Both Moscow and St. Petersburg had transportation systems that could be considered highly comprehensive as they covered the entire cities. They were cost-effective and allowed for efficient time management. The public transportation systems in both cities consisted of metros, trams, buses, and vans. However, the metro was the most popular and convenient option. This was because the metro had routes that could access every location within the city, offered affordable fares, and allowed for easy control of travel time. Therefore, the metro became my top choice for exploring Russia on a budget. During my trip, I could access all of my tourist destinations in Moscow using the metro, and once I exited the station, I could easily continue on foot as the distances were not too far. As for St. Petersburg, most places were also accessible by the metro, with only a few locations requiring a van ride due to their distance from the city center. Nonetheless, these van rides were relatively short.

When we have to rely mainly on the metro for transportation, it was inevitable that we have to study the routes and the operating patterns of both cities. It was essential for us to understand the intricacies of their systems to ensure that we can navigate them correctly and efficiently.

The Moscow metro system consisted of a total of 12 lines, spanning throughout the city center and the outskirts of Moscow. Each line had its own number and color (it is advisable to primarily refer to the line numbers on the metro map since sometimes the colors displayed at the stations may not correspond to the colors on the map). It’s worth mentioning that the station signs in the Moscow metro were in Russian only, without any English translations. Therefore, we have to come prepared with a map that included both English and Russian to compare and navigate effectively. The metro fare in Moscow was a flat rate of 50 rubles per trip (approximately 1 USD), as of 2015. The Moscow metro charged a fixed fare regardless of the distance traveled. Tickets could be purchased from the automated ticket machines (which had an English menu option). Generally, they offered the choice of buying a single-use ticket (1 pass) or a multiple-use ticket (5 passes). Opting for a multiple-use ticket provided a discounted price per trip. If we need to purchase more than the available options, we can approach the counter staff and write down the desired number of trips on a piece of paper or enter the number on my mobile phone and show it to them (since the staff there did not speak English, this method was necessary). They will then input the price on their calculator and show it to us. On that occasion, I purchased a multiple-use ticket for 20 trips at a price of 580 rubles, averaging just 29 rubles per trip or approximately 0.50 USD, as of 2015. The metro tickets in Moscow were red cards, regardless of whether we purchased a single-use ticket or a multiple-use ticket. However, when entering the station, we have to tap the card at the automated gates, and the screen will display the remaining number of trips on the card. When exiting, we can simply walk out without having to tap the card again.

Sample of metro ticket in Moscow

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Some metro stations in Moscow are interconnected with other lines. However, in Moscow, some interchange points may have as many as three or four stations in one location. But there’s no need to worry about getting lost because within the stations, there are signs indicating which line goes where. And if we need to find the way out of the station, I just had to look for signs written in Russian that say “Выход в город,” which translates to “Exit to the city.”

The sign : Exit to The City

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The metro map in Moscow, Bilingua (Russian & English)
Download printable size here
http://www.moscow-driver.com/photos/var/albums/moscow/Metro/Maps/Moscow-Metro-Map-2013-Art-Lebedev-Studio-Full-NoLandmarks.jpg
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Another thing not to be missed and considered an important aspect that every traveler must capture as a keepsake is the “interior architecture of Moscow metro stations.” Each station is designed with incredible craftsmanship and breathtaking beauty, reflecting the true essence of Russian architecture like nowhere else in the world. It can be said that visiting Moscow without exploring the exquisite charm of the underground metro stations is like not truly experiencing Moscow at all.

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As for traveling in St. Petersburg, we can continue to use the same method as in Moscow, which was the metro. However, understanding and using the metro in St. Petersburg was easier than in Moscow. This was because there were fewer lines, and most importantly, every station had signs in English indicating the directions. Buying metro tickets in St. Petersburg was also easier than in Moscow. If we only needed a single trip, the ticket was in the form of a coin. However, for convenience and time-saving, especially since I used the metro for multiple trips, I did purchase tickets at the automated ticket machines that had an English menu option. That solved the problem of communication with counter staff because these self-service ticket machines provided options for topping up with the desired number of trips (not limited to just 1 or 5 trips like in Moscow). However, the process of purchasing metro tickets in St. Petersburg was slightly more complicated than in Moscow. We have to first purchase a blank card from the ticket machine at a price of 55 rubles (approximately 1 USD), as of 2015. This card have no any trips loaded on it and cannot be used for travel yet. We must take this card and place it in the designated slot of the ticket machine, select the option to load trips, choose the desired number of trips, and then make the payment. The ticket machines accepted both coins and banknotes. The metro fare in St. Petersburg was 30 rubles per trip (approximately 0.50 USD), as of 2015. At that time, I loaded the card with 10 trips, which cost 290 rubles (approximately 5 USD, averaging around 0.50 USD per trip).

Automatic Metro Ticket Vending Machine in St.Petersburg

The sample of metro ticket in St.Petersburg

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When it comes to reading metro signs in Moscow and St. Petersburg, there are some differences;
In Moscow, the signs provide approximate information like, “This metro line running on this track will pass through which stations.” Once we select a line, we go to the platform of that station and look to see if our destination station is on the left track or right track.
On the other hand, in St. Petersburg, they don’t list all the stations that the line passes through but rather indicate, “This metro line running in this direction will terminate at which station.” So, they only mention the terminal station. We just need to check which station we are currently at and which station we will be getting off at. Then, board the train heading towards that destination station.
While on the trains in both cities, the announcements are in Russian only, and some trains have display screens indicating the next station, while others do not. Therefore, before boarding, it’s important to check how many stations away our intended destination is and keep count of the stations as we ride the metro. By doing so, we can comfortably reach our destination without any confusion.

The direction sign for Metro in Moscow

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The direction sign for Metro in St.Petersburg

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The metrol map in St.Petersburg (Russian and English Languages)
Printable size can be downloaded here
http://www.metro.spb.ru/uploads/metromap2023r.jpg
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Remark

The information provided here is based on my actual experience back in 2015. However, please note that various details such as routes, fares, or ticket conditions may have changed since then. Therefore, I recommend verifying and checking the updated information and details before using the services to avoid any potential mistakes.

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Wish you enjoy hopping around Moscow & St.Petersburg !

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Written By : SHIPY SIWARIT TIASUWATTISETH

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