Things to Do at Hermitage Museum

The Hermitage Museum in Saint Petersburg stands as one of the world's largest and most prestigious art museums, housed within the magnificent Winter Palace and several adjacent buildings along the Neva River embankment. Founded in 1764 by Empress Catherine the Great, the Hermitage Museum contains over 3 million items spanning from ancient artifacts to contemporary masterpieces, with only a fraction displayed in its 400 exhibition halls. The museum's collection includes works by Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, Rembrandt, Picasso, and Matisse, making the Hermitage Museum an essential destination for art enthusiasts and cultural travelers visiting Russia. The Winter Palace itself, serving as the main building of the Hermitage Museum, represents a masterpiece of Baroque architecture designed by Francesco Bartolomeo Rastrelli. Beyond its artistic treasures, the Hermitage Museum offers visitors a journey through Russian imperial history, with lavishly decorated state rooms, the famous Jordan Staircase, and the Throne Hall showcasing the opulence of the Romanov dynasty.

The Hermitage Museum sits at Palace Square in central Saint Petersburg, easily accessible via metro to Admiralteyskaya Station (5-minute walk) or Nevsky Prospekt Station (10-minute walk). Buses 7, 10, 24, and 191 stop directly at Palace Square, while trolleybuses 1, 7, 10, and 11 serve the nearby Dvortsovaya Embankment. Taxis and ride-sharing services can drop passengers at the main entrance on Palace Square, though vehicle access may be restricted during peak tourist seasons or special events.