Russia - best way to get from DME to the city centre

Hadnt planned this out, stopping with some friends in Moscow, but forgot about getting from the airport to the city.

Train is an hour, which seems ridiculously long. How much is a taxi going to rob myself and mrs globalste? Any recommended companies to book through?

Hmmm... I used to do this quite regularly. Have taken both the train and cabs which loiter outside the terminal. From memory I never paid more than US$70 / EUR 50 to get into the city centre. Although you say that the train takes an hour, a taxi or any other car can take just as long if not more depending on when you decide to travel.

The absolute golden rule is to agree the fare up front if taking a taxi and take no BS whatsoever from the driver when you reach your destination. I remember once the driver tried to ask me to pay more as he was driving an Audi. I waved my own Audi car keys at him and he shut up.. !

However I haven't done this for 5 years so things may have changed. Am sure one of the regulars will chip in soon...

Where in Moscow are you going?

If going to a hotel, check if the hotel offers a car service. It will be overpriced but so will a taxi from DME anyway. At least you will not have any hassle, they should come and meet you by the exit from customs and can then take you all the way to the hotel.

The train can take an hour and then if you are going on the metro from there that might take another hour. Going anywhere in Moscow just takes a long time!

If taking a taxi, at least go over to the taxi booths in the terminal. Expect rude service and no one speaking English :) so have the address you are going to printed out or written in cyrillic script.

The train is good and modern, and will take you into the centre of Moscow (of sorts). It also does not cost that much. Going on from there you will have to find a taxi (not always easy) or take the metro - for which you will need to read cyrillic and preferably speak a little bit of Russian.

Enjoy the sushi at any branch of Yakitoriya, the chocolate cake at Shokoladnitsa and the cheap lunches at Moo-Moo!

DME is a long way from the city centre if you look at a map, so yes the train takes a while. I would not count on a car being quicker - traffic in Moscow (and driving in or out) can be a nightmare. When I was still working there, we were advised to allow 90 minutes to drive to DME (it did not always take that long, but it could). Obviously it depends on what time of day it is and where exactly you are heading in Moscow. If you head over to the FT Russian forum this sort of question has been asked many, many times and there are people who have travelled more recently than me who have often posted their own recommendations for pick up service.

Do not taxi a taxi from DME into town unless unless (i) you have loads of time on your hands (can take >2 hours) and (ii) you really can't face taking the train.

The train goes from left hand end of the terminal into Paveletskiy Station in 40-45 minutes and costs RUR 250 (just over £5). Timetable is here (http://www.aeroexpress.ru/en/schedule/domodedovo/).

DME is a long way out of town and you can easily be stuck in traffic for hours in the evening rush hour. The normal fare is RUR 1500 (£33) from SVO, so I guess you will be paying aound RUR 2000 from DME (£44).

Here (http://www.domodedovo.ru/en/main/getting/taxi/) are some official taxi firms operating from DME.

My suggestion is definitely take the train, it's quick and easy. Have your friends meet you at Paveletskiy Station, or take a taxi from the station, or if you are adventurous take the metro from the station.

If you need it, the metro map is here (http://engl.mosmetro.ru/flash/scheme01.html). Paveletskaya metro station is where the brown circle line (5) meets the dark green line (2) to the SE of the centre. The metro is quick and easy to use, you can buy 10 ride smartcards for just RUR 240 (£5.20) at the ticket windows. Full ticket prices here (http://engl.mosmetro.ru/pages/page_0.php?id_page=8).

I've used MV Motors recently, one of the "official" taxi companies at DME. It was 2000 rubles to the city center, and 1200 rubles from the city center to DME (cheaper outbound because of the extra competition), with room for up to 4 people and 4 suitcases in a little boxy Fiat. There's a desk right near the sliding doors that lead outside from the arrivals hall. I thought the ladies handling the desk were quite nice, as Russians would define it, although I agree you won't find many English speakers at Moscow taxi companies - including those that advertise "English-speaking operators" - so some Russian ability is most helpful.

Be aware that there will be some guys wandering around the arrivals hall with yellow "official taxi company" signs hanging around their necks. These guys are not affiliated with the "official" taxi companies, which operate from desk stations, but most of them speak pretty good English and if you arrive on a BA flight they'll probably intercept you before you reach the official desks, not to mention the dozens of private drivers hanging out immediately past the exit from customs/immigration. I believe some of these guys are fine, others are the source of the stories you read of peolpe getting jabked up for additional money on the way into town.

The train is more reliable for time although if you've got bags navigating the Moscow metro with luggage is no picnic. Most metro stations near the city center are very busy well past "rush" hours, including midday; you're supposed to buy a separate ticket for your bags and you'll probably need some familiarity with Russian to do that. Although I suppose if you just point to your bags the usually-quite-morose-and-disinterested ladies behind the glass windows will figure out what you need.

Mrs WWTWC and myself went to Moscow for the weekend last July and travelled to our hotel, the Sheraton, by the bus to the Domodevskaya metro station and then the metro almost directly to the hotel. Neither of us speak a word of russian but I can, at least, read the cyrillic script which you need on the metro as there are no signs in latin script. There is both a normal bus and a minibus service which are very easy to find when leaving DME but quite a challenge on the way back. The journey was ridiculously cheap and much quicker than it can sometimes take in a taxi. No problems with luggage as we only had cabin baggage. We enjoyed the experience and would do it again.

Many thanks for the tips guys, Mrs Globalste was adamant about getting a taxi but sounds like the train is the way to go! ^

Friends live on Smolenskaya Str. where ever the hell that is, think its just on the west side of the city, so probably a better idea to get the train than fight across the city.

Cheers for the links Smirnoff!

Friends live on Smolenskaya Str. where ever the hell that is, think its just on the west side of the city, so probably a better idea to get the train than fight across the city.
By the sound of it, should be around Smolenskaya Square, where the tower of the Russian Foreign Service is. If you don't detest mass transit systems and won't carry a lot of luggage, take Aeroexpress train to Paveletskaya, change to the Circular Line and go to Kievskaya. Should be 10-15 minutes walk from there.

Friends live on Smolenskaya Str. where ever the hell that is.

It's right here (http://maps.yandex.ru/?text=%D1%83%D0%BB.%20%D1%81%D0%BC%D0%BE%D0%BB%D0% B5%D0%BD%D1%81%D0%BA%D0%B0%D1%8F) (ул. смоленская). @:-)

Just zoom in, and you will see the apartment building numbers 1-10.

It starts at Smolenskaya Square (Смоленская площадь) (http://www.shults.ru/dm_files/original_images/p0000071.jpg) and ends at the Borodinskiy Bridge (Бородинский мост) (http://images.yandex.ru/search?p=59&ed=1&text=%D0%B1%D0%BE%D1%80%D0%BE%D0%B4%D0%B8%D0%BD%D1 %81%D0%BA%D0%B8%D0%B9%20%D0%BC%D0%BE%D1%81%D1%82&spsite=bigfoto.ru&img_url=bigfoto.ru%2Fgallery%2Falbums%2Fuserpics%2 F12444%2Fnormal_panorama.jpg&rpt=simage)over the Moscow River.

So it's an easy trip on the Aeroexpress train to Paveletskiy Station (Павелецкий Вокзал) (http://maps.yandex.ru/?text=%D0%BF%D0%B0%D0%B2%D0%B5%D0%BB%D0%B5%D1%86%D 0%BA%D0%B8%D0%B9%20%D0%B2%D0%BE%D0%BA%D0%B7%D0%B0% D0%BB), then exit the platforms (remember you need your train ticket to exit the ticket barriers), turn left through the station to the metro, ticket booths are on your left. Take the Circle Line (http://engl.mosmetro.ru/pages/page_5.php?id_page=45) (Кольцевая линия (http://www.mosmetro.ru/pages/page_5.php?id_page=45)), clockwise, to Kievskaya (Киевская) (http://maps.yandex.ru/?text=%D0%BC%D0%B5%D1%82%D1%80%D0%BE%20%D0%9A%D0%B 8%D0%B5%D0%B2%D1%81%D0%BA%D0%B0%D1%8F), then it's a 5 minute walk out to the main road, with the Kiev Station behind you and the Radisson Hotel to your right, turn right onto the main road, across the bridge and you are there.

Have the changed the train in recent years? I took it a few times back in '06 and it was certainly not modern, it was a train from the 60's -or so the interiors indicated.

Have the changed the train in recent years? I took it a few times back in '06 and it was certainly not modern, it was a train from the 60's -or so the interiors indicated.

The train is the same. I believe they have removed the curtain and carpets and spruced up the interiors a little.

It's certainly modern by Russian standards and is perfectly comfortable for a 40 minute ride. Seats are 2-3 across, there's plenty of room for luggage, and a lady still comes through with a broken supermarket trolley selling drinks and snacks.

In June, I will be arriving at DME around 9.30 am and depart around 9.30 pm to LHR. Will there be enough time to go and see some of the sights in the city center? Is there a place at the airport to store a carry-on bag? Or, would it be better to leave on the earlier flight (around 5.30 pm I believe) and spend some time in the lounge ?

Personally and having done this route a 100x, i would take the evening flight and spend the afternoon seeing the sights. The lounge is significantly better than it was a few years ago, and you can store luggage, but it is in the middle of nowhere and once you are there, you can't easily get back into town. The traffic (which is a complete nightmare) is often much better when you get the late flight, giving you time to do what you want to do.

In June, I will be arriving at DME around 9.30 am and depart around 9.30 pm to LHR. Will there be enough time to go and see some of the sights in the city center? Is there a place at the airport to store a carry-on bag? Or, would it be better to leave on the earlier flight (around 5.30 pm I believe) and spend some time in the lounge ?

Not sure which airline you are taking but normally you are able to check your luggage in 24 hours before the flight. So, I would suggest dropping your bags for the next flight at the check-in counter and taking train to downtown Moscow. Travel time is around 40 minutes and it leaves from the left wing of the terminal.
Schedules and tickets are available from this web-site (http://aeroexpress.ru/en/).
In case they won't be able to check-in your luggage for your flight, storage is located in the underground floor. More info available here (http://domodedovo.ru/en/main/infopass/4/3/).

In June, I will be arriving at DME around 9.30 am and depart around 9.30 pm to LHR. Will there be enough time to go and see some of the sights in the city center? Is there a place at the airport to store a carry-on bag? Or, would it be better to leave on the earlier flight (around 5.30 pm I believe) and spend some time in the lounge ?

Have you tried to work out how you will get a visa into Russia for the one day self-organised sightseeing trip?

I agree completely with the train choice. Any automotive options will leave you sitting in traffic for most of your time. luitje gave you the instructions. I would arrive roughly two hours before departure because you cannot get into the lounge until you check in and they rarely open any checkin line until about two hours before departure. Prior to checkin there's nothing interesting to do at DME or SVO.

So with a 0705 AM flight with LH (biz), what are my options?

First train arrives too late at 0640.

1200 roubles (or better) cab from Park Hyatt? What time

There's a regular train from Paveletsky station leaving at 4:53 am and arriving at 6 am (http://domodedovo.ru/en/main/getting/1/train/). Finding it could be a bit tricky unless you speak/read Russian.

There's a regular train from Paveletsky station leaving at 4:53 am and arriving at 6 am (http://domodedovo.ru/en/main/getting/1/train/). Finding it could be a bit tricky unless you speak/read Russian.

Travelling with a russianspeaker, but it might be too tight arriving at 06 with 0705 departure?

Also as taxis are cheaper to the airport, it might be best?

Travelling with a russianspeaker, but it might be too tight arriving at 06 with 0705 departure?

Also as taxis are cheaper to the airport, it might be best?

Taxis would be the best and that early in the morning you're not going to have any trouble getting to the airport. I am assuming you're going to DME since you're flying LH (although your question in the other thread said you're arriving SVO - is that correct?) - I would leave 4:30. You should get to DME in 40 minutes or so.

Travelling with a russianspeaker, but it might be too tight arriving at 06 with 0705 departure?

Also as taxis are cheaper to the airport, it might be best?

If I were you I would go for a cab. I don't see a point in arriving in DME more than an hour before the departure unless you've got luggage to check. But even with lots of luggage I still won't leave earlier than 5 am.
I personally prefer Komadir Taxi (http://eng.komandir.ru/), but it is a bit costy (RUR 2,200).

Taxis would be the best and that early in the morning you're not going to have any trouble getting to the airport. I am assuming you're going to DME since you're flying LH (although your question in the other thread said you're arriving SVO - is that correct?) - I would leave 4:30. You should get to DME in 40 minutes or so.

Yep flying in on SK to SVO, will take the express train, and then metro a few stops to Park Hyatt. Outbound on LH from DME.

If I were you I would go for a cab. I don't see a point in arriving in DME more than an hour before the departure unless you've got luggage to check. But even with lots of luggage I still won't leave earlier than 5 am.
I personally prefer Komadir Taxi (http://eng.komandir.ru/), but it is a bit costy (RUR 2,200).

Only carry-on luggage, so I suppose I sort a cab for 5am. (I guess I can sleep in FCT/FCB as I have almost 7 hours before my onward@:-) )

Thank you guys.

I personally prefer Komadir Taxi (http://eng.komandir.ru/), but it is a bit costy (RUR 2,200).

First, Komandir is nice.

Second, you're going to have a hard time finding a taxi for less than $50, so I would second Luitje and go for Komandir

I came in at DME today on Singapore from Houston, and am at the Radisson by Kievskaya. The Aeroexpress train was pretty easy. It's now 300 RUB for coach and 500 for business. Seating in coach is 2x2 on padded seats. From Pavletskaya I took the Metro.

This took a little over an hour at 4pm. The train is not air conditioned, or at least it's not up to this heat.

I wasn't asked for the ticket at exiting, but you do have to scan it to get on the platform when leaving and show it to the conductor on board.

Getting through immigration actually took about the same time. I waited in line for a full hour.

BTW, I don't recommend coming to Moscow right now if you can avoid it! I'm from Phoenix and can stand the heat, but the air is horrible. The smoke is like a dense fog. If you do have to come, bring a breathing mask. Seriously, the air is that bad.

Even places that ostensibly have air conditioning have systems that aren't up to handling this high a temperature. The arrivals hall at DME was very hot.

Both Cab or AeroExpress should do you well considering the time of day you will be travelling out of Moscow and into DME.

Another plus of the AeroExpress is you can c/i at the station before arriving at DME... and yes it's manned (usually) even early in the morning.

I was hoping that a few Russian regulars could help me confirm my journey from DME to my hotel (The Ararat Park Hyatt) when I visit later in the month?

We land at DME and plan to take the train from the airport. I believe this stops at Paveletskaya. From there it looks like we can stay on the dark green Metro line to Teatral'naja and the Hyatt should be 200m from the Metro stop.

I'll be printing out the Metro map so I have the names of the stations in Cyrillic but this will be my first time in Russia so any advice on making this journey simple and straightforward would be great!

I was hoping that a few Russian regulars could help me confirm my journey from DME to my hotel (The Ararat Park Hyatt) when I visit later in the month?

Your itinerary makes sense. Key challenge there would be (a) to get to the right line (there are in fact two different metro stations at Paveletskaya) and (b) take the right exit at Teatralnaya (there are two; one leading to Teatralnaya Ploschad, the other to the Red Square).

Here are tips.
1. Before taking an escalator to the platform make sure your station is listed on the signpost above it (look out for TEAT string; Teatralnaya is longer in Russian but there's no other station with this 4 letter combination).
2. Trains depart from both sides of platform and go different directions. Make sure you station is listed on the horizontal sign on the wall. Once on the train listen to the announcements: they should be done in a male voice (rule of thumb in Moscow Metro - announcements are made in a male voice on trains heading to Central Moscow and in a female voice on trains going in opposite direction. A simple way to memorize that: Boss wants you in the office, wife calls you home).
3. At Teatralnaya take the exit closest to the first car of the train you have arrived on. Walk pass barriers and take stairs on your left. You should end up facing Bolshoi Theatre with a big street (6 lanes of traffic or so) on your right.
Go down this street. Cross smaller street with no traffic lights. Next street will have a pelican crossing. Cross this street and immidiately turn left. It is then a minute walk to the hotel entrance.

That is fantastic, thanks luitje! ^

I may get in trouble for cross-posting (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/russia/584482-moscow-airport-transfer-city-guide-2.html#post14613865) but there are two threads on this theme (moderator, please merge threads rather than poke me with a stick).

I fly into DME at around 6 pm on a Friday and am heading to the Radisson Royal (aka Ukraina). Am I going to be stuck in traffic for hours and should take the train or is it six of one and half a dozen of the other?

There'll be three of us, so sharing a taxi is about the same price; I'm mainly worried that the Aeroexpress only goes every half an hour.

And can you really check in at Pavletsy? For which airlines?

I fly into DME at around 6 pm on a Friday and am heading to the Radisson Royal (aka Ukraina). Am I going to be stuck in traffic for hours and should take the train or is it six of one and half a dozen of the other?

There'll be three of us, so sharing a taxi is about the same price; I'm mainly worried that the Aeroexpress only goes every half an hour.


6pm on a Friday you will likely be stuck in traffic for a couple of hours. It's rush hour, and even though you're heading into the city so theoretically going against traffic, you're going to hit a lot of congestion once you get to the Center.

However, the one problem with the Ukraina and taking the Aeroexpress is that there really isn't a metro near the hotel. So you're looking at either walking a good distance from Kievskaya metro station or taking a cab from Paveletskaya (where, coming off the Aeroexpress, the drivers will all take 700 rubles from you, even though it should be 200-300). And then you're still in traffic.

Given both these things, it might just be easier to take the taxi from DME and sacrifice a small goat to the traffic gods before heading out. :)

Is it really that difficult to get from Kievskaya metro to the Radisson?

Is it really that difficult to get from Kievskaya metro to the Radisson?

Do you read Russian or have you been there before?

I speak excellent Russian, although haven't been to Moscow since the nineties and have never been to the Hotel Ukraina.

6pm on a Friday you will likely be stuck in traffic for a couple of hours. It's rush hour, and even though you're heading into the city so theoretically going against traffic, you're going to hit a lot of congestion once you get to the Center.

However, the one problem with the Ukraina and taking the Aeroexpress is that there really isn't a metro near the hotel. So you're looking at either walking a good distance from Kievskaya metro station or taking a cab from Paveletskaya (where, coming off the Aeroexpress, the drivers will all take 700 rubles from you, even though it should be 200-300). And then you're still in traffic.

Given both these things, it might just be easier to take the taxi from DME and sacrifice a small goat to the traffic gods before heading out. :)

Immigration etc with 6 pm arrival means reaching downtown well after 7 - I doubt traffic, especially on a friday, is gonna be a problem.

I speak excellent Russian, although haven't been to Moscow since the nineties and have never been to the Hotel Ukraina.

The hotel is not right by the metro, it's about a 10 minute walk from Kievskaya. If you speak Russian, you should be fine. Here's a map:

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=Russian+Federation,+Moscow&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=41.360684,51.855469&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=Moscow,+Russian+Federation&ll=55.747695,37.565947&spn=0.014396,0.02532&z=15

Arriving on a Wednesday evening, I assume we'll take the Aeroexpress train to Paveletskiy railway station - and then walk from there to the hotel? We're staying at:

Hotel Ibis Moscow Paveletskaya
Shchipok Str 22 Bld. 1 - 115054 - MOSCOW - RUSSIAN FEDERATION

Is this a reasonable and safe walk from the Paveleskiy station? There will be two of us, never been to Russia before, and I'm not doing well on learning Cyrillic (though I'm trying!) ;)

Thanks!

Is this a reasonable and safe walk from the Paveleskiy station? There will be two of us, never been to Russia before, and I'm not doing well on learning Cyrillic (though I'm trying!) ;)

Thanks!

It's a safe neighborhood (although right around train stations there always tend to be some drunks/unsavory characters - once you get away from the station, it's totally fine). I would guestimate it is about 10 minutes by foot. If one of the two of you can pick up cyrillic and you bring a map, you'll be fine.

Is this a reasonable and safe walk from the Paveleskiy station? There will be two of us, never been to Russia before, and I'm not doing well on learning Cyrillic (though I'm trying!) ;)


Its fine around that area overall, and should be a fairly straightforward 10-15 min walk. You could also take a tram, probably better once you've got the lay of the land. It's mappable on Google (http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=Russian+Federation,+Moscow,+Paveletsky+Rail+ Terminal&daddr=Shchipok+Str.22+bld+1,+Moscow,+Russia,+11509 3+(Ibis+Moscow+Paveletskaya)&hl=en&geocode=FSRdUgMd_1M-AimDdW8fH0u1RjF9ppA8f-J3qw%3BFX5HUgMdaUI-AiEZd1ot5fWAFg&mra=ltm&dirflg=w&sll=55.726665,37.63449&sspn=0.005571,0.013797&ie=UTF8&ll=55.726893,37.636843&spn=0.011141,0.027595&z=15).