Hotel Beresta
by the TopOfHotel team
Hotel Beresta is the 4-star with a warm indoor pool open right through the Russian winter — a rarity in a city this size.
Hotel Beresta is the 4-star with a warm indoor pool open right through the Russian winter — a rarity in a city this size.
In-Depth Review
Rooms and decor
Hotel Beresta is the most fully-equipped 4-star in Veliky Novgorod, and the rooms match the billing. They start at 25 sqm and run spacious, decorated in a modern style mixed with classic European touches, with air-con, a flat-screen TV, free Wi-Fi, a safe and a good-size bathroom. The Family Suites sleep 3-4, which makes this one of the easier places in town to put a couple and their kids in a single room.
Food and amenities
The headline here is the wellness floor, and it is genuinely complete for a city this size. There is a mid-size indoor pool kept warm and open year-round, so the hard Russian winter never shuts it down — plus a Finnish sauna, a Russian banya, a steam room and massage rooms. The gym carries both cardio machines and weights, and all of it is free for guests. The hotel restaurant and bar serve Russian and international dishes, though a few reviews note the breakfast spread is not especially varied.
Location and getting there
Beresta sits in a residential pocket of the city, about 1.5-2 km from the Novgorod Kremlin. A taxi covers that in 5-7 minutes and costs very little in Russia, or you can walk it in roughly 20-25 minutes. The train station is around 1.5 km away, and there is large free parking for anyone who has driven in.
Things to know before booking
The main trade-off is the location: at 1.5-2 km from the Kremlin, you are not stepping straight into the old town and will want a short ride most days. It is also a big hotel, so service can feel less personal than at a small boutique, and the breakfast draws the occasional gripe for being thin on variety.
Our take
If you are travelling with family or just want a pool and a sauna at the end of a cold day of sightseeing, Hotel Beresta is the clear pick in Veliky Novgorod. You give up a central address, but at rates from about $60 a night, with a year-round indoor pool and a full 8.5/10 score behind it, the trade lands in your favour.
Score Breakdown
Assessed by our editorial team from data and real guest reviews
The Honest Verdict — pros & what to know
- The indoor pool is kept warm and open year-round, so the Russian winter never closes it — a real rarity for a city this size.
- A proper wellness floor with a Finnish sauna, Russian banya, steam room, massage rooms and a gym carrying both cardio machines and weights, all free for guests.
- Spacious 4-star rooms from 25 sqm, with Family Suites that sleep 3-4 — an easy fit for families travelling with kids.
- An on-site restaurant and bar serving Russian and international dishes, so you do not have to go out for dinner.
- Large free parking, handy if you have driven in from St. Petersburg or Moscow.
- It sits about 1.5-2 km from the Novgorod Kremlin in a residential area, so reaching the old town means a 5-7 minute taxi or a 20-25 minute walk rather than stepping straight out the door.
- This is a big hotel, so the service can feel less personal than you would get at a small boutique.
- Some guest reviews note the breakfast spread is not especially varied.
Who It’s For
Match Score by travel style
Amenities
Location & Nearby Spots
Things to do near Veliky Novgorod
Day tours, attraction tickets and experiences around Veliky Novgorod — book ahead on Klook with mobile e-tickets.
See activities in Veliky NovgorodAffiliate link — we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
Insider Tips
- The indoor pool runs year-round, which is a genuine bonus if you are travelling with kids in winter — build in pool time before or after sightseeing.
- Ask for a higher floor; from up there you can pick out the church domes across the city.
- A taxi to the Kremlin takes only 5-7 minutes and costs very little here, so it is worth taking rather than walking the full 20-25 minutes.