Moscow airports: finding your way into the city

For many visitors, Moscow begins not at Red Square but with three letters on a ticket. SVO, DME, VKO and ZIA identify different airports. Searching simply for “Moscow airport” can produce a perfectly workable route to the wrong place.

Start by matching the airport, terminal and arrival date to your booking. Then choose between rail, metro, bus and a road transfer. For the city leg, our guide to Moscow’s metro, Troika and urban transport explains tickets, changes and the final exit.

Four airports, four different starting points

Sheremetyevo — SVO. Check your terminal and the appropriate access route. Aeroexpress is among the airport’s rail connections; follow current instructions for your terminal rather than an old itinerary. Official airport information.

Domodedovo — DME. Rail services include connections via Paveletsky railway station; bus and road options are also available. Arriving at a Moscow railway station does not necessarily mean you have reached your destination. Include the remaining journey to your accommodation. Airport transport overview.

Vnukovo — VKO. Aeroport Vnukovo metro station is on the Solntsevskaya line. Older advice recommending Aeroexpress is misleading here: that airport service has been discontinued. Check metro and road connections for your travel date. Moscow Metro, Aeroexpress.

Zhukovsky — ZIA. Pay particular attention to the final leg. The airport lists a rail journey to Otdykh followed by a road connection, as well as a bus from Kotelniki. Reaching Otdykh by train is not the same as reaching the terminal. Official transport information.

Plan to the front door, not just the station

A train can offer a predictable first leg. Several changes, heavy luggage or a late arrival may nevertheless make a road transfer more suitable. Road journey times, in turn, depend on traffic.

Compare the complete route: waiting, changes, walking and the final stretch. Check operating hours, luggage rules, payment options and your meeting point with the operator. We deliberately avoid a single promised journey time or permanently fixed fares.

If you are continuing by long-distance train, check that departure point separately. Our Moscow railway stations guide explains how to identify the correct terminal and prepare for boarding.

Changing airports is not changing terminals

Different airport codes on two tickets mean a journey between airports. Ask the airline whether you must collect baggage and check in again, and which procedures apply to your connection. A short connection within one airport is not a useful benchmark for this situation.

Preparation that works without mobile data

Save your booking, accommodation address and route offline. An address also written in Cyrillic and an agreed meeting point can make communication easier.

If you are considering our eSIM service blueSIM, use the blueSIM bot to confirm current Russia availability, device compatibility and activation conditions before buying. We are not promising a Russia package or immediate connectivity after landing. Obtaining a local SIM may also involve additional formalities for foreign visitors: MTS guidance.

A quick check before departure

• Airport code and terminal match the booking.
• Your route reaches the accommodation, not only a station.
• Operating hours and payment options are checked.
• Your address and meeting point are saved offline.
• You have a backup route for delays.

For the next steps, read our first guide to understanding Moscow. For a wider introduction, explore Russia: space, people and cultures.

Published: 10 October 2026

Reviewed and updated: 10 October 2026

Sources

• Sheremetyevo
• Domodedovo
• Moscow Metro
• Aeroexpress
• Zhukovsky
• MTS

Connections, timetables and conditions can change. Check the operator’s current information before travelling.