Opening hours for museums are 10am-5/6pm. They are invariably closed at least one day a week, and one further day in the month will be set aside as a "cleaning day". Note that ticket offices always close one hour before the museum itself. Churches tend to be accessible from 8am until the end of the evening service.

Russia's official national holidays have at last settled down, now that those associated purely with the former Soviet regime have gone, often to be replaced by traditional religious holidays. The current public holidays are: Jan 1; Jan 6/7 (Orthodox Christmas); March 8 (Women's Day); May 1 and 2; May 9 (Victory Day); June 12; Nov 7. Russians also celebrate the unofficial Old New Year on 13/14 January - according to the Julian calendar.