The Hermitage. Not only one of the main attractions in the entire country of Russia but also one of the world’s largest and most prestigious museums. It is no secret that this place is a ‘must-see’ for anyone globetrotting their way around Russia but in my opinion it is a must-see for anyone with any love for museums, palaces and all things good in the world.

Visiting the Hermitage had always been a dream for me. I had heard such wonderful things about Saint Petersburg’s crown jewel but did not expect to be quite so taken away by the 223345 square meter museum that contains a collection of 3 million items, including 1 012 657 works of art, 1 124 919 numismatic objects, 771 897 archaeological artefacts, 13 974 arms and armoury and 209 673 other items…

Basically there is a lot to see…

Although many people chose to participate in an organised tour, I decided to simply get lost in the Hermitage and despite missing a few of the most famous pieces inside I was glad I was able to explore at my own pace.

The main collection of the Hermitage is inside the stunning Winter Palace, which was formerly the official residence of the Romanov Tsars, and its several annexes. The building itself is a masterpiece and some of the rooms are more impressive than some of the pieces of art inside them. To me the Hermitage is what would happens if The Louvre and The Palace of Versailles had a child. 

It is estimated that you would need eleven years to view each exhibit on display for just one minute. And once you have visited the Hermitage it is easy to see how such a time-consuming experience could even exist. But don’t let the size of the collection put you off – because even just admiring a few items in this collection will be worth the visit.

Address

Tickets

The Main Museum Complex and its branches:
the General Staff Building, the Winter Palace of Peter the Great,
the Menshikov Palace, the Museum of the Imperial Porcelain Factory

700 RUB

The Main Museum Complex,
the General Staff Building
and Winter Palace of Peter the Great
for Russian and Belarusian citizens

400 RUB

Entry ticket to one of the museum branches

300 RUB

Schoolchildren, students, pensioners
of the Russian Federation and
other categories of visitors

FREE

Free admission for all visitors: The first Thursday of every month and December 7