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  4. St Petersburg to Budapest by Rail
Days
13
Price from
FR1,504CHF
Map of St Petersburg to Budapest by Rail including Hungary, Russian Federation and Ukraine

Rail it through Eastern Europe on an epic adventure like no other.

Cool bars? Check. Street art? Check. Awesome scenery? Check. Start off in spectacular St Petersburg; take a must-go trip to Moscow, get comfortable in Kiev, live it up in Lviv and bounce into Budapest (aka the party capital of Eastern Europe) on this 13-day railway adventure.

TRIP CHANGES FOR 2019:
This trip has been discontinued from 1st April 2019. Check back soon for a new exciting trip in this part of the world!

Start
St Petersburg, Russia
Finish
Budapest, Hungary
Destinations
Hungary, Russia, Ukraine
Code
GCRR
Physical rating
Ages
Min 18 , Max 29
Group size
Min 1, Max 16

Geckos Adventures is moving to Intrepid Travel

From October 1st, all Geckos tours will be operated by Intrepid Travel, as part of their brand new range for 18 to 29-year-old travellers.

Find out more on Intrepid Travel

Why you'll love this trip

  • Encounter the legacy of Russian tsar Peter the Great while exploring the enigmatic streets that showcase the many palaces and museums of St Petersburg

  • Live it local in the lively Gorky park in Moscow, check out the awesome architecture in Moscow metro stations, or get up close with the Russian power center Red square and Kremlin

  • Wander the streets in Kiev and Lviv, two amazing cities showcasing the free and young spirit of Ukraine, a country with its troubles – but still knows the importance of a good time

  • Enjoy a city escape and chase the romance at the uniquely landscaped tunnel of love – iconic for its awning trees made by nature and passing trains. It's believed that if a couple who are truly in love make a wish here then it will come true

  • Be inspired by Budapest, one of the largest and most beautiful cities in Eastern and Central Europe. The hospitality scene here is awesome, lively and sometimes hedonistic – no doubt you'll rave about it once you get home

Is this trip right for you?

  • You'll mostly travel by train, which means you can avoid traffic jams and arrive right in the city centres. European trains are comfortable and always have toilets, but they can be quite busy at times. Remember that you'll have to carry your own luggage on and off the train, so try not to exceed our weight and size recommendations (see the 'Packing' section of the trip notes for more details).

  • This trip is for travellers who appreciate a bit of independence. You'll get plenty of free time in each location to make your own choices and do your own activities. Your leader will always be there to give you tips and suggestions.

  • Cobblestones are so charming and romantic, until you need to wheel a suitcase across them. It's a generally a good idea to bring a backpack instead.

  • As accommodation on this trip is multi-share, single travellers will share a room with (an)other traveller(s) of the same gender, mostly twin, triple and quad share. This trip is a great opportunity to get to know other like-minded people, so embrace it while you can! Hotels in Europe often don't have double beds, but two single beds that can be pushed together/apart. Please also note that most of the accommodations used on this trip offer shared bathrooms, rather than ensuite facilities, and rooms can seem rather small by American or Australian standards.

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Itinerary
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Zdrastvutye! Welcome to Russia. The great city of St Petersburg has survived centuries of revolution and tumult, from the days of the tsars through the communist era to the growing pains of democracy. There’s so much to see and do in St Petersburg that it’s worth arriving a few extra days before the start of the trip. Once you’ve had your welcome meeting, you might want to jump on board with an optional dinner with your new friends. Into your art? There’s plenty of chances to check out some of the cool factories and plants that have been converted into art spaces. Into your drinks? There’s some pretty neat bars along the way. Your leader can take you to these places if you want – just ask!
Accommodation
  • Hotel (1 night)
Optional Activities
  • St Petersburg - St Petersburg like a Local Urban Adventure - EUR50
  • St Petersburg - Matryoshka Painting Workshop (reservation required) - RUB2000
  • St Petersburg - St Petersburg Discovery Urban Adventure - EUR50
  • St Petersburg - Saint Isaac’s Cathedral Colonnade - RUB400
  • St Petersburg - Church of the Savior on Spilled Blood - RUB250
  • St Petersburg - Kazan Cathedral - Free
Meals Included
There are no meals included on this day.
Special Information
Your adventure begins with a welcome meeting at around 6 pm on Day 1. There are no activities planned until this important meeting. Check the hotel reception for the exact time and place of the meeting. At this meeting your insurance and next of kin details will be collected. Please also have two copies of your passport, visa and migration cards ready. Your leader will collect one; the other is for you to keep on you at all times whilst on the trip.

If you could say one thing about the St Petersburg – it’s big. Real big. Big buildings, big parks, big squares and you’ve got two big days to explore the whole thing, so get running! If you’re into checking out some of the cool old buildings and developed sites, you can’t go past the Palace Square, Kazan Cathedral Peter and Paul Fortress or Saint Isaac’s Square – try to spot the European influence in these buildings while you’re here. Another thing you might want to check out is the Hermitage Museum – there’s so much art in here that it could literally take you 15 years to see everything. If you’re still stumped for ideas or are looking for a few ideas for places to eat, drink or chill, just ask your leader. You might want to do an Urban Adventures tour as well if you want to make the most of your time here.
Accommodation
  • Hotel (1 night)
Meals Included
There are no meals included on this day.
Special Information
To avoid disappointment we recommend that you book any theatre performances that you wish to attend in Moscow or St Petersburg in advance. Please consider carefully which performances you are going to want attend and make sure that the dates correspond to your trip. In particular we recommend you see what's playing at the Bolshoi and Mariinsky, as it may be difficult to get tickets when you are there especially during White Nights in St Petersburg. Here are some useful internet sites to check for what will be on in Moscow and St Petersburg when you are there: mariinsky.ru, bolshoi.ru and ticketsofrussia.ru.

With another free day in St Petersburg, consider checking out anywhere you missed yesterday, or maybe spend some more time at the Hermitage. Alternatively there are number of abandoned factories and plants which were turned into art-spaces and loft projects. In the evening, you'll board a train to your next destination – Moscow. The train ride takes a long 9 hours, and you'll be sleeping on the overnight ride.
Accommodation
  • Overnight sleeper train (1 night)
Meals Included
There are no meals included on this day.

After a big night on the rails, wake up in Moscow in the morning and head to the hostel. You might not be able to check in immediately as the usual check in time is 2pm, but if that’s the case then there’s still the chance to drop off your luggage before heading on to explore this awesome city. You’ll get to see a side of Moscow often missed as you quite literally head under the city to learn about one of the coolest metro stations in the world. The architecture here is top-notch – one look at the hanging chandeliers and you’ll be wondering if you’re waiting for a train or standing in a ballroom. Get a bit of inside knowledge to learn how to ride the rails after getting the scoop on its Soviet past, then start exploring the city!
Accommodation
  • Hostel (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Moscow Metro Tour
  • Moscow - Gorky Park
Optional Activities
  • Moscow - River Cruise - RUB700
  • Moscow - Izmailovo Vernisazh Markets - RUB10
  • Moscow - Victory Park Museum - RUB400
  • Moscow - Pushkin Art Museum - RUB400
  • Moscow - Moscow Underground Urban Adventure - EUR56
  • Moscow - Modern Moscow Urban Adventure - EUR38
  • Moscow - Bolshoi Theatre - RUB12000
  • Moscow - Moscow Behind the Icons Urban Adventure - EUR56
  • Moscow - Red October Art Zone - Free
Meals Included
There are no meals included on this day.
Special Information
On occasion Lenin's Mausoleum and Red Square may be closed to the public during regular opening hours without prior warning. As Moscow's premier tourist attractions, tickets for the Kremlin and Armoury are in high demand, and the Moscow Tourism Administration sets strict quotas to control visitor numbers. Time in each area is also limited to 90 minutes, with any exceptions possibly resulting in the guide losing their license. While we appreciate that some travellers would like to spend longer in the Armoury Museum, we ask for your understanding that the guide is under pressure to keep to the schedule.

The Diamond Fund isn't included in your tour, but after the Kremlin and Armoury there may be time to visit. Entrance tickets can be purchased in the ticket office at the Armoury. The Diamond Fund is open for visitors from 10am-1pm and from 2pm-4pm. On Thursday it is closed.

You’ve got a bit more time to explore Moscow today as the entire day is free until the afternoon. The city is totally jam packed with Soviet history, so if that’s something you’ve always been a bit curious about, there’s plenty to check out. A good option would be to run over to Red Square, a place where beautiful Christmas trees stand tall next to the coloured domes of St Basil’s Cathedral – it’s definitely one of the prettier sites that Moscow has to offer and also houses the body of Lenin in a mausoleum which you might get to explore. The Kremlin also sits nearby if you want to cop a glimpse of the centre of Russian politics – the Russians, the Kremlin is effectively what the White House is to Americans. If you’re looking to get under the skin of the city, ask your leader about some of the Urban Adventures on offer in Moscow. Once the evening kicks in, jump on board an overnight train to your next stop – Kiev, capital of Ukraine.
Accommodation
  • Overnight sleeper train (1 night)
Meals Included
There are no meals included on this day.

Jump off the train in the morning and stretch those legs before dropping your luggage off at the hotel. You’ll then get the chance to explore the city on a unique walking trip past some of the killer street art that’s slowly becoming more and more known across the world. Keep your phone on charge and your cameras handy, these beauties are definitely worthy of chucking on the ‘gram. A cool little fact you might want to keep in mind while you’re checking out all these neat murals is that over 100 city walls have been decorated here over time, and it’s not just by the locals – international artists drop in to leave their mark here too as the scene is just that attractive.
Accommodation
  • Hotel (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Kiev Guided City & Street Art Tour
Optional Activities
  • Pechersk Caves Monastery - UAH50
  • Museum of One Street - UAH30
  • Motherland Monument - UAH200
  • Pirogovo Folk Architecture Museum - UAH30
  • WWII Museum - UAH10
  • St Sofia Cathedral - UAH70
  • Chornobyl Museum - UAH16
  • Dnipro River boat trip - UAH50
Meals Included
There are no meals included on this day.

Alright, so lets say you’re hunting for night clubs, swimming beaches, amusement parks and boat rentals – Venetsianskyi (or Hydropark) has got you covered. That said, the centre of town (mainly around Independence Square and Khreschatyk Street) turns into planet party in the summer months as there’s so many good restaurants, bars and clubs in the area. In the summer months, you can easily catch thousands of people having a good time in this region you might want to check out what all the hype is about. That should have you covered in the evening, but what about during the day? Honestly, the parks here are stunning – especially the M. M. Hryshko National Botanical Gardens which offer a view over the entire city (not to mention all the flowers, so pretty!). There’s a café about a block away, so you could grab a snack or some coffee and relax in the park if you want.
Accommodation
  • Hotel (1 night)
Meals Included
  • Breakfast

Later Kiev! Today you’ll head on a train towards the provincial city of Rivne. This ancient and pretty city might have once been one of the country’s finest, but World War II had other plans and ended up ruining a lot of the town’s cultural buildings. Bit mean, really. That said, it’s still great to look at and the views you can get over the flat landscape are gorgeous – Rivne actually has bragging rights as one of the greenest cities in Ukraine. Want proof? Check out Shevchenko Park – 30 lush hectares of babin’ parkland.
Accommodation
  • Hotel (1 night)
Meals Included
  • Breakfast

Take the scenic route towards Lviv today before stopping off at the Tunnel of Love near Klevan. There’s a reason it’s got a rep as one of the most romantic spots in the country – this archway of vines and trees growing over industrial rail-lines is so green and perfectly formed, it’s almost like it’s from another world. Romantics and honeymooners come from far and wide to experience the unique landscaping, created by trains and nature. It’s believed couples who are in love can make a wish here and if the love is real, then the wish will come true. Afterwards, go castle hunting near Rivne with stop-offs at the Pidhirtsi and Olesko Castles. The rustic scenery of Pidhirtsi next to the green and grassy surrounds looks like it belongs in a fairytale (albeit a creepy one), and Olseko’s hilltop location definitely belongs on a postcard.
Accommodation
  • Hostel (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Rivne Tunnel of Love
  • Pidhirtsi and Olesko Castles in Rivne
Optional Activities
  • Wooden Architecture Museum - UAH20
  • Lychakivsky Cemetery - UAH20
  • The National Museum - UAH35
  • High Castle Hill - Free
  • Italian Yard, Lviv - UAH1
  • National Art Gallery - UAH10
Meals Included
  • Breakfast

After waking up in Lviv, get ready to explore the day at your own pace. It’s a good looking city to be sure, there’s a bit of charm in the old houses and the bigger buildings in the city have got a real Central-Euro vibe to them, but you’ll get to figure that out in your own time. Maybe take a walk to the Rynok Square, the Pharmacy Museum, the Italian Courtyard or any number of different local churches, each with their own unique quirks. One of the best things you’re going to find out about this city are the multicultural influences that lie in the food and culture. You might have to search a little bit, but there’s plenty of menu items with traces of Jewish, Hungarian, Austrian and Polish influence behind them. Maybe later in the day try to find a restaurant and dig in to some goulash or herring pate to see for yourself!
Accommodation
  • Hostel (1 night)
Meals Included
There are no meals included on this day.

You’re gonna have to get up nice and early for this next one. Wake up and travel to Budapest, the capital city of Hungary. It’s going to be a big ride – you’ll get there nearly 12 hours later. Once you arrive, take an orientation walk near the hotel and then the evening’s all yours for exploration No doubt you’ll be a little bit hungry after all the travelling you’ve been doing, so perhaps duck out to one of the bars next to the Danube and go for an evening stroll afterwards.
Accommodation
  • Hotel (1 night)
Optional Activities
  • Hungarian National Museum - HUF1600
  • Urban Adventures - Buda Castle Explorer - EUR45
  • Bike Ride - HUF6000
  • Private Budapest: Best Beers of Budapest - UA - EUR97
  • Urban Adventures - Bites & Sights - EUR64
  • Thermal Bath - Starting from - HUF4500
  • Urban Adventures - Budapest Custom Tour - EUR35
  • Museum of Fine Arts - HUF1200
  • Visit to Szimpla Kert Ruin Bar - Free
Meals Included
There are no meals included on this day.

Check out some of the jaw-dropping buildings and street art lying around (there’s heaps!). Once you’ve got the low-down from your leader about where to go in the city, spend the rest of the day exploring by yourself. A good place to start might be to hunt down some cafes and bars with the group. Café culture in Budapest is all about traditional vibes and super strong coffee – lots of it. You’d be surprised about how long some of the cafes have been standing – Gerbeaud Café, for example, has been around since 1858 and serves up a famous ‘konyakos meggy’ (sour cherry, matured in cognac and covered in dark chocolate), so try that if you find it. Central Kavehaz, New York Kavehaz and Hadik Kavehaz have all got a larger-than-life old school feel that’s closer to dining in a mansion rather than a coffee shop. Bar culture, on the other hand, can get real messy. Hedonism is one word that’s usually thrown around with it, but if that’s not your vibe then there’s plenty of places to kick back and relax.
Accommodation
  • Hotel (1 night)
Meals Included
  • Breakfast

Well that's a wrap. The journey from St Petersburg to Budapest comes to an end today and there's no further activities planned. Still got the travel bug? Why not continue on to venice on our 'Budapest to Venice by Rail' trip, or alternatively head down towards Athens on our 'Budapest to Athens by Rail' trip, taking in the highlights of the Balkans. Both trips are designed to coincide with your trip.
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
Special Information
If you have some more time in Budapest, maybe check out an Urban Adventure in Budapest and keep exploring. See urbanadventures.com for more details.

Meals

5 breakfasts

Transport

Train, Overnight sleeper train

Accommodation

Hotel (7 nights), Overnight sleeper train (2 nights), Hostel (3 nights)

Included Activities

  • Moscow Metro Tour
  • Moscow - Gorky Park
  • Kiev Guided City & Street Art Tour
  • Rivne Tunnel of Love
  • Pidhirtsi and Olesko Castles in Rivne

Dates & availability

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There are currently no scheduled departures on our St Petersburg to Budapest by Rail trip. If you are interested in other trips in the region visit one of the links below.

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Travelling after October 1st?

Our sister company Intrepid Travel has just launched a new range of adventures for 18 to 29-year-olds. Same small group size, same awesome local leaders, different logos on the t-shirts.
From October 1st, Intrepid 18 to 29s will be your go-to spot for small group adventures with people your own age.

Check out the range
Book this trip and make a difference to local communities. Along with carbon offsetting your trip, we’ll also contribute funds to our new social enterprise partner, Friends-International, on your behalf. Find out more

Important notes

1. In order for our local operator to book train tickets we require the scan of your passport information page to be provided to your booking agent no later than 45 days before departure.

Below information must be provided at the same time:
• Passengers full name (First/ Middle/ Last)
• Full Passport Details (number, expiry, issued)
• DOB
• City of Birth

2. A single supplement is not available on this trip, however you may be able to upgrade and pay for it locally at the time of check-in (subject to availability)

Start and finish time:

Your adventure begins with a welcome meeting at 6:00pm on Day 1. There are no activities planned for the final day and you are able to depart the accommodation at any time.

Essential trip information

Want an in-depth insight into this trip? Essential Trip Information provides a detailed itinerary, visa info, how to get to your hotel, what's included - pretty much everything you need to know about this adventure and more.
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