Moika Palace Palace

Historic Moika River palace, site of Rasputin's murder

Moika (Yusupov) Palace on the Moika Embankment in St. Petersburg shows aristocratic interiors, a private theatre and the cellar linked to Grigori Rasputin's assassination-draws history and architecture visitors.

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Moika Palace at a Glance#

Address: Moika (Yusupov) Palace, Moika Embankment 94, St. Petersburg, Russia

About Moika Palace#

The Moika Palace, often known as the Yusupov Palace, is an 18th-century riverside palace on the Moika River in central St. Petersburg, Russia. It is notable for its richly decorated private apartments, a small palace theatre and its association with the murder of Grigori Rasputin in 1916.

Visitors typically tour the restored reception rooms, family apartments and the palace theatre; a focused exhibition presents the events surrounding Rasputin’s death and the spaces where it occurred. The interior displays period decoration, frescoes and a collection of family furnishings.

The building dates to the 18th century and was extensively remodelled and decorated by the Yusupov family in the 19th century. After the 1917 revolution the palace was nationalized and in the 20th century it was converted into a museum open to the public.

The palace stands on the Moika River embankment in central St. Petersburg, within easy walking distance of Nevsky Prospekt and other major city attractions.

  • Rasputin connection: The palace is most famous as the site of Grigori Rasputin’s assassination in December 1916, a key event often included on guided tours.
  • Tours and access: Guided tours commonly include the private apartments, the small palace theatre and the basement spaces associated with the 1916 events; advance booking is recommended at peak season.

What to See#

  • Yusupov private apartments: The former private apartments of the Yusupov family contain period furniture, ornate salons and a series of reception rooms preserved to illustrate aristocratic domestic life in the 19th century.
  • Palace theatre: The palace theatre is an intimate, restored 19th-century performance space used for guided tours and occasional concerts, retaining original decoration and stage features.
  • Rasputin exhibition: A dedicated exhibition space presents the story of Grigori Rasputin’s assassination in 1916, including the basement and rooms associated with the event.

How to Get to Moika Palace#

Moika (Yusupov) Palace sits on the Moika River embankment in central St. Petersburg. It is an easy walk (about 5-10 minutes) from major central metro stations such as Nevsky Prospekt/Gostiny Dvor or Admiralteyskaya and is reached on foot from Nevsky Prospekt.

The palace is well served by city buses, trams and taxis; follow signs to the Moika Embankment (Moika Naberezhnaya) and the museum entrance.

Tips for Visiting Moika Palace#

  • Reserve the guided interior tour in advance-Moika (Yusupov) Palace tours that include the Rasputin cellar and private family apartments run on set schedules and can sell out.
  • Enter from the Moika Embankment side to be positioned near the main reception and ticket office, then join the first available tour to avoid later crowds.
  • Focus time on the basement/'Rasputin' room and the private apartments; these parts of the palace carry much of its historical interest and are frequently overlooked by people who only view the showier reception rooms.

Best Time to Visit Moika Palace#

For a quieter indoor experience at the palace museum, visit outside the peak White Nights season-weekday mornings in shoulder months work best.

Summer / White Nights (busiest)
May-July · 12-25°C
Peak tourist season in St. Petersburg brings the highest visitor numbers-book timed tickets and aim for early‑morning weekday visits to avoid crowds.
Winter (quietest)
November-February · -10-2°C
Cold weather reduces tourist numbers, so interior visits are generally quieter and easier to book, though exterior approaches can be icy.
Shoulder seasons (balanced)
March-April, August-October · 0-15°C
Fewer crowds than midsummer with more comfortable conditions than deep winter, making these months good for a calmer palace visit.

Weather & Climate near Moika Palace#

Climate

Moika Palace's climate is classified as Warm-Summer Continental - Warm-Summer Continental climate with mild summers (peaking in July) and freezing winters (coldest in January). Temperatures range from -9°C to 22°C. Moderate rainfall (691 mm/year).

Air Quality: AQI 43 Good
Best Time to Visit
JulyMayJune
Temperature & Rainfall
Temperature Range
31°
Warmest Month
-32°
Coldest Month
Monthly Conditions
Month Comfort Temp Feels Rain Sky Humidity Wind UV Daylight
January Poor -9° - -4° -12° 41 mm overcast 97% 4.3 m/s 0.0 low 6.7h
February Poor -9° - -3° -12° 31 mm overcast 97% 4.2 m/s 0.1 low 9.0h
March Poor -4° - 2° -6° 42 mm overcast 93% 3.6 m/s 0.3 low 11.6h
April Acceptable 1° - 8° 1° 52 mm partly cloudy 84% 4.0 m/s 0.6 moderate 14.3h
May Very Good 6° - 16° 11° 42 mm partly cloudy 78% 3.5 m/s 1.0 high 16.8h
June Very Good 12° - 20° 16° 65 mm partly cloudy 79% 3.3 m/s 1.3 high 18.2h
July Very Good 14° - 22° 18° 81 mm partly cloudy 81% 3.7 m/s 1.3 high 17.5h
August Good 13° - 20° 16° 80 mm partly cloudy 82% 3.4 m/s 0.9 moderate 15.3h
September Acceptable 8° - 14° 11° 71 mm overcast 86% 3.9 m/s 0.5 low 12.6h
October Poor 3° - 8° 2° 77 mm overcast 92% 4.4 m/s 0.1 low 10.0h
November Poor -2° - 2° -5° 59 mm overcast 95% 4.6 m/s 0.0 low 7.4h
December Poor -6° - -2° -10° 50 mm overcast 97% 4.7 m/s 0.0 low 5.9h

Nearby Attractions to Moika Palace#