Admission to the Main Museum Complex
The Palace Square main entrance can be accessed from the Great Courtyard of the Winter Palace. Please note that the Palace Square entrance must be used by:
– Visitors who wish to purchase admission tickets at the ticket office in the Museum’s main entrance hall (see more detailed price information).
– Visitors with joint admission tickets purchased at the ticket offices in the other buildings of the Main Museum Complex (without waiting in line).
– Visitors who have purchased admission tickets at the ticket terminals in the Great Courtyard of the Winter Palace (without waiting in line; discount tickets are not available at the ticket terminals).
– Visitors with limited mobility (see more detailed information about a visit)
– Visitors entitled to free admission (see more detailed information about persons entitled to benefits).
Please note that the Shuvalovsky Proezd entrance must be used by:
– Visitors who have purchased admission tickets online.
– Visitors who have purchased admission tickets at the ticket terminals located near the Shuvalovsky Proezd entrance. Discount tickets are not available at the ticket terminals.
– Members of the Creative Unions of artists, architects and designers of the Russian Federation.
– Members of the International Council of Museums (ICOM).
– Visitors from travel agencies/organizations under an agreement with the State Hermitage Museum (for groups of up to 10 visitors during the Museum opening hours).
– Visitors under an agreement with the City Tour Pass (during the tem of the agreement up to 31 December 2019).
– Children under 16, accompanying adults, who have purchased admission tickets online, or who are members of the International Council of Museums (ICOM) and of the Creative Unions of artists, architects and designers of the Russian Federation ( with free tickets).
Shuvalovsky Proezd, which can be accessed from Millionnaya Street or the Palace Embankment, is located between the Small Hermitage and the New Hermitage buildings.
Please note that the following persons are entitled to use the Palace Square main entrance without having to wait in line:
– Heroes of the Soviet Union, Heroes of the Russian Federation and Full Cavaliers of the Order of Glory.
– Wheelchair users, disabled visitors who suffer from orthopedic injuries and require special assistance (with one accompanying person).
Information Centre
The Information Centres can be found in the main entrance hall and inside the Museum’s building which can be accessed from Shuvalovsky Proezd.
The Museum floor plans and information booklets are available from the information desks. You will also get answers to the questions related to your visit.
For further inquiries please call +7 (812) 710-90-79, +7 (812) 710-96-25
Plan of the Main Museum Complex
Visitors are advised to use several ways of finding their way around the buildings and halls of the Main Museum Complex:
1. Picking up a floor plan from the information desks.
2. Planning their own route with the help of an interactive map.
3. Making a virtual tour of the Museum.
Audio guide
Audio guides for exploring the Main Museum Complex are available in Russian, English, French, German, Spanish, Italian, Japanese, Chinese and Korean.
You can pick an audio guide up from the audio guide desks:
– in the Main Gallery (right beyond the check point);
– on the top of the Jordan Staircase;
– inside the Museum’s building accessed through Shuvalovsky Proezd (right beyond the check point);
Charges:
350 RUB (Russian), 500 RUB (foreign language).
You must leave a deposit of 2000 RUB or an ID (except your passport)
Photography and video filming
In permanent exhibition spaces photography without flash and a stand, or a monopod is permitted.
In temporary exhibition spaces photography and video filming are not permitted, since these exhibitions may display art objects on loan from other collections.
5000 RUB – the cost of a ticket for amateur wedding or costume photographs and video filming for groups of up to 5 people (admission ticket required). You may only do this with stands fitted with light modifiers to prevent the floor damage but without special lighting including flash.
Additional information
– Every Wednesday at 8 pm the Peacock Clock is wound up in the Pavilion Hall in the Small Hermitage.
