Itinerary HELP for Moscow, Kiev, Minsk, Tallinn, Helsinki...(in 14 days)
May 13th, 2006, 06:24 AM
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Itinerary HELP for Moscow, Kiev, Minsk, Tallinn, Helsinki...(in 14 days)
I realize we are crazy. But is it possible? My husband and I are leaving for Russia on 01 June. We have 14 days and want to see EVERYTHING. We've slept on many a train and plan to do that when possible so that travel time is sleep time. We have a friend in Moscow (must see) and one in St. Petersburg. We plan on doing the following loop:
2-4-Moscow
5-Kiev
6-Minsk
7-Vilnius
8-Riga
9-Tallinn
10-Helskini
11-13-St. Pete
14-Moscow
Advice?
Thank you
2-4-Moscow
5-Kiev
6-Minsk
7-Vilnius
8-Riga
9-Tallinn
10-Helskini
11-13-St. Pete
14-Moscow
Advice?
Thank you
May 1st, 2007, 11:34 AM
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It's too much. If you can fly into Moscow and out of Helsinki you could do Moscow, St.Petersburg, Tallinn and then Helsinki. If you want to cram as much as possible into your itinerary, how about adding Novgorod and Tver when going between Moscow and St.Petersburg.
The only way to cover the distance and have some time at your arriving destination is to take a night train between Moscow-Kiev-Minsk-Vilnius. In the Baltics you could probably take a day train as the distances are less but you'll have no time at your destination. Minsk was bombed in WWII, there is a lot of ugly Soviet era architecture, I wouldn't bother with it. I don't know your nationality but chances are you'll need a visa at least for Russia, Belarus, and Ukraine. So consider this extra cost and hassle against the time you'll actually have there.
The only way to cover the distance and have some time at your arriving destination is to take a night train between Moscow-Kiev-Minsk-Vilnius. In the Baltics you could probably take a day train as the distances are less but you'll have no time at your destination. Minsk was bombed in WWII, there is a lot of ugly Soviet era architecture, I wouldn't bother with it. I don't know your nationality but chances are you'll need a visa at least for Russia, Belarus, and Ukraine. So consider this extra cost and hassle against the time you'll actually have there.
May 1st, 2007, 11:56 AM
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Since it will be impossible to go to all the cities you posted and still enjoy everything in such a short time why don't you just get on a train through some of the lesser cities and enjoy them from your window. Get out of the train at each station and walk around just to say you've been there, done that. But be sure to have visas for the main sites like St. Petersburg, Moscow, etc. to really look around also do some shopping!
May 1st, 2007, 12:04 PM
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Just from a practical standpoint, this is a LOT of border-hopping... do you have multiple entry visas for all of these countries?
I agree that it is too much. MAYBE try Moscow, Piter, plus one other.
I agree that it is too much. MAYBE try Moscow, Piter, plus one other.
May 2nd, 2007, 02:58 AM
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"n the Baltics you could probably take a day train as the distances are less"
No, even that is not possible, there is no train connection. A bus trip Tallinn-Riga takes five hours.
With that schedule you would have to sleep in airports and train stations, and those would be the only places you would see.
No, even that is not possible, there is no train connection. A bus trip Tallinn-Riga takes five hours.
With that schedule you would have to sleep in airports and train stations, and those would be the only places you would see.
May 3rd, 2007, 06:03 AM
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The schedule seems absolutely crazy.
You can do just Baltic countries (Vilnius, Riga, and Tallinn – 2 days in each) + St.Pete +Moscow or Moscow+St.Pete+Kiev+some cities of the Golden Ring (near Moscow). On my point of view Helsinki and Minsk are not so interesting. At least not the same level with Moscow, St.Pete and others you mentioned.
Enjoy your trip!
You can do just Baltic countries (Vilnius, Riga, and Tallinn – 2 days in each) + St.Pete +Moscow or Moscow+St.Pete+Kiev+some cities of the Golden Ring (near Moscow). On my point of view Helsinki and Minsk are not so interesting. At least not the same level with Moscow, St.Pete and others you mentioned.
Enjoy your trip!
May 3rd, 2007, 06:35 PM
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Are you flying to every city? Even some of the overnight trains will take a day (read 24-36 hours) from Moscow to Kiev.
The Vilnius/Riga/Tallinn are short runs but, I don't remember high speed train service. You will see hardly anything in a day.
There was a train from Helsinki to St. Petersburg and onto Moscow.
Not knowing your nationality, visa requirements, especially Russia and Belarus, would take some investigation into multiple entry as you are crossing borders. Ukraine has loosened up in the past few years. Estonia, Lithuania and Latvia are more open but trains in these areas frequently cross borders, no problem for locals but tourists can have difficulties.
If your friends can go to OVIR, the Russian immigration and tourist control bureau (the name changes but your friends should recognized the abbreviation) and get you a Home Visit Invitation it will ease you visa application, it cost a few dollars but a Russian national has to apply for, pick it up and send it to you. My friends in Ukraine years ago did this for me and it really did make it much easier.
I would trim some of your trip and do Helsinki, St Petersburg, Moscow and finish in Kiev. The multiple border crossing in and out of Russia may be possible but???
The Vilnius/Riga/Tallinn are short runs but, I don't remember high speed train service. You will see hardly anything in a day.
There was a train from Helsinki to St. Petersburg and onto Moscow.
Not knowing your nationality, visa requirements, especially Russia and Belarus, would take some investigation into multiple entry as you are crossing borders. Ukraine has loosened up in the past few years. Estonia, Lithuania and Latvia are more open but trains in these areas frequently cross borders, no problem for locals but tourists can have difficulties.
If your friends can go to OVIR, the Russian immigration and tourist control bureau (the name changes but your friends should recognized the abbreviation) and get you a Home Visit Invitation it will ease you visa application, it cost a few dollars but a Russian national has to apply for, pick it up and send it to you. My friends in Ukraine years ago did this for me and it really did make it much easier.
I would trim some of your trip and do Helsinki, St Petersburg, Moscow and finish in Kiev. The multiple border crossing in and out of Russia may be possible but???
May 3rd, 2007, 07:20 PM
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http://seat61.com
http://www.poezda.net
If you are serious on the train the above sites will help, Poezda starts in Russian but has language options.
http://www.poezda.net
If you are serious on the train the above sites will help, Poezda starts in Russian but has language options.
May 16th, 2012, 08:42 AM
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It's possible if you travel by plane from Moscow to Kiev and backwards. Also you should plan each day and excursion and don't waste your time. I know one good company that arranges walking tours around Kiev. Look here http://kyivwalkingtours.com/ and do the same in another cities. Lucky travel!
May 30th, 2012, 03:37 PM
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Just came back from Russia and it is not a country to rush through. Two reasons for that. One, if you dont have a guide the entire time (we didnt) it takes longer to get around than any other place that I have been to becuase of the language barrier.
Two, things in Russia are only open at 1030AM in most cases and will close at 5 or maybe 6 and closed on Mondays or Tuesdays or both, or the last Tuesday of the month, or some holiday that you didnt know about. You have to really plan things out to see what you want to see and make sure that they are open. In most cases you will do one thing a day.
We spent 10 days just in Russia travelling by train and saw St. Petes/ Moscow and Vladimir and Suzdal. We felt that any less time than that would have been way too rushed.
In Moscow the tour company that I thought I had booked did not show up and did not have a phone number on their web site so our hotel got a tour guide for us at the last minute.
She was awesome, met us at the hotel and took us on the metro and showed us how to get around and then we did a walking tour of Moscow for a few hours
Email is [email protected] if anyone is interested. Her name is Olga and we really liked her alot.
Two, things in Russia are only open at 1030AM in most cases and will close at 5 or maybe 6 and closed on Mondays or Tuesdays or both, or the last Tuesday of the month, or some holiday that you didnt know about. You have to really plan things out to see what you want to see and make sure that they are open. In most cases you will do one thing a day.
We spent 10 days just in Russia travelling by train and saw St. Petes/ Moscow and Vladimir and Suzdal. We felt that any less time than that would have been way too rushed.
In Moscow the tour company that I thought I had booked did not show up and did not have a phone number on their web site so our hotel got a tour guide for us at the last minute.
She was awesome, met us at the hotel and took us on the metro and showed us how to get around and then we did a walking tour of Moscow for a few hours
Email is [email protected] if anyone is interested. Her name is Olga and we really liked her alot.
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