Things to do in St. Petersburg, Northwestern District: The Best Art Museums

A vision in yellow, this majestic palace - now housing Russian cultural artifacts - once belonged to Alexander Menshikov, ruler of Russia for two years until accused of treason and exiled to Siberia.

Learn about the history of art education in Russia and view works by students and teachers from the famous Academy of Fine Arts, from which many of the most prominent Russian artists graduated.

Erarta is the largest private museum of contemporary art in Russia. Its five floors host the permanent collection display, temporary exhibitions, a cafe, a restaurant, and stores. The museum’s permanent collection comprises more than 2,800 works by artists from all across Russia. Every year, Erarta stages dozens of exhibitions alternately focusing on painting, sculpture, video art, fashion and design. Erarta Museum was repeatedly mentioned as a top choice tourist attraction by the world’s leading Lonely Planet guidebooks and TripAdvisor travel website, was spotlighted as one of the ‘5 cultural gems in St. Petersburg’ by National Geographic, and became the country’s first contemporary art museum to be featured on Google Art Project.

ARTMUZA is a museum of contemporary art and the largest creative cluster in St. Petersburg. In 2013, the premises of the former musical instruments factory "Muzdetal" turned into an association of creative people in the field of painting, sculpture, design and interior, transforming the industrial building into a cultural place for creativity and recreation of residents and guests of the Northern capital. We have two buildings, four floors, gallery desks and many residences: theater, artists' studios, dance, music, art and design studios and schools. Areas from 50 to 1000 m² - loft, galleries, bar, residences. We change expositions every month, we conduct free poetry readings, concerts, master classes, meetings with famous people, open talk, watching movies and other events. We have created a creative atmosphere for you. And we open the roof. For you will work a scene, lounge - zone, a cinema, a cafe and an observation deck of 1500 m².

Historical and cultural Museum of Benua family, which members are good known russian architects, painters and sculptors. A big renovated flat of architect Leontiy Benua filled by family furniture, paintings and art objects from the beginning of 20th century. Concert hall inside. Private chamber ensemble performs classical music. Watercolors, paintings and ceramics in the Museum Art gallery.