POST CONFERENCE TOUR TO ST. PETERSBURG, RUSSIA 
Friday 4 – Monday 7 July

Saint Petersburg http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SaintPetersburg  is a city and a federal subject located in Northwestern Federal District of Russia on the Neva River at the east end of the Gulf of Finland on the Baltic Sea. St. Petersburg's informal name, Piter (Питер), is based on how Peter the Great was called by foreigners. The city's other names were Petrograd 1914–1924) and Leningrad (1924–1991)

Founded by Tsar Peter the Great on May 27, 1703, it was capital of the Russian Empire for more than two hundred years (1712-1728, 1732-1918). St. Petersburg ceased being the capital in 1918 after the Russian Revolution of 1917. It is Russia's second largest and Europe's fourth largest city (by city limit) after Moscow, London and Paris. At latitude 59°56′N, Saint Petersburg is the world's largest city north of Moscow (55°45′N). 4.6 million people live in the city, and over 6 million people in the city with its vicinity. Saint Petersburg is a major European cultural centre, and important Russian port on the Baltic Sea. The city, as federal subject, has a total area of 1439 square km.

St. Petersburg enjoys the image of being the most European city of Russia. Among cities of the world with over one million people, Saint Petersburg is the northernmost. The historic centre of St. Petersburg is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Russia's political and cultural centre for 200 years, the city is impressive, and is sometimes referred to in Russia as "the Northern Capital".

and in other words:
http://www.saint-petersburg.com/ St. Petersburg is one of the most beautiful cities in the world. It is often referred to as the Venice of the North or the Paris of the East, but its beauty is really a brand all its own. From the White Nights festival during the mysterious summer twilight to top theater and ballet productions and concerts on magical winter evenings, the city offers a vibrant cultural life that is second to none.

So much has been said about the city you are about to visit after the Tampere conference.
 
The Tour starts from our Tampere Conference venue on Friday 4 July at 8.30 a.m. and ends in Helsinki (Helsinki-Vantaa International Airport) late in the evening on Monday 7 July.

The accommodation in St Petersburg will be  at hotel Azimuth in business twin rooms with breakfast. (Please note in Russia "business" room does not mean the same as in western countries - the level is lower.)

The price of the Tour is 530 €. The price includes bus travel, accommodation with breakfast, lunch in Vyborg both ways, lunches in St Petersburg 5 and 6 July, visit to the Hermitage or the Museum of Russian Art with a local English speaking guide, a guided tour on the river Neva and the Canals, a visit to the Yusupov’s Moyka Palace and a Folklore Show at the Nikolayevsky Palace with sparkling wine and a snack. There will of course also be possibilities for shopping and sight seeing on your own. 

A visa for Russia is compulsory and has to be obtained at a Consulate of Russia in your home country, well in advance. It cannot, i.e. CAN NOT, be obtained just like that if you decide to go on the tour during the Conference. The cost of the visa differs from one country to another.
Travel insurance is also compulsory, but that is something you probably have obtained coming to Tampere anyway. Travel insurance can be obtained through the travel agency.

There will also be a local Finnish guide, speaking fluently both English and Russian.

For registration for this tour contact the following:

Contact person for registration: Ms Riitta Häkämies
Email: riitta.hakamies@saimaatravel.fi                                                                       Tel. +358 5 5410 116                                                                                     Responsible organiser: Saimaan Matkaverkko Oy  www.saimaatravel.fi/eng/index.php