Russian Airports
Int'l Arrivals, Departures & Domestic Travel

Come understand Russia with SRAS!

In This Guide

• Russian Airports 101
• Entering Russia (What to expect at the airport)
• Domestic Flights in Russia 
• Arranging Transfers
  - SVO I or II <--> Moscow
  - SVO I <--> SVO II 
  - DME <--> Moscow
  - DME <--> SVO
  - Pulkovo <--> St. Petersburg
  - Pulkovo I <--> Pulkovo II
• See Also
  >>>International Airfare to and from Russia
  >>>Train Travel in Russia

1. Russian Airports 101     back to top

    In Moscow
Sheremetyevo II (SVO II – terminals D and F) and Domodedovo (DME) process most of Russia's incoming international flights. Most domestic flights go through Sheremetyevo I (SVO I – terminals A, B, and C) and Domodedovo. Vnukovo (VKO) airport also hosts some domestic flights in Moscow, although we have never heard of anyone actually going there.

Sheremetyevo is currently in the process of changing its designations. Formally known as SVO I and SVO II, there will now be SVO A through SVO F. However, the changeover has been piecemeal and poorly communicated. Just know that both designations are used and that A, B, and C are "the terminal formally known as SVO I" and D, E, and F equate to "SVOII." You should know what letter and numeral you will need to find your flight.

Warning: If you will be transfering between SVOI and SVOII (e.g. for a flight to Central Asia) and do not otherwise have a Russian visa, you will need a transit visa. Find out which terminal your connecting flight is in and plan accordingly well in advance.

    In St. Petersburg
International flights come through Pulkovo II and domestic flights are handled at Pulkovo I (and they are not easily accessed from one another - see below).

2. Entering Russia by Air      back to top

You can roughly expect the following sequence of events upon arrival:

1. Disembark and follow the flow of passengers to passport control. Usually one line is for Russian citizens, but all others are for foreign nationals.
2. Passport control will take your passport (where the visa is glued in) and your migration card. Both will be stamped and returned to you. SRAS requires that you read our ESSENTIAL Visa Information before departing for our programs.
3. Baggage claim. Carousels are usually not marked - but there are not many and everyone just figures out where their bags are. Collect them and head toward customs (indicated by red and green signs). Have your luggage tickets handy (usually in sticker form on your ticket holder) because airport officials may check them against the tags on the bags you are are bringing out of baggage claim to make sure they are yours
   3a. If your luggage is lost. Go to the booth inside the luggage area and fill out a claim slip. Ask the person at the booth for a phone (they will generally let you use theirs) and call SRAS if you need help.
4. Customs. If you have less than $10,000 in cash/travelers checks or goods, you may go through the "Nothing to Declare" GREEN line. We highly discourage anyone from traveling with large sums of cash. If you need to travel with large sums, please consult with your SRAS representative before leaving.
5. Arrivals hall. If you have requested a transfer, look for someone holding a sign with your name. If you do not see someone right away, do not go far. If your flight has arrived early, wait near the exit from customs. Drivers usually plan to arrive no earlier than one hour after your flight is scheduled to land since it usually takes that long to exit customs. In case of emergency, purchase a phone card from the bookshop and use it to call SRAS.
   5a. Rubles. It is not a bad idea to change a bit of money ($50-100) or withdraw rubles (1500-3000 RUR) from the ATM at the airport. The exchange and ATMs are located near the customs exit.

3. Domestic Flights in Russia      back to top

The major domestic carriers in Russia are Aeroflot, Transaero, and S7.

If you switch flights in Moscow or St. Petersburg (as is needed to get to Irkutsk, for example) and change airlines, the domestic airline will hold you to domestic regulations. We strongly advise you purchase your international tickets together with the domestic ticket from an airline such as Aeroflot which offers both domestic and international service. Domestic flights in Russia are allowed only 20kg of checked luggage and 5kg of carry on. International flights on Aeroflot are allowed 46kg.

For domestic flights, arrive at the airport no later than one hour before departure.
1. Ensure that you have all of your documents - tickets, passport, visa.
2. Make sure you have informed SRAS and your university of your travel plans - this is essential for maintaining your registration and keeping you legal!  
3. When checking your bags, ensure you receive a receipt (tag) for it. 
4. Some airports require that your luggage be locked and/or "wrapped." There is usually a window where you can have your luggage wrapped in plastic (commonly done by Russians to increase luggage life expectancy).
5. Domestic flights with layovers often require you disembark. If you do not speak Russian, follow what everyone else is doing closely and try to clarify the reboarding time with either a flight attendant, fellow passenger, or the information booth.
6. At many airports you will be brought to the plane by bus.

4. Arranging Transfers     back to top

It takes a minimum of one hour at international airports to clear customs and passport control. In nearly all cases, transferring between airports (or even between terminals) is time consuming. Budget at least an hour and a half if you are transferring between terminals. Transferring between airports can take two to eight hours depending on traffic. We highly recommend planning a layover of one or two days in Moscow or St. Petersburg if you'll be passing through. See the sites, get some rest, then head to your next journey.

"Left luggage" is a service offered at most Russian airports and train stations where you can leave your bags for limited amounts of time. They are usually indicated on airport maps and signs with a picture of a suitcase. They are handy if you will have a layover, will depart from the same airport, and do not need all your luggage during the layover. SVO-II's service is on the left wing of the arrivals area and charges 170 RUR per day per bag (more for very large items). SVO-I charges 140 RUR/bag, plus 2% of the declared value of the contents. SVO-I is spread out in several buildings – you will need the big orange one. Note that if you check your bags, then need to get an item out, they will make you check the bag (and pay) again.

SVO I or II <---> Moscow

You have two options to get to the metro. The metro has maps posted in each station and in each wagon of every train. Make sure you get on a train heading in the right direction.  

    Option 1: Aeroexpress      schedule online
Aeroexpress is a high-speed train from SVO II to the Belorusskaya metro station (on the ring line where green meets brown in the north). Follow the signs at SVO II that say “Exit to Aeroexpress.” From SVO I, you can take a shuttle bus to SVO II, then follow the signs. At SVO II,  exit the arivals hall, walk through a long tunnel, then re-enter the airport – it takes 7-10 minutes. Purchase a ticket at the ticket window. As of summer, 2010, the cost is 300 RUR or 340 RUR with a one-trip metro ticket (there is always a huge line of people for metro tickets at Belorusskaya). The ride will take about 35 minutes and is non-stop to Belorusskaya metro.

Tickets can also be purchased online for 270 RUR up to 30 days before departure. Be sure to hold onto your ticket for the duration of the trip.

    Option 2: The Bus       more about public transport
Take either bus 817 to metro Rechnoi Vokzal (end of the green line), or bus 851 to metro Planernaya (end of the purple line). As of summer, 2010, the cost is 25 RUR. If you have a large bag, you will have to pay 25 RUR for the bag as well. There are many stops along the way, so you will need to pay attention in order to get out at the right stop. The duration of the trip depends on traffic, and can take anywhere from 40 minutes to two hours or more.

Small minibuses, called “marshrutkas,” and are usually faster, cost about twice as much (you will also still need to buy your bag a seat if it takes one). Look for one that lists "М. Rechnoi Vokzal" or “M.Planernaya” (in Cyrillic) on the side.

    --> Onward to a Train Station    more about train travel in Russia
Nearly all train stations are on the brown metro line that runs in a circle around the city center. Each stop on this line leads to a different train station that shares the name of the metro station (except for train stations Yaroslavsky, Leningradskaya, and Kazansky, which are all located at metro Komsomolskaya). In either case, make sure you know what metro station you need before leaving home, and feel free to contact your SRAS consultant with questions. 

    --> Getting back to the Airport

    Option 1: Aeroexpress      schedule online
Head back to Belorusskaya and exit the metro from the green line (the brown line at Belorusskaya also connects at this station, but you want the green line). Look for "Aeroexpress" listed on the signs inside the metro that read “Exit into the City” (signs are in Cyrillic). Once out of the metro, take the glass doors on your right, then hang another right, following the side of the building. Enter at the third entrance (it's marked "Aeroexpress"). Aeroexpress makes one stop (at metro station Savyolovskaya) before arriving at SVO-II. There is a free shuttle that runs between SVO-I and II. The bus stop is situated on the ground floor at the terminal entrance. Shuttles run every 15-25 minutes (less frequently in early morning or late evening), and traveling time is 20 minutes.

    Option 2: The Bus       more about public transport
We highly discourage use of the bus or marshrutkas to get back to the airport, as it is hard to gauge how long it will take and easy to miss your flight. Spend a little money on the train and save yourself the possible expense and hassle of having to change your tickets.

SVO I  <--->   SVO II 

Allow for at least 3-4 hrs between your flights when booking them for this transfer.

    Option 1: Airport Shuttle     official site for shuttles
Free shuttles run about once per hour and a half. The stop is by the entrance to the Aeroexpress terminal (the big orange building next to SVO II, see above). Questions about these can be addressed to the Aeroflot booth in the arrivals hall or to the one next to it labled "TRANSIT." 

    Option 2: The Bus       more about public transport
You can take bus 851 (but not 817!) and vans that have "SVO-1" written as a destination on the placard on the side of the vehicle, but always confirm with the driver that the van is indeed going to SVO I (otherwise you will end up in Moscow). The ride will take about 15 minutes. Once at SVO-1, look for Domestic Departures - signs are in English. If you land late at SVO-II, ask the Aeroflot desk in the arrivals hall about what to do.

DME <---> Moscow

    Option I: Aeroexpress       schedule online
The high-speed Aeroexpress train can take you to the Paveletskaya metro station. Follow the signs at the airport that say "Exit to Aeroexpress." Purchase a ticket at the ticket window. As of summer, 2010, the cost is 300 RUR or 340 RUR with a one-trip metro ticket (there is always a huge line of people trying to buy metro tickets at Paveletskaya). Hold on to your ticket as you will need it to get through the turnstiles to exit Paveletskaya. The ride will take about 45 minutes and is non-stop.

Tickets can also be purchased online for 270 RUR up to 30 days before departure. Be sure to hold onto your ticket for the duration of the trip.

    Option 2: The Bus       official shuttle site
A fleet of specially marked busses and minivans (white, with "Domodedovo" wrtten on the side) runs to the metro station Domodedovo (green line, south). Wait for the bus outside of the airport, between doors two and three. It will cost about 100 RUR. You may be asked to buy another space if your bag takes up a seat.

    --> Onward to a Train Station    more about train travel in Russia
Nearly all train stations are on the brown metro line that runs in a circle around the city center. Each stop on this line leads to a different train station that shares the name of the metro station (except for train stations Yaroslavsky, Leningradskaya, and Kazansky, which are all located at metro Komsomolskaya). In either case, make sure you know what metro station you need before leaving home, and feel free to contact your SRAS consultant with questions. 

    --> Getting back to the Airport

    Option 1: Aeroexpress      schedule online
Head back to Paveletskaya and enter the train station. Look for "Aeroexpress" signs. See above for ticket information.

    Option 2: The Bus       more about public transport
We highly discourage use of the bus or marshrutkas to get back to the airport, as it is hard to gauge how long it will take and easy to miss your flight. Spend a little money on the train and save yourself the possible expense and hassle of having to change your tickets.

SVO <---> DME

If using Aeroexpress as described above (transfer to city, then "back" to the second airport), this transfer will likely take you at least 5-6 hours. The bus (as described above) will likely take longer. We highly recommend staying a day or two in Moscow rather than trying to make this transfer in one day. A taxi may be faster, but with Moscow traffic, it's not for certain. 

Pulkovo  <--->  St. Petersburg

From Pulkovo-II, you will need bus #13 or van #113 or 13 and from Pulkovo-I, bus #39.  Buses depart about every hour from both locations (just outside of the arrivals hall) but the exact schedule is not printed, followed, or apparently known. All routes will take you to the Moscovskaya metro station. It will cost about 20 RUR for a ticket. You can change money at the airport.

    --> Onward to a Train Station    more about train travel in Russia
St. Petersburg has several train stations, all of which have an associated metro station nearby (see list below). Make sure you know what metro station you need before leaving home, and feel free to contact your SRAS consultant with questions. 

• Moscow Station: Ploshad Vosstaniya
• Vitebsk Station: Pushkinskaya
• Warsaw Station: Baltiiskaya
• Finland Station: Ploshchad Lenina
• Baltic Station: Baltiiskaya

Pulkovo I  <--->  Pulkovo II

Your best bet will be to make arrangements for a taxi ahead of time. While it is theoretically possible to take a bus to the metro and back to the other terminal, this is very long ride. Taxi drivers will likely charge you $50 without a reservation.  At last check, there is no shuttle between the two terminals. 

See Also: International Airfare to and from Russia
See Also: Train Travel in Russia