Customized Tour

One-day individual tour in Saint Petersburg

Igor Ribin
Event organizer
Meeting point: I will pick you up at city port area outside boat terminal / If you're traveling with the cruise: I will pick you up at the city port area If you don't: please, send me a message, so we can figure out comfortable spot
Private
Only your company, from 1 to 4 person
8 hrs
Only for You
This is a private tour. Only you and your group will participate in the tour
A Guide at Your Disposal
If you wish to adjust the tour itinerary slightly, please contact the organizer

What is included in activity

My time as a guide only

What is not included

Entry tickets, transportation cost, food of your choice

Details

Our exhaustive (no pun intended) walking tour starts as soon as we leave city port gates. Approximate itinerary for that is down bellow.

We can explore both sides of the Neva and walk in a complete loop the city center. We can start from any place, for example on Nevsky or any of those streets radiating from it. Nevsky is main thoroughfare of St. Petersburg stretched like a string between two major points on the bow of Neva river — Admiralty and Alexandr Nevsky monastery, certainly one of the must see places in the city.

We could go towards the Neva embankment along any canal that flow from Neva and empty back into it. You'll learn about the Fontanka river, the Catherine canal, the Moika river that are the channels built during the 18th-19th centuries and about major buildings on their banks and events happened in them. You'll hear the stories about St. Michael castle, Summer Garden, Field of Mars, Church on a Spilt Blood, Michael palace (Russian Museum), Marble palace and many more of those historical buildings that create unforgettable iconic image of St.Petersburg and directly connected with the Russian history for the last 300 years.
After we cross Neva river we get to the historical nucleus of the city and visit the main spots connected with its foundation such as Peter and Paul fortress and cathedral. You'll also see the Trinity square and Kshesinskaya mansion. Then we'll walk along the embankments to check out the grand Duke's magnificent palaces and spit of Vasilievskii Island (promontory of land created for former city port and latter used as official city center). We'll continue our rout along the Neva embankment, the only place where you could see first museum, first academy of science, first university, first military school, first art academy, first theater and first senate and synod (highest regulating body for Orthodox church). Impressive? All of those places are most recognizable images that gave St.Petersburg its brand name.
On the St Isaak square with impressive bulk of the cathedral you'll hear about the history of political reforms in Russia and bloody events connected with the reign of those tzars. We'll wind up at Big and Small Maritime streets that originally were the first two streets in St.Petersburg and later became the most prestigious ones in Russia. A lot of banks, insurance agencies and jewelry shops (Faberge was one of them) appeared there in the end of the 19-th century.
On our walk along the other canal we'll spot the mansions of the richest Russian families of the Usupovs, the Stroganovs, the Sheremetievs and the Demidovs. Each of them owned a land compared to any kingdom in Europe. You'll find out about their fortunes and their famous representatives influenced the history of Russia.
Along the way you'll aslo see some places connected with history of Russian literature, music and ball room dancing; nodel salons that were frequented by famous Russian writes and poets such as Pushkin and Dostoevsky, famous musicians and composers like Chaikovsky and Rubinstein, ballet dancers from Mariinsky and Bolshoi Theater. We'll finish our trip at Nevsky prospect.

So if you are interested to really dive into St Petersburg history and culture no need to look any further! I am your guide!

How can I pay?

Online prepayment
Pay the rest to the organizer
A full refund is available for prepayment and online payment if canceled within 48 hours.
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Online Booking

Price
Regular ticket
Offer for group of 1-2 persons
6 000 ₽
per group
Offer for group of 3-4 persons
9 000 ₽
per group
For any payment method you must book a ticket through the booking form below and receive confirmation by e-mail and (or) SMS.

Activity schedule

On request

What places you will see

• Neva river
• Admiralty
• Alexandr Nevsky monastery
• Fontanka river
• the Catherine canal
• the Moika river
• St. Michael castle
• Summer Garden
• Field of Mars
• Church on a Spilt Blood
• Michael palace (Russian Museum)
• Marble palace and many more

Activity book period

You can book tour up to 36 hours in advance.

Languages in what activity is performed

English

Directions to meet your guide

I will pick you up at city port area outside boat terminal / If you're traveling with the cruise: I will pick you up at the city port area If you don't: please, send me a message, so we can figure out comfortable spot

How long your tour will be

8 hrs

Photos

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Reviews by travellers

3.8 out of 5
9 reviews
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Igorena
Igor Ribin wasn't interested in our preferences. He was just droning on like a programmed robot. We would've enjoyed Peterhof much better without any guide as opposed to Igor.
over 7 years ago
Andrew
Igor is simply fantastic. He might look stern at first sight. But he really is a caring and knowledgeable guide. One of the best guide I have ever engaged.
almost 8 years ago
Annehamp
It was a great tour... But our guide seemed to be in a bad mood - unfortunately
over 8 years ago
Hugo
We have been introduced to Saint Petersburg by Igor, who has guides us over the course of three days in this wonderful city. Igor is able to provide you rich details about the city, with very extensive knowledge about architecture, art and the city's history. Through the use of headphones you will be able to hear what Igor has to say, while giving yourself the opportunity to look around at your own pace. Igor is very flexible in organising the tours by adapting to your needs and wishes. Do not expect jokes or a lot of energy, but pay close attention and you will have great insight into the city. Thank you!
about 9 years ago
Claire.p
Very " rich" tour ; very complete ; our guide was very well informed except about the museum opening hours ... ;-) but he had so many other informations to share .. that was fine. It is a very long day... very good shoes are requested ! but walking is such a nice way to discover the town..
over 9 years ago
This is a new tour, check out reviews from other tours by this guide:
Samantha H.
We were fortunate to book Igor for a two day hermitage and city tour. We learned so much, covered so much ground and enjoyed the experience that we booked Igor for another day to Peterhof and Catherine’s Palace at Pushkin. Igor is in himself a quintessential Russian experience. His passion for his craft, the history of his city and the landmarks know no bounds. As an Australian, Igor looks, sounds and acts like what we would believe a typical Russian would be, stern, forthright and a sense of humour as dry as a dead dingoes donger. Dressed partway between Sherlock Holmes and a university professor you scuttle along after him, keeping up with his long stride as he talks verbatim into a microphone connected to your own earphones. ‘We’ve got a lot to cover today’ he chimes, ‘so lets get cracking!’ I’ve always hated the wasted time that goes with group tours, Igor – not only removed any wasted time with us, but we covered more in one day (albeit we were beat!) than a two day group itinerary. All on foot. If you are after lots of laughs, morning, afternoon tea, long lunches and commercial recommendations then Igor is not your man. If you are after a jammed packed experience, with each landmark contextualised with time and place, a story woven between them, fact based descriptions that enable your own imagination to go back to that era, and the occasional quiz to check you’ve been listening – then Igor IS your man. We thoroughly value our travel experience with ...
about 8 years ago
Balraj_s
I have booked Igor for a second time for another two day individual tour (2016 and 2018). It was like visiting an old friend again, and am very thankful to him for tailoring my trip again, and building upon what we saw in 2016. This time we visited the areas outside the main tourist sites - we visited the areas associated with Soviet History, the Siege monument, various metro stations. The main reason for my trip was to run in the marathon, and Igor tailored my trip to pick up my racing number from the stadium. We also visited a newly built exhibition (built in 2018) on the history of Russia - This was awesome! and would recommend you take a trip there. We also visited the main football stadium in St P (new Zenith stadium which was used during world cup) - this was impressive. I really enjoyed taking the buses around the city with Igor, as a solo tourist who does not speak Russian, this would not have been possible alone. Igor is such great value for money, and would I definitely book him again if I return to St Petersburg. .................................................................................................................................... (My 2016 review) I really enjoyed my tour to St Petersburg with Igor. He was able to tailor my tour to include a comprehensive historical tour of Dostoevsky's St Petersburg. The tour was very detailed, yet flexible. St Petersburg is a great city with so much history, I plan to return...
over 8 years ago
Andrew D.
Igor Ribin was our guide in Saint Petersburg and he took us literally everywhere. His knowledge of Saint Petersburg is extensive and he was happy to adapt his tours to our interests. His Hermitage tour is amazing in respect of his detailed knowledge of the art and artifacts in this remarkable museum. You definitely appreciate having a guide. Igor also guided us at the the Hermitage Storage Facility, this is a fabulous off the beaten track must see in Saint Petersburg and the assistance of a professional guide such as Igor will help greatly. We would recommend Igor Ribin as a Saint Petersburg guide, particularly his walking tours and go with his suggestions you will really discover a lot of interesting places. Thanks Igor we had a wonderful time. Helen & Andrew
over 7 years ago
Dawndarc
Igor was very knowledgeable- extremely knowledgeable about Russian history. He was well organized and knew exactly where to take us. It was a busy schedule and we walked lots but we felt like we saw and learned so much. We wouldn’t hesitate to recommend Igor as a guide. His English by the way is fantastic!
almost 7 years ago
Alynne M.
Everything was excellent! Igor is the perfect guide, we loved our Hermitage tour. He help us buying the tickets and confirmed our appointment days before. Completely recommended.
over 5 years ago
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