How to get from Domodedovo Airport (DME) to central Moscow

1. ‘Aeroexpress’ train

Aeroxpress train.

The fastest way to get from this airport to the center of Moscow is via the ‘Aeroexpress’ train, which has a station right in the airport’s terminal. With no traffic along the way, you’ll arrive at the Paveletskaya train station in 45 minutes and, from there, you can get on the subway (green and circle lines), from which it’s convenient to go anywhere in the city. The express train also stops at the ‘Verkhnie Kotly’ train station, where you can transfer to the Moscow Central Circle rail line. 

The first train leaves Domodedovo at 6:00 a.m. and the last departs at 12:01 a.m. The first train from Paveletsky railway station leaves at 5.30 a.m. and the last departs at 11.30 p.m.

A standard one-way ticket costs 650 rubles (approx. $7.50). You can buy tickets in advance at aeroexpress.ru. However, the website only accepts Russian debit/credit cards. But, you can always buy tickets at the airport or at the train stations in cash. 

2. ‘Аeroexpress’ bus

‘Aeroexpress’ buses (route № 1185) arrive and depart from Terminal 1 from the pre-terminal area (next to exit № 2 from the airport terminal). This is an express bus that makes no stops on the route. It also takes about 45 minutes (or less, depending on traffic) to get to the ‘Domodedovskaya’ subway station (south on the green line). And you’ll need another 30 minutes to reach the city center.

Buses from ‘Domodedovskaya’ subway station depart every 15 minutes from exit № 10. You can check the timetable here. You can buy tickets online with a Russian debit/credit card or at the bus or ‘Aeroexpress’ ticket offices at the airport for 400 rubles (~$4.5) in cash. 

3. Suburban train

An 'elektrichka' from the airport is your unique chance to feel the atmosphere of Russia’s suburban train culture. The travel time to Paveletsky railway station is longer than on the Aeroexpress – it totals about 70 minutes, but the price is much lower: 223 rubles (~$2.5). Also, the train makes more stops where you can transfer to the ‘Varshavskaya’ and ‘Nagatinskaya’ subway stations. In this case, the ticket costs just 153 rubles (~$1.7). 

You can buy tickets at any train station on the route in cash. Check the schedule here www.central-ppk.ru.

4. Commuter bus

Bus No. 308 is a cheaper way to get to Moscow, but you never know how heavy the traffic might be or get. Also, it makes many stops on the way to ‘Domodedovskaya’ subway station and accepts only Russian debit/credit cards (no cash payment option available). 

It costs 150 rubles (~$1.7) and 89 rubles (~$1) for luggage. The bus runs from 6 a.m. to 12:00 a.m. at 30-minute intervals and from 12 a.m. to 6 a.m. at 40-minute intervals. Travel time, meanwhile, is around 45 minutes.

Find the schedule here (in Russian). 

5. Taxi

If you arrive late at night, you can take a taxi. The trip from the airport to the city center costs about $50 or more, if you try to order a taxi on the spot. 

But, you can book a taxi cheaper (for about $20-$30) using the following apps: 

– ‘Yandex GO’ iOS/Google Play /AppGallery (many languages). 

– ‘Uber’ iOS/Google Play /AppGallery (many languages)

– ‘City Mobil’ iOS/Google Play /AppGallery (available in English).

You can choose payment in cash, if you don’t have a Russian debit/credit card.

When you arrive at the airport, you can get online with free WiFi in the terminal and book a taxi. The driver will probably ask you to call after passing through passport control, because waiting in front of the airport is free only for the first 15 minutes and then it’s quite expensive.

6. Car sharing

Several car-sharing companies are available at Domodedovo. You need an ID, a driver’s license, a Russian debit/credit card and a smartphone with a Russian SIM card. You’ll also need to sign a contract with the rental company, in order to access its vehicles (you can also do this online). The leading companies are: ‘Delimobil’; ‘Yandex.Drive’; and ‘BelkaCar’. You should download the apps in advance to find the nearest car.

7. Rent a car

Major car rental companies are also an option at Domodedovo Airport: ‘Europcar’, ‘Rentmotors’ and ‘REX Rent’ services. You can rent a car online or by visiting the rental office. Booking in advance doesn’t influence the price much, but it does provide a greater choice of car models.

Go to the airport’s website for more information.