The Russian Museum, opened in 1898, was the first state museum devoted to Russian fine art. Today the collection totals about 350000 items (mainly icons, paintings and sculptures). The main building of the Russian Museum is the Michailovsky palace situated on the Arts Square. It is the first place you should consider visiting if you are interested in Russian art: its exhibits allow you to trace the history of development of Russian art from icon-painting to the early 20th century. The collection occupies 2 buildings: the former Michailovsky palace and the so-called Benois wing named so after the architect who designed it to host the works of 20th century artists including Malevich and Kandinsky. The Russian museum ticket allows you to visit both the Benois wing and the Michailovsky palace. (By the way, in spite of the fact that Michailovsky palace was a residence of members of the royal family its once beautiful interiors didn’t survive and you can see only some fragments of them. )
Besides the main building, The Russian Museum has several branches: the StroganovPalace (some restored interiors and temporary exhibitions), St Michael’s (Engineers) Castle ( permanent and temporary exhibitions) and the MarblePalace (20th century art). You can either buy a separate ticket for each of the branches or a combined ticket that allows you to visit The Michailovsky palace with Benois wing, the Marble palace, Stroganov palaces and Michael’s (Engineer’s) castle.
Visiting information
The Russian Museum is open daily, except Tuesdays, from 10.00 a.m. to 6.00 p.m.,
on Mondays and the days before holidays From 10.00 a.m. to 5.00 p.m.
Ticket offices close one hour before the end of admission time, that is, at 5 or 4 pm depending on the day of the week – see info above)
The closest metro station to the main building of the Russian Museum is Gostinny dvor.
Address
Benois Wing
2 Griboyedov Canal (Metro – Gostinny dvor)
Marble Palace
5/1 Millionnaya Str. (Metro – Nevsky Prospekt)
Mikhailovsky Palace
4 Inzhenernaya Str. (Metro – Gostiny Dvor, Nevsky Prospekt)
Mikhailovsky Castle
2 Sadovaya Str. (Metro – Gostiny Dvor, Nevsky Prospekt)
Stroganov Palace
17 Nevsky Prospekt (Metro – Nevsky Prospekt)
You can see the Russian museum during St Petersburg private walking tour