Winter Palace: reviews and practical tips

Winter Palace at a Glance

A signature landmark of Saint Petersburg featuring a striking pastel-green and white Elizabethan baroque façade, the Winter Palace is a designated Unesco World Heritage site that served as the former residence of the tsars before becoming the western wing of the massive Hermitage Museum.

Commissioned by Peter the Great in the 17th century, it was built by Bartolomeo Rastrelli before suffering fire destruction and subsequent rebuilding four different times. His daughter, Catherine the Great, housed two thousand pieces of her private art collection here. Its strategic position, flanked by the namesake square on one side and the embankment along the Neva River on the other, symbolized the power and might of the Russian monarchy. In 1917, during the revolution, it was stormed by the Bolsheviks.

Start by taking in its colossal scale: the Winter Palace forms a rectangle 250 meters long by 50 meters high, containing nearly 1500 rooms, an equal number of doors and windows, and about a hundred staircases. As the country's second most visited museum, it holds the largest collection ever exhibited globally, and its galleries form an opulent labyrinth of marquetry, crystal, gilding, and numerous other magnificent treasures.

Entry begins via place du Palais (Palace Square). Upon arrival, grab a visitor map to navigate the 3 different levels and the state rooms and major artworks you will want to see. Note that historically, only the second floor was reserved for the imperial family. The ground floor bustled with servants and administrators, while the top floor housed offices for senior officials and other influential figures.

Highlights include the l’escalier des ambassadeurs ou du Jourdain (Jordan Staircase), Rastrelli's rococo chapel, the grand throne room, and the blue drawing room known as the jeweled gallery. If your schedule allows, opt for a 2-day ticket so you can take it all in without rushing.