Getting Around Murmansk
Murmansk is a long, thin city spread along the banks of Kola Bay, but the parts that matter most to a visitor are packed into a fairly compact central area. That shape shapes everything about how you move: the centre is walkable, the main sights sit along one spine, and for anything further out you rely on trolleybuses, buses and taxis.
On Foot
Walking is the simplest way to cover the city centre. Prospekt Lenina is the main north–south thoroughfare through the centre, and Five Corners Square is the central hub. An energetic walker can cover the whole stretch of the central area, from the Poliarnie Zori Hotel at the south end up to the Alyosha Statue on its plateau to the north, in under two hours. If your plans are concentrated on the centre, you may barely need public transport at all.
Trolleybuses and Buses
Murmansk runs the northernmost trolleybus system in the world, and trolleybuses serve most of the larger streets. They generally follow a north–south route, which suits the city's elongated layout. If you are heading east, "up the hill," you have to rely on the small marshrutka minibuses instead.
- Trolleybuses cover the main north–south corridors.
- Marshrutkas fill in the routes heading east, uphill from the centre.
- Both buses and trolleybuses can be much delayed during rush hours because of traffic jams, so allow extra time at peak periods.
- A route planner showing the real-time location of trolleybuses on the most-used lines is available online, but it is in Russian only.
There is no metro or tram network in Murmansk; trolleybuses, buses and marshrutkas are the public transport options.
Taxis and Ride-Hailing
Taxis are plentiful and cheap, which makes them a practical fallback when the buses are stuck in traffic. A typical journey within the city centre costs somewhere around 400 rubles. Few drivers speak anything other than Russian, so it pays to memorize the street name or the name of your destination and have it written down. Unmarked taxis can be cheaper, but they are generally a bit unreliable for anyone not fluent in Russian.
Arriving by Train
Murmansk's railway station sits on Ulitsa Kominterna, one block downhill from Five Corners Square, so it puts you within easy walking distance of the central area. Long-distance trains connect the city with the rest of north-west Russia; tickets can be bought either at the station or online from the national operator, RZD.
From the Airport into the City
Murmansk Airport (MMK) lies south of the city near the town of Murmashi. Two main options get you into town:
- Taxi. A taxi to the city centre costs roughly 600–700 rubles and takes about 40 minutes. Catching one waiting outside the airport is more expensive — expect up to 800 rubles, depending on your language and negotiation skills. For cheaper and official service you have to order a taxi in advance, but expect to wait up to 30–40 minutes for it to arrive.
- Bus 106. This bus runs to the train station and stops at Detsky Mir near the Poliarnie Zori Hotel on the way. It is less expensive than a taxi but much more sluggish.
Practical Tips
- Base yourself near the centre or along Prospekt Lenina and you can walk to most places of interest.
- Use trolleybuses for north–south trips and marshrutkas when you need to head east, uphill.
- Build in slack for rush-hour delays if you are relying on buses or trolleybuses.
- Have your destination written in Russian for taxi drivers, and consider ordering an official taxi rather than hailing one.
- From the airport, weigh the cheaper but slower Bus 106 against a pre-ordered taxi.