The Hermitage grew from Catherine the Great's private collection into an enormous museum occupying the Winter Palace and its neighbours. The galleries run from ancient art to Rembrandt and the Impressionists, and the palace interiors are an attraction in themselves.
The Jordan Staircase, the Malachite Room and the throne rooms, restored Romanov interiors that are part of the visit.
Two Leonardo Madonnas, a major Rembrandt group including the Return of the Prodigal Son, and strong Dutch, Flemish, Spanish and Italian holdings.
Across the square, the modern and 19th-century wing holds the Impressionist and Post-Impressionist collection, including Matisse's Dance.
Western governments currently advise against travel to Russia, and entry, payments and flights are heavily restricted for many nationalities because of sanctions since 2022. This page is background information; check your government's travel advice before making any plans.
Pick a route: the state rooms and Old Masters in the main complex, or the Impressionists in the General Staff Building. Trying to see everything is self-defeating.
Tickets are sold online for specific slots, and the main entrance queue is long without one.
Sanctions, flight bans and travel advisories affect visitors from many countries. Confirm the current situation first.
Can foreign visitors go to Russia right now?
Many governments advise against all travel to Russia, and sanctions restrict flights and card payments. Check your own country's advice before planning.
How big is the Hermitage?
It holds around three million items across several buildings; the display galleries alone would take days to walk in full.
Do I need to book ahead?
Yes. Timed online tickets are strongly recommended to avoid the on-site queue.
Is the Impressionist collection in the same building?
No. It is in the General Staff Building across Palace Square, on a separate or combined ticket.
The Hermitage was founded in 1764 when Catherine the Great acquired a collection of paintings, housed in a wing beside the Winter Palace. It opened to the public in 1852.
After the 1917 revolution the imperial palace and further nationalised collections were absorbed into the museum, which now occupies six historic buildings on the Neva embankment.
This page is an independent guide for visitors. It is not affiliated with the State Hermitage Museum.
