Russia - How to go from Mineralnye Vody to Nal'Chik?

What is best way to go from Mineralnye Vody to Nalchik?

Answer: You can catch a taxi from the MRV airport to Nalchik for 1000 to 1500 Rubles per passenger. Make sure the taxi's license plate ends in 07, this indicates that it's from Nalchik. Taxi will charge you the full 2000 if you are the only passenger. Tip is not required.

Depends on your definition of 'best' - fastest? cheapest? most comfortable?
Note this info is based on some quick web searches in Russian - I have not been that far down south myself!

There is a daily intercity train Moscow-Nalchik which stops at Mineralnye Vody and an elektrichka local train which does the Nalchik-Mineralnye Vody line. Both appear to take about the same amount of time (about 3.5 h), the elektrichka will be cheaper but less comfortable, on the other hand times are quite good (afternoon into Nalchik arriving 1730, morning out of Nalchik departing 0741).

There are no doubt buses and mikroavtobusy between the two towns - could not find any avtovokzal timetables through. I tend to stick to trains in Russia unless trains are not an option or they are the comfy modern coaches you sometimes get. If you are staying at a skiing resort they may offer transfers from Mineralnye Vody. There are also private taxis which will be the most expensive but probably fastest. However I don't know how or if weather conditions affect road transport at certain times of year.

Hope that helps a bit!

Thank you for the insight. Because I'm arriving at 19:30, only option for me would be a taxi ride down to Nal'chik. How much does taxi cost?

Again I am not an expert on this particular region - this taxi web site suggests that from Mineralnye Vody airport to Nalchik is 2000 rubles
http://transfer-kmv.ru/tarifi.htm

I cannot vouch for them and have how no idea how good/realistic/up to date that price is. It was simply the only site for Mineralnye Vody I could find which quoted a tariff for Nalchik!!

Again I am not an expert on this particular region - this taxi web site suggests that from Mineralnye Vody airport to Nalchik is 2000 rubles
http://transfer-kmv.ru/tarifi.htm

I cannot vouch for them and have how no idea how good/realistic/up to date that price is. It was simply the only site for Mineralnye Vody I could find which quoted a tariff for Nalchik!!


The price is excellent, but it looks like only thing available that late is a taxi ride for USD $60? Do taxi drivers in Mineralynye Vody require tips?