Central Naval Museum
Housed in imposing red-brick barracks along the Kryukov Canal, the Central Naval Museum is one of the world’s largest maritime museums and dates back to 1805. More than 700,000 items make up the huge permanent collection, offering comprehensive insight into Russia’s maritime heritage and military prowess.
The Basics
Visitors can explore the vast museum on a self-guided or audio-guided tour, and tickets offer full access to the many exhibition halls. Exhibits display naval equipment, weapons, and uniforms throughout history, alongside flags, manuscripts, and maps, as well as a sizable art collection. Highlights include a boat that once belonged to Peter the Great, the marine throne of Catherine II, and a gigantic collection of model ships.
Things to Know Before You Go
Information panels at the Central Naval Museum are in Russian only, but audio guides are available in multiple languages.
Plan around two hours to visit the museum.
Museum entrance is included with the St. Petersburg CityPass.
How to Get There
The museum is located at the meeting point of the Moyka River and the Kryukov Canal, and the entrance is on the street fronting the canal. The closest subway station is Admiralteyskaya (line 5), about a 15-minute walk from the palace, or a taxi will drop you right outside.
Trip ideas
When to Get There
The Central Naval Museum is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays. Although weekends are the busiest time to visit, the museum’s huge size means it rarely gets overly crowded.
Must-Visit Museums in St. Petersburg
The Central Naval Museum is one of a huge number of museums in St. Petersburg. The gigantic State Hermitage Museum in the Winter Palace is one of the city’s most visited attractions; the Fabergé Museum is home to nine of the legendary imperial Easter eggs; and the State Russian Museum is devoted to Russian art. Other museums of note include the Museum of Russian Vodka, the Erata Museum of Contemporary Art, and the Street Art Museum.
- Nikolaevsky Palace
- Russian Vodka Museum (Muzey Russkogo Natsional'nogo Napitka)
- Mariinsky Theatre
- The Republic of Cats Museum and Café
- St. Isaac’s Cathedral (Isaakievskiy Sobor)
- Bronze Horseman
- St. Nicholas Naval Cathedral (St. Nicholas Cathedral of the Epiphany)
- C-189 Submarine Museum
- Menshikov Palace
- The Menshikov Palace
- Admiralty Building
- St. Petersburg Palace Square (Dvortsovaya Ploshchad)
- Peter the Great Museum of Anthropology and Ethnography (Kunstkamera)
- Stroganov Palace (Stroganovsky Dvorets)
- Senate Square (Senatskaya Ploshchad)