Moscow - Post Report Question and Answers
Are local buses, trams, trains or taxis safe and affordable?
The metro here is cheap, about $.07 per ride, fast, and trains show up every 2 minutes. It takes you all over the city. There are plenty of inexpensive taxi options too. I haven't used the bus. Everything is safe. - Dec 2023
There is Uber, Yandex, and taxis. The bus system is great and the Metro is amazing. - Mar 2019
Yes, yes, yes! Best metro in the world. - Nov 2018
Yes, very affordable. - Oct 2017
Yes, they are safe and affordable. Very efficient. MUCH better than DC - Sep 2016
We took regional trains without any problem. For taxi, we use GetTaxi or Yandex Taxi. - May 2016
Moscow has probably the world's best metro system, with fast, safe and frequent trains, a very modern comprehensive network of lines and (cherry on top!) some gorgeous and highly photogenic stations. Taxis are safe, but a bit expensive - it's cheaper to stop any random car (gypsy cab), but this will require a reasonable command of Russian. Buses are good and cheap, but mind the heavy traffic. - Sep 2015
Yes. - Jun 2015
The Metro is amazing, probably the best I have ever been on and historical on top of it! We also took the streetcars from outside the Embassy up to Gorky Park. The nice thing about the employee association was that they had drivers for hire if you couldn't use Motorpool (official business only) and the prices were very reasonable. - Oct 2014
The Moscow metro system is amazing. Affordable and inexpensive. - Feb 2014
Yes - one trip on the metro costs under a dollar and you can get almost anywhere in the city on the metro. There is an extensive network of buses and trolleybuses as well. - Nov 2013
The Metro is reasonably safe and efficient. Trams also work well. Taxis are inconvenient - you have to call cab services and they tend to take a long time to arrive to pick you up. One can also pick up gypsy cabs on the street but this isn't recommended and you need to speak Russian. - Jul 2013
Local transportation is terrific. The Metro system is incredibly huge and efficient. Trolleybuses, regular buses and trams are all available. There are several radio taxi services but I've never taken one. The U.S. Embassy community association offers transportation services if you schedule them in advance. There is fast-train service to all three of Moscow's airports, which is important as traffic here is intense and unpredictable. Take the train to and from the airport whenever possible, avoiding a taxi. Trains within Russia are ok (the fast Sapsan trains are wonderful). - Jul 2013
There are express trains to the airports and the metro is awesome. Both are very cheap and reliable. The metro is the best deal in the city, plus they are beautiful. I would not take a taxi or a bus, for safety reasons. - Jan 2013
Yes, sort of. Metro and trains are perfectly safe. Metro and trolleys will cost about $1 per ride. You can go one-way to the airport on the express train for an additional $10. Taxis are fine, just stay away from gypsy-cabs. Also, be sure to know what the cost is for taxis. There's a group of cabs that park at elite hotels that will charge $50 to go a mile. - Mar 2012
Metro, bus, trolley, trams -- all easy to use and inexpensive. There are also 'marschrutkas', little vans that go on set routes, for about 85 cents, we use them all the time with no problems. No seat belts, but I just hope for the best on that. There are cabs that can be ordered, and real cabs that you flag down, and gypsy cabs which are just people who pull over when flagged. I don't use them, normally, but I have a couple of times and had no problems. Just get the fare agreed upon ahead of time, and use some sense. Don't do it alone, for instance, if you're female. And better not to choose a young man or a pair of men. Probably better to stick with the more official things like the metro, really. - May 2011
Metro is very reliable but signs are in Russian. Safety --- sort of like NYC.Gypsy cabs are safe if one speaks Russian and has street-smarts. - Jan 2011
The public transportation system here is not pretty, but it runs like a dream. While everyone has accolades for the Metro system, the bus, tram, and trolleybus system is just as convenient and accessible, but it requires a bit more Russian language skill to use. Public transport is cheap (less than 1 USD a ride) and usually safe. Most Muscovites use gypsy cabs, and almost any car on the road is a possible taxi. Some Russian-language ability is required, and the usual caveats about gypsy cabs apply. As a foreigner, you will undoubtedly pay more than a local, so just get used to it. - Jul 2010
The metro is great. Have not used taxis or buses here. - May 2010
Metro is perfectly fine and, frankly, fast and cheap. I only took a trolley/bus once, and I didn't care for it. If you have the language skills, you can hail a 'gypsy cab', which means anyone will pick you up, barter with you for a price to take you to your destination, and drop you off. It's a way for the locals to make extra money, but some people have been ripped off with this. There ARE legit cabs out there, and there is even a Pink Lady cab service for women only. - May 2010
The metro is wonderful, and always comes within 1.5 minutes after the last train departed. Taxis are everywhere - just put out your hand and negotiate a price with the random car that stopped. You can call a real taxi as well for only a little less, although that entails waiting. - Feb 2010
The Moscow metro is the best in the world hands-down. I commute every day to and from work - you never wait more than 20 seconds for a new train at rush hour (though every train is crowded). Most stations are as pretty a museum lobby and graffiti-free. Roving packs of police officers ensure that the stations are safe and free of trouble. It's also affordable -I pay $35 for my monthly metro pass. There aren't many real taxis in Moscow, for the simple reason that they aren't needed. You can stick your thumb out and hail a "gypsy" taxi anywhere in the city at any hour, and get a quick and cheap ride to your next destination, about $6.50 will get you most anywhere in the city - but you have to haggle for the price, or it will be a lot higher! - Jan 2010
Yes! Except for that pesky punching I mentioned above ... Generally good, safe, clean-ish, and fast. I haven't used an inter-city bus or train yet, but we will. Lots go to St. Petersberg by night train and say it's fine. I want to go on the Trans-Siberian before we go! - Nov 2009
Yes and yes. A little intimidating with the language, but again, that's me not them. - Oct 2009
Trains, buses, Moscow Metro, all fine. A little expensive to take a cabbie, but the Metro is great. - Aug 2009
I didn't use the public buses because they are very confusing, but the metro is great. it's cheap and one of the best in the world. You can't hail a yellow cab in the city, those are official taxis that you have to arrange for ahead of time. You can take gypsy cabs, which is paid hitchhiking. You put your arm out and a car can stop if they want to make extra money. You figure out the sum before the ride. You can take these but definitely avoid them if you are alone. - Aug 2009
Yes, and they are excellent. - Jul 2009
Yes! Public transportation is cheap (a ride on the metro is still under US$1) and very, very efficient. The metro will take you most places in the city, and you rarely have to wait more than two minutes for a train. Buses and trollies are also very efficient, although most are stuck in traffic during rush hour. Marshrutki (small buses that look like vans) are the better option, as they are quicker and travel almost anywhere. Chastniki (gypsy cabs) are another option favored by Muscovites (especially those who want to get around in the middle of the night when public transportation doesn't run), but you must speak some Russian in order to negotiate with the driver. They are very affordable but occasionally unsafe (I never had any problems and took them quite frequently). - Sep 2008
There is an extensive metro system that is cheap and run frequently. Taxis are not considered to be safe or regulated. Buses are also plentiful. - Aug 2008
