Russia stretches across 11 time zones, and in a single week you can taste two of its brightest stars: Moscow, the political and cultural heartbeat, and St. Petersburg, the imperial “window to Europe.” Golden onion domes share the skyline with avant‑garde towers; ballet and street art live side by side. Expect a tapestry of history from medieval Rus to the Romanovs and the Soviet era—told through fortresses, palaces, and world-class museums.

Highlights on this route include Moscow’s Red Square, St. Basil’s Cathedral, the Kremlin, and the Tretyakov Gallery; then the Hermitage, Church of the Savior on Spilled Blood, St. Isaac’s Cathedral, and the grand palaces of Peterhof or Catherine in St. Petersburg. Ride the high-speed Sapsan train between cities and cruise St. Petersburg’s historic canals at sunset.

Practical notes: Entry rules and travel advisories can change—check your government’s latest guidance. Many international bank cards don’t work in Russia; bring enough cash (rubles) and confirm payment options with hotels in advance. E‑visas are available to many nationalities; metro systems in both cities are efficient and inexpensive; winters are frigid, summers mild, and the “White Nights” of late May–July are magical for evening walks.

Moscow

Moscow is bold and theatrical: vast squares, onion domes, a metro that doubles as an underground museum, and a dining scene that ranges from homestyle pelmeni to cutting-edge Russian cuisine. By day, wander Kremlin cathedrals and tranquil parks; by night, watch the city glow from river embankments and rooftop viewpoints.

• Top sights: Red Square, St. Basil’s Cathedral, Kremlin and Armory, Zaryadye Park, Bolshoi Theatre, Tretyakov Gallery, Gorky Park + Muzeon Sculpture Park, Novodevichy Cemetery.
• Food to try: borscht, pelmeni, blini with caviar or cloudberry jam, beef stroganoff, and Georgian khachapuri (ubiquitous and delicious).
• Fun fact: Moscow Metro stations like Komsomolskaya and Mayakovskaya are famed for mosaics and chandeliers—carry a camera.

Where to stay: Central neighborhoods include Tverskaya, Arbat, and Kitay-Gorod for easy metro access and evening strolls. Browse apartments on VRBO Moscow or hotels via Hotels.com Moscow. A reliable, walkable mid-range pick: Arbat House Hotel (near Old Arbat and the Boulevard Ring).

How to get there: Search multi-city or one-way flights to Moscow on Trip.com Flights or Kiwi.com. Most international routings connect via hubs like Istanbul, Dubai, Belgrade, or Yerevan.

Day 1: Arrival and Red Square by Night

Morning: In transit. On your flight, review metro maps and download offline maps. Confirm your hotel’s accepted payment methods and late check‑in details.

Afternoon: Arrive and check in. Shake off jet lag with a gentle walk down Tverskaya Street to Pushkin Square. Coffee stop: Double B Coffee (try a classic raf coffee, a Moscow invention—sweet and foamy).

Evening: Make your first approach to Red Square at dusk; the brick walls of the Kremlin and GUM’s lights feel cinematic. Dinner at Café Pushkin (old-world decor; order beef stroganoff or syrniki for dessert) or the casual Varenichnaya №1 (homestyle dumplings and soups). Cap the night at the hovering bridge in Zaryadye Park for skyline views.

Day 2: Kremlin, St. Basil’s, and the Bolshoi

Morning: Breakfast at Volkonsky Bakery (buttery croissants, syrniki) then tour the Kremlin: Cathedral Square, Assumption Cathedral, and the Armory (imperial regalia and Fabergé). Get timed tickets early.

Afternoon: Step inside St. Basil’s Cathedral to admire its labyrinth of chapels. Browse GUM’s glass-roof arcades; grab blini at Teremok or a light bite at Bosco Café. Stroll to the scenic Zaryadye underground concert hall and river embankment.

Evening: If available, see opera or ballet at the Bolshoi Theatre (book early). Dinner after the curtain at White Rabbit (modern Russian tasting menus with city views) or the cozy Mari Vanna (decorated like a grandmother’s flat—order chicken Kiev and compote). Nightcap at Mendeleev Bar, a speakeasy behind a noodle shop on Kuznetsky Most.

Day 3: Art, Parks, and a Classic Banya

Morning: Coffee at Skuratov Coffee (single-origin pour-overs) and head to the State Tretyakov Gallery for an essential survey of Russian art—from icons to avant‑garde.

Afternoon: Walk through Muzeon Sculpture Park into Gorky Park, rent a bike in warm months or enjoy cocoa in winter. Lunch at Danilovsky Market (try chebureki, khachapuri, or Uzbek plov) or the DEPO food hall for a gourmet spin on regional specialties.

Evening: Experience Sanduny Baths (banya): alternate hot steam with cold plunges; rent a felt hat and slippers on site. Dinner nearby at Khachapuri (gooey Adjarian bread boat) or Beluga (modern Russian, caviar-forward, near the Kremlin). Early night—you’re on the Sapsan in the morning.

St. Petersburg

St. Petersburg is the poet’s city—canals, palaces, and pastel facades designed for grand entrances and long, romantic walks. Founded by Peter the Great, it became Russia’s imperial capital, and the arts still reign: the Hermitage, Mariinsky Ballet, and gilded cathedrals punctuate the skyline.

• Top sights: Hermitage Museum and Winter Palace, Palace Square, St. Isaac’s Cathedral, Church of the Savior on Spilled Blood, Fabergé Museum, Peter and Paul Fortress, Peterhof and Catherine Palace day trips.
• Vibe: Elegant boulevards, slow sunsets, and rich café culture along Nevsky Prospekt and the Moika and Fontanka rivers.
• Tip: White Nights (late May–July) mean endless evening light—perfect for canal cruises and rooftop viewpoints.

Where to stay: Aim for the Golden Triangle near Nevsky Prospekt for walkability. Compare options on VRBO St. Petersburg and Hotels.com St. Petersburg.

How to get there from Moscow: Take the high-speed Sapsan (3.5–4 hours) from Moscow Leningradsky to St. Petersburg Moskovsky. Standard fares often range roughly $30–$110 depending on class and timing; book on Trip.com Trains. Arrive 30 minutes early for security and boarding. Taxis/ride-hailing or the metro connect easily to central hotels.

Day 4: Sapsan to St. Petersburg, Nevsky Prospekt, and the Canals

Morning: Board an early Sapsan. Bring a pastry and coffee on the train; there’s also an onboard café car.

Afternoon: Check in, then make your first pass along Nevsky Prospekt. Pause at Kazan Cathedral’s semicircular colonnade, then browse Singer House’s lower floors. Quick lunch: Teremok (blini with salmon and dill) or the salad bar at Marketplace.

Evening: Take a one-hour canal cruise at golden hour for views of pastel palaces and Baroque bridges. Dinner at Teplo (comfort food, garden courtyard; try beef stroganoff with mashed potatoes) or Yat (traditional Russian near the Moika). For dessert, stop at Pyshechnaya (since 1958) for sugar-dusted doughnuts—old-school, cash preferred.

Day 5: Hermitage Masterpieces and St. Isaac’s Views

Morning: Breakfast at Bushe (excellent baked goods) and dedicate the morning to the Hermitage—Rembrandt, Raphael, Matisse, and glittering state rooms of the Winter Palace. Prioritize the Impressionists wing and Jordan Staircase; it’s vast, so pace yourself.

Afternoon: Cross Palace Square to St. Isaac’s Cathedral; climb the colonnade for one of the city’s best panoramas. Lunch options: Severyanin (elegant, try the borscht and honey cake) or Stolle for savory pies (pike-perch, cabbage-mushroom).

Evening: Explore the Church of the Savior on Spilled Blood—its mosaic interior is dazzling. Dinner at Blok (meat-forward with Russian sides) or Pelmenya (a dumpling heaven—Siberian pelmeni, Georgian khinkali). Cocktail fans: book El Copitas (intimate, agave-based cocktails; reservations essential) or try Dead Poets Bar near Fontanka.

Day 6: Day Trip—Peterhof Fountains or Catherine Palace

Choose one grand excursion:

• Peterhof (best May–October when fountains operate): Travel by hydrofoil from the Winter Palace pier (40–50 minutes) or suburban train/bus combo (~60–75 minutes). Tour the Lower Park’s cascades and the Grand Palace. For lunch, grab snacks in the park cafés; on the way back, celebrate with a riverside dinner at Na Rechke or return to the city for Teplo.
• Catherine Palace, Pushkin (Tsarskoye Selo): Take the suburban train from Vitebsky Station to Tsarskoye Selo (plus a short bus/taxi) or a guided transfer (~45–60 minutes). Highlights include the Amber Room and sweeping Rococo halls. For a hearty country-style meal, consider Podvorye (a rustic log-house restaurant near Pushkin); otherwise dine back in town at Dachniki (retro-Soviet décor, comforting classics).

Day 7: Fabergé, Last Walks, and Departure

Morning: Coffee at Bonch (sleek, modern) and visit the Fabergé Museum in the Shuvalov Palace to see imperial Easter eggs and jeweled objets d’art.

Afternoon: Snack on one last round of blini or pelmeni at Pelmenya or Marketplace, then pick up souvenirs—linden honey, birch-bark crafts, or linen—from shops along Nevsky. Head to the airport or station for your afternoon departure; search flights on Trip.com Flights or Kiwi.com. If traveling to/from Europe, compare routings on Omio Flights as well.

Evening: If you have extra time before departure, stroll the Moika Embankment for one last canal view, or enjoy a quick bowl of solyanka soup at Severyanin before you go.

Local logistics tips: Buy a Troika (Moscow) and Podorozhnik (St. Petersburg) transit card for cheap rides. Museums often close one day a week—verify hours. Winters require serious layers; in summer, pack an eye mask for the late northern light. For intercity travel, the Sapsan is the fastest and most comfortable link—book in advance on Trip.com Trains.

In seven days you’ll trace the arc of Russian history—from Kremlin icons to imperial salons—while savoring pelmeni, blini, and strong coffee by the canals. Moscow gives the grand overture; St. Petersburg, the lyrical finale. You’ll leave with museum masterpieces in your mind and the glow of White Nights (or winter lights) in your photos.