There is much variation in St Petersburg's hotel scene. St Petersburg is one of canals and bridges, many of which are lifted up of a night to allow for shipping traffic to pass so bear this in mind when choosing a hotel. Also beware of the White Nights festivals in late June, which sees the city swell to epic proportions.

St Petersburg has many quality top-end hotels, with most of the best international hotel chains represented here, along with plush local hotels. The very top hotels in St Petersburg include the Astoria, the Grand Hotel Europe, and the Radisson SAS Royal in Upper Nevsky Prospekt, and the Fifth Corner (Pyaty Ugol) in South Nevsky. They all come with outstanding facilities and service.

The Corinthia Nevsky Palace is another top-ender, which also has a playroom and babysitting. Other family-friendly hotels in St Petersburg include the Pribaltiiskaya with its beachfront setting on the Baltic, nearby Aquapark, and Alexander House.

Upper Nevsky Prospekt, the main thoroughfare in St Petersburg, has the most allure and easily has the best selection of hotels in the city. Here you will also find the most expensive hotel options, not just for the location but also for the depth in quality. The Grand Hotel Europe is one of the very best hotels in this part of St Petersburg. Most hotels here belong to the big international chain hotels, while Lower Nevsky Prospekt has cheaper hotels.

Quality hotel options in St Petersburg that needn't break the bank can be had in the so-called Soviet-era hotels, which generally lie outside the city centre. Although it is tougher to get into town, where many of these hotel towers are located away from metro stations, the money saved over the big chains is often significant. St Petersburg also has many mini-hotels in and around town, which easily offer the best price.

Hotel rooms in St Petersburg may not conform to the same rules as in your home country. Here suites, known as luxe or demi-luxe, generally feature two rooms although some feature one single, large room. Doubles in older St Petersburg hotels, particularly the Soviet-era ones, usually have two single beds, while newer ones sometimes offer a choice between two single beds and a double bed. Single rooms are often much cheaper than doubles if travelling by yourself so be sure to check ahead.