Moscow - Moskou

Moscow is the capital of Russia.

Info

If you don't know the Cyrillic alphabet, you won't understand much about the inscriptions in Moscow. At the airport you sometimes see an EXIT sign, but when you are outside you only see Cyrillic letters. And it would also be strange to expect anything else. Knowing the alphabet is already a big step forward. If you can read the letters, it turns out that many words are similar to ours, such as метро, ​​pharmacy (аптека), supermarket (Супермаркет), hotel (Отель, Гостиница (gastinítsa)), floor (Этаж), etc. It is certainly useful to know something of Cyrillic. However, there are also apps for, among other things, via the iPhone, so that you can check exactly where you are and which lines you need to take to get somewhere.

Arrive

By plane

There are three main airports in the Moscow region. Sheremetyevo is the largest and is located north of the city. To the south is Domodedovo Airport, which is gradually becoming more popular for international air traffic. Vnukovo Airport in the west is used by Russian airlines and some low-cost airlines.

The best way to travel to and from the airports is by train. This is the most reliable form of transport, as Moscow's roads are notorious for congestion and traffic jams. The AeroExpress trains will take you to one of the train stations in Moscow (Belorusskiy Vokzal from Sheremetyevo, Paveletskiy Vokzal from Domodedovo, Kievskiy Vokzal from Vnukovo), from where you can continue by metro. The train journey on AeroExpress trains costs about 400 rubles per person. Taking the metro with a lot of luggage is not recommended during rush hours, because then the metro is very busy and the commuters do not have much understanding for people who demand a lot of space with suitcases and bags.

Try to avoid taxis unless you can share them in a group or unless you are able to negotiate the price in Russian. Make sure to use official taxis whenever possible.

By train

From Netherlands Moscow can be reached with the EuroNight 347 "Jan Kiepura". This train has a sleeping car with destination Moscow. The train departs daily from Amsterdam Central (8:08 PM) via Utrecht and Arnhem to Warsaw (arrival 10:52 am), where the carriage for Moscow is combined with carriages from other directions. This train arrives in Moscow at 10:59 AM the next morning. Please note that this train passes through Belarus and that therefore a Belarusian transit visa is required for transit, in addition to a Russian visa.

With the necessary changes, the shortest alternative train route is via Warsaw and Kiev to Moscow. This ride takes one day (24 hours) longer, so you are on the road for three nights. For Ukraine EU residents no longer need a visa, which saves those costs. Booking train tickets with arrival or departure in Kiev is very difficult if you are outside the Ukraine and must be arranged in advance either through a local contact or through a travel agency.

By car

Moscow is approximately 2500 km from Rotterdam or Antwerp by car, with worse roads to be expected the further east you drive. Also, as with the train, a transit visa is required for Belarus, if you travel through it.

Russia is often not on the green card, which means that you have to take out insurance at the border. The price is between 50 and 100 euros, often you can negotiate the price. Insurance companies that do have Russia cover are, for example, Univé, which saves hassle at the border. It is better to arrange this in advance.

Driving in Moscow is an extremely dangerous undertaking and should be strongly discouraged by anyone. Moscow's road system was never designed for the explosively growing number of cars it now faces. Road markings are rare, especially on roads with 6 lanes in each direction. Parking in the front lane of even a major highway has become a habit, as there is a chronic lack of parking spaces. The roads are in a constant state of absolute disrepair. Placeholders are in Russian only, if they exist at all.

Accidents are a daily occurrence on any road and even if you get to your destination without accident, parking is next to impossible. Russian drivers are not surprised by a dent more or less in a car and will cut you off when they see the opportunity. For a seasoned Russian driver, keeping your distance is a waste of space. If something does happen and has the misfortune to come into contact with the road police, you can expect a paperwork in Russian, with the necessary corruption built into the system.

If you absolutely want to enter Moscow by car, it is best to park in a safe place as soon as possible, for example at your hotel. Then you continue with the metro. It is at any time of every day, in any case faster than the car.

By bus

By boat

Travel around

Subway

The Moscow Metro is one of the most efficient public transport systems in the world. It transports about 9 million people every day. The oldest metro stations are all architectural masterpieces, finished in marble and mosaics and lit with chandeliers. Compared to other cities, the stations are relatively far apart and you may have to walk a long way to your destination, but with other transport you usually don't get there faster.

A ride on the metro costs 28 rubles (May 2011). You can buy tickets for 1, 2, 5, 10, 20 or more journeys in any metro station, just go to the "KASSA" (касса). The metro cards are only valid on the metro, not for other forms of public transport.

Metro maps are everywhere and easy to find. However, it is recommended that you learn the Cyrillic alphabet, if only to easily read which direction you are traveling in and to follow the signs in interconnected metro stations.

To cross Moscow, the metro is without a doubt the only reliable and also an extremely fast means of transport. During peak hours there is a train on every line in each direction every minute or every 2 minutes, during off-peak hours the trains may run 4 minutes apart. In practice, you never have to wait for a train in any direction, in any metro station. The metro stations close at 1.00 am, trains that are still running then complete their route.

Despite the continuous arrival and departure of trains, the trains can be overcrowded during rush hours. Make your way to the doors in time if you need to get out soon. If you need to find your way first, move to the center first and then find a quieter spot on the side where you can orient yourself without getting in the way.

Muscovites are rightly proud of their metro stations and keep them clean, don't throw anything on the floor and certainly don't light a cigarette, you could get into trouble. On the escalators, keep to the right when you are standing still, so that the rushed can pass on the left.

Tram/Bus/Trolleybus

Tram lines, bus lines and trolleybus lines crisscross the city, but all too often get stuck in traffic. It also happens regularly that they are involved in accidents, which severely disrupts traffic on the entire line in one direction. They are especially useful to take for relatively short distances on major roads with good traffic flow. However, in the city center you are often just as quick on foot. Most lines pass through one or more metro stations, with stops every 150 to 200 meters.

Tickets for tram, bus and trolley can be bought on the bus from the driver himself. They cost the same as a metro ticket. However, metro cards are unusable on tram, bus and trolleybus. After purchasing you have to validate your ticket and you can go through the metal roller barrier.

Marshrutka

If you want to go through the city like a real Muscovite and speak a little Russian, you can try to take a marshrutka. These are the yellow or white minibuses that pick up passengers at many metro stations and then continue in a fixed direction. There is a line number in large numbers, and usually also the stations and streets they pass. If not, you can ask a waiting driver in Russian where they are going.

Marshrutkas can best be seen as a kind of unofficial form of public transport, like a kind of public taxi. There is no fixed network and drivers often drive a route under their own management. They only leave when enough people have left to make it profitable. They are essentially large cars, so they are faster than bus and tram, but they also often interfere with traffic in a dangerous way.

When you have made sure that a marshrutka passes where you want, you can get on and find your place first. As soon as you are seated, ask how much it costs and pass the necessary amount to the front, via the other passengers. All passengers will deal with this fairly. You get the change back in the opposite direction. As soon as you approach the stop where you want to be dropped off, call the driver to stop at the next stop ("Astanovka"). He will then stop.

It is clear that a basic knowledge of Russian, to ask for directions or to buy a ticket, is almost indispensable to use this form of transport. However, Russian is ubiquitous in the ex-USSR and can be very useful in other cities and countries as well.

To look at

• The Bolshoi Theater - Here you can experience opera and ballet performances. It was built in 1780, but it burned down in 1805. In 1825 a new building designed by Joseph Bové was built, but it burned down again in 1953. In 1856 a theater was rebuilt to a design by Albert Cavos. There are 2500 places and 120 boxes available. The building is decorated by several sculptures by Potjr Clodt von Jürgensburg.

• Mausoleum of Lenin - small, square building in Red Square, where Lenin's body is laid out. The mausoleum can be visited on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Make sure you get in line on time. At 13.00, often earlier, the mausoleum closes, regardless of how long the line is at that time.

• ERASER. - beautiful, old department store on the Red Square where expensive brands like Gucci and Armani are sold.

• Kremlin - the geographical and historical center of Moscow. Tourists do not have access to the government buildings, but they do have access to the religious buildings. Well worth it.

• Basil's Cathedral - Striking building on Red Square, consisting of eight churches around a larger church. The brightly colored churches are world famous. The church can also be visited from the inside and is well worth a visit. Many icons can be admired inside and if you are lucky, you can also experience a performance by a choir.

To do

To buy

Ulitsa Arbat

In the immediate vicinity of the Kremlin you will find the Ulitsa Arbat, a pleasant shopping street that is also car-free. In addition to the many souvenir shops, you will also find many terraces and restaurants plus the Hardrockcafe, in addition to the shops you will also see many street vendors and street musicians.

Noviy Arbat

In addition to the Ulitsa Arbat you also have the Noviy (new) Arbat where generally the more luxurious shops are located, this is a wide street with 2 x 6 lanes and a wide footpath. Cross here via tunnels under the road, the road is not possible unless you are tired of life. On the New Arbat you will also find electronics stores for a new flashcard or if you are in need of an adapter, furthermore luxury supermarkets that are especially expensive are.

For drinks, vegetables and other food you can go to the many kiosks, which you will find mainly along the road or in the parks. At metro station Arbatskaya (Арбатская) you will also find a small market.

You can exchange money at one of the Arbats every 50 meters. You can recognize small exchange offices by the displays on the facade that show the exchange rate.

Food

Going out

stay overnight

Budget

You can stay cheaply in a number of hostels in the immediate vicinity of the Kremlin, here you can go for about 10 to 20 euros/night.

• HM Hostel: located near the Oel Arbat
• New Arbat Hostel: is located on the New Arbat, but the entrance is located on a parallel road
• Red Square Hostel: it speaks for itself

Hostels are often located in a spacious apartment or an office building. They often have a kitchen where you can prepare your own food and there is a possibility to wash clothes.

Average

Expensive

Moscow is now one of the most expensive cities in the world when it comes to renting or buying a house and also to spend the night there. Staying overnight in a hotel in Moscow is expensive. You can quickly count on 60 Euros per night for a two- or three-star hotel and the prices quickly rise. Apartments can also be rented per night. Far from the center you can do that from 1500 rubles. In the center itself or close to a metro, the price quickly increases.

It is always useful to check whether there is a metro station nearby. Traveling by metro is cheap again. You can travel from north to south Moscow (50 km) on 1 ticket. A card with 10 tickets costs about 260 Rubles.

Safety

Moscow has about 14 million inhabitants, and has to contend with all the associated problems. If you take the necessary normal precautions, you can safely get through the city without any problems. Keep all that is valuable out of sight and make it difficult for thieves who may be active in the metro and at tourist attractions.

It is also a good idea to plan your travel route in advance and carry it out without hesitation. This way you can easily mix with the locals and you don't look too out of place as a tourist. It can happen that people spontaneously offer to show you around. In the majority of cases, of course, they expect money for this. This is often well-intentioned, but certainly not always. Don't let yourself be lured into a secluded street or courtyard alone.

Alcohol abuse is common in Russia and especially on weekends in the evening, drunk Russians are a common sight on the streets and in the subway. Ignore them and just keep walking. Do not get into a discussion and stay as far away as possible from anything that looks like (the start of) a fight. At every bar, entertainment venue, hotel, ..., security is present that will act with a heavy hand to correct the situation if necessary.

Contact

all around

Also see

There also is a Russian phrasebook (still under construction).

This is a usable article. It contains information on how to get there, as well as the main attractions, nightlife and hotels. An adventurous person could use this article, but dive in and expand it!

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