Grand. That’s how we’d describe Russia’s second city. Frequently referred to as the ‘Venice of the North’, this majestic city is choc-a-block with Baroque relics, huge palaces, cathedrals and lines of neoclassical buildings – all criss-crossed by impossibly picturesque canals.
But are hotels in this Russian city grand to match? Surely it’s expensive to stay in this place. And moreover: is it safe?
Don’t worry – we’ve got you covered. We’ve made a handy list that splits the best hostels in St Petersburg into handy categories to help you find the best one for you.
So whether you need somewhere near the airport, you want a somewhere good for your budget, or if you just want to stay somewhere that looks awesome, just take a look at our list of the best hostels in St Petersburg – we’re sure you’ll find something that fits!
The Best Hostels in St Petersburg: Round-up
Best Overall Hostel in St Petersburg – Soul Kitchen
Best Party Hostel in St Petersburg – ART Hostel Kultura
Best Hostel for Solo Travellers in St Petersburg – Baby Lemonade Hostel
Best Hostel near the Hermitage Museum – Suricatra Hostel
Best Hostel near Peter and Paul Fortress – LikeHome Hostel
Best Hostel near Moskovsky train station – Whose suitcase? Chei Chemodan?
Best Hostel near Pulkovo Airport – Metro Tour Hostel
Best High-end Hostel in St Petersburg – Netizen Saint Petersburg Centre
Best Cheap Hostel in St Petersburg – The Cuba Hostel
Best Hostel with a Private Room in St Petersburg – Chickadee Hostel
15 Best Hostels in St Petersburg
Best Overall Hostel in St Petersburg
• Soul Kitchen •
Why we like Soul Kitchen…
Firstly, what we like the most about this hostel are its credentials: being a multi-award-winning top hostel in St Petersburg is no mean feat, so we’re suitably impressed. This – plus its very friendly staff, the beautiful building in which it’s set, the little details that include everything from Soviet-era foosball to free international calls anytime – makes it easily the best overall hostel in St Petersburg.
Soul Kitchen is perfect for…
Looking for a cool St Petersburg hostel with a cool atmosphere to match? Well this one is a great, great choice. It’s won awards for the best hostel in Russia, and in Europe, but most amazingly of all, best hostel worldwide – over multiple years, too. Now if that doesn’t impress you, we don’t know what will!
Best Party Hostel in St Petersburg
• ART Hostel Kultura •
Why we like ART Hostel Kultura…
Whilst it is standard that there’s a no-alcohol policy in this St Petersburg backpackers hostel (it’s something of a norm across Russia), the amount of cool drinking establishments dotted around the yard where the hostel is located make it easy to sip on a few craft beers in the evening. We like that. Plus the hostel is pretty cool inside.
ART Hostel Kultura is perfect for…
If you’re looking for the best party hostel in St Petersburg, you’ve found it. Whilst this isn’t on par with party hostels in Southeast Asia – or even Europe – the booze runs freely just on the hostel’s doorstep, meaning you’ll be mingling with fellow travellers over a drink or two in the yard like a true local.
Best Hostel for Solo Travellers in St Petersburg
• Baby Lemonade Hostel •
Why we like Baby Lemonade Hostel…
As is so often the case, the staff at this top hostel in St Petersburg are what make it. Sure, we like the well designed interiors, the free tea and coffee all day, but a great atmosphere beats all the extras – and makes it our choice for the best hostel for solo travellers in St Petersburg.
Baby Lemonade Hostel is perfect for…
Backpackers travelling by themselves will very much enjoy the famously social atmosphere that’s cultivated here. That’s down to the incredible staff at this youth hostel in St Petersburg, of course, who are also incredibly helpful: if you need to know about cool things to do in the city, or even ideas on onward travel, they’re on hand to help out.
Best Hostel near the Hermitage Museum
• Suricata Hostel •
Why we Suricata Hostel…
You can’t get much closer to the world-famous Hermitage Museum without actually staying in it, we think. That’s right, Suricata Hostel is literally just a few steps away from the world’s second-largest museum, which of course includes the amazing Winter Palace. We also like that the staff are amazingly helpful!
Suricata Hostel is perfect for…
If you’re in town to see the stunning Winter Palace, or check out the huge museum of which it is a part, then staying at the best hostel near the Heritage Museum seems like a natural winner. If you appreciate staff who can help with other sights to see in St Petersburg, or with onward travel, then this is also a great choice.
Best Hostel near Peter and Paul Fortress
• LikeHome Hostel •
Why we like LikeHome Hostel…
Another major sight in St Petersburg is the incredible Peter and Paul Fortress – the original citadel of this beautiful city. Our choice for the best hostel near Peter and Paul Fortress comes with a bonus as the surrounding area is packed full of history, too, which we love. We also like the homely feel of this aptly named St Petersburg backpackers hostel.
LikeHome Hostel is perfect for…
Feel like being near one of St Petersburg’s main tourist sights? Or like the idea of staying somewhere that’s family-run and welcoming? Then this youth hostel in St Petersburg will be a good choice for you. The affordable cafes and restaurants in the surrounding area will suit anyone on a budget, too.
Best Hostel near Moskovsky Train Station
• Whose suitcase? Chei Chemodan? •
Why we like Whose suitcase? Chei Chemodan?…
We like that onward travel is so easy from this St Petersburg backpackers hostel: Moskokvsky station is just a few minutes’ walk away, meaning no metro navigation before you need to catch a train. We also like the calm vibe at the hostel, which also includes quiet spaces for a bit of laptop working if needs be.
Whose suitcase? Chei Chemodan? is perfect for…
Anyone thinking about using the trains in Russia, and is arriving at or leaving from St Petersburg via trains, will definitely benefit from staying at the best hostel near Moskovsky train station. Digital nomads will also enjoy the the common spaces of this hostel, meaning a chance to catch up on some work whilst also being near to the next stage of your journey.
Best Hostel near Pulkovo Airport
• Metro-Tour Hostel •
Why we like Metro-Tour Hostel…
Metro-Tour Hostel has a cute sense of interior design, which is something that we always appreciate – it’s got calm pastel tones and a nice minimalist feel that puts us at ease. We also like that it’s located near Moskovskaya Metro; the #39 bus from here goes directly to the airport, making arriving or leaving here via plane pretty easy.
Metro-Tour Hostel is perfect for…
If what you’re after is a spot of hassle-free travel, then staying at the best hostel near Pulkovo airport is a no-brainer. Ok, so it’s not exactly close, but nearby travel links make this St Petersburg backpackers hostel a good choice for its convenience alone. And if you want to stay somewhere with friendly staff, here’s a great place.
Best High-end Hostel in St Petersburg
• Netizen Saint Petersburg Centre •
Why we like Netizen Saint Petersburg Centre…
When it comes to stylish, we think this cool hostel in St Petersburg wins the prize. Eclectic mismatched furniture that provide contrasting styles and colour pops against the industrial chic of the polished concrete of the place makes it feel very hip and cutting-edge indeed. Top marks for style, we say – definitely the best high-end hostel in St Petersburg.
Netizen Saint Petersburg Centre is perfect for…
With a sister hostel in Moscow, too, this awesome, top hostel in St Petersburg is a fantastic choice for couples, digital nomads, flashpackers – anyone looking for a bit of quiet time, not after a typical backpacker-y experience in a ‘traditional’ hostel, but for more of a special, boutique experience; it also makes for a great environment in which to do a spot of remote work.
Best Cheap Hostel in St Petersburg
• The Cuba Hostel •
Why we like The Cuba Hostel…
The Cuba’s got our vote when it comes to value for money. Yes, this budget hostel in St Petersburg not only looks cool, but it also comes with a bit of history: it’s located in the same building that composer Rachmaninov lived and worked in. We love that fact. We also like the pub downstairs, which is pretty fun.
The Cuba Hostel is perfect for…
If you’re looking for a bargain, look no further; value for money is the name of the game at the best cheap hostel in St Petersburg. Everything about this place looks like it should cost more; the vibe is excellent; there’s a fun pub at street level; there’s free tea and coffee; generally, it’s a great option if you’re on a budget and fancy making friends with fellow guests.
Best Hostel with a Private Room in St Petersburg
• Chickadee Hostel •
Why we like Chickadee Hostel…
We utterly adore the rustic vibe that’s going on with this hostel’s decor: faded paint, chunky home-style tables, period features, sleek modern furniture – all of it mixes together into a cocktail of cool that we just love being in. This is the best hostel with a private room in St Petersburg: they look like something from a design magazine!
Chickadee Hostel is perfect for…
Style-conscious, trend-appreciating design-lovers will very much enjoy staying in this setting. We’d also say couples, since the private rooms are so nicely done, it’ll be like you’re staying in a boutique hotel rather than a budget hostel in St Petersburg; and as a couple, staying in nice, fancy-looking places like Chickadee is something you simply have to do!
More Best Hostels in St Petersburg
• Admiralty Hostel •
Why we like Admiralty Hostel…
Sophisticated private rooms, colourful dorms, a historical building – it’s all the sort of thing we like when it comes to design and aesthetic. We also like the price; it’s a budget hostel that’s nestled in a great, central location of St Petersburg, making it easy to get around and see the main sights.
Admiralty Hostel is perfect for…
Those looking for more of a hotel-esque experience will suit the atmosphere going on at Admiralty Hostel. For the price of a St Petersburg backpackers hotel, you get an environment that’s more suited to a hotel – and certainly not a budget one! It’s a great idea for anyone looking for somewhere easy on the wallet.
• Kino Hostel on Pushkinskaya •
Why we like Kino Hostel on Pushkinskaya…
We like the fun, cutesy design of this spacious youth hostel in St Petersburg – mainly, we love the Super Mario Bros. murals on the walls. We also love the location of this place: it’s just an easy 15-minute walk to the main street in St Petersburg, the famous Nevsky Prospekt.
Kino Hostel on Pushkinskaya is perfect for…
If you’re looking to meet and mingle with guests, this hostel may not be for you – it’s somewhat lacking in atmosphere. However, if you’re into a good location with comfortable spacious dorms, and you’re not too fussed about being social, then this place is for you. Better, we think, for a group of friends rather than a solo traveller.
• Traveller’s Palace •
Why we like Traveller’s Palace…
Situated in what was once a luxury building dating back to the early 20th century, this cool hostel in St Petersburg puts modern furnishings in amongst amazing period features, like ornate fireplaces, incredibly carved cornices and beautiful wooden floors. Naturally we love pretty much everything about the fanciful decor here!
Traveller’s Palace is perfect for…
Hipsters and flashpackers! Those who aren’t interested in a ‘traditional’ hostel experience – and like a touch of the finer things – will love staying in this beautiful old building. At the same time the atmosphere is friendly and social, meaning solo travellers will also benefit from a stay in this highly recommended hostel in St Petersburg.
• Simple Hostel Italy •
Why we like Simple Hostel Italy…
The location of this top hostel in St Petersburg is great, we think: it’s in the Tsentralny district, which is full of lovely examples of the Baroque and neoclassical architecture that makes this fine city so famous. We also like the cool decor and the fact that the staff on reception are so talkative and professional.
Simple Hostel Italy is perfect for…
If you’re looking to explore St Petersburg, this place would make a great base for that purpose. There are amenities and shops nearby, as well as historic sights; but on top of that, the staff are simply full of recommendations on what to see in this storied city, making it easy for you to plot your own tour of St Petersburg.
• Polosaty Hostel •
Why we like Polosaty Hostel…
We absolutely love the high ceilings, ornate carvings, elegant fireplaces, balconies, grand enfilade doors and much more besides at this very cool St Petersburg backpackers hostel. The owners want to bring you into the spirit of a pre-Revolution apartment – and they certainly achieve that, with additional fun and modern details which work very well indeed.
Polosaty Hostel is perfect for…
Another one for the design-conscious traveller, anyone sensitive to a cool interior will be interested in staying at this recommended hostel in St Petersburg. If you’re not interested in being in the centre of the city, this will suit you. And if you’re looking for value for money? Both the breakfast and laundry service are free!
Conclusion to the Best Hostels in St. Petersburg, Russia
Editor’s note – check out our guide to the best hostels in Moscow too!
So that’s it. Who knew that so many cool hostels in St Petersburg would be set in such beautiful buildings? If you love buildings, why not check out our best day trips from St Petersburg for some great local architecture and sightseeing.
Location is important, so we’ve made sure that these hostels in our guide also make for great bases when it comes to exploring this incredibly beautiful Russian city.
You could choose something near to the famous Nevsky Prospekt, which features heavily in quite a bit of Russian literature, or you could stay just a stone’s throw from the stunning Winter Palace. It’s up to you!
But if you still can’t decide? The best overall hostel in St Petersburg, Soul Kitchen, is a mutli-award-winner that’s bound to suit anyone’s taste and budget. Now all that’s left is for you to enjoy your trip to this elegant city!
