Office in the city center
Our office is in the center of Saint Petersburg, and bus pickup points are nearby. You do not need to search for the departure point or walk several blocks.
Excursions to the Hermitage in Saint Petersburg
Sightseeing bus tour of Saint Petersburg with Hermitage visit
Discount: -200 rub. per ticket
3 - 5 h.
Ligovsky Prospekt 10
Sightseeing tour of the historic center of Petersburg with a ticket to the Hermitage! You will see the grand Nevsky Prospekt and admire the majestic architecture of palaces and apartment buildings.
Keys to the Hermitage: private tour with an art historian (guide)
Discount: -200 rub. per ticket
3 h.
Private Hermitage tour with an art historian. Your route, no queues or crowds. Immerse yourself in history and art for you and your company.
From 19300 ₽ per person
From Ensembles to Masterpieces: St. Petersburg and the Treasures of the Hermitage
5 - 6 h.
Immerse yourself in the imperial history of St. Petersburg on a sightseeing tour, and then enter the world of art at the country's main museum - the Hermitage. An ideal route for a first introduction to the Northern capital.
From 6500 ₽ per person
Bus sightseeing tour + Hermitage Main Staff Building
5 h.
St. Petersburg in 5 hours: a bus sightseeing tour of the historic center + a tour of the Impressionist collection at the General Staff Building of the Hermitage. Perfect for a first introduction to the city and art.
From 6000 ₽ per person
Why choose Leningrad-Tour
Tours for groups
You can book a trip for a large group, family, school class, corporate event or celebration. We will match the format and the number of seats you need.
Discounted tickets
Seniors, students, schoolchildren and preschoolers get discounted rates on a number of tours.
Tours across Russia
Besides Saint Petersburg and its suburbs, we offer multi-day tours to cities and regions across Russia.
A wide choice of routes
Sightseeing, bus, boat, evening, walking and school tours, plus suburban trips — we will find a program for any kind of visit.
Comfortable transport
We operate clean, comfortable tourist coaches. A spacious cabin matters most on longer routes.
Winter Palace • Small Hermitage • Old Hermitage • New Hermitage • General Staff Building
Hermitage: halls, buildings, and floor-by-floor routes
The Hermitage is a museum city in the center of St. Petersburg. The main complex connects the Winter Palace, the Small, the Large/Old, and the New Hermitage, the Hermitage Theatre, and adjacent spaces. To make your visit clearer, it's helpful to plan the floors, halls, and several routes inside the museum in advance.
How the Hermitage came to be
The history of the Hermitage begins with the Winter Palace. On the site of the current palace, even under Peter I, there was a small house by the Neva. Later, the residence grew, and in the mid-18th century Rastrelli created the grand palace that today faces Palace Square and the Neva.
Under Catherine II, a personal art collection appeared next to the palace. New premises were built for it, including the Small Hermitage. Gradually, the private collection turned into a world-class museum, and in the 19th century the New Hermitage was opened to the public.
The scale of the building is felt immediately: the Winter Palace resembles a separate city. It has about 1,500 rooms, nearly 2,000 windows, and a complex palace logic of passages. So before your visit, it's helpful to know that inside there are state rooms, residential interiors, antique collections, paintings, the Peacock clock, and separate floor-by-floor routes.
- The Winter Palace is the main imperial residence
- The Small Hermitage is connected to the first halls of Catherine II's collection
- The Large/Old Hermitage expanded the museum space along the Neva
- The New Hermitage was built as a public museum
- The General Staff building houses 19th–20th century art and selected exhibitions
Key idea before your visit
It's easier to think of the Hermitage as a group of buildings. The Winter Palace offers state rooms and an imperial atmosphere, the Small Hermitage features the famous Peacock Clock and the Pavilion Hall, the Old and New Hermitage present paintings, antiquity, and the classic museum line, while the General Staff building offers a different mood and later art.
First floor of the Hermitage
The first floor is more connected with ancient cultures, archaeology, antiquity, and the start of the museum route. It suits those who want to see the Egyptian Hall, ancient monuments, sculpture, and enter the museum space at a calmer pace.
- Start at the entrance area and cloakroom
- Proceed to the halls of Ancient Egypt
- Move on to ancient sculpture
- Explore the halls of ancient cultures
- Go up to the state rooms on the second floor
Second floor of the Hermitage
The second floor is the most ceremonial part of the route. Here the Winter Palace unfolds: the Jordan Staircase, the Grand Throne Room, the Armorial Hall, the Nicholas Hall, the Malachite Drawing Room, the Pavilion Hall, and the Peacock Clock.
- Climb the Jordan Staircase
- Walk through the state rooms of the Winter Palace
- See the Nicholas Hall and the Armorial Hall
- Step into the Malachite Drawing Room
- Reach the Pavilion Hall and the Peacock Clock
Third floor of the Hermitage
Here you can build a route around 19th–20th century art, the East, temporary exhibitions, and halls with less palace splendor but more museum focus. There are fewer tourists here, as many simply don't make it to these halls.
- Go up after the state rooms on the second floor
- Choose halls by interest: the East, Europe, temporary exhibitions
- Take a relaxed route without rushing through all the halls
- Return to the central staircases
- Complete the visit in the selected part of the complex
Hermitage cats
Masha
A traveler from Moscow. Ran away from the station, half a year later was found at the entrance to the Hermitage, and then stayed to serve art.
Kotinochka
A venerable cat and descendant of those very saviors of the city. She has a butterfly-shaped spot on her back, which is considered a good omen.
Van Dyck
Got his name after the story with the ventilation of the Anthony van Dyck hall. Now he is one of the most memorable cats of the museum team.
Halls and details of the Hermitage
Frequently asked questions about the Hermitage
Who is the architect of the Hermitage?
The Winter Palace was built to the design of Francesco Bartolomeo Rastrelli. Other buildings of the Hermitage were worked on by different architects: the Small Hermitage is associated with Yuri Felten and Jean-Baptiste Vallin de la Mothe, the New Hermitage with Leo von Klenze.
Which buildings are part of the main complex of the Hermitage?
The main complex is connected with the Winter Palace, the Small Hermitage, the Great/Old Hermitage, the New Hermitage, and the Hermitage Theatre. Separately, on Palace Square, there is the General Staff building.
How to get to the Hermitage?
The main entrance is on Palace Square. The easiest way is to walk from the Admiralteyskaya metro station: the walk takes about 8–10 minutes via Nevsky Prospekt and Malaya Morskaya Street.
What transport goes to the Hermitage?
The nearest metro station is Admiralteyskaya. Buses and trolleybuses also run along Nevsky Prospekt nearby. Landmarks for getting off are Palace Square, the Admiralty, and Nevsky Prospekt.
Where is the main entrance to the Hermitage?
The main entrance is on the side of Palace Square, through the arch and the inner courtyard of the Winter Palace.
Which floor should I start exploring the Hermitage from?
For a first visit, it is convenient to start with the Jordan Staircase and the second floor: there you will find the state rooms of the Winter Palace, the Malachite Drawing Room, the Nicholas Hall, the Pavilion Hall, and the Peacock Clock.
Where is the Peacock Clock?
The Peacock Clock is in the Pavilion Hall of the Small Hermitage. It is one of the most recognizable points on the museum route.
How much time do I need for the Hermitage?
For a first visit, it is better to allow 2–3 hours. During this time, you can see the state rooms, the Pavilion Hall, the Peacock Clock, and several key painting galleries.
Is it true that cats live in the Hermitage?
Yes, the Hermitage cats live in the service basements and courtyards of the museum. They have names, records, veterinary care, and a special museum reputation.
Where is the best place to see 19th–20th century art?
For 19th–20th century art, the General Staff building is often chosen. It is located across Palace Square from the Winter Palace and is perceived as a separate museum route.
Other sections of Leningrad-Tour
Our guides
Tour guide Leningrad-Tour: Kholshevnikova Anna
Accredited historian and top-category guide for Saint Petersburg and its suburb…
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Leningrad-Tour guide: Ksenia Babich
Historian and top-category guide to Saint Petersburg and suburbs. Leads emotio…
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Guide Taisiya Shakel — tour guide for St. Petersburg and suburbs
Creates large-scale and dynamic routes covering key eras and ensembles of the c…
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Leningrad-Tour guide: Angelika Bulgakova
Creates multifaceted tours covering different eras of St. Petersburg — from imp…
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Leningrad-Tour guide: Victoria Evseeva — tour guide for St. Petersburg and suburbs
Creates poetic tours combining imperial residences with the literary heritage o…
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