Saint Petersburg Palaces

Three nights in Russia's imperial second capital, paced to cover its grand set-pieces without rushing. After a relaxed arrival and panoramic drive, day two is a walking tour through the city's ceremonial core — the Admiralty, St. Isaac's Cathedral, the Church of the Savior on Spilled Blood, the Bronze Horseman and Palace Square — before crossing to Peter and Paul Fortress, the birthplace of the city, and the cruiser Aurora, then an evening stroll down Nevsky Prospect. Day three is anchored by the Hermitage: a guided tour through the Winter Palace's staggering collection, followed by a ride on St. Petersburg's ornate Metro and, as the light softens, a boat cruise along the Neva River past the city's waterfront palaces.