The first hour in Moscow - what to do to be safe?

You got off the plane, went through passport control and even got your Luggage. What to do next?

Tip 1. Don't be nervous!

Moscow is a metropolis, unlike others and here the rhythm of life is much higher than in other European cities. However, unlike those cities, there are very few tourist information centers in Moscow, so take a free orange guide! There you will find everything you need. Up-to-date information about sights, transport, Museum schedule and map of the city center.

Coming out of the "clean" zone, stop for a minute and look around. Around you you will see everything you need. Do not talk to strangers, remember that in Moscow the principle "if you didn't cheat you didn't sell" operates. Who has already learned this principle, and usually rubs the arrival zone and offers its services. If you do not understand something, then contact the official information desk of the airport. They are marked with a capital "i" letter.

Tip 2. Buy a russian SIM card.

Your mobile operator offers its own roaming offers for Russia. However, the Russian cellular network is one of the cheapest and fastest in the world. Also, buying a local SIM card is a good idea if you plan to chat with russian friends. You can buy a SIM card directly at the airport as soon as you leave the arrivals hall.

The largest mobile operators in Russia are MegaFon, MTS, Beeline and Tele2. The price is about the same. Almost all of them have outlets in various Moscow airports (Tele2 has a SIM-card vending machine). To issue a SIM card you need a passport.

If you do not want to buy a SIM card at the airport, you can buy it later in the city. But do not buy them on the street with the so-called portable trays and even more so with your hands.

Better take in conspicuous salons - "Svyaznoy", "Euroset", "ION", etc. Take a check. And ask the girl consultant to install everything and check whether there is money on the balance. If it is a SIM card under Apple ask to trim normally, but it is a paid service.

Tip 3. To change money

This is an optional item in the list. Today in Moscow you can pay for everything with a credit card or Apple Pay - from transport and hotels to a hot dog in the nearest diner.

All payment terminals accept Visa or MasterCard. Some terminals do not accept American Express. But for convenience, you can exchange some foreign currency for rubles to cover small expenses, such as buying water from a vending machine or tipping a restaurant.

It is best to exchange money in the official Bank - all accept dollars and euros. For Example, "Sberbank". But don't do it at the airport.

Tip 4. Find your hotel / apartment

If you have not booked a transfer in advance, there are three ways to get to the city center by yourself. First, you can book a taxi through a special application for your smartphone. It's better to download the app in advance, but you can do it at the airport by connecting to free Wi-Fi, for example. The most popular are Yandex Taxi, Uber Russia (standard application Uber in Russia does not work) and Citymobil. A trip to the city center from any airport will cost no more than 1500 rubles ($24).

  ATTENTION! In the arrivals area will be a lot of people with yellow badges "Official taxi", but in fact it is the usual bombers. No one of them are legal. They can charge up to $200, convincing you of the remoteness of your hotel and the general traffic situation on the road.  



Second, you can take the Aeroexpress. High-speed comfortable train departs from all airports every half hour, and the trip takes no more than 30-40 minutes. Tickets can be purchased at the vending machines. The menu is available in several languages: a one-way ticket will cost 500 rubles ($8).

Save your ticket until the end of the trip!

Pay attention to the flexible tariff schedule. There are doubles (900 rubles) or group tickets for up to 4 people (1100 rubles). It turns out much more profitable.

Aeroexpress from Sheremetyevo airport (SVO) comes to Belorussky railway station, from Domodedovo (DME) to Paveletsky railway station, and from Vnukovo airport (VKO) to Kievsky railway station.

Third, if you arrived in Sheremetyevo (SVO), and you are very limited in the budget, you can use the Express bus. The stop is located to the left of the exit in terminal B. from terminals D, E,F, you can reach terminal B by free Shuttle. The Express bus runs non-stop to Khovrino metro station. The fare is 150 rubles.

Express bus departs every 30 min, duration 20 min, free WI FI on board.

Tip 5. Buy the card "Troika"

The fastest and most reliable way to travel around Moscow is the metro. Aeroexpress trains arrive in the city center at the railway stations, which all have subway entrances. You can buy a metro ticket there at the entrance, but the easier way is to go to the nearest ticket office and ask the cashier for either a ticket for one or more trips, or a Troika card. Its a contactless reusable card for use on all types of public transport: metro, buses, trolleybuses and trams inside Moscow. The Troika card itself costs 50 rubles ($0.79), and you can replenish it for any amount. One trip by public transport costs 38 rubles ($0.60).

It's nice that when you return home, the card "Troika" can be handed over to the cashier and get 50 rubles back.

We hope that your first hour of stay in Moscow will be comfortable!

Welcome!

Source: "Ищейка фейлов"