Moscow Transport

Visitors arriving in Moscow by air will enter the city via Moscow Sheremetyevo International Airport. The airport is situated 35kms from the city centre and serves up to 2,100 passengers an hour. Passengers will find adequate facilities at the airport, with currency exchange services, refreshments and an information bureau all available.

Transportation options from Moscow Sheremetyevo International Airport to the city are plentiful, with the new rapid transport rail service being one of the most convenient and speedy options. Meanwhile, public buses offer a cheap alternative, while taxis operate around the clock and limousines are available for those who like to travel in style.

Those on a budget can access the city from the airport via a 24-hour express bus service, which departs from outside Terminal 1 and from the bus station at Terminal 2, Arrivals. Additional, frequent bus services run to Rechnoi Vokzal and Planernaya metro station, while there are also coach services that ply the route between the airport and Moscow Central Air Terminal.

Those with a booking at one of Moscow's reputable hotels will likely be able to take advantage of a courtesy airport pick up from the establishment of their choice; check the availability of these services at the time of booking or prior to your arrival at the airport.

Alternatively, a modern rapid transit rail service provides links from the airport to Leningrad Station, from where connections can be made to other Russian cities including St Petersburg. Those looking for a more convenient transfer option can choose between taxis and limousines. Metered taxis can be caught from directly outside the Arrivals halls of both terminals.

Moscow is easy to navigate and getting between destinations is made easy with the Moscow Metro. The various rail lines are all connected with the brown line, making most city destinations easily accessible. Open from 05:20 to 01:00, it is best to avoid the Metro during rush hours, when it can become heavily congested. Metro tickets cover all destinations and discounts are available if you purchase tickets in groups of five or 10.

An easy alternative to finding a Metro station is to hop on one of the city’s buses, trolley’s or trams, which cover the city extensively. Schedules vary and are not always reliable, with most services running throughout the day from 05:30 to 01:00. Stops are marked with different letters to indicate whether they are a bus, trolley or tram stop, with ‘A’ signifying a bus stop, ‘T’ a trolley stop and ‘Tp’ a tram stop. Tickets can be bought on the bus or in the Metro stations.

Taxis are easy to find in Moscow, as are Marshrutka, which are shared minibuses that you can flag down in the same way that you would a taxi; these tend to follow the same routes as the trolley’s, buses and trams. While taxis in most international cities are marked accordingly, you will find Moscow taxis different in that they aren’t always marked, as any private vehicle can operate as a taxi. Visitors are advised to agree on the fare with the driver before embarking on their journey and bargaining is the norm here, with most drivers accepting both roubles and US dollars.