CityBuddy
State Hermitage Museum
Best time to visit
Wednesday is the least crowded day of the week. In winter, avoid weekend mornings and arrive by 10:30 to avoid the queues.
Budget tips
A full ticket costs about 500 rubles (prices vary), but on the first Thursday of every month entry is free for everyone. Buy your tickets online at least 24 hours in advance to skip the line and save precious time.
Recommended for
Lovers of classical and Renaissance art, Enthusiasts of Russian and Tsarist history, Architecture and interior photographers, Curious travelers with half a day to devote to a museum
Plan your visit
3-4 hours (half a day for an in-depth visit)
About
Quick facts: Over 3 million works of art are kept within its walls, from Egyptian mummies to masterpieces by Picasso. It takes 24 kilometers of galleries to tour the entire museum, although walking through every single room would require at least 11 years of your life.
Highlights: After closing time, the museum's official cats take possession of the underground areas. A colony of over 50 felines descends directly from the cats brought to court by Elizabeth of Russia in 1745 to keep mice away. Each cat has a personal passport with a photo stamped by the Ministry of Culture, and a foundation takes care of their feeding and veterinary care.
Insider tips
- Very comfortable shoes are a must: you will walk over 2 kilometers of corridors without even realizing it.
- Skip the endless line at the main entrance: enter through the side entrance on Millionnaya Ulitsa, open to those with an online ticket.
- Stop in the Throne Room (St. George): the gilded ceiling looks like a liquid sky and the light changes completely depending on the time of day.
- If you are only interested in the masterpieces by Leonardo and Rembrandt, head straight to the second floor: rooms 207 and 253 hold the most famous works without having to walk through all the galleries.
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