 St Basil's Cathedral, Moscow Photo courtesy of Tony Willis |
UK to Russia by train in 48 hours...
Of course, doesn't everyone go there by train? It's easy, safe & comfortable to travel from London to Moscow by train in just over 48 hours. Just take an afternoon Eurostar to Paris and board the Paris-Moscow Express, this runs once a week all year round. It's the civilised way to reach Russia! Or travel more cheaply via Berlin, Warsaw or Kyiv, it's all explained on this page with times, fares & how to buy tickets...
IMPORTANT UPDATE 2025: All international trains to/from Moscow & Russia remain suspended until further notice, originally due to covid-19 and now due to sanctions and the war in Ukraine. No trains at all now cross the Poland/Belarus or Finland/Russia border. This page is not being updated, it shows travel as it used to be pre-pandemic.
The Foreign Office currently advises against all travel to Russia because of the war between Russia & Ukraine, see www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/russia.
Train times, fares & tickets
Important update
on travel to Russia via Belarus
Useful country information:
dial code, currency...
Hotels & accommodation in Russia
Holidays & tours to Russia by train not plane
Buy train tickets
within Russia online
Information on other pages
Starting from other UK towns & cities
Train travel within Russia - a beginner's
guide
Trans-Siberian Railway to China &
Japan
Moscow & St Petersburg to
Helsinki by train
Moscow & St Petersburg to Tallinn by train
Moscow & St Petersburg to Riga by train
European train travel - general
information
Route map: UK to Russia by train
London to Moscow by train is a comfortable 1,924 miles (3,097 km) via the route in dark blue.
Useful country information
What are the options for getting to Moscow?
There are a range of good options for travel from London to Moscow by train:
Option 1, London to Moscow via the daily Warsaw-Moscow sleeper: The cheapest option. Routed via Belarus.
Option 2, London to Moscow via the weekly Paris-Moscow Express: The most glamorous & comfortable option, once a week all year. Routed via Belarus.
Option 3, London to Moscow via the twice-weekly Berlin-Moscow Talgo: Another classy option, twice a week all year. Routed via Belarus.
Option 4, London, East Anglia, the North & Scotland to Moscow via Amsterdam: Similar to option 1, but by ferry not Eurostar. Routed via Belarus
Option 5, London to Moscow via Kyiv: Takes an extra night, but avoids Belarus so no Belarus visa required & has daily departures. Easiest non-Belarus option.
Option 6, London to St Petersburg via Stockholm then train to Moscow. Also avoids Belarus, a scenic & comfortable route via Scandinavia.
Other routes & options including journeys via Copenhagen, Stockholm, Helsinki, Vilnius, Riga or Tallinn.
Option 1, London to Moscow via Warsaw
This option runs every day and is usually the cheapest way from London to Moscow. It takes the direct route shown in dark blue on the route map above. You might still want to consider option 2, the Paris-Moscow Express, as it's a classic experience even if it costs a bit more, or option 3 via the new Berlin-Moscow Strizh, also a very classy experience. If you want to avoid having to get a Belarus transit visa, consider option 5 via Kyiv.
London ► Moscow
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Day 1, travel from London to Berlin using any of the options shown on the London to Germany page. For example...
Leave London St Pancras at 09:01 by Eurostar, change at Brussels Midi & Cologne Hbf onto high-speed ICE trains arriving Berlin Hbf 19:08.
Leave London St Pancras at 11:04 by Eurostar, change at Brussels Midi & Cologne Hbf onto high-speed ICE trains arriving Berlin Hbf 21:09.
Eurostar has a cafe-bar, ICE trains have a restaurant car, all these trains have power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.
Stay overnight in Berlin. Top choice here is the InterCity Hotel Berlin Hbf (my favourite), only 200m from Berlin Hbf's main entrance, relatively inexpensive with great reviews, or if you're in the money, the excellent 5-star Steigenberger Hotel just outside the station. If you're on a budget, the cheaper 3-star Motel One Berlin-Hbf is behind the station or use www.hostelworld.com. Of course, if you really want to push the boat out, the famous Hotel Adlon Kempinski Berlin is next to the Brandenburg Gate just 17 minutes walk away.
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Day 2, travel from Berlin to Warsaw by EuroCity train, leaving Berlin Hbf at 09:38 every day arriving Warsaw Centralna at 15:11.
The Berlin-Warsaw EuroCity trains are comfortable air-conditioned trains with restaurant car serving drinks, snacks and full meals. Treat yourself to lunch and a beer or two in the restaurant. Warsaw Centralna station & city information. Map of Warsaw showing station location.
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Day 2, travel from Warsaw to Moscow by sleeping-car, leaving Warsaw Centralna at 19:15 daily and arriving Moscow Belorussky at 16:58 (16:00 from late March to late October as Russia has no daylight saving time). Check times with Russian Railways at www.rzd.ru.
This train was suspended due to covid-19 and remains suspended due to sanctions...
This is an impressive modern Austrian-built sleeping-car with 4-berth compartments built in 2014, see photos of this type of sleeper here & see panorama photo inside one of these modern sleepers. Each compartment can be sold as 1st class 1-berth, 1st class 2-berth or 2nd class 4-berth. The sleeping-car comes from Prague. A Russian restaurant car is attached between Brest (on the Polish/Belarus border) & Moscow. This train crosses Belarus, so you will need a Belarus transit visa, also see this update on reaching Russia via Belarus.
Russian track gauge is 5', but most of Europe (including the UK) is 4' 8½", so at Brest on the Belarus frontier the sleeping-car is into a shed, and jacked up to have its bogies (wheelsets) changed. You remain on board while this is done, quite an experience. Once in Russia, the scenery is rolling hills, birch tree forests, and villages of small wooden houses. Approaching Moscow, you may catch a glimpse of the plaques on the station building marked '1812' and '1942' as the train passes through the small station of historic Borodino... Map of Moscow showing Belorussky station.
Moscow ► London
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Day 1, travel from Moscow to Warsaw by direct sleeping-car, leaving Moscow Belorussky at 14:15 every day (13:14 from late March to late October as Russia has no daylight saving time) arriving Warsaw Centralna at 08:45 next morning. Check times at the Russian Railways website www.rzd.ru.
This train was suspended due to covid-19 and remains suspended due to sanctions...
This is an impressive modern Austrian-built sleeping-car with 4-berth compartments built in 2014, see photos of this type of sleeper here & see panorama photo inside one of these modern sleepers. Each compartment can be sold as 1st class 1-berth, 1st class 2-berth or 2nd class 4-berth. The sleeping-car goes through to Prague. A Russian restaurant car is attached between Moscow & Brest on the Belarus/Poland border. This train crosses Belarus, so you will need a Belarus transit visa. Warsaw Centralna station & city information. Map of Warsaw.
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Day 2, travel from Warsaw to Berlin by Warsaw-Berlin EuroCity train, leaving Warsaw Centralna daily at 12:33 arriving Berlin Hbf at 18:16.
Alternatively, a later train leaves Warsaw Centralna at 16:34 daily except Saturdays arriving Berlin Hbf at 22:16.
The Warsaw-Berlin EuroCity trains are comfortable air-conditioned trains with a trolley refreshment service and a restaurant car serving drinks, snacks and full meals. Treat yourself to a meal in the restaurant: Three courses, a beer and a coffee only come to around 11.
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Stay overnight in Berlin. Top choice here is the InterCity Hotel Berlin Hbf (my favourite), only 200m from Berlin Hbf's main entrance, relatively inexpensive with great reviews, or if you're in the money, the excellent 5-star Steigenberger Hotel just outside the station. If you're on a budget, the cheaper 3-star Motel One Berlin-Hbf is behind the station or use www.hostelworld.com. Of course, if you really want to push the boat out, the famous Hotel Adlon Kempinski Berlin is next to the Brandenburg Gate just 17 minutes walk away.
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Day 2, travel from Berlin to London using any service shown on the London to Germany page. For example:
Leave Berlin Hbf at 06:46, change at Cologne Hbf & Brussels Midi, arriving London St Pancras at 17:00.
Leave Berlin Hbf at 10:46, change at Cologne Hbf & Brussels Midi, arriving London St Pancras at 19:57.
Eurostar has a cafe-bar, ICE trains have a restaurant car, all these trains have power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.
How much does it cost?
How to buy tickets
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Step 1, book your London-Berlin tickets online following the step by step instructions here.
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Step 2, now book your Berlin to Warsaw ticket, using the German Railways website int.bahn.de. You print your own ticket, although eastbound tickets from Warsaw to Berlin need to be sent by post for a small fee to any address worldwide.
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Step 3, now book the Warsaw to Moscow sleeper train, using one of these 3 sites...
a) You can book it with no booking fees at the Russian Railways website www.rzd.ru. It's a little fiddly, and doesn't always accept every overseas credit card, but does work with many payment cards,
b) You can book it easily in plain English using the Real Russia online booking system here with a mark-up, tickets sent to any address worldwide.
c) You can order tickets online from reliable Polish ticketing agency Polrail at http://booking.polrail.com with tickets collected in Warsaw or (at extra charge) shipped to any address worldwide.
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If you need train tickets within Russia, for example Moscow to St Petersburg, click here.
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Don't forget to arrange your Russian visa & Belarus transit visa. See update on travelling to Russia through Belarus
How to buy tickets by phone
You can buy tickets just by picking up the phone, with either...
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International Rail on 0844 248 248 3, lines open 09:00-17:00 Monday-Friday. Overseas callers call +44 844 2482483. International Rail are equipped with both the French and German rail ticketing systems, so can offer the best prices all the trains between London and Prague. They charge a £10 booking fee for bookings under £100, £20 for £100-£300, £30 above £300. In many cases tickets can be emailed to you as e-tickets, so there's no postage fee or delay.
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Deutsche Bahn's English-speaking telesales line on 00 49 (0)30 311 68 29 04, lines open 08:30-20:00 Monday-Friday, 09:00-13:00 Saturday & Sunday UK time, 1.5% fee for phone bookings. However, their staff aren't always as familiar with more exotic bookings like this, so make sure you are clear about exactly which trains you want to book before calling.
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Let Tailor Made Rail arrange it as a package...
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This is the most hassle-free way to arrange a trip to Russia by train. Tailor Made Rail's suggested tour package from London to Moscow & St Petersburg is at www.tailormaderail.com/itinerary/moscow-and-st-petersburg, this can be customised your own requirements, one-way or round trip. As it's a package, they'll take care of you if anything happens to one part of the trip, for example, a national strike. They're TTA-protected - like ATOL, but not only for agencies that sell air travel.
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Call their dedicated seat61 phone line 020 3778 1461 and quote seat 61 when booking. From outside the UK call +44 20 3778 1461. Lines open 09:00-17:30 Monday-Friday.
What's the journey like?
1. London to Brussels by Eurostar
Eurostar trains link London & Brussels in just 2 hours, travelling at up to 300 km/h (186 mph). There are two bar cars, power sockets at all seats and free WiFi. Plus and Premier fares include a light meal with wine (or breakfast, on departures before 11:00). There's a 30-minute minimum check-in as all border formalities are carried out before you board the train. More information about Eurostar including check-in procedure. St Pancras station guide. Brussels Midi station guide.
2. Brussels to Cologne by ICE3
Germany's superb ICEs have a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi. In 1st class, restaurant orders are taken at your seat. 50 minutes after leaving Brussels the ICE calls at Liθge, where you can admire the impressive station designed by celebrity architect Santiago Calatrava. As you approach Cologne Hbf you'll see the twin towers of Cologne Cathedral on the right, next to the station. More information about ICE3. Brussels Midi station guide. Cologne Hbf station guide.
An ICE3neo at Brussels Midi with restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi. More about ICE trains. Photo above courtesy of Christian Hunt.
3. Cologne to Berlin by ICE2
ICE2 trains have a restaurant car, bar car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi. In 1st class, bistro orders are taken at your seat. Immediately after leaving Cologne Hbf, the train crosses the Hohenzollern bridge over the Rhine. It passes through the industrial Ruhr via Wuppertal & Hamm. After leaving Hannover, the train passes non-stop through Wolfsburg - look out for the original Volkswagen factory on the left, built in 1938. The train then travels at up to 280 km/h (174 mph) on the high-speed line to Berlin Hbf, where it arrives at the low-level platforms. More information about ICE2. Cologne Hbf station guide. Berlin Hbf station guide.
4. Berlin to Warsaw by EuroCity train
These comfortable air-conditioned trains have a restaurant car. See the Berlin-Warsaw EuroCity page for more photos, tips & information.
5. Warsaw to Moscow by sleeper train
The Warsaw-Moscow train starts in Prague, and uses excellent Austrian-built air-conditioned sleeping-cars owned by Russian Railways, with compartments which can be used as either 1st class 1-berth, 1st class 2-berth with two lower berths or 2nd class 4-berth with all four berths in use. There are toilets and a nice hot shower at the end of the corridor. See panorama photo inside one of the new Russian sleepers.
Don't forget your visas...
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After booking, don't forget to arrange your Russian visa & Belarus transit visa.
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If you need train tickets within Russia, for example Moscow to St Petersburg, click here.
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Buy a special add-on ticket from almost any station in Britain to London International (St Pancras)
Option 2, using the Paris-Moscow Express
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The Paris-Moscow Express. This is a carriage destination board... Courtesy of www.discoverbyrail.com. |
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On the Paris-Moscow sleeper, the china & serviette stand are proudly branded Paris-Moscow! Courtesy of John Delikanakis |
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This is the most glamorous and comfortable way to reach Russia! It's the option I'd choose, at least if its weekly schedule suited me. A direct train run entirely by Russian Railways (RZD) links Paris with Moscow once a week all year round. It's the safe, comfortable and civilised way to travel to Moscow, with a restaurant car throughout the journey and the option of deluxe VIP sleepers with en suite toilet & shower as well as modern air-conditioned 2 & 4 berth sleepers with washbasin and a nice hot shower at the end of the corridor. On the route map above, this option takes the route shown in light blue via Paris as far as Berlin, then the direct route to Moscow shown in dark blue, a total of 3,483 km or about 2,164 miles from Paris to Moscow, making it the second longest direct passenger train in Europe - the longest being another RZD train, their weekly Nice-Moscow Express. See the Paris-Moscow Express page for more information.
London & Paris ► Moscow
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Day 1, travel from London to Paris by Eurostar leaving London St Pancras at 12:24 arriving Paris Gare du Nord at 15:47. That allows plenty of time, although it's just an easy 10-minute walk to the Gare de l'Est.
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Day 1, travel from Paris to Moscow on the Paris-Moscow Express.
It runs once a week all year round, leaving Paris every Thursday.
This train was suspended due to covid-19 and remains suspended due to sanctions
It leaves Paris Gare de l'Est at 18:58 and arrives Moscow Belorussky two nights later at 10:58 (late March to late October) or 11:44 (outside those dates), meaning day 3 from London & Paris.
This train crosses Belarus, so you will need a Belarus transit visa, and see this update on reaching Russia via Belarus. Map of Moscow showing Belorussky station.
Moscow ► Paris & London
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Day 1: Travel from Moscow to Paris on the Moscow-Paris Express.
It runs once a week all year round, leaving Moscow every Tuesday.
This train was suspended due to covid-19 and remains suspended due to sanctions...
It leaves Moscow Belorussky at 17:14 (late March to late October) or 18:17 (outside those dates) and arrives Paris Gare de l'Est two nights later at 09:40 on day 3.
This train crosses Belarus, so you will need a Belarus transit visa. Map of Moscow showing Belorussky station.
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Day 3, travel from Paris to London by Eurostar, leaving Paris Gare du Nord at 11:03 and arriving London St Pancras at 12:30.
How much does it cost?
Returns are twice the one-way fare. Children under 12 half price.
Berths are sold individually, prices are for one person in one bed. So if you book (say) one second class ticket you will travel in a 4-bed sleeper sharing with 3 other passengers of the same sex. There is no need to pay for sole occupancy unless you want to!
How to buy tickets
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Step 1, book the Paris-Moscow Express. There are several ways to book tickets on this train, each with pros & cons. I recommend browsing these 5 methods to see which is best for you. Feedback would be appreciated if you book this train, however you book.
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Method 1, direct from the Russian Railways website www.rzd.ru with print-your-own e-tickets.
This is a bit fiddly, but it does work as long as it accepts your payment card at the end. It's normally the cheapest way to buy tickets as there are no added fees or mark-up.
Anyone from any country can use www.rzd.ru with print-at-home tickets and prices shown in rubles. It normally accepts overseas payment cards (it accepts mine), but is sometimes fussy with non-Russian cards, give it a try and see if it accepts yours. RZD.ru allegedly won't accept US-issued credit cards, if your card is rejected simply use Real Russia instead as in Method 2 below.
On rzd.ru, 2-cl = 2/4 = 2nd class 4-berth = one bed in a shared 4-bed sleeper. 1-cl = 1/2 = 1st class 2-berth = one bed in a shared 2-bed sleeper. 1-cl 1/1 = 1st class 1-berth = sole occupancy of a 1st class 2-bed sleeper. De Luxe = VIP sleeper with shower & toilet, which is always sole occupancy whether you book one person or two. You even get a chance to select a specific berth or berths.
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Method 2, book with Real Russia: This is easy, in plain English with UK-based after-sales service and all overseas payment cards accepted no problem. Just accept that you'll be paying a higher fare as it includes an agency mark-up over the Russian Railways price.
To book, use the Real Russia booking form at top right on the Train Travel in Russia page. Click 'advanced search - type city name' and entering Paris in France to Moscow in Russia. Real Russia connects to the Russian Railways ticketing system which holds all the berths and accommodation types. You can be emailed a print-at-home e-ticket, wherever you live.
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Method 3: You can sometimes book the Paris-Moscow train online at www.raileurope.com in plain English with good UK-based after-sales service and no payment card problems. If it finds this train, it's the easiest way to book, at close to the Russian Railways price with just a small booking fee.
Booking tips: Booking usually opens 90 days before departure, sometimes less. Obviously, make sure you're searching on a day of the week when the direct train operates. Sleepers 'with shower' means you are selecting the luxury VIP deluxe sleeper with toilet & shower. Update: Check fare conditions carefully - do not buy from Raileurope.com if it says Birthday fare, unless it's your birthday +/-7 days from departure date.
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Method 4: You can sometimes book this train at the French Railways website www.sncf-connect.com with tickets collected from any French station if your journey starts in Paris, or sent to address in your home country if it doesn't. Again, if this doesn't work, try another method.
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Step 2, book your Eurostar at www.eurostar.com with print-your-own tickets.
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Step 3, don't forget to arrange your Russian visa & Belarus transit visa.
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See this update on travelling to Russia through Belarus - there appears to be no problem
How to buy tickets by phone...
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You can book the Paris-Moscow Express by phone with Deutsche Bahn's English-speaking telesales line on 00 49 (0)30 311 68 29 04, lines open 08:30-20:00 Monday-Friday, 09:00-13:00 Saturday & Sunday UK time, 1.5% fee for phone bookings. If you are making a return journey or a one-way trip inbound from Moscow, please read the section above about booking westbound trains from Moscow to London, as the same may apply to the Paris-Moscow Express. Don't forget to arrange your Russian visa and Belarus transit visa.
What's the journey like?
1. London to Paris by Eurostar
Eurostar trains link London & Paris in 2h20, travelling at up to 300 km/h (186 mph). There are two bar cars, power sockets at all seats and free WiFi. Plus and Premier fares include a light meal with wine (or breakfast, on departures before 11:00). There's a 30-minute minimum check-in as all border formalities are carried out before you board the train. More information about Eurostar including check-in procedure. St Pancras station guide. Gare du Nord station guide.
2. Paris to Moscow: See Paris-Moscow Express guide
Don't forget your visas
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After booking, don't forget to arrange your Russian visa & Belarus transit visa.
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If you need train tickets within Russia, for example Moscow to St Petersburg, click here.
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Buy a special add-on ticket from almost any station in Britain to London International (St Pancras)
Option 3, the Berlin-Moscow Swift
Russian Railways introduced a twice-weekly sleeper train between Berlin and Moscow in December 2016. Branded Strizh (Swift) by the Russians, it's a little articulated Spanish Talgo train featuring a restaurant car and cosy sleepers, some with en suite shower & toilet. Like the Paris-Moscow option it's a classy option, and faster too: It cuts 4 hours off the journey time as the Talgo has axles which adjust in minutes from European standard gauge to 5' Russian gauge, without the need for hours in a shed being jacked up. If you get any photos of this train inside or out, please let me know!
London ► Moscow
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Day 1, travel from London to Brussels on any evening Eurostar you like.
The last Eurostar currently leaves London St Pancras at 18:04 Mondays-Fridays & Sundays arriving Brussels Midi at 21:05, or at 15:04 on Saturdays arriving 18:05, but by all means travel earlier for a pleasant evening in Brussels. Check times at www.eurostar.com.
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Stay overnight in Brussels. I recommend the excellent Pullman Hotel Brussels Midi which is an integral part of Brussels Midi station itself, or the inexpensive Ibis Brussels Midi just across the road.
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Day 2, travel from Brussels to Berlin, leaving Brussels Midi by ICE3 train at 08:23, changing at Cologne Hbf & arriving Berlin Hbf at 15:10.
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Day 2, travel from Berlin to Moscow by direct Russian sleeper train, leaving Berlin Hbf at 20:08 on Mondays & Saturdays, arriving at Moscow Belorussky at 21:24 next day (day 3 from London). It arrives 20:43 from late March to late October as Russia has no daylight saving time.
This train was suspended due to covid-19 and remains suspended due to sanctions...
This is an articulated Spanish-built Talgo train branded Strizh (Russian for swift). It has ordinary seats and sleeping-cars with 2nd class 4-berth compartments, 1st class 1 or 2 berth compartments with washbasin and deluxe 1 or 2 berth compartments with en suite shower & toilet. There's a restaurant & bistro car. Map of Moscow showing Kurskiy station.
Russian track gauge is 5', but most of Europe (including the UK) is 4' 8½", so at Brest on the Belarus frontier the train runs through a gauge-changing shed and the axles automatically adjust to the new gauge. Once in Russia, the scenery is rolling hills, birch tree forests, and villages of small wooden houses. Approaching Moscow, you may glimpse the plaques on the station building marked '1812' and '1942' as the train passes through the small station of historic Borodino...
This train crosses Belarus, so you will need a Belarus transit visa, also see this update on reaching Russia via Belarus.
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Stopover in Berlin? I have shown the fastest practicable journey here, assuming no stopovers. But by all means leave London in the morning of day 1 rather than the evening and travel from London to Berlin in a single day by high-speed train using any of the options shown in the London to Berlin section on the Germany page. You'd then have a 24h stopover in fabulous Berlin. Consider the 3-star Meininger Hotel is ideal as it's right next to Berlin Hauptbahnhof and a 10-minute walk from the Reichstag or a 15-minute walk from the Brandenburg Gate, it's inexpensive and gets good reviews. If you want to push the boat out, the famous Hotel Adlon Kempinski Berlin is right next to the Brandenburg Gate. Alternatively, you could leave London in the morning or even afternoon of day 1 and travel to Cologne, staying overnight in Cologne instead of Brussels. There are so many possibilities, what you do is up to you...
Moscow ► London
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Day 1, travel from Moscow to Berlin by direct Russian sleeper train, which runs on Fridays & Sundays. It leaves Moscow's Belorussky station at 08:57 from late March to late October, 09:56 at other times of year, arriving Berlin Hbf at 06:46 next morning (day 2).
This train was suspended due to covid-19 and remains suspended due to sanctions...
This train is an articulated Spanish-built Talgo train branded Strizh (swift). It has ordinary seats and sleeping-cars with 2nd class 4-berth compartments, 1st class 1 or 2 berth compartments with washbasin and deluxe 1 or 2 berth compartments with en suite shower & toilet. There's also a restaurant & bistro car. Map of Moscow showing Kurskiy station.
Travelling across Russia, the scenery is rolling hills, birch tree forests, and villages of small wooden houses. An hour or so out of Moscow you can glimpse the plaques on the station building marked '1812' and '1942' as the train passes through the small station of historic Borodino... Russian track gauge is 5', but most of Europe (including the UK) is 4' 8½", so at Brest on the Polish frontier the train runs through a gauge-changing shed and the axles automatically adjust to the European standard gauge.
This train crosses Belarus, so you will need a Belarus transit visa.
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Day 2, travel from Berlin to London in a single day by high-speed train, leaving Berlin Hbf at 10:46 by ICE2 train, changing at Cologne Hbf onto an ICE3 train to Brussels Midi, then taking a Eurostar to London St Pancras arriving at 19:57.
How much does it cost?
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London to Brussels by Eurostar starts at £52 one-way or £78 return in Standard, £97 one-way, £140 return in Plus (1st class).
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Brussels to Berlin starts at 27.90 each way in 2nd class, 69.90 each way in 1st class.
Berlin to Moscow costs around 13,000 rubles (181) with a bed in a 4-berth compartment, 18,000 rubles (251) with bed in a 1st class 2-berth compartment.
How to buy tickets
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Step 1, book your London-Berlin tickets online following the step by step instructions here.
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Step 2, book the Berlin to Moscow train. You can book it in either direction at the Russian Railways site www.rzd.ru. It's a little fiddly at first, but it usually works, and you'll get a print-at-home ticket.
If you have any problems with rzd.ru, especially at the payment stage, you can easily book the Berlin-Moscow Talgo train online using the Real Russia online booking system here with a small mark-up, tickets sent to any address worldwide
What's the journey like?
1. London to Brussels by Eurostar
Eurostar trains link London & Brussels in just 2 hours, travelling at up to 300 km/h (186 mph). There are two bar cars, power sockets at all seats and free WiFi. Plus and Premier fares include a light meal with wine (or breakfast, on departures before 11:00). There's a 30-minute minimum check-in as all border formalities are carried out before you board the train. More information about Eurostar including check-in procedure. St Pancras station guide. Brussels Midi station guide.
2. Brussels to Cologne by ICE3
Germany's superb ICEs have a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi. In 1st class, food & drink orders are taken at your seat. 50 minutes after leaving Brussels the ICE calls at Liθge, where you can admire the impressive station designed by celebrity architect Santiago Calatrava. As you approach Cologne Hbf you'll see the twin towers of Cologne Cathedral on the right, next to the station. More information about ICE3. Brussels Midi station guide. Cologne Hbf station guide.
An ICE3neo at Brussels Midi with restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi. More about ICE trains. Photo above courtesy of Christian Hunt.
3. Cologne to Berlin by ICE2
ICE2 trains have a restaurant car, bar car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi. In 1st class, bistro orders are taken at your seat. Immediately after leaving Cologne Hbf, the train crosses the Hohenzollern bridge over the Rhine. It passes through the industrial Ruhr via Wuppertal & Hamm. After leaving Hannover, the train passes non-stop through Wolfsburg - look out for the original Volkswagen factory on the left, built in 1938. The train then travels at up to 280 km/h (174 mph) on the high-speed line to Berlin Hbf, where it arrives at the low-level platforms. More information about ICE2. Cologne Hbf station guide. Berlin Hbf station guide.
4. Berlin to Moscow by Strizh sleeper train
The Strizh sleeper train from Berlin to Moscow is a Spanish-built articulated Talgo train run by Russian Railways (RZD). Each car is relatively small, with just one axle between each pair of cars. The axles adjust automatically from standard European gauge (4' 8½") to Russian 5' gauge at Brest, as the train passes slowly through a special gauge-changing shed at Brest on the Polish/Belarus border.
Don't forget your visas
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Don't forget to arrange your Russian visa & Belarus transit visa.
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See this update on travelling to Russia through Belarus - there appears to be no problem.
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If you need train tickets within Russia, for example Moscow to St Petersburg, click here.
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Buy a special add-on ticket from almost any station in Britain to London International (St Pancras)
Option 4, by ferry from Harwich
There are some good reasons why you might prefer a ferry alternative. For example, if there are problems affecting Eurostar or the Channel Tunnel, or if all the cheap Eurostar tickets have sold out, or if you live in the North of England, Scotland or East Anglia and want to by-pass London. Or you might simply prefer a relaxing journey, cruising overnight on the Stena Line superferry to Hoek van Holland in a cosy en suite cabin with shower, toilet, satellite TV, have lunch in Amsterdam, then take comfortable trains to Warsaw and the daily sleeper train to Moscow. You can buy special Rail & Sail tickets from London or any Abellio Greater Anglia rail station to Amsterdam using Stena Line's Harwich-Hoek ferry, complete with a private cabin.
If you live in the North of England or Scotland, DFDS Seaways run an excellent daily overnight cruise ferry from Newcastle to IJmuiden (near Amsterdam), and P&O Ferries run a daily overnight cruise ferry from Hull to Rotterdam Europoort with bus/train connections to Amsterdam. So catch the overnight cruise ferry to Holland, spend a day exploring Amsterdam, then take the train to Russia!
London & Harwich ► Moscow
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Day 1, travel from London to Amsterdam overnight by Stena Line Rail & Sail.
You leave London Liverpool Street at 19:36 Mondays-Fridays, 19:04 Saturdays or 20:00 Sundays by direct train to Harwich International.
You leave Cambridge at 19:47 Mondays-Saturdays or 19:45 on Sundays by direct train to Harwich International.
At Harwich the ferry terminal is integrated with the station. You check in for the luxurious overnight Stena Line superferry to Hoek van Holland, sailing at 23:00 and arriving at Hoek at 08:00 next morning. All passengers get a comfortable private cabin with shower, toilet & satellite TV and there's free WiFi in the lounges, bars & restaurants on 9 deck.
On arrival at Hoek van Holland you walk down the gangway, through passport control and out of the ferry terminal straight onto the station. Take the frequent metro train to Schiedam Centrum and change onto an InterCity train to Amsterdam Centraal, arriving 10:25.
Cheap combined train & ferry tickets are offered on this route from London or any Greater Anglia rail station to Hoek van Holland, see the Stena Line Rail & Sail page for full details of times, fares and how to buy tickets.
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Coming from the North of England or Scotland? Take a train to either Hull or Newcastle, whichever is most convenient for where you live. Transfer to the P&O overnight cruise ferry from Hull to Rotterdam or the DFDS Seaways cruise ferry from Newcastle to IJmuiden, the port of Amsterdam. Both ferries have bars, restaurants & comfortable en suite cabins, arriving next morning. For details of timetables, fares, station to port transfer arrangements & how to buy tickets for travel to Amsterdam via each of these ferry routes, see the UK-Netherlands page.
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Day 2, travel from Amsterdam to Berlin by Intercity train leaving Amsterdam Centraal at 15:00 and arriving Berlin Hbf at 21:22.
Or take an earlier train and enjoy an evening in Berlin, for example the 11:00 from Amsterdam arrives 17:22, the 13:00 arrives 19:22. The Reichstag is only 10 minutes walk from Berlin Hbf, the Brandenburg Gate just 15 minutes walk.
Stay overnight in Berlin. Top choice here is the InterCity Hotel Berlin Hbf (my favourite), only 200m from Berlin Hbf's main entrance, relatively inexpensive with great reviews, or if you're in the money, the excellent 5-star Steigenberger Hotel just outside the station. If you're on a budget, the cheaper 3-star Motel One Berlin-Hbf is behind the station or use www.hostelworld.com. Of course, if you really want to push the boat out, the famous Hotel Adlon Kempinski Berlin is next to the Brandenburg Gate just 17 minutes walk away.
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Day 3, travel from Berlin to Warsaw by EuroCity train, leaving Berlin Hbf at 09:38, arriving Warsaw Centralna 15:11.
The Berlin-Warsaw EuroCity trains are comfortable air-conditioned trains with a restaurant car serving drinks, snacks and meals. Warsaw Centralna station & city information.
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Day 3, travel from Warsaw to Moscow by sleeper train, leaving Warsaw Centralna at 19:15 every day arriving Moscow Belorussky at 16:58 (one hour earlier late March to late October) (day 4 from London).
This train was suspended due to covid-19 and remains suspended due to sanctions...
This is a comfortable modern Russian sleeping-car with 1st class 1 & 2-berth compartments & 2nd class 4-berth compartments with washbasin, there's a shower at the end of the corridor. A Russian restaurant car is attached between Brest (just across the Belarus border) and Moscow. Next morning, as the train passes through the small station of Borodino, look out for the plaques on the station building marked '1812' and '1942'.
This train crosses Belarus, so you will need a Belarus transit visa, also see this update on reaching Russia via Belarus. Map of Warsaw showing Centralna & Gdanska stations. Map of Moscow showing Belorussky station.
Moscow ► Harwich & London
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Day 1, travel from Moscow to Warsaw by sleeper train, leaving Moscow Belorussky at 14:15 (one hour earlier from late March to late October) every day and arriving Warsaw Centralna at 08:45 next morning (day 2).
This train was suspended due to covid-19 and remains suspended due to sanctions...
This is a comfortable modern Russian sleeping-car with 1st class 1 & 2-berth compartments & 2nd class 4-berth compartments with washbasin, there's a shower at the end of the corridor. A Russian restaurant car is attached between Moscow and Brest (on the Polish border) for dinner. Warsaw Centralna station & city information. This train crosses Belarus, so you will need a Belarus transit visa.
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Day 2, travel from Warsaw to Berlin by EuroCity train, leaving Warsaw Centralna at 12:33 arriving Berlin Hbf at 18:16.
A restaurant car is available. If you'd like more time in Warsaw, daily except Saturdays you can leave Warsaw Centralna at 16:34 and arrive Berlin Hbf at 22:16.
Stay overnight in Berlin. Top choice here is the InterCity Hotel Berlin Hbf (my favourite), only 200m from Berlin Hbf's main entrance, relatively inexpensive with great reviews, or if you're in the money, the excellent 5-star Steigenberger Hotel just outside the station. If you're on a budget, the cheaper 3-star Motel One Berlin-Hbf is behind the station or use www.hostelworld.com. Of course, if you really want to push the boat out, the famous Hotel Adlon Kempinski Berlin is next to the Brandenburg Gate just 17 minutes walk away.
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Day 2, travel from Berlin to Amsterdam by Intercity train, leaving Berlin Hbf at 08:34 and arriving Amsterdam Centraal at 15:00. There's another at 10:34 arriving 17:00.
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Day 3, travel from Amsterdam to London overnight by Stena Line Rail & Sail.
You leave Amsterdam Centraal at 18:35 by train to Schiedam Centrum, changing onto the frequent metro to Hoek Van Holland Haven. Sail overnight on the luxury Stena Line superferry, sailing at 22:00 and arriving in Harwich at 06:30. You sleep in a comfortable private cabin with shower & toilet, satellite TV and there's free WiFi in the lounges, bars & restaurants on 9 deck. A connecting train will get you to London at around 08:55 (day 4 from Moscow). Special SailRail tickets are offered on this route from Hoek van Holland to London or any Abellio Greater Anglia rail station, covering ferry and train, see the Stena Line Rail & Sail page for full details of times, fares and how to buy tickets.
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Heading for the North of England or Scotland? Instead of using the Hoek van Holland-Harwich route, transfer from Amsterdam Centraal by bus or train+bus to the relevant ferry terminal and sail overnight by cruise ferry either with P&O Ferries from Rotterdam Europoort to Hull or with DFDS Seaways from Amsterdam to Newcastle, whichever is most convenient for where you live. Next morning (day 4) transfer to the station and take a train home. For full details of train & ferry times, port transfer arrangements and how to buy tickets for each of these routes, see the Hull-Rotterdam page or the Newcastle-Amsterdam page.
How much does it cost?
How to buy tickets
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Step 1, buy a Rail & Sail ticket from London to Amsterdam online as shown on the London to Amsterdam page. One ticket covers the whole journey, train and ferry then Dutch train.
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For journeys via P&O Hull-Rotterdam or DFDS Seaways Newcastle-Amsterdam, first buy your ferry ticket online at www.dfds.com (Newcastle-Amsterdam) or www.poferries.com (Hull-Rotterdam). Then check train fares and buy a ticket online as shown on the UK page or using www.nationalrail.co.uk
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Step 2, book the ICE train from Amsterdam to Berlin at the German Railways website int.bahn.de. Look for the direct IC train with 0 changes in the search results. Booking opens 90 days before departure and you print your own ticket.
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Step 3, book the Berlin-Warsaw EuroCity train from Berlin to Warsaw also at int.bahn.de. Booking opens 90 days before departure, although westbound trains from Warsaw to Berlin may open only 60 days before departure. Simply look for the direct EC (EuroCity) trains with 0 changes in the search results. You print out your own ticket.
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Step 4, now book the Warsaw to Moscow sleeper train, using one of these 3 sites...
a) You can book it with no booking fee at the Russian Railways website www.rzd.ru. It's a little fiddly, and doesn't always accept every overseas credit card, but does work with many payment cards,
b) You can book it easily in plain English using the Real Russia online booking system here with a mark-up, tickets sent to any address worldwide.
c) You can order tickets online from reliable Polish ticketing agency Polrail at http://booking.polrail.com with tickets collected in Warsaw or (at extra charge) shipped to any address worldwide.
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If you need train tickets within Russia, for example Moscow to St Petersburg, click here.
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Don't forget to arrange your Russian visa & Belarus transit visa. See update on travelling to Russia through Belarus
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Don't forget to arrange your Russian visa and Belarus transit visa. See update on travelling to Russia through Belarus
What's the journey like?
Step 1, London to Amsterdam by train & ferry
A train takes you from London's Liverpool Street station directly to the ferry terminal at Harwich. You walk off the train, into the terminal, get your boarding card & cabin key at the Stena Line check-in desk and walk straight onto the overnight ferry to Hoek van Holland. The superferry Stena Britannica is the largest ferry of its kind in the world. Have a late dinner in the restaurant, retire to bed in a private cabin with en suite toilet & shower and satellite TV. At Hoek van Holland, you walk off the ship, through passport control and straight onto the station for the frequent metro train to Schiedam & Rotterdam. Change at Schiedam Centrum for a Dutch Railways (NS) train to Amsterdam Centraal. The journey from London to Holland is explained in detail on the Stena Line Rail & Sail page. See the video...
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Captain's Class cabin on the Harwich-Hoek ferry with double bed, complimentary minibar with sparkling wine, tea & coffee making facilities, hairdryer. Larger photo. |
Boarding the Stena Britannica at Harwich. She's a floating hotel to Hoek van Holland, with easy rail connections on either side of the Channel. Restaurants, bars, shop, kennels, cinema. |
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Dinner before bed? |
Standard outside cabin. Larger photo. 360Ί photo. |
Step 2, Amsterdam to Berlin by Intercity train
Take a comfortable Intercity train from Amsterdam Centraal to Berlin Hbf. See the Amsterdam to Berlin InterCity page for photos, tips, and what to see along the way.
Step 3, Berlin to Warsaw by EuroCity train
These comfortable air-conditioned trains have a restaurant car. See the Berlin-Warsaw EuroCity page for more photos, tips & information.
4. Warsaw to Moscow to Russian sleeper train
The train from Warsaw to Moscow uses immaculate modern Russian air-conditioned sleeping-cars (pictured below, see also panorama photo inside one of the new Russian sleepers). The Russian cars have compartments which can be used as 1st class 1 or 2 berth or 2nd class 4 berth, shower & toilets at the end of the corridor.
Option 5, London-Moscow via Kyiv
If you want to avoid Belarus to escape the cost & bureaucracy of a Belarus transit visa and any issues crossing Belarus to reach Russia, the cheapest and easiest way to do this is to go south of Belarus through Ukraine rather than north through the Baltic states. EU & UK citizens no longer need a visa for Ukraine and the trains work much better this way than via the disjointed rail networks through the Baltic States.
The complete journey from London to Moscow takes 3 nights, assuming you don't want to stop off anywhere, as opposed to just 2 nights on the direct route via Belarus, so although you save the cost of a Belarus transit visa it takes longer. Going north of Belarus via Vilnius & Riga generally means an even longer 4 night journey, with yet more changes of train and at least one, possibly two nights in a hotel, although by all means do this if you want to see the Baltic capitals on the way to Russia.
Update 2024: For obvious reasons, this route is now out of action.
London ► Moscow
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Day 1, travel from London to Berlin using any of the options shown on the London to Germany page. For example:
Leave London St Pancras at 09:01 by Eurostar, change at Brussels Midi & Cologne Hbf onto high-speed ICE trains arriving Berlin Hbf 19:08.
Leave London St Pancras at 11:04 by Eurostar, change at Brussels Midi & Cologne Hbf onto high-speed ICE trains arriving Berlin Hbf 21:09.
Eurostar has a cafe-bar, ICE trains have a restaurant car, all these trains have power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.
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Stay overnight in Berlin. Top choice here is the InterCity Hotel Berlin Hbf (my favourite), only 200m from Berlin Hbf's main entrance, relatively inexpensive with great reviews, or if you're in the money, the excellent 5-star Steigenberger Hotel just outside the station. If you're on a budget, the cheaper 3-star Motel One Berlin-Hbf is behind the station or use www.hostelworld.com. Of course, if you really want to push the boat out, the famous Hotel Adlon Kempinski Berlin is next to the Brandenburg Gate just 17 minutes walk away.
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Day 2, travel from Berlin to Warsaw by EuroCity train, leaving Berlin Hbf at 09:38 and arriving Warsaw Centralna at 15:11.
The Berlin-Warsaw EuroCity trains are comfortable air-conditioned trains with a trolley refreshment service and a restaurant car serving drinks, snacks and full meals. Treat yourself to lunch in the restaurant car with a beer or two...
Alternatively, on Mondays-Saturdays you can take the early 05:43 Berlin-Warsaw EuroCity train arriving 11:11, which will give you an afternoon in Warsaw, see the Warsaw Centralna station & city information. A left luggage office and lockers are available. Warsaw's historic old town is a 20 minute walk from Centralna station - if you fancy a modest splurge, the celebrated Ufukiera restaurant (www.ufukiera.pl) is excellent and right on the square in the heart of Warsaw's old town. The Palace of Culture (a wedding cake style Soviet skyscraper and distinctive Warsaw landmark, www.pkin.pl) is right next to the station and has a viewing terrace on the 30th floor.
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Day 2, travel from Warsaw to Kyοv by Kyiv Express, leaving Warsaw Wschodnia at 17:49 & arriving Kyοv main station 13:12 next day.
The Kyiv Express has comfortable Ukrainian sleeping-cars with 3-berth compartments, you can book all 3 places for single or double occupancy. There may be a buffet car serving tea, coffee, beer & snacks, but it's a good idea to take your own supplies of food, water and wine or beer. Late at night, around 00:30, the train is shunted into the gauge-changing shed at Yagodin (on the Ukrainian border) and jacked up to have its wheels changed from standard European (4' 8½") gauge to Russian 5' gauge. You remain on board while this is done, an interesting experience. See Tim Richards excellent blog entry about of the Kyiv Express.
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Day 3, take an overnight sleeper train from Kyiv to Moscow...
There are several night trains and times vary by date, but for example there's usually one leaving Kyiv at 19:36 and arriving in Moscow Kievskaya station next morning at 10:13 (day 4 from London). 2-berth & 4-berth sleepers are available. Check times for your date using int.bahn.de or www.poezda.net. Incidentally, there's also a direct train from Kyiv to St Petersburg, but this passes through a small corner of Belarus, requiring a Belarus visa and so defeating the object of the exercise...
Kyiv-Moscow trains were suspended due to Covid-19, and are now cancelled - and the lines blown up - due to the war in Ukraine...
Moscow ► London
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Day 1, travel from Moscow to Kyiv by overnight train...
The best train is train 5 leaving Moscow Kievskaya station at 19:35 and arriving Kyiv at 07:02 (day 2). Other night trains are available and times vary, so check times using int.bahn.de or www.rzd.ru. 2 berth & 4 berth sleepers are available.
Kyiv-Moscow trains were suspended due to Covid-19, and are now cancelled - and the lines blown up - due to the war in Ukraine...
Spend a pleasant day exploring Kyiv...
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Day 2, travel from Kyοv to Warsaw by Kyiv Express leaving Kyοv main station at 18:48, arriving Warsaw Wschodnia at 10:06 next morning.
The Kyiv Express has comfortable Ukrainian sleeping-cars with 3-berth compartments, you can book all three berths for single or double occupancy. There may be a buffet car serving tea, coffee, beer and snacks, but it's a good idea to take your own supplies of food, water and wine or beer. Around 4am, the train is shunted into the gauge-changing shed at Yagodin (the Ukrainian border point) and jacked up to have its wheels changed from Russian 5' gauge to standard European (4' 8½") gauge. You remain in your sleeping-berth on board while this is done, an interesting experience. See Tim Richards excellent blog entry about of the Kyiv Express.
On arrival, you may have an hour or two to explore Warsaw, see the Warsaw Centralna station & city information. A left luggage office & lockers are available. Warsaw's historic old town is a 20 minute walk from Centralna station, if you fancy a modest splurge, the celebrated Ufukiera restaurant (www.ufukiera.pl) is excellent and right on the square in the heart of Warsaw's old town. The Palace of Culture (a wedding cake style Soviet skyscraper and distinctive Warsaw landmark, www.pkin.pl) is right next to the station and has a viewing terrace on the 30th floor.
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Day 3, travel from Warsaw to Berlin by EuroCity train, leaving Warsaw Centralna daily at 12:33 and arriving Berlin Hbf at 18:16. Alternatively, daily except Saturdays there's a later EuroCity train leaving Warsaw Centralna at 16:34 and arriving Berlin Hbf at 22:16, giving you more time in Warsaw.
The Warsaw-Berlin EuroCity trains are comfortable air-conditioned trains with a trolley refreshment service and a restaurant car serving drinks, snacks and full meals. Treat yourself to a meal in the restaurant: Three courses, a beer and a coffee only come to around 11.
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Stay overnight in Berlin. Top choice here is the InterCity Hotel Berlin Hbf (my favourite), only 200m from Berlin Hbf's main entrance, relatively inexpensive with great reviews, or if you're in the money, the excellent 5-star Steigenberger Hotel just outside the station. If you're on a budget, the cheaper 3-star Motel One Berlin-Hbf is behind the station or use www.hostelworld.com. Of course, if you really want to push the boat out, the famous Hotel Adlon Kempinski Berlin is next to the Brandenburg Gate just 17 minutes walk away.
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Day 4, travel from Berlin to London using any service shown on the London to Germany page. For example:
Leave Berlin Hbf at 06:46, change at Cologne Hbf & Brussels Midi, arriving London St Pancras at 17:00.
Leave Berlin Hbf at 10:46, change at Cologne Hbf & Brussels Midi, arriving London St Pancras at 19:57.
Eurostar has a cafe-bar, ICE trains have a restaurant car, all these trains have power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.
How much does it cost?
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See the London to Ukraine page for prices between London and Kyiv.
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Kyiv to Moscow costs around 92 with a bed in 4-berth kupι or 180 with a bed in a 2-berth spalny vagon, if booked online. Polrail.com charge about 95 for a bed in a 4-berth sleeper.
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There may be a reduction if you buy both the Warsaw-Kyiv and Kyiv-Moscow tickets together, Warsaw-Kyiv-Moscow becomes £146 one-way in 3-berth to Kyiv then 4-berth to Moscow.
- You'll still need a Russian visa, but you don't go through Belarus if you go this way.
How to buy tickets
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Book from London to Warsaw as shown on the Poland page. You can book this bit online if you like.
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To book Warsaw-Kyiv and Kyiv-Moscow, contact reliable Polish ticketing agency www.polrail.com. Tickets are collected in Warsaw.
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Alternatively, you can book Warsaw to Kyiv then Kyiv to Moscow at the Ukrainian Railways website https://booking.uz.gov.ua/en/, although there are only very few berths from Warsaw to Kyiv made available online, see the explanation & instructions on the London to Kyiv page. For the Kyiv to Moscow booking you should book from Kyiv to Moskva Kievskaya. You collect the Kyiv-Moscow tickets at the station in Kyiv. Feedback appreciated!
Other possible routes & options
There are several other routes worth considering, especially if you want to stop off on the way in Scandinavia, the Baltic States or Ukraine, or to avoid travelling through Belarus and so avoid the cost and hassle of getting a Belarus transit visa (although this isn't really a problem, just an expense and a bit of extra bureaucracy). All these routes take at least 3 nights compared with just 2 nights travelling on the direct route through Belarus, so the cost of an extra day or two's food and accommodation must be set against the cost of the Belarus visa for travel on a direct train to Moscow. These alternative routes tend to involve a bit more legwork to book, too. If you simply want to avoid Belarus, the quickest and easiest way to do this is really to head south via Kyiv & Ukraine, see the section above. You might not be saving much money by avoiding Belarus, but the opportunity to stop off in some fascinating places and countries makes these alternative routes worth considering.
Trains between the Baltic States and Russia were suspended due to Covid-19, and are now suspended due to sanctions...
London to Moscow via Warsaw, Vilnius & the Baltic States
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You can travel from London to Moscow via the Baltic states, avoiding Belarus, although this will take at least 2 nights longer than taking a direct train through Belarus. The simplest route was London-Warsaw-Vilnius-St Petersburg and then on to Moscow, see the London to St Petersburg section below. It avoided Belarus and gave you a day in Warsaw and a day in Vilnius. However, there are currently few or no trains between Warsaw and Vilnius so this route may involve a long all-day bus journey over this section. Now the Vilnius-St Petersburg train has been discontinued, making this route impractical unless you route via Riga as well.
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If you want to add Riga to your itinerary, you can travel from Vilnius to Riga by bus (www.eurolines.lv) or occasional train (see the Lithuania page), then take the daily overnight sleeper train from Riga to Moscow or Riga to St Petersburg, neither of which pass through Belarus. These are still running, for now at least.
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If you want to add Tallinn as well, take a bus or train onwards from Riga to Tallinn then the overnight train from Tallinn to Moscow which also by-passes Belarus, see the Trains from Estonia page.
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The online booking form below will give you train times for Vilnius-Moscow (although this train passes through Belarus), Vilnius-St Petersburg (this train doesn't pass through Belarus but may no longer be running), Vilnius-Riga, Riga-Moscow, Riga-St Petersburg & Tallinn-St Petersburg-Moscow trains (none of which pass through Belarus) and let you buy tickets for these trains online, with tickets couriered to any UK or an EU address for around £12 to £20.
London to Moscow via Copenhagen, Stockholm & Helsinki
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This is slower than the direct route, taking at least 3 nights to Moscow, though potentially only 2 nights to St Petersburg so not a bad option at all if you're heading there. It avoids Belarus and lets you see a lot of Scandinavia on the way.
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Travel from London to Hamburg by Eurostar & connecting trains on day 1 and stay overnight in Hamburg. On day 2, travel from Hamburg to Stockholm by train and stay overnight in Stockholm. Day 3, travel on the daytime ferry from Stockholm to Turku and connecting train to Helsinki. Or spend a day in Stockholm and take the direct Stockholm to Helsinki overnight ferry. All this is explained in detail on the London to Finland page.
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Once in Finland, there are several daily Allegro trains from Helsinki to St Petersburg taking just 3½ hours, or a daily overnight sleeper train from Helsinki to Moscow called the Tolstoi. Click here for times, fares & how to buy tickets for the trains from Helsinki to St Petersburg & Moscow.
London to Moscow via Copenhagen, Stockholm & Riga
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Another possibility is travelling from London to Copenhagen and on to Stockholm, then taking the overnight ferry to Riga. Direct sleeper trains then link Riga to both Moscow & St Petersburg, neither of which pass through Belarus.
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For full details of both the journey from London to Riga and the onward trains to Moscow & St Petersburg, see the London to Latvia page.
London to St Petersburg
There are several good ways to travel from the UK to St Petersburg by train (all routes currently suspended due to sanctions):
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Option 1: London to Moscow then Moscow to St Petersburg. Recommended. This is the fastest & most frequent option as it runs daily and can take as little as 2 nights if you take a daytime train to St Petersburg the same day you arrive in Moscow. However, you can stop off in Moscow for however long you want, as the Moscow-St Petersburg leg is ticketed separately. It goes via Belarus, so you'll need a Belarus visa as well as a Russian one.
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Option 2: London to Stockholm by train then new direct twice-weekly cruise ferry to St Petersburg. A useful new option!
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Other options. You could travel to Copenhagen, then Stockholm, take an overnight cruise ferry to either Tallinn or Helsinki, then a train to St Petersburg or Moscow. Slower & more complex, but much to see on the way, a holiday in itself.
Option 1: London to Moscow, then Moscow to St Petersburg
This is the fastest and most frequent option, first travelling to Moscow, then using one of the many Moscow-St Petersburg trains.
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Step 2, travel from Moscow to St Petersburg on any of the overnight trains, or on one of the new Sapsan high-speed day trains in just 3h55.
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To buy tickets, first arrange your London to Moscow tickets as shown above.
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Then book an internal Russian train between Moscow & St Petersburg using the booking form below which links to Russian rail ticketing & visa agency Real Russia, or you can use www.rzd.ru if it will accept your credit card.
Sapsan high-speed trains from Moscow to St Petersburg, in 3h55
Introduced in December 2009, the Sapsan (Peregrine Falcon) 250 km/h high-speed trains link Moscow & St Petersburg in just 3 hours 55 minutes. The initial 3 services a day have now been increased to 5 trains each way every day. The Sapsans have been very successful, with a 99% on-time performance and an average load factor of 80% (meaning each departure is on average 80% full). Built by Siemens and based on the superb German ICE, they are set to revolutionise travel between Russia's two prime cities, with additional services and faster journey times to come as the line is progressively upgraded. See the Russian railways' Sapsan video.
Traveller Ian Newberry reports: "I travelled from Moscow to St Petersburg on Sapsan train 156 leaving at 13:00. Departure was punctual and the staff greeting passengers could not have been better - they all speak English as well as Russian. The service on the train was extremely good and in business class a full 3 course meal was served with wines and spirits all included in the price of the ticket. Information was supplied through screens and announcements in English as well as Russian. The train is very comfortable and arrived 5 minutes ahead of schedule at 17.40. If one wants to avoid a night train then this is a very civilised way to travel, on a par with any equivalent TGV or ICE available in western Europe."
Overnight sleeper trains from Moscow to St Petersburg
The best Russian Railways overnight train is the famous Krasnaya Strela (Red Arrow) leaving Moscow (Leningradski Vokzal) at 23:55 daily, arriving in St Petersburg (Moskovski Vokzal) at 07:55 next morning. The Krasnaya Strela has 2-berth and 4-berth sleeping cars plus two luxury sleeping-cars with 1 & 2-bed rooms with private toilet shower and TV/DVD entertainment. The fare is about 3,280 rubles (£70 or $110) in a kupι 4-berth sleeper, 5,895 rubles (£126 or $197) spalny vagon 2-berth sleeper or 16,250 rubles (£551 or $865) luxury sleeper with private shower and toilet - although there are less swish, cheaper sleeper trains. The Krasnaya Strela has now been joined by a couple of other premium sleeper trains, train 3/4 Ekspres and train 5/6 Nicholaevsky Express. Since 2005, there's also a privately-run luxury train, the Grand Express, with fares from 3,700 rubles. Click for information & online booking for the Grand Express.
Option 2: London to St Petersburg by train to Stockholm then direct cruise ferry
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Travel from London to Stockholm by train, taking Eurostar & connecting trains from London to Hamburg on day 1, staying in Hamburg overnight, then taking trains from Hamburg to Stockholm on day 2. See the London to Sweden page for full details of train times, prices and how to buy tickets.
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Spend the night in Stockholm, find a hotel here. Spend most of the following day free in Stockholm.
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A new ferry company, St Peter Line (www.stpeterline.com), sails twice a week from Stockholm via Helsinki to St Petersburg using a luxurious cruise ferry. She sails at 19:00 on various dates, arriving St Petersburg at 09:30 two nights later, with a day to explore in Helsinki on the way. The return trip also takes 2 nights, with a day spent exploring Helsinki included. See www.stpeterline.com to check sailing schedule and prices. Other ferries on this route seem to have started up and been discontinued soon afterwards, it's hoped that this one will survive a bit longer!
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Onward trains to Moscow are explained on the train travel in Russia page.
Other options
London to St Petersburg via Stockholm & Helsinki
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If you feel like seeing a bit of Scandinavia on the way to Russia, you could travel from London to St Petersburg via Stockholm and Helsinki. This will take 3 nights / 4 days. See the Finland page for information on the journey from London to Helsinki, then click here for trains between Helsinki, St Petersburg & Moscow.
London to Minsk (Belarus)
The direct Belarusian sleeping-cars from Amsterdam & Cologne to Minsk were discontinued in December 2013. However, it's still easy to get there via Warsaw or using the Paris-Moscow express.
Option 1, via Brussels, Berlin & Warsaw
This is the cheapest option, and it runs daily.
London ► Minsk
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Day 1, travel from London to Berlin by Eurostar to Brussels, high-speed train to Cologne and ICE2 train to Berlin, using any of the several daytime options shown on the London to Germany page. For example, you can leave London St Pancras at 11:04, arriving Berlin Hbf at 21:09.
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Stay overnight in Berlin. Top choice here is the InterCity Hotel Berlin Hbf (my favourite), only 200m from Berlin Hbf's main entrance, relatively inexpensive with great reviews, or if you're in the money, the excellent 5-star Steigenberger Hotel just outside the station. If you're on a budget, the cheaper 3-star Motel One Berlin-Hbf is behind the station or use www.hostelworld.com. Of course, if you really want to push the boat out, the famous Hotel Adlon Kempinski Berlin is next to the Brandenburg Gate just 17 minutes walk away.
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Day 2, travel from Berlin to Warsaw by EuroCity train, leaving Berlin Hbf at 09:38 and arriving Warsaw Centralna at 15:11.
The Berlin-Warsaw EuroCity trains are comfortable air-conditioned trains with a trolley refreshment service and a restaurant car serving drinks, snacks and full meals. Treat yourself to a meal in the restaurant. Warsaw Centralna station & city information. Map of Warsaw showing station location.
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Day 2, travel from Warsaw to Minsk by Russian sleeper train, leaving Warsaw Centralna at 19:15 and arriving Minsk at 06:13 next morning (day 3). The sleeper train has a modern Russian sleeping-car with 4-berth compartments which can be sold as 1st class 1 or 2 berth or 2nd class 4 berth. This train is currently still suspended due to sanctions.
Minsk ► London
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Day 1, travel from Minsk to Warsaw by sleeper train, leaving Minsk at 00:10 (which is after midnight so this is actually day 2, may leave 1 hour earlier from late March to late October) and arriving in Warsaw Centralna at 08:45. The sleeper train has a modern Russian sleeping-car with 4-berth compartments which can be sold as 1st class 1 or 2 berth or 2nd class 4 berth. This train is currently still suspended due to sanctions.
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Day 2, travel from Warsaw to Berlin by Warsaw-Berlin EuroCity train, leaving Warsaw Centralna daily at 12:33 arriving Berlin Hbf at 18:16. Alternatively, a later train leaves Warsaw Centralna at 16:34 daily except Saturdays arriving Berlin Hbf at 22:16.
The Warsaw-Berlin EuroCity trains are comfortable air-conditioned trains with restaurant car serving drinks, snacks and full meals. Treat yourself to a meal in the restaurant...
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Stay overnight in Berlin. Top choice here is the InterCity Hotel Berlin Hbf (my favourite), only 200m from Berlin Hbf's main entrance, relatively inexpensive with great reviews, or if you're in the money, the excellent 5-star Steigenberger Hotel just outside the station. If you're on a budget, the cheaper 3-star Motel One Berlin-Hbf is behind the station or use www.hostelworld.com. Of course, if you really want to push the boat out, the famous Hotel Adlon Kempinski Berlin is next to the Brandenburg Gate just 17 minutes walk away.
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Day 3, travel from Berlin to London by ICE train to Cologne, high-speed train to Brussels and Eurostar to London, using any of the several daytime options shown on the London to Germany page. For example, you can leave Berlin Hbf at 06:46 arriving London at 17:00 or you can leave Berlin at 10:46 arriving London St Pancras at 19:57.
How much does it cost?
How to buy tickets
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Step 1, book the London-Cologne-Warsaw journey as explained on the London to Poland page.
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Step 2, the Warsaw to Minsk sleeper train cannot be booked online, but can easily be arranged by reliable Polish train booking agency www.polrail.com.
Option 2, using the Paris-Moscow express
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This costs a bit more, but is a very comfortable journey using the excellent Paris-Moscow express which calls at Minsk on the way. There are comfortable sleepers direct from Paris to Minsk, with restaurant car Paris-Warsaw. It runs once a week.
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See the Paris-Moscow Express page for details of the Paris-Minsk train and how to buy tickets.
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Add a connection between London and Paris at www.eurostar.com. I'd allow at least a two hours to connect in Paris to allow for any delay.
Buy Russian train tickets online
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Click the image above to buy tickets at www.realrussia.co.uk/Trains. |
You can buy tickets at www.realrussia.co.uk/Trains Which tickets can Real Russia sell? They sell tickets for any mainline train journey within Russia, Ukraine, Latvia, Estonia, Belarus, Lithuania, Kazakhstan and the other ex-Soviet states, also for international journeys to or from those countries, for example Moscow to Berlin or St Petersburg to Helsinki, and also for Russian sleeping-car services within Europe, for example Paris-Moscow, Paris-Berlin or Budapest-Sofia. Reservations officially open 60 days before departure, but Real Russia allow you to request tickets up to 180 days ahead and they will contact you for payment when the price is confirmed. Can anyone buy tickets using this system? Yes, you can buy tickets online with a credit card whether you live in the UK, USA, Canada, Australia, or wherever. How are tickets delivered? If your train is e-ticketable, an e-ticket will be emailed to you. If it's not, tickets can be collected free of charge at Real Russia's offices in Moscow or St Petersburg or they can be sent to any address worldwide. Postage to a UK or EU address costs around £12-£15. Who run this service? Is it reliable? This service is provided by Real Russia, a reputable joint UK-Russian company which has got good reports from users. Real Russia can also sort out your Russian visa. Booking tips: Look for a train marked 'Firm' if there is one. 'Firmeny' trains are the best 'quality' trains, with modern coaches and good on-board service. 'TBC' means the system cannot provide a price for that particular train automatically, but they'll contact you with a cost by phone or email. Is it cheaper to buy at the ticket office? Real Russia charge the Russian Railways fare plus a mark-up to cover their costs (all agencies charge a mark-up). There's a 2.5% charge for credit card payments, but you can easily avoid this by calling their UK office to pay by debit card when your tickets are confirmed. The fares shown include the mark-up, but not the credit card charge. By all means buy tickets at the ticket office if you're flexible, but Russian trains can get fully-booked so it's good to pre-book if you want a specific date and train. Russian Railways now offer online booking but it's more fiddly. |
Visas...
To visit Russia, you'll need a Russian tourist visa. You may also need a Belarus transit visa if you're using the direct rail route from Paris, Amsterdam, Berlin, Warsaw, Budapest or Vienna to Moscow as this passes though Belarus.
UPDATE: It's reported that from 1 July 2020, Russia & Belarus have signed an agreement whereby a Russian visa will also cover Belarus. So you'll only need a Russian visa to travel from Paris, Berlin or Warsaw to Moscow via Brest.
How to arrange a Russian visa...
Always check the latest visa information, as it changes from time to time, but here's a quick run-down of the arrangements:
Tourist, transit or business visa? A tourist visa allows stays of up to 30 days, and is usually what you need. A business visa allows a longer stay, but is more expensive. A transit visa allows up to 10 days in transit, but you aren't allowed to spend time in Moscow, as most Trans-Siberian travellers do, so a tourist visa is usually better.
When to apply? Visas are now issued 6 months or less before your intended date of entry to Russia, so don't apply before then. Ideally, allow at least a month for the visa processing, but if you have less time than this, don't panic, various agencies offer express services that will help you get a visa much quicker.
Letters of invitation & visa support: A hangover from Soviet times is that to get a visa you need supporting documentation, usually just called 'visa support'. In theory, this is a letter of invitation from your travel agency setting out confirmed travel & accommodation arrangements for your entire stay in Russia or (for independent travellers) an accommodation voucher issued by your hotel(s) showing confirmed accommodation for each and every night you plan to spend in Russia. Having to pre-book all this would be ridiculously restrictive, so here's how it really works: You go to an agency such as www.realrussia.co.uk or one of the Russian agencies listed above and they sell you the necessary visa support for a small fee, which allows you to get a visa without any genuine hotel bookings, so you can travel around freely just as you would in any other country, buying tickets and finding hotels as you go. Behind the scenes, the agency usually has an arrangement with a local hotel, they make a dummy 'reservation' for the period you want to be in Russia so they can legally issue the visa support, though of course you don't pay for the hotel and everyone knows (apart from the Russian government) that you have no intention of ever using that hotel room. Crazy, eh?
The easy way to get a Russian visa: UK residents can use www.realrussia.co.uk for a complete Russian visa service, this is the easiest & least-hassle way to sort your visa (to use their service, you need to resident in the UK for over 90 days before the application). The total cost of obtaining a tourist visa through Real Russia is around £144 or so including the necessary visa support and the actual cost of the visa. Real Russia is a reliable UK agency based in Russia which arranges Russian, Belarus, Mongolian and Chinese visas simply and easily, with all the necessary legwork and visa support done for you. They can arrange train tickets too. They have been recommended by several seat61 correspondents. Seat61 gets a small commission if you buy through www.realrussia.co.uk. If you have feedback on their service, please email me. US residents can use a similar US-based service, www.russia-travel.com.
Alternatively, the do-it-yourself way to get a visa: You can of course arrange a visa yourself. The Russian embassy in London (www.rusemb.org.uk) has outsourced visa issuing to a UK company called VFS Global, so go to http://ru.vfsglobal.co.uk and follow the visa application instructions. Unlike Real Russia, they won't provide the necessary visa support for you, you'll have to get it separately and provide it to them. If you're going on an organised tour, your tour company may provide visa support documentation free of charge, but if you're travelling independently, this usually means paying a local Russian travel agency to provide you with a suitable visa support document, so this way isn't necessarily much cheaper than using www.realrussia.co.uk.
Get your dates of entry & exit right! It should be obvious, but I've known people date their visa for the date they arrive in Moscow, then get thrown off their sleeper train when it arrives at the Russian frontier the night before, as their visa wasn't valid for entering Russia until the next day. Your date of entry into Russia is the date you physically enter Russian territory, in other words the date your train rolls across the frontier, not the date you reach Moscow, which is irrelevant. Similarly, your date of exit is the date you physically leave Russian territory, which on a westbound sleeper train could be the day after you leave Moscow. Double-check train times to see when it reaches the frontier, and double-check that the embassy have given you the right dates when you get your passport back with the visa.
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FINGERPRINTING: You now need to go in person to collect your visa... Whether you go it alone or use Real Russia to apply for your Russian visa, as of late 2014 you will need to make an appointment to go in person to the consulate to collect your visa and have your fingerprints taken. This is a tit-for-tat move by the Russians, as the British Home Office now require all Russians to go to the Moscow embassy to obtain a visa, even if they live in Vladivostok.
More information: The Russian embassy in London is www.rusemb.org.uk. www.waytorussia.net has good information on Russian visas.
IMPORTANT: Travel to Moscow via Belarus from 2020 onwards...
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Summary:
No major problems were reported by any westerners using the direct Russian Railways trains from Paris, Nice, Vienna, Berlin, Prague or Warsaw to Moscow via Belarus in 2017, 2018 or 2019, in spite of there being a theoretical issue with westerners reaching Moscow via Belarus, due to the Belarus-Russia customs union so there's no border control.
It seemed to be that as long as you had a valid Russian visa and a valid Belarus transit visa, travel from Western or Central Europe to Moscow on a direct Russian Railways international train was fine, even if it crossed Belarus. One traveller even confirmed this with the traincrew. The problem only arose if you want to START a train journey in Belarus to travel to Russia. This was the actual situation in practice, regardless of any theoretical official legal situation. This route is after all Russia's main 'front door', the main line to Moscow, the way people have always travelled since the 19th century...
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UPDATE 2020 However, in early 2020 I have now had two reports from travellers who were taken off international trains at Smolensk, because they had crossed overland from Belarus to Russia. Both reports involved a Warsaw to Moscow journey on the Berlin-Moscow Strizh. One traveller had made a dozen similar journeys without incident since 2015 and asked why the random check now. He was told it varied with the political ups and downs between Russia and Belarus.
So whilst the situation below seems to hold true for most westerners on most international trains and I'm still getting occasional positive reports from people who have travelled this way without any problem, you might want to consider diverting via Kyiv to avoid Belarus.
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AND LATEST UPDATE TO THE UPDATE: From 1 July 2020, the situation is finally officially sorted. A Russian visa will also cover Belarus. So you'll only need a Russian visa to travel from Paris, Berlin or Warsaw to Moscow via Brest, no need to also get a Belarus visa, and there will at long last be absolutely no problem crossing Belarus to enter Russia using this route. Thank goodness for that!
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Situation in detail, prior to both updates above...
Since 2016 there has been some concern about entering Russia via Belarus, to do with the Belarus-Russia customs union and the lack of border formalities between the two countries - though of course Brest-Minsk-Moscow has been the perfectly normal mainline rail route for international travellers for over 100 years.
It seems that in practice the Russians are OK with people entering Russia on these direct Russian trains via Brest on the Polish/Belarus border as Moscow-bound passengers appear to have their Russian visas checked here. Many people use these trains every week, but so far I've had zero reports of anyone on these trains having any problem in 2016, 2017, 2018 and just one report in 2019 - but only one isolated report so other factors may have been involved. I have had a steady trickle of positive confirmations that people have used these trains without a problem. Polrail.com haven't heard from anyone who's had any problem using these international trains either, and nor have Real Russia.
When leaving Russia, travellers report that they simply showed the Belarus entry stamp that they received at Brest when they entered to the Belarus-Russia unified customs area, and that seems to satisfy the Russian border staff when you leave Russia.
On the other hand, you cannot start a journey in Belarus and go to Russia, as there's nowhere to check visas in between Minsk and Moscow. Real Russia tell me they had reports of people being taken off Minsk-Moscow trains and sent back to Minsk even with valid Russian visas - but so far, they tell me they've had reports from anyone having problems on the Russian-run international trains from Paris, Berlin, Warsaw, Vienna or Prague to Moscow via Brest.
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By all means check the latest advice at http://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/belarus, although at the time I write this it simply refers you to your travel provider. I suppose I should add the disclaimer that I can only report what I hear from travel companies and travellers, and you travel at your own risk - but read the traveller's feedback below, it seems pretty conclusive!
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PLEASE REPORT BACK!! If you successfully travel to Russia on a direct Russian train through Belarus to Moscow, please let me know. It's difficult to prove a negative, but the more 'no problem' reports I get, the more confident we can be.
How to arrange a Belarus visa...
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You'll need a Belarus transit visa if you are travelling between London & Moscow on the direct London-Cologne-Berlin-Warsaw-Moscow route, as the direct trains from Paris, Berlin or Warsaw to Moscow or St Petersburg pass through Belarus. However, getting a Belarus transit visa is relatively straightforward. You'll need a tourist visa if you plan to stop off in Belarus.
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You will need to get your Russian visa before applying for the Belarus one, although you can apply for both together if you go through www.realrussia.co.uk.
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Cost: A Belarus transit visa costs 60 if you arrange it yourself direct with the embassy, or £81 arranged through www.realrussia.co.uk. It takes 6 working days, or there's an extra-fee express option which takes 2 days.
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For official visa information see the Belarus embassy website, http://uk.mfa.gov.by or call 020 7938 3677. The embassy address in London is 6 Kensington Court, London W8 5DL
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The simple way to get a Belarus transit visa: If you live in the UK, the easiest and quickest way to get a Belarus visa is to use www.realrussia.co.uk. Real Russia is a reliable UK agency which arranges visas simply and cheaply, including all necessary visa support included in the price shown on their site. They have already been recommended by one seat61 correspondent. Seat61 gets a small commission if you buy through www.realrussia.co.uk using this link. www.realrussia.co.uk can also arrange Chinese and Mongolian visas, and train tickets too. If you have feedback on their service, please email me!
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Should you avoid Belarus? Some people get worked up about trying to avoid Belarus, and with the visa fees you might want to try. Just remember that if you pay the visa fee, you can travel quickly and simply from western Europe to Moscow on a direct train through Belarus saving time and expense. Avoiding Belarus by travelling via the Baltic states means an awkward and time-consuming relay race of trains and buses, taking at least 48 hours longer, with two extra hotel nights. Going via Ukraine (Ukraine no longer requires EU citizens to buy a visa) is quicker, but will still take at least an extra 24 hours, changing trains in Kyiv and with no easy way to pre-book the Kyiv-Moscow train before you get to Kyiv. In other words, the detour might be interesting if you have the time and particularly want to see Ukraine or Lithuania/Latvia on the way, but it will take longer and in the end cost more than simply buying the visa and travelling direct. To avoid Belarus by going via Ukraine, see above.
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Getting a Belarus transit visa in Moscow: If you're travelling westbound and want to arrange a Belarus visa in Moscow, here's how. The Belarus embassy is at Maroseika 17⁄6, 101990, Moscow, a couple of blocks from Kitai Gorod or Lubyanka metro stations. To get to the visa office, go through wrought iron gates on the left-hand side of the main embassy building and the visa office is on the left. You'll need photocopies of your passport, your Russian visa & your train ticket through Belarus, one passport photo, US$45 for same day visa issue or US$36 for next day visa issue (for British & EU citizens), payable in Russian rubles (US dollars no longer required or accepted). The visa office is open 10:00-12:00 Mon, Tue, Thur & Fri (allow plenty of time) and you pick up your passport and transit visa between 16:00-16:30 on those days. US passport holders are currently charged $177 for a same-day visa, because of charges imposed by the USA on Belarussians. One traveller reports: "You should plan to get there before 10.00 am. I was there at about 10.20 am and I was processed at 11.55 am. I paid 1,630 rubbles for same day service. I returned at 16.00 to collect my processed transit visa, so from start to finish it takes almost as much time as you spend travelling through Belarus. In spite of the frustration of the obstacle course just to get on the train, the trip itself was most enjoyable". Visa regs & costs change from time to time, the above is current at the time of writing. There's also a Belarus consulate in St Petersburg.
Holidays to Russia by train
 0207 864 4600 |
Specialist travel company www.railbookers.co.uk can tailor-make a flight-free holiday to Russia for you, with train travel & hotels, for however long you like, leaving on any date you like. Tell them what you want and they'll advise you on the best trains, routes & hotels and sort it all out for you. They get a lot of repeat business! Give them a call...
UK call 0207 864 4600,
www.railbookers.co.uk.
US call free 1-888-829-4775,
www.railbookers.com.
Canada call 1-855-882-2910,
www.railbookers.ca.
Australia call 1300 971 526,
www.railbookers.com.au.
New Zealand call 0800 000 554 or
see
website.
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Tailor Made Rail...
Tailor Made Rail can arrange a flight-free holiday or tour to Russia by train, with trains, hotels & stopovers arranged for you. Tailor Made Rail have a suggested tour package from London to Moscow via Warsaw & Berlin, and a suggested return tour via Helsinki, Stockholm & Copenhagen, see at www.tailormaderail.com/destinations/russia. These can be customised your own requirements, one-way or round in either direction, with any stopovers you want. They specialise in complex itineraries! As it's a package, they'll take care of you if anything happens on one part of the trip, for example, a national strike. They're TTA-protected - like ATOL, but not only for agencies that sell air travel.
Call their dedicated seat61 phone line 020 3778 1461 and quote seat 61 when booking. From outside the UK call +44 20 3778 1461. Lines open 09:00-17:30 Monday-Friday.
European Rail Timetable & maps
The
European Rail Timetable
(formerly the Thomas Cook European Timetable)
has train & ferry times for every country in Europe plus
currency & climate information. It is essential
for regular European train travellers and an inspiration for armchair
travellers. Published since 1873, it had just celebrated 140 years of
publication when Thomas Cook decided to pull the plug on their entire publishing
department, but the dedicated ex-Thomas Cook team set up a private venture and
resumed publication of the famous European Rail Timetable in March 2014.
You can buy it online at
www.amazon.co.uk (UK addresses) or
www.europeanrailtimetable.eu (shipping worldwide).
More information
on what the European Rail Timetable contains.
Rail Map Europe is the map I recommend, covering all of Europe from Portugal in the west to Moscow & Istanbul in the east, Finland in the north to Sicily & Athens in the south. Scenic routes & high-speed lines are highlighted. See an extract from the map. Buy online at www.europeanrailtimetable.eu (shipping worldwide) or at www.amazon.co.uk (UK addresses).
Definitely take a good guidebook,
and a phrasebook may be a good idea too. I think the Lonely Planets
and Rough Guides are about the best out there for the
independent traveller, and you will not regret buying one!
My own book, an essential handbook for train travel to Europe
based on this website called "The
Man in Seat 61", was published in June 2008, and is available
from Amazon.co.uk with shipping worldwide.
Click the images to buy the book from Amazon.co.uk...
Hotels in Moscow & Russia
Tripadvisor hotel reviews...
www.tripadvisor.com is a good place to find independent travellers' reviews of the main hotels. It also has the low-down on all the sights & attractions too.
Backpacker hostels: www.hostelworld.com
If you're on a tight budget, don't forget about the hostels. For backpacker hostels in Amsterdam and most other European cities at budget prices (either a dorm bed or an ultra cheap private room) see www.hostelworld.com.
Travel insurance & VPN
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Always take out travel insurance
You should take out travel insurance with at least £1m or preferably £5m medical cover from a reliable insurer. It should cover trip cancellation and loss of cash & belongings up to a reasonable limit. These days, check you're covered for covid-19-related issues, and use an insurer whose cover isn't invalidated by well-meant but excessive Foreign Office travel advice against non-essential travel. An annual policy is usually cheapest even for just 2 or 3 trips a year, I have an annual policy with Staysure.co.uk myself. Don't expect travel insurance to bail you out of every missed connection, see the advice on missed connections here. Here are some suggested insurers, I get a little commission if you buy through these links, feedback always welcome.
www.staysure.co.uk
offers enhanced Covid-19 protection and gets 4.7 out of 5 on
Trustpilot.
www.columbusdirect.com is also a well-know brand.
If you live in the USA try
Travel Guard USA.
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Get an eSIM with mobile data package
Don't rely on WiFi, download an eSIM with a European mobile data package and stay connected. Most newer mobile phones can download a virtual SIM including iPhone 11 & later, see device compatibility list. There's no need to buy a physical SIM card! Maya.net is a reliable eSIM data retailer with a 4.5 out of 5 Trustpilot rating and a range of packages including unlimited data.
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Get a Curve card for foreign travel
Most banks give you a poor exchange rate then add a foreign transaction fee on top. A Curve MasterCard means no foreign transaction fees and gives you the mid-market exchange rate, at least up to a certain limit, £500 per month as I write this. The money you spend on your Curve card goes straight onto one of your existing debit or credit cards. And you can get a Curve card for free.
How it works: 1. Download the Curve app for iPhone or Android. 2. Enter your details & they'll send you a Curve MasterCard - they send to the UK and most European addresses. 3. Link your existing credit & debit cards to the app, you can link up to two cards with the free version of Curve, I link my normal debit card and my normal credit card. 4. Now use the Curve MasterCard to buy things online or in person or take cash from ATMs, exactly like a normal MasterCard. Curve does the currency conversion and puts the balance in your own currency onto whichever debit or credit card is currently selected in the Curve app. You can even change your mind about which card it goes onto, within 14 days of the transaction.
I have a Curve Blue card myself, it means I can buy a coffee on a foreign station on a card without being stung by fees and lousy exchange rates, just by tapping the Curve card on their card reader. The money goes through Curve to my normal debit card and is taken directly from my account (in fact I have the Curve card set up as payment card on Apple Pay on my iPhone, so can double-click my phone, let it do Face ID then tap the reader with the phone - even easier than getting a card out). I get a little commission if you sign up to Curve, but I recommend it here because I think it's great. See details, download the app and get a Curve card, they'll give you £5 cashback through that link.
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Get a VPN for safe browsing. Why you need a VPN
When travelling you may use free public WiFi which is often insecure. A VPN encrypts your connection so it's always secure, even on unsecured WiFi. It also means you can select the geographic location of the IP address you browse with, to get around geoblocking which a surprising number of websites apply. See VPNs & why you need one explained. ExpressVPN is a best buy with a 4.7 out of 5 Trustpilot ranking which I use myself - I've signed up as an ExpressVPN affiliate, and if you go with expressvpn.com using this link you should see a special deal, 3 months free with an annual subscription. I also get some commission to help support this site.
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Carry an Anker powerbank
Tickets, reservations, hotel bookings and Interrail or Eurail passes are often now held on your mobile phone. You daren't let it run out of power, and you can't always rely on the phone's internal battery or on being near a power outlet. I always carry an Anker powerbank which can recharge my phone several times over. Buy from Amazon.co.uk or buy from Amazon.com.
Touring cities? Use hill walking shoes!
One of the best things I've done is swap my normal shoes for hill-walking shoes, in my case from Scarpa. They're intended for hiking across the Pennines not wandering around Florence, but the support and cushioning for hiking works equally well when you're on your feet all day exploring foreign cities. My feet used to give out first and limit my day, now the rest of me gives up before they do!