Russian Museum Overtakes Hermitage in 2024 Global Attendance Rankings

For the first time in many years, the State Russian Museum has surpassed the Hermitage in the annual ranking of the world’s most visited museums, compiled by the authoritative publication The Art Newspaper. Based on the results for 2024, the Russian Museum took 11th place, welcoming over 3.6 million visitors, while the Hermitage ranked 12th with 3.56 million guests.

Impressive growth in attendance at the Russian Museum

According to The Art Newspaper, the Russian Museum showed a significant increase in popularity: the number of visitors rose by 25% compared to the previous year and by 51% compared to the pre-COVID 2019. This success may be linked to the arrival of a new director—in 2023, Alla Manilova replaced Vladimir Gusev as the museum’s head. The new management strategy likely played a key role in attracting audiences. Meanwhile, the Hermitage also showed a 9% increase in attendance year over year, but compared to 2019 this figure decreased by 28%. In recent years, the museum consistently held 10th place, but in 2024 it yielded to its St. Petersburg competitor.

Top global ranking leaders

The top three most visited museums in the world remained unchanged:

1. Louvre (Paris) — 8.73 million visitors;
2. Vatican Museums (Rome) — 6.82 million;
3. British Museum (London) — 6.48 million.

The top 10 also included the Metropolitan Museum in New York (5.727 million), London’s Tate Modern (4.603 million), and the National Museum of Anthropology in Mexico City (3.7 million). The Shanghai Museum rose to 6th place thanks to the opening of a new branch in the Pudong district.

Russian museums in the top 100

In addition to the Russian Museum and the Hermitage, other Russian institutions also made it into the ranking of the world’s most visited museums:

• State Tretyakov Gallery — 22nd place (2.525 million visitors);
• Pushkin Museum — 45th place (1.552 million);
• Museums of the Moscow Kremlin — 65th place (1.215 million);
• GES-2 — 80th place (1.001 million).

The Fabergé Museum in St. Petersburg took 100th place with 807.6 thousand visitors, slightly down from last year’s 95th position.

The rich history and popularity of the Russian Museum

The Russian Museum continues to strengthen its position on the world stage. In 2025, it celebrated its 130th anniversary—the decree establishing the museum was signed by Nicholas II on April 25, 1895. Furthermore, in 2021 the Russian Museum was recognized as the second most visited art museum in the world, underscoring its significance and appeal to tourists.

Why it’s worth visiting?

The success of the Russian Museum in The Art Newspaper’s ranking is not just about numbers but also a testament to its unique collection and active exhibition program. Having overcome the pandemic’s aftermath and bolstered its popularity, the museum has become a true magnet for art lovers from around the world. The Hermitage, despite a slight drop in rankings, remains one of Russia’s premier cultural gems. This shift in the global museum attendance rankings highlights the growing interest in Russian cultural heritage and confirms St. Petersburg’s status as one of the world’s key tourist destinations.