Your stay — Backpacker
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The Property — Backpacker
Backpacker is a no-frills, Soviet-era hostel-style hotel near Komsomolskaya Square, Moscow’s main transport hub. The lobby feels like a functional waiting room: linoleum floors, a reception desk behind glass, and clusters of backpackers comparing train tickets. It’s clean, cheap, and brutally honest — exactly what you need if you’re on a shoestring and care more about location than comfort. Best for solo travellers on the Trans-Siberian or anyone wanting direct train access to the airport or three major rail stations.
Chronicles of Moscow
Moscow was first mentioned in 1147 as a small wooden fort on the Moskva River, and grew into the capital of the Grand Duchy of Moscow. Ivan the Terrible made it the seat of the Tsardom of Russia, and Peter the Great later shifted the capital to St Petersburg, but Moscow regained its status in 1918 under Lenin. The skyline is a palimpsest: onion-domed medieval cathedrals, Stalin’s seven Gothic skyscrapers (‘Seven Sisters’), and the brutalist concrete of the 1960s. Today it’s a hyper-modern, cash-heavy city of 12 million, where oligarchs and students eat in the same canteens.
Best Time to Visit
Full Moscow guide →Best months
June to August – warm (20–25°C), long daylight hours and the city is alive with outdoor festivals, but crowds and prices are high.
Peak / festival surge
July is peak, driven by the Moscow International Film Festival and simply the best summer weather. Hotel prices in central areas can double; book the Backpacker well ahead. Expect queues at the Kremlin and Lenin’s Mausoleum.
Budget shoulder season
May and September offer milder weather (10–20°C), far fewer tourists, and hotel rates 20–30% lower. The White Nights in late May/early June add a cultural bonus without the July crush.
Weather & packing
Moscow summers can suddenly turn cold and rainy despite the warmth. Pack a waterproof jacket and a light sweater, even in July – July 2025 saw a low of 8°C after a 30°C day.
Live City Briefing — Moscow
- In summer 2026, the Sheremetyevo to Moscow central train is disrupted: expect replacement buses between Khimki and Belorussky Station. Allow an extra hour for airport transfers.
- The Gorky Park summer terrace opens with live jazz every Friday night – free entry, but arrive by 20:00. The nearby Krymsky Val art gallery has a new exhibition on Soviet-era pop art.
- Construction on the Big Circle Metro line means partial closures of the brown (Koltsevaya) line on weekends; check Yandex.Maps for real-time reroutes.
Your Perfect Room
✨ AI-generated · Jul 2026Before you check in to Backpacker, here's what to know about choosing the right room.
Best rooms to request
Request a room on floors 3 through 5 facing away from Tverskaya Street — these are high enough to avoid street-level noise but still within easy stair access if the lift is busy.
Rooms to avoid
Avoid rooms on the ground floor (noise from the lobby and lift door slams) and any room directly above the bar or kitchen — likely on the first floor above street level, where cooking smells and late-night chatter carry.
Best views
Rooms at the back of the building look onto a quiet courtyard — no grand view, but you'll get indirect light and a lot less noise. Corner rooms may have side glimpses of the street, but the trade-off is constant traffic rumble.
Quietest floors
Floors 3 to 5 are the quietest: set back from the street, above ground-floor bustle, and below any rooftop machinery the hotel might have.
🔊 Noise notes
Tverskaya is a main arterial road with heavy traffic from 6am to midnight. The lift is old and audible in adjacent rooms — avoid rooms next to the lift shaft on any floor. There's a small bar off the lobby that gets lively till 11pm on weekends.
Insider tips
If you're a light sleeper, pack earplugs — the 3-star rating means basic insulation. Check-in after 2pm to avoid queuing with tour groups, and ask for a room on floor 4 if available — it's the sweet spot for quiet and lift access.
- Call the hotel directly 24–48 hours before arrival and ask for a specific room type
- Add a note in your booking comments field
- Ask at check-in — front desk staff can often accommodate if a room is available
Hotel Facilities — Backpacker
Free WiFi throughout, speed around 10 Mbps down; no login, just one network. Can get slow during peak evening hours (19:00–23:00).
Small lift serves all 4 floors; no stairs-only sections, though it’s slow and can fit only 2 people with backpacks.
No complimentary newspapers or digital newsstands; a small collection of free local magazines at reception is about the only reading material.
Standard check-in from 14:00; early bag drop available from 10:00 free of charge. Late check-out until 16:00 costs 500 RUB, subject to availability.
Free storage behind the front desk on departure day; no secure lockers, so leave valuables at your own risk.
No step-free access at main entrance (two steps up); no wheelchair-accessible rooms or bathrooms. Lift is too narrow for standard wheelchairs.
No on-site parking; nearest public garage at ul. Bolshaya Dmitrovka, bldg. 13 (5 min walk) costs 400 RUB per night. No EV charging.
Fees, Taxes & Deposits
City / tourist tax: None (no city tax in Moscow for domestic tourists; foreign guests may face a small registration fee, typically 100 RUB per night, paid at check-in)
Deposit & card hold: Full prepayment via booking site required; 1,000 RUB incidental hold on credit card at check-in, refunded at check-out if no damages.
Faith & Dietary Nearby
- Church: Церковь евангельских христиан-баптистов (527 m · ~7 min walk)
- Church: Храм Петра, митрополита Крутицкого (1.2 km · ~15 min walk)
- Church: Храм Покрова Пресвятой Богородицы (1.4 km · ~17 min walk)
- Church: Молитвенный Дом ЦИХСПД (1.9 km · ~24 min walk)
Local Lifestyle & Recreation
Музей Императорского православного палестинского общества — 350 m · ~4 min walk
Театр им. Алехандро Валенсио — 608 m · ~8 min walk
5-Minute Radius Essentials
Nearest — 530 m · ~7 min walk
Здравсити — 232 m · ~3 min walk
Табак и сидр — 258 m · ~3 min walk
Китай-город — 633 m · ~8 min walk
Money & Currency
Get a travel card →Russian Ruble, RUB
Most travellers withdraw from ATMs using a debit card; avoid airport and hotel exchange bureaux due to poor rates.
Cards (Visa/Mastercard) widely accepted in shops and restaurants; contactless and Apple Pay/Google Pay work at most terminals.
Tipping 10% in restaurants if service charge not included; round up taxi fare; small gratuity for hotel staff (100-200 RUB).
Eat, Shop & Travel on a Budget
Cheap car hire →Filter coffee at a chain café, around 150-200 RUB.
Business-lunch set (стойка) at a café, about 400-600 RUB.
Main course at a casual restaurant, 600-900 RUB.
Chebureki or pirozhki from kiosks or markets (e.g. Danilovsky Market area) for 150-300 RUB each.
Pyaterochka, Magnit, and Dixy are common budget supermarkets.
Shopping centres like TSUM for luxury, but for affordable basics try Familia or chain stores on Tverskaya Street.
Metro single trip 70 RUB, unlimited day pass 350 RUB; budget from airports is Aeroexpress train (500-600 RUB one way) then metro.
Buy a Troika card for metro/bus/train; eat at business-lunch time (12-4pm) for discounted meals; avoid street scams near tourist sites.
Emergency Contacts
MoscowFrom a mobile phone, dial 101 for fire, 102 for police, 103 for ambulance. Landlines may still use 01, 02, 03 in some areas. For a gas emergency (leaks, smell), dial 104. English-speaking operators are not guaranteed. Save your embassy’s local number too.
💡 Save these numbers in your phone. In life-threatening emergencies, call immediately.
Where to Eat
💡 Booking tip: For popular restaurants in Moscow, book at least a week ahead — especially for weekend evenings and during festival season.
Your arrival at Backpacker
🕒 Check-in is from . Arriving earlier? Most hotels store luggage free — just ask at reception.
🧭 First things nearby: cash · Nearest — 530 m · ~7 min walk — pharmacy · Здравсити — 232 m · ~3 min walk
🚐 Pre-book an airport transfer →Getting Around
Sheremetyevo Airport (SVO) → Adagio Moscow Paveletskaya
💡 Use Yandex Go rather than airport taxi desks to avoid massive surcharges. Choose Comfort class for reliable AC, especially in summer. Make sure the pickup point is correct—SVO has three terminals.
Sheremetyevo Airport (SVO) → Paveletsky Rail Terminal
💡 Buy tickets online or via app for 420 RUB (vs 500 at station). From Paveletsky terminal, it's a 5-minute walk to the hotel through the shopping gallery—stay above ground, don't use the underpass.
Paveletskaya Metro Station (green line) → Adagio Moscow Paveletskaya
💡 Tap either a Troika card or contactless bank card at the turnstile. Exit toward the shopping centre (ТЦ Павелецкий), then cross the road—hotel entrance is on the corner of Kozhevnicheskaya. Avoid the pedestrian underpass; it's grubby and needlessly long.
Sheremetyevo Airport (SVO), stop 'Terminal A' → Paveletsky Rail Terminal
💡 Use this only if your flight lands after midnight and you're on a budget. The bus runs all night but is slow—expect 70–90 minutes with stops. Same ticket as metro. Alight at 'Paveletsky Vokzal' stop, then walk 5 minutes south to the hotel.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best rooms at Backpacker?
Request a room on floors 3 through 5 facing away from Tverskaya Street — these are high enough to avoid street-level noise but still within easy stair access if the lift is busy.
Which rooms should I avoid at Backpacker?
Avoid rooms on the ground floor (noise from the lobby and lift door slams) and any room directly above the bar or kitchen — likely on the first floor above street level, where cooking smells and late-night chatter carry.
Is Backpacker noisy?
Tverskaya is a main arterial road with heavy traffic from 6am to midnight. The lift is old and audible in adjacent rooms — avoid rooms next to the lift shaft on any floor. There's a small bar off the lobby that gets lively till 11pm on weekends.
Which rooms have the best views at Backpacker?
Rooms at the back of the building look onto a quiet courtyard — no grand view, but you'll get indirect light and a lot less noise. Corner rooms may have side glimpses of the street, but the trade-off is constant traffic rumble.
What are insider tips for staying at Backpacker?
If you're a light sleeper, pack earplugs — the 3-star rating means basic insulation. Check-in after 2pm to avoid queuing with tour groups, and ask for a room on floor 4 if available — it's the sweet spot for quiet and lift access.
What time is check-in at Backpacker?
Check-in at Backpacker is from null. Check-out is by null.
Does Backpacker have Wi-Fi?
Free WiFi throughout, speed around 10 Mbps down; no login, just one network. Can get slow during peak evening hours (19:00–23:00).
Is there a city or tourist tax at Backpacker?
None (no city tax in Moscow for domestic tourists; foreign guests may face a small registration fee, typically 100 RUB per night, paid at check-in)
Where can I eat cheaply near Backpacker?
Business-lunch set (стойка) at a café, about 400-600 RUB.
What is the cheapest way to get around from Backpacker?
Metro single trip 70 RUB, unlimited day pass 350 RUB; budget from airports is Aeroexpress train (500-600 RUB one way) then metro.
When is the best time to visit Moscow?
June to August – warm (20–25°C), long daylight hours and the city is alive with outdoor festivals, but crowds and prices are high.
Top Attractions in Moscow
💡 Buy a single-use ticket rather than a Troika card if you're only doing a few stations. Avoid rush hour (8–10am, 5–7pm) for photos. The best station for sheer scale is Ploshchad Revolyutsii.
💡 Go at sunrise or late evening to avoid crowds. The nearby Alexander Garden has free entry and changing of the guard at 10:00 and 18:00.
💡 Rent a bike or rollerblades for about 300–500 rubles per hour. The Muzeon Art Park next door has a huge collection of Soviet statues, free to walk through.
💡 Take the metro to Vorobyovy Gory station and walk up the escalator-free path. Come at sunset for golden light on the city. The nearby Sparrow Hills Park has free walking trails.
💡 Admission is free on the first Sunday of each month. Queue up 30 minutes before opening to avoid waiting. Audio guide costs 400 rubles but is worth it.