Hotels in Moscow: where to stay and which ring or district fits you

Central Moscow is easiest to read as a set of nested rings. The Bely Gorod fortress turned into the Boulevard Ring and Zemlyanoy Gorod into the Garden Ring, and that is how the centre took shape. The Boulevard Ring is formed by ten boulevards, is more than 9 km long and is shaped like a horseshoe, so it is not a closed circle. The Garden Ring is about 16 km long, occupies the area of the former defensive walls and is the main circular road around central Moscow. It emerged in the 1820s, replacing ramparts that no longer had military value.

Staying within or near the Garden Ring keeps you close to the main sights and metro lines.

• Around Red Square: suited to travellers who want the classic landmarks.
• Kitay-Gorod and Tverskoy: often recommended for first-timers. Kitay-Gorod is one of Moscow's oldest districts, mixing medieval walls, baroque churches and contemporary bars. Tverskoy suits those who value convenience.
• Arbat: a historic pedestrian street, good for strolling and dining, with cafés and small museums on the side streets.
• Zamoskvorechye: across the river from the Kremlin, a district of narrow lanes, pastel-coloured houses and old churches. The Tretyakov Gallery, Russia's premier collection of national art, is here.

The hotels below are 5-star options from our catalogue. Scores and review counts are given as stored in our database, and addresses are left as they appear in the database record. We do not assign the hotels to districts; check the location from the address and on a map.

• National Hotel: 5 stars, guest score 8.9 (135 reviews). Address: ulitsa Mohovaya, 15/1, stroyeniye 1, Moscow.
• Four Seasons Hotel Moscow: 5 stars, guest score 9.2 (6 reviews). Address: ulitsa Ohotnyij Ryad, d. 2, Moscow.
• Savoy Hotel: 5 stars, guest score 9.2 (25 reviews). Address: ulitsa Rozhdestvenka 3/6, bldg.1, Moscow.
• Baltschug Kempinski Moscow Hotel: 5 stars, guest score 8.4 (73 reviews). Address: ulitsa Balchug, 1, Moscow.
• Swissôtel Krasnye Holmi Moscow: 5 stars, guest score 8.8 (59 reviews). Address: Kosmodamianskaya nab., 52, bld.6, Moscow.
• Sadovoe Koltso hotel: 5 stars, guest score 8.8 (21 reviews). Address: Prospect Mira, 14, bld. 2, Moscow.

June, July and August are usually the warmest months, with average highs of around 24 °C and average lows of around 13 °C. Summer is also known for thunderstorms and heavy rainfall, so a light rain jacket is worth packing. Winter, from November to March, is bitterly cold and snowy, with average temperatures between −9 °C and −3 °C. If you do not mind the cold, you will find fewer tourists.

Entry conditions differ by nationality and can change over time, so check the current rules for your own nationality with official sources before you book. Also review the check-in and check-out times on the hotel page when you reserve.