Virtual tours of Russian museums

While the world is facing the threat of a second wave of Covid-19 and countries start to reintroduce certain restrictions that were lifted over the summer, there is not much change for the tourism industry which continues to suffer.

Even though museums in Moscow and St Petersburg have reopened their doors for visitors, it is still hard for tourists from abroad to visit them due to strict entry requirements and mandatory quarantine upon returning home.

Summer in Russia saw domestic tourism thrive. According to statistics provided by the Russian flight search service Aviasales, Moscow, Sochi and St Petersburg were the top three most popular cities to visit during summer 2020.

Museums in Moscow and St Petersburg started to welcome guests from 16th of June (Moscow) and 6th of July (St Petersburg). Like other public places, museums are taking active measures to prevent the spread of the virus, introducing new rules - tickets should be purchased online, groups size is limited and face masks and gloves are required.

Since however you cannot travel on a tour to Russia with us right now, we have compiled a list of museums with their own online tours, at least to go some way to satisfy your desire to travel whilst stay safe online.

Moscow

The Kremlin - introductory video
The Armoury Chamber
 - virtual tour
GULAG History museum - audio guide
The State Tretyakov Gallery - online exhibits
The Pushkin State Museum of Fine Arts - virtual tour

The Museum of Cosmonautics
 - virtual tour
The Yesenin Museum - exhibits presentation
The Victory Museum - virtual tour

The Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation - multimedia
All-Russia Museum of Decorative, Applied and Folk Art - virtual tour (suitable for VR headsets)
The Сontemporary History Museum
 - Exhibits

St Petersburg

The Peter and Paul Fortress and Prisons - photo gallery
The Mariinsky theatre - online theatre
The Hermitage Museum - virtual tour
The Catherine Palace - virtual tour
The Russian Museum - virtual tour
The Kunstkamera - virtual tour
The Military-Historical Museum of Artillery, Engineering and Communications Forces - virtual tour
Faberge museum - virtual tour

Erarta Museum of Contemporary Art - online exhibition
Grand Maket Russia Museum - introductory video
Anna Akhmatova museum - online exhibition
Russian Railway Museum - virtual tour