Moscow

Moscow Transportation

Moscow has a railway network that links to most parts of Russia, awswell as most former Soviet states, China and countries in Eastern and Western Europe. Moscow itself has nine main train stations, all with metro stations on the spot. Moscow is also well linked by road.

Arriving by Air
Sheremetyevo International Airport (SVO) serves the Moscow area with both domestic and international flights. Other airports

Getting Around Moscow
Central Moscow is easily explored by foot, however taxis are plentiful and easy to flag down with a raised hand and a little confidence.

By far the easiest and most pleasant way to get around Moscow is on the underground metro. It is considered to be one of the finest transport systems in the world and many of the 150 stations are superbly decorated with sculptures, chandeliers and mosaics. It is inexpensive, very efficient, and easy to use, even considering all signage is in Russian, but it's still a good idea to have the destination written in Cyrillic characters to help identify the correct station. The metro runs until 1am and fares are standard regardless of the distance travelled, allowing unlimited transfers. Crime is a problem in Moscow so avoid carrying a lot of cash and walking alone at night.

Strips of tickets can be bought for numerous journeys and are valid on all forms of public transport.

Overland transport is less efficient than the metro, but an extensive network of buses, trams and trolleybuses covers the areas not serviced by the metro until about 11pm. They can get unpleasantly crowded during rush hour. Tickets must be validated in machines immediately on boarding and are valid for one ride only.

An alternative to the bus are the passenger vans called 'marshrutka', which follow the bus routes and stop on request. There are also scores of official metered taxis and unofficial cars that can be flagged down on the street, but fares must be negotiated before entering the vehicle, especially as foreigners are likely to be overcharged.

Although taxis are generally safe, tourists should be cautious and single women are advised to avoid them at night. Take note that a lot of private car owners act as unofficial taxis and whoever picks you up is unlikely to have a meter, so be sure to confirm the fare with the driver before you get in.