Rick Steves'Â Best of St. Petersburg, Tallinn & Helsinki in 9 Days Tour
Gluten Free Eating
We were very impressed by the availability of gluten free foods in each of the three cities on this tour. The restaurants I’ve mentioned each had great options. Another idea for backups is to stop by local grocery stores to grab gluten free basics (think rolls, crackers, cookies). This helps fill the gaps for restaurants or stops that have gluten free proteins and veggies, but nothing to build a sandwich on the go or crackers for a dip.
Pre-Tour Reading Suggestions
As a Russian history buff, my recommendations here will focus on St. Petersburg. Even if you only read one of these, you'll have a much easier time keeping track of who's who in the Romanov dynasty.
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Robert Massie is a great option for people interested in deep dives into history. Catherine the Great (for ambitious readers only, this is a long one!), Peter the Great (similar warning), and Nicholas and Alexandra are all fabulous. Pick one.
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For fiction readers, try the Romanov Empress, narrated by Nicholas II's mother. As the daughter in law, wife, and mother of the last three tsars of Russia, you'll get a quick course in the final years of the dynasty. While I wouldn't call this a fun read (it IS about the Russian Revolution and its build up after all), it is very engaging. The descriptions of life in court alone should keep you entertained.