Transport

Getting to and from Moscow by plane or train

Flying to Moscow is faster and more comfortable than travelling than by train. On the other hand, if being economical is essential or if the thought of flying is a bit terrifying, rail is always a decent option. This is especially true for visitors arriving from St. Petersburg or any bordering country, such as Ukraine or Belarus. Travelling by coach is also possible, but only really worth it if you are on an extremely tight budget. The roads to Moscow are not well kept and difficult to use especially during the winter.

Please note: detailed information on all travelling arrangements, including points of arrival and departure, are required by the Russian authorities.

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Arriving by plane

There is a reasonable choice of flights to Moscow from most main cities in the World. Three carriers: British Airways, Aeroflot and Transaero – operate direct flights, while several other airlines including SAS, KLM and Austrian Airlines run a variety of flights via a number of destinations.

Transaero, which flies direct from London, is the only reliable Russian alternative to Aeroflot. Both Transaero and Aeroflot operate long-haul flights from the USA, Australia, and Canada. Despite popular belief that Aeroflot’s flights are of inferior quality, its Moscow to London or Moscow to New York routes are reasonable options and its first-class service is excellent.

Cheap trips are advertised in the travel sections of many newspapers and magazines.

Sheremetevo 2 Airport

The most likely point of arrival for visitors to Moscow’s is the international airport Sheremetevo 2. Though conveniently located only 25 km northwest of the city center, the drive can take hours on Moscow’s congested Leningradskoe highway, so plan on delays.

Sheremetevo 2 is one terminal divided into a right and left wing.

Arrival and Departures notice boards clearly indicate which wing each flight is expected at or is leaving from.

But this airport cannot be described as modern, as it has obvious Soviet features. Thanks to recent renovation it is no longer such a depressing place, but public services are still scarce and leave a lot to be desired. Despite this there are facilities available like a currency exchange point, several shops, restaurants and a number of fast-food outlets. But the prices at the duty free tend not to be very reasonable.

Domodedovo airport

The more modern international Domodedovo airport is noticeably different to Moscow’s older airport. Those used to arriving in Sheremetevo, are so taken back by this new airport, that they even doubt whether they are really in Russia, and haven’t instead mistakenly landed somewhere in Europe. The airport is in fact very convenient for both those arriving and those flying from it. All information given is written in at least two languages. There are more than enough restaurants, cafes and shops. You will find numerous ATMs, banks and currency exchange points on all floors. There is a chemist’s, bookshop and even a slot machine area. You will also find newspaper stands in the waiting rooms. Access to internet and international phone calls are available. On the second floor there is an Orthodox Chapel. The airport’s staff is friendly and always willing to help, even if it involves going out of their way – a very rare phenomenon in Russia!

Passport control in Russian remains exceptionally rigid, and queuing in line can take hours. Visitors are required to fill in a customs declaration upon arrival and another upon departure. But visitors no longer need to waste their time waiting in endless queues.

Getting to The City

The easiest way to get to the city from Sheremetevo 2 is probably by taxi. The ride into the city center takes approximately 45-60 minutes when the roads are clear. During rush hour this ride can take over 2 hours.

Another big advantage of flying to Domodedovo, is that you can get to the centre of Moscow in just 30-40 minutes. A train service is provided between the airport and Paveletskii train station every day from 7 am till 11pm. The trains go every half an hour and cost around $4. In addition, on leaving Russia you can check in your luggage at the train station itself.

However, if you prefer, you can always take a taxi, which is not only a comfortable means of transport, but is available around the clock.

Airport taxis are expensive (the equivalent of $50-$80 to the city center) and most of them are not official. Anyone coming out of customs is met by a wall of taxi drivers offering a lift into town. These unofficial drivers are unlikely to give you any problems, but it is definitely safer and much easier to book a cab prior to arrival.

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Arriving by Train

Travelling to Moscow by train from Western Europe will take about a day and a night. At the Russian border, travellers can expect to wait hours as the train’s wheels are changed to fit the wider Russian tracks.

Located on Komsomolskaya Ploshad, also known as Ploshchad Trech Vokzalov or the Square of the Three Railway Stations, are three of Moscow’s main railway stations. Yaroslavskiy and Kazanskiy provide service for domestic routes, while Leningradskiy is the end of the line for trains from St Petersburg and Finland.

Rizhiskiy and Kievskiy stations are points of arrival for trains from Eastern Europe. Belorusskiy serves the routes from Western Europe and Poland.

Trains from southern-Russia and parts of Ukraine arrive at the Paveletskiy and Kurskiy stations.

Due to the long distances covered on many routes, the majority of the trains are overnight sleepers, but there are some standard trains operating on the shorter routes. Trains fall into three categories:

Express (ekspressy) trains, which only travel the direct route between Moscow and St. Petersburg .

Fast (skorye) trains, which operate on long journeys and stop at only a few stations.

Passenger (passazhirskie) trains, which also operate on long routes, but stop at most stations.

To Moscow form St. Petersburg by Train

The Perhaps easiest and most adventurous way to get from St Petersburg to Moscow is by train. Express trains run from the Moskovskiy station in St Petersburg to the Leningradskiy station in Moscow. This journey can add up to over 5 strenuous hours.

The best night-time trains running from St. Peterburg are the No. 1 Red Arrow and No. 3. Likewise, the night time trains No. 2 and No. 4 go from Moscow to St. Petersburg. All these trains leave at midnight and arrive at 8:30 the next morning and are usually on time.

The great “Red Arrow” is the most famous train on the Oktiabrskaya railway. In Soviet times, it carried the Communist Party elite between Moscow and St. Petersburg. It first covered this route in the summer of 1931, and only during WWII, while Leningrad was under siege from the Wehrmacht, did the Red Arrow not go for over a thousand days. Even before the end of the war however, the train start working again and resumed the timetable, which it follows to this day.

Another interesting fact about this train is that it was here where the new class SV was introduced. SV stands for special carriage, in other words a carriage with special services and comfort, designed for the most important members of government. Later on when SV class was offered in other trains, it became an abbreviation for sleeping carriages, which is not very logical as there are two more sleeping classes available: Kupeinii class and Platskartnii.

It has to be said that Russian trains are in many ways better than European ones: they are more comfortable, always on time and last but not least, are cheaper. On the other hand you don’t come across polite staff very often on Russian trains.

Other trains, including No. 47 and No. 159 (the Aurora) are almost as good, especially for those who prefer to make the trip during the day.

Those travelling on any of these trains should be wary of thieves and remember to lock their compartment doors at night.

Ticket prices start at the equivalent of US $10 for a basic seat and rise to US$35 per person for a two-person compartment. There is a choice between sidyashchyy (sittig) tickets and a variety of more expensive sleeper options. Bed linen cost extra. Food may be available, but visitors are advised to bring their own.

The alternative to taking the train is flying.

The flight only takes 50 minutes, but allow plenty of time to get to and from the airports, especially in Moscow.

Planes depart from Pulkovo 1 airport in St Petersburg and arrive at Sheremetevo 1. Tickets usually cost US $120-150 excluding airport taxes.

The General Idea

The enormous Moscow metro system is a very dependable means of transportation around the city, that is if you can tolerate extremely crowded conditions and can read Russian. The metro has major stations close to all the most important places of interest.

Though expensive, taxis or rented cars are by far the easiest way of getting around Moscow. However one must remember that in the city there is a constant flow of traffic, so unfortunately traffic jams are very common.

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The city also has a relatively trusty network of buses, trolleybuses and trams. Again, however, the knowledge of Russian is necessary when using these services. Trams serving the city center are a good means of transportation and cover the main routes. At the end of the vast metro network, suburban buses serve the outlying “spalnaya raione” or sleepy districts.

On Foot

Moscow is not easily negotiable on foot. There are countless potential hazards, the main one being cars. Traffic is always heavy on the major roads and drivers do not always take notice of the existing laws.

It is important to remember that in Russia pedestrians do not have the right of way. Major roads can be crossed using the “podzemnii perehod” or underpass.

It is important to pay attention to of what is below and above you. In Summer you risk falling victim to the open manholes or bad pavements, while in Winter you have the added problems of ice on the streets and icicles falling from roofs onto cars and even more worryingly onto people. Those employed to fix these problems, don’t always work very effectively, so it’s vital you look after your own safety.

Please note that is not recommended that anyone, in particular women, walk around late at night in any part of the city.

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That having been said however, Moscow’s city center offers many good opportunities for exploration on foot.

Any time of the year Red Square and the Kremlin are incredible. Around three or four hours are needed to marvel on the many sights this area has to offer, including all the cathedrals in the Kremlin.

Across the river from here, you have the beautiful Zamoskvoreche district which is definitely worth walking round.

Muscovites themselves are very fond of taking strolls. In the evenings and at the weekends, they often leisurely stroll along the Old Arbat, Tverskaya Ulitsa, or any one of Moscow’s numerous parks - in particular Gorky Park, Izmaylovo Park and Sokolniki Park.

By Car

For those new to Moscow, the driving experience can be quite strenuous. It should not be taken for granted that Russian drivers are either qualified or responsible. Here it is a common practice to simply buy a driving license and not bother taking any exam. Consequently, driving rules that are common sense in the West are unashamedly disregarded here.

Fore instance, although the majority of drivers will stop at red lights, some carry on regardless. Cars travel in disorderly lanes and veer dangerously to avoid pot holes. Drivers tend to be aggressive and inconsiderate about giving way to others. Road signs mostly follow international conventions but most major roads are sign-posted in Russian only.

Driving regulations in Moscow are complex. GAI, Russia’s traffic police, have the right to stop drivers at any time and ask for documents. They can issue fines on the spot for infringements such as not having a fire extinguisher or first-aid kit and not wearing seat belts, although most people do not. It is forbidden for drivers to drink any alcohol at all and fines for drink-driving can be very high. It is illegal to make U-turns on many of Moscow’s main streets.

Taxis

Moscow's taxi services industry is notoriously unregulated. Cutthroat competition between gypsy cabbies and licensed taxi drivers occasionally turns ugly as these groups slug it out in turf wars. So, for safety reasons it is a good idea to travel only by certified taxis that can be booked through a visitorline.com representative or through a hotel. Predictably, hotel taxis tend to be very expensive.

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Car Hire

Many private Russian companies offer cars for rent. In fact not long ago quite a few international companies entered the Russian market. One peculiarity of this business in Russia is that in the past it has been very difficult to rent middle ranged cars. Recently the situation has started changing and several agencies have even begun to rent out Russian cars. Nevertheless most companies still only offer expensive cars, limousines and collectors’ cars. The service offered is not bad, but the prices are usually very high.

The Metro

Moscow is a frenzied, chaotic megalopolis of over 12 million people (unofficial statistic over 16 million). The heavy, rush hour traffic congests and slows the surface to a virtual stand still. At this time it is often quicker to take the metro than to travel by car. Sprawling out from the center to many of the suburbs, the metro is extremely dependable with the trains running every two minutes throughout the weekdays. Despite the efficiency of Moscow’s metro system travel can be very confusing for those without a good understanding of Russian.

Constructed as part of Stalin’s grand plan for rebuilding Moscow, it is also a tourist attraction in it own right. Unlike say for example the Metro in Paris, or the Underground in London, each station in the Moscow Metro, especially in the centre, is an underground palace, built from marble, with beautiful moldings and mosaics on the ceilings, bronze chandeliers and grand pillars.

Moscow by Balloon

Not that long ago the idea of taking a ride in a hot air balloon was unheard of. Times have definitely changed. Now it is all the rage for “New Russians” and tourists alike, to sip Champaign while soaring over Moscow. The trips are a bit pricey, but offer panoramic views that will be forever etched in your mind.


Avgur launches its balloons near the Istra rifver in Zvenigorod outside Moscow. Rides are about two hours long. There is space for three passengers including children and the pilot. Many companies now offer this exotic entertainment. Prices vary and can reach ?1500-2000 per group of 4-6 people. This offer includes champagne, a Jazz orchestra and a limousine or a collection car ride back to the starting point.

Cruises on the Moscow River

A popular way of seeing sights in Moscow is going on a boat ride along the River Moskva. Covering about 16 kilometers, the two deck boats offer spectacular views of Novodevichiy Convent, the Foreign Ministry, Cathedral of Christ the Redeemer, Sparrow Hills, and the Kremlin. The rides usually start opposite Kievsky Station. Although tourist cruises run from early May through till late October, you can rent a boat the whole year round for banquets and private parties. The price for a 40-seat boat for 5 hours is around $1250. You can find the boat of your choice and additional information at www.teplohodik.ru.