St Petersburg
In a grand art nouveau building dating from 1913, the Demetra Art Hotel has plush rooms with oak flooring, richly patterned drapes and duvets, and touches…
Must-see hotels in Russia
Arbat & Khamovniki
Housed in one of Stalin's 'Seven Sisters', this bombastic beauty sits majestically on the banks of the Moscow River facing the White House. It has…
St Petersburg
A total overhaul of the original building – a pre-revolutionary hotel in its day – paved the way for the sleek and stylish Hotel Indigo, a big step up…
Official State Hermitage Hotel
St Petersburg
Despite its incongruous location, the 126-room Official State Hermitage Hotel is a dazzling affair with enough Italian marble and chandeliers to keep even…
Eastern Siberia
This log house on the outskirts of Chita has developed a bit of a following with the international biker crowd, particularly Korean and Japanese…
Zamoskvorechie
The metallic skyscraper towering over the Moscow River is the swish Swissôtel Krasnye Holmy, named for this little-known neighbourhood of Moscow. Rooms…
Presnya
Located 170m above the city, this place claims to be the world's first and only skyscraper hostel. What does this mean for you? An incredible panoramic…
Lake Baikal
Trekking and cycling enthusiasts Rufina and Yevgeny run this cosy and well-equipped homestay with just two rooms and a large shared bathroom, which…
St Petersburg
In an excellent location, Chao Mama has nine stylish rooms, each boasting a unique design, and offers excellent value for money. The best rooms have small…
Meshchansky & Basmanny
Occupying one of the iconic Stalinist skyscrapers, the old Leningradskaya Hotel is now part of the Hilton empire. The American chain has maintained the…
Meshchansky & Basmanny
Admittedly not very central and occupying the top floor of a shopping arcade, this hotel is nevertheless about the best value for money in Moscow. Rooms…
Zamoskvorechie
This very small hostel is located in a converted flat with a comfy (we'd even say intimate) common area in the building best identified by Illarion cafe,…
Meshchansky & Basmanny
It’s hard to find this tiny place – go into the courtyard and look for entrance No 3, where you might spot a computer-printed sign in the 3rd-floor window…
Moscow
Amelie benefits from its superb location right by Pushkinskaya pl – it's unlikely you will find a room much cheaper than this in the vicinity, and it's a…
Zamoskvorechie
This Mercure chain hotel seems to consist entirely of virtues. Convenient for Domodedovo airport trains and close to Paveletskaya metro station, it is a…
Sochi
Here's your chance to sleep in a 16th-century Scottish castle. (Ahem.) This place is over the top, with a drawbridge over the koi pond moat and armoured…
Kola Peninsula
Right next to the sandy beach, Teribersky Bereg offers eye-catching accommodation in red wooden huts. The cosy huts, which are open all year round, sleep…
Eastern Siberia
One of the loveliest hotels in Abakan, the purpose-built Chalpan is colourful but not gaudy, with imaginatively designed rooms, flashy bathrooms, free tea…
Krasnoyarsk
Definitely the brightest-coloured building in central Krasnoyarsk, this progressive hotel achieves an optimal value for money ratio by cutting out…
Irkutsk
Rising high above the 130 Kvartal, this professionally run, freshly minted timber hotel mixes traditional wooden architecture with boldly contemporary…
Black Sea Coast
Offering Krasnaya Polyana’s finest accommodation, Gazprom's sprawling 400-room resort has spacious, handsome rooms, decked with oil paintings on the wall…
Meshchansky & Basmanny
The entrance to this hostel, hidden in the courtyards amid 19th-century apartment blocks, looks unassuming. However, with over 80 beds, this popular and…
Zamoskvorechie
This comfy, cosy hotel has only 27 rooms, including three that are tucked up under the mansard roof. The rooms are simply decorated, but parquet floors…
Northern European Russia
Though the exterior resembles an air-traffic control tower, the professionally run Pur Navolok offers bright, international-style rooms accessed by glass…
Lake Baikal
Twenty years ago, you could only find such folksy timber mansions, known as terem, in illustrated fairy-tale books, but now terem-styled hotels are…
Kaliningrad Region
The Mayakovski feels fresh and well maintained and is easily one of the best places to stay on the Curonian Spit. It's located just off the beach in…
Volga Region
Despite the 'Hilton' name, this beautiful four-star hotel in the centre is a surprisingly affordable option and the best lodging option in the city…
Kazan
This former Marriott has retained a luxury feel at reasonable rates for what's on offer. Chief advantages include well-proportioned, spotless rooms and a…
Vyborg
This appealing boutique-style hotel occupies a small, historic building just off pr Lenina. All rooms have bathrooms and TVs, and there's a good on-site…
Kaliningrad Region
Zelenogradsk's famous 'Cat House' is a welcoming, homey spot 50m from the beach. Though it looks like a towering mansion from the street, there are only…
Suzdal
This attractive riverside holiday village has everything you might want for a Russian idyll, including accommodation options in traditionally styled log…
Volgograd
This mid-market chain is highly recommended both for its excellent location, just behind the train station and five minutes' walk from the bus station, as…
Irkutsk
Not your honeymoon dream, but a budget hotel that goes an extra mile to compensate for cheap decor and drab surroundings. Smallish rooms are clean and…
Moscow
Tried and true, Godzillas is Moscow's best-known hostel, with dozens of beds spread out over four floors. The rooms come in various sizes, but they are…
Irkutsk
Just a few steps off ul Karla Marksa, the 30 rooms at this purpose-built tower hotel remain stylish and unfrumpy despite the antique-style furniture and…
Moscow
It might be just a hostel – bunk beds, shared showers and all that – but the location is indeed five-star, amid boutiques, fancy restaurants and luxury…
Moscow
A classical edifice fronts the street, but the interior is sleek and sophisticated. The rooms are decorated in a minimalist, modern style – subdued whites…
Sochi
Another luxury hotel built with the Winter Olympics in mind, Swissotel Kamelia is tucked away from the centre of town, heading southeast along Kurortny pr…
Olkhon Island
This well-liked option has nine rooms, three in a typical village house and six in a purpose-built, pine-fragrant building opposite. New showers and…
Eastern Siberia
Occupying the 5th floor of a smoked-glass tower at the busy intersection of ul Lenina and ul Profsoyuznaya, this is Chita’s best luxury offering with…
