Hermitage Museum
DISTRICT GUIDE

Hermitage Museum

World's largest art collection in imperial Russian splendor

The Hermitage Museum sprawls across five buildings along St Petersburg's Palace Embankment, housing the world's largest art collection in rooms that once hosted Russian tsars. You'll walk through 1,500 rooms filled with 3 million pieces — from Leonardo da Vinci's Madonna Litta to the world's largest collection of Impressionist paintings outside Paris. The Winter Palace alone, painted in that distinctive mint green and white, contains enough art to keep you busy for weeks. But here's the thing: most visitors rush through in three hours and miss the real magic hiding in the lesser-known wings.

Itineraries coming soon

We're working on adding amazing itineraries for Hermitage Museum. In the meantime, try the app to create your own!

Catherine the Great started this collection in 1764 with 225 paintings from a Berlin merchant. She wanted to prove Russia belonged among Europe's cultural powers. The woman was obsessed — buying entire collections sight unseen, outbidding European royalty at auctions. By her death, she'd amassed 4,000 paintings and 38,000 books. The Winter Palace, designed by Italian architect Bartolomeo Rastrelli, became the royal residence in 1762. Look, the Romanovs lived here until 1917, when revolutionaries stormed these very halls. The Bolsheviks turned the imperial residence into a public museum in 1922. During WWII, curators evacuated over a million pieces to Siberia — carrying Rembrandts and Picassos on sleds through the siege of Leningrad. Today's collection spans 5,000 years, from Stone Age artifacts to contemporary installations.

Money-Saving Tips

  • 1.Buy tickets online in advance to avoid tourist markup at the door - saves about 200 rubles per person
  • 2.The museum is free for students under 18 and Russian citizens under 16 - bring valid ID
  • 3.Wednesday evenings after 6 PM offer discounted admission for Russian residents
  • 4.Skip the overpriced museum cafe - grab lunch at Teplo on Bolshaya Morskaya for authentic Russian food at half the price
  • 5.The free Hermitage app replaces expensive audio guide rentals that cost 500 rubles
  • 6.Combine your visit with the General Staff Building on the same day - the joint ticket saves 300 rubles vs separate admissions
  • 7.Photography permits cost extra but aren't enforced strictly in most rooms
  • 8.Pack snacks - food inside the museum is limited and expensive, but you can eat in the courtyard areas

Travel Tips

  • •Visit Tuesday through Thursday to avoid weekend crowds - Mondays the museum is closed
  • •Start with the Jordan Staircase then work your way up to avoid backtracking through packed rooms
  • •The Gold Room and Diamond Room require separate tickets and timed entry - book these first
  • •Wear layers - rooms vary dramatically in temperature, and the coat check is mandatory for heavy jackets
  • •Bring a portable phone charger - the building blocks cell signals and drains batteries quickly
  • •Use the bathroom before entering major exhibition halls - facilities are limited and you'll lose your spot in crowded rooms
  • •The Hermitage cats live in the basement - ask guards about feeding times if you want to spot them
  • •Download offline maps of the museum layout - cell service is spotty inside the thick palace walls
  • •Check the museum website for temporary exhibition schedules - some rooms close for installations
  • •The State Rooms are most impressive in natural daylight - visit these sections before 3 PM in winter

Frequently Asked Questions

Plan at least 4-6 hours for a meaningful visit. The museum contains 3 million items across 1,500 rooms. Most visitors see the highlights in 3-4 hours, but art enthusiasts easily spend full days here. You can split your visit across multiple days with the same ticket.

Explore Hermitage Museum

Things to Do in Hermitage MuseumWhen to Visit Hermitage Museum3 Days in Hermitage Museum7 Days in Hermitage Museum

BUILD YOUR
HERMITAGE MUSEUM PLAN

Insider picks, smart timing, and a plan ready when you are.

Start Planning