# State Hermitage Museum, St Petersburg

> The Hermitage fills the Winter Palace and four linked buildings on Palace Square — one of the world’s great art museums. It’s open Tue, Fri, Sat 11:00–20:00 and Wed, Thu, Sun 11:00–18:00, closed Mondays. Since July 2026 a ticket costs 1,200 ₽ before 16:00, 700 ₽ after and 500 ₽ from 18:00 on late nights. Allow about three hours.

Web page: https://yesgo.io/russia/saint-petersburg/hermitage

- City: [St Petersburg](https://yesgo.io/russia/saint-petersburg), Russia
- YesGo score: 76/100 (Yes, go)
- Time on site: 3 h
- Opening hours: Tue, Fri, Sat 11:00–20:00; Wed, Thu, Sun 11:00–18:00; closed Mondays, 1 January and 9 May; ticket desks close an hour before the museum
- With kids: Fine with kids
- Tue, Fri, Sat: 11:00–20:00
- Wed, Thu, Sun: 11:00–18:00
- Closed: Mondays, 1 January and 9 May
- Ticket desks: Close one hour before the museum; same-day tickets only
- Daytime ticket (11:00–16:00 slots): 1,200 ₽ — trial pricing since 14 July 2026
- After 16:00: 700 ₽
- Tue, Fri, Sat from 18:00: 500 ₽
- General Staff Building (Impressionists): Separate ticket, daytime at the old flat price
- Children under 14: Free every day; under-12s must come with a ticketed adult
- Free for everyone: 7 Jan, 23 Feb, 8 Mar, 12 Apr, 18 May, 5 Oct, 4 Nov, 7 Dec
- Online tickets: Official website only, 1–4 weeks ahead, timed entry
- Entrance: Right-hand side of the main arch into the Winter Palace’s Great Courtyard, from Palace Square
- Metro: Admiralteyskaya 700 m, Nevsky Prospekt 900 m, Gostiny Dvor 1.3 km
- Coordinates: 59.94056, 30.31361
- Facts checked: 29.10.2026

## Key facts

- **1764** — Catherine the Great buys a Berlin merchant’s paintings — the museum’s founding year (source: English and Russian Wikipedia, “Hermitage Museum”)
- **3 million+** — items in the collection; only a small share is on display (source: English and Russian Wikipedia, “Hermitage Museum”)
- **1754–1762** — Bartolomeo Rastrelli builds the Winter Palace for Empress Elizabeth (source: Russian Wikipedia, “Winter Palace”; English Wikipedia, “Winter Palace”)
- **5 buildings** — in the main complex: Winter Palace, Small, Old (Large) and New Hermitage, Hermitage Theatre (source: English and Russian Wikipedia, “Hermitage Museum”)
- **1852** — the New Hermitage opens to the public — Russia’s first public art museum (source: English Wikipedia, “Hermitage Museum” and “Winter Palace”)
- **No. 540** — UNESCO World Heritage, as part of the Historic Centre of Saint Petersburg, since 1990 (source: UNESCO World Heritage List; Russian Wikipedia)
- **2 Leonardos** — the Benois Madonna and the Madonna Litta (source: English and Russian Wikipedia, “Hermitage Museum”)
- **117** — staircases in the Winter Palace, hidden ones included (source: English Wikipedia, “Winter Palace”; Russian Wikipedia, “Winter Palace”)
- **1837** — a fire guts the Winter Palace; the interiors are rebuilt within about two years (source: English and Russian Wikipedia, “Winter Palace”)
- **10 Atlantes** — in grey granite hold up the New Hermitage portico on Millionnaya Street (source: Russian Wikipedia, “New Hermitage”; Brockhaus and Efron Encyclopedia, “Terebenev”)
- **332 portraits** — of the generals of 1812 by George Dawe line the Military Gallery (source: English Wikipedia, “Winter Palace”)

## Hermitage tickets and prices

Since **14 July 2026** the museum has been trialling time-based pricing for the main complex. Entry slots from 11:00 to 16:00 cost **1,200 ₽**, after 16:00 **700 ₽**, and on the late nights — Tuesday, Friday and Saturday — **500 ₽** from 18:00. Your stay isn’t limited: a morning ticket lets you stay until closing.

The museum says up to 80% of visitors arrive between 11:00 and 16:00, and the cheaper evening slots are meant to spread the crowd. It hasn’t said how long the trial will run, so check the price on the official site before you buy.

The **General Staff Building**, across Palace Square, needs its own ticket and stays at the old flat price in the daytime. That’s where the Impressionists and Matisse hang — not in the Winter Palace.

**Paying as a foreign visitor:** Visa and Mastercard cards issued abroad have not worked in Russia since March 2022, so the online shop is only usable with a Russian card. Otherwise buy at the ticket desks or terminals on the day, and bring roubles or a Russian payment option.

> **Closed on Mondays** The Hermitage closes every Monday, plus 1 January and 9 May — and the General Staff Building shuts on the same days. If Monday is your only day in St Petersburg, spend it at [Peterhof](https://yesgo.io/russia/saint-petersburg/peterhof) or walking the centre instead.

## How to buy tickets (and skip the line)

Online tickets are sold only on the museum’s own website, hermitagemuseum.org, 1–4 weeks ahead. With an e-ticket you skip the ticket desk and go straight to the entrance printed on it. Entry is by timed slot: arrive 15 minutes early; you can still get in up to an hour after your slot starts.

The desks and terminals inside the courtyard sell same-day tickets only and stop an hour before closing. In summer and on free days the desk queue can be long, so an e-ticket — or an evening slot — saves real time.

Avoid street touts and look-alike websites: they resell the same tickets at a mark-up.

## How to get to the Hermitage

1. Take the metro to **Admiralteyskaya** (Line 5, purple) — 700 m, about 10 minutes on foot along Malaya Morskaya Street to Palace Square.
2. Or ride to **Nevsky Prospekt** (Line 2, blue) or **Gostiny Dvor** (Line 3, green) — 900 m and 1.3 km, 12–18 minutes’ walk down [Nevsky Prospect](https://yesgo.io/russia/saint-petersburg/nevsky-prospect) towards the Admiralty spire.
3. Walk through the General Staff arch onto [Palace Square](https://yesgo.io/russia/saint-petersburg/palace-square) — the Winter Palace is straight ahead.
4. Go in through the **right-hand side of the main arch** into the Great Courtyard; the left-hand side is the exit. Ticket desks and terminals are in the courtyard.
5. Palace Square is pedestrian-only, so you can’t drive up to the door — the metro or a taxi to the square is easiest.

## Is the Hermitage worth visiting?

Yes — on a first trip it is the one museum in St Petersburg not to skip. Nowhere else will you walk through a working imperial palace, gilded staircase and throne room included, and then stand in front of Leonardo and Rembrandt in the same afternoon.

It isn’t for everyone at every pace, though. The complex is huge, the summer crowds in the State Rooms are dense, and trying to see it all ends in exhaustion. Go with a short list, or pick an evening slot when it’s calmer and cheaper.

If you only care about Russian art, the [Russian Museum](https://yesgo.io/russia/saint-petersburg/russian-museum) is the better fit; if you want palace interiors with a park, see [Catherine Palace](https://yesgo.io/russia/saint-petersburg/catherine-palace).

## What to see on a first visit

- **The Jordan Staircase** — Rastrelli’s white-and-gold ceremonial staircase, where most routes begin.
- **The State Rooms** — the Field Marshals’ Hall, the Armorial Hall, St George’s Throne Hall and the 1812 Military Gallery with its 332 generals.
- **The Malachite Room**, finished in Ural malachite after the 1837 fire.
- **The Pavilion Hall** in the Small Hermitage, home of James Cox’s 18th-century Peacock Clock.
- **Leonardo da Vinci** — the Benois Madonna and the Madonna Litta, in the Old Hermitage.
- **The Raphael Loggias**, a copy of the Vatican gallery commissioned by Catherine the Great.
- **Rembrandt** — The Return of the Prodigal Son and Danaë, in the New Hermitage.
- **The Egyptian Hall**, with its mummy and sarcophagi — a hit with kids.
- **The General Staff Building, 4th floor** — Monet, Renoir, Van Gogh, Gauguin, Cézanne and Matisse (separate ticket, separate building).
- **The Gold and Diamond Rooms** — by museum guided tour only, on their own ticket.

## How long do you need?

Plan on **about three hours** for a first visit: enough for the State Rooms, the Leonardos, Rembrandt and the Pavilion Hall. Nobody sees the whole collection in a day, and there’s no point trying.

The Impressionists in the General Staff Building take another 1.5–2 hours. Doing both buildings in one go is hard work — YesGo suggests splitting them over two days. Download the floor plan from the official site beforehand; without one, people lose an hour in halls they never meant to see.

## Before you go: checklist

- [ ] It isn’t Monday, 1 January or 9 May
- [ ] E-ticket bought, or I’ll reach the desk at least an hour before closing
- [ ] Roubles or a Russian card — foreign Visa and Mastercard won’t work
- [ ] Arriving 15 minutes before my slot
- [ ] Passport with me (needed for any concession)
- [ ] A short list of 4–5 must-see rooms
- [ ] Comfortable shoes — lots of stairs and long corridors
- [ ] Separate ticket for the General Staff Building if I want the Impressionists

## Hermitage vs Russian Museum vs Catherine Palace

|  | Hermitage | Russian Museum | Catherine Palace |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| What it is | World art inside an imperial palace | Russian art from icons to the avant-garde | Palace with the Amber Room in Tsarskoye Selo |
| Where | Palace Square, city centre | Mikhailovsky Palace, city centre | Pushkin town, outside the city |
| Best for | Every first-time visitor | Fans of Russian painting | Palace-and-park lovers |
| Time needed | 3 h for a first visit | 2–3 h | Half a day with travel |

On a first trip, do the Hermitage first — nowhere else in the city puts imperial interiors and great paintings under one roof. The Russian Museum and Catherine Palace fit day two and three.

## St Petersburg palaces compared

Every palace in St Petersburg rated by YesGo.

- [State Hermitage Museum](https://yesgo.io/russia/saint-petersburg/hermitage) — YesGo score 76/100 (Yes, go) · 3 h · 500–1,200 ₽
- [Mikhailovsky Castle](https://yesgo.io/russia/saint-petersburg/mikhailovsky-castle) — YesGo score 54/100 (Yes, go) · 1 h 30 min · ≈ 700 ₽
- [Peterhof](https://yesgo.io/russia/saint-petersburg/peterhof) — YesGo score 50/100 (Yes, go) · 4 h · Lower Park from 2,000 ₽ for foreign visitors
- [Yusupov Palace on the Moika](https://yesgo.io/russia/saint-petersburg/yusupov-palace) — YesGo score 47/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h 30 min · from 950 ₽
- [State Russian Museum](https://yesgo.io/russia/saint-petersburg/russian-museum) — YesGo score 44/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 2 h 30 min · from 700 ₽
- [Catherine Palace](https://yesgo.io/russia/saint-petersburg/catherine-palace) — YesGo score 37/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 3 h · 2,200 ₽ for foreign visitors
- [Fabergé Museum](https://yesgo.io/russia/saint-petersburg/faberge-museum) — YesGo score 36/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h 30 min · 700 ₽
- [Yelagin Island](https://yesgo.io/russia/saint-petersburg/yelagin-island) — YesGo score 36/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h 30 min · Free weekdays, 200 ₽ at weekends
- [Oranienbaum](https://yesgo.io/russia/saint-petersburg/oranienbaum) — YesGo score 28/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 3 h · Park 1,100 ₽, palace 1,800 ₽
- [Pavlovsk Palace and Park](https://yesgo.io/russia/saint-petersburg/pavlovsk-palace) — YesGo score 20/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 3 h · Palace 800 ₽, park 300 ₽

## The Hermitage and the embankments in a day

Start on Palace Square, spend the morning in the Hermitage, then cross Palace Bridge to Vasilyevsky Island and the Kunstkamera. Add them to your route — YesGo fits in the timing and transfers.

1. [Palace Square](https://yesgo.io/russia/saint-petersburg/palace-square) — YesGo score 71/100 (Yes, go) · 30 min · Free
2. [State Hermitage Museum](https://yesgo.io/russia/saint-petersburg/hermitage) — YesGo score 76/100 (Yes, go) · 3 h · 500–1,200 ₽
3. [Palace Bridge and the bridge openings](https://yesgo.io/russia/saint-petersburg/palace-bridge) — YesGo score 53/100 (Yes, go) · 45 min · Free from the embankment
4. [Kunstkamera](https://yesgo.io/russia/saint-petersburg/kunstkamera) — YesGo score 50/100 (Yes, go) · 1 h 30 min · 500 ₽

> **The best view is from across the Neva** To see the whole Winter Palace façade, walk to the Spit of Vasilyevsky Island or the beach below the walls of the [Peter and Paul Fortress](https://yesgo.io/russia/saint-petersburg/peter-and-paul-fortress). It’s at its best after dark, when the floodlights come on.

## Good to know

Don’t confuse it with the Hermitage Garden or Hermitage Theatre in Moscow, the Hermitage Amsterdam, or the Hermitage centres in Kazan, Yekaterinburg and Vyborg. In St Petersburg itself the museum also runs the General Staff Building, the Menshikov Palace, Peter the Great’s Winter Palace and the Porcelain Museum. And yes, the Hermitage cats are real: a colony has lived in the basements for generations.

## Tips

- The calmest rooms are on Tuesday, Friday and Saturday evenings — and the ticket is cheapest then.
- Do the Jordan Staircase and the State Rooms first, while you still have energy; leave the paintings for the second half.
- Skip the desk queue with an e-ticket from the official site, if you have a Russian card.
- Free days, especially 7 December, bring the longest queues of the year — don’t plan a quick visit then.
- After the museum, cross [Palace Bridge](https://yesgo.io/russia/saint-petersburg/palace-bridge) — the whole palace front opens up from Vasilyevsky Island.
- A guided tour pays off here: there are so many rooms that it’s easy to walk past the highlights.

## Questions

### How much is a ticket to the Hermitage?

Under the trial pricing introduced on 14 July 2026: 1,200 ₽ for slots from 11:00 to 16:00, 700 ₽ after 16:00, and 500 ₽ from 18:00 on Tuesday, Friday and Saturday. Check the official site, as the trial’s end date hasn’t been announced.

### What are the Hermitage opening hours?

Tuesday, Friday and Saturday 11:00–20:00; Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday 11:00–18:00. Ticket desks close an hour before the museum.

### Is the Hermitage open on Monday?

No. It closes every Monday, as well as on 1 January and 9 May.

### How do I buy Hermitage tickets online?

Only on the museum’s official website, 1–4 weeks ahead. Foreign Visa and Mastercard cards don’t work in Russia, so without a Russian card, buy at the desk on the day.

### Where is the Hermitage entrance?

On Palace Square: walk through the right-hand side of the Winter Palace’s main arch into the Great Courtyard. The left-hand side is the exit.

### Which metro station is closest to the Hermitage?

Admiralteyskaya on Line 5, about 700 m or a 10-minute walk. Nevsky Prospekt (Line 2) is 900 m away.

### How long should I spend at the Hermitage?

About three hours for a first visit. Add 1.5–2 hours for the Impressionists in the General Staff Building, ideally on another day.

### Is the Winter Palace the same as the Hermitage?

The Winter Palace is the largest of the five buildings that make up the Hermitage’s main complex. The others are the Small, Old and New Hermitage and the Hermitage Theatre.

### When is the Hermitage free?

For everyone on 7 January, 23 February, 8 March, 12 April, 18 May, 5 October, 4 November and 7 December. Children under 14 go free every day.

### Where are the Impressionists in the Hermitage?

On the fourth floor of the General Staff Building, across Palace Square from the Winter Palace. It needs a separate ticket.

## How we checked

Opening hours, closures, free days, concessions, ticket rules, the entrance and metro distances come from the official Hermitage website. We couldn’t read the slot prices (1,200, 700 and 500 ₽) on an official price page: the museum’s blog confirms the trial from 14 July 2026 and evening prices “1.7–2.4 times lower”, and the figures match across Delovoy Peterburg, Vokrug Sveta and T—Zh. The museum hasn’t given an end date, so these rows are marked “verifying”. No source gives a separate price for foreign visitors; the General Staff price is described only as “the old flat price”. Sources disagree on the number of rooms in the Winter Palace (1,084 vs about 1,500), so we leave it out. Guided-tour-only access to the treasure rooms comes from tour operators. Walking times are our estimate from the museum’s distances.

## Sources

- Official website of the State Hermitage Museum: visiting information, Main Museum Complex, General Staff Building, 29.10.2026
- State Hermitage official blog on the new time-based ticket system from 14 July 2026
- Delovoy Peterburg, 08.07.2026; Vokrug Sveta; T—Zh — reports on slot prices
- English and Russian Wikipedia: Hermitage Museum, Winter Palace, New Hermitage; Wikidata Q132783
- UNESCO World Heritage List: Historic Centre of Saint Petersburg and Related Groups of Monuments, No. 540, 1990
- Visa and Mastercard statements on suspending operations in Russia, March 2022

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