Moscow Metro & Aeroexpress: Troika Card, Ticket Choices, and Airport Transfer Guide

You land at Sheremetyevo, Domodedovo, or Vnukovo and need to get into Moscow—and then move around the city for several days. The Moscow Metro is fast and frequent, but the ticket system has a fork that most first-time visitors get wrong: the Troika wallet, Ediny fixed-ride tickets, and day passes are three different products, not interchangeable names for the same thing.

This guide helps you choose the right ticket for your stay, explains how to buy and top up a Troika card with cash—foreign bank cards rarely work at turnstiles—and maps your airport-to-city transfer options, including when Aeroexpress is worth it and when the metro or express bus is the smarter pick.

What to know first

• The Troika card works as a pay-as-you-go wallet (67 RUB per metro ride) or as a holder for Ediny day passes (1 day 375 RUB, 3 days 720 RUB). You buy the card once and reuse it.
• Foreign-issued Visa and Mastercard do not work at metro turnstiles or ticket machines. Bring cash (rubles) to buy and top up your Troika card.
• Moscow Metro runs from roughly 05:25 to 01:00. All station entrances close at 01:00 sharp—if you are underground after that, you can still exit but cannot enter another station.
• Three main airports, three different transfer rules: Sheremetyevo (SVO) and Domodedovo (DME) have Aeroexpress trains; Vnukovo (VKO) train service was cancelled in 2024—use the metro (Line 8A Solntsevskaya to Aeroport Vnukovo station) instead.
• A single Aeroexpress train ticket costs 700 RUB online (90-day validity) and is separate from metro fares. You can also pay 700 RUB with a Troika card at the Aeroexpress turnstile.
• Children under 7 ride free on both the metro and Aeroexpress with proof of age.
• Free WiFi works on all metro trains and most stations—no Russian phone number needed.

Source: Komsomolskaya station, Koltsevaya Line, Moscow Metro. Photo via Wikimedia Commons (A.Savin).

Choose between Troika wallet and Ediny tickets

The Moscow Metro ticket counter will offer you several options, and the naming is confusing. Here is what each product actually does.

Troika card with Koshelek (wallet) balance. You pay a small deposit for the plastic card, then load rubles onto it. Each metro, MCC, or ground transport ride deducts 67 RUB. A 90-minute transfer window—metro to bus to tram—costs 100 RUB total. Best for trips where you ride 4 or fewer times per day and want the flexibility to hop on and off.

Ediny 1-ride ticket (80 RUB). A disposable paper ticket valid for exactly one metro, MCC, or ground transport ride. No transfers, no MCD. Best for a single journey when you do not want to buy a Troika card.

Ediny day pass on a Troika card. Load a 1-day (375 RUB), 3-day (720 RUB), or longer unlimited-ride pass onto your Troika card. The pass covers metro, MCC, and ground transport within the central zone. After the pass expires, the card reverts to wallet mode. Best for 5 or more rides per day.

Here is the quick math: at 67 RUB per wallet ride, the 375 RUB 1-day pass breaks even at 6 rides. If you plan to use the metro heavily—hopping between sights across the city—the day pass wins. For a lighter day with 3 to 4 rides, wallet pay-as-you-go is cheaper.

Pick the right airport-to-city transfer

Each Moscow airport connects to the city differently. Choose your route before you land—terminals are large and English signage can be sparse.

Sheremetyevo (SVO) to city center. Aeroexpress train to Belorussky Rail Terminal: 46 minutes, every 30 minutes, 700 RUB. Aeroexpress express bus 1195 to Khovrino metro station (Line 2, green): 20 minutes, 450 RUB. The train also stops at Savyolovsky Rail Terminal (41 minutes) and Okruzhnaya (MCC and MCD-1).

Domodedovo (DME) to city center. Aeroexpress train to Paveletsky Rail Terminal: 45 minutes, every 30 minutes, 700 RUB. Also stops at Verkhniye Kotly (MCC). Aeroexpress express bus 1185 to Domodedovskaya metro station (Line 2, green): 40 minutes, 450 RUB.

Vnukovo (VKO) to city center. Aeroexpress trains to VKO were permanently cancelled in July 2024. Take the metro directly: Solntsevskaya Line (8A, yellow) to Aeroport Vnukovo station. Standard metro fare applies—67 RUB with Troika wallet. Travel time to the city center is about 35 to 40 minutes.

When Aeroexpress is worth it. If your hotel is near Belorusskaya, Paveletskaya, or within walking distance of the Circle Line, the Aeroexpress train is the most comfortable option with dedicated luggage space. If your hotel is far from those stations or you are on a tight budget, the express bus at 450 RUB or the metro from VKO at 67 RUB saves money.

Important schedule note: from June 25 to July 13 2026, Aeroexpress train times on the Sheremetyevo route are on a modified schedule. Always check the live timetable at aeroexpress.ru before heading to the station.

How to buy and top up a Troika card

Getting a Troika card is the first thing you should do after clearing customs—before you leave the airport or at the first metro station you reach.

• Where to buy. At any metro station ticket office—look for the “KACCA” sign—or at red ticket vending machines with English-language menus. Aeroexpress terminals at SVO and DME also sell Troika cards.
• Deposit. The card itself costs a small refundable deposit—historically around 50 to 80 RUB, confirm the current amount at purchase. You pay the deposit once and can reuse the card on future Moscow trips.
• Top up. Use red ticket machines—cash accepted, English available—or ticket office windows. You can also top up via the Moscow Metro mobile app if you have a Russian bank card linked, but most foreign visitors should use cash at a machine.
• Using the card. Tap the card on the turnstile reader. The display shows your remaining balance or pass validity. No need to tap out—the metro charges a flat fare.

Avoid buying from unofficial sellers outside stations. Only buy Troika cards from metro ticket offices or official vending machines.

Navigate the metro without getting lost

The Moscow Metro is deep, fast, and graphically dense. With a few rules, you will move through it smoothly.

• Line colors are your compass. Each line has a number and a color. Follow the colored line on signs, not the Russian name. Transfers between lines are marked with the target line color and a staircase symbol.
• Direction matters. Platforms show the terminus station name—check a map to confirm you are heading the right way. Trains toward the city center are announced by a male voice; outbound trains by a female voice.
• Key transfer hubs. Okhotny Ryad (Line 1, red), Teatralnaya (Line 2, green), and Ploshchad Revolyutsii (Line 3, blue) form a three-station complex near Red Square. Biblioteka Imeni Lenina (Line 1), Arbatskaya (Line 3), Alexandrovsky Sad (Line 4), and Borovitskaya (Line 9) serve the Kremlin area. The Circle Line—Line 5, brown—connects all radial lines.
• Free WiFi. The MT_FREE network is available on all trains. Connect once and it works across the system—no SMS verification needed.
• Download a metro map. Save an offline copy of the Moscow Metro map on your phone. The Yandex Metro app or Moscow Metro official app shows real-time routes in English.

Three landmark stations worth a look: Komsomolskaya on the Circle Line for its baroque ceiling, Mayakovskaya for its art deco arches, and Ploshchad Revolyutsii for the bronze sculptures travelers rub for luck.

Rules and exceptions that change your visit

• Station entrances close at 01:00. The last train departs before then. If you are inside the system, you can still exit, but transfer corridors and new entries lock at 01:00.
• Some Aeroexpress turnstiles do not accept Troika cards. At Verkhniye Kotly, Domodedovo city station, and Aminyevskaya stations, Troika and bank card contactless payment is temporarily unavailable—buy a paper ticket instead.
• Baggage on the metro. There is no extra charge for luggage, but large bags may go through X-ray scanners at some station entrances. During rush hour—08:00 to 10:00 and 17:00 to 19:30—navigating with large suitcases is difficult. Consider a taxi or Aeroexpress if you are carrying more than a carry-on.
• Biometric payment. Moscow Metro supports face-recognition payment at all turnstiles, but this requires linking your photo and a Russian bank card in the metro app—not practical for short-term visitors.
• No eating or drinking on trains. This rule is enforced loosely, but hot food and alcohol are prohibited.

Common mistakes

• Buying a single Ediny paper ticket (80 RUB) for every ride instead of a Troika card. If you take more than one metro ride during your stay, the Troika card pays for itself within a few trips.
• Assuming your international contactless card works at the turnstile. It almost certainly will not. Have cash ready.
• Taking Aeroexpress to Vnukovo. The train service ended in 2024. Taxi drivers may still offer Aeroexpress station drop-offs—ignore this. Use metro Line 8A.
• Not checking the Aeroexpress schedule before leaving. Trains run every 30 minutes on schedule, but engineering works can change departure times. The period June 25 to July 13 2026 has modified SVO schedules.
• Getting stuck outside after 01:00. If you miss the last entry, you will need a taxi or rideshare. Yandex Go is the dominant app in Moscow.
• Buying a 1-day pass for a light sightseeing day. At 375 RUB, you need 6 rides to break even versus wallet pay-as-you-go at 67 RUB per ride.

What to check before you go

• Check the current Troika card deposit and fare at the Moscow Transport official site—transport.mos.ru—or at any metro ticket office. Fares can change without notice.
• Verify Aeroexpress timetable at aeroexpress.ru, especially if you are traveling near a public holiday or during the summer maintenance window.
• If arriving at VKO, confirm the Solntsevskaya Line (8A) is operating normally—line extensions and weekend closures are posted on mosmetro.ru.
• Download the Yandex Metro or Moscow Metro app before your flight for offline English-language route planning.
• Carry small ruble notes—100, 500, and 1000 RUB—for ticket machines. Older machines may not accept large bills or give change for big notes.
• If your flight arrives after 23:00, plan on a taxi or rideshare. Aeroexpress trains stop running before the metro closes, and the last express bus may have already departed.

Sources

• Moscow Metro official site — fares, station hours, and line map: https://mosmetro.ru/
• Moscow Transport (Mosgortrans) official site — Troika card, Ediny ticket details: https://transport.mos.ru/
• Aeroexpress official site — train and express bus fares, timetables, route maps: https://aeroexpress.ru/en/
• Aeroexpress fares page — current ticket prices, Troika turnstile payment: https://aeroexpress.ru/en/aero/prices.html
• Aeroexpress Sheremetyevo route guide — station access maps, bus stops: https://aeroexpress.ru/en/aero/route/sheremetyevo.html
• Aeroexpress Domodedovo route guide — station access maps, bus stops: https://aeroexpress.ru/en/aero/route/domodedovo.html
• Moscow Metro on Wikipedia — system map, operating hours, station count, and fare tables: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moscow_Metro