Why go
Palace Embankment rewards attention to scale, orientation, and setting. The Palace Embankment or Palace Quay (Дворцовая набережная) is a street along the Neva River in Central Saint Petersburg which contains the complex of the Hermitage Museum buildings. Before leaving, compare one close detail of Palace Embankment with its broadest public view.
What to look for
- Palace Embankment: Let the approach reveal the monument gradually.
- Palace Embankment: Pause where materials and decoration are easiest to distinguish.
- Palace Embankment: Look back after passing it for a second, often clearer profile.
The full story
The Palace Embankment or Palace Quay (Дворцовая набережная) is a street along the Neva River in Central Saint Petersburg which contains the complex of the Hermitage Museum buildings, including the Winter Palace, the Hermitage Theatre, the Marble Palace and the Summer Garden. The street was laid out between 1763 and 1767, when it used to be a preferred place of residence for the Russian Imperial Nobility. The street begins at the Palace Bridge, where the Admiralty Embankment becomes the Palace Embankment, and the street ends at the Fontanka, where it becomes the Kutuzov Embankment. The Palace Embankment is a very popular street among tourists, as it has a wonderful view of the Neva, the Peter and Paul Fortress and Vasilievsky Island. Many sightseeing boats are available for hire there.
Useful to know
- Walk Palace Embankment in daylight, then compare its outline with Palace Square.
Your next visit
Estimated · Declared scenario and planning estimates; no live opening, weather, queue or booking service.
Outdoor visit · 10–25 min
Public-space walk and exterior observation only; no interior, garden, tower or ticketed admission included. Durations and walking are estimates. Check temporary restrictions and park or market opening times.
Outdoor visit · 30–45 min
World planning estimate; admission, opening, visit duration and access need checking.