Russia covers 17,098,242 square kilometers across eleven time zones, making internal transportation a defining element of any visit. The Trans-Siberian Railway runs 9,289 kilometers from Moscow to Vladivostok, completing the journey in approximately seven days on the continuous Rossiya service. Aeroflot operates the largest domestic network with over 50 destinations, while S7 Airlines serves approximately 181 destinations across Russia and former Soviet states. Pobeda, a low-cost subsidiary of Aeroflot established in 2014, operates Boeing 737-800 aircraft on domestic routes with base fares often 40-60% below legacy carriers. Utair serves Siberian and Ural destinations from hubs in Moscow, Surgut, and Khanty-Mansiysk.
Domodedovo Airport handles approximately 30 million passengers annually and sits 42 kilometers southeast of central Moscow. Sheremetyevo Airport, 29 kilometers northwest of Moscow center, processed 49.9 million passengers in 2018 before pandemic disruptions. Vnukovo Airport lies 28 kilometers southwest. The Aeroexpress rail service connects all three Moscow airports to central stations, running every 30 minutes with journey times between 35 and 50 minutes depending on airport. Pulkovo Airport in Saint Petersburg sits 17 kilometers south of Nevsky Prospekt and handled 18.1 million passengers in 2018. Tolmachevo Airport serves Novosibirsk from a location 16 kilometers west of the city center. Koltsovo Airport in Yekaterinburg processed 6.6 million passengers in 2019. Direct international connections exist from Moscow to over 200 cities, while Saint Petersburg maintains direct service to approximately 90 international destinations.
The Moscow Metro opened in 1935 and now operates 241 stations across 14 lines totaling 408 kilometers. Average daily ridership reaches 6.7 million passengers. A single-ride contactless Troika card costs 57 rubles as of 2023, while the card itself requires a 50-ruble refundable deposit. Sixty-ride packages reduce per-journey cost to approximately 38 rubles. Stations such as Komsomolskaya feature chandeliers designed by Pavel Korin in 1952, while Mayakovskaya displays 35 ceiling mosaics created by Alexander Deineka in 1938. The Saint Petersburg Metro began service in 1955 and operates 72 stations across five lines. Single-journey tokens cost 60 rubles. Avtovo station contains 46 columns, 16 of which feature molded glass decorations. The Kazan Metro opened in 2005 with a single 16-kilometer line serving 11 stations. Nizhny Novgorod and Novosibirsk operate two-line metro systems, while Samara and Yekaterinburg each maintain single lines.
Marshrutkas are fixed-route minibuses operating in nearly every Russian city with populations above 100,000. These vehicles typically seat 12-18 passengers and follow numbered routes but stop anywhere along the route upon request. Fares range from 25 to 50 rubles depending on city and distance. Payment goes directly to the driver or, in some cities, to a conductor. In Moscow, marshrutkas were officially banned within the Third Ring Road in 2016, though they continue operating in outer districts. Saint Petersburg maintains approximately 400 marshrutka routes complementing the formal bus and metro networks. Yekaterinburg operates roughly 250 numbered marshrutka routes. These vehicles depart when full rather than on fixed schedules, creating wait times between two and fifteen minutes during daylight hours.
Russian Railways (RZD) operates 85,500 kilometers of track, including 43,600 kilometers of electrified lines. The company ran 1.14 billion passenger journeys in 2019. Sapsan high-speed trains connect Moscow and Saint Petersburg in three hours and forty minutes, covering 649 kilometers at maximum speeds of 250 kilometers per hour. These Siemens Velaro RUS trainsets entered service in 2009. Tickets in economy class start around 2,800 rubles when booked several weeks ahead, rising to 5,000-7,000 rubles for last-minute purchases. First-class compartments cost 6,500-12,000 rubles. The Strizh tilting train links Moscow with Nizhny Novgorod in three hours and fifty minutes, covering 442 kilometers. Allegro trains run from Saint Petersburg to Helsinki, completing 396 kilometers in three hours and twenty-seven minutes with Finnish Railways operating the service jointly with RZD.
Overnight trains across Russia typically offer four accommodation categories. Platskartny third-class carriages contain 54 bunks in open-plan layout without compartment doors, costing roughly 1,800-3,500 rubles for popular routes like Moscow to Kazan. Kupe second-class provides closed four-berth compartments at 3,200-6,000 rubles. First-class spalny vagon offers two-berth compartments at 8,000-15,000 rubles. Luxury firmenny trains add premium services and newer rolling stock at 20-40% surcharges over standard services. Each carriage includes a provodnik attendant who checks tickets, provides bed linens for 100-150 rubles, and maintains the coal or electric samovar providing hot water throughout the journey. The Moscow-Nizhny Novgorod night train departs around 23:00 and arrives at 07:00, covering the journey in approximately eight hours though the distance permits much faster daytime service.
The Trans-Siberian Railway main line through Yekaterinburg and Omsk reaches Vladivostok via Khabarovsk. The Trans-Manchurian route branches at Tarskaya, 1,000 kilometers east of Lake Baikal, proceeding through Harbin to Beijing. The Trans-Mongolian diverges at Ulan-Ude, running through Ulaanbaatar to Beijing. Train 1/2 Rossiya operates the full Moscow-Vladivostok service three times weekly in each direction, requiring six nights with total scheduled time of 144 hours. Prices for the complete journey range from 18,000 rubles in platskartny to 95,000 rubles in spalny vagon. The train stops at approximately 120 stations, with longer stops at Perm (25 minutes), Yekaterinburg (25 minutes), Novosibirsk (20 minutes), Krasnoyarsk (20 minutes), Irkutsk (30 minutes), and Khabarovsk (30 minutes). Ulan-Ude provides 15-minute stops. Private operators including Golden Eagle and Zarengold run luxury Trans-Siberian services with en-suite compartments and dining cars, charging $8,000-$15,000 for the complete Moscow-Vladivostok journey with off-train excursions included.
Suburban elektrichka trains serve commuter routes radiating from major cities. Moscow operates 11 elektrichka directions from nine main terminals, with Belorussky Station serving western routes toward Mozhaysk and Borodino, Kazansky Station covering southeast routes to Ryazan, and Yaroslavsky Station handling northeast services to Sergiev Posad and Aleksandrov. Fares operate on distance-based zones, with journeys under 50 kilometers typically costing 80-150 rubles. The elektrichka to Sergiev Posad departs approximately every 30 minutes during daytime hours from Yaroslavsky Station, completing 73 kilometers in 80-95 minutes depending on the number of intermediate stops. Saint Petersburg elektrichkas reach Peterhof in 45 minutes from Baltiysky Station and Tsarskoye Selo in 30 minutes from Vitebsky Station. These suburban services use older rolling stock than intercity trains, often dating from the 1980s and 1990s, with hard benches and minimal climate control.
Long-distance buses connect cities without direct rail service or offer cheaper alternatives to trains. The Central Bus Station in Moscow, located near Shchelkovskaya metro station, serves routes to Vladimir, Suzdal, Yaroslavl, and Golden Ring cities. Private companies including Busfor and Infobus operate booking platforms aggregating services from multiple carriers. Moscow to Yaroslavl by bus requires four to five hours and costs 600-900 rubles, compared with 700-1,200 rubles for the faster three-hour-forty-minute train. Comfort levels vary significantly, with premium services offering Mercedes or Setra coaches with WiFi and toilets, while budget operators use older vehicles with minimal amenities. Saint Petersburg to Pskov takes approximately four hours by bus versus five hours by train, with bus fares around 650-850 rubles. Krasnodar to Sochi requires approximately five hours along the Black Sea coast, with multiple daily departures costing 800-1,200 rubles.
Yandex Taxi operates in over 600 Russian cities, acquired Uber's Russian operations in 2017, and processes approximately 20 million rides daily across all markets. The service uses app-based booking with upfront pricing. Moscow airport transfers to city center cost approximately 800-1,400 rubles depending on terminal and destination, taking 45-90 minutes depending on traffic. Econom class within Moscow typically charges 200-400 rubles for 5-kilometer journeys. Comfort class adds 30-50% to base fares for newer vehicles. Saint Petersburg airport transfers to Nevsky Prospekt average 650-950 rubles. Gett and Citymobil provide competing services in major cities. Street-hail taxis exist but lack meters in most cities, requiring price negotiation before departure. Unofficial taxis operate widely, with ordinary citizens offering rides for negotiated fees, presenting safety considerations that favor app-based services with driver identification and GPS tracking.
Car rental requires an international driving permit alongside a national license for most foreign visitors. Major international chains including Avis, Hertz, and Europcar operate at Moscow and Saint Petersburg airports. Local companies such as Rentmotors and NarsCars often offer lower rates. Compact car rental costs approximately 1,800-3,000 rubles daily for multi-day bookings, with mandatory insurance adding 500-800 rubles per day. Gasoline prices average 48-54 rubles per liter as of 2023. The M7 federal highway connects Moscow with Nizhny Novgorod, continuing through Kazan to Ufa, covering 1,351 kilometers of primarily two-lane road with intermittent four-lane sections near major cities. The M5 runs from Moscow through Ryazan and Penza to Chelyabinsk, spanning 1,879 kilometers. Road quality varies substantially, with federal highways near Moscow maintained to reasonable standards while rural regional roads may feature significant potholes and minimal markings. Winter driving from November through March requires winter tires, mandated by law from December 1 to February 28 in most regions.
The M53 highway from Novosibirsk to the Mongolian border covers 1,141 kilometers, providing the primary road route to Lake Baikal via Irkutsk. The M58 connects Chita with Khabarovsk across 2,100 kilometers, paralleling the Trans-Siberian Railway through sparsely populated terrain. Gas stations appear every 50-150 kilometers on major routes but may be separated by 300 kilometers or more on secondary roads in Siberia and the Far East. The federal road network totals approximately 50,000 kilometers, while regional roads add another 500,000 kilometers of varying quality. The Lena Highway (R504) runs 1,235 kilometers from Yakutsk to Magadan, remaining unpaved for most of its length and impassable during spring thaw from April through early June. This route crosses the Aldan River via ferry from late May through October, with ice crossings possible from December through April when river ice exceeds 120 centimeters thickness.
Speed limits default to 60 kilometers per hour in populated areas, 90 kilometers per hour on rural roads, and 110 kilometers per hour on expressways unless otherwise posted. The Moscow-Saint Petersburg M11 toll highway opened in 2019, reducing the journey to 663 kilometers on a four-lane divided highway with a 130-kilometer-per-hour speed limit. Toll charges total approximately 1,700 rubles for the complete route. The Moscow Ring Road (MKAD) defines the city boundary as a 109-kilometer beltway, beyond which building density decreases substantially. Traffic enforcement uses both manned checkpoints and automated cameras, with speeding fines starting at 500 rubles for exceeding limits by under 20 kilometers per hour, rising to 2,000-2,500 rubles for speeds 40-60 kilometers per hour over limits. Blood alcohol limits of 0.016% allow for measurement error but effectively prohibit drinking before driving.
Domestic flights between Moscow and Vladivostok require approximately eight hours covering 6,430 kilometers, with Aeroflot operating 3-4 daily nonstop services on Boeing 777 and Airbus A330 aircraft. Economy fares booked several weeks ahead start around 12,000 rubles, rising to 25,000-40,000 rubles for last-minute bookings. Moscow to Irkutsk takes five hours and twenty minutes across 4,185 kilometers, with multiple daily services from Aeroflot, S7, and Ural Airlines at prices from 8,000 rubles advance purchase to 20,000 rubles last-minute. Moscow to Sochi requires two hours and fifteen minutes, with robust competition producing fares as low as 2,500 rubles on Pobeda versus 5,000-8,000 rubles on legacy carriers. Saint Petersburg to Yekaterinburg takes two hours and thirty minutes covering 2,138 kilometers, with fares from 4,000 rubles.
Regional aviation serves remote areas in the Far East, Siberia, and Arctic regions where road and rail infrastructure remains minimal or absent. Yakutia Airlines operates from Yakutsk to settlements across the Sakha Republic, flying routes like Yakutsk to Tiksi on the Arctic Ocean in three hours aboard Antonov An-24 turboprops. Krasavia operates from Krasnoyarsk to settlements along the Yenisei River including Turukhansk and Igarka. Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky serves as the hub for flights to isolated Kamchatka Peninsula settlements, with Kamchatka Aviation Enterprise flying routes to Palana, Tilichiki, and Ust-Kamchatsk on Let L-410 and Antonov An-26 aircraft. Magadan and Khabarovsk serve as hubs for Far Eastern routes. These regional services operate irregular schedules dependent on weather and demand, with single-flight weekly frequencies common on the thinnest routes. Fares reflect monopoly conditions and high operating costs, with 400-kilometer routes sometimes costing 8,000-12,000 rubles.
River transport operates on major waterways from May through September when ice conditions permit. The Volga River carries passenger services between Kazan and Astrakhan, covering 1,450 kilometers in approximately seven days on traditional paddle-wheel river cruise ships. These vessels stop at Samara, Saratov, and Volgograd among smaller settlements. Cruises operate round-trip from Moscow to Astrakhan over 18-22 days, with cabin prices from 85,000 rubles to 350,000 rubles depending on accommodation class and specific vessel. The Moscow Canal connects the Volga with the capital, allowing cruises from Moscow to Saint Petersburg via Lake Ladoga and the Neva River, covering approximately 1,300 kilometers in 11-15 days. The Lena River supports cargo and occasional passenger services from Ust-Kut to Tiksi across 3,100 kilometers, though dedicated tourist services remain limited compared with the Volga.
Ferry services cross the Kerch Strait linking Krasnodar Krai with Crimea, though the 19-kilometer Crimean Bridge opened in 2018 carrying both road and rail traffic. The Sakhalin-Kholmsk to Vanino ferry crosses the Tatar Strait connecting Sakhalin Island with the mainland, operating year-round with crossing times of approximately 18 hours. This route carries both passengers and vehicles, with passenger fares around 3,500 rubles and vehicle transport adding 8,000-15,000 rubles depending on vehicle size. Vladivostok maintains seasonal ferry connections to South Korea and Japan, though these primarily serve freight with limited passenger capacity. Lake Baikal ferries operate from Irkutsk and nearby settlements to Olkhon Island during summer months when ice precludes vehicular crossings, with crossing times under one hour and fares around 500 rubles for foot passengers.