Free Museums in St. Petersburg
The Northern capital is a place for cultural leisure. People come here not only for the drawbridges and bustling Nevsky Prospekt, but also to immerse themselves in the history of imperial Russia: to wander through former mansions and tenement houses, walk through the corridors of old palaces, and visit numerous museums.
To make your trip pleasant and budget-friendly, we have compiled a list of free museums in St. Petersburg. As a rule, this can be done on a specific day of the month or week — so plan your travel dates in advance and schedule your visit.
State Hermitage Museum
Address: Palace Square, 2.
Operating hours: Wednesday, Thursday, Sunday 11:00 – 18:00. Tuesday, Friday, Saturday 11:00 – 20:00. Day off — Mondays.
Free admission: third Thursday of each month for privileged categories of citizens (pensioners, university students, children, veterans, museum staff).
It's not possible to enter without a ticket — you will need to register for it on the website and indicate your privilege. Bring a document confirming your eligibility for free admission.
The Hermitage is the second largest art museum in the world. The collection includes paintings, graphics, sculptural compositions, and applied art objects. The main ensemble consists of the Winter Palace, the buildings of the Small, Old, and New Hermitages, the Hermitage Theatre, and the Reserve House. In addition, the museum complex includes the Menshikov Palace, part of the General Staff Building, and the museum at the Imperial Porcelain Factory.
Museum of the History of Religion
Address: Pochtamtskaya St., house 14/5
Operating hours: daily from 10:00 to 18:00 (Tuesdays from 13:00 to 21:00). Day off — Wednesdays.
Free admission: every first Monday of the month. All categories of citizens can visit the museum.
This is truly a unique place — there are not many museums in the world dedicated to the origin and development of several world religions at once. Currently, the museum's collection holds about 200,000 exhibits, including archaeological finds. The exhibition begins with a brief overview of archaic beliefs related to the cult of animals and nature, and continues with a narrative about the religions humanity lives with today: from Christianity to Islam and Judaism. In addition to guided tours, you can explore interactive screens located in each hall.
A.S. Pushkin Apartment Museum
Address: Moika River Embankment, house 12
Operating hours: daily from 10:30 to 18:00. Day off — Tuesdays.
Free admission: annually, February 10 and June 6.
These specific dates are not chosen by chance: June 6 is the birthday of the Russian poet, February 10 is the day of his death. It was in this apartment that he died after a severe wound in a duel. Today, the museum is a recreated apartment of the poet, where you can see items that belonged to his family, friends, and acquaintances.
Museum at the Imperial Porcelain Factory
Address: Obukhovskoy Oborony Avenue, 151
Operating hours: daily from 12:00 to 19:00. Day off — Mondays.
Free admission: third Thursday of each month.
The museum, founded in 1844 by Emperor Nicholas I, houses over 30,000 exhibits. These include porcelain, Soviet-era products, items made at famous European manufactories and Russian private factories, and samples of oriental porcelain. The collection has been regularly replenished throughout its existence. The museum also has a library with literature dedicated to applied arts, drawings and sketches by artists, and materials on the origin and development of the Imperial Porcelain Factory.
Zoological Museum of the Russian Academy of Sciences
Address: Universitetskaya Embankment, 1
Operating hours: daily from 11:00 to 19:00. Day off — Tuesday.
Free admission: third Thursday of the month, but only for members of large families, students, and children under 18. A concession ticket must be obtained at the museum's ticket offices.
The Zoological Museum was founded in 1832 based on the collections of the Kunstkamera's Natural Cabinet. Currently, the collection includes over 30,000 exhibits. Many of them were brought to the museum by naturalists and travelers — Przhevalsky, Kozlov, Gotwald. The exhibition includes stuffed animals: both existing ones and those listed in the International Red Book. Extinct species are also represented. For example, in the museum you can see mummies of baby mammoths and a stuffed woolly mammoth from Kolyma. Today, the museum continues to be replenished with exhibits that institute staff bring from various corners of the globe.
A.V. Suvorov Museum
Address: Kirochnaya St., 43
Operating hours: Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday — from 10:00 to 18:00. Wednesday — from 13:00 to 21:00. Day off — Mondays.
Free admission: third Thursday of the month for children under 18, university students, postgraduate students.
The memorial museum is notable not only for its exhibition, which is dedicated to the life and activities of the great Russian military leader, but also for its architectural appearance. It looks like a castle in the style of ancient Russian fortresses — with a multi-tiered watchtower, mosaic panels, and bas-reliefs. The building was erected with public and state donations and opened in 1904. The exhibition displays Suvorov's personal awards and belongings, his letters, documents, and charters, personally transferred to the collection by Nicholas II, weapons, and equipment.
Before planning a trip or a museum visit, be sure to check the information on the museum's website to bring all supporting documents if free tickets are only provided to certain categories of citizens. Free admission days to museums in St. Petersburg are an opportunity to save on tickets for yourself or your loved ones: don't hesitate to use it, because in the end, it's better to spend money on a memorable gift from your trip than to overpay for admission.
