The State Hermitage

The most famous museum in St. Petersburg, the State Hermitage needs no introduction.  Think the beautiful State Rooms of the Winter Palace that housed the Russian Royal family for 200 years, and a world-class art collection that ranges from seventh-century BC Scythian gold to Rembrandt,  Titian, Giorgione and Leonardo. 

Across the Palace Square, the General Staff Building is home to a fabulous collection of Impressionist art and thought-provoking temporary exhibitions, like a recent one on AI in art. 

They say it takes months to explore the Hermitage, but getting lost here is just part of the fun. I once followed the winding corridors all the way down to the ancient Egyptian mummy.

Entrance is free with your student ID. Closed on Mondays. 

The State Russian Museum

Housed in the beautiful Mikhailovsky Palace, the State Russian Museum is dedicated solely to Russian art and will take you from ancient church icons all the way to the 20th century. 

Many paintings here are deeply engraved into Russian culture. You might hear someone refer to a person making an important decision as “A Knight at the Crossroads” by Viktor Vasnetsov, or a group of people brainstorming  as “Cossacks Writing a Letter to the Turkish Sultan” by Ilya Repin. I sometimes think about “Mast Tree Grove” by Ivan Shiskin when I need to be transported to a sun-lit forest in deep summer. 

There probably isn’t a better place to explore the history of Russia and its culture through painting than this museum.

Entrance fee for students is 200 roubles. Closed on Tuesdays. 

The Russian Museum of Ethnography

Think beautiful ethnic costumes, splendid carpets, shaman attributes and traditional folk crafts. One of the largest ethnographic museums in the world, the Russian Museum of Ethnography will take you on a journey around the nations that comprise Russia and the neighboring states and introduce you to their art, customs and traditions.

Make sure to check out Special Collections - Особая Кладовая - that houses art treasures encrusted with gems and precious metals.

If you go soon, you’ll see a unique collection representing Tatar culture and travel to the Russian Arctic to learn about life in one of the harshest climates on the planet.

Entrance is free for students. Closed on Mondays. 

Thinking about exploring a wider range of St. Petersburg museums? Check out some of our favorites.