How to visit Russia by train
Russia has many railroad connections with other countries, but there are nuances related to visas for third-country nationals. In short, an electronic visa (e-visa) will not always work.
Many tourists dream of seeing Russia from the train window. In 2025, Russia maintains rail links with several countries, but in each case of border crossing has its own peculiarities.
Belarus
After the mutual recognition of visas by Russia and Belarus, foreign tourists can visit both countries on one visa. In addition, both countries have visa-free or simplified visa regimes with many other states. Trains connect Minsk with Moscow (travel time is 7-9 hours), as well as other Russian cities. Tickets are sold freely both at ticket offices in both countries and online (rzd.ru).
However, there is a nuance: if you originally entered Russia with a single entry e-visa through the Kaliningrad Region (Mamonovo and Sovetsk checkpoints), you will not be able to use the Kaliningrad-Moscow train, as it passes through Lithuania and Belarus and your visa will become invalid after crossing the border. To travel via such a route, you will need a regular multiple entry visa to Russia.
China
Russia now shares one railroad route with China. It connects the cities of Suifenhe in China and Grodekovo in Primorsky Krai. To cross the border, a Russian e-visa is suitable (for more information about checkpoints and your e-visa, click here). Trains run daily and the journey takes a little over an hour. However, you can only buy a ticket on the Chinese side. Also, it is difficult to leave Grodekovo for other settlements without a car.
Mongolia
You can travel by train from Mongolia's capital, Ulaanbaatar, to the Russian cities of Ulan-Ude and Irkutsk (total travel time, however, is almost 24 hours!). Trains run on Tuesdays, Saturdays and Sundays (and, from Irkutsk to Mongolia, on Mondays, Tuesdays and Fridays). You can cross the border with a Russian e-visa. From Irkutsk and Ulan-Ude, you can then travel to Lake Baikal or other major Russian cities. Tickets are sold online.
Kazakhstan
Russia’s longest border is with Kazakhstan (more than 7,500 km) and there are quite a few different rail routes. The most popular ones connect Omsk, Novosibirsk, Moscow, Astrakhan and Kazan with Astana, Almaty and other Kazakh cities. There are also trains that transit through Kazakhstan between Russian cities.
However, a regular Russian visa is required to travel on these routes – e-visas will not work here.
You can buy tickets online.
Kyrgyzstan
From Bishkek, the capital of Kyrgyzstan, you can go to Moscow (which takes more than three days) and Novosibirsk (two days travel time, with trains running only once every eight days). A Russian e-visa is also not suitable, you will need a regular visa. In addition, the trains pass through the territory of Kazakhstan, so you will need a visa to this country, as well.
Tickets can be bought online.
Tajikistan
Dushanbe, the capital of Tajikistan, is connected by railroad with Volgograd (2 1/2 day journey). Trains run once a week. To cross the border, you will need a regular visa to Russia, as well as a visa to Kazakhstan.
Tickets can be bought online.
Uzbekistan
Trains run between Tashkent, the capital of Uzbekistan, and many Russian cities, such as Moscow, Volgograd, Astrakhan, Kazan, Samara and Novosibirsk. They also take a few days and you will need both a regular Russian visa and a Kazakh visa to cross the border.
Tickets can be bought online.
