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On our 8-hour private tour, we’ll take a deep dive into the Art Nouveau of Saint Petersburg, the Russian “Venice of the North.” Given the city’s expansive layout, this guided tour will include a comfortable car ride to explore its highlights.
You’ll discover how the Wiener Secession and National Romantic styles were transformed into Russian architectural jewels at the turn of the 20th century. We’ll visit the magnificent Vitebsk Train Station and explore the area around it, including the stunningly beautiful House of Bazhanov.
Next, we’ll head to the Fabergé Museum, closely associated with Art Nouveau and Belle Époque treasures like the Imperial Easter egg Lilies of the Valley. A private visit to the museum is not included in the base price of the tour, but you can opt for it by clicking on the option below the picture of the Imperial Easter egg. While we highly recommend the museum visit, please note that private group access costs an additional €220.
We’ll stop at Eliseev’s grocery store, famous for its lavish Art Nouveau decorations inside and out, and enjoy its delightful food offerings. The building also houses a pleasant café and restaurant with indoor seating and a street terrace during summer. You can decide to lunch here or at another nearby Art Nouveau gem, L’Europe restaurant, located on Nevsky Prospect and offering excellent cuisine. If you’d like us to reserve a table at either venue, simply select the option when booking the tour. Alternatively, our guide will be happy to recommend more budget-friendly restaurants.
As we drive through this part of the city, you’ll also admire the House of Books, the tallest building on Nevsky Prospect, erected in 1904.
Saint Petersburg, a city of islands, features numerous Art Nouveau mansions and apartment buildings, many located away from the city center. That’s why we’ll cross the Neva River to Petrograd Island, renowned as the Art Nouveau hub of Saint Petersburg.
Here, we’ll stop at the elegant Kshesinskiy Mansion, designed in 1904 by court architect Alexander von Hohen. This building’s playful asymmetry is accentuated by its octagonal tower and contrasting materials, including pink and grey granite bands, cream-colored bricks, intricate iron railings, and majolica tiles. During this stop, we’ll also admire the nearby Brandt Mansion, as both are part of the museum.
A short walking tour of the neighborhood will reveal further Art Nouveau masterpieces, such as the Lidval House, a true architectural gem. You’ll also see an Art Nouveau-style monument to Russian sailors and a mosque built in the early 20th century, featuring tiles crafted by the same Russian artisan who created the fireplaces in the House of Bazhanov.
After driving along Stone Island Prospect and through the charming Austrian Square, our final stop will be at the banks of the Karpovka River, offering a picturesque view of Big Prospect with its stunning Art Nouveau architecture.
From this point, we’ll return you to your hotel or any central location of your choice.
This private tour includes a comfortable car or minivan with a dedicated driver at your service throughout the journey.
We have designed this full day tour by car/minivan because we want you to discover the beauty of art nouveau in the city of Saint Petersburg in the best of the ways. The use of private car/minivan and chauffeur allows you to discover the main art nouveau highlights with comfort.
Our experienced tour guides love art nouveau and this is an extra guarantee of satisfaction. Small-group tour ensures a more personalised experience for your discovery of the art nouveau in the Russian Venice of the North.
Discover St. Petersburg’s Art Nouveau gems through the eyes of a passionate local expert. Your personalized tour will delve into the city’s elegant architecture, rich history, and cultural heritage. We’ll tailor the experience to your specific interests, whether you’re fascinated by the intricate details of Art Nouveau design, the stories behind iconic buildings, or the lives of the artists who shaped the city’s artistic landscape.
Our flexible approach ensures that your tour is truly yours. Whether you prefer a leisurely stroll or a more in-depth exploration, we’ll adapt the itinerary to your pace and preferences. We’ll also consider any special requirements, such as mobility needs or family travel, to provide a comfortable and enjoyable experience.
Join us on a journey through time, uncovering hidden gems and off-the-beaten-path locations that only a local expert can reveal. Your personalized St. Petersburg Art Nouveau tour will leave you with lasting memories of this magnificent city.
The tour starts and finishes at the lobby of your hotel.
Food and drinks.
Entrance fees to museums are not included, as visits are not part of the planned itinerary. Museum fees will be paid at the entrance of their premises and will not be included in the final price of the tour:
> The Entrance fee to Fabergé Museum – closed on Fridays- is not included in the price of this tour. This is Recommended because of the high interest for art nouveau lovers but Optional due to the high price that this museum charges for a private group entrance (220€). Select in the scroll below the calendar if interested.
If you want to visit it individually this museum another day there is the option of visiting it with audio guides and with no guides.
> The Entrance fee to the Kshesinskiy mansion – closed on Thursdays- is not included in the price of this tour.
group 1 – 5 people – 1000 rubles (around 16€) plus entrance tickets for every person 200 r. (around 3€)
group 6 – 20 people – 1500 r. (around 24€) plus entrance tickets for every person 200 r. (around 3€)
Take into account that our tour, which includes private visits to two private visits to museums (Faberge and Kshesinskiy), needs to be booked one week before the private tour takes place.
To book this tour start by selecting the group size and the date of your tour on the calendar available in this page. To access detailed information about the provision of the service (process of purchase, payment options, cancellation and date change policy,…) visit the Customer Service section at the bottom of the website or click HERE.
Airport pick-up and/or drop off is possible. Ask and we will send you a quotation.
Languages – Most of our guests prefer private tours in English. If you require a tour in another language, please let us know, and we will do our best to accommodate you.
Unexpected Changes – Major events, health regulations, and weather conditions may affect the final itinerary of your private experience. Changes in opening hours for specific buildings, ongoing renovations, and guest interests may allow us to include additional sites in your itinerary, such as the Ráth György Villa, the Music Academy, the Geological Institute, the Schiffer Villa, the Róth Miksa Stained Glass Museum, and other noteworthy locations. Please note that the Budapest Museum of Applied Arts is currently undergoing renovations after five years of restoration, and the Bedő House is closed and no longer accessible for visits. We offer flexibility regarding cancellations or date changes, and we will provide detailed information with the quote sent.
Selection of guides – Knowledgeable of the city, each of them in various subjects, they all ensure an enriching experience that matches the interests of every guest. They will offer you fascinating insights into the cultural and historical contexts. To ensure you secure the expert guide best suited to your group’s profile, we encourage early bookings.
Not only Art Nouveau – A decade ago, we began offering exclusive Art Nouveau private tours. As time went on, our guests expressed interest in a wider range of experiences, leading us to expand our offerings. Today, we provide general city tours, arts and culture tours, and specialized experiences such as Jewish Budapest tours and our classical Great Plains one-day private tour, showcasing charming villages that feature hidden Art Nouveau gems.To enhance your experience, we also offer chauffeur services, hotel recommendations, and airport pickups. Additionally, we’ve introduced unique services based on our clients’ requests, including organizing business lunches in restaurants and private homes, locating filming sites, and home-hunting assistance.
On our city page, you can request any experience you envision, and we’ll be delighted to assist you.
Between 1890 and 1914, St. Petersburg stood at the crossroads of immense transformation. As the Russian Empire’s capital, it symbolized both the grandeur and the contradictions of the late imperial era. The city was a hub of political power, cultural refinement, and industrial growth. By the end of the 19th century, St. Petersburg had solidified its reputation as a European city with Russian soul, boasting grand boulevards, palaces, and burgeoning infrastructure. This period saw the rise of new technologies like electrification and public transportation, including the expansion of tramlines, which connected the urban sprawl. However, these advancements contrasted sharply with the growing social discontent among workers and intellectuals, foreshadowing the revolutionary turmoil to come.
Architecturally and artistically, this was the era when Art Nouveau (known as Modern Style in Russia) began to reshape the cityscape. Inspired by Western European movements like the Wiener Secession and Jugendstil, Russian architects adapted these trends, blending them with national romanticism and Slavic motifs. St. Petersburg’s Art Nouveau mansions and tenement buildings, especially those on the Petrograd Side and Stone Island, reflected the city’s cosmopolitan aspirations while nodding to its unique cultural identity. The House of Bazhanov, Kshesinsky Mansion, and Vytebsk Station stand as enduring symbols of this synthesis. Artists and artisans contributed to the flourishing of the decorative arts, and institutions like the Imperial Academy of Arts became hotbeds of experimentation. Yet, beneath this creative vibrancy, the city was a cauldron of political dissent, labor strikes, and the growing influence of revolutionary ideas that would soon dismantle the imperial structure altogether.
A must: Vitebsky Station, opened in 1837, is Russia’s oldest and most beautiful train station, and St. Petersburg’s first Art Nouveau building. The current structure, completed in 1904 and meticulously restored in 2003, features grand semicircular windows, sweeping balconies, and an opulent interior crafted by Semyon Minash. Its main hall is adorned with gilded leaves, an enormous stained glass window, and landscape friezes depicting scenes from St. Petersburg and Odessa. With its concert hall and stunning decorative details, Vitebsky Station feels more like a palace than a transportation hub, making it a favorite spot for wedding photos.
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Preferably, book ahead, but we accept last-minute requests. We’ll always do our best to tailor your perfect tour experience.
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