Overview
Staraya Russa is one of Russia's oldest towns, founded in the tenth century as a principal city of the Novgorod Republic. Today it draws visitors primarily for its Dostoevsky connection—the writer spent summers here from 1872 to 1914, and the town inspired his fictional Skotoprigonievsk in The Brothers Karamazov.
Architecture · Day Trips · History · Museums
Before you go
Accommodation
Hotel Polist offers renovated three-star rooms with breakfast. Budget travelers can find local flat rentals for 500-1,000 RUB.
Culture
Staraya Russa is deeply connected to Dostoevsky's life and works. The town inspired The Brothers Karamazov's fictional setting of Skotoprigonievsk.
Food
Cheap cafés abound; best restaurant is at Hotel Polist. Café Il'men' is the local favourite with late hours and live music.
Money
Russia uses rubles (RUB). Staraya Russa is very affordable—meals 150-400 RUB, local flat rentals 500-1,000 RUB per night.
Transport
Staraya Russa has railway and bus stations next to each other at Zheleznodorozhnaya ulitsa. Best accessed from Novgorod or as a stopover between Moscow and Pskov.