Veliky Novgorod
People come here to walk along the Kremlin (Detinets), whose walls stretch 1,487 meters, step inside the mid‑11th‑century St. Sophia Cathedral, and cross the bridge to Yaroslav's Court, where the medieval veche once assembled. In two days you can cover both banks of the Volkhov and make it out to St. George's Monastery — a compact crash course in pre‑Mongol Rus with no long transfers.
Two Banks of the Volkhov: The Detinets and Yaroslav’s Court
The Volkhov River splits Veliky Novgorod into two historic halves.
On the left bank lies the Sofia Side with the Kremlin — the Detinets. This is the heart of the Novgorod Museum‑Reserve. Within its ancient walls stand St. Sophia Cathedral (1045–1050), which holds the 12th‑century icon “Our Lady of the Sign” and the bronze Korsun Gates, the elegant Faceted Chamber (1433), and the monumental “Millennium of Russia” monument, featuring 129 key figures from Russian history. Walk along the fortress walls for a view of the city from above, then relax at Kremlin Beach at the foot of the towers.
Cross the pedestrian bridge and you’ll arrive at the Trade Side — the merchants’ half of the city. Here, at Yaroslav’s Court, history comes alive: on a small patch of ground by the water stand seven churches from the 12th–16th centuries and the arcade of the old Gostiny Dvor. Step into St. Nicholas Cathedral (1113) — nearly as old as the Detinets and the oldest church on the site. For the perfect sunset shots of the city, head to Alexander Nevsky Embankment: it offers the best view of the Sofia Side.
Vitoslavlitsy and St. George’s Monastery: A Half‑Day Trip
About 5–6 kilometers south of the center, where the Volkhov flows out of Lake Ilmen, sits St. George’s (Yuriev) Monastery, founded in 1030. On its grounds stands St. George’s Cathedral, built in 1119 — one of the oldest pre‑Mongol churches in the country.
Next to it is the Vitoslavlitsy Museum of Wooden Architecture. This open‑air exhibit lets you step inside old peasant huts, churches, and farmsteads from the 16th to early 20th centuries, all relocated here from villages around Novgorod.
You can walk from the monastery to Vitoslavlitsy in about five minutes. From the city center, bus No. 7 goes there; you can also take a taxi — the ride costs 300–500 ₽.
The best time to visit is June through August, when daytime temperatures stay around +21 °C. September is another good window: Kremlin Park is at its best in the golden autumn light.
In winter, temperatures run −3 to −4 °C, but the streets are quiet. And on January 8, Vitoslavlitsy hosts “Svyatki,” a Yuletide folk festival.
Getting to Veliky Novgorod:
- from St. Petersburg — take the “Lastochka” from Moskovsky Station (travel time: from 2 hours 5 minutes on the express service to 3 hours 10 minutes on the regular one);
- from Moscow — take the overnight train from Leningradsky Station.
Book your stay close to the Detinets. The city offers more than 127 places to stay, starting at 4,000 ₽ per night. Browse hotels in Veliky Novgorod.
The Volkhov Hotel sits by the embankment, while Yuryevskoe Podvorye is right across the road from the monastery.
Hotel search
Find a hotel in Veliky Novgorod among 1,600+ options: sort by the criteria that fit your trip
Popular places nearby
Popular hotels
Best time to visit
By season
By month
Map of Veliky Novgorod
Frequently asked questions about Veliky Novgorod
If you're coming for the Kremlin and the museum-reserve, pick the Sofiyskaya Side: from any hotel, the walk to the Detinets is no more than ten minutes. If you want to photograph the Kremlin across the Volkhov and stroll the pedestrian Alexander Nevsky Embankment, stay on the Torgovaya Side. The pedestrian Kremlin Bridge links the two banks and takes five minutes to cross. There's no wrong choice — the only difference is what your morning walk looks like.
The lowest price in the catalog is 2,500 ₽ per night for a room at the two-star Art Hotel Vernisazh on the Torgovaya Side. Here's what rooms cost across categories:
- three-star hotels in the center — from 3,163 ₽;
- four-star — from 6,110 ₽;
- five-star — from 15,650 ₽.
Apartments with a kitchen start at 3,000 ₽.
Yes, you can settle on the southern edge, along Yurievskoye Highway. The closest option in our pool is Apartments on Lugovaya Street, 2 (from 3,500 ₽). It's a fifteen-minute walk to the monastery gates from there. If you're driving, you can also stay in the center — from there, you can reach Vitoslavlitsy in ten minutes along Yurievskoye Highway.
High season runs from May to September. Expect long daylight hours, open exhibitions at Vitoslavlitsy, and festivals inside the Kremlin. The highest prices fall around the May holidays and in mid-summer.
In the shoulder seasons (April, October, and November), the same hotels offer noticeably cheaper rooms, and there are no lines at Saint Sophia Cathedral.
The train and bus stations sit next to each other on the Sofiyskaya Side, about a kilometer and a half from the Detinets. You can walk to the center in twenty minutes or take a bus along Karl Marx Avenue — the ride takes five minutes. Most hotels on the Sofiyskaya Side are between the station and the Kremlin, so you can easily reach them on foot with a suitcase.
- First, register on the website or download our handy mobile app.
- Enter your search parameters: dates, number of guests, filters by district or amenities. Click the “Search” button.
- You’ll see a list of available hotels that match your preferences. Find the right option.
- Carefully read all the conditions, choose a convenient payment method and pay for your booking.
- Right after payment, a confirmation email will arrive in your inbox.
Booking is instant — there’s no need to wait for the owner to reply — everything happens immediately.
The Moya Bron platform offers bonus deals for its users. Get up to 10% off your first booking and 2000 rubles as a gift when you book from 20,000 rubles.
How do you get it? Find the promo code on the homepage, copy it and activate it in the dedicated field at checkout.