Gatchina Palace
Большой Гатчинский дворец
A castle-style royal palace, home to Paul I and Alexander III, with a lakeside park featuring an underground passage and Silver Lake.
Gatchina Palace lies about 45 km southwest of the city centre. It was first built for Orlov, a favourite of Catherine the Great, later became the residence of Paul I, and Alexander III also lived here for long periods. The palace looks like a grey-white castle. Inside, you can see a collection of arms and reconstructed royal chambers, and a tunnel leading to Silver Lake is worth walking through. The park is centred on lakes and small islands, including Love Island, Silver Lake and Mirror Lake, and it is far quieter than Tsarskoye Selo. A suburban train from Baltiysky Station takes about an hour. Admission is about 600 roubles. Closed on Mondays and the first Tuesday of each month.
Opening hours
10 am–6 pm (closed Mondays)
Nearby sights
- Alexander Palace
- Catherine Palace & Amber Room
- Avtovo Station
- Pavlovsk Palace & Park
- Chesme Church
- Peterhof
- Grand Maket Rossiya
- Trinity Cathedral