I'm starting to do some planning on trip next summer -- focusing on some of Europe and using a one world pass with some of my AA miles. A new one world partner is S7 (Siberian Airlines) which now makes travel with Russia (and Eastern Europe) pretty easy as part of the pass. St. Petersburg has always been big on my list and I 'll want to spend about 4 maybe 5 nights there. And I do want to go to Moscow -- even if only for a few nights. Where else? Kiev? I'd want to keep the whole Russian segment under two weeks tops. Sure I know many will tell me how much time I COULD spend and lots of things I COULD see in Russia, but that just isn't going to happen.

Of course, I'll do some research, but when I did SE Asia this past year, someone suggested Luang Prabang out of the blue -- somewhere I had never even heard of and it ended up being a highlight of my trip. And surprise destinations like that? And overall itinerary suggestions utilizing just two weeks there?

One day from your Moscow portion would be the town nearby where all the monasteries are--can't call either of its names!! And there are side trips in St. Petersburg also to the Tsar's cities.

So are you suggesting that maybe I should even limit my stays to the two cities and simply go out close from there?

Are you planning on hiring a guide while in St. Petersburg? People will say that you don't really need one but IMO it is one of the best things you can do in that city and environs since there is a great deal to see and do as I am sure you know.

Try to go to the Hermitage when it is not mobbed with visitors (as is often the case).

Could be. St Petersburg is such a jewel. Be REALLY careful of pickpockets.
nearby is Pushkin and Caterinaburg (I am slaugtering these). The Hermitage is worth more than one visit.
I can't do much more now, but i know others can chime in. I would get a guide for at least a part of the time. The history is so rich, and you do find out why Russians don't trust anyone--they have been betrayed and occupied for centuries!!
I can't really answer about other places, BUT if you wanted to invest some time, Siberia might be a destination--Lake Baykul? That would be good for some cocktail conversation. We had looked into it for a trip one time, but just couldn't pull it off.

Could be. St Petersburg is such a jewel. Be REALLY careful of pickpockets.
nearby is Pushkin and Caterinaburg (I am slaugtering these). The Hermitage is worth more than one visit.
I can't do much more now, but i know others can chime in. I would get a guide for at least a part of the time. The history is so rich, and you do find out why Russians don't trust anyone--they have been betrayed and occupied for centuries!!
I can't really answer about other places, BUT if you wanted to invest some time, Siberia might be a destination--Lake Baykul? That would be good for some cocktail conversation. We had looked into it for a trip one time, but just couldn't pull it off.

I agree with hiring a guide, in fact my sister and I hired a car and driver as well. As we had only 4.5 days, the guide and driver saved us so time we would have spent trying to get around on our own.

Money very well spent as she also obtained entry to buildings which at the time weren't open to the public. Be sure to see the Romanov Treasury at the Hermitage, believe it requires a separate booking.

Moscow is worth several days; we were pleasantly surprised by the city.Tretyakov museum is a must and the Kremlin is beautiful. You can also look at the river cruises between Moscow and St. Petersburg as several interesting historic cities and towns are on this route.The rivers served as their highways in the past so there is lots to see along them.
In St. Petersburg, I really enjoyed Peterhof and much preferred it to Paris' Versailles.

Cathinjoetown, do you have the names of the guide and driver that you used?

Unfortunately, I asked my sister not too long ago and neither of us saved the infomation, it was several years ago. She was a former Intourist guide and I would expect retired by now. Will have a look via google because if I saw the name of the agency, I might remember.

Two of the biggest agenciesd are DenRus and Red October. We used DenRus, had a private guide and a driver for two full days and were on the go the WHOLE time just so we could cram everything in and I am sure we didn't include nearly 'everything' but made the most of our limited time.

My comment about the Hermitage was made because when we went there the place was jammed (this was in July) and we could hardly hear what the guide was saying. The place has more than 3 million works, not all of which are on view, and not only are the "works" interesting, so are the rooms themselves so definitely worth at least one, if not more, visits.

People love to scare tourists about Russia. There are things that are problematic (cheap hotels are often awful and cheap food is worse). But there is no reason not to travel independently in St Pet and Moscow - we did with no trouble/issue/problem (but we ARE from NYC). As in other places in europe we went with very central hotels and feet - supplemented by taxi (cheap) when needed. Day trips are easy by either train or boat - also no guide needed.

If you want to do the towns of the Golden Ring near Moscow do organize either a guide or a tour - it will make life easier since English is less widely spoken.

As for central europe - no differnt than western at this point unless you go far into the backwoods.

As I recall, I had 4 full days in St. Petersburg and did not have enough time to see everything I wanted to see. I would have liked at least 1, if not 2, additional days. I think Moscow itself deserves at least 3 or 4 days. I suspect the city outside of Moscow to which Gretchen refers is Sergiev Posad, which is well worth seeing IMO. I did not use a guide and don't think one is necessary, but I recognize that many people find it useful to have one.

A guide isn't "necessary" and nobody on this thread has ever said that they are. But if the Op thinks they have all the information necessary and all the time and knows exactly how to get from here to there and doesn't mind standing in line and doesn't worry whether or not the people speak English and needs absolutely no informnation about anything they are seeing, etc., etc., then I am certain they will do just great.

Lots of things aren't necessary but lots of things can make a trip to a place like St. Pete a LOT less stressful and can maximize time.

A guide isn't "necessary" and nobody on this thread has ever said that they are. But if the Op thinks they have all the information necessary and all the time and knows exactly how to get from here to there and doesn't mind standing in line and doesn't worry whether or not the people speak English and needs absolutely no informnation about anything they are seeing, etc., etc., then I am certain they will do just great.

Lots of things aren't necessary but lots of things can make a trip to a place like St. Pete a LOT less stressful and can maximize time.

I can recommend Novgorod as a wonderful city to stop on the way to St Petersburg from Moscow (or v.v.)if travelling by train (again something to be recommended). It is one of the oldest cities in Russia with it's own Kremlin and very beautiful.

Moscow is a must IMO - it is very different to St Petersburg, more eastern with a feeling of a great capital. I should think Moscow, Golden Ring cities plus Novgorod & St Petersburg would be enough for 2 weeks.

Due to reports of pricey but less than favorable hotel accommodations, food, etc., the advice of Canadian friends, and a trip report here on Fodor's, we went with a Viking River Cruise and it was truly the trip of a lifetime. We visited many wonderful places over two weeks, thoroughly enough, but at a leisurely pace. I deliberated chose Moscow to St. Petersburg so as to have the extra days at the end in St. Petersburg. If I had it to do over, I would have added more days to St. Petersburg. Our accommodations on the ship were very comfortable and the food was outstanding (imported from Scandanavian countries). On board activities and entertainment were excellent. The river cruises are nothing like the big luxury liners. We are not usually organized tour people, but for Russia this was definitely the right choice.

I agree with the recommendations for a private guide. There are many with very reasonable rates (typically post graduate students) that are exceptionally knowledgeable and personable. You can get around on your own, but it's difficult, especially if you don't know the Cyrillic alphabet. And, guides are licensed, not only as guides, but for each individual venue. With a guide, you don't have to wait in line behind lots of tour bus groups with appointments. We hired a guide for our free time in St. Petersburg and saw several times over what we could have managed on our own. Best was that she provided exceptional commentary (in English of course) everywhere we went and much in between. We learned a lot from her and more at lunch and dinner.

If you can, plan your trip during the White Nights - an amazing experience.

We did the Volga river cruise with Grand Circle and we had a great time. For Russia I was more comfortable having guides and being with a tour group. We also had plenty of time to be on our own. I know that not everyone feels this way about tours.
BTW, Neopatrick, I have been reading some of your posts about Asia. Great trip reports. When will you return to do Greater Tuna in Blue Ridge?

I went to St. Petersburg and Moscow in September. My trip report is here under my name, so I won't rewrite the report. Thinking back now a few months later, I would definitely have added something other than the two big cities plus day trips. I think the "Golden Ring" will probably give you a taste of the "other" Russia...that that is not the big cities. Many people tried to convince me to add a few more days and stay at Novgorod, but I was set on just the cities with the palace daytrips (Peterhof, Catherine's Palace and Pushkin).

I also recommend a guide. I had one in both cities and it was worth it, if for nothing more than cutting lines everywhere: palaces, museums, Kremlin and telling the stories you won't get out of guide books. I went in mid-September, which is sort of shoulder season, and there were still significant lines just about everywhere. My guide in Moscow also snuck me into the Diamond Fund, which I had not reserved on my own. That was cool. I also liked talking to them about living and growing up in Russia. I think I learned more practically speaking than I have on any other trip.

In retrospect, I think I would have stopped palace-tripping after Catherine's Palace. I saw that first and loved it and especially the Amber Room. The difference to me between that and Peterhof were the fountains at Peterhof. So weigh out what matters to you. Pavlovsk was interesting for the Baroque vs. Classical comparison.

I loved, loved, loved St. Petersburg when I was there, but now that I'm home, I think of nothing but Moscow. It is very strange! I loved every minute in Red Square, touring the Kremlin, the Tretyakov and Pushkin Museums, walking the Arbat. There is just so much history there and I think it really made a lasting impression on me.

I, too, would vote for stopping off in Novgorod, and visiting the Golden Ring cities. I preferred Moscow to St. P, but I'm not a fan of baroque.

Kiev is in Ukraine, and I would highly recommend Lviv if you go there, as well as the Crimea. See my 2006 TR here: http://wilhelmswords.com/eur2006/index.html (For Russia see the 2004 TR on the same site.)