Getting there

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Arriving by plane
Arriving by train

Arriving by plane

Moscow's 4 main airports are Sheremetyevo located in the north, Domodedovo in the south east, Vnukovo in the south west and the only one in Russia business airport Ostafyevo. The Aeroexpress train is by the far the fastest and most reliable way to get in to the city centre, dropping passengers off at the metro circle line in just 35 - 45 minutes.

Night time arrivals (the Aeroexpress is closed between 00:30 and 05:00) will be at the mercy of taxi drivers so it is advisable to pre-book a taxi or transfer, to save yourself being ripped off by the touts. Remember that when taking a taxi from the airport to the centre that 1,800 - 2,000Rbl is a standard fare, do not let the taxi touts intimidate you with talk of 4,000Rbl rides. Around 1,800Rbl is reasonable. If you withdraw cash in the airport, be aware that ATM's often dispense 1,000Rbl notes. As taxi drivers can not be depended on to have change, if you want to avoid giving them a hefty tip, try to obtain some change in the terminal beforehand.

Arriving by train

Arriving in Russia by rail is a great experience whether you are coming from east or west, Moscow's many train stations are always bustling with travelers about to embark on long journeys.Those arriving very early in the morning to the stations around Komsomolskaya ploschad (Leningradsky, Kazansky and Yaroslavsky - usually hubs for travel from central Siberia, the Urals and St. Petersburg) would be advised to get a taxi rather than wait for the metro to open as the area can be rather dangerous at night.

Train stations

Moscow's eight major train stations keep the nation's rails moving in all directions. All are located next to metro stations, usually on the Koltsevaya (Circle) Line running around central Moscow.
All stations have electronic ticket registration for the Russian Railways if you have bought a ticket through their website rzd.ru, spacious waiting rooms, left luggage facilities, mobile phone outlets, cafes and toilets.

Buying train tickets at the station

For the full blooded Russian experience, line up to buy a train ticket at one of the kassi (Ticket offices) at any train station. You can buy tickets for any train out of Moscow at any train station. If you are buying tickets to a destination outside of Russia, you need to look for the mezhdunarodnaya kassa (international desk).
If you don't speak Russian, it is a good idea to find out the number and time of the train you want to catch beforehand and write it down to help you along, as most assistants do not speak English. Look for a big LCD board in the station showing the timetable.
Don't forget they also require your passport to sell you a ticket, this is so that your passport details can be printed on your ticket. If you lose your ticket, it is possible to get a new one printed for a small fee by taking your passport to the special lost tickets desk. You will be required to show your passport when you enter the train (to prove the ticket and reservation belongs to you).

Buying train tickets online

Using the website of the Russian railways eng.rzd.ru comes in very handy. There you can view the timetables and buy tickets online with a credit card and then just pick it up from the station!
Other options are to buy through a ticket agency or travel agency in Moscow or try and make a booking through online retailers such as www.poezda.net, www.tutu.ru, www.trainsrussia.com but you might need a login and a password.