13 Days in Russia and Finland Tour

Über das Reiseziel: Moscow, the political, historical and economic capital of Russia, displays the country's most extreme contrasts. The old and the modern come together perfectly in this city of 10 million people. The Russian capital is today a dazzling metropolis whose sheer grandeur never fails to amaze. Take the metro from one of the ornate stations to get close to the city’s main attractions that are a symbol of the great and terrible past of the city. The remains of the Soviet state are scattered all around the city. Monuments remember fallen heroes and victorious battles, while museums attempt to analyse and synthesise the past. See Lenin and Stalin – off their pedestals – at the whimsical Art Muzeon. Step into the Socialist Realist fantasy at VDNKh. Descend into the depths of the Soviet system at Bunker-42 Cold War Museum. And remember the millions who suffered at the Gulag History Museum. Nowadays, many fun or clever retro clubs and cafes give their guests a taste of the Soviet experience. The very founding site of the city (and arguably, the country), the Kremlin and Red Square are still at the heart of Moscow – historically, geographically and spiritually. Among the city’s most recognisable sights are the almost cartoon-like onion domes of St Basil’s Cathedral that tower above Red Square, UNESCO gems that were built between the 14th and 17th centuries. Modern-day Moscow defies its grey Soviet past and has developed a hedonistic atmosphere and the sense that great things are once again happening here. Shopping for designer labels at frighteningly expensive boutiques has become a national sport, but Moscow is regarded as one of the world’s most culturally sophisticated capitals, with world-class institutions like the Bolshoi Theatre, the Moscow Tchaikovsky Conservatory and the Pushkin Museum of Fine Arts. The city is also proud of its great writers, playwrights, composers, choreographers, and film-makers. Glitzy, historical and screaming hedonism, Moscow is truly beguiling.

Über das Reiseziel: Inextricably linked to the major events of Soviet Union, St. Petersburg cannot escape its imperial past. Physically, at least, St. Petersburg has been the city of the tsars since Peter the Great founded the city in a swamp and moved the capital here from Moscow in 1712 to provide greater contact with the West. Many of the major baroque and neoclassical buildings and well-designed streets and landscaped parks are the work of imperial French and Italian architects. St. Petersburg, Russia’s second largest city, is often called Russia’s Western Gate, and the City of White Nights. For a splendid overview of the city, climb the dome of St. Isaac’s Cathedral on Isaakievskaya square, a massive example of 19th century civic-religious architecture; its dome is covered in pure gold. Nearby, on Senate Square overlooking the Neva, is Falconet’s Monument to Peter the Great. Peter and Paul Fortress was founded by Peter the Great and was erected in just one year between 1703 and 1704 during the Great Northern War against Sweden. The fortress was never used to defend the city but it was used as a political prison under the Tsar. Inside the fortress is the main attraction for visitors: the Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul containing the tombs of Peter the Great, Catherine the Great, Nicholas II and other tsars. Nevsky Prospect is St. Petersburg’s main avenue and one of the best-known streets in Russia. The buildings along Nevsky Prospekt are a treasure house for art-nouveau-fans. Nevsky Prospect is also the city’s central shopping street and the hub of the city’s entertainment and nightlife. Even if the rest of the city were non-existent, the Hermitage alone would merit a week-long visit to St. Petersburg. Located in the magnificent, luxurious Winter Place, former residence of the tsars, this collection of art unquestionably ranks among the world’s finest. But before you immerse yourself in the art, take in the main halls where the tsar reigned and entertained, especially the awesome Malachite Hall, where the provisional Government held its last meeting before the revolution exploded around it. Cool and aristocratic St. Petersburg is a magnificent city with beautiful architecture everywhere. Often described as the Venice of the North, St Petersburg is a city defined by water. Whether you’re cruising the elegant canals, crossing one of the 342 bridges in the city, or just watching them being raised over the mighty Neva River at night to allow ships to pass through, you’re never far from water in St Petersburg.

Über das Reiseziel: Helsinki is situated on a little peninsula on the southern tip of Finland. Approach Helsinki from the sea and you’ll see neoclassical buildings of elegant lines and pastel colours, and a marketplace overflowing with strawberries and salmon. The city has grown with attention to harmony. In summer many residents abandon urban tranquillity for their country cottages, but in winter the capital comes alive with theatre, political institutes and over 20,000 university students. Architecture buffs will love Helsinki. The handsome neoclassical buildings surrounding Senate Square were designed almost singlehandedly by German architect Carl Ludwig Engel in the early 19th century, just after Helsinki replaced Turku as Finland’s capital. The crowning piece is the Lutheran Cathedral, which has recently been refurbished and looks better than ever, with the 12 apostles on the roof once again looking down at the world below. Elsewhere in the city, the bold, simple creations of the city’s great 20th century architects, notably Aalto and Saarinen, blend with the clean neoclassical lines. The stunning Jean Sibelius Monument, dedicated to Finland’s most famous composer, consists of hundreds of steel pipes sculpted by Elia Hiltunen. The monument is in Sibelius Park. The Kansallimuseo, National Museum, has wonderful displays of Finnish culture. The exhibits of the City Museum illustrates the history of the city. The islands surrounding Helsinki make excellent daytrips. The sandy beaches and smooth rocks of Pihlajasaari make it a popular summer spot for tanning Finns. Every summer there are many free outdoor concerts in one of the city’s numerous parks. Afternoons, all kinds of music resound on the leafy Esplanadi. Helsinki is a small city if you compare it to those gigantic cities around the world but the spirit is still quite cosmopolitan. Helsinki is a beautiful city, especially in the summer. The streets are clean and you can always find a peaceful spot, in case you need one. Some say that Helsinki is "the biggest village in the world" and it is a great place for tourism, history, museums, galleries, theatre, music, shopping, restaurants, clubs, etc. all environmentally friendly, free of pollution and traffic congestion.

Über das Reiseziel: Direkt südlich des Polarkreises liegt Rovaniemi, die finnische Hauptstadt von Lappland. Sie befindet sich am Zusammenfluss der mächtigen Flüsse Kemijoki und Ounasjoki in Lappland. Wunderschöne Farben das ganze Jahr über, relativ warme Sommer, echte schneereiche Winter, der Weihnachtsmann, viele Sportresorts, großartige Hotels und Dienstleistungen, all das und mehr macht Rovaniemi zu einem obligatorischen Halt im Norden. Darüber hinaus ist es ein guter Ort, um die Region Lappland zu erkunden und die Aurora Borealis oder das Nordlicht zu beobachten. Die Holzfällerkerzenbrücke, Jätkänkynttilä, ist zu einem Symbol von Rovaniemi geworden. Die Brücke hat einen hohen Pylon mit hellem gelben Licht an der Spitze und eine massive Bronzestatue eines Holzfällers. Das Arktikum-Museum ist ein kulturelles Zentrum für alles, was mit der Arktis zu tun hat, und widmet sich Ausstellungen, die sich auf die Geologie, das Klima, die Pflanzen, das Tierleben und die Kulturen von Lappland beziehen. Abgesehen von den Ausstellungen ist das Highlight des Arktikums definitiv sein langer Glaskorridor mit Blick auf den Fluss hinter dem Gebäude. Außerhalb des Arktikums gibt es einen Garten mit arktischen Pflanzen. Rovaniemi ist natürlich die Heimatstadt des Weihnachtsmanns. Im Weihnachtsmanndorf können Sie den Weihnachtsmann treffen, Freunden und Verwandten Grüße vom Polarkreis im Weihnachtsmannpostamt senden und die Weihnachtsausstellung besuchen, die einige der Weihnachtstraditionen aus aller Welt erklärt. Rovaniemi ist der beste Ort, um einen Weihnachtswunschzettel zu erstellen und eine atemberaubende Wildnis, die traditionelle Sámi-Kultur und eine Vielzahl von Aktivitäten inmitten einer wunderbaren Naturlandschaft zu erleben.