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Mariinsky Theatre, St Petersburg

The Mariinsky Theatre historic stage: a mint-green facade with white columns on Theatre Square
Photo: Nikolai Bulykin, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

The essentials in 10 seconds

Ticket service
+7 812 326-41-41
verifyingFrom reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go.
Hours
Performances most days, start times on the playbill; box offices usually 11:00–19:00
Time on site
A typical visit without queueing. In high season add 15–30 minutes.
3 h
With kids
Fine with kids
Historic stage
1 Teatralnaya Ploshchad (Theatre Square)
Mariinsky II
34 Ulitsa Dekabristov — across the Kryukov Canal from the historic building
Concert Hall
20 Ulitsa Pisareva (corner of Ulitsa Dekabristov)
Where to buy
The official site mariinsky.ru and the theatre box offices
verifyingFrom reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go.
Price
Set per show, venue, date and seat; the seating plan shows the exact figure
verifyingFrom reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go.
Foreign visitors
Full price; the lower “special tariff” is for Russian citizens and foreigners who live, work or study in Russia
verifyingFrom reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go.
Online sales
Close 2 hours before curtain; after that, box office only
verifyingFrom reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go.
Box offices
Usually daily 11:00–19:00
verifyingFrom reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go.
Metro
Sadovaya, Sennaya Ploshchad or Spasskaya — 15–25 min on foot
Payment
Visa and Mastercard issued abroad don’t work in Russia
Coordinates
59.92556, 30.29611YesGo MapGoogleAppleYandex

Key facts

1783the company dates from the opening of the Bolshoi Kamenny Theatre under Catherine the Great
SourceEnglish and Russian Wikipedia, “Mariinsky Theatre”
1860the present building opened, with Glinka’s opera A Life for the Tsar
2 sourcesRussian Wikipedia, “Mariinsky Theatre”Kultura.RF
Empress MariaMaria Alexandrovna, wife of Alexander II, gave the theatre its name
2 sourcesRussian Wikipedia, “Mariinsky Theatre”Sputnik8 guide
Albert Cavosarchitect of the historic building
SourceEnglish and Russian Wikipedia, “Mariinsky Theatre”
1935–1992named after Sergei Kirov — hence the “Kirov Ballet” on tours abroad
SourceEnglish and Russian Wikipedia, “Mariinsky Theatre”
May 2013Mariinsky II, the second stage, opened on Ulitsa Dekabristov
2 sourcesEnglish WikipediaRussian Wikipedia (2 May 2013)
1,830 seatsin Mariinsky II, designed by Canada’s Diamond and Schmitt Architects
2 sourcesEnglish Wikipedia, “Mariinsky Theatre”Sputnik8 guide
1890world premiere of Tchaikovsky and Petipa’s The Sleeping Beauty
2 sourcesGreat Russian Encyclopedia, “Marius Petipa”English Wikipedia
1892The Nutcracker and the opera Iolanta premiered on the same night
2 sourcesEnglish Wikipedia, “Mariinsky Theatre”KudaGo
1874 & 1890world premieres of Boris Godunov and The Queen of Spades
2 sourcesEnglish Wikipedia, “Mariinsky Theatre”Russian Wikipedia

How to buy Mariinsky Theatre tickets

Use the official site, mariinsky.ru — it has an English version, the full playbill for all three St Petersburg venues and a seating plan with the price of every seat. Pick the show, choose your seat and you get an e-ticket to show at the door. Online sales close two hours before curtain; after that you can only buy at the theatre box office.

Payment is the catch. Visa and Mastercard cards issued abroad have not worked in Russia since March 2022, so a foreign card may be declined online. Options are a Russian bank card, paying cash at the box office, or asking your hotel to help. Plan this before you arrive rather than on the day.

The playbill opens a month or two ahead and fills in gradually. December Nutcrackers and big-name nights sell out early; a weekday opera often still has seats a week before.

How much are Mariinsky tickets?

There’s no single price. It depends on the show, the venue, the date, the cast and the seat. The most expensive is a popular ballet on the historic stage — stalls and the front of the boxes. Weekday operas, concerts and the upper tiers cost far less, and the seating plan shows each price before you pay.

Even at the full foreign rate, a night at the Mariinsky usually costs less than a comparable seat at the big opera houses of Western Europe. If you want to save, pick an opera or concert over ballet, a weekday over Saturday, or Mariinsky II over the historic stage.

Historic stage vs Mariinsky II vs Concert Hall

Historic stageyou are here1 Theatre Square1860Classical ballet and operaHorseshoe of boxes and tiers, chandelier, Golovin curtainSide boxes and back rows miss part of the stageThe imperial-theatre experience
Mariinsky II34 Ulitsa Dekabristov2013Ballet, opera, large productionsModern, steeply raked, 1,830 seatsGood from nearly every seatSeeing every step
Concert Hall20 Ulitsa Pisareva2006Symphony, chamber and organ concertsModern hall, stage in the middleGood everywhere; it’s about the soundOrchestra lovers

First time in St Petersburg? Go for the historic stage — the blue-and-gold hall is half the reason to come. If you care more about seeing the dancers clearly on a tighter budget, Mariinsky II gives better views for the money.

Is the Mariinsky Theatre worth it?

Yes — if you see a ballet on the historic stage, it’s one of the defining evenings of a trip to St Petersburg. This is the house where The Sleeping Beauty and The Nutcracker premiered, and the company is still one of the best classical ballet troupes in the world.

It’s less worth it if the only seats left are high at the side of the historic hall — you’ll see half the stage. In that case book the same production at Mariinsky II. And if opera isn’t your thing, don’t start with a four-hour Wagner: pick a ballet.

Best seats at the Mariinsky

On the historic stage, the best views are the centre of the stalls and the first tier, and the front row of any box. Boxes hold several rows of chairs: the front row sees everything, the third row sees part of the stage. The seating plan shows which row of a box you’re in — choose a front seat even if it means going up a tier.

For ballet you want to see the dancers’ feet, so avoid seats that are very high or very far to the side. For opera, the upper tiers often sound better. At Mariinsky II the steep rake gives good views almost everywhere, though the top tiers have low railings — not ideal if you dislike heights.

What to see inside

  • The historic auditorium — pale blue and gold, a horseshoe of tiers under a huge crystal chandelier. Climb to the top tier in the interval for the best view of it.
  • The stage curtain after a design by Alexander Golovin.
  • Mariinsky II’s foyers — glass, backlit onyx and big windows over the rooftops of Kolomna.
  • The Concert Hall — a wooden hall with the stage in the middle and the organ behind it.

Can you tour the Mariinsky Theatre?

Not like a museum. The theatre doesn’t run regular walk-in tours; backstage visits are arranged by private guides with the theatre’s approval and are expensive for a small group. The simplest way to see the building is a performance — buy any seat and explore the foyers in the interval.

What does work is a guided walk around the theatre: guides take you through Kolomna and Theatre Square with stories of ballerinas, Tchaikovsky and the Romanovs. At 2–2.5 hours it fits neatly before an evening show.

How to get to the Mariinsky Theatre

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on footdestinationStreet view

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On foot

More tips

  1. There’s no metro station next door. The closest are Sadovaya (Line 5, purple), Sennaya Ploshchad (Line 2, blue) and Spasskaya (Line 4, orange) — one interchange hub. From there it’s a 15–25-minute walk along Sadovaya Street or the Griboyedov Canal.
  2. From Admiralteyskaya (Line 5) or Nevsky Prospekt (Line 2) it’s about 30 minutes on foot, or take a bus to the Teatralnaya Ploshchad stop (route 27, for example).
  3. From Palace Square it’s about 2 km — past St Isaac’s Cathedral and along the Moika river, 25–30 minutes on foot.
  4. Mariinsky II is 2–3 minutes from the historic stage, just across the Kryukov Canal; the Concert Hall is about 5 minutes along Ulitsa Dekabristov.
  5. After an evening show taxis queue outside: walk a block away before you order one. Use Yandex Go — the usual ride-hailing app in Russia.

Before the show: checklist

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St Petersburg’s historic sights compared

Every historic place in St Petersburg rated by YesGo. Tap a column heading to sort.

State Hermitage Museum763 h500–1,200 ₽33 min walk
Church of the Savior on Spilled Blood7545 min700 ₽, under 7 free42 min walk
Peter and Paul Fortress742 hGrounds free, cathedral 1,000 ₽2.9 km
Kazan Cathedral7230 minFree32 min walk
Bronze Horseman7220 minFree22 min walk
Palace Square7130 minFree32 min walk
St Isaac's Cathedral691 h700 ₽, colonnade 700 ₽19 min walk
Cruiser Aurora671 h1,000 ₽ for foreign visitors4.1 km
Nevsky Prospekt651 h 30 minFree28 min walk
Mikhailovsky Castle541 h 30 min≈ 700 ₽2.8 km
Kunstkamera501 h 30 min500 ₽32 min walk
Peterhof504 hLower Park from 2,000 ₽ for foreign visitors22.0 km
Kronstadt494 hFree29.8 km
New Holland Island481 hFree9 min walk
Alexander Nevsky Lavra481 hFree5.2 km
Griboyedov Canal4830 minFree31 min walk
Yusupov Palace on the Moika471 h 30 minfrom 950 ₽8 min walk
Mariinsky Theatreyou are here463 hPrice depends on the show—
Summer Garden461 hFree3.1 km
State Russian Museum442 h 30 minfrom 700 ₽43 min walk
Catherine Palace373 h2,200 ₽ for foreign visitors24.0 km
Fabergé Museum361 h 30 min700 ₽2.8 km
Zoological Museum361 h 30 min700 ₽34 min walk
Oranienbaum283 hPark 1,100 ₽, palace 1,800 ₽30.3 km
Pavlovsk Palace and Park203 hPalace 800 ₽, park 300 ₽28.1 km

St Isaac’s by day, the Mariinsky by night

Start at St Isaac’s Cathedral, walk along the Moika to the Yusupov Palace, unwind on New Holland island before the show, then cross to Theatre Square for curtain-up. YesGo fits in the timing and transfers.

  1. St Isaac's Cathedral1 h · 700 ₽, colonnade 700 ₽
  2. 11 min walk from the previous stopYusupov Palace on the Moika1 h 30 min · from 950 ₽
  3. 8 min walk from the previous stopNew Holland Island1 h · Free
  4. 9 min walk from the previous stopMariinsky Theatreyou are here3 h · Price depends on the show

4 places · about 6 h 58 min with walks · 28 min on foot in total

Go · my route

Nearby — add to your day

Yusupov Palace on the Moika

St Petersburg, Russia

1 h 30 min · from 950 ₽ · 8 min walk

New Holland Island

St Petersburg, Russia

1 h · Free · 9 min walk

St Isaac's Cathedral

St Petersburg, Russia

1 h · 700 ₽, colonnade 700 ₽ · 19 min walk

Bronze Horseman

St Petersburg, Russia

20 min · Free · 22 min walk

How to do it right

  • First visit: book a classic ballet on the historic stage — Swan Lake, Giselle, The Sleeping Beauty or La Bayadère.
  • Only side seats left in the old hall? Look for the same production at Mariinsky II.
  • Climb to the top tier in the interval for the chandelier and the whole auditorium below you.
  • The interval buffet is packed — eat before the show; New Holland is five minutes away.
  • Operas are sung in the original language; check the show page for surtitles.
  • With kids, start with The Nutcracker or a matinee — an evening ballet with two intervals runs about three hours.

Questions

How do I buy Mariinsky Theatre tickets?

On the official site, mariinsky.ru, which has an English version, or at the theatre box offices. Online sales close two hours before curtain. Foreign Visa and Mastercard cards don’t work in Russia, so sort out payment in advance.

Why do foreigners pay more at the Mariinsky?

The theatre’s lower “special tariff” is reserved for Russian citizens and foreigners who live, work or study in Russia. Other visitors pay the full price.

How much are tickets to the Mariinsky Theatre?

It depends on the show, venue, date and seat. A popular ballet on the historic stage costs the most, a weekday opera or concert in the upper tiers the least. The seating plan on mariinsky.ru shows every price.

Is there a dress code at the Mariinsky?

No strict one. Outerwear isn’t allowed in the auditorium. Smart-casual is fine; many people dress up for evening shows and premieres.

What is the difference between the Mariinsky and Mariinsky II?

The Mariinsky is the 1860 historic building on Theatre Square, with an imperial horseshoe auditorium. Mariinsky II is the modern second stage opened in 2013 across the Kryukov Canal, with better sightlines.

Which metro station is closest to the Mariinsky Theatre?

Sadovaya, Sennaya Ploshchad and Spasskaya, a 15–25-minute walk away. There’s no station right next to the theatre, so many people take a bus or taxi.

Where are the best seats at the Mariinsky?

On the historic stage, the centre of the stalls and first tier, and the front row of any box. Back rows of side boxes see only part of the stage. At Mariinsky II nearly every seat has a good view.

Can you visit the Mariinsky Theatre without seeing a show?

Not easily — there are no regular walk-in tours. Backstage visits through private guides are possible but pricey. Buying a ticket for any performance is the practical way in.

How long is a Mariinsky ballet?

Most ballets run 2–3 hours with one or two intervals; long operas can be close to four. The running time is listed on each show’s page.

Have you been? Was it worth your time?

1 — no, 5 — absolutely

Your vote counts towards the YesGo score.

Sources and fact-check

  • Official website of the Mariinsky Theatre: Ticket Service page, text as indexed by search engines, 29.10.2026
  • English and Russian Wikipedia: Mariinsky Theatre; Wikidata Q207028
  • Great Russian Encyclopedia: Marius Petipa
  • Kultura.RF: Mariinsky Theatre
  • Sputnik8 guide: Mariinsky Theatre
  • Visa and Mastercard statements on suspending operations in Russia, March 2022
YesGo editorial team · facts checked 29.10.2026 ·
How we checkedOn 29.10.2026 mariinsky.ru blocked automated access with a security check, so ticket rules (the special tariff, online sales closing two hours before curtain, the ticket-service phone) come from the text of the theatre’s Ticket Service page as indexed by search engines, and box-office hours from the Sputnik8 guide — those rows are marked “verifying”. We give no prices in roubles: they differ for every show and date. Sources disagree on when the Concert Hall opened — 2006 (Russian Wikipedia) or spring 2007 (English Wikipedia); we show 2006. Mariinsky II seats 1,830 per the auditorium description and 2,000 in the English Wikipedia infobox; we show 1,830, as does the Sputnik8 guide. We found the historic stage’s seat count in only one source, so it’s left out. Bus route and walking times are our estimate from the map and guides.

Top YesGo picks: St Petersburg

State Hermitage Museum

St Petersburg, Russia

3 h · 500–1,200 ₽

Peter and Paul Fortress

St Petersburg, Russia

2 h · Grounds free, cathedral 1,000 ₽

Kazan Cathedral

St Petersburg, Russia

30 min · Free

Palace Square

St Petersburg, Russia

30 min · Free

Cruiser Aurora

St Petersburg, Russia

1 h · 1,000 ₽ for foreign visitors

Nevsky Prospekt

St Petersburg, Russia

1 h 30 min · Free

Mikhailovsky Castle

St Petersburg, Russia

1 h 30 min · ≈ 700 ₽

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