Am flying into Moscow airport Vnukovo. Has anyone any experience of transport into town. Are any of the Metro signs in English or what is cost of taxi. Thank you
Posted by
New Paltz, NY
9110 posts
The taxi stands at the airport are run by the mafia and will charge over 100 euros to get into the city center. You can get around this and spend much less by pre-booking a car service. I've used this company:
https://www.gotorussia.net/transfers/airport_moscow.htm
Going back to the airport you can use the taxis waiting outside the hotel. They'll charge more or less what the car service charges.
Posted by
OP
nanaimo
156 posts
Many thanks for the info...we are only going from airport to hotel one way as we will be travelling overland through Eastern Europe to Istanbul. Do you think its too dangerous in the afternoon to take the train or shuttle bus?
Posted by
Tampa, FL, USA
417 posts
I'm not sure about Vnukovo, but I flew into Sheremetyevo and had no problem with the taxis. I believe that there is an express train from Vnukovo, though, to Kievsky station, where you can transfer to the metro.
This link may help:
http://vnukovo.ru/eng/for-passengers/registration/railway/
I was there last year and do not recall ANY signs in the metro, or elsewhere around the city, for that matter, in English. The language barrier was more significant in Russia than anywhere else I have visited. Make sure your guidebook has street signs and other places listed in Cyrillic, this will be a huge help.
Have your hotel write out in Cyrillic how many metro tickets you want to buy (buy the packs, it is cheaper and you will not have to hassle with the attendants). Always count your change, and add up the charge before you get the bill (this goes at train stations, restaurants, museums, etc.) the attendants try to cheat you and keep the extra for themselves.
That said, there are some legitimate fees that are higher for non-Russians, like the bag check at the Kremlin. While we are on that, do not even think about bringing a bag any larger than a small purse- they will wait to tell you until you are at the gate, then turn you back and make you wait in line again. In addition to that, do not leave the Kremlin until you are ready to leave, you will have to pay to get back in- a ticket stamped from the same day will not help.
Also, be wary of the police, as they frequently try to fleece tourists. PM me i you want more info on Moscow. It is a great destination, but be alert!