Planning to explore Moscow without breaking the bank? Here’s how to get around cheaply in 2026, including the payment reality that trips up most first-time visitors.
Metro System
The Moscow Metro covers nearly all major areas and is famous for its ornate station architecture on top of being genuinely cheap and fast. Trains run from around 5:30am until close to 1am, every 2–5 minutes at peak times. Single-ride tickets and the discounted, reusable Troika card are both available at station windows and machines — for cash or a Mir-network card, not foreign bank cards.
Buses and Trams
Buses and trams cover ground the metro doesn’t reach, at the same fare. Pay with a Troika card topped up in cash, or with cash directly. Foreign cards and phone-based payments (Apple Pay, Google Pay) don’t work here any more than they do on the metro.
Taxis and Ride-Hailing
Uber does not operate in Moscow — it hasn’t since 2022. Yandex Go is the app most people use instead, with Citymobil and Maxim as alternatives. All three need a Russian phone number to register, and none take foreign cards: pay in cash, or with a Mir card. See the Yandex Go guide in the Practical Info hub for the full setup.
Biking and Walking
Bike rental points are common, with Gorky Park and the city centre being good places to find one. Routes along the Moskva River and through parks like VDNKh offer safe, scenic cycling and walking. Both are free or nearly free and a good way to see the city up close.
Planning Your Route
Yandex Maps is the most reliable app for planning routes and checking real-time transport updates. Avoid the 7–10am and 5–8pm rush hours where possible, and combine transport modes — metro for the long stretch, a short walk or bus for the last leg — to save both time and money.
Money Matters
This is the part that actually determines your budget: foreign-issued Visa, Mastercard and American Express cards do not work in Russia, including at ATMs. Bring cash and exchange it at a bank or official exchange office rather than the airport. A Mir or UnionPay card will work if you have one, but for most visitors cash is the plan, not the backup. A Troika card, bought and topped up with cash, is the single best money-saver for getting around.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there Uber in Moscow, Russia?
No. Uber has not operated in Moscow since 2022. Use Yandex Go, the metro, or an official taxi instead.
What’s the cheapest way to get around Moscow?
The metro, at 60 rubles a ride or less with a Troika card. Buses and trams are the same price and reach areas the metro doesn’t.
Anastasia is a Moscow-based travel blog writer who brings a local’s insight to one of the world’s most fascinating and misunderstood cities. Born and raised in Moscow, Russia, Anastasia shares an authentic, on-the-ground perspective on what it’s really like to explore the city beyond the postcards.
Her writing focuses on tourism in Moscow, practical guides for first-time visitors, and hidden corners that most travelers miss. In addition, Anastasia writes extensively about expat life in Moscow, covering everyday realities such as housing, transportation, cultural differences, and settling into life in the Russian capital.
As a solo traveler in her own city, she also documents Moscow through the lens of independence and curiosity — from navigating the metro alone at night to discovering cafés, museums, and neighborhoods that feel welcoming for solo visitors. Her work blends local knowledge with honest personal experience, helping travelers and expats alike feel more confident, informed, and inspired when discovering Moscow on their own terms.