Erarta St. Petersburg: Things to Know Before Your Visit

Erarta is located in St. Petersburg, and is Russia’s largest private museum of contemporary art. The museum mainly features works by Russian artists, and also welcomes 40 temporary exhibitions every year. Here are my top tips for a successful visit to Erarta. 

Plan the time of your visit

Due to its impressive collections, Erarta can become very busy. I visited on a rainy Saturday, and it seemed like everyone else in St. Petersburg had the same idea. If you are able to avoid visiting the museum at the weekend you will definitely have a more pleasant and peaceful experience.

You don’t have to see everything in one day

As of August 2021, buying one ticket (800 roubles) gives you the right to return at any point within the next year, without paying an additional entrance fee. Therefore, although it is possible to spend a long time in the museum and see everything within a day, don’t feel under pressure to do so. If you are in St. Petersburg for a while, you can return at any time and take advantage of the often-changing exhibitions.

Take the stairs

The stairs in Erarta are lined with self-portraits which have been produced by the artists whose works can be seen in the museum. It is fascinating to see how much these self-portraits vary, and the extent to which they reflect the artists’ individual styles. So make sure to skip the lift and take the stairs to see these!

Take advantage of the audio guide

When you purchase your ticket, you will be granted access to an online platform, upon which you can find the museum’s audio guide. You can then listen to the audio guide through your own device. Many pieces which are on display in the museum are linked to an audio clip, usually only a couple of minutes long, which will tell you a bit about the artist and the work itself. These clips can be really interesting and insightful, so it is worth bringing along your phone and a pair of headphones so that you can tune in.

Check out the exhibitions

One of the best things about Erarta is that it is constantly changing, with 40 temporary exhibitions every year. Whilst I was there, there was an exhibition by the Italian artist Stefano Bombardieri, which commented on the limits of imagination and reality. These temporary exhibitions are really not to be missed, so be sure to check Erarta’s website (www.erarta.com/en/) to find out about the exhibitions that will be on display at the time of your planned visit.

Erarta is one of St Petersburg’s many well-curated museums, and it is definitely worth visiting if you are a fan of contemporary art. If you are looking for more museums to visit in St Petersburg, you can read our blog post ‘6 “Must-See” Unusual Museums of St. Petersburg’.

Leila, currently studying at Liden & Denz St. Petersburg