The State Russian Museum - Private Tour with Transfer

Come for a fantastic morning of culture and marvel at some of Russia’s finest art at the Russian Museum.

The Museum of Russian Art in St Petersburg is housed in a splendid neoclassical building dating back to the 19th century. The main part of the building with its elegant columns was built at the turn of the century as an Imperial palace for the Grand Duke Michael Pavlovich and his wife. Before becoming a museum it was famed for its balls and theatrical productions and as you wander around the beautiful building it is easy to imagine a past of Imperial opulence.

Tsar Nicholas II bought the palace and decided to make it into a museum in honour of his father Alexander III who was a collector of fine art. The palace was opened to the public as a museum in 1898. Over the years it has expanded and is now home to nearly 350,000 works of art, closely rivalling that of the Tretyakov Gallery in Moscow.

Its collections have samples that reflect the rich history of Russian art, from ancient times until today. The painting gallery is by far the most popular attraction but the museum also has one of the best collections of prints and drawings by Russian artists, as well as the largest collection of sculptures in the country. Aside from fine art there is also a fascinating exhibition on folk art covering many traditional forms of peasant crafts and handiwork. For a thorough view of the evolution of Russian art over the centuries there can be no better place to visit.