Moscow Public-Transport

Moscow Public-Transport information

Metro

The Moscow Metro makes travelling in the city very easy. The metro is clean, punctual and inexpensive. Tickets can be purchased for a single ride or for multiple journeys from five upwards. Single rides cost RUR13 while a five-trip travelcard will cost you RUR60. The flat fare applies no matter how far you are going or whether you change lines. There are no short-term travelcards available, which means it is advisable to stock up on tickets when you first arrive for the entirety of your stay. Route maps for the metro are placed in visible locations in all metro stations. It is suggested that basic Cyrillic be learned here - none of the maps are in the Roman alphabet. The most important line is the circular one that circumnavigates the central part of the city - this connects mainline stations and interchanges across the entire network. Nine other lines spoke out from here and cross the city centre. You should note that as well as being posted in the Cyrillic alphabet stations may bear more than one name, one for each line that intersects there. This can make transferring initially confusing but once you memorise the names you need it makes interchanges extremely easy as you simply head for that station.

Buses, Trams and Trolleys

If a location is inaccessible by metro, a bus, tram or trolley almost certainly goes there. Talony, (bus, tram and trolley tickets) are used interchangeably for all three. They can be purchased at nearby kiosks, or from the drivers and sometimes in the metro stations. They cost RUR5 each. Tickets have to be punched on boarding in the machines provided. This will validate your ticket. An unvalidated ticket will not permit you to ride and you will be fined if caught by the inspectors.

Driving

There is not much reason for the average traveller to hire a car unless they plan on visiting sites outside of the Moscow suburban area. An international driver's licence is required if you are planning on undertaking any self-drive tours during your stay. It is highly recommend that an advance reservation be made. Major car hire firms can be found at the airport and in the city centre. If you are bringing your own car into the country you should note that it is a requirement of law that the car displays a sticker or plate stating its country of origin. Traffic drives on the right throughout Russia. Speeds are limited to 60km per hour (37mph) in built-up areas and 90km per hour (55mph) elsewhere. In Moscow it is illegal to sound your horn at any time, unless it is necessary to prevent an accident. Should you be involved in an accident you are required to contact the authorities - usually a traffic officer. You will be required to provide a written account of the accident - although foreign drivers are universally held responsible for accidents. It is imperative therefore that you are comprehensively insured. You should also note that it is illegal to pick up hitch-hikers or carry "unauthorised passengers" (i.e. operate as a taxi) - although these restrictions are openly flouted on the streets of Moscow.

Rent a Car

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Taxis

There are two kinds of taxi in Moscow - official, and unofficial. Probably 90% of the taxi-rides taken in the city fall into the second category, called "chastniki" ("independents"). Official taxis are yellow, clearly marked "Taksi" in Russian, and in theory they operate on a metered fare (but in practice they usually don't). Licensed taxis don't often cruise for fares - they more usually hang around places where they enjoy a monopoly on business, like train stations, airports, nightclubs and hotels. This isn't exactly a "legal" monopoly - it is maintained by chasing away any competitors. The hiring process consists of you opening the passenger door (don't wait for the window to come down - it never will), and stating your destination. The response is usually "how much?" from the driver, forcing you to suggest a figure. (Suggestion - do not hold onto the door-handle if you plan under-guessing by large amounts, as it's surprising how quickly those old taxis can move off.) As a general rule, figure on offering RUR100 for each ten minutes of expected driving (this is actually rather generous, you could even try lower), and bargain only in units of RUR50. However, there is almost no bargaining if you fail to name a price he'll consider - he will drive off straight away without offering you a chance to up your offer. You can try insisting that he goes on the meter, but most taxi drivers refuse to do so. Fares rise after the Metro closes at midnight, or in the rain, or if the local soccer team lost. Look around you - if you're outside a grand hotel, a theatre or nightclub, or something similar, try walking 200m down the street, and fares will drop like magic. Assuming you eventually reach agreement, on arrival you pay strictly what was agreed and not a kopek more - you never, ever, tip taxi drivers in Russia (nor do they expect it, unless they have helped you with heavy baggage up many flights of stairs). The procedure with unofficial taxis is basically the same, but you can offer approximately half the fare you'd offer an official taxi, with a good chance they will take it. People inevitably wonder how safe it is to climb into a car with a complete stranger and here you have to let experience be your guide, but there are still some watchwords. Never get into a car if there is anyone else other than the driver already in it. Do not allow the driver to pick up other fares along the way, and if he does so anyhow, get out. If you have a bad feeling, glance behind the driver's seat to check there is no-one hiding there. However, bear in mind that taking "unofficial" taxis is the norm rather than the exception, and that if anyone did want to rob you, stealing an official taxi would be far less risky than using his own car (which could be traced) to do so. The "unofficials" are a strange mixture of people ranging from those who just hope to share petrol costs on a journey they are making anyhow, people doing it for a living, official chauffeurs moonlighting with the car while their boss is away, or even just lonely people looking for a chat. In a city of intellectuals, they are actually a feature of the city, and it can even be a pleasure to ride with them whilst they tell you about their life, or even read you their poetry. With "unofficial" taxis, you should scale the price you offer according to the vehicle - lower for a pensioner in his old Moskvich, more for the pro-chauffeur offering to ferry you for pennies in a Mercedes. And again, no need to tip.