St Petersburg opens new exhibitions every week. The Hermitage, the Russian Museum and the Manege are the anchors, but temporary shows at Sevkabel Port, Novaya Gollandiya, Erarta and a dozen smaller galleries rotate constantly.
The Hermitage
Beyond the permanent collection, the General Staff Building hosts modern art, photography and design exhibitions. Free admission on the third Thursday of each month for Russian and Belarusian citizens. Buy timed tickets online to skip the queue.
The Russian Museum
Four buildings — Mikhailovsky Palace, Benois Wing, Stroganov and Marble Palaces. Temporary exhibitions usually in the Benois Wing. Closed on Tuesdays.
Manege
The Central Exhibition Hall on St Isaac's Square hosts large-scale immersive and historical shows. Sessions sell out, so book online.
Sevkabel Port and Novaya Gollandiya
Free to enter; individual events may need tickets. Good for a casual afternoon with art, food and a harbour view.
If you'd like to combine exhibitions with a guided tour, you can choose an excursion.
Erarta
The largest private museum of contemporary art in Russia. Five floors, permanent and rotating shows. Closed on Tuesdays.
One-day route
Morning: Russian Museum (2 hours). Lunch on Rubinshteina. Afternoon: Manege (1.5 hours). Evening: Erarta or Sevkabel on Vasilievsky Island (1.5 hours). Metro or walk along the embankments between stops.
Good to know
To keep costs down, check each museum's website for free days, discounts for students and pensioners, and combined tickets. Buy tickets online for a set time slot, because popular exhibitions sell out at weekends. Most large venues have cloakrooms, and many close one day a week, so confirm opening days the evening before. Do not try to fit more than two major museums into a single day, and leave time for a coffee break between them so that your attention stays fresh.
Verified 23 October 2026
Plan your visit in advance and check the official website for updates and ticket availability before heading out.
Cover photo: This Photo was taken by Wolfgang Moroder . Feel free to use my photos, but please me, CC BY-SA 3.0, Викисклад
