Museums in St. Petersburg
St. Petersburg is often described by locals as the "Gorod Muzei" - the museum city - and not without reason. Peter the Great himself founded the city's first museum, the extraordinary Kunstkammer, for the edification his subjects, and the city now boasts over 100 museums, ranging from the vast Hermitage, one of the world's most famous galleries, to small apartment museums honoring some of Russia's greatest writers.
St. Petersburg is still considered the cultural capital of Russia, and these grand museums are dedicated to the city's rich 300-year history of art, music, literature and theater.
Although St. Petersburg is a relatively young city, it has packed an excess of history into its three centuries, preserved and documented in a number of very interesting museums.
From Peter the Great's fascination with scientific advancement sprang a tradition of research and education in St. Petersburg that is celebrated in these fascinating museums.
Modern Russian culture began to develop shortly after the founding of St. Petersburg, and almost all the country's internationally renowned figures lived for some time in the Northern Capital.
A comprehensive list of all museums in the city of St. Petersburg and the surrounding area, with opening hours, contact details, and links to greater information on displays and exhibitions.
