Vinegret Hostel

Rooms and decor

Dorms come in 4-, 6- and 8-bed setups, each bed with its own locker and a bedside power outlet. There are private rooms too, for anyone who wants their own space at a price still far below a regular hotel. Bedding is clean and changed regularly, and reviews single out the cleanliness and the staff's extra care. The shared bathrooms are clean and there are enough of them. The overall feel is warm and friendly — not the cage-like standard-issue hostel.

Food and amenities

The free Wi-Fi is fast enough to stream, and the shared kitchen is fully equipped with a fridge and microwave. There's no restaurant, spa or pool — but at around $29 a night, what's here is already more than enough. The area around the hostel has food options at every price point, with convenience stores and supermarkets close to hand for self-catering in that shared kitchen, and the staff are glad to recommend good local spots that won't cost much. It's the kind of place where you cook a cheap breakfast and save your money for the city itself.

Location and getting there

Aleksandrovsky Sad metro is a 500 m walk and connects to the main subway lines. Walk through the lovely Aleksandrovsky Garden and you reach the Kremlin in about 15 minutes, with Red Square roughly 20 minutes on foot. The neighbourhood is quieter and calmer than the dead center, yet still puts everything within easy reach by metro. That walk to the Kremlin through the park is especially good in spring and summer.

Things to know before booking

The dorms come with the usual trade-off: no privacy, and in the 8-bed room you're sharing with up to seven others, so light sleepers should book a private room. Facilities are basic by hostel standards — no restaurant, no spa, no pool. And it fills up fast in high season, so book at least two weeks ahead to be sure of a bed.

Our take

Vinegret — named after the traditional Russian salad that mixes everything together — proves a Moscow hostel can score a genuine 9.0/10. It's the pick for backpackers, students and solo travelers who want to spend as little as possible in Moscow but won't put up with somewhere boring or dirty. If your budget tops out around $43 a night and you want to be within walking distance of the Kremlin, this is the best choice in the city, no question.