Real Russia - City Tours including Moscow to St Petersburg

Trains Informations

Train Information and Timetables

Sapsan

Make the most of your stay in Russia

If you want to do more than just get from A to B, choose the Sapsan line to transport you between Moscow and St. Petersburg.

The Sapsan (Russian for Peregrine), travels as fast as 250 km/h making it the fastest way to travel by land between Moscow and St. Petersburg. What’s more, the large windows on the Sapsan reveal the unique beauty of the Russian countryside as you speed along.

You have the choice of 2 available classes to travel by: 2^nd, and 1^st.

2^nd includes: A designated seat with folding footrest, folding or window table, adjustable backrest and individual lighting, You can also purchase the day’s newspaper, internet access, audio-visual units, and hot food from the bistro service but this is not included in the ticket price.
1^st includes: Same as 2^nd class with added extras including the day’s newspaper and a hot meal included in the ticket price; a travel set containing ear plugs, eye masks, and slippers (with additional, smaller travel sets for passengers travelling with children); hot tea, fresh coffee, soft drinks, and alcoholic drinks; a built in audio-visual unit for entertainment; plug sockets to recharge your laptops, mobile phones and other electronic equipment; access to the internet through an onboard WiFi service.

Sapsan : Moscow to St Petersburg

Train No.	Depart	Arrive	Travel Time	Stops
Train No.	Moscow	St Petersburg	Travel Time	Tver	Vishnyi Volochek	Bologoe	Okulovka	Chudovo
152 Daily	06:45	10:30	3h45	-	-	-	-	-
154 Mondays	07:00	10:55	3h55	-	-	-	-	-
160 Daily	13:30	17:45	4h16	14:33	15:17	15:39	16:05	-
158 Daily	13:45	18:00	4h15	14:48	15:32	15:54	16:20	-
162 Daily	16:30	20:29	3h59	17:30	-	18:27	-
164 Daily	19:30	23:19	3h49	20:30	-	-	-	-
166 Daily	19:45	23:30	3h45	-	-	-	-	-

Sapsan : St Petersburg to Moscow

Train No.	Departure	Arrival	Travel Time	Stops
Train No.	St Petersburg	Moscow	Travel Time	Chudovo	Okulovka	Bologoe	Vishnyi Volochek	Tver
151 Daily	06:45	10:35	3h40	-	-	-	-	-
153 Mondays	07:00	10:50	3h50	17:45	-	-	-	09:42
177 Daily	11:15	15:25	4h10	-	-	-	-	-
157 Daily	13:30	17:45	4h10	-	14:59	15:25	15:47	16:30
159 Daily	13:45	17:55	4h10	-	15:14	15:40	16:02	16:45
161 Daily	15:00	18:50	3h50	-	-	16:46	-	17:45
163 Daily	19:25	23:15	3h49	20:10	-	-	-	22:08
165 Daily	19:45	23:25	3h40	-	-	-	-	-

Grand Express

No finer way to travel.

The most luxurious overnight journey available between Moscow and St. Petersburg (by land, air, or river). It takes around 9 hours to get from Moscow to St. Petersburg, which is time well spent on the Grand Express. Most of our passengers tend to get a good meal in the dining car before bedding down for the night in their compartments. If you prefer to stay up all night, you’ll be witness to the sunrise over the Russian countryside and you’ll have food and drink available to order to your compartment at any time.

You have the choice of 4 available classes to travel by: 1^st, Premium, Grand, and Grand De Lux.

1^st includes: A cabin for 2 with bed linen provided and magazines. Premium includes: Same as 1^st plus a WC and sink. Grand includes: A cabin 1 ½ the size of 1^st and Premium cabins. Also included is a wardrobe, DVD player, TV, air conditioning, WiFi, heating and noise insulation, dressing gown and slippers. Grand De Lux includes: Same as Grand and the cabin is 2 times the size of 1^st and Premium cabins.

Grand Express : Moscow to St Petersburg

Train No.	Departure	Arrival	Travel Time	Stops
Train No.	Moscow	St. Petersburg	Travel Time	Torfyanoe
054 Daily	23:40	08:35	8h55	06:10

Grand Express : St Petersburg to Moscow

Train No.	Departure	Arrival	Travel Time	Stops
Train No.	St.petersburg	Moscow	Travel Time	Vishni Volochyok	Kiln
053 Daily	23:42	08:35	8h53	04:00	07:14

Red Arrow

The famous Red Arrow train

The Red Arrow is perhaps Russia’s most historic train, serving ancient passengers like Lenin, Stalin, and countless other esteemed members of the old Communist Party. Today it remains one of the most popular choices for travel between Russia’s two capitals (Moscow and St. Petersburg) and with over 80 years of dedicated service under its belt, the Red Arrow’s reliability is second to none.

Wake up at your chosen destination feeling rested and rejuvenated. Every type of available ticket includes a place for you to sleep in comfort, with Deluxe class tickets also coming equipped with showers.

You have the choice of 3 available classes to travel by:
2^nd, 1^st, and Deluxe.

2^nd includes: A cabin for 4 people with pull-out sofas, bed linen and magazines. Lunch box available to purchase.
1^st includes: A cabin for 2 people with pull out-sofas, bed linen, TV and magazines. Hot meal available to purchase.
Deluxe includes: Same as 1^st with an added shower.

Red Arrow : Moscow to St Petersburg

Train No.	Departure	Arrival	Travel Time
Train No.	Moscow	St Petersburg	Travel Time
002 Daily	23:55	07:55	8h00

Red Arrow : St Petersburg to Moscow

Train No.	Departure	Arrival	Travel Time
Train No.	St.Petersburg	Moscow	Travel Time
001 Daily	23:55	07:55	8h00

Express

Non-stop luxury travel between Moscow and St. Petersburg

A luxury journey between Moscow and St. Petersburg that leaves later than most. Experience the city until closing time before hopping on the Express, bedding down and waking up fresh to your next adventure in a new city.

You have the choice of 2 available classes to travel by:
2^nd, and 1^st.

2^nd includes: A cabin for 4 people including bed linen, magazines, and a lunchbox.
1^st includes: A cabin for 2 people including bed linen, magazines, and a hot meal.

Express : Moscow to St Petersburg

Train No.	Departure	Arrival	Travel Time
Train No.	Moscow	St Petersburg	Travel Time
004 Daily	23:59	08:00	8h01

Express : St Petersburg to Moscow

Train No.	Departure	Arrival	Travel Time
Train No.	St.Petersburg	Moscow	Travel Time
003 Daily	23:59	08:00	8h01

Smena-Betankur

Reasonably priced and quick

The Smena-Betankur (formerly just Smena) is named after A. A. Betankur, the architect responsible for the construction and planning of many famous Russian buildings and monuments, particularly in St. Petersburg and Moscow.

A cross-country train spanning from Moscow to St. Petersburg, the Smena-Betankur is an overnight sleeper service with brand new carriages offering a comfy journey and a good night’s sleep.

You have the choice of 2 available classes to travel by:
2^nd and 1^st.

2^nd includes: A cabin for 4 people with bed linen, magazines, air conditioning, and a lunch box included.
1^st includes: A cabin for 2 people with bed linen, magazines, air conditioning, and a hot meal included.

Smena-Bekantur Timetable

Moscow to St Petersburg

Train No.	Departure	Arrival	Travel Time	Stops
Train No.	St.petersburg	Moscow	Travel Time	Tver
026 Daily	23:00	06:39	7h39	01:13

St Petersburg to Moscow

Train No.	Departure	Arrival	Travel Time	Stops
Train No.	St.petersburg	Moscow	Travel Time	Berezayka	Kiln	Kiln
025 Daily	23:00	07:14	8h14	02:19	04:34	05:08

Tour Itinerary	Duration	From
The Moscow & St.Petersburg - Classic Starting from either of the beautiful cities, you'll travel across eastern Russia for 4 relaxing days - a distance of over 800km. You'll also pass through Novgorod and Tver. Both Moscow and St Petersburg are the classic Russian destinations, with some of the most intriguing and inspiring architecture, art, food and culture the east has to offer.	4 days	Please Contact Us
The Moscow & St.Petersburg - Premium The 6 day tour takes a more leisurely pace, giving you more of a chance to appreciate the train journey and glorious countryside itself. The carriages and compartments are more than comfortable, and with excellent food, drink and facilities.	6 days	Please Contact Us
The Moscow & St.Petersburg - Superior This tour lets you indulge your truly extravagant side, travelling for twice as long as the classic tour, you are really given the chance to explore, soak up and taste every pleasure eastern Russia has to offer. The superior lasts for 8 days in total.	8 days	Please Contact Us

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Moscow Sight Seeing

Moscow is a city that is very much alive and bubbling with energy and enthusiasm with vibrant cultural centres and some of the world’s most important historical landmarks.

Beginning at the iconic Red Square, one can turn around on the spot and see almost every recognisable symbol the outside world relates to Russia. The Kremlin stands tall and proud, an historic spectacle whose glory only truly comes to light when you find yourself inside exploring the buildings within the fortified walls.

In the same breath you may cast your eyes across to St. Basil’s Cathedral, an architectural masterpiece with many tales to tell. St. Basil’s stands as a testament to the unwavering resolve of the Russian will, having been built, damaged, and rebuilt countless times in almost five centuries since it was erected.

Before leaving this area you can also view Lenin’s Mausoleum, the final resting place of the legendary Soviet figurehead. A short, bold structure made of black, red, and grey granite which goes two stories underground where the embalmed remains of Vladimir Lenin can be found. Also in Red Square is the State Historical Museum, an unmistakable red castle-like building within Red Square whose jagged towers and cornices divide opinion. The museum holds a supremely rich cornucopia of artefacts dating as far back as the Paleolithic period to the modern day and ultimately serves as a great introduction to the history of Russia.

Not to be missed is The Arbat District (consisting of Arbat Street and Arbat Square). Stop for lunch here at a choice café along the bustling pedestrian street stretching one kilometer in length. By now you will notice that Moscow doesn’t do anything by halves and the cafés are no exception. Each one is decorated to almost imperial standard and the service is excellent. What better place to take lunch than one of the city’s oldest surviving streets, where Russian nobility, high-ranking government officials, and famous writers and artists have lived throughout its past.

If you’re looking for a romantic walk later on in the evening, the distinctive streetlights of The Arbat make it well worth revisiting. Otherwise you can travel around the city by the famously lavish metro system which boasts chandeliers, sculptures, and huge murals across its stations. You may wish to visit the Tretyakov Gallery for a closer look in to Russian culture. The authentic Russian art displayed there provides an accurate portrayal of the Russian lens on the world and can be a fascinating experience for anyone looking to explore the culture.

If you’re looking to get away from the crowd then take a trip away to the All-Russia Exhibition Centre (sign-posted “ВДНХ/VDNKh”). Covering an enormous area the same size as Monaco, the centre can take a full day to navigate. The more curious traveller can explore a host of pavilions and outdoor exhibits featuring an incredibly diverse variety of Russian artefacts from all aspects of the Soviet era. Each pavilion is uniquely tasked with representing a particular industry, field or nation.

Visit the Church of Christ the Saviour. Easily identifiable by the bright, golden domes looming high above the river banks of the Moskva, the cathedral stands as a reimagining of a structure that once stood in its place. First constructed to celebrate the defeat of Napoleon at the hands of the Russians, the cathedral was torn down due to its connection to old imperial rulers. The site was then primed for Stalin’s unrealised vision of the great ‘Palace of the Soviets’, which collapsed in the planning stages due to architectural difficulties; leaving an opportunity to host the world’s largest open air swimming pool. However the Church received permission to rebuild the cathedral in 1992 and was completed and consecrated in 2000

A trip to Moscow wouldn’t be complete without visiting the Bolshoi Theatre, one of the Capital’s main sights. The world famous venue shows opera, ballet, drama, and musical performances in a fine-tuned acoustic environment designed by the architect Alberto Cavos. The Bolshoi is host to the renowned Russian ballet which is synonymous with the identity of Moscow. The hall is crafted as a giant instrument which is played by the stage performers each night. With resonant pinewood panels, a wooden ceiling in place of iron, and even papier-mâché boxes in an attempt to construct the best acoustics of any theatre the world over.

St.Petersburg Sight Seeing

The ‘hero city’ St. Petersburg was the capital city of Russia before the Revolution and was once known as Leningrad in honour of the late Vladimir Lenin. ‘Peter’ as it is affectionately referred to today has a rich history of famous figures and events which have been documented and represented in artworks, architecture and artefacts spread all over town.

You can go on a sightseeing tour of the city’s iconic monuments and some of the world’s finest examples of architecture. St. Petersburg has been referred to on occasion as the ‘Venice of the North’ due to the network of canals and bridges linking the city together (there are 342 in total).

Starting with Palace Square, you’ll find architectural masterpieces by Carlo Rossi as well as Auguste de Montferrand who also designed St. Isaac’s Cathedral. Perhaps St. Petersburg’s most bold and recognisable icon, looming over the picturesque low skyline. Rossi’s work, scattered across St. Petersburg brings to life a city barely three centuries old.

The Winter Palace, one of the most recognised buildings in St. Petersburg. It is known for housing the illustrious Hermitage Museum collection. With nearly three million works of art, it rivals even the Louvre in terms of quality and size. From Italian Renaissance to French Impressionist, Greek and Roman antiques to ancient Siberian and Central Asian art. The paintings of Rembrandts, Picasso, and Matisse hang on the elegant walls. Itself a masterful work of art boasting beautiful interior decoration and architectural detail. It is estimated that to view every piece for 1 minute each would take more than a decade.

Head away from Palace Square and delve deeper into St. Petersburg we have the Church of the Saviour on Spilled Blood and the Cathedral of the Resurrection of Christ. These church's show a traditional 16th century Russian architectural style as instructed by the building’s spearhead, Alexander III. Alexander ordered the church to be built on the place where his father died and to commemorate his passing, there is a shrine to the late tsar Alexander II deep within the church. A colourful and interesting edifice, the Church on Spilled Blood was first used as a place of worship, then turned into a warehouse during the Soviet era, and now serves as a museum.

Across the river Neva homes Peter & Paul Fortress, identified by a tall spire piercing above St.Petersburg. The Fortress was founded by Peter the Great, the famous tsar of old Russia, as a way of protecting the area from possible Swedish attack. It's considered the birthplace of St.Petersburg. Buildings are open to the public and offer a vivid perspective in to the inception and growth of the city. St. Petersburg’s Metro is the deepest transport system in the world and rivalled only by Moscow’s for its majestic appearance. The stations display great columns, chandeliers, paintings, murals, and sculptures that bring to life the experience of commuting.

For a wonderful day out, visit the Field of Mars. St. Petersburg’s largest park, it is surrounded on all sides by visual wonders like the Marble Palace. For fans of history, the park holds memorials for all those who lost their lives in the February Revolution of 1917 and an eternal flame for all the St.Petersburg victims of war and revolution over the years.

If you prefer to hunt for the city’s treasures then the Smolny Convent should feature on your list. Despite its name, it is actually a cathedral with other buildings on the grounds whose original purpose was to serve as a convent. Smolny Convent once housed Elizabeth, the daughter of Peter the Great, who developed the site under her imperial reign. Considered a masterpiece by the architect Rastrelli (who also designed the Winter Palace), the cathedral was originally designed with a bell-tower in mind which would have made it the biggest building in St. Petersburg and, at the time, all of Russia.

Since most museums close their doors at around 5pm, you may look to sit down for a delicious meal at one of St. Petersburg’s high quality restaurants before heading over to the ballet, opera, or any other concert performance. Another example of Rossi’s architecture, the Alexandrinsky Theatre is world renowned for drama, winning many awards and lavish praise. Otherwise, there are plenty of spa facilities to visit where you can be pampered and relax for the evening, or undergo a more spiritual cleansing known as ‘Russian banya’ which is not for the faint of heart.

London	04:36
Moscow	08:36
Vladivostok	15:36

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