Originally Posted by
becaria
My questions are:
1) would i be allowed to exit the airport with a TRANSIT visa (or should i apply for a TOURIST visa)
In case of Russia, the very point of a visa is to allow you to go through passport control. Once you pass it, you've the liberty to go wherever you like. If you choose to stay airside, you'll need no visa at all.
2) would i be asked to CHECK OUT my bag, take it with me during my very brief city tour, then come back the next day to check in my bag?
Certainly not.
3) how easy is it to take the train from SVO to the red square? is it as convenient as taking the tube to the central london from LHR?
There is Aeroexpress train terminus opposite terminal E.
http://aeroexpress.ru/en/sheremetyevo/schedule.htm
In Moscow, Aeroexpress arrives at Belorussky railway terminal. You then need to take metro.
http://engl.mosmetro.ru/flash/scheme01.html
The neighboring metro station is Belorusskaya, at the intersection of lines 2 (green) and 5 (the circle). For Kremlin and the Red Square, you need Teatralnaya, which is at the intersection of lines 1 (red) and 2 (green).
You might also choose the bus which runs along Tverskaya, Moscow's Champs-Elyses, but traffic in this part of Moscow is terrible.