This trip was split between two cities.
St. Petersburg and Moscow.
Same country, but very different feel.
This 6-day plan reflects how I experienced both — not rushed, with time to adjust between cities.
Day 1 — Arrival in St. Petersburg
Arrival via Etihad from Abu Dhabi
Immigration (with questioning, then cleared)
Check-in (Sadovaya area)
Evening
Short walk
Dinner
Day 2 — St. Petersburg Landmarks
Morning
Hermitage
Afternoon
Church of the Savior on Spilled Blood
Evening
Nevsky Prospekt
Dinner
Day 3 — Slow St. Petersburg
Morning
City walk
Afternoon
Metro hopping
Coffee
Evening
Pack
Keep this day light.
Day 4 — Train to Moscow
Overnight train (Red Arrow)
Arrival in Moscow
Check-in (Tverskaya area)
Evening
Short walk
Day 5 — Moscow Core
Morning
Red Square
Afternoon
Kremlin
Evening
Dinner
Walk
Day 6 — Moscow Slow Day
Morning
Late start
Afternoon
Metro hopping
City walk
Evening
Departure
Movement Between Cities
Overnight train.
Different experience compared to flying.
Slower, but more memorable.
What Made This Trip Work
St. Petersburg = calm
Moscow = movement
That contrast made the trip feel balanced.
Final Thought
Russia felt different from other destinations.
Not because of one place.
But because of how both cities complemented each other.
