🏛️ Saint Petersburg | The Hermitage (Winter Palace)

❄️ The State Hermitage Museum – One of the world’s four greatest museums! 📍 Location: Search “The State Hermitage Museum” on Yandex Maps. 🎫 Ticket: 500 RUB | Students: 300 RUB (only available on-site, be prepared to queue!). ⏰ Opening Hours: Closed on Mondays, Jan 1, and May 9. Wed, Thu, Sun: 11:00–18:00 Tue, Fri, Sat: 11:00–20:00 🗺️ Visiting Route: 1️⃣ After security, go downstairs to use the restroom, change, and store your coat. 2️⃣ Return to the ground floor to get a free Chinese map 🗺️, then enter the ticketed area. 3️⃣ Audio guide rental: 500 RUB (optional). 4️⃣ Head to the Jordan Staircase – the grand Baroque entrance, perfect for photos! 📸 This leads directly to the second floor. 💡 Pro Tips: Start from the 3rd floor! It’s less crowded and features stunning Central & East Asian art. Allow ~2 hours here. (Take the elevator near the main hall on the 2nd floor to reach the 3rd floor quickly.) The 2nd floor is the heart of European art history 🖼️—home to masterpieces like Da Vinci’s originals. It’s vast and crowded. Allow ~3 hours. The 1st floor has ancient artifacts and special exhibitions. Allow ~1 hour. ⏳ Summary: Plan a full day for the Hermitage! If visiting outside summer, arrive early—light fades after 4 PM ☀️→🌆. No high heels 👠, no smoking 🚭, no flash photography 📵. Travel Tip: Use Yandex Go for taxis and navigation. Yandex Maps can be unreliable sometimes 😢. #Russia #Hermitage #DaVinci #ArtLovers #ClassicArt #TravelGuide