monuments (UNESCO World Heritage Sites)

City Center

-State Hermitage Museum Государственный Эрмитаж

-Peter and Paul Cathedral and Fortress

-Church of the Savior on Spilled Blood Церковь Спаса на Крови

-Saint Isaac’s Cathedral

-Kazan Cathedral

-Smolny Cathedral and Convent

-Admiralty

-Russian Museum

-Nevsky Prospekt Palaces and Heritage Buildings

-Saint Petersburg Picturesque Metro Stations

Suburb

-Catherine Palace in Tsarskoe Selo

-Lakhta Center

DAY 1: MOSCOW SVO ARRIVAL AND METRO TOUR

1440H ETA in SVO (MSK GMT+3) Sheremetyevo – A.S. Pushkin international airport (SVO). Exchanged some CNY for buying train ticket and Troika Card with load. Use Yandex Map for navigation.

1600H ETD SVO Airport to Belorussky Station via Aeroexpress Train RUB400. Use Yandex Metro App for train routes in Moscow and Saint Petersburg. Buy Troika Card with load at Belorusskaya metro station. Walk towards Belorusskaya M5 alight at Prospekt Mira. Transfer to M6 alight at Sukharevskaya. Walk towards hostel. Check-in: TimeLapse Hostel. Currency Exchange at Obmen Valyuty near Rizkhskaya Station. No need for passport when exchanging currency USD bills to RUB. Start Moscow Metro Tour without getting outside metro stations. Back to Sukharevskaya, dinner at Vkusno I Tochka (Russian McDo), washup then rest.

DAY 2: MOSCOW KREMLIN TOUR, WALK AROUND KREMLIN, VDNKh, SAPSAN BULLET TRAIN TO SAINT PETERSBURG

0500H Wake-up call. Hostel free breakfast. Check out and leave backpack at wardrobe.

0600H Sukharevskaya M6 alight at Turgenevskaya. Transfer to M1 Chistie Prudy and alight at Biblioteka Imeni Lenina. Walk towards Aleksandrovskiy Sad. Entrance at Troitskaya Tower. Explore Red Square and Alexander Garden while waiting for entrance, but exchange voucher to Moscow Kremlin Ticket first at Museum Shop.

0930H Enter Moscow Kremlin Cathedral Square

1200H Exit Moscow Kremlin. Aleksandrovskiy Sad M4 to Biblioteka Imeni Lenina M1. Alight at Kropotkinskaya. Eat lunch at Teremok nearby. Christ The Savior Cathedral. Photoshoot at bridge. Walk at riverside Sofiyskaya Embankment. Tourist center is at Zaryadye Park. Floating bridge. Kitay-Gorod M6 alight at Sukharevskaya. Back to hostel to get backpack. Optional to visit VDNKh if time permits. (Sukharevskaya M6 alight at VDNKh. To go to Komsomolskaya station: VDNKh M6 to Prospekt Mira. Transfer to Prospekt Mira M5. Alight at Komsomolskaya M5.) Go to Komsomolskaya M5 then walk towards Leningradsky Vokzal to ride Sapsan Bullet train to Saint Petersburg. Show electronic ticket to attendant with passport and search your seat.

1740H ETD Leningradsky station

2137H ETA Moskovsky Station. Walk towards hotel. Check-in: Nevskij Dom Guest House. Eat dinner at nearby Stolovaya (near Ploschad Vosstania). Back to hotel, washup and rest.

DAY 3: CATHERINE PALACE, CITY TOUR AND METRO TOUR

0600H Wake-up call. Hostel free breakfast.

0800H Buy Podorozhnik reloadable Card (RUB80 deposit) and load with 524 RUB at Ploschad Vosstania Station M1. Ride at Ploschad Vosstania Station M1 and alight at Pushkinskaya M1. Walk towards Vitebsky Vokzal and buy RUB51 suburban train ticket going to Tsarskoye Selo.

1000H Arrived at Tsarskoye Selo Station. Ride bus or walk towards Catherine Palace. Arrived at Hermitage Kitchen near Catherine Park and scanned QR code of ticket voucher to enter Catherine Park. *Park Admission included in Palace Tickets only when Catherine Park is ticketed late April to late October. Explore the vast Catherine Park and walk towards Palace Gardens. Fall in line for Palace Tour 1. Scan again QR code of ticket voucher. Wear shoe covers. Enjoy the interiors and Amber Room.

1200H End of Palace Tour 1. You can get outside and explore again the park or exit via main gate. Use Yandex Map to find the nearest bus stop and travel back to city center and eat lunch. Visit Saint Isaac’s Cathedral along the way. Admiralty and Palace Square where Winter Palace stands. Tourist center is beside the Hermitage. Walk along Nevskiy Prospekt to visit palaces, cathedrals and churches. Walk towards Church of the Savior in Spilled Blood near Griboyedov Canal, a touristy area. Optional to enter the church. Walk back to Nevskiy Prospekt and visit Russian Museum. Stars Coffee (Russian Starbucks) is just across Kazan Cathedral. Coffee time and rest a bit.

1800H Start Saint Petersburg Metro Tour without getting outside metro stations.

2000H Back to Ploschad Vosstania, dinner at Stolovaya, washup then rest.

DAY 4: PETER AND PAUL FORTRESS, HERMITAGE, SMOLNY, LAKHTA CENTER

0800H Wake-up call. Hostel free breakfast.

0900H Walk towards Mayakovskaya M3 and alight at Gostiny Dvor M3. Transfer to Nevsky Prospekt M2 and alight at Gorkovskaya M2. Walk towards Peter and Paul Fortress. Explore the area. Optional to enter the cathedral. Go back to main road. Ride bus 46 at Troitskaya Square bus stop. Alight at Suvorovskaya Square. Then walk towards Hermitage at Millionnaya St.

1100H Arrived at Hermitage. Scan QR code of ticket voucher. Entrance at Jordan Staircase. Explore Hermitage. Wander at the state rooms, opulent halls and European art at second floor. I almost walked around for 4 hours but worth the experience to see the second largest museum in the world!

1500H Lunch at Kvartirka Soviet Café. Ride bus 27 at Nevskiy Prospekt and alight at Liteyniy Avenue then walk towards café.

1600H Ride Trolleybus 7 at Liteyniy Avenue and alight at Tulskaya Street for Smolny Cathedral. Laktha Center if time permits. Back to Ploschad Vosstania for dinner or check souvenirs at Matreshka Gift Shop near Novotel Санкт-Петербург Центр (Ulitsa Mayakovskogo). Otherwise, check souvenir shop near Ploschad Vosstania before going back to hotel. You can also buy snacks at nearby supermarket. Washup and rest.

DAY 5: BACK TO MOSCOW, MOSCOW CITY, IZMAILOVO AND SVO DEPARTURE

0500H Wake-up Call. Check out and walk towards Moskovsky Station. Saint Petersburg to Moscow Sapsan train.

0530H ETD Moskovsky Station

0918H ETA Leningradsky station. Visit Moscow City for Skyscarpers. Federation tower (tallest in Europe). Ride metro to Izmailovo Kremlin. Vernissage has stores selling cheap Russian souvenirs like matryoshka dolls, refmagnets, winter wear, scarves, etc.

1200H Ride back to Belorusskaya station to get to Belorussky Vokzal (Railway Station).

1300H Buy Aeroexpress ticket bound to SVO airport.

1500H Check-in at Sheremetyevo International Airport Terminal C. Pass the immigration, Board plane.

Notes:

1. Because of CebPac’s Piso Fare last Nov2023, I was able to travel to South Korea and Japan before my visas expire. But 2 months before my initial plan of SK-JP trip, I thought of going to Russia (a sudden decision since at weather forecasts, the temperature there on my trip dates were bearable below 20 degrees Celsius only) so I applied Russian e-visa July 29 and I was approved last Aug 02! Because of this, I started searching for cheap fares and found TRIPdotCOM offering affordable fares Seoul-Moscow and Moscow-Fukuoka but with layovers at Shanghai, Beijing and Osaka. This is my first time doing layovers and first long haul flight to Europe (10 hours) so I was a bit nervous. In Shanghai, luckily, I got a Temporary Entry Permit, availed their transit tour and spent overnight at a nearby hotel with free airport transfers.

2. My pocket money is only USD100 when I entered Russia. Unfortunately, due to sanctions, our foreign cards won’t work so you need to bring USD or EUR bills and exchange these in Russia. 1USD=90RUB and 1EUR=99RUB is the exchange rate at a currency exchange in Moscow. You’ll notice I prebooked almost all my activities, train tickets and accommodations in TRIPdotCOM, Russiantrain and ZenHotels (not affected by sanctions). I didn’t use KLOOK, AGODA, BOOKINGdotCOM (my usual go-to travel booking apps).

3. The weather was nice as it didn’t rain on my entire stay in Russia. At morning it was cool below 20 degree Celsius but it gets warm at noon so I wore only light shirt. My itinerary is jampacked because my targets are world heritage sites. Must-visits are Moscow Kremlin and Saint Petersburg’s Hermitage and Catherine Palace. Actually, Peterhof Palace is the one I initially booked for Saint Petersburg, but a week before my trip, they canceled for public entrance (a private event) so TripDOTcom refunded it. Instead, I booked a new one and that was Catherine Palace (also a summer residence of Russian tsars). I was not disappointed as it was really beautiful especially the Amber Room and Great Hall full of gold! Yandex Maps is very helpful for navigation like transpo options, bus routes and even metro.

4. I noticed that even I’m connected to free wifi of my hotels in Moscow and St Petersburg, I couldn’t access my mobile apps like Facebook and Instagram so good thing I used travel wifi since my mobile phone is not eSIM-capable. Thanks BigSky Nation travel wifi (since in China where I had layovers, American apps were also blocked).

5. Be mindful of train etiquette. Priority seating for seniors, pregnant women, PWD and with kids. Though subway lines are abound, they’re easy to follow since color coded. Use Yandex Metro App for subway lines in Russia. Choose the city and input the departure and arrival destinations. I must say their trains are super on-time (reminds me of Taiwan’s). 30 seconds to a 2-minute frequency! Their beautiful metro stations are like living museums and palace rooms! Some are modern futuristic stations. I spent my whole afternoon in metro tour before going back to hotel. Also, I’m amazed that aside from token and reloadable cards, you can also ride at metro using QR code in your phone and even facial ID! Yes, you could pay your metro fare using your face. Stand for a while sa turnstile scanners and you’re in! I was in awe for their advanced/modern metro.

6. Before going to Russia, I had perception before that they’re grumpy, no-smiles and unapproachable due to language barrier. But people in the cities are very youthful and helpful too. They understand some and speak a bit of English. In their own ways, I was astounded and smitten by their kindness (like helping an old woman crossing the street) Again, make sure you have addresses of accommodation printed in Russian Cyrillic Alphabet for less hassle/convenience. Duolingo helped me somehow to read Russian texts.

7. Food is relatively cheap in Russia. I alloted at least RUB500 per meal. But in Stolovaya (similar to an eatery/canteen in Philippines), for RUB250 you have a decent meal as there are choices of drinks, breads, mains, etc. I splurged a bit in beef stroganoff (almost 2K rubles) and in Soviet Café where almost 700rubles for pelmeni and mors drink. Convenience stores are scattered selling cheap breads and water (like RUB43 of 1.5L mineral water and RUB39 bread baguette). Plenty of fastfood restos like Vkusno I Tochka (McDo) and Burger King and Stars Coffee (Starbucks) with almost same price in the Philippines!

8. For souvenirs, in Moscow I bought some at Izmailovo Vernissage (flea market) due to cheap prices (you can haggle a bit). There are plenty of affordable refmagnets and matryoshka dolls even scarves and shirts. I spent my remaining Rubles here since I alloted budget for Aeroexpress ticket back to SVO airport.

Hope this will guide you. Russia is still under sanctions as of this writing so it’s risky to travel there. I got approved so I pushed this trip. I already planned of taking this trip since pandemic but I thought I won’t be able to do this. The buildings that I only saw in RTS game like Red Alert 2 and 3, I now saw them in real life! Despite the sanctions, Russians live normal nowadays in the cities I visited, as if there’s no effect of sanctions in their daily lives. Maybe they adapted to it as they’re already cashless like China. Actually there are group tours of Chinese and Indians when I went in Russia. I saw no Filipino when I stayed there…hehe. I understand that prebooked activities are expensive because you can’t book directly in Russian-administered sites. For those planning Moscow-Saint Petersburg combo, research first on places you’d like to visit and modes of transpo (bullet train or plane) before purchasing any tickets, where you’re comfortable, to get your money’s worth. Hoping to get back soon to visit other cities like Kazan and Golden Ring towns. Still hoping for a visit to Peterhof and Russian Museum, or watch ballet. Enjoy your Russia trip soon!