Palace Square in Saint Petersburg is the city’s main square, a vast open space in the Central District with the green-and-white Winter Palace on one side and the curved yellow facade of the General Staff Building on the other. In the centre stands the Alexander Column.
It is free, always open and a short walk from Nevsky Prospekt, so it is the natural start of almost any visit to the centre. The square is a place to look at architecture, not to enter a building. This guide explains what surrounds it, which parts belong to the State Hermitage Museum, and how to use the square as a starting point.
Quick Facts
| Russian name | Дворцовая площадь |
|---|---|
| Built / opened | 1834 |
| Architect(s) | Francesco Bartolomeo Rastrelli (Winter Palace); Carlo Rossi (General Staff Building); Auguste de Montferrand (Alexander Column) |
| Address | Дворцовая площадь, Санкт-Петербург |
| District | Central District |
| Metro | Admiralteyskaya (Line 5, Walk toward Palace Square via Bolshaya Morskaya Street) Nevsky Prospekt (Line 2, Longer walk west along Nevsky Prospekt) Gostiny Dvor (Line 3, Longer walk west along Nevsky Prospekt) |
| Opening hours | An open public square, accessible at all times. Surrounding buildings, including the Hermitage, keep their own hours (as of October 2026 – check each venue's official site). |
| Admission | Free. |
| Best time to visit | Go early in the morning for quiet, or in the evening when the palace is lit. In summer, evenings are long and the square is busy. Winter is cold but atmospheric. |
| Recommended duration | 30–60 minutes, more with the Hermitage |
| Website | visit-petersburg.ru |
| Last updated | October 15, 2026 |
What Is (and Isn't) Part of a Visit to Palace Square, Saint Petersburg?
| Part | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| The square and the Alexander Column | Included in the standard ticket | Open public space, free at any time. |
| Winter Palace | Separate ticket or institution | The main building of the State Hermitage Museum; a ticket is needed to go inside. |
| General Staff Building, eastern wing | Separate ticket or institution | Part of the Hermitage with its own ticket rules. |
| General Staff Building, other parts | Not open to visitors | Used by government bodies, not open to visitors. |
| Guards Corps headquarters | Not open to visitors | Used by government bodies; view from outside. |
| Admiralty | Outside / not part of it | A neighbouring building on the west side with its own use. |
Why Visit Palace Square, Saint Petersburg?
The square shows two eras side by side: Rastrelli’s baroque Winter Palace of the 1750s and Carlo Rossi’s Empire-style General Staff Building of the 1820s. The contrast of ornate and austere is the point of the place.
The Alexander Column, put up in 1834, anchors the space, and the triumphal arch on the south side frames a view into Bolshaya Morskaya Street.
It is also a place of memory: events such as Bloody Sunday in 1905 and the revolutionary days of 1917 are tied to the square, and it has long been the city’s setting for public festivities.
How Palace Square, Saint Petersburg Is Laid Out
The square is bounded on the north by the Winter Palace, whose south facade gives the square its name. On the south side the General Staff Building forms a great arc with a double triumphal arch in the middle, built to Carlo Rossi’s design in 1819–1829.
The eastern side is closed by the former Guards Corps headquarters, built in 1837–1843 by Alexander Brullov. On the west the square opens toward the Admiralty and its garden, and the Alexander Column stands in the middle.
Most visitors arrive through the triumphal arch from Nevsky Prospekt or from the Admiralty side. A good route is to enter through the arch, walk to the column, then turn to look at the Winter Palace.
Highlights of Palace Square, Saint Petersburg
The Winter Palace facade
The south facade of the Winter Palace faces the square. Rastrelli's palace was rebuilt between 1754 and 1762 and is a white and turquoise baroque building with columns and statues.
It forms the main part of the State Hermitage Museum, and the entrance for the museum is on the courtyard side.
Tip: Look at the three arches through which you can see into the courtyard.
The Alexander Column
The column, designed by Auguste de Montferrand and put up in 1834, commemorates the victory over Napoleon. According to the city's official portal, the granite monolith is not fixed in any way and stands under its own weight.
An angel with a cross crowns it, and reliefs decorate the pedestal.
Tip: Walk right up to the base and look up; the scale is hard to feel from a distance.
The General Staff Building and arch
Carlo Rossi's long curved building of 1819–1829 stands on the south side, with a triumphal arch in the middle crowned by a chariot with the goddess of victory. The arch was built to mark the 1812 victory.
The eastern wing of the building is part of the State Hermitage Museum.
Tip: Walk through the arch to see the view along Bolshaya Morskaya Street.
The Guards Corps headquarters
On the east side stands the building of the Guards Corps headquarters, designed by Alexander Brullov and built in 1837–1843.
It is used by government bodies, so it is a facade to look at, not a place to visit.
Tip: Use it as a backdrop for photographs of the column.
The Admiralty side
On the western side the square opens toward the Admiralty and its garden, which makes it part of a chain of big squares along the Neva.
The gilded spire of the Admiralty is visible from the square.
Tip: Walk west for a few minutes to see the Admiralty and the Bronze Horseman area.
Archaeological traces
During reconstruction of the square in 2001, archaeologists found foundations of an outbuilding of the palace of Anna Ioannovna, according to the city's local heritage sources.
It shows how many layers the square has.
Tip: This is background for a guided tour; there is nothing to see on the ground.
Atmosphere
The square is huge, open and often windy. The scale makes people look small, and the sound of footsteps and street musicians fills the space under the arch.
In the morning it is quiet, with a few early tourists and photographers. By midday groups gather by the column and the Hermitage queues form. In the evening the palace is lit, and the square becomes a place for slow walks. In winter, snow and low sun give a dramatic look, and in summer the square hosts festivals and concerts.
History of Palace Square, Saint Petersburg
The Winter Palace, designed by Francesco Bartolomeo Rastrelli, was rebuilt between 1754 and 1762 and gave the square its name. In 1753 Rastrelli also put forward a project for the square itself, based on the palace.
The square took shape over about 89 years with the contribution of several architects, according to the city’s official tourism portal. In the nineteenth century Alexander I wanted it to be a monument to the victory over Napoleon, and Carlo Rossi was commissioned to design the General Staff Building, built between 1819 and 1829, with the double triumphal arch in the middle.
The Alexander Column was designed by Auguste de Montferrand, built between 1830 and 1834 and raised in 1834. The Guards Corps headquarters on the east side followed in 1837–1843.
In the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries the square was used for military parades. On 9 January 1905 (22 January in the new style) it was the setting of Bloody Sunday, when troops fired on a procession of workers. On 19 July 1914 Nicholas II declared a general mobilisation here at the outbreak of war.
After 1917 the square hosted demonstrations and parades. From 1923 to 1944 it was called Uritsky Square, after Moisei Uritsky, the head of the Petrograd Cheka, who was killed there in 1918. According to the official tourism portal, during the Second World War there was a proposal to turn the square into an airfield, but the square and the ensemble around it survived untouched.
Today the square is a pedestrian space and part of the historic centre listed as a World Heritage site. It is used for public celebrations and concerts, and it remains the first place many visitors see in the city.
Legends and Myths about Palace Square, Saint Petersburg
The angel with the face of the tsar
Legend – historically unreliable. A popular story says that the angel on top of the Alexander Column was given the face of Alexander I, the emperor of the victory over Napoleon.
The story is repeated in many guidebooks, but it is not firmly documented, so it is best read as local tradition.
Tickets and Booking for Palace Square, Saint Petersburg
No ticket is needed for the square. Entry is free at all times.
- Hermitage: the Winter Palace and the eastern wing of the General Staff Building need a Hermitage ticket; see the article on the State Hermitage Museum, Saint Petersburg.
- Events: concerts and festivals are held on the square at times; check the city’s official sources for the current programme.
For city information, use the city’s official tourism portal (visit-petersburg.ru).
Plan and Book
Suggested itineraries Palace Square, Saint Petersburg
30 minutes
Enter through the triumphal arch, walk to the Alexander Column, look back at the Winter Palace and the arch, and take your photographs.
1 hour
Add a walk around the square, a look at the Guards Corps headquarters and a short stroll to the Admiralty garden on the west side.
Half day
Combine the square with the State Hermitage Museum, Saint Petersburg, and finish with a walk along Nevsky Prospekt, Saint Petersburg.
How to Get to Palace Square, Saint Petersburg
The nearest metro station is Admiralteyskaya (Line 5), which is a walk of about ten minutes. Nevsky Prospekt (Line 2) and Gostiny Dvor (Line 3) are also within walking distance along Nevsky Prospekt.
- From Nevsky Prospekt, walk west toward the Admiralty and turn through the arch.
- Parking near the square is limited, so metro or taxi is easier.
Accessibility
The square is flat and open, with cobbled sections that may be uneven for wheelchairs and strollers. Access to buildings around it is covered by each institution's own rules.
Food Nearby
Cafes and restaurants are on Nevsky Prospekt, Bolshaya Morskaya Street and around the Admiralty. Choose side streets for quieter and cheaper options.
What to Bring
A windproof layer, because the square is open to the wind from the Neva, and sunglasses in summer.
Best Views and Photo Spots of Palace Square, Saint Petersburg
Through the General Staff arch
Looking back from the arch you see the column framed by the arch with the Winter Palace behind it.
Best time: Morning.
Base of the Alexander Column
A low-angle view up the column with the palace in the background.
Best time: Early morning.
Centre of the square
A wide view of the Winter Palace, column and General Staff arc in one frame.
Best time: Dusk.
The Admiralty garden edge
A distance view of the square with trees in the foreground.
Best time: Autumn.
Photography Rules
Photography on the square is not restricted. Drone use in the centre of the city is regulated, so do not assume it is allowed.
Family Suitability
Good with children: it is free, open and easy to walk, with space to move. In winter and summer it can be very cold or very sunny, so plan for weather. Cobbles can be awkward for strollers.
Russia Vibes Tips
- Enter through the arch from Nevsky Prospekt rather than from the Admiralty side; the reveal of the space is stronger.
- Look at the Winter Palace from the middle of the square before you queue for the museum.
- Do not look for a ticket office on the square; the Hermitage entrance is on the courtyard side.
- Visit in the evening as well as the day; the light changes the look of the facades.
- Use the square as the start of a walk west to the Admiralty and Neva embankment.
Explore Nearby Palace Square, Saint Petersburg
Sights near Palace Square, Saint Petersburg
State Hermitage Museum, Saint Petersburg · typical visit: 3-5 hours for the main highlightsMain image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Nevsky Prospekt, Saint Petersburg · typical visit: 2–4 hours for the main stretch; a full day with stopsMain image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Kazan Cathedral, Saint Petersburg · typical visit: 30–60 minutesMain image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
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FAQ: Palace Square, Saint Petersburg
Is Palace Square free?
Yes. It is an open public square, free at any time. Only the museums around it need tickets.
Is the Hermitage on Palace Square?
Yes. The Winter Palace is the main building of the Hermitage and faces the square. The entrance is on the courtyard side.
What is the column in the middle?
The Alexander Column, put up in 1834 to mark the victory over Napoleon. It stands under its own weight, according to the city's tourism portal.
Can I go inside the General Staff Building?
Only the eastern wing, which is part of the Hermitage. Other parts are used by government bodies.
Why is it called Palace Square?
Because the Winter Palace faces it. For some years in the twentieth century it was called Uritsky Square.
How long do I need?
Thirty minutes is enough for the square itself; allow more if you add the Hermitage.
Are there events on the square?
Public celebrations and concerts are held there at times. Check the city's official sources for the current programme.
Which metro station is closest?
Admiralteyskaya on Line 5 is the nearest.
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Last updated: October 15, 2026. Found an error or something out of date? Report it and we will check and fix it.
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