Theaters and Concert Halls of St. Petersburg

When it comes to entertainment St. Petersburg has a lot to offer a demanding traveler to Russia. The city has many theaters and concert halls mainly located in the downtown area. Some of the best known are the Mariinsky Opera and Ballet House (former Kirov Ballet), the Hermitage Theater, and the Alexander Theater.

The city is rightly considered a Capital of Ballet, as it was in St. Petersburg of all places that the classical ballet originated. All the famous ballet stars such as Pavlova, Nuriev, Baryshnikov, Plisetskaya and many others started their careers in the city of Leningrad (the previous name of St. Petersburg).

You can also enjoy evenings of classical music at the Philarmonics Hall, attend an opera at the major theaters, as well as get tickets to the famous Folk Show at the Nicholas Palace. The Folk Show is worth particular attention, as it is the by far the best cossack dancing performance available in the city and is acclaimed by many critics. While many cruise lines arrange their own shows to maximize their profits, the Nicholas Palace Folk Show is the highest quality Russian folklorico performance you can get.

Getting Tickets to St. Petersburg Performances

There are two different ticket price levels depending on your citizenship. Citizens of the Russian Federation pay a reduced rate and all foreign citizens need to pay a full rate. The difference between these two rates can be quite substantial. Albeit it may seem cheaper to get a reduced ticket and try to pretend that you are a Russian when going inside, in most cases it is fairly easy to spot a foreigner trying to play these tricks. Please try to avoid these techniques, as you will be refused admission and will forfeit your money.

Advance online reservation of ballet tickets has become available of late. The ability to prepay a ballet ticket at the Mariinsky Theater on their website definitely sounds attractive. However, there is a big disadvantage associated with this method. When you pay online you can only print out an internet receipt that you will later need to exchange for a regular ticket on the date of performance to be allowed in. This involves spending quite some time trying to collect your tickets from the theater's box office with dozens of other people trying to do the same.

If you have limited time to travel in Russia and you would rather spend it enjoying the beauty of St. Petersburg, please do not book your tickets online. For a nominal fee we will secure any ballet ticket you are interested in and your tour guide will hand deliver you the tickets when your tour starts. This way you will not waste a minute of your limited time and will maximize your experience in St. Petersburg.

If you are interested to see ballet or any other performance while in St. Petersburg, contact us and we will send you an immediate quote for your tickets. You are under no obligation to purchase these tickets from us!

Travel in Russia: Major Theaters and Concert Halls

		The Mariinsky Theater - Named after the consort of Emperor Alexander II, the Mariinsky Theater is the most prominent of all St. Petersburg theaters. It holds the famous "Stars of the White Nights" ballet festival in the Summer and is the cradle of the Russian classical ballet.


		The Alexander Theater - The Alexander Theater is the oldest theater of St. Petersburg. It was founded in early 19th century and named after Emperor Nicholas I's wife Alexandra.


		The Hermitage Theater - The Hermitage Theater is located in the Hermitage Museum complex along the Neva River. It was the court theater of the Romanov Royal family and was used exclusively for the entertainment of the Romanovs.

Official capital of Russia

2008 Optima Ltd., 35A Bolshoi Prospect, Suite 3-H, The Basil Island, St. Petersburg, Russia
Russian Federal Registry MBT 002189 | ASTA Member Number 900149383