Restoration and storage center of the Hermitage on Staraya Derevnya
A common joke suggests that if someone allocates one minute to each exhibit, the Hermitage would require roughly eight years to explore. While this claim remains unverified, the sheer scale is undeniable: more than three million storage units and a continuous stream of new items. The growing volume highlighted a severe space shortage for the museum’s vast trove of world art and culture. In response, planners undertook a bold solution: a new architectural complex dedicated to restoration and storage, designed to house the museum’s treasures in a way that preserves their integrity and accessibility for future generations.
Today, this project stands as a landmark in size and technical sophistication. It grants visitors a rare opportunity to peek behind the scenes of one of the world’s greatest museums and to view works that were once kept out of public reach. Public access is curated through guided tours, ensuring that the experience remains informative and sustainable. Within the Tapestry Theater, guests encounter a display of furniture and household objects dating from the 16th to the 19th centuries, accompanied by an engaging, evolving musical performance. The Carriage Hall offers insights into ceremonial transport, explaining how a pleasure carriage differs from a coronation one, what a sedan chair signified, and it showcases ceremonial carriages alongside a remarkable mechanical carriage discovered in an Ural serf ingot collection.
Visitors will encounter displays such as Sultan III Selim’s Empress II, a demonstration of why a military tent was gifted to Catherine and the exterior and interior views of that tent. An exhibition of Russian and Western European paintings presents work that merits comparison with the world’s leading museums. A gallery of ancient costumes houses more than a hundred mannequins showcasing historical attire—from Peter I’s wardrobe and Catherine II’s dresses to the uniforms of later Russian rulers. The ceremonial clothing of officers from the II and 18th centuries adds further depth to this immersive experience.
The unusual warehouse museum also stands out for hosting restorers’ workshops. Visitors can take tours to observe how weapons, canvases, antique clocks, music boxes, sculptures, and furniture are carefully restored. The center sits at Zausadnaya Street, 37A, near Staraya Derevnya metro.
Model museums: Russia and Petrovskaya water area
Two extraordinary model museums invite visitors to feel the scale of a Gulliver among a miniature world. The Great Model of Russia and the Petrovskaya Aquatorium model offer immersive glimpses into the country’s vast tapestry. The Great Model of Russia is not a literal map of cities; it is a collective, highly recognizable portrait of the nation across 800 square meters. Hundreds of everyday scenes depict diverse human activity: trains glide along tracks, cars illuminate the streets, and tiny figures enact a living panorama. About every 15 minutes after dark, the entire layout unfurls from east to west, a moment that fills adults with a sense of childlike wonder. The layout invites participation through more than 50 interactive buttons that let visitors influence dynamic scenes and objects.
Location: Tsvetochnaya Street, 16, Moskovskie Vorota metro.
Petrovskaya water area
This site presents a vivid reconstruction of St. Petersburg from Peter the Great through Catherine II, capturing the city’s life in the 18th century with scientific precision. The Menshikov estate on university grounds and the masquerade ball in Peterhof are depicted in detail, and landmarks such as the first St. Petersburg port and Oranienbaum—an estate that no longer exists in the modern city—are brought to life for visitors. The recreated water space mirrors the Neva and the Gulf of Finland, with more than a hundred ship models participating in historical battles. The exhibit also demonstrates day-to-night transitions, floods, and fires while offering genre scenes that convey the era’s social layers. More than 40 interactive buttons invite guests to become participants in a bygone era.
Malaya Morskaya Street, 4/1. Admiralteyskaya metro stop.
Bridge Museum
Another space where working models take center stage is the Bridge Museum. This is Russia’s sole Bridges Museum and a cornerstone of St. Petersburg’s architectural heritage. The collection spans centuries and includes transitions between models that range from ancient to modern, and from stone to metal. The oldest Neva Bridge model, crafted in the 18th century, sits alongside the technical model of the Lion Bridge. Visitors can also compare historical bridge representations, such as the Panteleimonovsky and Egyptian bridges, which evolved significantly through reconstruction. The working model of the Annunciation Bridge took 12 years to complete, with jewelers contributing to its finer details. Modern bridge construction is represented by the Crimean Bridge, recognized as one of the longest bridges in Russia and Europe, a project realized by engineers from St. Petersburg.
Muchnoy Lane, 2, near Sennaya Square, Gostiny Dvor, and Nevsky Prospekt metro zones.
Leningrad Defense and Siege Museum
St. Petersburg has carried many names, yet its core character remains. The city’s enduring spirit is captured in this museum, which documents the Siege of Leningrad from 1941 to 1944. The exhibit invites visitors to grasp how the city endured extreme hunger, cold, and blackout conditions, and to reflect on the sacrifices of those who did not survive. The gallery recounts battles and partisan resistance, the Road of Life on Lake Ladoga, and the evacuation of residents under bombardment. Authentic documents, personal items, and life during the siege are presented in powerful detail. Visitors encounter a besieged bakery, a school classroom, a factory workshop, and a bomb shelter. The display includes siege bread, food cards, and the chilling memory of 125 grams of bread—often the sole sustenance for a day for many residents. The sounds of air raids and a metronome, alongside fragments of Shostakovich’s Seventh Symphony, reinforce the museum’s impact as a place of memory rather than mere entertainment.
Solyanoy Lane, 9. Gostiny Dvor metro.
Pavilion Arsenal
For those who have explored the Hermitage Hall of Knights and crave more military history, a day in Pushkin’s Pavilion Arsenal promises a deep dive into medieval weaponry and knight-era artifacts. The Gothic castle-shaped pavilion in Alexander Park houses Nicholas I’s curated weapon collection. After heavy damage in the Great Patriotic War, restoration brought the building back to life in 2016, with Hermitage-curated pieces restored to their former walls. The halls showcase medieval armor, Turkish scimitars, Circassian swords, flintlock rifles, and pistols, as well as mounted warriors from various eras and regions, including a genuine Sultan’s camp tent. Interactive technology enhances the display, merging history with modern engagement.
Pushkin, Alexander Park.
Palace Cottage
This elegant neo-Gothic two-story house served as a country residence for the family of Emperor Nicholas I. It remains one of the rare living museums, with interiors that appear as if the residents just stepped out. The cottage conveys a sense of domestic warmth, with the rustle of fabrics, soft conversations, and the laughter of children. The Empress Alexandra Feodorovna reportedly preferred understated interiors, and the house remains a private space preserved for visitors. The building stands out as a rare survivor with its authentic interiors and family heirlooms preserved in place. Visitors who seek the famous Peterhof fountains may overlook this intimate corner, yet locals cherish it as a warm piece of their city’s history.
Peterhof, Alexandria Park.
Coastal castles Constantine and Reef
These two coastal fortifications are celebrated for their well-preserved defensive structures and museum displays. They remain accessible year-round thanks to their coastal location. Fort Reef sits on the western edge of Kotlin Island, offering views of the Tolbukhin lighthouse and Tyulenya Ridge. History buffs will appreciate a unique caponier designed to direct artillery fire remotely, as well as underground galleries that evoke a romantic, shadowed atmosphere. The exhibitions explore the valor of military doctors, the Kronstadt uprising, and the practical comforts of field cuisine. A cafe stands nearby to provide sustenance in the Baltic breeze.
Kronstadt, Kronstadt highway, 74.
Constantine Castle
Coastal Castle Constantine provides sweeping coastal panoramas suited for wide-angle photography. The fort’s battery railings, nautical mark on the spit, and a lighthouse contribute to an authentic maritime mood. The Pushkar Museum within the site reveals fortress service, the walls’ structure, and artillery services, while a diverse array of original exhibits from different eras is on display. An interactive room allows visitors to stand at the helm, transmit messages in Morse code, sit on a Cossack saddle with a sword, or hold ancient weapons. Photos beside these displays capture the moment.
Kronstadt, Kronstadt highway, 38.
Regular bus numbers 101/101A from Staraya Derevnya and Begovaya metro stations.
St. Petersburg never runs out of stories. A single trip may hardly scratch the surface, so it is wise to plan at least a few days. Theme-based itineraries over two or three days help visitors absorb the breadth of offerings and navigate the city’s evolving tourist geography. The city’s rhythm invites a slow immersion, a chance to feel like a local as new facets of St. Petersburg unveil themselves with every visit. The aim is to let these explorations become a tradition, whether inspired by a theater premiere, a sport event, or a lyrical walk along rivers and canals, all while discovering classics and hidden gems alike.