Travel bucket list idea:
St. Petersburg , Northwestern Region, Russia
Bucket List Experience
Make a date for a performance at the Mariinsky Theatre
No visit to Russia’s cultural capital is complete without a performance of classical ballet or opera.
The Mariinsky Theatre (known as the Kirov Theatre in the Soviet era) is the city’s premier opera and ballet theater, and it was here that Tchaikovsky’s famous ballets, The Nutcracker, Sleeping Beauty, and Swan Lake were first performed. The stage of the Mariinsky was home to Fyodor Chaliapin, Anna Pavlova, Anna Netrebko, Rudolf Nureyev, and Mikhail Baryshnikov.
Visiting one of St. Petersburg’s theaters is an elegant experience, so dress up for an unforgettable evening.
If theatre-going is high on your list of reasons for visiting St. Petersburg, research the theatre’s schedule on its website ahead of time. Advance planning will ensure you get a seat in the Mariinsky’s often-overbooked performances.
Tour operators and hotel and credit card concierges can be helpful in securing tickets for popular performances. Beware of the legion of illegal ticket scalpers throughout the city.
Consult the Mariinsky Theatre’s website for performance schedule and off-season dates. Note that the theatre is usually black on Mondays.
Destination guides including or relevant to this experience
Northwestern Region, Russia
Destination guide
On the shores of the Baltic, Russia’s dazzling cultural capital – and former home of its lavish Tsars – is a treasure trove of art, music, literature, and history. Home to one of the world’s greatest museums, the State Hermitage.
