Ilyinskiy Hostel, Nizhny Novgorod

Ilyinsky Hostel is located near the Old Town of Nizhny Novgorod, Russian’s fifth-largest city that is located five hours away from Moscow by train. The hostel features both privates and dorms and it is run by owners who are very helpful and kind, even though they don’t really speak English.

The Location

It is located up to the hill, a mere ten minutes' walking from the heart of the city and the Kremlin. The railway station is on the opposite side of the city and you can take the bus and reach the hostel in about ten minutes. Not many shops or restaurants are available around the hostel, but you can walk to the Old Town and find everything there.

Rooms and Bathrooms

As mentioned before, both dorms and privates are available. Dorms have fairly narrow mattresses, so tall people may not fit well. However, the rooms are nice and newly built, so everything is in good condition. Cleanliness is also well maintained and bathrooms are in an above-average standard as well. Water in the shower is copious and hot water and soap is available. Lockers are available but outside the rooms.

Common Spaces

There is one large common room with a sofa and TV and two tables. A kitchen is also there, and it's free for guests to use. It is small but it has everything you may need, with fairly new pots and pans. Breakfast is available on request but you have to pay for it. The owners try to help guests a lot, but they don’t really speak English, so an app to translate is needed; few foreigners seem to come to the hostel, which mostly has Russian customers. The vibe is not very exciting and not much happens there, but for every kind of need the owners will try to help. It is not easy to meet other foreigners, but you have the opportunity to meet some Russian travelers and also meet the owners and experience their way of living.

Summary

All in all, the hostel is a great option as it's near the center and the railway station, with the very nice and helpful owners. This is not a party place. The reception is open twenty-four/seven in case a customer needs it, so it can be convenient for those arriving at odd hours.