The Best Luxury Hotels to Book in St Petersburg

A hotel that is as good as a landmark, the Belmond Grand Hotel Europe has been welcoming visitors at the heart of the city for 140 years. The hotel is adjacent to the Arts Square, thus neighbouring the Russian Museum and Mikhailovsky Theatre, and is just around the corner from the city’s main road, Nevsky avenue. Alongside exquisite rooms, the hotel offers shopping opportunities, a beauty salon and a fitness centre.

Conveniently tucked away from the bustling crowds of the city centre, Rossi Boutique Hotel is a stylish getaway for those who don’t mind spending a little extra time in their hotel – unwinding and relaxing. The building itself used to be an estate of a Russian count, who developed the land to house the former Maly (small) Theatre. The design was overseen by Karl Rossi, granting the hotel its current name. Both the Rossi Hotel exterior and interior are a tasteful mix of traditional Russian designs and modern elegance.

The Four Seasons Hotel in St Petersburg is housed in a 19th century historic palace in the heart of the city, guarded by two marble lions at the entrance. The building was originally designed by Auguste de Montferrand, who was also the architect behind St Isaac’s Cathedral and Alexander Column on Palace Square. The Palace served as the home of the prince Lobanov-Rostovsky and was later rented by the Ministry of War. Now the Four Seasons provides luxury accommodation for visitors of St Petersburg complete with a spa, pool and stunning views.

For a royal treatment it’s important to be in the right neighbourhood. The Kempinski Hotel has no rivals location-wise: the world acclaimed hotel is located right off Palace Square and is a five-minute walk away from the Hermitage Museum, also known as the Winter Palace. The hotel also has a selection of dining options that combine the best of Russian and French cuisine. A special treat is the rooftop Bellevue Brasserie, providing a panoramic view over the Saint Petersburg rooftops.

The Rocco Forte Astoria is akin to a city landmark. The hotel was first opened in 1912 and has hosted many eminent guests. Among them are renowned Russian poet Sergei Yesenin, his wife ballet dancer Isadora Duncan and writer Mikhail Bulgakov. In more recent times it was featured in a movie of the James Bond saga GoldenEye. The windows of the hotel look out onto St Isaac’s Cathedral, one of the largest cathedrals in the world, while the hotel is a short walk from major tourist attractions and the Neva river embankment.

The Taleon Imperial Hotel has aimed to preserve the grandeur of the 18th century palace and combine it with modern luxury. During the first century of its existence the palace hosted many famous people to balls and social events. It later came into possession of the wealthy Eliseev family, who resided here until the Bolshevik Revolution of 1917. The building survived through the Soviet era as a House of Arts and now welcomes visitors to stay within its historic walls.

This address is a museum turned hotel – the building of the Trezzini Palace Hotel dates back to 1723, only 20 years after the establishment of St Petersburg. It takes its name from Domenico Trezzini, of the city’s main architects. The hotel does not aim for size, rather for quality with only 21 suites available, so make sure to book in advance.