There are plenty of good-value standard hotels in St. Petersburg, but fining them can be tricky. Recent changes in regulation of the hotel industry in Russia mean that there are now few hotels in St. Petersburg claiming high star ratings more or less at whim. Nonetheless, the official rating system that Russian hotels now conform to is certainly very different from other European or North American equivalents, and occasionally throws out utterly baffling results.
For this reason, 3-star hotels in St. Petersburg vary considerably in the levels of comfort and range of facilities they have to offer. Some, especially some smaller properties, offer comparatively high standards of accommodation and may, particularly in prime downtown locations, charge higher rates than many 4-star hotels, even if on-site amenities are minimal or non-existent. Others are at the very bottom end of St. Petersburg's hotel market, and would struggle to obtain any stars under other rating regimes. At SAINT-PETERSBURG.COM, we use our own rating system to divide these very different types of 3-star hotel, splitting them between standard hotels and budget hotels, and to further simplify your search for the right St. Petersburg hotel, we have offered below our views on all the hotels we feature that claim three stars.
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Nearest metro: Sadovaya, Sennaya Ploshchad, Spasskaya
Situated in the heart of the historic center, less than ten minutes' walk from St. Isaac's Cathedral and from the Mariinsky Theatre, this small standard hotel offers 35 individually decorated and quite stylish guest rooms, including a fully fitted self-catering apartment. The hotel's full-service restaurant serves quite luxurious traditional Russian cuisine, and the 1913 Hotel could probably claim more than three stars were it not for the lack of a lift in this four-floor building. »»»
STANDARD
Nearest metro: Gostiny Dvor, Nevsky prospekt
Occupying a historic market building next to the Moyka River and only a few minutes' walk from the Hermitage and from Nevsky Prospekt, this small standard hotel has a great location for sightseeing, and offers very stylish modern accommodation and friendly, professional service. The other great attraction is the 3MostA's rooftop restaurant, which offers fantastic views over the Church on the Spilled Blood and the surrounding canals (the hotel's name translates as "three bridges"). »»»
SUPERIOR
Nearest metro: Mayakovskaya
Located just off Nevsky Prospekt and a short walk from Moscow Railway Station, with good access to public transport, this mid-size standard hotel is old-fashioned and rather worn, but provides a reasonable level of 3-star accommodation in air-conditioned guest rooms, as well as spacious and recently renovated apartments that can sleep up to six guests. There is a restaurant on site, and the hotel also offers space to host business meetings.
STANDARD
Nearest metro: Ploshchad Vosstaniya
Offering 46 elegantly fitted and air-conditioned guest rooms, an in-house restaurant and standard business and concierge services, this new small hotel on Ulitsa Vosstaniya is less than 100 meters from Nevsky Prospekt and only five minutes' walk from Moscow Railway Station. Housed in a beautiful and tastefully renovated Art Nouveau apartment building, the Akyan Hotel is well above the average for 3-star hotels in St. Petersburg, and highly praised for friendly service.
STANDARD
Nearest metro: Obvodny Kanal
Located on the southern borders of St. Petersburg's historic downtown, this small standard hotel is around five minutes' walk from Obvodny Kanal metro station. Offering a mixture of very basic and more recently renovated guest rooms, the AlexanderPlatz provides very low-cost and reasonably comfortable accommodation, a basic range of business and concierge services at reception, and a full-service in-house restaurant. »»»
BUDGET
Nearest metro: Ploshchad Vosstaniya
A mid-size hotel opposite the Moscow Railway Station, the Allegro offers 50 guest rooms, all conforming to international 3-star standards and featuring quite stylish interiors in superior rooms and suites. The only on-site facilities are a small café that can also be used for smaller events, but the location is very convenient for public transport, and a wide range of dining and shopping options can be found in the large mall across the road.
STANDARD
Nearest metro: Petrogradskaya
Housed in a charming historic townhouse next to the Karpovka River, around five minutes on foot from Petrogradskaya metro station, this tiny hotel comprises only 11 guest rooms and a small café. Accommodation is fairly basic and quite cramped in some rooms, while service is friendly if not always attentive. Rates are at the lower end for 3-star hotels in St. Petersburg, and the location is some distance from the city's main tourist area. »»»
STANDARD
Nearest metro: Petrogradskaya
A hotel dating back to the 1960s that was fully modernized over a decade ago, the Andersen Hotel is once again beginning to show its age. Prices are very low, and the hotel's 140 guest rooms, while very simply fitted, do all have air-conditioning and hi-speed Internet access. The Andersen can also offer a large in-house restaurant and modern event venue. The hotel is located outside St. Petersburg's main tourist area, around ten minutes' walk from Petrogradskaya metro station. »»»
BUDGET
Nearest metro: Gostiny Dvor
Located next to the famous Anichkov Bridge on Nevsky Prospekt, this six-room mini hotel has simply fitted but quite elegant accommodation, and some rooms offer fantastic view over the Fontanka River. There is also a spacious and comfortable lounge area where buffet breakfast is served. Although the hotel lacks facilities, the homely atmosphere and great location close to the State Russian Museum and the Church on Spilled Blood are major pluses.
STANDARD
Nearest metro: Chernishevskaya
Located in the north of St. Petersburg's historic centre, just outside the main tourist area and close to Chernyshevskaya metro station, the Arbat Nord is a small full service hotel that fully lives up to international 3-star standards and offers great value for the downtown. The hotel's 33 guest rooms are simply fitted but spacious, and all have air-conditioning and high-speed Internet. The Arbat Nord also has a reasonable on-site restaurant and service is highly praised. »»»
Nearest metro: Krestovsky Ostrov
Designed to house sports teams and spectators, this recently built hotel is a short walk from the multipurpose Sibur Arena and Krestovskiy Stadium, St. Petersburg's new international soccer stadium (and home ground of Zenit FC). A modern standard hotel with plain but clean accommodation, the Arena Hotel has excellent leisure facilities including large pool and gym. Public transport is currently a problem, but hopefully a new nearby metro station will be ready by 2018.
STANDARD
Nearest metro: Gostiny Dvor, Nevsky prospekt
Located right next to Kazan Cathedral and a few steps from Nevsky Prospekt, the Art Hotel Rachmaninov is a popular small hotel offering 26 guest rooms in various categories of comfort, but all with cozy and elegant interiors, as well as air-conditiong. The hotel can also boast a beautiful breakfast room and lounge, and friendly, efficient staff. The hotel constantly hosts exhibitions by local photographers and artists in its public spaces. »»»
Nearest metro: Sadovaya, Sennaya ploshad, Spasskaya
Standing by the Fontanka River in the south of St. Petersburg's historic downtown, just over ten minutes' walk from Nevsky Prospket, this 61-room standard hotel offers inexpensive standard accommodation at a reasonably central location. Guest rooms are for the most part very simply fitted and in some cases very small. The on-site restaurant is rather more up-market, and the Asteria also offers a basic conferencing venue. »»»
Nearest metro: Nevsky Prospekt / Gostiny Dvor
A small low-cost hotel with a great downtown location a few steps from Kazan Cathedral and Nevsky Prospekt, the Atlantic Hotel offers 30 plain and simply fitted guest rooms that are clean and reasonably modern but definitely more budget than 3-star. Service is friendly and generally efficient, but the hotel has no on-site facilities except a small restaurant. Nonetheless, the combination of low rates and superb access to St. Petersburg's top visitor attractions make this a popular property.
STANDARD
Nearest metro: Ploschad Alexandra Nevskogo
Housed in a very elegant 19th century apartment building at the eastern end of Nevsky Prospekt, close to the Alexander Nevsky Monastery and to the metro, the Atrium is a low-cost hotel that more or less conforms to 3-star standards for accommodation, including six apartments with basic self-catering facilities, and does offer attractive rates at a convenient location. The Atrium's in-house restaurant is a rather gloomy German-style pub. »»»
STANDARD
Nearest metro: Ploshchad Vosstaniya
Price is the main attraction of this simple budget hotel right opposite Moscow Railway Station. While it would struggle to claim three stars elsewhere in Europe, the AventInn is very cheap and generally leaves guests with a positive impression as staff are friendly and helpful, and the basic but air-conditioned accommodation is kept very clean. Buffet breakfast is provided, and the very central location means there are plenty of restaurants and bars nearby.
BUDGET
Nearest metro: Tekhnologichesky Institut, Baltiyskaya
A Soviet-era block that is probably one of the ugliest buildings in St. Petersburg's historic downtown, this 577-room standard hotel caters mostly to tour groups and business travelers. Russian hotel chain Azimut has done a good job in renovating large parts of the hotel, although some guest rooms are still very basic. The hotel has a good range of on-site bars and restaurants, and service is professional and efficient. The riverside location is charming, but not great for public transport. »»»
Nearest metro: Obvodny Kanal
Situated at the southern border of St. Petersburg's large historic centre, about ten minutes' walk from Obvodny Kanal metro station, the recently opened Bristol Hotel does not have the best location, but does offer very good value for clean and well equipped 3-star rooms and suites, all with air-conditioning. The hotel also offers modern event space and an in-house restaurant that's well above average, with an unusually good buffet breakfast.
STANDARD
Nearest metro: Zvenigorodskaya, Pushkinskaya
Situated just outside St. Petersburg's main tourist area, in a courtyard next to the Fontanka River, the Cameo offers basic but clean and modern accommodation in 46 guest rooms, all with air-conditioning. The only on-site amenities are a cafe and 24-hour lobby bar. The location is convenient for Vitebsk Railway Station and the metro, and the Cameo's pricing policy means that the hotel often offers some of the best-value standard accommodation in the downtown. »»»
BUDGET
Nearest metro: Admiralteyskaya
A property that we rate as Deluxe in our own classification system, the Casa Leto is more like a very up-market bed and breakfast than a full service hotel, offering five spacious and beautifully decorated guest rooms and friendly, very attentive staff. The hotel does not have business or leisure facilities, but the communal lounge with free refreshments all day is a definite plus for most guests. The location, a short walk from Nevsky Prospekt and St. Isaac's Cathedral, is also excellent.
DELUXE
Nearest metro: Vasileostrovskaya
Located in a pleasant historic neighborhood on Vasilevskiy Island, around ten minutes' walk from Vasileostrovskaya metro station, the Castle Hotel offers 16 guest rooms with cozy and quite stylish interiors featuring bare brickwork and solid-wood furnishings. The hotel also has a canteen where buffet breakfast is served, and basic business and concierge services are available at reception. Access to the main downtown area by bus or metro is reasonably fast.
STANDARD
Nearest metro: Obvodny Kanal
Offering exceptionally low rates, the City Hotel Comfitel is located south of the Obvodny Kanal in a historic but much neglected neighborhood, about ten minutes' walk from Obvodny Kanal metro station. Fully renovated about a decade ago, the Comfitel does not offer the most attractive accommodation, but its 33 guest rooms do all have air-conditioning and hi-speed Internet access. On-site facilities are limited to a small café. »»»
BUDGET
Nearest metro: Sadovaya, Sennaya Ploshchad
Offering only six rooms, this mini-hotel in the historic center of St. Petersburg unsurprisingly has no on-site amenities, although a reasonable range of business and concierge services are available at reception. Accommodation is fairly basically fitted, but all rooms are air-conditioned and WiFi access is good. The location of the Columb Hotel is excellent for sightseeing, around five minutes' walk from St. Isaac's Cathedral and ten minutes from the Mariinsky Theatre. »»»
Nearest metro: Admiralteyskaya
Location and price are the main selling points for this 18-room standard hotel on Bolshaya Morskaya Ulitsa, just a few steps from St. Isaac's Cathedral and Nevsky Prospekt, and the combination has made it one of the most popular small hotels in St. Petersburg. Rooms are quite basic, but clean and all fitted with air-conditioning and good access to WiFi. There are no on-site facilities, but an extensive range of services, including baby sitting, are on offer at reception. »»»
Nearest metro: Mayakovskaya
Located one block from Nevsky Prospekt on a peaceful side street, the Cronwell Inn is a well-established small hotel that fully conforms to international 3-star accommodation standards. The 63 guest rooms are clean and comfortably furnished, although some are quite small. Basic business and concierge facilities are provided at reception, staff are friendly and efficient, and the hotel offers a reasonable in-house restaurant.
STANDARD
Nearest metro: Nevsky Prospekt / Gostiny Dvor
Definitely a budget hotel rather than an international-standard 3-star property, Dvory Capelly is nonetheless worthy of attention thanks to its unbeatable downtown location in the courtyard of the beautiful St. Petersburg State Capella Concert Hall, just a few steps from Palace Square and the Hermitage. The hotel does not offer anything in the way of facilities or services, but the 21 guest rooms are clean and quite cozy.
STANDARD
Nearest metro: Dostoevskaya, Vladimirskaya
Part of a local chain of small standard hotels offering good-value but quite basic accommodation, the Dynasty Hotel is located on Ulitsa Rubinshteina, a pretty side street off Nevsky Prospekt with several excellent bars and restaurants. The Dynasty's 39 guest rooms are compact and simply fitted, but tick the boxes for a 3-star rating. On-site facilities are limited to a small café. The main attraction of the hotel is definitely the location. »»»
Nearest metro: Gorkovskaya, Petrogradskaya
A long-standing small standard hotel on the Petrograd Side, the Eurasia Hotel offers inexpensive standard accommodation that generally conforms to international 3-star standards, although lacking in character. On-site facilities are limited to a very basic café. The hotel is located just off Bolshoy Prospekt, the main avenue on the Petrograd Side, and about ten minutes' walk from Petrogradskaya metro station and only slightly further from the Peter and Paul Fortress. »»»
STANDARD
Nearest metro: Dostoevskaya, Vladimirskaya
This small hotel a short walk from Dostoevskaya metro station and less than ten minutes from Nevsky Prospekt once rated a write-up in design bible Wallpaper*, although that's more a reflection of the lack of design quality in St. Petersburg at the time. For a 3-star hotel, however, the Fifth Corner does offer very comfortable and quite stylish guest rooms, as well as very friendly and accommodating staff. Prices are also competitive for the area. »»»
STANDARD
Nearest metro: Sadovaya/Spasskaya/Sennaya Ploshchad
Housed in an elegant 19th century apartment building where Nikolay Gogol once rented apartments, the Gogol Hotel boasts a beautiful canal-side location within comfortable walking distance of the Mariinsky Theatre and a couple of minutes' walk from the metro. While on-site facilities are limited, the hotel's 35 recently renovated guests rooms are well up to international 3-star standards, with elegant traditional interiors. The hotel also has a full-service restaurant.
STANDARD
Nearest metro: Ladozhskaya
A small low-cost hotel with 27 modern and reasonably attractive guest rooms, as well as on-site facilities including a cafe-bar, sauna, and billiard room, the Grand Hotel Ladozhsky is not aptly named, but offers good value if you need to be in the area. The area, however, is some six kilometers east of St. Petersburg’s historic downtown, almost at the city limits and a long way from the nearest metro station. Staff members are unlikely to speak much English.
BUDGET
Nearest metro: Prospekt Prosveshcheniya
Located in the far north of St. Petersburg, close to the city limits, this large apartment hotel is unlikely to attract many foreign visitors, but does offer a very good standard of modern 3-star accommodation in quite stylishly decorated and well equipped apartments. A wide range of amenities are available in the shopping and entertainment centre across the road, and Prospekt Proveshcheniya metro station is under ten minutes' walk from the hotel.
STANDARD
Nearest metro: Admiralteyskaya
Housed in an early 19th-century mansion where Alexander Pushkin briefly lived, this low-cost hotel offers 46 guest rooms that are fitted in a rich if very approximate period style, and well equipped with in-room amenities. Open since 2010, the hotel is slowly expanding and improving, and on-site facilities now include a small fitness center, as well as a full service restaurant. The location is picturesque and close to the Mariinsky Theatre, but not great for public transport. »»»
STANDARD
Nearest metro: Admiralteyskaya
The main attraction of this budget 21-room hotel is the atmospheric location just off the English Embankment, within walking distance of the Mariinsky Theatre, the Bronze Horseman and St. Isaac's Cathedral. The accommodation is very basic in terms of amenities, but furnished in a reasonably attractive, homely style. Spacious suites are particularly appealing for families on a budget. The hotel also has a small on-site café. »»»
Nearest metro: Sadovaya, Sennaya ploshad
Located a few steps from the Mariinsky Theatre, next to the Griboedov Canal, this budget property is more of a guest house than a hotel, but for those after very low-cost accommodation in the historic centre, it's well worth considering. Guest rooms are spacious - especially family-friendly suites - and fitted in a homely if haphazard fashion. On-site amenities are minimal and the hotel is well below international 3-star standards. »»»
Nearest metro: Krestovskiy Ostrov
Once quite a prestigious conferencing hotel, this large property located in the parkland of Krestovsky Island has definitely seen better days. Nonetheless, accommodation is well up to international 3-star standards, and as well as extensive MICE facilities, the hotel can also offer its own tennis courts and two in-house restaurants. The location is convenient for the multipurpose Sibur Arena and St. Petersburg's new soccer stadium, but as yet poorly served by public transport.
STANDARD
Nearest metro: Ploshad Vosstaniya
The first Ibis property to open in Russia, this modern 221-room hotel a short walk from the Moscow Railway Station does not represent the low-cost brand at its very best - or its very cheapest when compared with other 3-star hotels nearby - but should satisfy most travelers with its combination of simple standard accommodation, efficient service, and reasonable facilities for business, including four well equipped meeting spaces. »»»
STANDARD
Nearest metro: Ladozhskaya
The Karelia Business Hotel is located in the east of St. Petersburg, some distance from the historic downtown and without convenient access to a metro station. A large Soviet-era building overlooking open parkland, the hotel offers 256 reasonably modern guest rooms and a wide range of conferencing venues for up to 300 people. The hotel can also offer a full-service restaurant and lobby bar. Standards more or less conform to international 3-star standards. »»»
BUDGET
Nearest metro: Dostoevskaya, Vladimirskaya
A small 3-star hotel with a superior central location a short walk from Dostoevskaya metro station and less than ten minutes from Nevsky Prospekt, the Kristoff provides elegant and comfortably fitted accommodation in 31 spacious, air-conditioned rooms and suites. Friendly service and an above-average in-house restaurant add to the hotel's appeal, although rates are (not unreasonably) at the higher end for 3-star hotels in St. Petersburg. »»»
Nearest metro: Novocherkasskaya
Located in a Soviet-era residential district just east of the Neva River and a short metro ride from the downtown, the Ladoga Hotel has a solid reputation as a low-cost standard hotel with basic but spacious accommodation and friendly, professional service. Facilities include a large restaurant, a basic conferencing venue, and a sauna. The Ladoga is very convenient for Novocherkasskaya metro station, less than five minutes' walk away. »»»
Nearest metro: Ploshchad Vosstaniya / Mayakovskaya
This small standard hotel is located on Ligovsky Prospekt, very close to Moscow Railway Station and the metro. The 32 guest rooms are all recently renovated and quite attractively fitted in a traditional style, although somewhat small in some cases. The Ligotel lacks on-site facilities - and a lift - but does have a small in-house restaurant where buffet breakfast is served, and a huge range of dining and entertainment options can be found in the mall across the road.
STANDARD
Nearest metro: Obvodny Kanal
Little used by foreign travelers, the Lyra Hotel is a 3-star property located next to St. Petersburg's Central Bus Station and about five minutes on foot from Obvodny Kanal metro station. A modern building with 43 guest rooms, the Lyra can offer clean, air-conditioned accommodation and a fair range of on-site amenities, including full-service restaurant, meeting rooms, and a sauna. Service is efficient, although not all staff speak English. »»»
STANDARD
Nearest metro: Sadovaya/Spasskaya/Sennaya Ploshchad
While the location of this small hotel, on an island west of the Mariinsky Theatre and some distance from the metro, is not ideal, the Matisov Domik has enjoyed a solid reputation for friendly professional service and comfortable 3-star accommodation since it originally opened in 1993. The 53 guest rooms are recently renovated and very reasonably priced, and the hotel can also offer good on-site dining and a free shuttle service to the metro.
BUDGET
Nearest metro: Gostiny Dvor / Nevsky Prospekt
This very popular downtown hotel is among the few properties in St. Petersburg to offer a decent standard of 3-star accommodation in the city's main tourist area and offer more than 50 guest rooms. Praised for friendly, efficient service and simple but clean and comfortable modern rooms and suites, the M-Hotel is located on the corner of Nevsky Prospekt within easy walking distance of Palace Square, St. Isaac's Cathedral and the Church on the Spilled Blood.
STANDARD
Nearest metro: Admiralteyskaya
Within comfortable walking distance of St. Isaac's Cathedral, the Bronze Horseman, and the Hermitage, this simple small hotel comprises six spacious two-room suites, all with modern furnishings, air-conditioning and decent WiFi access. The hotel does not offer any on-site facilities but does serve a buffet breakfast, and staff are friendly and professional. The Nevsky Breeze is very well situated for sightseeing and excellent value considering the size of rooms. »»»
Nearest metro: Mayakovskaya, Ploshad Vosstaniya
A small standard hotel in part of an apartment building a few steps from Moscow Railway Station, the Nevsky Express has a location that is very convenient if not particularly charming. The same can be said for accommodation, which more or less conforms to 3-star standards without any real individual character. On-site services and facilities are limited, but the area is very well served for 24-hour shops and dining. Prices are competitive. »»»
STANDARD
Nearest metro: Gostiny Dvor, Nevsky prospekt
Part of a small local chain, the Nevsky Aster's appeal rests almost exclusively on its superb central location on beautiful Bolshaya Konyushennaya Ulitsa, a short walk from Nevsky Prospekt and from the Hermitage. Prices are low for the area, so it's a good option if you plan to spend most of your time sightseeing. The hotel's 59 rooms are quite well equipped, although fittings are getting old in some categories. On-site facilities are limited to what's available at reception. »»»
STANDARD
Nearest metro: Gostiny Dvor, Nevsky prospekt
This mid-size hotel is definitely "Russian 3-star" rather than international 3-star standard, but remains very popular due to the fantastic location a few steps from Nevsky Prospekt, the Winter Palace, and the Church on the Spilled Blood. Accommodation is basic - rooms are small and sound proofing is poor - but everything is kept clean and air-conditioned. Service is friendly and professional. Prices may seem high for what is on offer, but are among the lowest in this area. »»»
Nearest metro: Gostiny Dvor, Nevsky prospekt
A small hotel with a fantastic location in a courtyard off the Moyka River Embankment, a short walk from the Church on the Spilled Blood and the Winter Palace, the Moyka 5 offers simple but attractively fitted guest rooms and five split-level suites. The hotel lacks any on-site facilities except for a small café. Considering the prime location for sightseeing (although not for public transport access), the prices are very reasonable. »»»
STANDARD
Nearest metro: Novocherkasskaya
This Soviet-era behemoth next to the Neva River has some very old and shabby guest rooms in the lowest categories, while Business Rooms and suites are modern and reasonably attractive. The Okhtinskaya can also offer on-site dining and a range of up-to-date meeting venues. Although next to the Neva River and with great views of the Smolny Cathedral, the hotel does not have great transport links, and bus or taxi are needed to get to the city center. »»»
Nearest metro: Mayakovskaya
Offering a convenient downtown location on Nevsky Prospekt, close to the Fontanka River and within walking distance of most major St. Petersburg visitor attractions, this 21-room hotel was opened in 2015 and offers reasonably good standard accommodation with air-conditioning throughout, and some rooms with balconies overlooking Nevsky Prospekt. However, the hotel does not offer on-site dining or other facilities, and the building doesn't have a lift.
STANDARD
Nearest metro: Primorskaya
Located inside St. Petersburg's passenger sea port, and so to some extent convenient for travelers arriving by ferry, the Polo Regatta Hotel can only pretend to international 3-star standards in some renovated guest rooms. Otherwise, the hotel is still redolent of its Soviet past, and on-site facilities are limited to a restaurant and a few worn conferencing venues. The location is unfortunately poorly served by public transport and far from the downtown.
STANDARD
Nearest metro: Petrogradskaya
Part of a local chain of small, low-cost standard hotels, the Regina Hotel is located just off Bolshoy Prospekt, the main avenue on the Petrograd Side. Less than ten minutes' walk from Petrogradskaya metro station, the hotel is very convenient for sightseeing while also enjoying peaceful, pretty surroundings. The 28 guest rooms are not stylishly decorated, but clean and reasonably comfortable. On-site facilities include a small café and two meeting venues. »»»
Nearest metro: Park Pobedi
A large standard hotel dating from the Soviet era in the far south of St. Petersburg, the Rossiya Hotel is close to the metro, convenient for Pulkovo Airport and surrounded by some grand Stalinist architecture. Of the 412 guest rooms, some are up to international 3-star standards while others are in definite need of renovation. On-site facilities include extensive meeting facilities and several restaurants. The metro is close buy, and journey time to Nevsky Prospekt is around 20 minutes. »»»
Nearest metro: Chernishevskaya
A relic from the Soviet era that is slowly being renovated, the Russ Hotel can certainly not currently claim three stars by international standards. While new rooms are quite pleasantly decorated, the bulk of the accommodation and public spaces are still very outdated, few staff members speak English, and facilities are limited to on-site dining and a few conference venues. The location, in a quiet neighborhood just east of the Fontanka River, is very good and prices are low. »»»
BUDGET
Nearest metro: Ploschad Lenina
Boasting spectacular views across the Neva River from its location just opposite the Cruiser Aurora, this massive Soviet-era hotel offers 633 rooms and suites, some of which fully conform to international 3-star standards, and some of which definitely do not, but are generally very cheap. On-site amenities include extensive conferencing facilities and dining options. The hotel is convenient for the Finland Station and about 10 minutes' walk from the Peter and Paul Fortress. »»»
Nearest metro: Vasileostrovskaya
A small hotel with character in a charming historic neighborhood on Vasilevskiy Island, the Shelfort has a solid reputation for providing cozy and clean accommodation and friendly, helpful service. The hotel offers 16 simply but tastefully fitted guest rooms in an attractive 19th century apartment building. Extra facilities are non-existent, but the hotel offers a reasonable breakfast and the surrounding area is well supplied with restaurants, cafés and grocery stores. »»»
STANDARD
Nearest metro: Gostiny Dvor, Nevsky Prospekt
The Sky Hotel has a superb - if slightly difficult to find - location in a courtyard just a few minutes' walk from Palace Square and from Nevsky Prospekt. Offering exceptionally low rates for the area, the Sky Hotel is more of a bed and breakfast than a proper 3-star hotel, but the 15 guest rooms (some with shared bathrooms) are all freshly and stylishly fitted. The only public space is a pretty canteen-cum-shared kitchen where buffet breakfast is served. »»»
BUDGET
Nearest metro: Pushkinskaya/Zvenigorodskaya
A small modern hotel generally ignored by foreign travelers, the Statskiy Sovetnik is located in a new building in a courtyard a few steps from Vitebsk Railway Station and the metro. Accommodation is split between very stylish renovated rooms and suites, and rather drab and characterless standard rooms. There are no on-site facilities to speak of, but a fair range of business and concierge services are provided at reception. Staff are not guaranteed to speak English.
STANDARD
Nearest metro: Sportivnaya
This small hotel boasts a great location on the Petrograd Side, a few steps from the Peter and Paul Fortress and with great river views from most rooms. Highly rated for its friendly, efficient staff and cozy, well equipped accommodation, the Tradition Hotel has 16 guest rooms and a canteen serving buffet breakfast that can also be used for small events. With few other decent accommodation options in the immediate area, the Tradition Hotel is well worth considering.
STANDARD
Nearest metro: Vasileostrovskaya
A popular small hotel with a picturesque location in heart of Vasilevskiy Island's historic district and next to the beautiful 18th century St. Andrew's Cathedral, the Trezzini Art Hotel offers bright, colorful interiors and 17 comfortably fitted guest rooms all with air-conditioning. The hotel cannot offer any on-site facilities, but the neighborhood is well served for convenience stores and good dining options. Vasileostrovskaya metro station is only five minutes' walk away.
STANDARD
Nearest metro: Vasileostrovskaya/Sportivnaya
This 13-room hotel on Vasilevskiy Island offers comfortable, air-conditioned accommodation decorated in a vibrant contemporary style, although some rooms are quite small. The hotel does not have any on-site facilities, but the area around the hotel has a fair choice of dining and shopping options. The location is convenient for public transport, with Sportivnaya metro station only five minutes' walk away, and close to the main visitor attractions on Vasilevskiy Island.
STANDARD
Nearest metro: Moskovskye Vorota
An unpretentious small hotel outside St. Petersburg's historic center, the Veles Hotel is little frequented by foreigners, but can offer low-cost and attractive standard accommodation in 42 guest rooms, all well-equipped with amenities including air-conditioning. On-site facilities comprise a sauna with plunge pool, small cafeteria, and cycle hire. The location is a short walk from Moskovskye Vorota metro station, and only around 20 minutes' drive from Pulkovo Airport.
BUDGET
