The Russian Metro
Russia's metro systems — especially Moscow and St Petersburg — are world-class public transport networks. The Moscow Metro (Московское метро) is one of the busiest in the world, carrying over nine million passengers daily. It is also famous for its stunning Soviet-era station architecture: marble columns, chandeliers, mosaics and bas-reliefs make many stations feel more like palaces than transport hubs. The St Petersburg Metro is similarly impressive, with the deepest stations in the world due to the city's soft, waterlogged ground.
Both metro systems use a zone-based fare structure. In Moscow, a single Troika card (Карта Тройка) can be used for metro, buses, trams and monorail. The card is available at any metro ticket window (касса). Top it up at automated machines which have an English-language interface option. Metro signs are in Russian only, so learning to read Cyrillic station names is essential — fortunately this is exactly the kind of practical motivation that makes alphabet learning stick fast.
The Saint Petersburg metro map requires special attention: because the city is built on many islands and channels, the metro lines are fewer but the distances between stations are sometimes very large. Above-ground alternatives like the extensive bus and trolleybus network are often necessary for shorter inner-city journeys.
Essential Transport Vocabulary
| Russian | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| Метро | mye-TRO | Metro / Underground |
| Станция | STAN-tsee-ya | Station |
| Выход | VY-khad | Exit |
| Вход | FKHOD | Entrance |
| Переход | pye-rye-KHOD | Transfer / Connecting passage |
| Следующая станция | SLYE-doo-yoo-shya-ya STAN-tsee-ya | Next station |
| Конечная | ka-NYECH-na-ya | Terminal / End of line |
| Автобус | af-TO-boos | Bus |
| Троллейбус | tra-LYEY-boos | Trolleybus |
| Трамвай | tram-VAI | Tram |
| Такси | tak-SEE | Taxi |
| Маршрутка | marsh-ROOT-ka | Shared minibus taxi |
Intercity Train Travel
Russia has an extraordinary national railway network operated by Russian Railways (РЖД — Российские железные дороги). Long-distance trains are comfortable, affordable and an authentic way to experience the country. The legendary Trans-Siberian Railway (Транссибирская магистраль) runs from Moscow to Vladivostok — a journey of 9,289 kilometres and seven time zones, taking approximately six days on the full route.
Train tickets can be purchased at station ticket windows (касса) or online at the official RZhD website, which has an English-language option. Trains in Russia have several classes: Плацкарт (platzkart) is an open bunk carriage with 54 berths and is by far the most affordable option and the most authentic Russian experience. Купе (kupe) consists of four-berth compartments. СВ (spalny vagon) is the premium two-berth sleeper. High-speed Lastochka and Sapsan trains between Moscow, St Petersburg and other major cities are modern and comfortable.
When boarding, have your passport ready — Russian train conductors (проводники) check identification against your ticket. The carriage number (вагон) and your berth number (место) are printed on the ticket. Carriage numbers are displayed on the platform.
Buying Tickets: Key Phrases
| Russian | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| Один билет до Москвы | A-DEEN bee-LYET da Ma-SK-vy | One ticket to Moscow |
| Туда и обратно | Too-DA ee ab-RAT-na | Return ticket |
| Только в одну сторону | TOL-ka v ad-NOO STO-ra-noo | Single / One way only |
| На какой платформе? | Na ka-KOI plat-FOR-mye | On which platform? |
| Когда отправление? | Kag-DA at-prav-LYE-nee-ye | What time does it depart? |
| Поезд опаздывает? | PO-yezd a-PAZ-dy-va-yet | Is the train delayed? |
| Мне нужен вагон номер... | Mnye NOO-zhen va-GON NO-mer | I need carriage number... |
Taxis and Ride-Hailing
Ride-hailing apps have transformed urban transport in Russia. Yandex Go (formerly Yandex.Taxi) is the dominant platform and works similarly to Uber — set your destination, the fare is calculated automatically, and a driver is dispatched to your location. The app has an English interface and accepts international payment cards, making it by far the easiest way for foreigners to use taxis in Russian cities. Citimobil is a competing service available in many cities.
Street taxis (частники) are still common in Russian cities, particularly near train stations and airports. Always agree the fare before getting in. A simple Сколько до центра? (How much to the centre?) establishes the price. Negotiation is acceptable and expected. Never get into an unlicensed taxi that approaches you unsolicited at airports — these are notorious overcharge operations targeting foreign travellers.
Driving in Russia
Foreigners can drive in Russia on an international driving licence. Road quality varies enormously — motorways around Moscow and St Petersburg are modern and well-maintained, but rural roads can be rough. Russian driving culture is more assertive than in many Western countries, and compliance with traffic law is uneven. Having a GPS device or downloaded offline maps (Google Maps and Maps.me both work offline) is essential.
Speed cameras are extremely common on Russian roads, and fines for foreign-registered vehicles can be significant. The speed limit in urban areas is 60 km/h unless otherwise posted. Seatbelts are compulsory for all passengers. Zero alcohol tolerance applies to drivers: the legal limit is effectively zero, and penalties are severe.
Yandex Maps is the best navigation app for Russia — it has more detailed local data than Google Maps, including public transport routes, real-time traffic and accurate walking directions in smaller cities. Download it before your trip. Maps.me is excellent for offline navigation in areas with poor connectivity.
Air Travel Within Russia
Russia is enormous — flying is often the only practical option for long-distance travel within the country. The main domestic carriers are Aeroflot, S7 Airlines, Ural Airlines and Pobeda (a budget carrier). Booking in advance through airline websites or Russian booking aggregators like Aviasales gives the best prices. Moscow has three main airports: Sheremetyevo (SVO) serves intercontinental and most international routes; Domodedovo (DME) serves domestic and some international routes; Vnukovo (VKO) is primarily domestic.
Domestic check-in procedures are similar to international travel. Identification is required for all domestic flights in Russia — your passport or national ID document. Luggage policies vary by airline and class; budget airline Pobeda has strict carry-on restrictions that catch many travellers by surprise.
Navigation: Reading Russian Signs
Once you can read Cyrillic, Russian city navigation becomes much more manageable. Key signs to recognise include: ВЫХОД (exit), ВХОД (entrance), ТУАЛЕТ (toilet), КАССА (ticket office/cash desk), СПРАВОЧНОЕ (information desk), ЗАПРЕЩЕНО (prohibited), ОТКРЫТО (open), ЗАКРЫТО (closed). In the metro, ПЕРЕХОД signs indicate connections between different metro lines — follow the name of the connecting station.
Russian address system: Buildings in Russia have both a street number and often a building subdivision number (корпус or строение). An address like ул. Ленина, д. 15, корп. 2, кв. 47 means: Lenin Street, house 15, building 2, apartment 47. Street types you will encounter: улица (ул.) — street; проспект (пр.) — avenue; переулок (пер.) — lane/alley; площадь (пл.) — square/plaza; набережная (наб.) — embankment/riverside street.