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28.07.2007 Transfers to and from Russian Airports What Are "Airport Transfers?" A transfer is transportation from the airport to your actual destination inside the city (such as a dormitory or home stay). Most airports in Russia are built a considerable distance from the city and finding the correct address, especially with a substantial amount of luggage, can be difficult. For this reason, SRAS includes one set of round-trip airport transfers as part of our standard services with RSL and FSA programs.  It’s not as simple as you might think. Public transportation from the airport can be confusing and the taxi drivers who wait for tourists are not always the most honest – we don't recommend even making eye-contact with them. Especially after such a long plane ride, and if you do not speak Russian, there many pitfalls. We recommend arranging with a travel agent or educational program for a taxi that will wait for you with your name on a sign. Public transportation is a cheaper option, but certainly not most convenient. It will cost you a few dollars to transport you and your bags, but you must pay in rubles, so be prepared to change money at the airport. If you have a lot of luggage or big luggage, you may be turned away from public transport.  If you are switching between airports in Moscow, you might consider a layover night there, as it will be a good opportunity to see the city and transfers tend to take HOURS (sometimes 6-7) no matter what. In Moscow, Sheremetyevo II (SVO-II) along with Domodedovo (DME) process most of Russia's incoming international flights. It takes a minimum of one hour at SVO II or DME to clear customs and passport control and at least another one to seven hours to get to another airport.  Sheremetyevo How to Transfer to the Metro (Subway) or a Rail Station: From SVO II, look for a bus or little van that lists "М. Rechnoi Vokzal" on the side. The metro has maps posted in each station and each wagon of every train. Make sure you get on a train heading in the right direction. Nearly all of Moscow’s 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 often shares the name of its corresponding metro station. In either case, make sure you know what metro station you need before leaving home. How to Transfer to SVO-I (domestic flights): Allow for at least 3-4 hrs between your flights when booking them. As you exit customs, you will enter a large hall, with a row of kiosk-booths along the wall facing the street. Next to the Aeroflot booth is one called "TRANSIT;" both booths run shuttles to SVI-I. The TRANSIT shuttle departs every hour at 15 minutes after the hour. The schedule is on their window as well as a rather poor drawing of where the bus can be found, which is essentially the 4th traffic lane from the front door. There is a duplicate of the same schedule there. The Aeroflot bus schedule is on the Aeroflot booth. Public transport (buses and vans) that has “SVO-1” written as a destination on the placard on the side of the vehicle can also get you there, but make sure it is going in the right direction (otherwise you will end up in Moscow). Once at SVO-1, look for Domestic Departures - signs are in English. If you land late at SVO-II, ask the Aeroflot desk what to do. "Left Luggage?" Most Russian airports and train stations offer a "left luggage service" where you can leave your bags for limited amounts of time. They are labled "камера хранения" and usually indicated on airport maps with a picutre of a suitcase. They are, in our experience, safe places to leave luggage. SVOI and SVOII both charge 100 RUR per day per piece of luggage. Domodedovo There is an "express" train to and from the metro station "Paveletskaya" for about 100 RUR. It is by far the most convenient option, but you will need to allow for 5-6 hours if transferring to or from SVO-I or -II. There are also blue buses that run between the front doors of SVO-II and DME once every hour and a half. In St. Petersburg, Pulkovo II processes all flights coming from the West and Pulkovo I, all those coming from everywhere else.  They are not considered separate on your ticket but are separated by considerable distance and you will need transport to transfer between them. Pulkovo (St. Petersburg) How to Transfer from Pulkovo to the City or a Rail Station:  From Pulkovo-II, you will need bus #13 or van #113 or 13 and from Pulkovo-I, bus #39.  Buses depart every hour from both locations but the exact schedule is not printed, followed, or apparently known.  All routes will take you to the Moscovskaya metro station.  From there you can get most anywhere in the city cheaply and easily.  Make sure you know which station you will need before leaving home and just follow the map inside the station. A list of train stations and their corresponding metro stations is listed below.  Moscow Station: Ploshad Vosstaniya         Vitebsk Station: Pushkinskaya Warsaw Station: Baltiiskaya Finland Station: Ploshchad Lenina Baltic Station: Baltiiskaya How to Transfer between Pulkovo I and 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.  « back to Student Guide to Russia archive print this page email this page