When you step inside Saint Petersburg’s Mariinsky Theatre, you are visiting one of Russia's most legendary music venues. Opened in 1860 on Theatre Square, this historic opera house became the premier music theatre of late nineteenth-century Russia. Named after Empress Maria Alexandrovna, wife of Tsar Alexander II, the venue was known as the Kirov Theatre throughout most of the Soviet era.
Today, it remains the home of the world-renowned Mariinsky Ballet, Mariinsky Opera, and Mariinsky Orchestra under general director Valery Gergiev. As you explore the main entrance foyer, look for the bust honoring Empress Maria Alexandrovna. Music and dance enthusiasts will appreciate the theatre's incredible history as the site for major world premieres, including Mussorgsky’s opera Boris Godunov, Tchaikovsky’s operas The Queen of Spades and Iolanta, Prokofiev’s Romeo and Juliet, and Khachaturian’s Spartacus.
The theatre's legendary ballet school, now the Vaganova Academy of Russian Ballet, has nurtured iconic dance talents like Anna Pavlova, Vaslav Nijinsky, George Balanchine, Rudolf Nureyev, and Mikhail Baryshnikov. Today, the complex has expanded beyond the original historic building to include the Mariinsky Theatre Concert Hall, opened in 2007, and the modern Mariinsky II Second Stage, completed in 2013.
What to see at Mariinsky Theatre
- View the bust of Empress Maria Alexandrovna located in the main entrance foyer.
- Learn about historic world premieres including Mussorgsky's 'Boris Godunov' and Tchaikovsky's 'The Queen of Spades'.
- Discover the home of the famous Mariinsky Ballet, Opera, and Orchestra.
- Explore the legacy of world-famous dancers like Anna Pavlova, Vaslav Nijinsky, and Mikhail Baryshnikov.
- See the expanded complex including the 2007 Concert Hall and 2013 Mariinsky II Second Stage.
Visiting tips
Be sure to stop by the main entrance foyer to see the bust dedicated to Empress Maria Alexandrovna.
How long: 2-3 hours · Best time: Evening performance
How to get there & what’s nearby
Mariinsky Theatre is easy to reach on Saint Petersburg’s public transport, and pairs naturally with Hermitage Museum and Winter Palace. For where to stay, the weather and full itineraries, see our Saint Petersburg travel guide.
See the full Saint Petersburg travel guide for where to stay, the best time to visit and the top things to do.