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Getting There By Air:

Sheremetyevo International (SVO)
Tel: (495) 232 6565.
Website: www.sheremetyevo-airport.ru

Located 30km (19 miles) from Moscow, Sheremetyevo is the busiest of Moscow’s airports (the city’s other airports are Vnukovo, Domodedovo and Bykovo) and the only one with Domodedovo to receive flights from Western destinations.

Airport facilities: These include banks, bureaux de change, a post office with fax and e-mail services, newsagents, a pharmacy, left-luggage, first-aid facilities, duty-free shops, and a limited number of restaurants, bars, and cafés. Car hire is available from Avis and Europcar.

Transport to the city: Most hotels will arrange to pick up their guests in a courtesy van for a fee. Taxis are probably the next simplest and safest way to get to the city, although they are the most expensive. It is a good idea to book before arrival if possible because fares on arrival will often be at least twice as expensive. Krasnaya Gorka Taxis (tel: (495) 454 6291/7201) operates a taxi service from the airport.

A train line links Moscow Savyolovsky metro Station with Lobnya mainline Station, from where shuttles offer a transfer to the airport (whole journey time - 1 hour).

The local bus 851 goes to Metro Rechnoi Vokzal and bus 817 goes to Metro Planernaya (journey times - 45 minutes by bus, then 30 minutes by Metro to the center).

Domodedovo International Airport
Tel: (495) 933 6666.
Website: www.domodedovo.ru

Domodedovo Airport is located 34km (21 miles) south of Moscow and is now the city’s main airport serving Western Europe. 

Airport facilities: These include banks, ATMs, bureau de change facilities, a post office, Internet kiosks, information desks and travel center, several restaurants, bars and coffee shops, shops and duty-free, a business center, VIP lounges and conference rooms available for hire and short and long term parking. Car hire is available from Europcar, Hertz and Sixt by advance bookings only.

Transport to the city: Paveletsky railway station has a city passenger terminal connected to the airport by high-speed railway. The high-speed Aeroexpress train travels to and from Paveletsky-Moscow and Domodedovo Airport (journey time - 40-50 minutes). A number of airlines provide their passengers with free tickets to the Aeroexpress train. Modern Scania express buses offer a shuttle service between the airport and the Domodedovskaya underground station (journey time - 30 minutes). Ticket can be purchased in the airport next to desk number 0 of the Russian airlines hall. Boarding takes place in the right wing of the airport. There is also a 24-hour taxi shuttle service between the Domodedovskaya underground station and the airport (journey time - 25-30 minutes). Taxis are also available by booking in advance from Gorodskoe Taxi (tel: 5000 5000) and on arrival at the Yellow Taxi desk in the arrivals terminal.

Approximate flight times to Moscow: From London is 3 hours 35 minutes; from New York is 8 hours 50 minutes; from Los Angeles is 12 hours 10 minutes; from Toronto is 9 hours 20 minutes and from Sydney is 20 hours.

Getting There By Road:

The network of roads around Moscow is much more comprehensive than in other parts of the country but off the main intercity routes the surfaces are often poor. It is a good idea for driving tourists to plan an itinerary and accommodation beforehand, to avoid difficulty with bureaucratic red tape. There are suggested tourist routes with some road signs in Latin script. Motorways are prefixed by ‘M’ and major routes are prefixed by ‘A’.

Traffic drives on the right. The speed limit in built-up areas is 60kph (37mph), 90kph (55mph) outside of built-up areas and 100kph (62mph) on motorways. Visiting motorists who have not held a driving license for over two years must not exceed 70kph (43mph). It is forbidden to use the hooter (except in an emergency), carry unauthorized passengers or pick up hitchhikers. Driving under the influence of drugs or any amount of alcohol is forbidden, although this practice is increasingly common and motorists should avoid driving at night when the risk of being involved in an accident is greater. Seatbelts, a first aid kit, a fire extinguisher and an emergency triangle or red light are required. It is wise for drivers to carry spare petrol, as filling stations can be far apart.

The minimum age for driving in Russia is 18 and an International Driving Permit or national driving license with an authorized translation is necessary. Visitors traveling in their own cars must also possess, and carry at all times, a passport and visa. An itinerary card must be carried at all times, bearing the following: visitor’s name and citizenship, the car registration number, full details of itinerary (presented upon entry to the country), a form provided by Customs upon arrival guaranteeing that the car will be taken out of the Russian Federation on departure, petrol vouchers purchased at the border and insurance documents. Road tax is payable upon entry to the country. Motor insurance for travel within the Russian Federation should be arranged prior to departure or upon entry to the Russian Federation, at the offices of Ingosstrakh, the Russian Federation foreign insurance agency. The Russian Embassy or a specialist tour operator can provide foreign drivers with further details.

One reputable (although not necessarily English-speaking) automobile association in Moscow is Avtomobilniy klub Rossii, Yaroslavskaya ulitsa 4 (tel: (495) 785 1010), which provides information and a 24-hour breakdown service.

Emergency breakdown service:
GAI (495) 923 5373 or 236 4136.

Routes to the city: The Moskovskaya Koltsevaya Avtomobilnaya Doroga (Moscow Ring Road) is an orbital motorway surrounding the city and linking roads from Minsk (M1), Kiev (M2), Nizhny Novgorod (M7), Riga (M9) and St Petersburg (M10).

Driving times to Moscow: From Nizhny Novgorod - 7 hours 15 minutes; St Petersburg - 12 hours 30 minutes; Kiev - 14 hours 15 minutes.

Coach services: The Central Bus Station is located at Shchelkovskoe shosse 75 (tel: (495) 468 0400/4370), in the eastern suburbs of the city. There are, however, no middle- or long-distance coaches available that are of a quality acceptable to most Western travelers.

Getting There By Rail:

Moscow has nine railway terminals connected to the Russian Federation’s extensive rail network. The state-owned Russian Railways (tel: (495) 262 2620/1531; website: www.css-mps.ru, Russian only) network is broken into regional divisions. Moscow Railways (tel: (495) 266 9006/9333) operates the majority of stations and services in the Moscow area, with passenger services operating on 95% of the network. Service in standard (second class) is usually very good - the compartments are four berth, the linen is generally clean and each carriage has a helpful provodnik (attendant) who will even make a glass of Russian tea for travelers who ask nicely.

The three railway stations most likely to be used by visitors to Moscow are Belorussky vokzal (tel: (495) 973 8191), which has trains from Western Europe, Kievsky vokzal (tel: (495) 240 0415), which has trains from Budapest, Prague, Kiev, Sofia, Venice and Belgrade, and Leningradsky vokzal (tel: (495) 262 9143), with trains from Helsinki, St Petersburg, Murmansk and Tallinn. Trans-Siberian trains leave from Yaroslavsky vokzal (tel: (495) 921 5914); destinations include Yaroslavl, Archanglsk, Beijing, Phyonyang, Ulaanbaator and Vladivostock. Trains to and from Riga, leave from Rizhky vokzal. Facilities at the larger stations include toilets, shops and food and drink stalls.

The Central Railway Inquiry Office (tel: (495) 266 9000/9) provides timetable information, rail information and ticket sales (tel: (495) 266 9333). Tickets are available at the stations.

Rail services: Due to the large distances involved, almost any trip a Western visitor will make in Russia will be on a night train. Major connecting routes are from Kiev in the south (journey time - 13 hours), St Petersburg (journey time - 8 hours 30 minutes) and Helsinki (journey time - 14 hours) in the north and Western European cities via Warsaw, as well as Budapest and Prague. The Trans-Siberian Railway is a great way to see just how massive a country the Russian Federation is, although the journey takes at least a week.

Getting Around:




Public Transport
By far the easiest and most pleasant way to get around the city is on the extremely efficient and economic Metro system (tel: (495) 943 5001/5052). Moscow’s Metro is the largest in the world and features some stunningly decorated stations that are almost palatial (see Key Attractions). Entrances are marked by a large ‘M’. The system is based on the Circle Line, which links the major rail stations. A further nine lines connect to this and cross through the city center. Stations often have multiple names - one for each line that intersects there.

There is also an extensive network of buses, trolleybuses and trams, run by Moscow City Transport (tel: (495) 233 3995). These can be crowded and unpleasant during rush hour, although at other times can be an interesting way of sightseeing. Tickets (bilyet) should be purchased in advance at Metro stations or kiosks, but can also be bought directly from the driver (slightly more expensive). Tickets should be punched in the machine on the wall of the bus. Spot fines are levied if travelers do not have a punched ticket.

All forms of transport operate 0530-2430, although some bus and tram routes may stop earlier.

Monthly passes for the Metro are available: Unified City Transport Passes, available from metro stations and kiosks, are valid on buses and trams as well.

Taxis
Although there are official taxis and private taxis, it is still a common practice for private cars to stop and offer a ride when flagged down. Obviously, fares must be negotiated and this is best done before entering the car. The official taxis are yellow cars with a ‘T’, which have chequered emblems on the door, a sealed meter and printed fare table inside - a green light indicates availability. Tipping is not expected. It is usually possible to hire a taxi by the hour, if desired. Visitors should never share a taxi with a stranger.

There is a central number for radio taxis (tel: (495) 927 0000) or visitors could call Moscow Taxi (tel: (495) 238 1001). Drivers may negotiate a flat fare rather than a metered fare; this should be settled before commencing the journey.

There are also marshrutki (route-taxis), which are minibuses that follow a set route and guarantee riders a seat. They can be caught near Metro entrances or by flagging one down at a bus stop. They run 0800-2200 and are more expensive than standard buses.

Driving in the City
Moscow’s road system is based on a series of concentric rings, connected by arterial roads that radiate from the center. The innermost, the Garden Ring Road, follows a path similar to the Metro’s Circle Line. The outermost is the Moscow Ring Road motorway. Traffic accidents, many of them caused by drink driving, are becoming increasingly prevalent and night driving is not recommended.

During the last few years, traffic has increased significantly, while improvements to the infrastructure have lagged behind, making driving difficult, especially in the center. Rush hours are 0700-0930 and 1630-1900. With the added hassle of over-zealous traffic police, difficult-to-find parking and Cyrillic-only road signs, many Western visitors find it easier (and often cheaper) to hire a car with a driver. It is advisable to use a guarded car park (platnaya stoyanka) as theft is common - many of the larger hotels offer this facility to non-guests and other car parks can be found in the vicinity. The amount of traffic on Moscow’s street has quadrupled since 2001 and traffic jams are common. Fines, or bribes, requested by traffic police are an additional irritant.

Car Hire
Car hire can be expensive in Moscow and high fees may be charged for airport transfer. Many independent firms hire out cars but only with a driver. International firms represented in Moscow are Avis, Meschanskaya Street 7/21 (tel: (495) 6841937: website: www.avis-moscow.ru) and National, Bolchaya Kommunistichie ulitsa 1/5 (tel: (495) 298 6146; website: www.nationalcar.com). Drivers must be at least 21 years old and have one year of driving experience. An International Driving Permit or national driving license with an authorized translation is necessary. Rates include insurance, VAT and unlimited mileage. Visitors planning to hire a car in Moscow should book one in advance.

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