While many dream of taking the Trans-Siberian train across Russia, an increasingly common way to see Russia is from a boat along its mighty rivers. Popular cruise routes now run between Moscow and St Petersburg with many options for sightseeing and new experiences along the way. The summer season is, of course, the time to travel: before the rivers and lakes are iced over in the cold Russian winter.
Moscow to St Petersburg Cruising Basics
Cruise trips between Moscow and St Petersburg (or vice versa) average between 10 and 14 days, and most cruise companies offer all-inclusive packages with accommodation on the ship, many meals and sightseeing trips at the cities and towns along the way. Cruise themes often center on Imperial Russia as you travel along the “waterways of the Tsars”; shorter cruises feature less of the imperial sights and focus more on getting you from Moscow to St Petersburg, with a few interesting stops along the way.
What You’ll See on a Russian Waterways Cruise
Whichever direction you travel, most cruises make very similar stops. Starting from Moscow, most cruises make their first stop at Uglich after leaving the Moscow Canal. Uglich is famed for the Church of St Dmitry on the Blood, where it’s said that they found Ivan the Terrible’s son murdered.
Continuing on, a visit to Yaroslavl is often included. It might be a detour down the Volga River to this Golden Ring city but touring this historical place is worth it, especially to see the Church of Elijah the Prophet.
Heading further north, you’ll pass through several large lakes, including Rybinsk Lake and White Lake. Enroute, a stop at the traditional village Goritsy is often made, usually with a visit to the fourteenth century Kirillov Belozersky Monastery.
Before making the turn down towards St Petersburg, your cruise will definitely take you to Lake Onega, famous as the second-largest lake in Europe. In the middle of Lake Onega is Kizhi Island, a UNESCO World Heritage site full of Russian wooden architecture: the crown is the Church of the Transfiguration, complete with its 22 wooden onion domes, all built without using a single nail!
The final section of your cruise – or the first, if you make it in reverse – takes you along the Svir and Neva Rivers into wonderful St Petersburg. It goes without saying that you’ll need to add a few days stopover in St Petersburg onto the end of your cruise, and the same at the start for Moscow, as there’s so much to see in these cities.
More information: Most travel agents carry Russian cruises, or you can check a couple of useful websites, including the Cruise Russia site and UK-based Russiana.
