Hermitage Museum

The Hermitage Museum is one of the largest and oldest museums in the world and an absolute must-see for any visitor to St. Petersburg. The museum was founded in 1764 by Catherine the Great, empress of Russia, and opened to the public in 1852. Not only does the Hermitage boast one of the world's greatest art collections, the museum is also worth a visit for its sumptuous interior.

The actual museum is made up of several buildings which were extended as Catherine the Great's art collection grew. The permanent collection at The Hermitage includes about three million works of art that span the centuries from paleolithic to contemporary. The museum is so large that it is impossible to visit all galleries in one visit but tickets for multiple days are available. We spend over three hours getting a very small glimpse of the collection.Read more