Transport in Russia

• Rail is well suited to long-distance travel over land; urban and intercity travel need to be planned separately.
• Some Moscow metro stations are close to major sights: Okhotny Ryad is about 300 metres from Red Square.
• Published river trips range from multi-day excursions on the Lena to longer routes on the Volga.

In a large city, the metro can shorten the journey between sights, while getting to a train station or airport may require a separate transfer. In Moscow, Okhotny Ryad station is about 300 metres from Red Square; its exits lead toward Teatralnaya and Manezhnaya. Alexandrovsky Sad has exits to the Alexander Garden, the Kremlin and the museum ticket offices. The locations of these stations make it easier to find your way on foot.

Plan your transfer and local transport between the train station, your accommodation and your next destination. Choose your accommodation near your actual arrival or departure point. Keep track of documents, connections and buffer time in a travel checklist and itinerary.

For long distances, trains can connect several regions along an overland route, while flying covers long distances more quickly. Buses and local transport often handle the legs between a train station, a smaller town and the destination itself. What matters is the entire connection: the arrival point, onward travel, luggage and accommodation all need to fit together. When planning train travel, include the journey to the actual station. Transfers and local transport also matter when travelling from the station to your accommodation.

Payment cards and cash are not equally available everywhere for bookings and payments. Carry a second payment option. An offline map with addresses and translations can help you find an entrance or pickup point when there is no mobile connection on site. It is also important to keep your passport and travel documents in order for your arrival: passports and personal documents.

River trips show how transport options vary depending on the landscape and purpose of the journey. An operator’s archive documents a cruise on the Volga from Moscow to Astrakhan, from 4 to 17 October 2026. The completed route included Uglich and Yaroslavl, as well as other cities along the Volga. It is a historical example of a multi-day river trip.

For the Lena, an operator’s programme for the 2026 navigation season described a three-day trip from Yakutsk to the Lena Pillars. The second day included going ashore and climbing. The national park distinguishes between summer and winter conditions on designated trails and at access points. This means that a river trip is not just about travel time: how shore excursions, trails and the season fit together matters too.

In both river-trip examples, the boat journey and onward travel form part of the overall route. A transfer between modes of transport may involve travelling from the airport or train station to the pier, and later to your accommodation. Other holiday ideas can be combined with a river trip if the region, trip length and available legs fit together.

Those organising their personal travel documents or planning accommodation in case of an unexpected extension can include these points in their own itinerary. Transport routes, payment terms and entry documents depend on the specific destination and personal route. For longer stays or journeys with multiple legs, the key is to plan arrival, accommodation and onward travel as parts of the same journey.

How far is Okhotny Ryad metro station from Red Square?

The station is about 300 metres from Red Square; its exits lead toward Teatralnaya and Manezhnaya.

Which Lena trip was described for 2026?

The operator’s programme described a three-day trip from Yakutsk to the Lena Pillars. The second day included going ashore, an Algys blessing and a climb.

What did the archived Volga route include?

The trip, which began on 4 October 2026 and ended on 17 October, ran from Moscow to Astrakhan and included Uglich and Yaroslavl, among other places.