Russia · Walking Tour

Private Peter and Paul Fortress and Cathedral Tour - with Friendly Local Guide

3 Hours Round trip from Pickup service provided in Saint Petersburg. Moderate pace

The journey

Trip highlights
  • 01 Private walking tour with a friendly local guide
  • 02 Explore the historic Peter and Paul Fortress
  • 03 Visit Peter and Paul Cathedral and learn about the Romanovs
  • 04 See Peter’s Gate and other key fortress landmarks
  • 05 Hear about the traditional noon cannon firing
  • 06 Pass a park of miniatures featuring Saint Petersburg landmarks
  • 07 Flexible start time and customizable itinerary
  • 08 Hotel pickup included in Saint Petersburg

Discover the origins of Saint Petersburg on a private walking tour centered on the Peter and Paul Fortress, the city’s first landmark and one of its most important historic sites. With a friendly local guide, explore the fortress grounds, learn about the Romanov dynasty, and visit the remarkable Peter and Paul Cathedral, known for its soaring bell tower and imperial burial vault.

Along the way, enjoy stories about the city’s history, architecture, and traditions, from Peter’s Gate to the daily noon cannon firing. You’ll also pass key sights connected to Saint Petersburg’s grand past, including miniature views of iconic landmarks such as Kazan Cathedral, Saint Isaac’s Cathedral, the Church of the Savior on Blood, and Palace Square.

Discover the origins of Saint Petersburg on a private walking tour centered on the Peter and Paul Fortress, the city’s first landmark and one of its most important historic sites.

From the itinerary

At a glance

What this trip includes

Duration 3 Hours
Tour type Private
Activity level Moderate
Accommodation Included
Transport Not included
Wheelchair access No
City Saint Petersburg
Languages English, French, Russian

Day by day

The itinerary

1
Day 01

Stop At: St. Petersburg Metro

Timing is flexible and you can start the tour any time you prefer. This tour can be customized to make it a unique experience for you. Your private local guide will meet you in the hotel lobby and discuss the tour itinerary with you at the beginning of the tour.

Highlights: • Explore the oldest building in St Petersburg; • Enjoy the various thematic exhibitions on the tour; • See the first triumphal monument of St. Petersburg and the main entrance to the fortress – Peter’s Gate; • Be awed by the largest number of bells in one place the world; • Take in the views of the highest cathedral in Russia and the tallest building in the historical part of the city; • See the local gem – Strelka on Vasilievsky Island, first mentioned in 1500; • Admire the symbol of St Petersburg – the 3.2-meter Angel of Peter and Paul Cathedral.

10am - Meet your guide in the hotel lobby and begin your private walking tour.

10.30am - The first destination will be a Gorkovskaya Metro station, which looks like a spaceship and is named after the world-famous writer, Maxim Gorky.

Stop At: Grand Maket Russia

11.00am - Then continue the tour to the Park of Miniatures. This is one of the first public parks in the city, opened in 1845. The architectural complex is an open air exhibition and includes the most famous historical ensembles of St. Petersburg, made of bronze on a scale of 1:33: Kazan Cathedral and St. Isaac's Cathedral, Savior on Spilled Blood, Palace Square, and other iconic landmarks in miniature.

Stop At: Peter and Paul Fortress

12.00pm After that head to Peter and Paul Fortress. You may be lucky to see the traditional firing of the cannon and deepen your knowledge of the famous Romanov Dynasty and the city’s historical past. Since the 1730s there was a tradition to celebrate the noon by firing a cannon shot from the Naryshkin bastion.

Stop At: Peter and Paul Cathedral

The bell tower of the Peter and Paul Cathedral features a unique set of bells - Dutch and Russian. 31 out of the 103 bells located on four levels are dated 1757 year.Thanks to the Romanov Fund and the Belgian royal family, the carillon came out to be the heaviest bell weighing more than three tons.

Being the highest cathedral in Russia and is the tallest building in the historical part of the city, the Peter and Paul Cathedral is also the burial vault of the Romanovs.

1pm - Finish the tour at Peter and Paul fortress to explore the landmark in more detail, or get to some place in central St Petersburg.

Stop At: Memorial Sign Strelka Of Vasilievskiy Island

If you extend the tour to 5 hours, you will also explore Vasilievsky Island with its Strelka and Rastral Columns, which is an extremely popular site among locals and tourists. The Vasilievsky Island (Basil Island) was first mentioned in 1500 when it used to be a fishermen island.

The route

Where you'll travel

Tour route map
Round trip from Pickup service provided in Saint Petersburg. 1 city · 3 Hours

The fine print

Trip details

What's Included

  • All taxes
  • Friendly local guide
  • Private tour
  • Multiple start times available
  • Meeting in the hotel
  • Expert advice where to go and what to do after the tour
  • Iconic places for photo shoot
  • Both must-see and off the beaten path of St Petersburg

What's Not Included

  • Food and drinks
  • Entrance fees (on select tour options)
  • Gratuities
  • Metro rides

Know before you go

  • STROLLER OR PRAM ACCESSIBLE
  • PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION NEARBY
  • The tour can be modified to meet your preferences
  • Private walking tour with the use of metro
  • Please indicate prefer start time in comments when booking
  • Operates in all weather conditions, please dress appropriately
  • Not wheelchair accessible
  • Not suitable for pets
  • Infants must not sit on laps
  • Infant seats unavailable
  • Your guide can meet you at your hotel, hostel or vacation rental. You don't need to call to confirm the tour. The local supplier will contact you via email

Logistics

Meeting & route

Meeting point
Pickup service provided in Saint Petersburg.
Tour start
Pickup service provided in Saint Petersburg.
Tour ends at the same location as the start point.
End of the journey

Your 3 hours finish where they began, in Pickup service provided in Saint Petersburg..

Watch the tourHQ film Watch the film

Create your own adventure

Can't find the perfect tour? Tailor your dream trip.

  • Tell us your destination, dates and group size.
  • Our travel experts and local guides design a tailored itinerary, just for you.
  • Enjoy your trip with peace of mind, knowing everything is taken care of.
Plan my holiday

Say goodbye to travel stress.