Moscow Metro Guide

If you visit moscow then remember that the best way to get around the city is by metro.

Why ?

Well, Moscow traffic jams are legendary, and can last all day, not just during just rush hour.

Moscow’s buses, trolley buses and trams are cheap, but make little sense due to the crazy traffic jams which haunt Moscow.

Taxi’s will charge infalted prices once they realise that you are a foreigner and they too will be stuck in traffic.

Navigation

The metro, despite its vast size, and lack of english language information, is relatively simple to navigate.

Its easy to plan a route from any metro station to any other station.

Even if you don’t know much russian, just find a metro map which has russian and english names for each station, and plan your routes before you set off.

The 12 lines are coloured and there is also a large ring line which circles around Moscow.

All lines head into the centre, so even if you are lost in the outskirts of the system, you simply need to work out which station you are at,

then find the correct direction to the centre.

If you make a mistake and get off at the wrong stop, its not a big problem, you simply get on the next train or go back to the previous station.

Guide

The metro is open from 0530am until 0100am, trains run every 90 seconds during rush hours and every couple of minutes at other times.

Your metro ticket needs to be inserted into the barriers to allow entrance to the metro system, but once you are in the metro you don’t need a new ticket until you exit a station to the street.

Inside the metro system there are no barriers or turnstiles.  This means that you can spend all day riding the metro if you wish, all for the single price of a ticket, 25 rubles !

You can go around and around Moscow all day long, backwards and forwards, walk through the transit stations and nobody will care or charge you extra.

Ticket barriers are usually manned by a couple of metro workers and/or police to enforce security and make sure nobody tries to go through without paying.

Some people are entitled to free public transport across russia, such as certain categories of government workers.

These people will show their special pass to the metro staff in order to be let through a separate barrier.

Transit stations

Some stations are transit stations and have long underground passageways which link two or more different stations or lines.

If you get lost in the Metro system then don’t panic.  Just ask somebody for help or keep walking until you reach a platform.

The platform walls all contain maps and graphics and the station name to assist you.

The Moscow Metro unfortunately lives under the constant threat of terrorism.

The metro has suffered numerous bombings due to its open nature and lax security.

Unlike other metros systems, Moscow’s will still work and be open despite bombings and bomb threats.

Why ? Well there just isn’t any alternative means of transport so it has to be open.

I admire these people a lot.

Practicalities

You can buy metro tickets at any station, but sometimes the lines for tickets are long and people often try to push in front.  Stand your ground and keep an eye on your luggage, pockets and wallet whilst you are in line.  The women in the ticket offices won’t speak English, so write down the number of tickets you need or use your fingers to indicate the number.

Tickets used to be cards with a magnetic strip but they are now contactless.  A single ticket card can be programmed with up to about 100 rides.

When you hold your ticket next to the ticket barrier the barrier will retract and a sign will light up showing the number of rides left on the card.

If you are staying in Moscow for a day or two then its better to buy your metro tickets in one go, rather than queuing up before every single ride.

Tickets are valid for about a month.

Metro Tours

Moscow’s metro is so big that it is almost like a complete underground city.  Many of the stations are extremely beautiful and can be thought of as works of art.

They are decorated with paintings, murals, statues, decorations, amazing architecture and Soviet icons.

I’ve often seen people taking guided tours of the metro just to see the stations.

If you visit Moscow and it’s raining then a good way to pass a few hours is to have a tour of the metro stations.