Moscow has 12 districts and around 125 neighborhoods, so deciding where to sleep can be a real headache. Short answer: if you’re staying just a few days and want to walk to Red Square, look in Tverskoy, Arbat or Yakimanka. If you’re traveling with kids and want quiet, check out Basmanny or Presnensky. If you’re on a budget, head out to VDNKh. And if you’re on business or want skyscraper views, Moscow City.
That said, before you start looking at neighborhoods there’s one practical issue you need to sort out: Booking.com, Airbnb and the Western booking platforms no longer work for Russia since 2022. If you try to book a Moscow hotel from Europe, the US or the UK with your usual card, you simply won’t be able to. I’ll cover all of this in this article and at the end I’ll share the alternative I use myself, which does let you pay with a foreign card.
Booking a hotel in Moscow: what you need to know first
Before getting into neighborhoods, it’s worth getting the current situation clear. These are the three things that have changed compared to any pre-2022 guide:
- Booking.com, Airbnb, Expedia and Hotels.com don’t show hotels in Russia to most Western users. If you try to search for Moscow you’ll either get an empty list or be blocked outright.
- The international hotel chains officially suspended their operations in Russia after 2022. Marriott, Hilton, Hyatt, IHG (Holiday Inn, Crowne Plaza, InterContinental) and Four Seasons pulled their brands, although the buildings are still open under Russian management. For example, the former Marriott Aurora is now Safmar Aurora, the Courtyard by Marriott became Artcourt Moscow Center, and the Marriott Grand is now the Cosmos Selection. The building, the service and the location are the same; only the brand has changed.
- Some international brands are still operating under their original names: the Mercure, Novotel and Ibis hotels of the French Accor group; the Radisson properties; the Lotte Hotel (Korean) and the Baltschug Kempinski (Swiss). Russian historical landmarks like the Metropol, the National and the Cosmos are also still up and running.
The good news is that Moscow’s hotel offer is still huge and prices are reasonable (cheaper than in any European capital of similar size). Average rates per night for a double room look like this:
- Luxury: over €150 (5-star hotels right in the center)
- Mid-range: €60–150 (3-4 star hotels and apartments in central areas)
- Budget: under €60 (hostels, apartments and 3-4 star hotels further from the center)
The best current alternative to Booking is the Russian platform Zenhotels, which is essentially identical to Ostrovok (the version Russians use) but lets you pay with any foreign card. I explain step by step how to use it from outside Russia in this article:
1. Moscow’s most central neighborhoods (first ring)
To understand Moscow you need to think in circles. The city is built around concentric rings centered on the Kremlin, and within the first ring (line 5 of the metro, the brown circular line) you’ll find almost all the tourist attractions and the most interesting neighborhoods to stay in.
The administrative center of the city is made up of 10 neighborhoods. The map below shows how they’re laid out. Right in the middle (the red rectangle) is Red Square, Moscow’s ground zero:
Of the ten neighborhoods that make up the central district, I recommend five for your stay (the ones in bold): Tverskoy, Arbat, Yakimanka, Basmanny and Presnensky. Here they are, one by one.
1.1. Tverskoy: the tourist heart of Moscow
Tverskoy is the neighborhood where Red Square sits and where you’ll find almost everything you’ll want to see on day one. It’s a long district that stretches north, so within it there are two areas worth focusing on:
A) Kitay-Gorod (right next to Red Square)
The most historic and central area of Moscow. This is where you’ll find Red Square, the Kremlin, St. Basil’s Cathedral, Zaryadye Park and the GUM department store. It’s the most expensive area in Moscow, but also the one that saves you any kind of transport.
Here you’ll find Moscow’s most iconic hotels, all still operating under their original names:
- Hotel Metropol (5 stars): 200 meters from the Bolshoi Theatre. Built between 1899 and 1905, it’s one of the most important Art Nouveau architectural landmarks in the city. Still operating under its historic name.
- Hotel National (5 stars): right next to Red Square, another classic of the city. Also keeping its brand.
- Ararat Park Hyatt (5 stars): although Hyatt officially left Russia, the hotel is still open under local management with top-tier service.
If you’re after more affordable options inside Kitay-Gorod, you have the Veliy Hotel Mokhovaya (3*), the Custos Hotel Lubyansky (4*) or the Kitay-Gorod Hotel (2*).
Just outside Kitay-Gorod, in the Tagansky neighborhood, you’ll spot the imposing Kotelnicheskaya Naberezhnaya building, one of the Seven Sisters of Stalin. Tourist apartments are now rented inside it, a unique experience if you’re into Soviet architecture.
Bottom line: stay here if you’re only in town for a few days, it’s your first time in Moscow and you want to maximize your time on foot. If money isn’t an issue, this is the best choice.
B) Tverskaya Street and the Bolshoi area
This is Moscow’s main commercial street, packed with shops, restaurants and life. It practically starts at Red Square and runs north. Just a few minutes away you’ll find the Bolshoi Theatre and the Hermitage Garden, full of musical and artistic events.
Unlike Kitay-Gorod, Tverskaya has a wide range of tourist apartments (a good option if you’re traveling with family) and plenty of hostels for backpackers. The classic Godzillas Hostel, one of the most popular in the city, is here. The Cosmos Selection Tverskaya (former Marriott Tverskaya, 4*) is also still operating, a central hotel at a reasonable price. And if you prefer an apartment, keep in mind that you can now pay with a foreign card (Visa or Mastercard) by booking it on Sutochno, the Russian equivalent of Airbnb. I explain how it works in the guide on how to rent apartments in Russia with a foreign card.
Bottom line: a great area if you want to be near the center with plenty of buzz around. It’s pricey, but less so than Kitay-Gorod, and the choice of accommodation is much wider.
1.2. Arbat: the historic, pedestrian neighborhood
Arbat is a historic district just west of the Kremlin. Its main draw is Arbat Street, a pedestrian avenue full of cafés, street artists, bookshops and souvenir stalls. It’s a must-see in Moscow and a beautiful neighborhood to live in from the inside.
If you like walking, from Arbat you can reach Red Square, the Bolshoi Theatre, Zaryadye Park, Gorky Park, the Tretyakov Gallery or the Pushkin Museum on foot in 30–40 minutes. And the metro connections are some of the best in the city.
Arbat is home to what’s often called the best hotel in Moscow, the Lotte Hotel Moscow (5 stars), which is still operating normally under the Korean Lotte brand. Across the Moskva River sits the Hotel Ukraina, set inside one of the Seven Sisters of Stalin (currently marketed as Radisson Royal Hotel Moscow or simply Hotel Ukraina, depending on the moment). And if you want something more affordable, the Azimut Hotel Smolenskaya (4*) is a solid pick from the Russian Azimut chain.
Bottom line: an excellent area if you want atmosphere, nightlife and easy access to many attractions. My favorite for a first visit if you want more than just Red Square.
1.3. Yakimanka: from the Tretyakov to Gorky Park
Yakimanka sits south of Red Square, on the other side of the Moskva River. It’s one of my favorite neighborhoods in Moscow: quiet, cultural and very well located. In fact, on my last few trips I’ve stayed in this area, near the Tretyakov Gallery.
A) North zone (Tretyakov Gallery)
This is the most cultural and quiet area downtown. It’s a 5-minute walk from Red Square across the bridge, but with much less hustle and bustle. Here you’ll find the historic Hotel Baltschug Kempinski (5 stars), right by the river and with stunning views of St. Basil’s Cathedral. Kempinski is a Swiss group and continues operating in Moscow as normal.
At much more reasonable prices you’ll find lots of tourist apartments and 4-star hotels such as Park Inn by Radisson Sadu or President Hotel.
Bottom line: the perfect zone if you’re traveling with kids, want peace and quiet, or want to be central without the noise of the first ring.
B) South zone (Gorky Park)
Gorky Park is Moscow’s great central park, the city’s equivalent of Central Park. Walking there is one of Muscovites’ favorite plans and there are always festivals, concerts or events going on.
Bottom line: another quiet area, with a huge green park. It’s a bit further out, but the metro connection is excellent and prices are noticeably lower than the first ring.
1.4. Basmanny: Myasnitskaya Street and Chistye Prudy
Basmanny lies just east of Red Square. It’s a quiet district with great connections, much more affordable than Tverskoy or Arbat, but every bit as central for sightseeing.
Its prettiest street is Myasnitskaya, lined with trendy cafés, bookshops and restaurants. Another standout spot is Chistye Prudy (“Clean Ponds”) park, one of the most photogenic corners of the city. Here you’ll find nightlife without the touristy crush of Arbat.
Bottom line: one of my favorite picks for couples and families. Quiet, pretty, full of character and with much better prices than the first ring.
1.5. Presnensky: Patriarch’s Ponds
Presnensky is north of Arbat. It’s a huge district that stretches out to the third ring, but the part that interests you is the central section around Patriarch’s Ponds, a very literary area (Bulgakov’s The Master and Margarita opens right there) with one of the best café and restaurant scenes in the city.
Bottom line: a quiet area, more affordable than the previous ones and ideal for couples, families or groups of friends who want some nightlife without giving up on being central.
2. Non-central areas with great links to downtown
Moscow is enormous. The center can be done on foot, but the rest of the city only really makes sense by metro. The good news is that the Moscow metro is one of the most efficient and beautiful in the world, and it links any point with downtown in 15–30 minutes.
If you’re looking for cheaper rates without giving up convenience, moving outside the first ring is a very reasonable option. My advice: make sure your hotel or apartment is always within a 10-minute walk of a metro station. The two areas I most recommend are VDNKh and Moscow City.
2.1. VDNKh (Ostankino District)
VDNKh is a huge complex of Soviet pavilions, museums, fairs, parks and exhibitions that’s worth a visit on its own. It sits next to the Botanical Garden, Ostankino Park and the Cosmonautics Museum.
The flagship hotel here is the Hotel Cosmos, one of the largest in Russia. It was built for the 1980 Moscow Olympics and is now run by Cosmos Hotel Group, the leading Russian hotel operator. It has a spa with a swimming pool, a gym, fantastic metro links to the center, and prices that are surprisingly low for what you get.
Bottom line: a beautiful area, attractive in its own right, with much lower prices than the center. Excellent connection to Red Square via the orange metro line.
2.2. Moscow City: the skyscrapers
Moscow City is Moscow’s international business center, a cluster of skyscrapers packed with hotels, restaurants, observation decks and shopping malls. If you love modern cities and spectacular views, this area will blow you away.
The Novotel Moscow City is still operating normally, since the French Accor chain continues to operate in Russia. There are also plenty of other hotels built straight into the skyscrapers, several of them with spectacular views over the entire city.
Bottom line: well connected to the center and with a completely different feel from the rest of Moscow. Perfect for business trips or for travelers who want to combine sightseeing with skyscraper views.
3. Airports and the outskirts of Moscow
3.1. Hotels near the airports
Moscow’s four airports (Sheremetyevo, Domodedovo, Vnukovo and Zhukovsky) are all 30–50 km from the center. Staying out there isn’t a great idea except in two cases: if you’re doing a flight stopover in Moscow without entering the city, or if your departure is very early. In both cases there are 3 and 4-star hotels with free shuttle service.
If you arrive in the city and need to get from the airport to the center, I cover all four airports here:
- How to get from Sheremetyevo Airport to downtown Moscow
- How to get from Domodedovo Airport to Moscow city center
- How to get from Vnukovo Airport to Moscow city center
- How to get from Zhukovsky Airport to Moscow city center
3.2. Charming towns near Moscow
Many readers ask me whether it’s a good idea to stay in a small town near Moscow to visit the city. My short answer is no: they’re too far for comfortable sightseeing and you’ll waste a lot of time on transfers.
A different story is taking a day trip from Moscow to one of the towns of the Golden Ring. The most famous is Sergiyev Posad, an hour north, with its UNESCO-listed monastery. If you’re into rural Russia, provincial kremlins and monasteries, it’s worth dedicating a full day or even an overnight stay.
How to book your Moscow hotel with a foreign card
As I mentioned at the start, Booking.com, Airbnb and the rest of the Western platforms no longer show hotels in Russia. The alternative I use and recommend is the Russian platform Zenhotels, which is essentially identical to Booking in terms of interface, has the same hotel inventory, and accepts any foreign card (Visa, MasterCard, Maestro and American Express).
If you live outside the European Union (the Americas, Asia, Turkey, etc.), you go straight in and book. If you live in the EU or the UK, since October 2025 there are a couple of extra steps (installing a free VPN and clearing cookies) to be able to see the hotels, but payment with European cards still works without any issue. I explain the full step-by-step process here:
Quick summary: where to stay in Moscow based on your trip
Where should I stay in Moscow if it’s my first time and I’m only here a few days?
In Kitay-Gorod (next to Red Square). It’s the priciest area, but you skip all transport and do everything on foot.
Where should I stay in Moscow on a tight budget?
In areas like VDNKh (Ostankino district) or the outer part of Presnensky. 3-4 star hotels and apartments at much lower prices, with a direct metro link to the center in 15-20 minutes.
Where should I stay in Moscow if I’m with my partner or friends and want nightlife?
In Arbat or Tverskaya. They have the most restaurants, bars and after-hours atmosphere.
Where should I stay in Moscow if I’m with kids or want quiet?
In Yakimanka (Tretyakov area) or in Basmanny (Myasnitskaya Street). Calm neighborhoods that are still fully central.
Where should I stay in Moscow on a business trip?
In Moscow City, the international business center. The skyscrapers concentrate modern hotels, meeting rooms and restaurants.
Where should I stay in Moscow at Christmas and New Year?
In Kitay-Gorod, Tverskoy, Arbat or VDNKh. They have the best Christmas decorations and the most spectacular festive atmosphere.
Does Booking.com work for booking Moscow hotels?
No. Since 2022, Booking.com has not been showing hotels in Russia or allowing reservations. The alternative I recommend is Zenhotels, a Russian platform with the same inventory that does accept foreign cards. You’ll find the full step-by-step in my article on how to book accommodation in Russia.
Are international chains like Marriott or Hilton still open in Moscow?
The Marriott, Hilton, Hyatt and IHG (Holiday Inn, Crowne Plaza, InterContinental) brands officially suspended operations in Russia after 2022. However, the buildings keep operating under Russian management with local brands (Cosmos, Safmar, Azimut, Artcourt). The Accor brands (Novotel, Mercure, Ibis), Radisson, Lotte and Kempinski are still active in Moscow.
