Getting into and around in russia

1

IN RUSSIA
YOUR GUIDE TO

2

YOUR GUIDE TO GETTING INTO AND AROUND
IN RUSSIA

Gone are the days of Russia being seen as remote and inaccessible. As the
country continues to welcome record numbers of tourists, it’s now easier than
ever to go almost anywhere in Russia your heart desires. Moscow’s three
international airports make it one of the most important hubs servicing Europe and
Asia, while other major tourist destinations, from St Petersburg in the north to
Irkutsk in southern Siberia, are being serviced by more and more international
flights every season. And, if you have the time, a penchant for adventure and a
thirst for incredible scenery, you can travel to Russia overland – the legendary
Trans-Siberian Railway is the ultimate train trip connecting Russia’s Asian and
European regions.
Once you’ve arrived in Russia, your options for getting around will depend largely
on where you end up. The larger cities offer an array of transport options, while
moving through remote destinations will require some advanced planning, or the
services of a specialist tour company. This guide will take you through some of
the most popular and practical ways to enter Russia, and how to make your way
around this vast country, from the city to the countryside and beyond.

Call
us
on
1300
742
374
(toll
free
from
Australia)
or
+61-‐2-‐8221-‐88-‐59
from
the
rest
of
the
world,
or
visit
our
website

www.56thparallel.com

3

SECTIONS WITHIN THIS EBOOK
GETTING THERE - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 4
Getting to Russia by plane - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 5
Getting to Russia by train from Europe - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 7
Trans-Siberian & Trans-Mongolian Railway - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 8
Arriving in Russia by bus - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 9
Self-driving - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -9
GETTING AROUND - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 10
Public transport in Moscow - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -12
Public transport in St Petersburg - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -14
Getting around in other cities - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -15
LONG DISTANCE TRAVEL IN RUSSIA - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 16
Domestic flights - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -17
Trains - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 17
Buses - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 17
Private transport hire - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 18
Boating, cruising , kayaking and rafting - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -18
Hiking, cycling and horseback riding - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -19
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 20

Call us on 1300 742 374 (toll free from Australia) or +61-2-8221-88-59 from the rest of the world, or visit our website

4

GETTING THERE


5

MOSCOW
The vast majority of international visitors arrive in
Russia by plane, flying into one of Moscow’s three
international airports. With a huge number of
airlines now flying to Moscow, airfares are quite
competitive, so keep your eye out for exceptional
deals.
You can fly into Moscow on a non-stop or one-
stop flight from almost every major city in Europe,
and there are direct flights on Aeroflot from New
York, Los Angeles and Miami. For visitors from
Australia and New Zealand; Bangkok, Dubai and
Abu Dhabi provide convenient stopovers.
GETING TO RUSSIA
BY PLANE

ST PETERSBURG
Pulkovo Airport is St Petersburg’s international
airport. It connects with most major international
airports in Europe as well as transport hubs in the
Middle East, Seoul and Beijing.
For many visitors heading to St Petersburg, it’s
often more practical and cheaper to fly into
Moscow and take a domestic flight (1 hour) or
train (4 hours) to St Petersburg.
of
winter
activities
are
available
on
the
lake

and
its
surrounds,
including
ice
skating,
cross-‐
country
skiing,
dog
sledding
and
ice
fishing

6

OTHER MAJOR AIRPORTS
For most other destinations in Russia, catching a domestic flight from Moscow or St Petersburg
will give you the most flexibility.
Vladivostok (the start point of the Trans-Siberian railway to Moscow) has a mid-sized
international airport mainly servicing flights from North East and South East Asia.
If you’re intending to visit Siberia and don’t want to fly to Moscow first, its relative proximity to
mainland China means that almost all international airports in Siberia have regular, or seasonal
flights to and from Beijing.
Novosibirsk, Siberia’s largest city, is becoming an international transit hub, with S7 offering direct
flights to and from Frankfurt, Dubai, Hong Kong and Bangkok and many other hubs both in
Europe and Asia.
S7 have recently opened up direct flights from Bangkok to Krasnoyarsk and Irkutsk, and between
Hong Kong and Irkutsk. Korean Air has introduced twice weekly flights from Seoul-Incheon to
Irkutsk.
of
winter
activities
are
available
on
the
lake
and
its
surrounds,
including
ice
skating,
cross-‐
country
skiing,
dog
sledding
and
ice
fishing


7

GETTING TO RUSSIA BY
TRAIN FROM EUROPE
Europe’s excellent high speed rail network
makes travelling to Russia by train remarkably
fast and easy. It’s possible to get from London to
Moscow by rail (with a change of trains in
France, Belgium or Germany) in 48 hours. The
Eurail website (www.eurail.com) has the most
comprehensive guide to train networks in
Europe. Europe’s long distance trains are super
modern and comfortably appointed, allowing for
a good night’s sleep on overnight journeys.
The most popular train journey from western
Europe to Moscow is also one of the continent’s
longest – the overnight trip from Paris to
Moscow traverses a staggering 3,177km and
takes roughly 38 hours. You can board the train
at any of its stops, including Frankfurt, Berlin,
Warsaw and Brest – just make sure you have
your Russian visa with you prior to boarding.
The Paris-Moscow overnight service runs all
year. During the summer it runs five times a
week and during the winter three times a week.
Bookings are essential.
Other cities that offer direct train travel to
Moscow include Amsterdam, Minsk, Riga and
Tallinn. Trains also run from Helsinki to St
Petersburg and Moscow. From Stockholm, you
can catch a ferry to Helsinki or Tallinn and then
continue by train to St Petersburg or Moscow.
of
winter
activities
are
available
on
the
lake

and
its
surrounds,
including
ice
skating,
cross-‐
country
skiing,
dog
sledding
and
ice
fishing


8

TRANS-SIBERIAN &
TRANS-MONGOLIAN
RAILWAY
The Trans-Siberian Railway has a long, romantic
history as one world’s most magnificent train
journeys. The entire route, from Moscow to
Vladivostok (9,258km away) also holds the
distinction of being the longest single train
journey on earth, taking seven days to complete.
Most travellers start their overland journey in
European Russia, typically departing from
Moscow. The train takes just under two days to
reach Ekaterinburg and Novosibirsk from
Moscow, two days to reach Krasnoyarsk and
four days to get to Irkutsk and Lake Baikal
region. It reaches its final destination,
Vladivostok, in just over six days.
Another option is to begin your journey in China
(Beijing) or Mongolia (Ulan-Bator) along the
Trans-Mongolian Railway, which meets up with
the Trans-Siberian in Ulan-Ude in south eastern
Siberia. Both routes offer an incredibly diverse
array of scenery, from the vast forests, piercing
mountains and bustling industrial cities of
western Russia to the stark beauty of the Gobi
Desert and nomad pastures of the Mongolian
steppe. It’s possible to break up your journey
with overnight or multi-day stops. There’s no
“hop on hop off option”, but you can choose your
stopover destinations when you book your ticket
and berths on multiple trains will be reserved for
you.
Travel on sleeper berths on Trans-Siberian
railway is comfortable (although not luxurious)
and incredibly inexpensive considering the
enormous distances covered.
of
winter
activities
are
available
on
the
lake

and
its
surrounds,
including
ice
skating,
cross-‐
country
skiing,
dog
sledding
and
ice
fishing


9

ARRIVING IN RUSSIA BY
BUS
Bus travel from Europe to Russia isn’t as popular
as train travel due to generally being much
slower. However, buses can offer a more budget-
conscious and still quite comfortable option for
getting into Moscow/St Petersburg. There are
regular bus connections to Russia from many
major cities in France, Germany, Holland, Spain,
Portugal, Denmark, Sweden, Finland, Great
Britain and Switzerland, and most of the major
Eastern European cities.

SELF-DRIVING
The last common option for entering Russia
overland is by driving there yourself. You’ll
generally need your own vehicle do this – you
need a Temporary Permit from customs to be
able to drive a car or motorcycle in Russia, and
it’s unlikely that one would be issued for a rental
vehicle. To drive in Russia, you’ll need your
passport, Russian visa, your drivers’ license, an
international driving permit, your vehicle’s
registration documents and third-party insurance
valid in Russia. This can be purchased at petrol
stations just before the border or, at the local
office or affiliate of a Russian insurance company
such as Ingosstrakh or Rosno. If everything
checks out, you’ll be issued a Temporary Permit
by Customs at the border crossing, usually valid
for 10 days. The permit can be extended at local
customs offices throughout Russia.

A word of warning: Driving in Russia is VERY different to
driving in most of Europe. While the road rules are in theory
are much the same, they are not particularly well observed
by most people, and Russian motorists have a reputation for
aggressive driving. Driving in big cities like Moscow can
present chaotic conditions and notorious traffic jams, while
roads in rural areas are often in poor condition. We do not
recommend driving in Russia unless you are already
familiar with the road and traffic conditions there.

untry
skiing,
dog
sledding
and
ice
fishing


10

GETTING AROUND


11

Russia is big, big BIG. As the largest country on
earth, travelling around Russia often means
covering enormous distances. This is one of the
major advantages of using a reputable tour
company for travelling in Russia, as they’re always
able to pre-arrange the most efficient means of
transport for you.
If you’re planning on visiting more distant and
remote regions, such as the Siberian wilderness, a
group tour is often the only affordable option, unless
you have the funds to charter private multi-day
4WD excursions, sailing expeditions or helicopter
flights!

Call
us
on
1300
742
374
(toll
free
from
Australia)
or
+61-‐2-‐8221-‐88-‐59
from
the
rest
of
the
world,
or
visit
our
website


12

PUBLIC TRANSPORT IN
MOSCOW
METRO
Moscow is a huge metropolis with a well-developed
public transport system. The city is famous for its
metro system, whose beautiful underground
stations are tourist attractions in themselves. The
Moscow Metro network is extensive, comfortable,
cheap and efficient. It can get quite crowded at
peak times however – up to nine million people per
day ride the metro! However, during rush hours
(8am to 11am and 5pm to 8pm) it’s a much better
option than tackling Moscow’s infamous above-
ground traffic jams. The metro service begins at
6am and the last trains of the night depart at
around 1am. The layout and colour-coded Moscow
Metro system is intuitive and easy to navigate. No
signs are in English though, so bring an English
map along with you. Magnetic tickets are sold at
ticket booths at every station. Buying a multiple-ride
ticket saves you the hassle of queuing up every
time.

BUSES, TROLLEYBUSES
AND TRAMS

Almost every street in Moscow is serviced by a bus
or tram route. Some streets have overhead wires to
accommodate electric trolleybuses, while others
are fitted with tram tracks. One trip costs 28R
($1USD) making buses, trolleys and trams a super
inexpensive way to see the city. The #7 trolleybus
route is the most convenient to explore the major
sites of Moscow. It runs from the Victory Park (Park
Pobedy) to the Stone Bridge (Kamennyï Most) near
the Kremlin, following the riverbank and up to
Sparrow Hills (Vorobyovy Gory).

13

TAXIS
Many unofficial cabs, known as ‘gypsy taxis’ cruise around looking for fares, but we recommend
sticking to the official taxis, recognisable by their chequerboard logo on the side and/or a small
green light in the windscreen. Moscow taxi drivers almost never use metres (even if they have
them fitted) so you’ll have to negotiate a fare first. Bargaining is a must, and even then, taxi rides
tend to be on the expensive side, best reserved for when public transport isn’t a convenient
option.

MARSHRUTKA
These mini-buses are found in both Moscow and St Petersburg. They travel along fixed routes
but passengers can wave them down anywhere, like taxis. You pay immediately (usually around
30R) once you get inside. Tell the driver ‘stop’, or to be more polite, ‘ostano`vite po`zhaluista’
(stop please) as you approach your stop. Marshrutkas aren’t generally favoured by tourists, as
it’s not easy to work out where they’re headed, unless you can ask in Russian.

14

PUBLIC TRANSPORT IN
ST PETERSBURG

METRO

The St Petersburg underground metro has the
distinction of being the deepest in the world. The
four line system is quite extensive and has a
colour-coding system that makes it easy to follow –
although a map in English and Cyrillic will help you
out no-end, as there no signs in English at the
stations. A single ride is the same price (25R), no
matter how far you’re going, and you can also buy
multi-ride cards which provide a small discount.
Either way, the metro system is dirt cheap, fast
and efficient.

CANALS & RIVER
TRANSPORTATION
In the summer months between 8am and 8pm,
aquabuses (water taxis) ferry tourists and
commuters alike across the Gulf of Finland and the
Neva River into St Petersburg’s network of canals,
connecting downtown with some outlying areas of
St Petersburg. A ride on any of the four fixed
routes give you the chance to admire some of the
city’s most beautiful landmarks from a unique
perspective. In season, dozens of tour boats, from
small private launches to luxury cruisers with
meals, drinks and live bands on board take tourists
out on the water to some of the most scenic spots
along the waterfront. Night cruises can be
particularly romantic.
Call
us
on
1300
742
374
(toll
free
from
Australia)
or
+61-‐2-‐8221-‐88-‐59
from
the
rest
of
the
world,
or
visit
our
website


15

GETTING AROUND IN
OTHER CITIES

Only Moscow and St Petersburg have metro
systems, but the streets of most other large
Russian cities are regularly plyed by bus buses,
marshrutkas and taxis. A lack of Russian can
make understanding bus routes and the like
confusing, if not impossible. The best way to
sightsee in and around most Russian towns and
cities is via an organised day trip, or as part of a
longer guided tour. Of course, you always have
the option to explore on foot, then jump in a taxi
back to your hotel if you end up over-tired.
Call
us
on
1300
742
374
(toll
free
from
Australia)
or
+61-‐2-‐8221-‐88-‐59
from
the
rest
of
the
world,
or
visit
our
website


16

LONG DISTANCE TRAVEL


17

DOMESTIC FLIGHTS

The vast distances between many major
destinations in Russia means taking domestic flights
is often a necessity when traversing different
regions of Russia, unless you have considerable
amounts of time to spare. There are over 1,200
airports throughout Russia, so chances are
wherever you want to go, it’s at least partly
reachable by plane! Aeroflot and S7 (Siberian
Airlines) are the biggest domestic airlines, and there
are others such as Russia Airlines, Utair and
Transaero.

TRAINS
The Trans-Siberian Railway in the most famous long
distance rail journey in Russia but with over
85,000km of railway lines criss-crossing the country,
train travel is an inexpensive and often
breathtakingly beautiful way to reach countless
awesome destinations within Russia. The network is
run by Russian Railways, and its English language
website (eng.rzd.ru) includes timetables and a
network map. Buying tickets is best done at the
station. English is rarely spoken, but if you simply let
them know your intended destination (a map in
Russian can be a big help), purchasing tickets rarely
poses any difficulties.

BUSES
Most tourists prefer the relative speed and reliability
of Russia’s long distance trains, but buses can be a
fun and interesting way to travel between smaller
towns. In some regions, such as much of central
and northern Siberia, bus travel may be the only
public transport option you have. Most cities have a
main intercity bus station with timetables posted up
outside. Tickets are sold either in advance at the
station, or once you get on the bus.


18

PRIVATE TRANSPORT
HIRE
Many transport companies in Russia’s major cities
can organise a private vehicle and driver to take you
to most destinations within Russia, giving you the
freedom to pick and choose exactly when and
where you go. However, unless you have a large
group able to share expenses, this can be an
extremely expensive endeavour, with long distances
to cover, fuel costs and meal and accommodation
expenses for your driver to weigh up.
A more affordable option is to book a trip with a tour
company, offering private transportation within a
tour group.
BOATING, CRUISING,
KAYAKING AND RAFTING
With over 37,653 of coastline to explore, endless
rivers and of course, the extraordinary Lake Baikal,
Russia is made for people who love nothing more
than a life on the water.
Tour companies like 56th Parallel are the best way
to connect with reputable boating, cruising, kayaking
and rafting companies in Russia. Sail over the
mesmerising deep blue waters of Baikal, or pit
yourself again the wild coastline of Kamchatka by
kayak with whales and sea lions for company.
For an even more remote adventure, forge your way
into the Siberian forest’s most and far-flung and
enchanting fishing spots by motorised raft.


19

HIKING, CYCLING AND HORSEBACK RIDING
There are countless roads and forested trails throughout Russia that offer spectacular
opportunities for long distance hiking, cycling and horse riding. Remember, much of Russia is
remote, with few human settlements, rugged terrain and in winter, the possibility of heavy snows.
We strongly recommend travelling with a guide and the appropriate navigational and safety
equipment if you intend to hike, bike or horse ride over multiple days in rural Russia.
56th Parallel offer organised hiking and camping trips to stunning destinations like the Sayan
Mountains, and mountain biking adventures on Lake Baikal’s Olkhon Island. For an
unforgettable, uniquely Siberian experience, we can also arrange custom trips riding with the
nomadic Turkic horsemen in the stunning Altai Mountains region.


20

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES


21

FLIGHTS
The Kayak (www.kayak.com.) website and app are among the best for finding great deals on
flights, the option of having price alerts e-mailed to you daily or weekly.
The websites of the major airlines in Russia, Aeroflot (www.aeroflot.com) and S7 (www.s7.ru)
are worth keeping an eye on as well.
TRAINS
The independent Seat61 website (www.seat61.com) is a goldmine of information and resources
on train travel in Russia and elsewhere.
PRIVATE TRANSPORT
Visit the 56th Parallel website (www.56thparallel.com) for detailed info about how we travel
around Russia on our small group and private tours. We can organise private transport to
virtually any destination in Russia as well as hiking, horse riding, cycling and boating expeditions.
Call
us
on
1300
742
374
(toll
free
from
Australia)
or
+61-‐2-‐8221-‐88-‐59
from
the
rest
of
the
world,
or
visit
our
website


Getting into and around in russia

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Getting into and around in russia