"The Hermitage" Hermitage Tip by tvdm

You HAVE to see the Hermitage museum - well, that really goes without saying! You haven't been to St Pet if you miss this. Avoid weekends in summer: you'll be queueing outside already, but it'll always be worth the effort.

Even if you're not into art, the overwhelming display of wealth from the Czars astounds everyone. The sheer size of the place is intimidating, let along the interior. In the pic you see the rich Pavillion Hall. Then there's the art collection; truly the Hermitage is right up there with the Louvre and the Metropolitan Museum of Art! Their Dutch and Flemish departments are awesome (and I don't just say this because I'm Dutch!) but basically all artistic areas are well covered. My favorite masterpieces are Leonardo da Vinci's 'Litta Madonna' and Rembrandt's 'Flora'. The modernist collecting is a bit tucked away in attic-like rooms on the third floor, but worth climbing the stairs for!

Directions: The museum in on the Palace Square, the main entrance however is on the Neva side.
Website: http://www.hermitage.ru