Guesthouses in downtown Rostov-on-Don

Before booking a hotel in Rostov, one question comes first — which bank of the Don to stay on. The river splits the city into two unequal halves, each with its own mix of hotels and price range.

The right bank is historic Rostov. This is where you'll find Bolshaya Sadovaya with its 19th-century merchant mansions, Gorky Park, Sobornyi Lane, and the Don embankment. The main railway station, the convention centers, and most of the chain hotels are also here. If you're traveling on business, or you've come to walk around and see the city, pick the right bank.

Locals call the left bank Levberdon. It's the city's dining and entertainment cluster — restaurants on stilts at the waterline, Don river fish on the menu, banquet venues, the Rowing Channel, and the 45,000-seat Rostov Arena stadium. There are fewer hotels than on the right bank, but they're more intimate, and almost all of them face the Don.

There are also two "utilitarian" districts you go to in order to solve a specific problem rather than to get to know the city. The Severny residential district along Lenina and Mikhail Nagibin avenues works for a budget business trip or an overnight stop on the way south. The Shchepkinskoye rural settlement near Platov Airport is convenient if you're flying out early in the morning or arriving late at night.

If you want to be ten minutes on foot from the fountains in Gorky Park, Sobornaya Square, or the Don embankment, look for a room in the area between Bolshaya Sadovaya and Sotsialisticheskaya Street. This compact square on the right bank makes a natural base for exploring Rostov.

• Don Plaza Congress Hotel — 115 Bolshaya Sadovaya. The hotel occupies a high-rise right on the main street. It has a congress hall and exhibition space. Rooms from 4,400 ₽.
• Mercure Rostov-on-Don — 35/107 Voroshilovsky Avenue. A chain four-star hotel two hundred meters from Bolshaya Sadovaya. A good fit for a business trip. Rates from 7,400 ₽.
• Rezidentsiya — 25 Suvorova Street. An intimate five-star property tucked away on a quiet lane. Guests can dine at the hotel's own restaurant. From 6,500 ₽.

You'll find the full list in the hotels in the center of Rostov-on-Don collection. Three-star options from 3,000 ₽ are there too, for travelers who only need a room to sleep in.

Levoberezhnaya Street is packed with restaurants, banquet halls, and hotels. People come here to try Don river fish, to catch a match at the stadium, and to look across at the right bank with the domes of the Cathedral. From the city center, the street is a ten-minute drive over the Voroshilovsky Bridge by car or taxi.

• Petrovsky Prichal Luxury Hotel & SPA — 45 Levoberezhnaya. The flagship of Levberdon, with a five-star spa, its own pier, and a restaurant over the water. Rooms from 11,990 ₽.
• Boutique Embargo — 72 bldg. 1 Levoberezhnaya. A boutique-format hotel with a few dozen rooms in custom interiors. From 14,400 ₽.
• Courtyard Marriott Rostov-on-Don — 2K Levoberezhnaya. A chain business hotel a short distance from the Voroshilovsky Bridge. A good pick if you're pairing a conference with a stadium visit. Rates from 7,600 ₽.

If you're planning a dinner with a view and want to try Don cuisine, take a look at the hotels with a restaurant collection. At many properties on Levoberezhnaya, the kitchen runs as a full city restaurant in the evening.

Platov Airport opened in 2017 in the Shchepkinskoye rural settlement, roughly 30–35 km from the center of Rostov-on-Don. The drive along the toll road takes about an hour. If your flight is early in the morning or late at night, it's easier to stay near the airport. For cases like that, there's a suitable option:

• 3A Rostov-on-Don Airport — 6 Magistralnaya Street. The inn sits a few minutes' taxi ride from the terminal. A fit for travelers waiting on a connection or facing an early departure. Rooms from 4,500 ₽.

If you're planning a long business trip or a short stop on the way to the sea, take a look at the Severny residential district. It runs along Lenina and Mikhail Nagibin avenues. The cheapest rooms and apartments in Rostov are here.

• Green Hall Apartments — 55 Prosveshcheniya Street. Apart-hotel rooms start at 1,750 ₽ per night — the lowest price in the city.