Tailored Tours of St.Petersburg
Tailored Tours of St.Petersburg
Tailored Tours of St.Petersburg
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About
Timofey Kruglikov is a graduate of the St. Petersburg State University in Russian History. He also has a degree in History of Russian Culture of the High School of Religion and Philosophy of St. Petersburg.Since 1998, a lecturer for St. Petersburg Academy of Culture, the author and organizer of numerous successful tours and excursions on Russian politics, history and culture for a diversity of tourists from around the world.Our tours are mostly meant for those who are interested in Russian history and the history of the Russian art, and those who would like to gain a better understanding of the phenomenon of St. Petersburg in the context of the Russian and the world history and culture.We not only give you bare facts, dates and names, but introduce you to the mysterious world beyond the city guidebooks.And not so seriously, but entertaining..
Tailored Tours of St.Petersburg
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
5.0
288 reviews
Excellent
283
Very good
3
Average
1
Poor
1
Terrible
0
tokyobali
New York City, NY64 contributions
Feb 2020 • Friends
We used Timofey for a second time in St Petersburg. He set us up with a guide named Daria who was excellent and very knowledgeable about art and Russian history. She was the highlight of our trip. She guided us at the hermitage and Catherine’s palace. Timofey was easy to deal with over email and very straightforward. We also met him briefly at Catherine’s palace.
Highly recommended.
Highly recommended.
Written February 24, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
fiestakarenrocks
Vancouver, Canada17 contributions
Aug 2016 • Family
I found Tailored Tours and Timofey Kruglikov from Rick Steeve's Northern European Cruise Ports book (great book). I was in contact via email and Timofey was quick to respond and provide a custom itinerary for our 2 days in St. Petersburg. We are a family of 4, with teenagers ages 15 and 17.
Our guide, Sergei and our driver Yuri, met us promptly at the cruise port. Our minivan was very comfortable. The only way our busy tour would work is to have both a guide and driver as the driver was able to drop us at busy locations where there is limited or no parking. He was then back to pick us up and go to the next stop. Sergei, our guide, was fantastic!!!! He is so knowledgeable about the city and its history and the history of all the Czars. He was amazing. He was able to get us through long lines and into the locations quickly.
On our first day we went to the Peterhof and toured outside and saw the fountains, parks and palace exterior. We then had a short subway ride to see 2 magnificent underground stations. They are works of art. Then the Hermitage where we had a private tour of the Gold Room and many of the art highlights. After this, we went to the Peter and Paul Fortress and toured inside the cathedral to learn about all the Czars. After that, we had a private canal tour which was relaxing and beautiful. I highly recommend a canal tour as it is a very different view and feel of the city.
On day 2, we stopped briefly at various city highlights along the river. We had a brief souvenir shopping stop. We toured inside St. Isaac's cathedral and the Church on Spilled Blood. Both are so worthwhile to see. Works of art. After the churches, we went to the Siege of Leningrad memorial. We only had a short stop here and wished we had more time as it is a powerful memorial. Worth seeing. After this, we drove to Catherine Palace and walked the gardens and then toured inside. The line up, even for prearranged groups, was long, but Sergei was able to work our way forward in the line and we made it in much more quickly. This was important so we could get back to the ship on time.
We all loved every minute of our two days in St. Petersburg. It was a highlight of our 11 day Baltic cruise and wonderful education for all of us. It was a fast paced 2 days and some stops were a bit of a tease as we had to move on but it was all worth it as it is a long way from Vancouver, Canada and we wanted to see a lot. Should we return in the future, we have a good idea what we would visit again and where we would spend more time.
I highly recommend Timofey's company. His prices are better then the cruise ship and we did not want to be herded in a big bus tour through this great city. The private, personal tour was more to our style and we also enjoyed talking with Sergei and our driver. You won't regret booking with this company.
Our guide, Sergei and our driver Yuri, met us promptly at the cruise port. Our minivan was very comfortable. The only way our busy tour would work is to have both a guide and driver as the driver was able to drop us at busy locations where there is limited or no parking. He was then back to pick us up and go to the next stop. Sergei, our guide, was fantastic!!!! He is so knowledgeable about the city and its history and the history of all the Czars. He was amazing. He was able to get us through long lines and into the locations quickly.
On our first day we went to the Peterhof and toured outside and saw the fountains, parks and palace exterior. We then had a short subway ride to see 2 magnificent underground stations. They are works of art. Then the Hermitage where we had a private tour of the Gold Room and many of the art highlights. After this, we went to the Peter and Paul Fortress and toured inside the cathedral to learn about all the Czars. After that, we had a private canal tour which was relaxing and beautiful. I highly recommend a canal tour as it is a very different view and feel of the city.
On day 2, we stopped briefly at various city highlights along the river. We had a brief souvenir shopping stop. We toured inside St. Isaac's cathedral and the Church on Spilled Blood. Both are so worthwhile to see. Works of art. After the churches, we went to the Siege of Leningrad memorial. We only had a short stop here and wished we had more time as it is a powerful memorial. Worth seeing. After this, we drove to Catherine Palace and walked the gardens and then toured inside. The line up, even for prearranged groups, was long, but Sergei was able to work our way forward in the line and we made it in much more quickly. This was important so we could get back to the ship on time.
We all loved every minute of our two days in St. Petersburg. It was a highlight of our 11 day Baltic cruise and wonderful education for all of us. It was a fast paced 2 days and some stops were a bit of a tease as we had to move on but it was all worth it as it is a long way from Vancouver, Canada and we wanted to see a lot. Should we return in the future, we have a good idea what we would visit again and where we would spend more time.
I highly recommend Timofey's company. His prices are better then the cruise ship and we did not want to be herded in a big bus tour through this great city. The private, personal tour was more to our style and we also enjoyed talking with Sergei and our driver. You won't regret booking with this company.
Written November 24, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Randall R
Kiel, WI2 contributions
Mar 2016 • Couples
Yes, the "i's" have it! Timofey sets the standard for personalized Tour guides. We spent 3 days with Timofey and from the first moment to the very end he was an A-one class act!! Inspiring, when after the first day you are downloading books and reading them that evening because of his insight into the subject matter. Who needs Google when Timofey has more knowledge? Insightful enough to modify and adapt to our specific areas of interest on days two and three. Ready to return to St. Petersburg with another guided tour from Timofey!!
Written March 11, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Susan4563
Edmonds, WA210 contributions
Jan 2016 • Couples
We haven't taken our tour with Tailored Tours yet - our cruise is this coming June. I just have to say, though, that Timofey is absolutely a gem to work with during the booking process. He has been prompt and helpful with all of my emails/planning/etc. - with this kind of service, I can only imagine how wonderful our tour is going to be!! I so look forward to meeting/working with Timofey (or one of his guides).
Written January 26, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
ColumbusGlobal
Columbus, Ohio39 contributions
Aug 2015 • Solo
Timofey organized an excellent 2-day introduction to St Petersburg and environs. He is a lifelong cit resident and a historian by training.
He was prompt, punctual, professional, courteous, charming.
His tour made me want to return and to explore it in greater depth with him.
I fully recommend his services without any hesitation.
He was prompt, punctual, professional, courteous, charming.
His tour made me want to return and to explore it in greater depth with him.
I fully recommend his services without any hesitation.
Written August 28, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Rex-Farquaharson
London, UK47 contributions
Aug 2012 • Friends
We booked a 3 itinerary with Timofey when on a recent Baltic Cruise. Everything about the experience was perfect.
Whilst planning the trip Timofey was always quick to respond to emails and addressed all of our dumb questions with good humour. Despite the hints from the cruise line that people not taking cruise line excursions may have visa problems - Timofey's instructions about this were completely accurate and we gained immediate entry by showing passport and the tickets he had emailed to us.
We paid Timofey half way through the trip - an arrangement which requires trust on both parties (especially on his part) but one which worked perfectly for us.
On the ground Timofey and his excellent driver proved to be 100% reliable. His knowledge about St Petersburg and Russia is encyclopaedic - which is necessary since so much has happened here over the last 300 years. One thing you definitely find out is that if you want a long life....don't become a Russian Tsar.
Watch out - 3 days is not enough time to really see all the city has to offer and despite long days of sightseeing you will definitely feel that you would benefit from more time at the main sights. However if you only have 3 days there - this is the man to spend it with.
Whilst planning the trip Timofey was always quick to respond to emails and addressed all of our dumb questions with good humour. Despite the hints from the cruise line that people not taking cruise line excursions may have visa problems - Timofey's instructions about this were completely accurate and we gained immediate entry by showing passport and the tickets he had emailed to us.
We paid Timofey half way through the trip - an arrangement which requires trust on both parties (especially on his part) but one which worked perfectly for us.
On the ground Timofey and his excellent driver proved to be 100% reliable. His knowledge about St Petersburg and Russia is encyclopaedic - which is necessary since so much has happened here over the last 300 years. One thing you definitely find out is that if you want a long life....don't become a Russian Tsar.
Watch out - 3 days is not enough time to really see all the city has to offer and despite long days of sightseeing you will definitely feel that you would benefit from more time at the main sights. However if you only have 3 days there - this is the man to spend it with.
Written August 27, 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Annika
North Carolina60 contributions
Mar 2020
I took a full day tour with Sergei and this was a huge highlight of my Europe trip. Not only this, but the booking process with Timofey was very easy. He was very responsive and helpful.
For the entirety of our 9 hours together Sergei had an incredible amount of fascinating information about the sites we saw. Everything was perfectly punctual and entries to museums and churches well arranged. In the Hermitage Museum, Sergei asked if there was any particular art I would be interested in seeing, and knew exactly where to find some very interesting pieces related to my interests.
As a solo traveler and graduate student, this was a splurge (I had a private tour), but it was very well worth it because I learned so much about this fascinating city that I never would have otherwise known.
For the entirety of our 9 hours together Sergei had an incredible amount of fascinating information about the sites we saw. Everything was perfectly punctual and entries to museums and churches well arranged. In the Hermitage Museum, Sergei asked if there was any particular art I would be interested in seeing, and knew exactly where to find some very interesting pieces related to my interests.
As a solo traveler and graduate student, this was a splurge (I had a private tour), but it was very well worth it because I learned so much about this fascinating city that I never would have otherwise known.
Written March 21, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Mark Z
Dallas, TX54 contributions
May 2017 • Couples
We made our second trip to St. Petersburg in May, 2017 and scheduled a private tour (Guide plus Driver) for the two days we were in port. Since we had been here in the recent past, we elected to visit attractions we had missed the last time. Visiting St. Petersburg from a cruise ship is easy and the passport procedures are quick and efficient. Most people chose to do this via the tours provided by the cruise ship. While this is fine if you want to stick to their agenda and be taken by large bus to attractions, the private tour is MUCH SUPERIOR and COSTS ABOUT THE SAME! (Both include admissions.) I have written in other reviews that time in these ports is SO valuable and you want to see the most you can with the time you have. Only a private tour can provide this.
After clearing customs guide Victoria Pushel and driver Serge met us at the cruise terminal and we toured the following things this trip: Peter and Paul Museum, Peterhof (chapel and house), Faberge Museum (the new location of the original eggs), the Yusupov Palace (where Rasputin was killed), the Blockade Museum, Church on Spilled Blood, several local restaurants, a return to the Hermitage including the “Gold Room”, shopping, and short stops at a dozen other places that were either planned or unplanned. In our previous trip here we also saw the fountains at Peterhof, Catherine’s Summer Palace, attended the Ballet, saw the Impressionist Museum at the Hermitage and also toured several additional attractions.
Victoria is incredibly well versed on Russian history, and we had ongoing discussions about the country, the people, the culture and the history of St. Petersburg. Besides we had private guides at both the Siege Museum and the Gold Room. Serge made sure we got from place to place safely and as we were completing a tour, Victoria contacted Serge and he was in front of the door to pick us up and take us to the next place. I calculate you can add one or two more stops of significance daily using a private tour. You can also see what you want, and when you are done, you go. No wasting time waiting for the couple who is late and ends up delaying the bus departure. You also have the ability to leave your valuables in the car and drop items you buy and know they are safe. Some tours are not open to large groups. One of the “gems” of the Hermitage is the Gold Room. Only open to small groups or individuals. Finally, some of the less well-known exhibits are never covered by the large tours. One great example is the Impressionist Exhibit at the Hermitage. Not only is it incredible, it was practically empty, and something not to be missed!
Obviously, this tour rates a 5. We feel we have a new friend in St. Petersburg.
Book with Tailored Tours and you will be extremely happy with the result!
After clearing customs guide Victoria Pushel and driver Serge met us at the cruise terminal and we toured the following things this trip: Peter and Paul Museum, Peterhof (chapel and house), Faberge Museum (the new location of the original eggs), the Yusupov Palace (where Rasputin was killed), the Blockade Museum, Church on Spilled Blood, several local restaurants, a return to the Hermitage including the “Gold Room”, shopping, and short stops at a dozen other places that were either planned or unplanned. In our previous trip here we also saw the fountains at Peterhof, Catherine’s Summer Palace, attended the Ballet, saw the Impressionist Museum at the Hermitage and also toured several additional attractions.
Victoria is incredibly well versed on Russian history, and we had ongoing discussions about the country, the people, the culture and the history of St. Petersburg. Besides we had private guides at both the Siege Museum and the Gold Room. Serge made sure we got from place to place safely and as we were completing a tour, Victoria contacted Serge and he was in front of the door to pick us up and take us to the next place. I calculate you can add one or two more stops of significance daily using a private tour. You can also see what you want, and when you are done, you go. No wasting time waiting for the couple who is late and ends up delaying the bus departure. You also have the ability to leave your valuables in the car and drop items you buy and know they are safe. Some tours are not open to large groups. One of the “gems” of the Hermitage is the Gold Room. Only open to small groups or individuals. Finally, some of the less well-known exhibits are never covered by the large tours. One great example is the Impressionist Exhibit at the Hermitage. Not only is it incredible, it was practically empty, and something not to be missed!
Obviously, this tour rates a 5. We feel we have a new friend in St. Petersburg.
Book with Tailored Tours and you will be extremely happy with the result!
Written June 10, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dear Mark,
We are glad you had such nice impressions of your private tour and thank you so much for your wonderful review!
Written August 26, 2017
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
mikekc_54
Glen Mills, PA4 contributions
Sep 2016 • Friends
We found Tailored Tours in Rick Steve's Cruise Ports of Northern Europe travel book, and based upon his strong recommendation decided to use a private guide for two days rather than sign up for four or more excursions to see fewer sights with the cruise line.
Some of the wonderful sites we visited were Tsarskoe Selo, Catherine Palace, Peterhof Fountain Park, Hermitage, Spilled Blood Church, Peter and Paul Church and Fortress, and St. Isaac's Cathedral. Our guide Timofey was excellent and extremely knowledgeable, explaining the history of these sites and giving us a very interesting perspective on modern Russia, the Soviet Union and the Russia of the czars. The entire tours was perfectly planned and also included a ride on the metro (subway), a late afternoon canal tour, and a hydrofoil ride from the Peterhof gardens back to St. Petersburg, both for the experience and to avoid traffic!
The Mercedes van was very comfortable for six passengers and the driver was also excellent, dropping us off and picking us up in the most convenient way to maximize our enjoyment of each site.
We highly recommend this private tour company, and Timofey Kruglikov is a first-rate guide. The small group format of a private tour is also much more conducive to discussion between the tourists and the guide, and certainly made beautiful St. Petersburg even more enjoyable and a true learning experience.
Some of the wonderful sites we visited were Tsarskoe Selo, Catherine Palace, Peterhof Fountain Park, Hermitage, Spilled Blood Church, Peter and Paul Church and Fortress, and St. Isaac's Cathedral. Our guide Timofey was excellent and extremely knowledgeable, explaining the history of these sites and giving us a very interesting perspective on modern Russia, the Soviet Union and the Russia of the czars. The entire tours was perfectly planned and also included a ride on the metro (subway), a late afternoon canal tour, and a hydrofoil ride from the Peterhof gardens back to St. Petersburg, both for the experience and to avoid traffic!
The Mercedes van was very comfortable for six passengers and the driver was also excellent, dropping us off and picking us up in the most convenient way to maximize our enjoyment of each site.
We highly recommend this private tour company, and Timofey Kruglikov is a first-rate guide. The small group format of a private tour is also much more conducive to discussion between the tourists and the guide, and certainly made beautiful St. Petersburg even more enjoyable and a true learning experience.
Written October 31, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Schmitty86
Langhorne, PA238 contributions
Jul 2019
My husband and I booked a private guide for our weekend in St. Petersburg in July. I contact them a few weeks beforehand and Timofey was awesome to work with. He was very responsive and helped me plan out a tour that met all of our needs. Our guide was Vladimir. On our first day we took the train in from Helsinki and he met us at our hotel after lunch (Herzen House - nice hotel in a great location near many sites). We did an afternoon tour of the Hermitage which was fantastic! Vladimir got us in quickly and expertly moved us around showing us all of the important pieces with a knowledgeable description of each one. Then we did a tour of the Church of the Spilled Blood which is just breathtaking on the inside and out! We did more of a walking tour of the city before dropped us off with a dinner restaurant recommendation near our hotel (The Clean Plate Society). He suggested that we take the underground train home just to experience it and we were glad that we did. Very inexpensive, easy to do by ourselves and interesting to see. On day 2 we were picked up by Vladimir and a driver for our tours of Catherine's Palace and Peterhof. The car and driver were top notch. We were so happy that they were able to secure tickets to the Amber Room in Catherine's Palace as it was just amazing! After our tour, we ate lunch and then got in the car again for our tour of the Peterhof Gardens. That garden was a lovely sight to see and we really enjoyed our time there too. Vladimir gave us the option of taking a hydrofoil boat back to the city from Peterhof instead of the car and we decided to do that which was fun. We really enjoyed our time with him for those 2 days and then felt comfortable touring the Faberge Egg Museum (with the audio guide) on our own for the last morning before we left. It was an amazing weekend that we will never forget and I wouldn't hesitate to recommend these tour guides to others.
Written September 28, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Norman S
Baton Rouge, Louisiana
My family is visiting St Petersburg with Princess Cruises on July 22. We are two older adults and a 17-year old into photography. My wife has mobility issues resulting from extensive back surgery that limit her walking to about a mile and two flights of stairs. During the walking she needs to take short breaks to stretch her back muscles, so we are looking from a private tour so that other folks are not delayed by us. We also have a mobility scooter that folds up and fits into a duffle bag -- it weights about 25 pounds. We would love to visit the Hermitage (perhaps the General Staff building) but are concerned about access with the scooter. Also on our list is the Faberge Museum, the Church of the Spilled Blood, one of the palaces, perhaps a canal cruise, and anything else you might suggest.
Written June 20, 2017
Sorry to be late in response. We thoroughly endorse the recommendations of hotchilie - the company concerned is five star & will listen to requirements carefully
Written July 10, 2017
sophie n
Columbia, Maryland
What is your website? I want to make sure I have the correct tour.
Written March 18, 2017
Timofey K
St. Petersburg, Russia
Hello,
Please see our contact details (and website reference) at our trip advisor page.
The rules does not allow to include website link in this answer.
Our full name is Tailored Tours St.Petersburg.
Best regards,
Timofey Kruglikov
Written March 19, 2017
Do you do tours of the Faberge Museum?
Written July 8, 2016
If it is open and there is time ,this guy can take you wherever you want to go .
Written December 20, 2017
My wife and I are visiting St Petersburg on the Celebrity Eclipse in early August. Can you recommend a one or two day guided tour for us? We are interested most in the culture and history of Russia and this marvelous city. Thanks.
Written May 6, 2016
Timofey K
St. Petersburg, Russia
Hello,
I will be glad to arrange the private tour for you with myself or one of my expert guide colleagues.
Please contact me for the details through my website.
Best regards,
Timofey Kruglikov
Written May 15, 2016
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