Moscow’s public transport system is one of the largest, most efficient, and extensive in the world, offering a wide variety of options for getting around the city.

Last updated: March 2025

The Moscow Metro

• Overview: The Moscow Metro is renowned for its efficiency, cleanliness, and beautiful architecture, with many stations featuring ornate designs, mosaics, and artworks.
• Lines and Coverage: As of 2025, the metro consists of 15 lines and over 250 stations, covering a vast network of more than 450 kilometers (280 miles). It connects the city center with virtually all of its districts and some suburban areas.
• Frequency: Trains run approximately every 90 seconds to 2 minutes during peak hours and every 2-5 minutes during off-peak hours.
• Operating Hours: Generally, the metro operates from 5:30 AM to 1:00 AM.
• Tickets and Payment: Unified tickets are used across all types of public transport. You can pay with a Troika card, a contactless smart card that can be loaded with money or various passes.

Surface Transport

• Buses: Moscow has an extensive bus network serving areas not covered by the metro. Buses are operated by Mosgortrans and run frequently across the city. Some of them are electric. Trolleybus network was disabled in 2020.
• Trams: Trams cover both central and suburban areas and are an important part of the public transport network.
• The Moscow Central Circle, or Line 14, is an overground rail line that forms a circle around central Moscow, providing a rapid transit link between various metro lines. It is integrated into the metro system, offering seamless transfers and the same ticketing system.
• The Moscow Central Diameters is a commuter rail service that connects the suburbs with central Moscow, similar to the RER in Paris or S-Bahn in Germany.
• Aeroexpress Trains provide direct links between Moscow’s airports Sheremetyevo, Domodedovo and the city center. Vnukovo airport has its own metro station instead of Aeroexpress.

Tickets

• Single Ride: 75 ₽ (€0.8) when purchased as a single ride without a Troika Card, 63 ₽ (€0.7) with Troika Card.
• 90-Minute Ticket: 94 ₽ (€1.0), allowing unlimited transfers within 90 minutes across buses, trams, trolleybuses, and metro.
• 24h Pass: Cost: 365 ₽ (€4.0)
• 3-Day Pass: Cost: 700 ₽ (€7.8)
• Children under 7: Free travel on the metro and other transport systems.
• Troika card: Cost: 150 ₽ (€1.7), available for purchase at almost every metro station.
• Contactless payment: Available for MIR bank card holders.

Night Buses

• Moscow has a dedicated network of night buses that operate between midnight and 5:30 AM. These buses are designed to cover major routes and connect various parts of the city during the hours when the metro and most daytime buses do not operate.
• Night bus routes are marked with the letter “H” (for “ночной” meaning “night” in Russian) followed by a number, such as H1, H2, H3, etc. They serve major streets, districts, and key points like train stations, airports, and central areas.
• Buses generally run every 30-60 minutes, depending on the route and demand. Night buses accept the same tickets and passes as daytime buses, including the Troika Card and contactless payments.