Moscow's culturally rich centre is a tourist's dream, with exorbitantly upscale hotels that have stood for a century or more next to some of the world's most treasured architecture. The success of Moscow's oil tycoons and business sectors has pushed prices up in the city, and the deluxe hotels are expensive even by European standards.

The Red Square is the most sought-after location for tourists, and guests enjoy excellent service and rooms with a view over St Basil's or the Kremlin. Prices drop the farther from the city centre you go, especially beyond the Garden Ring, though there is less to see and do at this distance from the city centre. The finest hotels are all centrally located, including the Ritz-Carlton, Le Royal Meridien National and the Baltschug Kempinski.

The Ritz-Carlton is relatively new and considerably more modern-looking than the other luxury hotels with its expansive glass panes. The Baltschug Kempinski is elegant and refined, and often gets featured in movies and television spots from Moscow. The Royal Meridien National boasts an impressive roster of past guests, including Lenin, and it continues to attract the world's most powerful elite.

Red Square is the cultural and architectural epicentre of Moscow, with masterpieces like the Kremlin and St Basil's Cathedral. Hotels in this area are the city's finest, boasting luxury rooms with views over all of these architectural masterpieces. This is where Russia's multimillionaires stay when visiting Moscow, and the reputable hotels here also host foreign dignitaries on a regular basis.

Kitai-Gorod is an impressive district east of the city centre, hemmed in by ancient fortifications and built up in an array of architectural styles ranging from Art Nouveau and Stalinist to Classical Russian. Tourists staying in this area have many cafés, bars and restaurants to choose from.

Russia's city streets work in concentric circles emanating from Red Square. The second circle is known as the Garden Ring and is home to several hotels. Guests in this district are likely to stay among 19th century mansions that occasionally give way to Stalinist architecture. Museums dedicated to Tolstoi and Pushkin are found here.

Once you've crossed outside of the Garden Ring, hotel prices drop significantly. Anyone considering a hotel in this area is wise to search close to a metro station. Otherwise, transportation to the main sites of the city centre can be a lengthy ordeal.

Across the river to the south of Red Square is Gorky Park with its many monuments. There is plenty of accommodation here as well, most of which is mid-range though there are a few budget hotels and even an upscale establishment or two.