Getting around in Moscow

Moscow. Such a huge city, and so many ways of getting from A to B. (Landmark to Hotel, I guess). Being in the centre certainly helps, that's naturally where most of the public transport is concentrated, but unfortunately so is the traffic. So, I will describe and analyze all modes of transport from the point of view of a FOREIGNER. TAXI= Often the easiest way around Moscow, there are two types of cabs: The Municipal Yellow Cabs and unofficial cabs (random drivers wanting to make small cash). Booking the latter is normally impossible, but for both it's as simple as sticking your hand out in the ... more

Anywhere, anytime in Moscow you can just stick your arms out and a car will stop. These taxis are always safe, although presumably single women out in the suburbs or on the streetwalker streets should be careful. If you know the correct price then you will pay that, otherwise you'll be overcharged, but it'll still be cheap. You need to negotiate before you get in. It should cost about 50 rubles to get to most places around town, and you can go from the end of the metro into town for a little over 100. If you don't know Russian, hold up 3 fingers for 30 rubles, etc. Yellow taxis are more ... more

The underground service deep beneath the city of Moscow is absolutely amazing. Each station is decorated in a particularly ornate style, and you can see works of art and chandeliers. It is totally different from a trip on the London underground because as well as travelling you get to experience some Russian culture. The trains seemed to be relatively frequent and the only problem we had was being able to read the names of the stations as they were all in the Cyrillic alphabet! However, it is a good way to get to visit different parts of the city as it covers many areas. ... more

I have just returned from a 4 day visit to Moscow, a city I have wanted to visit for a number of years now. We have the privilege of being shown round by a South African guide, which was helpful because without having somebody who knows the city, it can be quite daunting. The biggest challenge faced was how to carry around a 10 month old baby. Many parents wonder whether it is really viable to take such a young child abroad with them. My response is that it is possible to take a child to Moscow, but also challenging. I went during February, when the winter is at its most severe. The Russians ... more

Moscow underground: - very cheap, now single costs only 15 rubles (1 pound = 50 rubles) - trains are frequent, every 3-4 minutes - most stations are very well decorated - trains have much more room then London's trains but a little more noisy Buses, trams, troleybuses: - cheap, single is also only 15 rubles - but have more confusing routes then underground Minibus: - cheap - fast - maximum 11 passengers Taxi: - cheap - traffic jams - not all taxi drivers speak english - easy to catch, just stick your arms out and a car will stop - everyone can be a taxi - could be not safe at suburbs for ... more