Getting Around Moscow: A Practical Transport Guide
Moscow offers visitors multiple ways to navigate the city, from its famous Metro system to buses, trams, taxis, and ride-hailing services. Understanding your transport options will help you move efficiently between neighborhoods and attractions.
The Moscow Metro
The Metro is Moscow's most iconic and widely-used transport system. Famous for its ornate stations featuring art, murals, mosaics, and chandeliers, the Metro is one of the world's busiest subway systems. The network is also among the world's deepest, with some stations located far underground. The system consists of multiple lines serving stations throughout the city, with stations outside the city center typically spaced several kilometers apart.
To use the Metro, purchase a ticket or a Troika transport card at ticket machines or windows in stations. The Troika card is reusable and works across multiple transport modes, making it convenient for visitors planning to use public transport frequently.
The Moscow Central Circle (MCC)
In addition to the Metro, the Moscow Central Circle is an orbital rail line that encircles historical Moscow. This line connects to the Metro system and provides an alternative route for traveling between different parts of the city without going through the center.
Buses and Trolleybuses
Buses serve every major street in Moscow and radiate from Metro stations into residential areas. This makes buses a practical option for reaching neighborhoods where Metro stations are far apart. You can purchase tickets or passes from the driver or at ticket machines. Most buses accept the Troika transport card.
The trolleybus network, once the largest in the world, was closed as of August 25, 2020, except for a single museum trolleybus line numbered "Т" that opened on September 4, 2020, for those interested in this historic form of transport.
Trams
Moscow has an extensive tram system dating back to 1899. While daily usage by residents is relatively low, trams remain important in some districts for connecting to Metro stations and providing cross-links between different Metro lines. Trams can be useful for specific journeys where they serve your route. Moscow introduced electric year-round river trams on June 20, 2023, which operate on the Moskva and Oka rivers, primarily for entertainment purposes.
Taxis and Ride-Hailing
Commercial taxi services are readily available in Moscow. Modern internet-based services such as Yandex.Taxi and Gett make it easy to book a ride through a mobile app. Prices are modest, typically around 1,000 rubles from the airport to the city center, or 600 rubles from downtown to outer suburban areas. Yandex Taxi is the official taxi service at Moscow's major airports.
Walkability and Navigation
Moscow has developed a uniform transport navigation signage system to help both residents and visitors navigate the city. City maps for pedestrians display your location with "You are here" markers and indicate landmarks and five-minute walking distances. These maps are oriented to match your perspective as you stand reading them, with a north arrow for those using cardinal directions. This system makes it easier to plan routes combining walking and public transport.
Getting from Airports to the City
Moscow has four commercial passenger airports. The two most commonly used by foreign visitors are Sheremetyevo and Domodedovo, though Vnukovo and Zhukovsky also serve the city.
Sheremetyevo International Airport
Sheremetyevo is the most common entry point for international passengers. Several transport options connect the airport to the city:
- Aeroexpress train: The most convenient rail link operates between the airport and Belorussky Railway Terminal in the city center, with additional stops where you can connect to the Metro. Trains depart every 30-60 minutes from early morning until midnight, with a journey time of 50 minutes. From the terminal, it takes about 20 additional minutes by Metro to reach the city center.
- Metro buses: Several bus routes connect airport terminals to nearby Metro stations. Bus #851 costs 57 rubles, Bus #949 costs 80 rubles, Bus #817 costs 61 rubles, and Bus #948 costs 85 rubles. Journey times are approximately 40 minutes to the metro, plus additional time to the city center by Metro.
- Aeroexpress bus: Bus #1195 operates between terminals B and C and Khovrino metro station, costing 300 rubles one-way or 500 rubles round-trip. Runs every 10 minutes between 6:00 AM and 11:30 PM, with a journey of 20 minutes.
- Night bus: Night Bus H1 operates every 30 minutes between midnight and early morning, serving the airport, city center, and south Moscow destinations.
- Taxi or ride-hailing: Yandex Taxi is the official app-based service at the airport, with typical fares around 1,000 rubles to the city center.
Domodedovo International Airport
Domodedovo is a major hub rivaling Sheremetyevo for international traffic. Transport options include:
- Aeroexpress train: Trains depart every 30 minutes from 6:00 AM to 12:30 AM, reaching Paveletsky Railway Terminal in the southeast city center in 50 minutes. From there, it takes approximately 20 additional minutes by Metro to reach the city center.
- Commuter train: A more economical option, commuter trains take about 75 minutes to Paveletsky Railway Terminal at a lower fare than Aeroexpress.
- Bus #308: This bus operates 24 hours daily to Domodedovskaya Metro Station, with service every 15 minutes during the day and every 40 minutes overnight. The journey takes about 30 minutes, with an additional 40 minutes by Metro to the city center.
- Taxi or ride-hailing: Yandex Taxi offers typical fares around 1,000 rubles.
Vnukovo International Airport
Vnukovo offers the following connections:
- Metro Line 8A: Direct metro access with a journey of just over an hour to the city center.
- Bus #911 and Night Bus #H11: These buses connect to Salaryevo Metro Station in 35-40 minutes, with fares of 36 rubles when using Troyka transport card or 55 rubles if paid to the driver. From the metro, allow about 40 additional minutes to the city center.
- Taxi or ride-hailing: Yandex Taxi typically charges around 1,000 rubles to the city center.
Zhukovsky International Airport
Zhukovsky, the newest airport, offers connections via:
- Bus #441э: Operates to Kotelniki metro station with fares of 92 rubles. Journey times vary from 30-60 minutes depending on traffic.
- Taxi or ride-hailing: Yandex Taxi offers typical fares around 1,000 rubles.
- Combined bus and train service: The airport website provides details on integrated transport options.
Long-Distance Rail Travel
Moscow is a major railway hub with ten main train terminals connecting to destinations throughout Russia and Asia. Train travel is the predominant mode of intercity transportation for Russians. Moscow is the western terminus of the Trans-Siberian Railway, which extends across Russian territory to Vladivostok on the Pacific coast. For shorter intercity travel, such as to Saint Petersburg, high-speed trains offer faster service. Suburban and satellite cities are also connected by an electric rail network (elektrichka) departing from these same terminals.
Other Transport Options
Moscow also offers car-sharing services, with a bicycle-sharing system (Velobike) available since 2013 for those interested in cycling. River transport, including cruises along the Moskva and Oka rivers, operates primarily for entertainment rather than practical transport, though two river terminals serve long-range routes.