The main exposition areas are combined into three enfilade lines: Dvortsovaya line (along the Dvortsovaya Square), Pevcheskaya line (along the Pevchesky proezd), Rechnaya line (along the embankment of the river Moika) and are supplemented by the central Large enfilade of internal atriums.

A grand sweeping staircase, which is placed in the largest of five inner courtyards, leads to exposition area from the front entrance hall.

The museum’s second floor houses a permanent display The Age of Art Nouveau and a thematic exhibition devoted to the Ministry of Finance of the Russian Empire, which was once accommodated in this building. Occupying the third floor are the exhibitions Under the Sign of the Eagle. The Art of Empire; French Painting and Sculpture of the XIX Century; Western European Art of the XIX Century (Germany. Holland, Belgium), XVIII century Russian Guards Museum, as well as a permanent display tracing the history of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Empire, which also used to occupy this part of the General Staff Building. French painting of the second half of the XIX century, including the Impressionists, Post-Impressionists and the artists of the Nabis group, is on view in the fourth floor rooms of Sergey Shchukin and the Morozov Brothers Memorial Gallery. Several rooms present the works by Matisse, Picasso and other XX century masters

Temporary exhibitions are regularly held in the rooms of the General Staff Building. It is the main venue for contemporary art display.