Hermitage Museum Saint Petersburg: Complete Visitor Guide

Ankitha
Apr 22, 2020
9 min read

Updated: Sep 26

We did a short and sweet four-day trip to the city in December. Russia in winter, who woulda thunk it? This was our anniversary trip and we fell in love with the historic, vibrant culture.

Culturally, architecturally, and historically, this city was everything we had hoped it would be. “The City of Czars” was beyond beautiful and distinctively different compared to a lot of other European cities, especially given how much more affordable it was to get around.

If you are looking for a unique city that can provide a history lesson and satisfy your wanderlust, look no further than Saint Petersburg in winter.

Itinerary Breakdown: A Saint Petersburg Itinerary

Day 1, 2 and 3 – Exploring the city of Saint Petersburg
Day 4 – Day trip to Peterhof and exploring the underground metros

Best Time to Visit

We decided to go in the winter because a country famous for its extreme weather has to be witnessed in all its glory. That said, Saint Petersburg in winter can be icy, snowy, and dark, but it also makes the architecture and canals feel magical.

Flights and Visa

We flew direct with Emirates.

Visa – recently the country made it easy for citizens of certain countries to apply for an e-visa to the city. It was a very simple process, efficient, and we got the visa in 24 hours.

You can apply for the visa online—it’s a smooth process and makes planning your Saint Petersburg travel guide much easier.

Language

Russian is the official language – and despite being such a tourist hotspot, not many people spoke English. It is actually extremely frustrating, especially when trying to order vegan/vegetarian food or navigating the metro, but oh well, it’s part of the travel experience.

Travel and Medical Insurance, Currency

Travel insurance is always recommended.

The Russian Ruble is the official currency—carry cash if you plan to buy trinkets. If not, cards work just fine.

Where We Stayed

We chose Solo Sokos Hotel Vasilievsky in old Saint Petersburg. It was conveniently located next to a metro (a short 10-minute walk). Plenty of grocery stores and vegan/veggie-friendly restaurants nearby too.

Cost and Getting Around

I was surprised by how affordable and well-connected the metro was (in sharp contrast to somewhere like Japan, where the metro was connected but also expensive). It is the best way to get around the city if you are not a walker.

We only took the metro twice—once to head to Peterhof and another time just for a joyride because of the fascinating, world-famous stations in the city. If you’re building your own Saint Petersburg itinerary, make sure you add at least a couple of metro rides in.

Safety

We didn’t venture out to unsafe areas. Overall, we felt safe. As soon as we stepped out of the flight, we felt we were in Russia—people don’t smile at you, they don’t greet you or make small talk. It is truly a way of life.

Food

As always, I did my research and used Happy Cow to find the best vegan joints around town. These are my top picks:

Market Place – like a food court
Hood – right next to the Savior Church serving totally lit vegan burgers
Ukrup – cozy and plant-friendly

If you’re looking for vegan-friendly things to do in Saint Petersburg, checking out the city’s growing plant-based food scene is a must.

What to Pack

Pack layers—thermal innerwear, thick winter fleece socks, gloves, scarves, beanies, and snow boots. Trust me, you’re going to need them if you want to survive Russia winter travel comfortably.

Day 1 – Exploring Saint Petersburg

Founded in 1703 by Peter the Great, this city is now the cultural capital of the Russian Empire. We woke up to a snowy Saint Petersburg, and this stunning view was just a few minutes away from our hotel.

First named Saint Petersburg in honor of the Apostle Peter, the city on the Neva changed its name three times in the 20th century.

Peter and Paul Cathedral

A long walk across the bridge takes us to our first stop for the day—the Peter and Paul Cathedral, an architectural dominant of the historical center of the city. It became a family vault of Russian Emperors.

This place also served as a political prison for state prisoners and revolutionaries. In 1924, it became a museum. The bell tower of the cathedral is topped with a gold-plated spire with a “flying” angel, a symbol of Saint Petersburg.

The Mosque

Just a short walk from the fortress, you can go inside but can’t take pictures during prayer times. It’s said to be one of the largest mosques in Europe. I usually prefer nature over man-made wonders, but Russia made me stop and stare!

Rostral Columns

With the allegoric figures at the bottom symbolizing the great rivers of Russia—Volga, Dnieper, Neva, and Volkhov—this landmark is worth a stop.

Pretty Street Walks and Cafés

A walk through any city always provides lessons in elegance, beauty, and a peek into times gone by. Don’t miss the statues scattered around the city. This guy was my favorite—look at that swag.

All of this took us around 6 hours to do. Drained after our early morning flight in, we called it a night.

Day 2 – More of Saint Petersburg

Another snowy day—also our anniversary day. We took our time exploring more of the city.

Kazan Cathedral

This is a unique U-shaped building with tons of columns. It’s the cathedral church of the city, where the icon of Our Lady of Kazan is preserved.

Just down the road from the Kazan Cathedral is the famous Church of the Savior on Spilled Blood.

By the time we got to the church, the snow was really starting to come down, so we couldn’t go inside with the crowds. We clicked a few pictures and moved on

Saint Isaac’s Cathedral

The cathedral is the second-highest historical building of the city. Saint Isaac’s Cathedral stands 101.5m tall, tiled with natural grey marble, and its porticos are decorated with red monolithic columns.

It’s impossible to miss the iconic golden dome of Saint Isaac’s Cathedral. The base is decorated with female figures symbolizing wisdom, strength, faith, and justice. The view of the city from the roof was breathtaking.

The cathedral is filled with nearly 400 sculptures. Though now it is a museum, church services are still held during Orthodox holidays. This was my favorite monument in the city.

Palace Square and Hermitage Museum

Our last stop for the day was Palace Square, which is also home to the Hermitage Museum Saint Petersburg.

This is also home to the Hermitage Museum.

It started to snow again, so time for lots of pictures.

Founded in 1764, Empress Catherine the Great purchased a large collection of foreign masterpieces here. Today, the museum includes five buildings—the Winter Palace, the Small Hermitage, the Old and New Hermitages, and the Hermitage Theater.

On our way back to the hotel after visiting the Hermitage Museum Saint Petersburg, we stopped at the famous Pyshechnaya café in the city center for a bit of the extremely popular Russian pastry treat—hot and pillowy soft fried “psyki,” sprinkled with sugar and best enjoyed with a cuppa. Be prepared to wait at least 30 minutes, as this spot is almost as iconic in its own way as the Hermitage Museum Saint Petersburg.

If you’re compiling things to do in Saint Petersburg, the Hermitage Museum Saint Petersburg is an absolute must. It’s huge, iconic, and home to one of the most impressive collections of art in the world. No visit to Russia’s cultural capital feels complete without spending time at the Hermitage Museum Saint Petersburg, even if you only have a day.

On our way back to the hotel after exploring the Hermitage Museum Saint Petersburg, we couldn’t resist returning to the Pyshechnaya café. With its long queues and nostalgic atmosphere, it felt like the perfect way to end a day of sightseeing after the grandeur of the Hermitage Museum Saint Petersburg.

Day 3 – More of Saint Petersburg

On our third day, we took a long walk to the other side of the city. It was going to be a beautiful sunny day—for the most part.

A long walk along the street from Nevsky Prospect Saint Petersburg to Vosstana Square was on the cards

Planned by Peter the Great in the early 18th century, Nevsky Prospekt is Saint Petersburg’s main drag, running from the Admiralty with its unmissable gilded spire to Moscow Railway Station.

At the end of the long stretch, you arrive at Anichkov Bridge—famous for portraying the four stages of horse taming.

Russian Museum

The State Russian Museum is a real treasury of national art. Paintings, graphics, sculptures, a large collection of engravings, drawings, applied art, and folk craft objects are exhibited here.

Church of the Savior on Spilled Blood

Just as we walked out of the Russian Museum, the Church of the Savior on Spilled Blood burst into view in all its beauty. The church stands on the very spot where Russian Emperor Alexander II was killed by a bomb.

Stunning mosaic paintings adorn the walls on the inside. The details are mind-boggling

Summer Garden

This is a huge garden, a great place to picnic in the summer—best to escape the touristy crowds in the winter.

New Holland Island

Sunset views at the island felt festive, like the Christmas Markets in Europe. In the winter, you can also ice skate.

Night Views

That wraps Day 3. We took a night stroll in the snow and it was just mesmerizing. Despite the constant snowfall, we explored this city by foot. It’s deceptively huge, but walking is truly the best way to experience the essence of this historic place.

Day 4 – Day Trip to Peterhof Palace

It was a late start for us—we took our time to enjoy breakfast. We wanted to experience the metros, so we decided to take the train and then a bus to Peterhof Palace, in a neighboring town. If you’re planning your Saint Petersburg itinerary, don’t skip Peterhof.

If you are taking the metro, go to Avtovo Station and then take a mini-van (639B). The van only accepts cash. It looked like it could fall apart at any moment, but turned out to be reliable and affordable. The ride costs 20 rubles per person and takes 40 minutes. Best part? It drops you off right in front of the palace.

After about 45 minutes, we were welcomed by snow-covered gates and icy gardens. It was definitely colder here than in the city.

Peterhof used to be the former summer residence of Russian Emperors. Today, it’s a museum and park complex that impresses with luxury and grandeur. Visiting in summer is better because you get to see the fountains, but even in the winter it felt magical.

The park consists of two parts: the Upper Garden and Lower Park. Despite the bone-numbing cold, it’s worth exploring.

Metro Tour

At around 3 p.m., we made our way back to the city and headed on a mini-tour of the renowned metro stations. The grand columns and marble interiors made us wonder if we were back inside a palace.

Some of the most beautiful metro stations are Avtovo and Ploschad Vosstaniya. Each detail is a revelation into the heart of this magnificent country.

Final Thoughts

Winter in Saint Petersburg was unforgettable. Be ready for icy cold dark days and slippery roads. On the other hand, you’ll be enthralled by sculptures, history, enchanting canals, frozen lakes, and on the rare occasion, beautiful winter sunshine with ombré skies.

A word of caution: this city is packed with museums. Don’t go crazy trying to visit every single one (unless you have a week). Choose wisely. Some of the most rewarding Saint Petersburg tourist attractions are outside the museums—bridges, streets, and local cafés.

Russia winter travel is a dream—where everyone is impeccably dressed in fur coats with rosy cheeks. Saint Petersburg is not Moscow—it feels more European, almost built as a window to the West, which is probably why it is the only region that freely allows tourists.

We visited in December, when it wasn’t even peak winter—yet it was heavenly, exciting, and exhilarating all at once. If you’re planning your own Saint Petersburg travel guide, I hope this convinces you to visit.

Drop your comments below and show some love. Feel free to shoot me an email with your feedback.

Cheers, Anki

To explore more European destinations, be sure to check out other blogs for additional insights:

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