Living with a Russian Host Family in St. Petersburg

Booking your Accommodation with Liden & Denz

Once you’ve decided to study with Liden & Denz in Russia, the next step is choosing your accommodation. If Russia is new to you, booking through Liden & Denz keeps things simple and avoids guesswork.

I arrived at my hosts’ apartment together with another student from France; both of us would live with the family during our studies. After the drop-off, our host mother, Anna, brought us up to the flat.

First night

We stepped into Anna and Vladimir’s apartment and were immediately asked to remove our shoes—walking around in outdoor footwear is a no-go. After a brief mix-up, we put on tapochki (house slippers) for indoors.

Once I’d settled into my room, we were invited to the kitchen, where a three-course dinner was waiting. Our host father, Vladimir, placed a bottle of homemade cognac on the table to toast our arrival. We started with borsch (beet soup), followed by potatoes with chicken, and finished with Medovik, a classic honey cake. Vladimir gave toasts in Russian to welcome us; Anna translated into English so we could follow along.

Cleanliness

Russian homes are impressively tidy. Shoes come off in the entryway, and tapochki go on—this keeps street dirt, salt, and snow out of the living areas.

It’s also common to have the toilet in a separate room from the shower and sink, which helps keep things hygienic and organized.

Apartment layout

My room is larger than what I’m used to in the U.S.: high ceilings, plenty of space, a good study desk, and a big sofa bed—far beyond expectations. The kitchen and bathroom areas are more compact, but the individual rooms—especially bedrooms—tend to be generously sized.

One surprise: there isn’t a typical “living room” hangout area here, which may just be the style of this particular apartment.

Food and etiquette

Breakfast is often blini (thin pancakes) with sweetened condensed milk, or eggs with meat and toast. Dinners so far feature borsch, chicken with potatoes, or rice—served in courses, with something sweet at the end and always tea. Tea typically comes toward the end of the meal; it’s less common in Russia to drink beverages while eating.

I initially worried about table manners. After meeting classmates from France and Switzerland—and several Russians—I realized “proper etiquette” varies by culture. In Russia, it’s acceptable to eat some foods with your hands when practical: chicken on the bone, for example, is fair game. Blini and bread can be eaten by hand; you might prefer cutlery for potatoes. And don’t dip food into your tea—this isn’t customary—though lemon slices in tea are perfectly normal.

Housewarming gifts

If you’re invited to a Russian home, bring a small gift—sweets, something for the children, or flowers. If you choose flowers, bring an odd number; even numbers are reserved for somber occasions, while odd numbers suit celebrations. 

Learn firsthand about Russia

Why choose a host family? A few reasons:

• Language gains: Daily conversation builds fluency fast, and hosts will gently correct mistakes.
• Cultural insight: You’ll observe ordinary life up close—ask about routines, opinions, the good and the challenging.
• Company: After classes, it’s nice to come home to people rather than an empty flat. And when you need quiet, your room offers it.

All in all, I hope this encourages you to consider booking accommodation with Liden & Denz—especially a homestay—if you want a richer, more personal study experience.

This post was written by Benjamin Bladow, who studied Russian at Liden & Denz St. Petersburg until May 2022. The text was lightly revised by Liden & Denz in 2025 for this website.