TO SEE
FABERGÉ MUSEUM
МУЗЕЙ ФАБЕРЖЕ
About
The stunning museum has recently opened in a newly restored Shuvalov Palace on Fontanka embankment, and instantly became one of the must-see places in St Petersburg. The collection of Imperial Easter Eggs was created by Fabergé for the last two Russian emperors, mostly to be given as presents to their wives. However, after the revolution, some of them have been lost, others taken to Europe by the fleeing aristocrats, the rest of the eggs have been sold out by the Soviet authorities to Europe and the United States. Today, many of those eggs have returned to Russia, and are on display at the Shuvalov Palace. Apart from the Fabergé eggs, the museum boasts a large collection of jewelry, silverware, small goods, religious objects, etc. made by Fabergé and his contemporaries. Besides, he palace itself with its grand staircase, a cupola, and rich decorations in each room is stunning and is worth exploring on its own.
The best way to see the palace is definitely with an audioguide. It gives you loads of information about each Imperial Egg of Fabergé, about the history of the palace, and much more. The guided tours take about 1h, and you won't have enough time to see all the objects as they move quite fast from one room to another.
There's a superb souvenir shop near the exit with books, postcards, ceramics, stationery, Fabergé souvenirs, etc.
Info
21 Fontanka River Emb. (наб. реки Фонтанки, д. 21)
+7 812 333 26 55
Mon-Thu, Sat-Sun 10am-9pm. Closed on Mondays. From 10am until 6pm the museum is only open for viewing with a guided tour. There's at least one guided tour in English every day. Check this page for details: http://tickets.fsv.ru/en. After 6pm visitors can explore the museum individually.
General 300₽ (guided tour is included in the price), Children 150₽
Cards accepted
Average visit duration: 1h30min
Audioguides in English (150₽)
YUSUPOV PALACE
ЮСУПОВСКИЙ ДВОРЕЦ
About
Yusupov Palace (otherwise known as the Moika Palace) is best known as the place where Grigori Rasputin, a mystical faith healer and an advisor of the royal family, was murdered. In the 19th century, the palace belonged to a prominent family of Yusupovs whose ancestors are believed to be related to the Prophet Muhammad, and came to Russia during the reign of Ivan the Terrible. By the end of the 19th century, the were one of the richest families in Russia, owing over 100 estates all over the country. Yusupov Palace on the bank of Moika River was the place where they spent most of their time, ammassed a significant collection of art (most of which is now in the Hermitage), and entertained their guests with exuberant balls and theatre performances. After the revolution, Yusupovs fled to France, and the palace housed several organisations, until the 1990s when it was decided to make a museum there. Queen Elizabeth with the Duke of Edinburgh, and the successors of Yusupov family were among its first visitors.
There's a café in the basement and several souvenir shops dotted around the central staircase of the palace.
Info
94 Moika River emb. (наб. реки Мойки, д. 94)
+7 812 314 98 83
Mon-Sun 11am-5pm (the ticket office opens at 10.45am)
General 700₽/ Students 500₽/ Children 500₽. Audioguide is included in the price
Cards accepted
Audioguides available in English, French, Spanish, Italian, Finnish, and Russian
Average visit duration: 2h
MUSEUM OF APPLIED ARTS
(STIEGLITZ SCHOOL OF ART AND DESIGN)
МУЗЕЙ ПРИКЛАДНОГО ИСКУССТВА (ХУДОЖЕСТВЕННАЯ АКАДЕМИЯ ИМ. ШТИГЛИЦА)
About
This museum is one of the best hidden gems of St Petersburg. It's not listed in most of the guide books, and, in fact, it doesn't seem to be trying to attract new visitors. The museum is located within the School of Art and Design, and you actually need to walk through the academy, past the students hurrying to the lectures with their easels and rolls of drawing paper. The mansion once belonged to Baron Stieglitz who had the building constructed in a neo-Russian style. And the design of the building itself is the museum's main attraction. Nevertheless, the vast collection of furniture, ceramics, and various objects from all over the world is well-worth taking a look.
The museum is located inside the School of Art and Design just off Pestelya St. You need to enter the school where students enter, show any ID to the security, go up the central staircase, then turn left and pass several rooms until you see another staircase with a lion statue. Go downstairs, the entrance to the museum is there. You can walk around the academy freely, it's a truly beautiful building so don't miss the opportunity. See the temporary exhibitions of students and the a atrium in the centre of the building.
Info
13-15 Solyanoy Lane (Соляной пер., д. 13-15)
+7 495 992 94 64
+7 915 393 55 65
Tue-Sat 11am-5pm (ticket office closes at 4.30pm). Closed on Sundays and Mondays.
General 150₽/ Students & Children 75₽. Photography 200₽ / Video 300₽
Cash only
Audioguides available in English, French, Spanish, Italian, Finnish, and Russian
Average visit duration: 2h
ERARTA MUSEUM OF MODERN ART
МУЗЕЙ СОВРЕМЕННОГО ИСКУССТВА "ЭРАРТА"
About
Located in a remote area of Vasilyvsky island among office and residential blocks, this huge private museum is the biggest of its kind in Russia, occupying 5 floors of a massive Stalin-era building. In fact, the last thing you would imagine to find in such a building, would be the modern art museum but so it is. There're a few cinema screens showing video installations, a café, a restaurant, an excellent souvenir and book shop, and several total installation rooms where you can immerse into a particular world during a 15-minute session. You can easily spend a whole day in this museum, so do make sure you plan your visit and have enough time to see eveyrhing you want.
The museum is located in a remote area of Vasilivsky island with no underground stations around. You can take a bus from the centre but it'd be much faster to take a taxi there. There's a restaurant on the ground floor, and a café on the 3rd floor of the museum. For souvenirs and books, pop into Erarta's superb shop on the ground floor.
Info
2, 29-th line of Vasilievsky Island (Васильевский остров, 29-я линия, д. 2)
+7 812 324 08 09
Tue-Sun 10am-5pm. Closed on Mondays
Day Ticket: General 500₽/ Under 21 350₽
Cards accepted
Accessible to English speakers
Audioguides available in English (200₽)
Average visit duration: 2h30min
ROSPHOTO
РОСФОТО
About
A small photo gallery located a stone's throw from the St. Isaac's Cathedral, always holds excellent photo exhibitions, with signboards both in Russian and in English. They have two spaces: one in the main building on Bolshaya Morskaya St, and the other in the building located in the courtyard. The main building is a beautiful modernist edifice (just look at the north themed decorations of the walls as you go up the stairs), where each room has it's own antique stove with its unique design. There's also an excellent bookshop with a good selection of books dedicated to art and photography in English, and various postcards and souvenirs.
Info
35 Bolshaya Morskaya St. (ул. Большая Морская, д. 35)
+7 812 314 12 14
+7 812 314 61 84
Mon, Wed, Fri-Sun 11am-7pm. Tue, Thu 12-9pm.
Day Ticket: General 500₽/ Under 21 350₽
Cash only
Accessible to English speakers
Average visit duration: 1h