Kaliningrad
Quiet and clean, this hostel offers standard-issue bunks, a good kitchen and happy-to-help staff. Choose from an eight-bunk mixed dorm or a six-bunk,…
Must-see hotels in Russia
Kaliningrad Region
If you’d like to sample a sanatorium, this large, busy and professionally run place is a fine option. You’ll need to speak Russian and be prepared for a…
Esso
Run by a friendly older couple, Grushanka gives a warm welcome. All-wood rooms have a cabin-like feel with pretty views of the countryside. There's a…
Kaliningrad
An easy stroll to Kaliningrad's main attractions, this hulking, central hotel offers nondescript refurbished rooms, many with views of the cathedral. The…
Russian Caucasus
This huge ex-Soviet concrete block was under renovation during our most recent research visit. When it reopens there will be good views from the upper…
Altai
Great-value log cabins set in attractive grounds on the Katun River 6km south of Manzherok. Also offers excursions. The name translates as ‘Two Bears’ –…
Mineral Water Spas
It's not going to win any awards, however the cheapest rooms are basic, clean and relatively modern. Superior-class rooms are much nicer but overpriced…
Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky
Although the bus station location isn't ideal, Edelveis deserves high marks for friendliness (some staff speak English) and its old-fashioned but comfy…
Kola Peninsula
This unpretentious, family-style 17-room hotel is in fantastic shape. Winter visitors will appreciate the underfloor heating in bathrooms, and the…
Russian Caucasus
Offering big comfortable beds and highly patterned Middle Eastern–style furnishings, this is one of Azau's quirkier accommodation choices. It's steps from…
Khabarovsk
This cheerful hotel, an easy walk from the train station, has pleasant red-carpeted rooms with fridges and small sitting areas. It’s set back from the…
The Urals
In the centre of town, Hotel Iren is good value, but it doesn’t have a lift. Even the rooms without bathrooms are pleasant enough, and the shared toilets…
St Petersburg
Yes, it's comfortable> But with all rooms decorated in a simple style with indifferent and rather cheap furniture, it's hardly memorable. The location is…
Western European Russia
The Seliger offers a wide range of pleasant, reasonably priced rooms in a central location. The complex has a billiards hall, as well as a popular club…
Northern European Russia
Compact, wood-panelled, mosquito-net-equipped rooms, most with equally compact bathrooms. Decent wi-fi. Cheapies share clean facilities. Also has a good…
Eastern Bashkortostan
Located in Lake Bannoye (Yakhty-Kul in Bashkir), 43km from Magnitogorsk, this large health resort has a surplus of activities available for both adults…
Yakutsk
This place has bright, pleasantly furnished rooms (with mint green walls), but like other traditional hotels in Yakutsk, it’s pricey for what you get. No…
Kola Peninsula
A good-standard hotel with comfortable double rooms near the sandy beach. Has table-tennis and billiards for guest use, and the breakfast is tasty and…
Kazan
Clean, centrally located and well-run hostel with four- to eight-bed dorms and twins. Find the entrance on the far side of the building, away from the…
Western Siberia
Clean and friendly. The location is utterly impractical for visiting the city, but ideal if you’re arriving late or waiting for an early-morning…
Kola Peninsula
Tired but survivable compact rooms. Pricier rooms have a fresher paint job, but not much else extra. There is also a sauna (R500 per hour) and a basic…
St Petersburg
One of many central branches of the ubiquitous hostel chain, the Nevsky Friends has closet-sized rooms with bold design touches. Not for the…
Kaliningrad Region
This well-priced option has comfortable beds, a good breakfast buffet and on-site sauna and masseur (R2000 for one hour). It's about 500m from the seaside.
Kaliningrad
This handsome, renovated 1930s building contains bright spacious rooms and enjoys a central location across from Kaliningrad Zoo. Breakfast is R270 extra.
Volga Region
Simple, modern hotel with nondescript rooms that are nevertheless comfortable and fine for an overnight stay. There's a small restaurant on the premises.
Russian Caucasus
Basic accommodation at 4100m for those planning to conquer Elbrus. Bring your own food and sleeping bag and arrange a booking via a tour agency or guide.
Lake Baikal
Located near the Sayany Spa, this purpose-built two-storey guesthouse has cosy timber rooms with shared showers, free banya and a small cafe.
Yekaterinburg
Offers rooms with cheering colour schemes and all the amenities you would expect for the price. Bus 1 from the train station stops at Dom Kino close by.
Western European Russia
This well-maintained hotel is a solid option with functional, basic rooms. It also houses a decent restaurant that passes for fancy around these parts.
Mineral Water Spas
If you need a bed and to freshen up while transiting through Min Vody, the resting rooms dorms at the train station are clean, with shared bathrooms.
Russian Caucasus
Overpriced compared to its neighbours in the village, this hotel offers dated decor and reasonable sized rooms, most with river and mountain views.
Western Siberia
The sparkling ensuite resting rooms in Novokuznetsk's flashy train station are a logical place to lay your head if laying over in Novokuznetsk.
Western European Russia
These typical Soviet digs are very central, and the hotel has an attached cafe open to 11pm. Rooms are basic but functional and there's wi-fi.
The Urals
Nicely spruced-up rooms in this former Soviet eyesore make Prikamye a very decent option. Deals are better if you book well ahead on the web.
Moscow
Most flats offered by this booking agency are centrally located, with internet access, satellite TV and unlimited international phone calls.
Altai
The flashiest hotel in town by a long shot is the often booked-out Rasul Hotel, easily spotted on the left as you enter town from the north.
Russian Far East
A 10-minute walk from the train station, this eight-storey Soviet-era beast has decently renovated rooms and surprisingly friendly staff.
Veliky Novgorod
Though it's a bit of a relic, Rossiya is right on the river and some rooms have views of the kremlin. There's also a billiards hall.
Ufa
Rooms are comfortable, tastefully furnished and fully renovated in this centrally located hotel almost opposite Gostinny Dvor.
The Urals
Spotless white dominates this hotel’s colour scheme. It's a favourite among business travellers, and rooms are low-allergy.
