Planning Tips
Top Tips
A great boon for time-challenged visitors, or those wanting to avoid daytime crowds – especially tour and school groups – has been the extension of opening hours until 9pm at least once a week at major city museums and galleries, including the Hermitage (Wednesday and Friday) and the Russian Museum (Thursday).
Local Experiences
- Parks The vast Mars Field, Summer Garden, Mikhailovsky Gardens or Alexander Garden are delightful green spaces for taking a breather from sightseeing to enjoy a picnic and do some sunbathing on sunny days.
- Free Art Locals flock to the Hermitage on the first Thursday of each month when entrance is free, although the crowds can be huge!
- Hangouts See if the Museum of Soviet Arcade Machines is holding one of its ping-pong DJ nights or if there's a movie screening at the rooftop of Mod Club.