Getting around in Moscow
Moscow is a massive city, and with over nine million Muscovites moving to and fro and here and there, expats will find the metropolis plagued by constant traffic jams and congestion.
Apart from the delays experienced while driving, rush hour within the public transport system can make sardine cans look spacious, and expats should be prepared to truly inhale the sights and smells of the city - some of which are better than others.
That being said, the metro is one of the most beautiful in the world - nearly a museum in itself, and expats will also find there are plenty of additional options for getting around in Moscow; just bring your patience and your happy cap, and remember to think positively.
The metro opened in 1935, with one 6.8 mile (11 km) long line and 13 stations. Since then, it's become the fastest and most efficient way of moving within Moscow's borders.
Despite the merits of its usability, however, expats certainly will find travelling on the metro to be an interesting but not always pleasant experience.
Travel is cheap and the trains are fast, clean and on time. You can get maps with the stops spelled out in the Latin alphabet English-speakers are used to. Before you take the metro you will need to be sure of the route necessary for your journey, as stations can be enormous and are often interconnected by underground passages. This can involve long walks up and down many escalators to get to the correct platform and line colour. The stations of the Moscow Metro are open from 5.30am until 1am. The final train does not allow passengers to make transitions from one line to another.
When the metro can't connect with where you need to go, buses, trams and trolleybuses provide an alternative way of getting around Moscow, albeit slightly less comfortably.
Transit terminology:
These modes of transit don't always run on the advertised timetable, and the average waiting period is generally longer than that of the metro, ranging from five minutes to 40 minutes in the evenings.
The bus stops are yellow plates marked with "A" signs; trolleys are designated by white plates with "T"; and trams with "Tp".
There are no night buses or trolleys or trams, and trams do not run in the most central parts of the city.
Buses, trams and trolleys all follow the same pricing, 28 R per trip. Ticket purchase can be made within metro stations, at bus kiosks or directly from the driver.
Minibus-shuttles, or Marshrutka, are smaller than buses (usually seating about 16 passengers), and generally get around much faster than their larger counterparts. These shuttles bear the same numbers as the buses and trolleys, and travel the same routes. To get on an approaching Marshrutka, just wave it down like an ordinary taxi. To get off, shout "Stop!" (or, more politely, "Ostanovite pozhaluĭsta"). Expect to pay up to 30 R for a journey.
In Moscow, quite bizarrely, any private vehicle can operate as a taxi. If hailed like a regular taxi, many drivers will stop their cars to pick you up. Note that if you are a foreigner, it is probably best to negotiate the fare before getting into the car as locals might look to take advantage of you. Bargaining is commonplace, and most drivers will accept payment in either Roubles or US Dollars. It is generally considered a safer option to use 'official taxis', in which case you should expect to pay about 200 R ($7) for a 30-minute journey. There are numerous taxi companies in Russia, some of which allow you to request an English-speaking driver.
Getting around Moscow on foot
As long, of course, as the weather isn't too icy, and the distance one needs to cover isn't too vast, getting around Moscow on foot is a viable option for expats. Downtown Moscow, with its compact design, and beautiful, historical architecture, is especially pedestrian-friendly. Expats should, however, exercise caution when walking through the more run-down areas of the city, especially late at night, when muggings have been known to occur.
Expats considering driving in Moscow should carefully weigh up the pros and cons. As previously mentioned, traffic jams can be monstrous and navigating the city's Ring Roads can be just as cryptic an experience as trying to read the signs written in Cyrillic.
Russians are fond of making mysterious and dangerous manoeuvres behind the wheel, and the police are notorious for extracting money for small and often imaginary driving offences. Furthermore, winter weather can make for slick streets and less than ideal driving conditions.
Apart from the delays experienced while driving, rush hour within the public transport system can make sardine cans look spacious, and expats should be prepared to truly inhale the sights and smells of the city - some of which are better than others.
That being said, the metro is one of the most beautiful in the world - nearly a museum in itself, and expats will also find there are plenty of additional options for getting around in Moscow; just bring your patience and your happy cap, and remember to think positively.
Getting around Moscow by metro
The metro opened in 1935, with one 6.8 mile (11 km) long line and 13 stations. Since then, it's become the fastest and most efficient way of moving within Moscow's borders.
Despite the merits of its usability, however, expats certainly will find travelling on the metro to be an interesting but not always pleasant experience.
Travel is cheap and the trains are fast, clean and on time. You can get maps with the stops spelled out in the Latin alphabet English-speakers are used to. Before you take the metro you will need to be sure of the route necessary for your journey, as stations can be enormous and are often interconnected by underground passages. This can involve long walks up and down many escalators to get to the correct platform and line colour. The stations of the Moscow Metro are open from 5.30am until 1am. The final train does not allow passengers to make transitions from one line to another.
The trains on the Moscow underground are like those in the UK, in that they were new circa 1966 and have not had much done to them since then, apart from some new plastic seat coverings. Not to mention that the carriages are cramped, seats are scarce and interesting aromas often fill the air.
All that aside, the Moscow Metro's silver lining is by and far its magnificent platforms. The vaulted ceilings, opulent mosaics and the many chandeliers and statues are incredibly beautiful, even if some of them are in need of attention.
Getting around Moscow in buses, trolleys and trams
When the metro can't connect with where you need to go, buses, trams and trolleybuses provide an alternative way of getting around Moscow, albeit slightly less comfortably.
Transit terminology:
- Bus - av`tobus
- Trolleybus - tro`leibus
- Tram - tram`vai
These modes of transit don't always run on the advertised timetable, and the average waiting period is generally longer than that of the metro, ranging from five minutes to 40 minutes in the evenings.The bus stops are yellow plates marked with "A" signs; trolleys are designated by white plates with "T"; and trams with "Tp".
There are no night buses or trolleys or trams, and trams do not run in the most central parts of the city.
Buses, trams and trolleys all follow the same pricing, 28 R per trip. Ticket purchase can be made within metro stations, at bus kiosks or directly from the driver.
Getting around Moscow in a minibus-shuttle (Marshrutka)
Minibus-shuttles, or Marshrutka, are smaller than buses (usually seating about 16 passengers), and generally get around much faster than their larger counterparts. These shuttles bear the same numbers as the buses and trolleys, and travel the same routes. To get on an approaching Marshrutka, just wave it down like an ordinary taxi. To get off, shout "Stop!" (or, more politely, "Ostanovite pozhaluĭsta"). Expect to pay up to 30 R for a journey.
Getting around Moscow in a taxi or a private vehicle
In Moscow, quite bizarrely, any private vehicle can operate as a taxi. If hailed like a regular taxi, many drivers will stop their cars to pick you up. Note that if you are a foreigner, it is probably best to negotiate the fare before getting into the car as locals might look to take advantage of you. Bargaining is commonplace, and most drivers will accept payment in either Roubles or US Dollars. It is generally considered a safer option to use 'official taxis', in which case you should expect to pay about 200 R ($7) for a 30-minute journey. There are numerous taxi companies in Russia, some of which allow you to request an English-speaking driver.
Getting around Moscow on foot
As long, of course, as the weather isn't too icy, and the distance one needs to cover isn't too vast, getting around Moscow on foot is a viable option for expats. Downtown Moscow, with its compact design, and beautiful, historical architecture, is especially pedestrian-friendly. Expats should, however, exercise caution when walking through the more run-down areas of the city, especially late at night, when muggings have been known to occur.Driving in Moscow
Expats considering driving in Moscow should carefully weigh up the pros and cons. As previously mentioned, traffic jams can be monstrous and navigating the city's Ring Roads can be just as cryptic an experience as trying to read the signs written in Cyrillic.
Russians are fond of making mysterious and dangerous manoeuvres behind the wheel, and the police are notorious for extracting money for small and often imaginary driving offences. Furthermore, winter weather can make for slick streets and less than ideal driving conditions.
