Mikhailovsky Palace / State Russian Museum, St. Petersburg (must see)
Built for the Grand Duke Mikhail, son of Emperor Paul I, the impressive Mikhailovsky Palace features a Neoclassical design. The architect and builder was Carlo Rossi who had created many of St. Petersburg’s marvels. The palace has been a part of the State Russian Museum since 1895.
In the 18th and 19th century, the palace was the site of many musical performances. Grand Duchess Elena Pavlovna, wife of Grand Duke Mikhail Pavlovich, was known to be beloved by the people and to have a strong love of the arts.
Each room of the palace is a work of art. Gilt accents, Corinthian columns, stunning sculptures, and vibrant paintings decorate the palace. In addition, visitors are greeted by a magnificent lion sculpture before entering the front doors. Of equal beauty is the adjacent Mikhailovsky Garden.
Exhibits at the palace include sculptures, objects of art, drawings, and paintings from the 18th to 20th centuries. To truly enjoy the artwork of artists such as Aivazovsky, Vasnetsov, Kuingi, Trubetskoy, and Rokotov, it is recommended to use the services of a tour guide. No photography or videography is allowed.
Why You Should Visit:
Unlike the Hermitage, there is virtually no line to get into this amazing museum.
A very good introduction to the history of Russian art, from folk to avant-garde.
The complex also includes the Mikhailovsky Gardens, Engineering Gardens, Summer Garden (including the Summer Palace) and the House of Peter the Great.
Tip:
Audio guide – minimum must have, but better – take a personal museum assistant.
In the 18th and 19th century, the palace was the site of many musical performances. Grand Duchess Elena Pavlovna, wife of Grand Duke Mikhail Pavlovich, was known to be beloved by the people and to have a strong love of the arts.
Each room of the palace is a work of art. Gilt accents, Corinthian columns, stunning sculptures, and vibrant paintings decorate the palace. In addition, visitors are greeted by a magnificent lion sculpture before entering the front doors. Of equal beauty is the adjacent Mikhailovsky Garden.
Exhibits at the palace include sculptures, objects of art, drawings, and paintings from the 18th to 20th centuries. To truly enjoy the artwork of artists such as Aivazovsky, Vasnetsov, Kuingi, Trubetskoy, and Rokotov, it is recommended to use the services of a tour guide. No photography or videography is allowed.
Why You Should Visit:
Unlike the Hermitage, there is virtually no line to get into this amazing museum.
A very good introduction to the history of Russian art, from folk to avant-garde.
The complex also includes the Mikhailovsky Gardens, Engineering Gardens, Summer Garden (including the Summer Palace) and the House of Peter the Great.
Tip:
Audio guide – minimum must have, but better – take a personal museum assistant.
Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in St. Petersburg. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "GPSmyCity: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.
Download The GPSmyCity App
Mikhailovsky Palace / State Russian Museum on Map
Sight Name: Mikhailovsky Palace / State Russian Museum
Sight Location: St. Petersburg, Russia (See walking tours in St. Petersburg)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Sight Location: St. Petersburg, Russia (See walking tours in St. Petersburg)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Walking Tours in St. Petersburg, Russia
Create Your Own Walk in St. Petersburg
Creating your own self-guided walk in St. Petersburg is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
St. Petersburg Introduction Walking Tour
Russia's northern capital, Saint Petersburg is the country's second largest city where nearly every stone breathes history. It is named after apostle Saint Peter and traditionally dubbed by the Russians as “the Window to Europe” “opened” by Peter the Great on 27 May 1703 on the site of a captured Swedish fortress amid the swamp and the Neva River.
The city is integral with... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 4.3 Km or 2.7 Miles
The city is integral with... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 4.3 Km or 2.7 Miles
Vasilyevsky Island Walking Tour
Situated just across the river from the Winter Palace, Vasilyevsky Island constitutes a large part of Saint Petersburg's historic center.
There are various versions of the origin of the island's name suggesting either Vasily-related etymology or perhaps just a corruption of the previous Swedish or Finnish name, e.g. Vasikkasaari (“Calf Island”). Legend has it, however, that some... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.7 Km or 1.7 Miles
There are various versions of the origin of the island's name suggesting either Vasily-related etymology or perhaps just a corruption of the previous Swedish or Finnish name, e.g. Vasikkasaari (“Calf Island”). Legend has it, however, that some... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.7 Km or 1.7 Miles
Bolshevik Revolution Walking Tour
When thinking of the events that changed the course of history in the 20th century, one of the first places that comes to mind is St. Petersburg. The “cradle of three revolutions” waged against the Tsarist autocracy saw the country's most important revolutionary events unravel, sending shock waves across the entire globe. What started in February 1917, reached its climax in October when... view more
Tour Duration: 4 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 9.8 Km or 6.1 Miles
Tour Duration: 4 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 9.8 Km or 6.1 Miles
Nevsky Prospekt Walking Tour
Nevsky Prospekt (Avenue) is the main artery of Saint Petersburg, named after the Alexander Nevsky Lavra (monastery) found at the eastern end of it. The monastery commemorates a prominent warlord and legendary figure in the Russian history, Prince Saint Alexander Nevsky (1221–1263).
Upon his founding of the city in 1703, Tsar Peter the Great planned the course of the street as the outset of... view more
Tour Duration: 3 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.1 Km or 1.9 Miles
Upon his founding of the city in 1703, Tsar Peter the Great planned the course of the street as the outset of... view more
Tour Duration: 3 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.1 Km or 1.9 Miles
Russian Literary Heritage Walking Tour
If you're an ardent fan of Russian literature, St. Petersburg is undoubtedly your dream destination. Pushkin, Dostoevsky, Tolstoy, Gogol, Nabokov and many other Russia's literary greats have blessed this city with their presence – born, lived, worked, or set their characters here. To a great extent, St. Petersburg is a huge stone book, whose pages have been created by prominent Russian... view more
Tour Duration: 3 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 5.9 Km or 3.7 Miles
Tour Duration: 3 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 5.9 Km or 3.7 Miles
Useful Travel Guides for Planning Your Trip
16 Unique Russian Things to Seek in St. Petersburg
The "cradle of two revolutions", St. Petersburg bears cultural and historic significance for Russia that is hard to overestimate. Perhaps, nearly every stone in the downtown part of the city breathes history and can qualify as a memorable souvenir, although picking up them for such purpose...