Guide to Gay Friendly Hotels in Saint Petersburg Russia (2023 Updated)

As very traditional Christian Orthodox society, Russia is mostly not as much frowned and it is a conservative country especially for gays but in the capital city of Moscow you can find a few gay friendly bars and as well gay friendly hotels Saint Petersburg, a popular tourist destinations in Russia.

Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people in Russia face legal and social challenges not experienced by non-LGBT persons. Although same-sex sexual activity between consenting adults in private was decriminalized in 1993, homosexuality is disapproved of by most Russians, and same-sex couples and households headed by same-sex couples are ineligible for the legal protections available to opposite-sex couples.

Despite a Russian law outlawing the ‘promotion’ of homosexuality to minors, St Petersburg remains a generally safe place for gay travellers.

St. Petersburg is a Russian port city on the Baltic Sea. It was the imperial capital for 2 centuries, having been founded in 1703 by Peter the Great, subject of the city’s iconic “Bronze Horseman” statue. It remains Russia’s cultural center, with venues such as the Mariinsky Theatre hosting opera and ballet, and the State Russian Museum showcasing Russian art, from Orthodox icon paintings to Kandinsky works.

Top attractions to visit in St. Petersburg

• The State Hermitage Museum
• Church of the Savior on Spilled Blood
• Grand Peterhof Palace
• Catherine Palace and Park
• Tsarskoye Selo State Museum Preserve

 Best Day Trips in St Petersburg

• 1-Day St Petersburg PRIVATE Excursion to Peterhof & Tsarskoye Selo
• ALL INCLUSIVE: Full Day Tour of St Petersburg
• Private Imperial Residences Day Trip to Peterhof and Catherine Palace by Car
• 1-Day St. Petersburg PRIVATE ALL INCLUSIVE GRAND TOUR Skip-the-line
• Private Custom Guided Tour with Driver for a Day

See all Day Trips in St Petersburg on GetYourGuide Russia.

1. The State Hermitage Museum Official Hotel 5* – Gay Friendly Hotels St Petersburg Russia

This exclusive 5-star hotel is set in the 1830s mansion in the centre of Saint Petersburg and represents the atmosphere of the original Hermitage Museum. A fitness centre, a spa and wellness centre and free Wi-Fi are also featured.

The luxurious rooms and suites of The State Hermitage Museum Official Hotel Saint Petersburg offer elegant furnishings, designed by Italian woodwork masters from Florence. Every room includes a flat-screen TV, a minibar and a private bathroom decorated with Italian and Greek marble and fitted with bathrobes.

Michelangelo Boutique Restaurant offers traditional Italian dishes and exquisite desserts. The quiet Lobby Bar welcomes guests to the tradition of Russian pastime of tea drinking. The elegant Catherine the Great Restaurant serves Russian cuisine based on the menu of the historic Winter Palace.

Set 4 km from the State Hermitage Museum, this regal hotel is also 4 km from the Winter Palace and 1 km from shopping along bustling Nevsky Avenue.

Refined rooms feature free Wi-Fi, flat-screen TVs and marble bathrooms, plus minibars and tea and coffee making facilities. Suites add living areas and Nespresso machines; some feature fireplaces, dining areas and/or terraces. Room service is available.

Amenities include an upscale restaurant and an Italian eatery, as well as a lobby bar and event space. There’s also a gym, a spa and an indoor pool, plus a hot tub, a sauna and a hammam. Breakfast is available for a fee.

The five star Official State Hermitage Hotel is conveniently located in the heart of Dostoyevsky historical neighborhood, where some of novels of the famous Russian writer took place. It is only a 10 minute ride on a complimentary shuttle bus to reach the State Hermitage Museum. Vladimirsky Cathedral, Dostoevsky Apartment Museum and Nevsky Prospect are within walking distance. Three metro stations can be easily accessed and are situated close to the Hotel.

The luxurious rooms and suites of The State Hermitage Museum Official Hotel Saint Petersburg offer elegant furnishings, designed by Italian woodwork masters from Florence. Every room includes a flat-screen TV, a minibar and a private bathroom decorated with Italian and Greek marble and fitted with bathrobes. The Official State Hermitage Hotel offers services of two restaurants: traditional Russian cuisine at Catherine the Great and Italian dishes at Michelangelo Restaurant.

The State Hermitage is a very comfortable luxury hotel with spacious rooms, nice bathrooms, good restaurants and breakfasts, and courteous helpful staff. It has much to commend it if you want somewhere comfortable and quiet. But in spite of the fact there were quite a few people staying it is very quiet in reception areas with an almost deserted bar so lacks buzz. On the flip side that makes it quiet. It’s probably because the name itself is misleading. The only connection between it and the Hermitage it would seem is the free bus.

In fact it’s two metro stops (metro is easy to use, cheap and efficient by the way) from the centre and the Hermitage. It’s because of the distance that it’s quiet – I assume guests stay i the central area and come back to recuperate. That said the location isn’t bad there is a street full of restaurants and teeming with life until the early hours 5 mins away and the Main Street is 10 mins away, with the main station 15. So if it’s luxury and comfort you want a good place. If it’s atmosphere and buzz try one of the many more central high standard hotels.

The lobby featured a pianist or harpist in the evening and added to the effect. Our room was comfortable and stunning. I loved the two large closets with plenty of drawers for storage. The bathroom was spacious with a wonderful shower and soaking tub. Our housekeeping service was the best, and kept us stocked in toiletries, water, etc. during our six-night stay.

The location was quiet, but the name is deceptive as the hotel is not a close walk to the Hermitage or central tourist area (if I did not know this prior to arriving, I would have been disappointed). However, there is quite a large group of restaurants only three blocks away, plus a convenient grocery store just half a block away (note that liquor sales close at 10 pm although the store is open until 11 pm). Also the main boulevard with malls, souvenir stores and restaurants is only a few blocks away. Our room 506 was very comfortable but our friend stayed in room 501 which seemed cozier and special, under the eaves with pullout windows opening to a walkway along the roof.

On the night of the Scarlet Sails we watched the fireworks in the distance from the rooftop restaurant. We loved the extensive buffet breakfast, including caviar and champagne on Sunday.

How much does a room costs at The State Hermitage Museum Official Hotel ?

Prices start 159$/night for Premium Double Room. The Hermitage Suite is  530$/room per night with breakfast included – if coming on a honeymoon this is the perfect choice for gay couples.

This air-conditioned two-level suite features elegant furnishing designed by Italian woodwork masters from Florence. The room comes with a flat-screen TV, a minibar and a private bathroom decorated with Italian and Greek marble. Owing to the ceiling-high windows, these suites are brightened with a broad daylight. The bathrooms are decorated with marble and supplied with Hermès toiletries.

Where to book online – The State Hermitage Museum Official Hotel – Gay Friendly Hotels Saint Petersburg Russia – you can find the best hotels deals in Saint Petersburg during White Nights of St. Petersburg Music Festival which is celebrated with much enthusiasm in Saint Petersburg on Booking.com or  Trip.com or Hotelscombined.com and see more reviews on TripAdvisor.

2. Hotel Ibis St Petersburg Centre 3* – Gay Friendly Hotels Saint Petersburg Russia

This hotel in the heart of St. Petersburg is just a 5-minute walk from Nevsky Prospekt’s shops and only 500 m from Moscow Railway Station. In-room WiFi is free.

Rooms at Ibis St. Petersburg Centre have air conditioning, satellite TV and a work desk. The en suite bathrooms are stocked with a hairdryer and free bathroom amenities.

Ibis Kitchen Restaurant serves Mediterranean cuisine. The hotel also offers Ibis Lounge Bar, where guests can enjoy refreshing drinks and light snacks.

Set 4 km from the State Hermitage Museum, this unpretentious downtown hotel is a 9-minute walk from Moscow train station and 2 km from the shops along Nevsky Prospect.

The relaxed rooms provide free Wi-Fi, wood floors and flat-screen TVs. Some have sitting areas.

A breakfast buffet (surcharge) is served in a rustic Mediterranean restaurant that has tile floors.

This hotel is close to 2 metro stations and 1 train station, what makes it easily reachable by public transport, even for those arriving by air (bus n.39 + metro).

It was quite empty when we were there (winter) and they assigned us the accessible room, which is much bigger than the ordinary ones: very good.

We didn’t eat in the hotel, as there was a lot of options in the mall one block away (including a supermarket).

They offer free Wi-Fi in the room, what is always a valuable plus.

A short walk from Nevsky Prospekt and Moskovsky Vokzal (the main or “Glavniy” railway station), this is a good budget hotel close to Galeria with its fantastic ground floor supermarket and surrounded by 24-hour shops and bakery kiosks. Officially you can’t buy alcohol after 2200. It was a pleasant 30-40 minute walk to the Hermitage.

Efficient check-in and visa registration (no extra charge). Rooms are standard Ibis size and quality and this felt like a reasonably new hotel. ATMs on premises – VTB bank 24 offers a choice of large or small denomination notes. Between Metro stations Ploshchad Vosstaniya and Ligovsky Prospekt, this is just on the edge of being central.

Hotel was close to a massive shopping centre which was handy at times, as well as close to public transport, buses and train. The room was adequate, breakfast was good, we had one meal from the restaurant and was ok. Staff were not too bad and as our trip went on I and I realized there is zero customer service in Russia, so they were probably as good as we encountered.

Good location. Walking distance to metro (subway) stations.

Good hotel restaurant – good variety of food for breakfast, and delicious food for dinner also.
Rooms were clean and well-maintained however at times a bit too warm and we were not able to adjust the temperature (the air-con in the room had a ‘cooling’ function where you can set the temperature but that didn’t seem to work) but that was only a minor issue and didn’t bother us too much.

Overall a good hotel and we will stay there again and recommend to others.

ust a 30-minute taxi ride from Pulkovo Airport. The location is strategic and just a 5 to 10-minute walk north to Leningrad Hero City Obelisk @ Nevsky Ave (like the Champs-Élysées of Saint Petersburg). The newish hotel is housed in a 9-storey building. The check-in experience with friendly Masha was excellent (in spite of the typically officious Russian guest registration procedures) and a great welcome to the city which included a complimentary and refreshing Russian lager.

My room 513 was compact with an even more compact bathroom but very typical of the clean lines of an Ibis room prototype. Bright and cheerful but not much of a view. The best thing is everything worked and was absolutely spotless! Most importantly the bedding was clean and fresh-smelling. So were the two sets of towels. Loved the firm bed. Aside from the shower/shampoo dispenser provided in the shower, please remember to bring along all your other toiletries or buy from their list. Slippers are available only on request.

Breakfast starts at a mind-boggling 4am (thoughtfully catering to those with early flights). The spread may not be luxurious but it is wholesome, tasty and plentiful. My favourites – the fresh breads, pickled herring, tomatoes and cold cuts. Robust and filling. Ibis scores well within its 3-star rating. It does not try to become what it isn’t. This rates an 9/10 recommendation.

How much does a room costs at Ibis St Petersburg Centre?

Prices start 50$/night for Standard Double Room. 

A warmly decorated room featuring free Wi-Fi, a flat-screen TV and a work desk.

Where to book online – Ibis St Petersburg Centre – Gay Friendly Hotels Saint Petersburg Russia – you can find the best hotels deals in Saint Petersburg during White Nights of St. Petersburg Music Festival which is celebrated with much enthusiasm in Saint Petersburg on Booking.com or  Trip.com or Hotelscombined.com and see more reviews on TripAdvisor.

3. Novotel St Petersburg Centre 4* – LGBT Friendly Hotels Saint Petersburg

Novotel St. Petersburg Centre is located 200 m from Nevsky Prospect and within a 4-minute walk of Ploshchad Vosstaniya and Mayakovskaya Metro Stations. It offers a gym, varied cuisine and rooms with hot drinks facilities.

The interiors of Novotel St Petersburg Centre are contemporary and attractive. In-room comforts include satellite flat-screen TV, electric kettle, mini fridges and air conditioning.

The property’s Gourmet Bar features a summer terrace. It combines a bar where guests can relax with a drink, and a restaurant serving European and Russian dishes prepared from local produce .

Many shops can be reached on foot from the Novotel St. Petersburg. The public transport allows easy access to St Petersburg’s attractions, including the Hermitage, Russian Museum and Mariinsky Theatre.

This classic hotel is a 12-minute walk from the Dostoevsky Museum (set in the writer’s former apartment) and 4 km from the Mariinsky Theatre.

The low-key rooms feature WiFi, flat-screen TVs, and tea and coffee making facilities. Suites add separate living rooms.

Amenities include a relaxed restaurant offering international dishes, a deli and a lobby bar, plus an exercise room and a hammam.

The Novotel St. Petersburg Centre, a 4 star hotel located in the very heart of the historical centre of St. Petersburg close to all main attractions: the Hermitage, Mikhailovsky Theatre, Russian art museum, the Cathedral of Our Lady of Kazan, Summer garden and Marsovo Field. A perfect base to explore the city centre. Relaxing accommodation in quiet surroundings 100 meters away from Nevsky Prospect with its nightlife, bar scene and shopping.

This property is conveniently located next door to Nevsky Prospekt and many restaurants around. The front desk staff is very helpful and friendly. The breakfast is one of the best in any Accor hotel. I loved to stay here.

This is a well located hotel, and the staff were excellent.
They were pleasant and helpful, nothing was too much trouble for them.
We walked from the train station upon our arrival from Moscow, even with the snow. It was less than 10 minutes, and was to be the same in a taxi.

Breakfast selection was good and varied each day. We had a half board option with dinner, and although choices were only from 2, dinner was lovely each night. It was great to not have to go out and look for meals. Again, staff were accommodating of our needs – sometimes we needed an early dinner, and had dessert upon our return from the theatre.

This is a nice, clean hotel that is located in a good walking location. The lobby/bar area is friendly and inviting, and the staff is really good. The views are quite crowded, and the rooms are compact, but for the value it is a good place to stay. The staff is particularly helpful.

The hotel is located just off Nevsky Prospekt and there is a metro station just around the corner as well as a range of restaurants and bars nearby.

The hotel itself is nice, rooms are quite spacious, my only issue is the separate toilet – good if someone is in the shower, but you still need to interrupt to wash your hands! Staff were polite and helpful even though the hotel was very busy.

Hotel restaurant is delicious, both breakfast buffet and evening meals were of high standards with lots to eat and efficient service.

Good location just off Nevsky Prospekt and away from the thunderous traffic.Quirky style of hotel with comfortable rooms although some people may not like the separate toilet and bathroom next to the bed! Smallish rooms but kept v. clean.Although near nevsky Prospekt still quite a long walk to the main sights ( Hermitage /church on spilled blood etc.)  Breakfast was plentiful with lots of choice. The restaurant was also pleasant in the evening and the staff were friendly and helpful.

The hotel is in 2 buildings so can be a long walk if you need to visit reception and you’re in the second building. The rooms are very nice with good facilities including a kettle etc. The room layout is interesting with the toilet separate to the bathroom, so you have to go between the rooms to wash your hands after! There was also a separate shower cubicle which i didn’t even noticed until after I had already had a shower using the overhead shower attachment in the bath!

Check in and check out was smooth and Polina was really sweet and helpful.

Location is good and you can walk to the main sights or alternatively get the metro.
There are plenty of shops and places to eat and drink in the local area. I would recommend this hotel to anyone looking to stay in a decent hotel on a budget.