Day Schedule

➤ Breakfast

➤ Guided tour to the Hermitage museum and the Winter palace

➤ Afternoon at leisure

The Hermitage Tour

The State Hermitage Museum is often called St. Petersburg’s most important site - a title we think is well-deserved. It is one of the largest museums in the world. Its collections include over 3 million works of art representing Antiquity, Western Europe, Middle East and more. It dates back to 1764, when the Russian Empress Catherine the Great purchased a huge collection of Western European art. During the tour you will visit five historical buildings located on the Neva embankment where the museum highlights are exhibited.

The Winter Palace

The Winter Palace is the former residence of the Russian tsars. Built by the outstanding baroque architect Francesco Rastrelli in 1754-62 it is considered to be one of the most opulent palaces in the world. The palace is now a part of the Hermitage Museum. You shall explore its splendid reception halls and chambers and then proceed to see the museum's extraordinary collection of Western-European art.

Afternoon in the museum on your own

Our tour starts in the morning and you have three hours with our experienced guide. In the afternoon you are free to stay in the Hermitage to look its treasures on your own. You can walk across the Palace Square to the General Staff Building to see the superb collection of Impressionists in the modern exhibition rooms.

The General Staff Building

The General Staff Building is indeed a stunning example of Neoclassical architecture in Saint Petersburg. Designed by Karl Ivanovich Rossi, it beautifully showcases the era’s grandeur and ambition. The triumphal arch not only serves as a unifying element between the two wings of the building but also symbolizes Russia’s military achievements, particularly its victory in the Napoleonic Wars.

The symmetry of the structure aligns elegantly with the Winter Palace, enhancing the overall architectural harmony of Palace Square. The arch itself, adorned with statues and reliefs, stands as a testament to the glory of the Russian Empire. Today, the building houses the State Hermitage Museum's collections.