Getting Around Moscow: Transport Guide

The urban public transport system in Moscow is very efficient and comprises metros, tramways, trolleybuses, bus services and cabs.  Moscow's Metro is considered to be amongst the best anywhere; it is based on the Circle Line that circumnavigates the entire city. The roads follow the same system of concentric circles, connected by radial roads to the centre. Bus, tram and trolley tickets can purchased in advance at metro stations or kiosks but can also be bought directly from the drivers. Taxis are either private cars doubling up as cabs or official taxis - yellow cars with a large 'T' emblazoned on the sides and distinct chequered emblems on doors, sealed meters and fare cards on the inside.Travellers taking cabs should stick to officially marked taxis and never offer lifts or share the cab with strangers. Marshrutki are the mini buses that travel pre-set routes.

Rental companies hire out a variety of vehicles and arrange the services of drivers. For those who prefer to drive themselve, road rules are strictly enforced by the GAI, the State Automobile Inspectorate (Gosudarstvennaya Avtomobilnaya Inspektsia) who can enforce fines for speeding or driving without headlights/seatbelts or even for offering lifts/hitching rides. In such instances, the fine should be paid in roubles only, not in any foreign currency and always collect the receipt. Paperwork must be in order and handy - all drivers need a passport with valid visa, driving license/International Driving Permit, registration papers and comprehensive insurance including third party coverage. Visitors must register their visas at the hotel/motel desk they are staying at, and preferably have their vehicle number and other information endorsed on the visa. Visitors staying for longer than six months will need to get a Russian Drivers License. Traffic drives on the right of the road and road signs are posted in Cyrillic as well as in the Latin alphabet along the highways commonly used by foreign travellers.

Travel Alert! Underground metros, overnight trains, railway stations and airports are amongst the places that tourists get mugged in, most often. So watch your step and your belongings. The favoured modus operandi is to send a group of children to beg - as they swarm around tourists, older members steal belongings, pick pockets or simply snatch purses/cameras/bags.