Study Abroad in St. Petersburg: Travel
3-day London stopover (Included in fee)
Every semester begins with a 3-day stopover in London en route to St. Petersburg. Students have the opportunity to visit London, recover from jet lag and meet and travel with fellow AIFS students to campus.
Thursday, August 28 or January 29 Morning arrival in London where the flight will be met by an AIFS representative. Transfer to a centrally located hotel for students who have booked their flights with AIFS. Balance of the day free for rest and relaxation.
Friday, August 29 or January 30 Morning sightseeing tour with a professional guide who will point out some of London’s most famous landmarks including Buckingham Palace, Westminster Abbey, the Houses of Parliament and the Tower of London. Afternoon and evening free.
Saturday, August 30 or January 31 Transfer to airport for flight to St. Petersburg.
Includes hotel, breakfasts, airport transfers, sightseeing tour and local guide. Lunch and dinner are not included.
3-day visit to Moscow (Included in fee)
Moscow, with a population of ten million, is Russia’s capital and largest city and has long been amongst the most prominent cities of Europe. With many well-preserved czarist monuments interspersed among 20th century buildings, it is the home of the Bolshoi Opera and Ballet, the Moscow Art Theater, the Tchaikovsky Concert Hall and many smaller drama theaters. Chief among the city’s many museums and art galleries are the Pushkin Museum of Fine Arts, the State Tretyakov Gallery (mostly Russian Art) and the Kremlin Museum. Moscow is the major Russian tourist center.
During the break each semester, the Resident Director accompanies students on a visit to Moscow, giving them the opportunity to explore the capital of Russia.
The trip ends at the beginning of the one-week semester break. Students have six days for independent travel after the trip. AIFS provides a return train ticket from Moscow to St. Petersburg. A separate excursion to another location is organized for full year students during the spring semester. There is no refund for students who choose not to participate in this group excursion. Dates are tentative and subject to change.
Friday, October 10 or March 13 Night train with couchettes from St. Petersburg to Moscow.
Saturday, October 11 or March 14 Morning arrival in Moscow. Students enjoy a guided visit to Moscow’s principal monuments.
Sunday, October 12 or March 15 Morning visit to the Izmailovsky Market Center for arts, crafts and antiques and the Arbat, a street in Moscow lined with art galleries and frequented by musicians. Afternoon free. Evening at the Moscow circus or Bolshoi ballet, depending on availability.
Monday, October 13 or March 16 Free day in Moscow. Semester break starts.
The visit includes transportation, accommodations, breakfast, sightseeing and the services of a guide. The University reserves the right to alter dates or itinerary.
4-day visit to Helsinki, Finland and Tallinn, Estonia (Included in fee)
This four day trip encompasses the heart of the Baltic region, historically the crossroads of east and west. The visit includes the two great European cities of Helsinki, capital of Finland, and Tallinn, capital of the former Soviet republic of Estonia.
Thursday, November 14 or Friday, April 10 Morning departure by train from St. Petersburg for the 5-hour trip to Helsinki, a city with a strong maritime influence; three quarters of its surface area is sea. An afternoon tour of Helsinki visiting some of the main sights, such as the magnificent Suomenlinna Fortress. Evening free and overnight in Helsinki.
Friday, November 15 or Saturday, April 11 Free day for further exploration of Helsinki and the islands of its archipelago. Possibilities include the fruit, vegetable and souvenir stalls of Market Square, the Helsinki Zoo on Korkeasaari Island, or the Temppeliaukio ‘Rock’ Church, one of Finland’s most popular tourist attractions.
Saturday, November 16 or Sunday, April 12 Morning short ferry journey across the Gulf of Finland to Tallinn. See the Medieval Old Town including St. Olav’s Church, the tallest church in Medieval Europe. Free time in the afternoon to visit the Latin Quarter and climb the Town Walls. Evening ferry return to Helsinki and overnight.
Sunday, November 17 or Monday, April 13 Morning return train journey to St. Petersburg.
Includes accommodations, breakfast, travel and sightseeing as indicated. Lunch and dinner are not included. Dates and itinerary are subject to confirmation.
End-of-program London stopover
Saturday, December 13 or Saturday, May 16 Afternoon flight departure from St. Petersburg to London. Evening arrival in London where an AIFS representative will meet the flight. Transfer to a conveniently located hotel for students who have booked their flights with AIFS. Balance of the day free for rest and relaxation.
Sunday, December 14 or Sunday, May 17 Transfer to airport for flight to the U.S.
