The Cruiser "Aurora" is one of the most popular historical attractions in St. Petersburg and undoubtedly the most famous museum ship. For a long time, we couldn’t visit the ship—either it was under reconstruction, or the crowds of tourists were too discouraging. Finally, on a cold November day, we set foot on the legendary deck.
How to Get There
"Aurora" is located quite far from metro stations: it’s just over a kilometer from "Gorkovskaya" (Blue Line) and 1.5 kilometers from "Ploshchad Lenina" (Red Line). The entrance to the ship is on Petrogradskaya Embankment, opposite the Nakhimov Naval School.
The cost of an adult ticket is 400 rubles (November 2018). There are free admission days, which can be found on the official website. For example, in 2018, free entry was available on October 24, November 28, and December 26.
History of the Cruiser "Aurora"
The ship was laid down in 1897 and launched in 1900. Over several decades, "Aurora" actively participated in naval campaigns, but the most famous chapter in its history is its involvement in the February and October Revolutions. Some historians believe that the blank shot fired from the "Aurora’s" deck signaled the storming of the Winter Palace on October 25 (November 7), 1917.
During World War II, "Aurora" was part of the air defense system of Kronstadt. The ship was stationed in Oranienbaum (Lomonosov), and we have previously written about the memorial dedicated to the ship in our article about the Oranienbaum Palace and Park Ensemble.
Since 1948, "Aurora" has been moored at the Petrogradskaya Embankment and was used as a training base for the Leningrad Nakhimov Naval School. In 1956, the cruiser became a museum. It left its permanent berth only a few times since then, including a major overhaul from 1984 to 1987, during which the underwater part was completely replaced. The most recent restoration took place between 2014 and 2016.
Currently, visitors can explore the ship’s deck and several exhibition halls. Guided tours in Russian and English are available by prior arrangement.
It’s hard to find someone who doesn’t want to visit the "Aurora" when in St. Petersburg. If you’re also a fan of historic naval vessels, we recommend visiting the icebreaker "Krasin," located a few kilometers away, and the museum ship "Bespokoyny" in Kronstadt.
In summary:
- A great opportunity to get up close with a legendary vessel;
- The museum is very popular among tourists; it might be challenging to take photos without other visitors in the frame;
- The museum is open year-round; in winter, make sure to dress warmly as the deck can be quite cold.
