В условиях пандемии, если вы хотите посетить Дворец, купите билет - так проще и надежнее. Возможно, скоро что-то изменится. В июле с билетом было наверняка.

So che le cose sono da poco cambiate io in giugno ho dovuto fare un visto normale, sono andato in moto, chiedi conferma all'ufficio visti del consolato. Buon viaggio

There are always options)

Sorry- I was in a tour so it was provided

Sorry I was on a full day tour arriving mid morning. I used Alla Tours who were great. I noticed the lines are really long for tickets.

Normally you can but daily only 100 ticets are sold online. So they are sold in 30 minutes time. I'd recommend hiring a tour company.

You dont need to go to any other buildings on the property. I dont think any other ones are included. However after the tour anything else would be a drastic letdown. The palace is exquisite.

Hola. Yo contraté un guía privado en español para no tener que hacer fila. A ellos les dan un horario exacto de entrada y en nuestro caso, manejó los tiempos para que no nos cruzáramos con los tours multitudinarios. Creo que es lo más conveniente. Las filas que ví para ingresar son larguísimas. Esto cuenta para todos los museos de SPB Y MOSCÚ.

You can buy tickets from there They have automated machine and you can pay by credit card Also you can buy from the ticket selling points.

My group tour was Tour 1. I had wanted to see the blue and yellow dining room, but it was not on Tour 1 (and I don't think it's on Tour 2). Both tours let you see the ballroom, its anterooms, and the famous amber room. My advice is to check Trip Advisor to see how much people like the exhibit called the Romanovs at Tsarskoe Selo, which is included in Tour 1. I would also google pics of the Catherine Palace's interiors to see which rooms you'd like to see. Whatever you do, buy tickets ahead of time (traveling in a group tour if necessary) to avoid the line that forms outside, which can involve hours of waiting at this time of year. If not doing so and traveling to the town of Pushkin on your own, make sure you check which days the palace is closed. If you DO use the train to get to Pushkin on your own, pay to see the Catherine Park. (I think you can also see the Alexander Park, though the Alexander Palace, where Nicholas and Alexandra lived, is still closed for restoration.)