Russia

Getting around Russia: trains, buses, driving and domestic flights

For most trips, overnight trains between big cities are the default: book a berth, sleep, and arrive without a hotel night. Use buses for short regional hops, domestic flights for anything past the Urals, and skip renting a car unless you read Cyrillic and hold an IDP. Check your own government's travel advice before booking anything.

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Updated Sep 20264 min read

GuideRussia

Key facts

Best default: Long-distance train, overnight couchette between major cities
Book trains: Online in advance; passport number needed at purchase
Cheapest: Platzkart (open dormitory) berth; kupe is 4-berth, SV is 2-berth
Buses: Best for 1–4 hour regional hops; buy at the station or online
Domestic flights: Practical for Moscow–Irkutsk, Moscow–Vladivostok and similar
Driving: Possible with an IDP and your own licence; not needed in Moscow or Saint Petersburg
Metro: Moscow and Saint Petersburg metros are the fastest way across both cities
Payment: Foreign cards often fail; carry cash rubles for tickets

Summary table: mode by trip type

Match the mode to the distance and the season. Rail wins on the main corridors; air wins on the long eastward legs; road transport fills the gaps.

Summary table: mode by trip type
Trip	Best mode	Rough time	Notes
Moscow – Saint Petersburg	Day or overnight train	4–8 h	Frequent departures; the busiest rail corridor
Moscow – Kazan	Overnight train	12–14 h	Saves a hotel night
Moscow – Sochi	Flight or 1–2 night train	2.5 h flight	Train is scenic but long
Moscow – Yekaterinburg	Overnight train or flight	24 h train	Flight is 2.5 h
Moscow – Irkutsk	Flight	6 h	Train takes about 4 days
Moscow – Vladivostok	Flight	9 h	Train is the full Trans-Siberian, about 6 days
City centres	Metro, tram, bus	10–40 min	Moscow and Saint Petersburg metros are fastest
Village or dacha hops	Bus or marshrutka	1–4 h	Buy at the station or on board

Step by step

First, decide the corridor. If your route sits on the Moscow–Saint Petersburg line, or between Moscow and a Volga city, rail is almost always the answer. If it crosses the Urals, compare a flight against a train: the flight costs more but saves days.

Second, book early for peak dates. Russian railways release tickets on a rolling window, and seats on popular overnight trains sell out around public holidays and in summer. Booking online needs a passport number for each traveller, and the name must match the passport exactly.

Third, choose a class. Platzkart is the cheapest and is an open dormitory carriage; kupe is a closed four-berth compartment; SV is a two-berth compartment. Prices rise in that order. Bedding is usually included on long-distance trains.

Fourth, plan the last mile. In Moscow and Saint Petersburg, the metro is faster than a taxi at almost any hour. Elsewhere, use a ride-hailing app if it works on your phone, or agree the fare before getting into a street taxi.

Fifth, keep a paper backup. Screenshot your ticket and keep your passport with you; conductors check documents on boarding.

Notes

Foreign bank cards issued outside Russia often do not work for online or in-person payments, so carry cash rubles for tickets, metro cards and small purchases. Buy a local SIM or eSIM if you want maps and ride-hailing to work reliably; see the SIM page linked below.

Renting a car is possible in larger cities, but you need your home licence plus an International Driving Permit, and police checks are common. Outside cities, road conditions and signage vary, and long distances between fuel stops are normal in Siberia.

Domestic flights are the fastest way to cover the country, but airports are often far from city centres, so add an hour each way. Baggage rules vary by airline.

This desk does not publish a trip line for Russia. Read your own government's travel advice before you book, and check that your travel insurance covers the regions you plan to visit.

Keep your passport and migration card with you at all times; they are checked on trains and at stations.
Arrive at the station 30–40 minutes before departure for long-distance trains.
Metro signs in Moscow and Saint Petersburg are in Cyrillic; learn the station names you need.

Sources and checked date

Facts on this page are marked check where we could not confirm them from an official source. Prices and schedules change; verify before you travel.

Questions people ask

What is the best way to get around Russia?

For most trips, long-distance trains are the default between major cities, especially on the Moscow–Saint Petersburg corridor. Use buses for short regional hops and domestic flights for anything past the Urals. In Moscow and Saint Petersburg, the metro is the fastest way across town.

Do I need a car in Russia?

No, not for the main cities. Moscow and Saint Petersburg have dense metro and bus networks, and intercity trains cover the popular routes. A car helps only for rural areas, and you need your home licence plus an International Driving Permit.

Are there rail or bus passes for Russia?

There is no single nationwide pass that covers all operators. Discounts usually come from booking early, from student or senior fares, and from regional schemes rather than a national pass. Compare individual tickets instead.

How far in advance should I book Russian train tickets?

Book as soon as your dates are fixed, especially for overnight trains and around public holidays. Tickets go on sale on a rolling window and popular berths sell out.

Is it safe to take overnight trains in Russia?

Overnight trains are a normal way to travel and are widely used. Keep your passport and valuables with you, lock the compartment where possible, and read your own government's travel advice before booking.

Can I use a foreign bank card to buy tickets?

Often not. Cards issued outside Russia frequently fail for online and in-person payments, so carry cash rubles as a backup.

Deep dive

Every source; changeable facts are marked check