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A hall of medieval Russian icons in the State Tretyakov Gallery, Moscow

No. 16 Top 100 Most Visited Art Museums 2025 · 3,075,976 visitors in 2025

State Tretyakov Gallery

Moscow, Russia · City guide: Moscow

Moscow's great treasury of Russian art, from medieval icons to Repin, Shishkin and Vrubel.

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Photo: Shakko (Софья Багдасарова), CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Overview

The State Tretyakov Gallery is No. 16 in The Art Newspaper's survey of the world's most visited art museums, with 3,075,976 visitors in 2025, up 22% on 2024. It grew from the collection of the Moscow merchant Pavel Tretyakov, who began buying Russian art in 1856 and gave his gallery to the city in 1892.

The main building in Lavrushinsky Lane, with its fairy-tale facade designed by Viktor Vasnetsov, holds Russian art from the 11th to the early 20th century. Later art, including the Russian avant-garde, is shown at the New Tretyakov on Krymsky Val.

Fountains on the Vodootvodny Canal by the Tretyakov Gallery, Moscow
Fountains on the Vodootvodny Canal by the Tretyakov Gallery, Moscow. Photo: Юрий Д.К., CC BY 4.0, source

Best time to visit

Weekday mornings are the quietest. Check the official website for opening days and hours.

Highlights & collections

  • 1

    Icons

    A major collection of medieval Russian icons.

  • 2

    The Appearance of Christ Before the People

    Alexander Ivanov spent some 20 years on this huge canvas, shown in its own hall.

  • 3

    Bogatyrs

    Viktor Vasnetsov's painting of three legendary heroes on horseback.

  • 4

    Morning in a Pine Forest

    Ivan Shishkin's much-loved forest scene with bear cubs.

  • 5

    The Demon Seated

    Mikhail Vrubel's brooding, mosaic-like masterpiece of 1890.

Getting there

The main building is in Lavrushinsky Lane in Zamoskvorechye, south of the Kremlin across the river. The nearest metro stations are Tretyakovskaya and Polyanka.

Visiting tips

Tickets & hours
Tickets are sold at the museum and online; the main building and the New Tretyakov have separate tickets. Check the official website for prices and hours.
Time needed
Two to three hours for the main building.
Currency & payments
Russian rouble (RUB). Check before you travel which payment cards and methods will work for you.
Visa & entry
Most visitors need a Russian visa. A unified e-visa is available to citizens of some countries, but not, for example, the US, the UK or Canada. Check the rules for your nationality before you travel.

Official information: State Tretyakov Gallery (official website). Check opening hours, prices and entry rules there before you go.

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