The Mariinsky Theatre is the heart of Russian ballet and opera and one of the world's great houses. The original 1860 building, with its pale-green and gold facade on Theatre Square in the Kolomna district, still hosts most productions. A second, glass-and-honey-stone modern theatre — the Mariinsky II — opened next door in 2013 and has expanded what the company can stage. Together they put on around 70 different productions a year.
Try to get a ticket. The mid-range seats are still extraordinarily cheap by Western standards, and even a partial-view balcony seat at a Tchaikovsky ballet on the home stage is a serious thing. Dress code is smart-casual, and most performances start at 7 pm. Tickets sell out far ahead during the white nights festival in June.