Getting from the airport to the city

Getting from airport to the city in Moscow

Personal driver booked in advance

If it is your first time in Moscow and you feel shy and uncomfortable, if you do not know a word in Russian and cannot say you are a salted tourist, the easiest way for you to take care about your transfer in a good time.

Use our travel agents’ services and order a transfer with an English-speaking driver who can meet you with a sign and safely deliver to the destination. You can even hire a guide to accompany you on the way and put you in the way of things.

Taxi on spot

Taxi is one of the calmest ways to get delivered to your hotel, but only in case you choose a reliable transport company.

When you exit the customs, many unofficial taxi drivers attack you offering their services. Please mind that they are unofficial even if they are clothed in uniform and have badges. Ignore them or, if you feel power, haggle (you can check the rates in advance). Otherwise, they will rip you off. Almost every car in Moscow can be a private taxi, eager to make money at trustful tourists, so, whenever you are, follow the rule above.

1. At the official cab desks in the airports. Staff speaks English and you may be lucky to have an English-speaking driver (not often).
2. Call one of the enormous number of transport companies. Let us advise you our partner MosTaxi.ru/en/. The car delivery time is 15-30 minutes. For added convenience use mobile application (iOs and Android) to order a car in any point of the city.
3. Ask your hotel to call a taxi.

BUS

You have no need to buy bus tickets in advance, looking for ticket offices in the airport. Just give the appropriate sum to the driver and take the ticket. Insert the ticket into the slot in the ticket barrier (the yellow one) and get it back validated. Keep it until the end of your journey

Please choose which airport you are arriving at

METRO

When you arrive to the metro station, you have to decide which route to choose. Interactive Moscow metro map (free Yandex.Metro app for iOs and Android) is very helpful. It calculates your timeand route taking into account information about closed stations. In case you do not know Cyrillic alphabet, print out the metro map in both languages to identify the stations names (for example here). In metro there are bi-lingual metro maps everywhere: near the ticket windows, on the platform and in the trains. But before you have the pleasure to dive into the bustling underground life, you have to buy a ticket. First, let’s see what kinds of tickets are available for metro passengers

Metro Tariffs

“Yedinyy” tariff (means “unified”) valid for metro, monorail, trolleybus, bus, tram. You can choose any number of rides, the more, the cheaper. 1-day unlimited ticket, which is valid within 24 hours after the first pass, is the most convenient for tourists who is planning to move a lot and see many sites within a day.

“90 minutes” allows a single ride on the Metro or monorail plus an unlimited number of transfers (touch-ins) to trolleybus, bus, or trams. You have 90 minutes to complete all the touch-ins, but your actual journey can last longer. 1-ride “90 minutes” is good for a long-lasting journey with one or two transfers.

“Troyka” an e-card for all kinds of transport. The refund value is 50 rubles (you can take it back any time). "Troika" card can be topped up with any amount up to 3000 rub, and it is also possible to аdd any paper ticket from the current fare menu.
You can buy a Troika card at any Metro ticket office and automated Mosgortrans ticket kiosks. You can top it up at Metro ticket windows, Metro vending machines and automated Mosgortrans ticket kiosks.

How To Use Moscow Metro

First of all, always mind that the metro is closed from 1 a.m. until 5.30 a.m.
The entrance to the metro station is identified with the red letter “M”. Usually you have to go down to the subway and through glass doors. Behind them find ticket offices (with the word “КАССА” above them) or tickets vending machines.

If you do not speak Russian at all just come up to the ticket window and hold up as many fingers as many tickets you want and give the money. The lady behind the glass is sure to give you the tickets with the basic tariff “Unified”. Any number of passengers can use one ticket.

Then find the row of card-readers. Take the card in your right hand and put it close to the yellow round with the letter “M”. Wait until the red light is changed by the green one and proceed through the gates on the left side of the validator. Mission completed. On the display you can see the number of rides left on your ticket.

After that the escalator takes you down to the platform.

The main problem about the Moscow metro is that the most signs are in Russian only. There appear more and more English signs but the situation approves very slowly. Here you’ll need your bi-lingual metro map.

Over the platform there are signs showing which stations you can get if you choose the right or the left side of it. In the center of the city you can find directions on the floor in both languages. It would be helpful to know the color of the line you want if you need transfer, and even better to know it’s number (as some colors may be ambiguous). The signs are color-coded for easier orientation.

When you reach your destination, find the way out “выход в город”. At some stations there are two ways out at each end of the platform. In case you read Cyrillic you can find out which way is more convenient and shorter for you with the help of the appropriate sign. If you travel during rush hours, mind that your personal space is not what everybody think about.

The best way to behave is to relax and let the crowd bring you into the train. Once in, fasten upon a handrail and survive. When you enter the train, do not try to sleek through the doors when they are going to close. They are closed once and forever and it can hurt.

It’s difficult to identify the station you are on being in the wagon even if you read Cyrillic. Announcement are of little help as they are made mostly in Russian. Therefore, it seems like a good idea to count the number of stops you need to make before your destination station. If you miss your station, just go out of the wagon and reach the other side of the platform. Usually the other side is the opposite direction of the same line. But there are several station where this rule does not work. So, it’s still better to check the signs (compare the color or the number). When you need to change the line, or transfer, you usually have to go up and down stairs, sometimes the transfer takes as much as 10 minutes.

Nevertheless, the Moscow metro is a beautiful place, full of mosaics, statues, crystal chandeliers and soaring arches. Find time and enjoy this huge piece of art. Out if rush hours, of course.

Aeroexpress + metro

All three airports are connected to the metro stations with railway. There are express trains (Aeroexpress), which make their way without stops and jams, so you can be sure you’ll be on time. It’s very easy to find aeroexpress trains, all you need is to follow the signs.

These are conceptually new electric trains, which have an attractive design and aerodynamic configuration. The passenger cabins of these trains are equipped with easy chairs, seats for the individuals with disabilities, luggage racks, video and audio systems, climate control system, as well as the environmentally-responsible vacuum toilets. These comfortable Aeroexpress trains can drive at 130 km/h (80 miles/h). On the way the passengers are offered hot and cooling beverages, printed and related goods. The entertaining programs are shown on the monitors.

Please choose the airport you are going to travel from.

When you reach the metro station, you’ll have to cope with it (see information above).