An Oranienbaum day trip takes you to one of the quietest imperial estates near Saint Petersburg, on the south shore of the Gulf of Finland in the town of Lomonosov. The site was given by Peter the Great to his friend Alexander Menshikov, who built a huge palace here in the early 1700s.
Oranienbaum belongs to the same museum-reserve as Peterhof and, unlike many other suburban estates, it was not badly damaged in the war. This page explains how to get there, what needs its own ticket and how to plan the day.
Current access notice: As of October 2026: the Chinese Palace is usually open only in the summer season and in dry weather, so it is probably closed now. The Grand Menshikov Palace and the park stay open. Check the official site for current hours.
Quick Facts
| Russian name | Государственный музей-заповедник «Петергоф»: Ораниенбаум |
|---|---|
| Distance from the nearest major city | About 40 km west of central Saint Petersburg, in the town of Lomonosov |
| Travel time from the nearest major city | Roughly 50 to 90 minutes from the centre |
| Built / opened | 1710 |
| Architect(s) | Giovanni Maria Fontana and Gottfried Schädel (Menshikov Palace); Antonio Rinaldi (Palace of Peter III) |
| Address | Oranienbaum Park, Lomonosov, Saint Petersburg (Ораниенбаумский парк, Ломоносов, Санкт-Петербург) |
| Opening hours | Palaces: typically 10:30 to 18:00. The Grand Menshikov Palace has a weekly closing day (Tuesday in the current schedule, plus one day a month); the Chinese Palace is usually open only in the summer season and in dry weather, with its own closing days. The park is open all day, with an entrance ticket in summer. (as of October 2026 – check the official site) |
| Admission | The park and each palace have separate tickets, mostly ₽ to ₽₽ for foreign adults. Concession and Russian-citizen rates differ. |
| Best time to visit | Summer is the best season, when the Chinese Palace and pavilions are open. Spring and autumn are quiet, and winter is possible for the main palace and the park. Visit on a weekday, and check the closing days. |
| Recommended duration | 4 to 6 hours |
| Website | peterhofmuseum.ru |
| Last updated | October 17, 2026 |
What Is (and Isn't) Part of a Visit to Oranienbaum Day Trip, Saint Petersburg?
| Part | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Oranienbaum Park | Separate ticket or institution | Entrance ticket needed in summer. |
| Grand Menshikov Palace | Separate ticket or institution | Own ticket; weekly closing day. |
| Chinese Palace | Separate ticket or institution | Own ticket; summer only, dry weather. |
| Palace of Peter III and Gate of Honour | Separate ticket or institution | Own tickets and hours. |
| Katalnaya Gorka pavilion | Separate ticket or institution | Seasonal, with its own ticket. |
| Peterhof | Outside / not part of it | A different part of the museum-reserve, some distance away; see Peterhof Day Trip, Saint Petersburg. |
| Kronstadt | Outside / not part of it | Reached by bus 175; see Kronstadt Day Trip, Saint Petersburg. |
How to Get from the nearest major city to Oranienbaum Day Trip, Saint Petersburg
| Option | Duration | Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Suburban train from Baltiysky Station to Oranienbaum-1 | About 40 to 60 minutes plus a walk | ₽ | The simplest option; the train follows the Gulf of Finland. From the station, walk through Lomonosov to the park. See Baltiysky Railway Station, Saint Petersburg and Baltiyskaya Metro Station, Saint Petersburg. |
| Minibus from Avtovo metro station | About 50 to 90 minutes | ₽ | Several minibus routes serve Lomonosov; route numbers change, so check them. See Avtovo Metro Station, Saint Petersburg. |
| Taxi or ride-hailing car | About 50 to 90 minutes | ₽₽ | Convenient for groups. See How to Book a Taxi or Ride-Hailing Car, Saint Petersburg. |
| Guided bus tour | About 6 to 7 hours | ₽₽₽ | Tours include the Menshikov and Chinese Palaces in summer; confirm what the price covers. |
₽ budget · ₽₽ moderate · ₽₽₽ upscale · ₽₽₽₽ splurge. Price levels are estimates compared with typical prices for visitors.
Why Visit Oranienbaum Day Trip, Saint Petersburg?
- The Grand Menshikov Palace: the oldest palace here, begun in 1710, with recreated halls and a long gallery wing.
- The Chinese Palace: Catherine the Great’s summer retreat, famous for the Glass Beads Cabinet; open mainly in summer.
- Quiet: far fewer visitors than Peterhof or Tsarskoye Selo.
- The park: a large, open ensemble with pavilions and views over the gulf.
Highlights of Oranienbaum Day Trip, Saint Petersburg
The Grand Menshikov Palace
Menshikov commissioned the architects Giovanni Maria Fontana and Gottfried Schädel and built his residence from 1710 to 1727. It stands facing the sea, with the central block joined by galleries to two domed pavilions, one of which is the Church Pavilion. Rastrelli later reworked parts. Inside, the ground floor has a multimedia exhibition about Menshikov, and the upper floor has recreated halls with 19th-century furnishings.
It has its own ticket and a weekly closing day.
Tip: Start here, then walk across the park to the Chinese Palace.
The Chinese Palace
The palace was built as a summer dacha for Catherine the Great as part of her private estate, the Own Dacha. It is known for its interiors, a Chinese collection, European paintings of the 18th century and the Glass Beads Cabinet.
It is open only in the summer season and, according to published schedules, in dry weather.
Tip: Check the weather and the season before you plan the trip around it.
The Palace of Peter III
The small palace was built from 1758 to 1762 by Antonio Rinaldi and is, with the nearby Gate of Honour, all that remains of Petershtadt, the model fortress that Peter III had built for himself. It is a simple and attractive example of an early classical palace.
It has its own ticket and hours.
Tip: Combine it with the Gate of Honour for a short walk through the older part of the park.
The Katalnaya Gorka pavilion
The Katalnaya Gorka (rolling hill) pavilion belongs to the Own Dacha and holds a porcelain collection. It is one of the less visited objects.
Check its season and hours; it is open only part of the year.
Tip: Ask at the ticket office whether it is open on your day.
The park and the gulf
The park is large, with pine woods, ponds and pavilions, and the Gulf of Finland is close. It is a good place for a picnic and a long walk.
In summer a separate park ticket is needed in addition to the palace tickets.
Tip: Walk the park before the palaces to avoid the heat of the day.
Atmosphere
Oranienbaum is quiet. In the park the paths run between pine trees and open lawns, and you can spend long stretches without meeting many people. The sea is never far away, and the wind from the gulf carries the smell of pine and water.
The Menshikov Palace is long and low, and the Chinese Palace is small and bright. In the morning groups arrive by bus; in the afternoon it gets quiet again.
History of Oranienbaum Day Trip, Saint Petersburg
The estate began in 1710, when Peter the Great gave the land to Alexander Menshikov, who started building a large palace by the sea. Between 1710 and 1727 architects Giovanni Maria Fontana and Gottfried Schädel built the palace, and the name Oranienbaum, orange tree, is said to come from a greenhouse of orange trees on the site.
After Menshikov lost his fortune in 1727, the estate passed to the Crown. Peter III, as heir, made Oranienbaum his residence and built the fortress of Petershtadt and a small palace there between 1758 and 1762, to a design by Antonio Rinaldi.
When Catherine II took the throne she kept Oranienbaum as her private dacha, called the Own Dacha, and added the Chinese Palace and other pavilions, including the Katalnaya Gorka.
Unlike Peterhof and Tsarskoye Selo, Oranienbaum was not occupied and did not suffer severe damage in the Second World War. It is today part of the Peterhof museum-reserve, and the town around it is known by its post-war name, Lomonosov.
Tickets and Booking for Oranienbaum Day Trip, Saint Petersburg
| Ticket | Price | Includes |
|---|---|---|
| Grand Menshikov Palace | ₽₽ | The palace halls and exhibition. |
| Oranienbaum Park (summer) | ₽ | Entry to the park in the paid season; excludes palaces. |
| Chinese Palace | ₽₽ | The interiors, in the summer season only; may need to be bought on site. |
₽ budget · ₽₽ moderate · ₽₽₽ upscale · ₽₽₽₽ splurge. Price levels are estimates compared with typical prices for visitors.
Buy tickets on the official museum-reserve site or at the ticket offices at the palaces. The Chinese Palace tickets may be sold only on site. Check the official site for the current schedule, how far in advance online sales open and which objects are open.
- Rates: prices for Russian citizens and concession categories differ from those for foreign visitors.
- Payment: the sanctions rules of your own country may restrict some Russian payment services, so check this yourself.
All ticket categories are listed on the official site, peterhofmuseum.ru.
Plan and Book
Suggested itineraries Oranienbaum Day Trip, Saint Petersburg
4 hours on site
Arrive by train, walk to the Grand Menshikov Palace and see the halls. Then walk across the park to the Palace of Peter III, and return to the station.
Full day in summer
Menshikov Palace in the morning, lunch and a walk in the park, then the Chinese Palace and the Katalnaya Gorka in the afternoon. Return by train in the evening.
Half day in winter
The Menshikov Palace and a walk through the snowy park; the Chinese Palace and some pavilions are closed.
How to Get to Oranienbaum Day Trip, Saint Petersburg
Oranienbaum is in the town of Lomonosov, about 40 km west of the centre of Saint Petersburg, in the Petrodvortsovy District, on the south shore of the Gulf of Finland.
- Train: from Baltiysky Station to Oranienbaum-1, then a short walk.
- Minibus: from Avtovo metro station to Lomonosov.
- Taxi: for groups.
Food Nearby
There are a few cafes in the town of Lomonosov and near the park. Take a picnic for a day in the park.
What to Bring
Comfortable shoes, rain gear and a warm layer, since the park is open and exposed. Bags may be checked.
Best Views and Photo Spots of Oranienbaum Day Trip, Saint Petersburg
The Menshikov Palace from the main lawn
A long palace front with the lawn in the foreground.
Best time: Morning or late afternoon.
The Chinese Palace from across the lake
A small pavilion reflected in the water.
Best time: Summer, in dry weather.
The Gate of Honour
A gateway to the old Petershtadt fortress.
Best time: Anytime; few visitors.
The park paths
Pines and open lawns with few people.
Best time: Autumn, for colours.
Family Suitability
Suitable for families: the park is large and quiet, good for children to run in. The palaces suit older children. Strollers work on the main paths.
Russia Vibes Tips
- Check the weather; the Chinese Palace may be closed in rain.
- Come on a weekday; the estate is quiet, but groups arrive by bus at midday.
- Walk from the station through the town, which gives you a view of the park from the entrance.
- Combine Oranienbaum with Peterhof only on separate days.
- Ask whether the Katalnaya Gorka pavilion is open before you walk to it.
Explore Nearby Oranienbaum Day Trip, Saint Petersburg
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Baltiysky Railway Station, Saint PetersburgMain image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
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FAQ: Oranienbaum Day Trip, Saint Petersburg
Is Oranienbaum part of Peterhof?
It belongs to the same museum-reserve but is a separate ensemble in Lomonosov. See the scope table.
Is the Chinese Palace always open?
No; it is usually open only in summer and in dry weather. See the access notice.
Do I need a separate ticket for the park?
Yes, in summer a park ticket is needed in addition to the palace tickets.
Is Oranienbaum crowded?
Much less than Peterhof or Tsarskoye Selo.
How long do I need?
Plan four to six hours, plus the journey.
Was Oranienbaum damaged in the war?
Not severely, unlike many other suburban palaces.
Why is the town called Lomonosov?
That is the post-war name of the town; the palace ensemble keeps the name Oranienbaum.
Can I go by train?
Yes, from Baltiysky Station to Oranienbaum-1.
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Last updated: October 17, 2026.
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