Smart Moscow - arriving to Moscow by air

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Sightseeing in Moscow

Arriving to Moscow by Air

Moscow has three major airports : Sheremetyevo, Domodedovo, and Vnukovo. Those arriving from abroad will land at either Sheremetyevo 2 (Delta, Lufthansa, other major international airline and Aeroflot) or at Domodedovo (Swiss Air, British Air, Emirates plus many domestic Russian airlines including SibAir, except Aeroflot)

Those landing on a domestic flight will arrive to Sheremetyevo 1 or Domodedovo. Vnukovo airport serves mostly domestic flights (Vladivostok Avia, UtAir) as well as GermanWings and the Presidential administration. This is where Putin and Medvedev fly from.

Sheremetevo 2 Airport (International Terminal)

Phone: +7 (495) 232-6565 (English-speaking operator)

http://www.sheremetyevo-airport.ru/

maps of terminal : http://www.sheremetyevo-airport.ru/?act=part&pid=3

flight schedule in Russian : http://www.sheremetyevo-airport.ru/schedule/?act=def_online

The main terminal was constructed in the late 1970's in preparation for the 1980 Olympics. It was decorated inside with gaudy designs, reminiscent of new-wave art gone wrong. Unfortunately it has not been redesigned since then and in many ways it's falling apart. As of Summer 2008 a second, modern terminal is being constructed, so beware of the mess out in front.

Border Control - Here are several secrets for your arrival at Sheremetevo 2. You will arrive on the second (top) floor of the terminal and be funneled down to the passport control. Most passengers rush off the plane because the first people to reach the passport control are the luck ones - the rest have to wait while the 2 or 3 working border guards slowly and deliberately check each passport. A typical wait at the passport control is around 60 minutes. Just pray you don't arrive behind a 747 from China - you can be there the whole night. Beware that there only Russians can go through the gates on the left, foreigners have to stay to to the right. The is a separate line marked for Diplomats only - don't let that fool you. I rarely see any true diplomats in that line and the border guards will process you through that line as well with no questions.

Luggage Collection - Once you're out of passport control you will enter the baggage collect room. As it can only handle one arriving flight at a time, you will typically wait for your baggage another 30 minutes. Near the customs control to the left there are FREE carts. Don't get fooled into letting the lounging assistants charge you 150 rubles for the use of the cart or 200 rubles for their service - the carts are free.

Customs Control - When you have collected your luggage you can now pass through customs. The Green corridor is for those without anything to declare. The Red corridor is for those who have something to declare such as a large sum of money or anything of value such as a laptop computer which they plan to take back out of the country. If you are not sure, my advice is to go to the Red and tell the guard what you have and let him decide whether you have to declare. If you pass through the Green and are stopped (they checks are very, very, very frequent) and you have something such as a large sum of money not declared not only will it be confiscated, but you will likely be charged with a crime. So it's note worth the risk - declare if you're not sure.

Ground Transportation to the Center - When you exit customs control you will enter into the lobby of the first floor. Beware that you will be swarmed by taxi drivers left and right offering their services. There is an official desk near the exit where you can book and taxi. The price is typically close to 2000 rubles to the center for the official version. If you go outside the front you can also find taxi drivers more willing to negotiate. The typical price is around 1500 rubles to the center through an Russian-speaker can negotiate down to 1100 rubles. A taxi will typically take 40 to 60 minutes to reach the center. The economy option is to take the mini-van to the metro station "Rechnoi-Vokzal". The mini-van stops at the traffic island out front. It costs 15 rubles, arrives every 15 minutes and takes about 25 minutes to reach the metro. From the Rechnoi-Vokzal station you can reach the center in about 40 minutes. The cost for the metro is 19 rubles as of Summer 2008.

Sheremetevo 1 Airport (Domestic Terminal)

Phone: +7 (495) 232-6565 (English-speaking operator)

http://www.sheremetyevo-airport.ru/

maps of terminal : http://www.sheremetyevo-airport.ru/?act=part&pid=3

flight schedule in Russian : http://www.sheremetyevo-airport.ru/schedule/?act=def_online

If you want to see what flying was like in the Soviet Union, come to Sheremetevo 1. It hasn't really changed in 20 years. It's a small, dingy, terminal, through efforts have recently been made to make it a little more comfortable with improved lounges. It's rather difficult and expensive to get from Sheremetevo 1 to the center. There is a bus will goes to the metro Rechnoi Vokzal, though it's not frequent. The taxi drivers seem to be less willing to negotiate here as they realize you don't have much choice.

Domodedovo Airport

Phone: +7 (495) 933-6666, +7 (495) 363-3064 (inquiries)

http://www.domodedovo.ru

flight schedules in English : http://www.domodedovo.ru/en/main/timetablenew/

Domodedovo is the most modern airport in Russia. It is clean, well laid out and has plenty of modern shops, restaurants and transportation options.

Border Control - The border control guards at Domodedovo are more numerous and therefore are able to process the lines more fast than at Sheremetevo 2. A typical wait will be around 20 to 30 minutes.

Customs Control - Pretty much same advice as for Sheremetevo 2 above. When you have collected your luggage you can now pass through customs. The Green corridor is for those without anything to declare. The Red corridor is for those who have something to declare such as a large sum of money or anything of value such as a laptop computer which they plan to take back out of the country. If you are not sure, my advice is to go to the Red and tell the guard what you have and let him decide whether you have to declare. If you pass through the Green and are stopped (they checks are very, very, very frequent) and you have something such as a large sum of money not declared not only will it be confiscated, but you will likely be charged with a crime. So it's note worth the risk - declare if you're not sure.

Ground Transportation to the Center - The preferred way to get to the center is to take the Aeroexpress train. Follow this link to get all the latest info and times.

http://www.domodedovo.ru/en/main/getting/1/aero/

The train departs right from the terminal - you don't even have to step outside. It costs about 120 rubles and takes 40 minutes to arrive at the Paveletsky station in the center of Moscow. (metro Paveletskaya on the circle line).. It operates from 7:00 to 22:00, departing every 20 to 60 minutes).

Vnukovo Airport

Phone: +7 (495) 436-2813 (information), +7 (495) 436-8404 (Customs), +7 (495) 436-2732 (Luggage)

http://www.vnukovo.ru/eng/

Vnukovo was recently renovated and is now one of the nicer and most modern airports in Moscow. It is conveniently connected with the center of Moscow by an express train which arrives at the Kievsky station (metro Kievskaya, circle line). The trip takes about 40 minutes and the price is about 100 rubles. Vnukovo airport serves mostly domestic flights (Vladivostok Avia, UtAir) as well as GermanWings and the Presidential administration. This is where Putin and Medvedev fly from.

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