FOREIGN FANS MOSCOW F.A.Q.

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Got fan-zone/standing-zone tickets
What you bought is not a ticket actually, but only a certificate. These should be exchanged for actual tickets at Olimpiysky's booking office on Aug.18th or Aug.19th. Certificate won't get you in, so make sure you got the right tickets! Otherwise you might end up wasting time in line.

Booking office is located at "Prospekt Mira" metro station on the right hand side of the stadium entrance. It is called "kassa" in Russian.

Those who got seating tickets, have no reasons to worry. That's the actual ticket.



Transfer from airport to downtown and back

Get ready to spend some time at passport control and baggage claim, it’s not going to be quick. Customs officers are not likely to talk to you and inappropriate jokes are not welcome at all. Go through the “green channel” if you have no valuable goods which need to be declared, otherwise you’ll be wasting your time at customs.

No matter which airport you will be arriving at, you’re very likely to be offered a taxi-service, which will cost you 1500-4000 roubles (40 – 100 euro), depending on destination and driver’s ambitions. Most taxis don’t use the counters and you can easily get ripped off. Also remember, that you’re quite likely to get stuck in a heavy traffic jam from 7 till 10AM and in the evening rush hours.

There are 3 major international airports in Moscow, namely:

Sheremetyevo (SVO): Still remains a major international airport. The main hall is always crowded and unorganized.

You can take a route-taxi (a minivan which always takes the same route). Not so much comfort, too little space for large baggage, but it’s going to cost you only 50-70 roubles (1,5-2 euros) to get to the nearest metro station – Rechnoy Vokzal. Municipal buses are also available for a price around 1 euro.

Aeroexpress train will take you to Savelovskaya metro station . No traffic jams, regular departure every half an hour. Ticket costs around 250 roubles (7 euros).

Domodedovo (DME): Now Russia’s most up-to-date airport, though still crouded and undergoing a reconstruction.

Aeroexpress train will take you to Paveletskaya metro station. No traffic jams, regular departure every half an hour (every hour early morning). Advantage - you will find yourself already at downtown just a few metro stations away from Kremlin. Disadvantage – it may be a little tricky to find entrance to metro. You will also find yourself at a crowded square and construction site by a railway station, being a potential target for pick-pockets. Don’t get worried, just ask police officer for guidance. Ticket costs around 150 roubles (slighty over 4 euros)

Route taxi or a bus (actually not a municipal bus, but a travel coach) will take you on a 30 minute trip to Domodedovskaya metro station. Pricing: 50-70 roubles (1,5-2 euros).


Vnukovo (VKO): Neat and not a very crowded airport, since no major airlines use it on regular basis.

Aeroexpress train will take you to Kievskaya metro station. No traffic jams, regular departure every hour. Advantage – you will be almost in the very downtown at a very picturesque place. “Evropeisky” shopping mall is just cross the road – shopping, food court, banks, etc right there for you. Ticket costs around 120 roubles (3,5 euros)

Route taxi will take you on a 40 minute trip to Yugo-Zapadnaya metro station. Pricing: 50-70 roubles (1,5-2 euros). Surrpundings of that station are always crowded and it may be tricky to find entrance to metro.

Making a return trip to the airport is like doing it all backwards, basically.

Here's a map of metro (subway) with the key stations mentioned above, marked in orange

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Transportation

You may find taxi of any sort, starting with an old piece of s**t cars and all the way up to Porsche Cayenne or S-klasse Mercedes. There is a number of yellow cabs on the streets, but you can always get a ride from a private driver, just stand by the road sticking hand out like a hitch-hiker, and some car will pull over. Most taxi drivers won’t speak any foreign language and are very likely double (or triple) charge you, especially non-Russians. Hardly any taxis in Moscow use counters, an average trip must cost you from 100-150 roubles (close proximity) to 600 roubles, prices may be higher at night. Be ready for even higher pricing, since drivers know you’re a tourist. Pay the driver only after you arrive at the destination. Taking a taxi on rush hours is not a good idea at all – downtown is almost paralyzed.

It’s a lot more reasonable to use public transportation, just try to avoid the rush hours (7.30-9.30AM and 5-8PM on weekdays) or you may get jammed and I bet you won’t like it.

Metro/subway
Most important public transport. Muskovites are proud of their subway, and I have to acknowledge, there’s a reason for that. Some of the stations are very pretty and certainly worth seeing.

Entrance is always marked with logo:


Anywhere you go within downtown, there’s always metro available within a walking distance. 1 ride is worth 19 roubles (50 cents) no matter where’re you’re planning to go. There’re also 2,5,10,20 or 60-ride cards available – they are cheaper per ride, and you won’t have to spend time waiting in line. Tickets saleswomen do not speak foreign languages – just hold out the money and show how many rides you need. Do not buy tickets from people on the streets.

Route taxis are just small buses or minivans which always go on a same route, but offer you slightly more comfort, compared to municipal buces. Pricing may vary from 20 to 35 roubles (2/3 to 1 euro). You pay by just passing the money to the driver, as you get in the van.

Here's how route taxi looks like:


Municipal buses may be slow, compared to route taxis, since they are required to stop at every bus stop, but there’s nothing to worry about them. Just don’t take a bus on rush hours. Ride will cost you 25 roubles (2/3 euro) it you buy a ticket from the driver, or 19 roubles, if you buy it at a kiosk. Stick the ticket, which is actually a magnetic card, into the control machine at the entrance. Pick the ticket after it pops back up, and the green light will show up.

Bus, trolley-bus, trolley look like the following:

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Getting to the venue

Get on metro and go to Prospekt Mira station. Then walk by feet.




Here's a Google map. Metro station is marked with small "M" letters, McDonalds should give you the hint of where to go. You WILL smell it



It is in your own interest to avoid bringing alcohol (not allowed to get in, no exceptions) or any other drinks or food. No knives, or other items that may hurt people in the crowd are allowed. Food, drinks and merchandise are sold in the lobby.

Get prepared for a 3-stage control: first barrier is normally set up some 150 meters from arena, all you need is to show you have a ticket. Second barrier is equipped with metal detector, you’re to show a ticket, content of your backpack and pockets. Please, take this security measure seriously. The last step is when they check your ticket at the sector entrance. May seem slow, but that’s the way things work.

No smoking is allowed except at the special areas, normally by the toilets.

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Hotels and housing

It’s almost impossible to find a decent and affordable hotel in Moscow, be either prepared for expensive stay, or very basic conditions. Renting apartment for a couple nights is cheaper, you may find agencies on the internet. Just Google it!

Service is not likely to be superior, unless you’re staying at 4-5 star hotel, just deal with it.

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Money

It is unlawful (i.e. forbidden by law) to pay for goods and services in Russia with any currency, except by the roubles. You may sometimes negotiate with taxi drivers, porters, waiters or kioskers, paying them in euros or dollars in cash, but you will need roubles on most occasions.

There will be several currency exchange stands at the airports, there’s always a few by metro stations. Almost any bank will offer you exchange service. Avoid exchanges in tourist areas - you won’t waste too much money, but still it won’t be a good deal. Never exchange money on the street.

There’s a tremendous amount of ATMs in Moscow (better known as “bank-o-mat”), especially in downtown. They are often placed in bank lobbies, inside shopping malls, by the exit from metro stations. Exchange rates are decent, but normally you won’t be allowed to cash than 7500 roubles at a time.

Many stores and restaurants (but not fast food restaurants) accept cards, especially those in downtown, just ask waiters about that, if you’re not sure. Be prepared to show your ID when paying with the card.

Cheques are not accepted, generally.

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Restaurants & food

There’s plenty restaurants scattered all around the city, there’s always something to eat by metro stations. It’s only your budget and personal tastes, that limits you.

McDonalds and KFC (known as Rostiks) have built huge networks. You may also see a bunch of other less known cafes, especially at the malls. It’s perfectly safe to buy hotdogs from Stardogs, potatoes from Kroshka Kartoshka, pancakes (bliny) and buns of all sorts sold at street kiosks, but I’d recommend you avoid buying Doner Kebab.

Mu-mu is another a cheap network of buffets which offers good food (look for a carton cow by the entrance), also look for Kruzhka (orange cup of beer), Lozhka i Vilka (Spoon & Fork).

Some of the better network restaurants are Il Patio (Italian cusine), Yakitoria, Yamatoria, Yapona Mama and numerous sushi bars (Japanese), Coffee House, Starbucks, Shokoladnitsa (cafés). All of them should accept cards, tips expected.

The choice is completely up to you

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Places to see

Kremlin & Red Square

No comments. Be prepared for long lines at the entrance to Kremlin, or wake up early to be first to the barrier




There’s nothing special about Mausoleum except for the mummy of the old man, but you bay brag about seeing it afterwards. St.Basil’s Cathedral is just nearby, together with Stalin’s, Khruschev’s, Brezhnev’s, Gagarin’s and other famous people’s graves. GUM is a huge and extremely expensive, yet beautiful shopping mall in pseudo-Russian style, facing Kremlin.


Poklonnaya Gora

Picturesque park, fountains a monument and WWII museum. Great for relaxation, taking awesome photographs, having a couple beers or renting roller skates.





Tretyakov Gallery and Zamoskvorechye

Tretyakov State Gallery is located in Zamoskvorechye – a very rare part of the city, where XVIII-XIX century buildings are mostly preserved. Take a walk through narrow streets, if you have a map, you may know Moscow from absolutely another side. The Gallery itself is famous for its collection of Russian paintings. Take a walk down the boulevard to the bank of Moscow river, and you may be surprised by astonishing view of Kremlin. There’s a tree of newlyweds standing on pedestrian bridge which leads to yet another park.




Christ the Savior Cathedral

Restored in 1997, it’s Russia’s largest cathedral in historical downtown, not far from enormously huge statue of Peter the Great, cross the street from Pushkin Museum of Fine Arts, at the end of Gogol boulevard, which starts at the famous Arbat street. Take a walk cross the river to see another beautiful view at the city.




Arbat

Probably the most famous tourist street, though far from being the prettiest. Get ready to trade with souvenir sellers. You may take a pleasant walk down Gogol boulevard to Christ the Saviour cathedral.




Vorobievy hills viewpoint, MSU

The best viewpoint you can get, and it’s all there for free. The impressive building of Moscow State Universitiy is only a few steps away.







VDNKH

It’s almost like a Stalinist-era museum, VDNKH used to be the exhibition center through the Soviet period, now its famous for typical architecture, fountains, parks, may roller skaters and bicyclists come here from all over the city.





Tsaritsyno

Open in September 2007, this is a replica of XVIII century palace built by Catherine the Great. Fountains, parks, ponds, luxurious pavilions which imitate the Empress’ lifestyle, and it’s even prettier at night.




Novodevichy Convent



Moscow’s most famous convent by the river and Russia’s largest sports arena (hosted Champions Cup final this year). Cemetary is burial place for many famous people, including Boris Yeltsin.


Boat trip from Kievsky railway station
It’s worth only 350 roubles (10 euros) for a 40-50 minute trip to see Moscow from the board of a cruise boat. Certainly worth spending time and money, but prepare for long lines on weekends. No commentary, unfortunately, unless you find a local guide.