Guesthouses in downtown Kostroma

The city's heart beats around Susaninskaya Square (locals call it "the frying pan"), Molochnaya Gora, 1st of May Street and the descent to the Volga embankment. Within this radius sit the 18th–19th century Trade Rows, the fire watchtower, the monument to Susanin and almost all of the main sights. If you're coming to see Kostroma, pick a place to stay here. From here, most points of interest can be covered on foot in a day.

There are no five-star hotels in the centre. The area mostly offers reliable three-star hotels in merchant buildings and a few four-star art projects.

• Hotel Solyanoy Sklad occupies a historic building at 9/4 Molochnaya Gora — two steps from the Trade Rows. Rates start at 8,000 ₽.
• Ostrovsky Prichal sits at 14 1st of May Street. It's a five-minute walk from the hotel to the Volga embankment. Rates start at 4,800 ₽.
• Art Hotel Skvorechnik is at 17b Tchaikovsky Street. It's a four-star hotel with custom interiors. Rooms from 8,775 ₽.

If you want more greenery, your own parking and a lower bill, head to Mira Avenue. It's a quiet district next to Berendeevka Park. From here you can reach Susaninskaya Square in 10–15 minutes by car or bus. There are noticeably fewer tourists, and around the hotels there's a forest, ponds and spots for a walk with children.

• Park Hotel Aristokrat at 157S Mira Avenue — from 3,300 ₽, with the park nearby and free parking.
• Greenfeel Kostroma at 1 Kommunarov Street — from 3,060 ₽, simple three-star rooms and a quiet courtyard.

Choose this district if you've come by car. Parking in the centre is paid and tight, and from here it's more convenient to drive out towards Kostroma Oblast and the Kostroma Sea.

Kostroma has a surprising number of guest houses and aparthotels. For a couple, a small family or a group staying three or more nights, this format is often a better deal than a regular room. Guest houses and aparthotels come with a kitchen, a washing machine and a separate living room, and the shared bill for two or three people works out lower than at a hotel.

• Volga&Veter Guest House is at 4B Yerokhov Street. It's a five-minute walk to the Volga, and rates start at 4,500 ₽.
• Aparthotel Na Volge is at 11 Schemilovka Street. An apartment with a river view starts at 7,320 ₽.

There's also a premium option: Svoi Lyudi guest house on Ostrovsky Street. Rates start at 15,000 ₽. It suits travellers coming to Kostroma as a group and planning to rent the house in full.

Just 30–60 minutes by car from the centre and you're on the banks of the Volga. Here the river feels homely and dacha-like: pines along the shore, anglers with rods, silence and calm. This option suits travellers who want to recharge — take a sauna, walk in the forest, fish, or go through medical treatments at a sanatorium.

• Sanatorium Lunyovo on the Volga is in the village of Lunyovo, 25 km from the centre. The main building stands right on the riverbank. Treatment packages start at 12,100 ₽ per night.
• Yasenevo Agropark is in the village of Lobastovo. It's a farm hotel starting at 7,150 ₽. The place suits families with children and anyone who dreams of watching horses and other animals right from their window.

You'll find the full set of options for short trips and groups with a car in the Recreation centers collection. It includes inexpensive cabins for 4–6 people and riverside lodges you can rent in full.