St Basil's Cathedral, Moscow Photo courtesy of Tony Willis

Of course, doesn't everyone go there by train?  It's easy, safe & comfortable to travel from London to Moscow by train.  Just take Eurostar from London to Brussels or Paris, a high-speed train to Frankfurt, then the daily Russian sleeping-car from Frankfurt to Moscow, taking two nights.  It's the civilised way to reach Russia!  Or choose from a range of other options via Berlin or Warsaw, including some to St Petersburg.

Train times, fares & information...

On this page you'll find a step-by-step guide to planning, booking & making a train journey from the UK to Russia:

London to Moscow train times, fares & how to buy tickets

London to St Petersburg train times, fares & how to buy tickets

London to Minsk (Belarus) train times, fares & how to buy tickets

London, East Anglia, North of England, Scotland to Moscow the ferry alternatives...

How to arrange Russian & Belarusian visas

Useful country information - dialling code, time zone, currency

Hotels & accommodation in Russia

Holidays to Russia by train not plane

Buy train tickets within Russia online

On other pages...

Trans-Siberian Railway - train travel from Europe to China & Japan

Buying add-on tickets from other UK towns & cities to London

Train travel within Russia - a beginner's guide

The Silk Route & Central Asia   

Helsinki to St Petersburg & Moscow by train    

Tallinn to St Petersburg & Moscow by train

European train travel - general information

Useful country information

London to Moscow

There are a range of good options for travel from London to Moscow by train:

Option 1, London to Moscow by direct Frankfurt-Moscow sleeping-car  The simplest, most comfortable & usually cheapest option. Daily.

Option 2, London to Moscow via the Jan Kiepura to Warsaw & Polonez to Moscow:  Also fast & direct, with a stop in Warsaw.  Daily.

Option 3, London to Moscow via Berlin:  Useful if you'd like to see Berlin on the way.  From about £195 one-way.  Runs 3-5 times a week.

Option 4, London, East Anglia, the North & Scotland to Moscow via Amsterdam:  If you live in Scotland, The North or East Anglia, take a ferry to Holland, then the Jan Kiepura from Amsterdam to Warsaw & the Polonez to Moscow.

Option 5, London & Paris to Moscow using the Paris-Moscow express:  A classic journey to Moscow on the Trans-European Express 3-6 times a week.

Option 6, London to Moscow via Kiev:  Avoids Belarus & the need for a Belarus visa, daily departures, takes 3 nights with time to see Warsaw & Kiev on the way.

Option 7, London to St Petersburg via Stockholm, then onward train to Moscow.  Avoids Belarus, a scenic and comfortable route via Scandinavia.

Other routes & options including journeys via Copenhagen, Stockholm, Helsinki, Vilnius, Riga or Tallinn.

Option 1:  London to Moscow via Frankfurt

This is the simplest, fastest, most comfortable & convenient option, giving you a berth in an air-conditioned Russian sleeping-car all the way from Frankfurt to Moscow.  You can go via Brussels or Paris, and departures are daily.  Note that the Amsterdam-Cologne-Moscow sleeping-car was discontinued from 9 December 2012.

The sleeping-cars to Moscow at Brest.  These Russian international sleeping-cars were built in the 1990s and are clean, comfortable & air-conditioned.  Originally red & blue like this, they are being repainted in a new RZD grey and red colour scheme. They link Moscow with Frankfurt, Paris, Vienna, Prague, Munich, Basel and other cities...

London ► Moscow

• Day 1:  Travel from London to Brussels by Eurostar, leaving London St Pancras at 10:58 Mondays-Saturdays, arriving Brussels Midi at 14:05. It's a quick and simple change onto the waiting ICE to Frankfurt.  On Sundays, leave London at 08:58 arriving Brussels 12:08, and have lunch in Brussels.

• Day 1:  Travel from Brussels to Frankfurt by ICE high-speed train leaving Brussels Midi at 14:25 and arriving Frankfurt (Main) Hauptbahnhof at 17:41.  Have dinner in Frankfurt.  Later connections are available, but I don't recommend relying on tight connections when you're booked all the way to Moscow, it's better to take a more leisurely approach.

• Alternative via Paris:  Alternatively, depart London St Pancras at 07:55 Mondays to Fridays, 08:25 Saturdays or 08:19 Sundays, arriving Paris Gare du Nord 11:17 Monday-Friday or 11:47 at weekends.  In Paris, it's a 10 minute walk from Paris Nord to Paris Gare de l'Est.  Travel from Paris to Frankfurt by ICE high-speed train leaving Paris Est daily at 13:10 arriving Frankfurt (main) Hauptbahnhof at 16:58.  Again, later departures are possible, this plays safe with connections.

• Day 1:  Travel from Frankfurt to Moscow by direct Russian Railways sleeping-car, leaving Frankfurt (Main) Hauptbahnhof at 22:19, travelling across Germany, Poland and Belarus, arriving Moscow Byelorruski Station 2 nights later at 10:55 (day 3 from London).  It will arrive at 09:37 from 30 March to 24 October, as unlike the rest of Europe, Russia no longer has daylight saving time.  The sleeper has 1, 2 & 3-bed compartments with washbasin, see the photos below.  Map of Moscow showing Byelorruski station.

Moscow ► London

• Day 1, evening:  Travel from Moscow to Frankfurt by direct Russian sleeping-car, leaving Moscow Byelorruski Station daily at 00:44 (23:44 from 30 March to 24 October 2013, as Russia no longer has any daylight saving time), arriving in Frankfurt (Main) Hauptbahnhof at 06:40 two nights later after passing through Belarus, Poland & Germany.  The sleeping-car is modern and air-conditioned, with 1, 2 and 3-bed compartments with washbasin, see the photos below.  Map of Moscow showing Byelorruski station.

• Day 3:  Travel from Frankfurt to Brussels by ICE high-speed train, leaving Frankfurt (Main) Hauptbahnhof daily at 10:16, arriving Brussels Midi at 13:35.

• Day 3:  Travel from Brussels to London by Eurostar.  On Mondays to Saturdays, a Eurostar leaves Brussels Midi at 15:56 Mondays-Fridays or 14:52 weekends, arriving London St Pancras at 17:03 Mondays-Fridays or 16:03 at weekends.

• Alternative via Paris:  Alternatively, depart Frankfurt 09:01 by ICE high-speed train arriving Paris Gare de l'Est 12:50.  In Paris, it's a 10 minute walk from Paris Nord to Paris Gare de l'Est.  Travel from Paris to London by Eurostar leaving Paris Nord at 15:13 on Mondays-Fridays arriving London St Pancras at 16:39, or at 14:13 on Saturdays & Sundays arriving London St Pancras at 15:30.

Take Eurostar to Brussels, then a German ICE high-speed train to Frankfurt...

ICE3 2nd class.  ICEs are perhaps the most comfortable daytime trains in Europe...		An ICE to Frankfurt at Brussels Midi.  More photos & information about ICE trains.

... then the Russian Railways international sleeping-car from Frankfurt to Moscow...

The Frankfurt-Moscow sleeping-car is modern and air-conditioned, with ten compartments each of which can be used as 3-berth, 2-berth or single-berth.  It starts its journey in Basel, Switzerland.  By day the room is a comfortable sitting room (pictured below left), by night the beds fold out from the wall behind the sofa, one above the other (pictured below centre as a single-berth room with the middle and top bunks folded away against the wall, below right as a 2-berth room with third bunk unused).  Each room has a washbasin, towels & soap are provided.  Each berth has fresh clean sheets, fluffy pillow and blankets, plus an individual berth reading light.  The sleeping-car attendant can serve you excellent Russian tea.  A restaurant car runs with this train between the Polish border and Warsaw, serving meals, snacks and drinks, but always travel with supplies of your own including maybe a favourite bottle of wine.  Passengers travelling alone who can't afford the single-berth sleeper fare can share a 2-bed or 3-bed compartment with other sleeper passengers of the same sex.

A sleeper compartment in the Basel-Frankfurt-Moscow sleeper, in daytime mode with beds folded away & seats folded out, washbasin covered...		Single-berth sleeper:  This is a compartment in night-time mode, used as a single berth room, middle & top bunks unused & folded away.		2-berth sleeper:  A similar compartment in night mode, this time set up as a 2-berth room with the third top bunk unused & folded away...

Russia here we come!  This is the air-conditioned Russian sleeping-car from Basel & Frankfurt to Moscow, at Warsaw Centralna.  It's a safe & comfortable way to reach Russia.  It is seen here sporting the new grey & red RZD colour scheme.  Direct Russian sleeping-cars like this one link Moscow with Frankfurt, Basel, Prague, Vienna, Warsaw, Paris & Berlin.  Photo courtesy of Ivor Morgan.		Above:  Children watch from the end of the coach as it's jacked up at Brest to have its bogies changed to Russian gauge.  Courtesy www.fiddlerontherails.com.

What's the journey like?

Your Eurostar journey takes you out of London and across Kent at up to 186 mph, with glimpses of Rochester castle and cathedral to the left as the train crosses the River Medway.  The transit through the Channel Tunnel takes just 20 minutes.  Changing trains at Brussels (Midi/Zuid station) is easy.  The high-speed ICE train from Brussels to Frankfurt takes you across the old coal-mining part of Belgium, green and hilly, passing into Germany at Aachen.  The ICE enters Cologne's main station (Hauptbahnhof), right next to the imposing towers of Cologne cathedral, and after Cologne races down the new high-speed line to Frankfurt.  Boarding the sleeper to Moscow after dinner in Frankfurt, you'll wake up in Poland.  Although Warsaw Centralna station itself is underground, look out for Warsaw's 'Palace of Culture' on the skyline as the train approaches and leaves Warsaw, a Soviet-style 'wedding cake' of a skyscraper.  Russian track gauge is 5', but most of Europe (including the UK) is 4' 8½", so at Brest on the Belarus frontier the sleeping-cars are shunted into a shed, each car is separated and jacked up to have its bogies (wheelsets) changed. You remain on board while this is done, it' quite an experience!  After entering Belarus and Russia, the scenery changes to rolling hills, birch tree forests, and villages of small wooden houses.  Approaching Moscow, you may catch a glimpse of the plaques on the station building marked '1812' and '1942' as the train passes through the small station of historic Borodino.

How much does it cost?

How to buy tickets:  By email with Erail.com...

Booking this way can be cheaper, as you can see from the fares table above, because Erail (European Rail) can incorporate cheaper fares for parts of the journey in a way which cannot be done by online systems.  I've prepared a booking form for you, listing the specific trains you need to book.  Simply click here to open the form, fill it in with your dates & details and email it to sales@europeanrail.com.  Erail are a London-based agency of German Railways.  They will make the reservations and call you back to confirm the cost.  If you're okay with the price, you can give them your credit card details and buy the tickets.  Erail charge a £35 booking fee which includes postage to any UK address, or they can send to any address worldwide if you pay the courier fee.  Seat61 gets some commission if you buy tickets using this form.  If you need train tickets within Russia, for example Moscow to St Petersburg, click here.  Don't forget to arrange your Russian visa & Belarus transit visa.

How to buy tickets online...

• Step 1:  You can book the Frankfurt-Moscow sleeper online at www.voyages-sncf.com.

  Be aware that the ability to book the Frankfurt-Moscow train online seems to come and go.  So give www.voyages-sncf.com a go and see if the Frankfurt-Moscow train appears.  If it does, great, book it, if not, book by phone instead.

  When using www.voyages-sncf.com, select 1st class if you want to be offered a bed in a 2-bed or single-bed compartment, and when the search results appear, use the 'choose my place' link to switch between these two 1st class options.  Select 2nd class if you want a bed in a 3-bed compartment.  Tickets booked at www.voyages-sncf.com can be sent to any address worldwide except the USA.

• Step 2, book your trains from London to Frankfurt & back.  For journeys via Brussels, I recommend comparing prices on two sites.

  First, check prices from London to Frankfurt (Main) at the German Railways website using the special links I'm about to give you.  Tickets can be sent by post to any country for a €3.50 fee.  I recommend booking a round trip as two one-ways, as it's easier to see where the availability is.  Here are the links I've set up with all the details necessary to bring up the cheap fares, just enter your departure date, remembering that on the inward journey, departure from Frankfurt will be two days after departure from Moscow:

  Buy an outward ticket from London to Frankfurt departing London at 10:58 Mondays-Saturdays or departing London at 08:58 Sundays.

  Buy an inward ticket from Frankfurt to London departing Frankfurt at 10:16 any day.

  Now check prices from London to Frankfurt at the Belgian Railways international website www.b-europe.com.  This can sell London to Frankfurt tickets using Eurostar and ICE or Eurostar and Thalys, and it allows you to print your own ticket.  It may or may not be cheaper than bahn.de, just buy from whichever site has the cheaper fare!

• For journeys via Paris, book London to Paris at www.eurostar.com with print-at-home tickets, then book Paris to Frankfurt at www.bahn.de also with print-at-home tickets.

Buying train tickets to Russia, other options...

Here's a run-down of the best ways to book a train journey to Russia.  Bookings for the Frankfurt-Moscow sleeper open 90 days in advance, you can't buy tickets until reservations open.  Bookings for the westbound Moscow-Frankfurt sleeper open 45 days before departure.

• Book by email or phone with Erail (www.europeanrail.com) by email or phone (email this special booking form to sales@europeanrail.com or call them on 020 7619 1083, lines open 08:30-18:00 Monday-Friday, 09:00-13:00 Saturday).  Seat61 gets some commission if you use the special booking form.  Erail uses the German Railways reservation system so can access both the Saver return fares and cheaper fares for travel in a 2-bed sleeper.   When they get your form, they will make all the reservations without obligation, then call you back to confirm the price and take your credit card details.  There's a £35 booking fee per transaction, but this can be worth it as their staff know what they are doing with bookings like this.  Tickets can be sent outside the UK if you live overseas.

• Book by phone with Deutsche Bahn's UK office on 08718 80 80 66, lines open 09:00-20:00 Monday-Friday, 09:00-13:00 Saturday & Sunday.  Prices are the same as those charged by European Rail, though an advantage is that DB don't charge a booking fee, just a 2% fee for credit cards.  However, their staff aren't always as familiar with more exotic bookings like this, so make sure you are clear about exactly which trains you want to book before calling.

• Tailor-made travel arrangements with hotels:  If putting the trip together yourself seems too complicated (even with the booking forms and advice I provide!), one experienced company offers a compete tailor-made travel service with all your rail tickets booked for you and hotels arranged at stops along the way.  You simply tell them where you want to go and where you'd like to stop off on the way, and they will do the rest.  Contact www.railbookers.com, on 020 3327 0761.  They can advise you on the best trains, routes & hotels too.  They get very positive reviews, and look after their customers very well.  Browse suggested holiday itinerary to Moscow & sample prices.  At the time of writing, they offer a 3-night train journey from London to Moscow with a stopover in Berlin from £499 including 1 night hotel in Berlin & 1 night hotel in Moscow, but they can arrange one-way or return trips by train with whatever routes and stopovers you like, just ask.

• After booking, don't forget to arrange your Russian visa & Belarus transit visa.

• If you need train tickets within Russia, for example Moscow to St Petersburg, click here.

• Buy a special add-on ticket from almost any station in Britain to London International (St Pancras)

For more information about how to book European trains, see the How to buy European train tickets page.  If you are making a return journey or a one-way trip inbound from Moscow, please read the section below about booking westbound trains from Moscow to London.

Option 2:  London to Moscow via Warsaw

This option usually works out as the fastest and cheapest way to reach Moscow, it takes the direct route shown in dark blue on the route map above.

London ► Moscow

• Day 1:  Travel from London to Brussels by Eurostar, leaving London St Pancras daily except Saturdays at 15:04, arriving Brussels Midi at 18:05.  On Saturdays, depart London at 12:58 arriving Brussels Midi at 16:08.

• Day 1:  Travel from Brussels to Cologne by ICE high-speed train leaving Brussels Midi at 18:25 and arriving Cologne at 20:15.  On Saturdays you can also take the earlier 17:28 Thalys train arriving Cologne at 19:15.  You've time for dinner in Cologne.

• Day 1:  Travel from Cologne to Warsaw overnight on the EuroNight sleeper train Jan Kiepura, leaving Cologne at 22:28 and arriving Warsaw Centralna at 10:55 next morning (day 2).  The Jan Kiepura has modern air-conditioned Polish sleeping-cars (1 & 2-berth deluxe rooms with private toilet & shower plus TV/DVD player, 1, 2 & 3-berth standard rooms with washbasin, hot shower at end of the corridor, CCTV security, highly recommended), modern couchettes (more basic sleeping accommodation in 4-berth & 6-berth compartments), and reclining seats (not recommended).  The sleeper fare includes complimentary toiletries pack and morning tea or coffee and croissant.  An InterCity cafe car is attached in the morning for breakfast, but there's no catering car in the evening so feel free to take your own picnic, wine or beer on board!  More photos & information about the Jan Kiepura sleeper train.

• Spend some time in Warsaw, see the Warsaw Centralna station & city information.

• Day 2:  Travel from Warsaw to Moscow on the sleeper train Polonez, leaving Warsaw Centralna at 15:25 and arriving Moscow Byelorruski station at 12:50 next day (day 3 from London).  The Polonez arrives in Moscow an hour earlier between 31 March & 26 October, when most European clocks are put forward an hour but Russia's aren't.  The train is operated with one Russian set of sleeping-cars and one Polish set, so you stand a 50:50 chance of getting either country's train, but both sets feature 1st class 2-bed and 2nd class 3-bed compartments with carpet and washbasin, see the photos of the Polish train below.  A Russian restaurant car is attached for breakfast between Brest (just across the Belarus border) and Moscow.  Next morning, as the train passes through the small station of Borodino, look out for the plaques on the station building marked '1812' and '1942'...  Map of Moscow showing Byelorruski station.

• Day 1:  Travel from Moscow to Warsaw overnight by the sleeper train Polonez, leaving Moscow Byelorruski station at 17:21 and arriving Warsaw Centralna at 08:30 next morning.  The train will leave Moscow an hour earlier between 31 March & 26 October, when most European clocks are put forward an hour but Russia's aren't.  The train has either Polish or Russian sleeping-cars (the two sets of carriages alternate) with 1st class 2-bed & 2nd class 3-bed compartments with carpet and washbasin.  A Russian restaurant car is attached between Moscow and Brest (on the Polish border) for dinner.

• Spend the day in Warsaw, see the Warsaw Centralna station & city information.

• Day 2:  Travel from Warsaw to Cologne on the EuroNight sleeper train Jan Kiepura, leaving Warsaw Centralna at 18:35 and arriving in Cologne at 06:14 next morning.  The Jan Kiepura has modern Polish sleeping-cars (1, 2 & 3-bed standard rooms with washbasin, 1 & 2-bed deluxe rooms with private shower & toilet, highly recommended), couchettes (more basic sleeping accommodation in 4- & 6-berth compartments) and reclining seats (not recommended).   An InterCity cafe car is attached in the evening as far as Berlin, serving snacks, drinks and hot meals, but feel free to take your own picnic, wine or beer on board!  Spend the morning in Warsaw.  More photos & information about the Jan Kiepura sleeper train.

• Day 3:  Travel from Cologne to Brussels by ICE high-speed train, leaving Cologne daily at 07:43, arriving Brussels Midi at 09:35.

• Day 3:  Travel from Brussels to London by Eurostar.  On Mondays to Saturdays, a Eurostar leaves Brussels Midi at 10:56 and arrives London St Pancras at 11:57.  On Sundays, a Eurostar leaves Brussels Midi at 11:56 and arrives London St Pancras at 12:57.

Take Eurostar to Brussels and a German ICE high-speed train to Cologne...

ICE3 2nd class.  ICEs are perhaps the most comfortable daytime trains in Europe...		An ICE to Cologne & Frankfurt at Brussels Midi.  More photos & information about ICE trains.

...and the EuroNight sleeper train Jan Kiepura from Cologne to Warsaw.

Dinner in Cologne before you board?  For a traditional German meal in Cologne before boarding the sleeper to Warsaw, try the Brauhaus Sion (www.brauhaus-sion.de), 5 minutes walk from Cologne hauptbahnhof, or the Malzmuehle restaurant (www.muehlenkoelsch.de), 10-15 minutes walk from Cologne Hauptbahnhof, or there's a restaurant inside the Hauptbahnhof itself at the Schweinske, www.schweinske.de.  Feedback is always appreciated!

1, 2 or 3 bed sleepers:  The EuroNight Jan Kiepura has 1 or 2 modern air-conditioned Polish sleeping-cars, with 1, 2 & 3 bed compartments, either standard with washbasin or deluxe with shower & toilet.  More info about this train.		A cosy standard sleeper shown with all 3 beds folded out & the  washbasin visible.		A standard sleeper with the beds folded away and seats folded out.  There's a socket for laptops & mobiles.

4-berth couchettes:  Ideal for families.  More space per person than 6-berth couchettes.

6-berth couchettes:  A very economical option, far better than a seat for just a few euros more...

Above: The Jan Kiepura also has two couchette cars, with 4 & 6 berth compartments.  There are toilets & washrooms at the end of the corridor.  More pictures & info about this train

...then the sleeper train Polonez from Warsaw to Moscow.

The Polonez train from Warsaw to Moscow uses Russian sleeping-cars one day (pictured below) and Polish sleeping-cars the next (pictured above), so you've a 50:50 chance of getting the Polish train or the Russian train.  The Polish train is pictured above, about to leave Warsaw Centralna for Moscow.  Freshly repainted in the new PKP InterCity colours, each compartment (above right) has been smartly refurbished and can be used for single, double or triple occupancy, and features a washbasin, comfortable beds which convert to a seat for daytime use (as shown here).  Each car is in the charge of an immaculately-uniformed attendant from 'Wars', the Polish railways sleeper & dining car company.  An excellent train!  Below, Russian sleeping-cars as used on the Polonez, in daytime, single-berth and 2-berth modes.

A sleeper compartment in the Amsterdam-Cologne-Moscow sleeper, in daytime mode with beds folded away & seats folded out...		Single-berth sleeper:  This is a compartment in night-time mode, set up as a single berth room (middle & top bunks unused & folded away).		2-berth sleeper:  A similar compartment in night mode, this time set up as a 2-berth room with the third bunk unused & folded away...

How much does it cost?

How to buy tickets online...

• Step 1, book the London-Cologne-Warsaw part of the journey online, following the step by step instructions here.  You'll be able to see all the cheap fares, and you won't pay any booking fees for this part of the journey. 

• Step 2, book the Warsaw to Moscow train.  This cannot be booked 'live' online, but you can order online via reliable Polish agency Polrail at http://booking.polrail.com with tickets collected in Warsaw or (at extra charge) shipped to any address worldwide.  Alternatively, you can book this train by phone either with DB (08718 80 80 66, lines open open 09:00-20:00 Monday-Friday, 09:00-13:00 Saturday & Sunday) or European Rail 020 7619 1083, lines open 08:30-18:00 Monday-Friday, 09:00-13:00 Saturday.

How to buy tickets by email from Erail...

You cannot book this journey online.  However, I've prepared a booking form for you, listing all the specific trains you need to book.  Simply click here to open the form, fill it in with your dates & details and email it to sales@europeanrail.com.  Erail are a London-based agency of German Railways.  They will make the reservations and call you back to confirm the cost.  If you're okay with the price, you can give them your credit card details and buy the tickets.  Erail charge a £35 booking fee which includes postage to any UK address, or they can send to any address worldwide if you pay the courier fee.  Seat61 gets some commission if you buy tickets using this form.  If you need train tickets within Russia, for example Moscow to St Petersburg, click here.  Don't forget to arrange your Russian visa & Belarus transit visa.

How to buy tickets, other options...

Here's the full run-down of the best ways to book a train journey to Russia.  Bookings for the Warsaw-Moscow sleeper open 60 days in advance, you can't buy tickets until reservations open.  Bookings for the westbound Moscow-Warsaw sleeper open 45 days before departure.

• Book with Erail (www.europeanrail.com) by email or phone (email this special booking form to sales@europeanrail.com or call 020 7619 1083, lines open 08:30-18:00 Monday-Friday, 09:00-13:00 Saturday).  Seat61 gets some commission if you use the special booking form.  Erail uses the German Railways reservation system so can access all the fares shown above.   When they get your form, they will make all the reservations without obligation, then call you back to confirm the price and take your credit card details.  There's a £35 booking fee per transaction, but this can be worth it as their staff know what they are doing with bookings like this.  Tickets can be sent outside the UK if you live overseas.

• Book by phone with Deutsche Bahn's UK office on 08718 80 80 66, lines open 09:00-20:00 Monday-Friday, 09:00-13:00 Saturday & Sunday.  Prices are the same as those charged by Erail, though an advantage is that DB don't charge a booking fee, just a 2% fee for credit cards.  However, their staff aren't always as familiar with more exotic bookings like this, so make sure you are clear about exactly which trains you want to book before calling.

• Tailor-made travel arrangements with hotels:  If putting the trip together yourself seems too complicated (even with the booking forms and advice I provide!), one experienced company offers a compete tailor-made travel service with all your rail tickets booked for you and hotels arranged at stops along the way.  You simply tell them where you want to go and where you'd like to stop off on the way, and they will do the rest.  Contact www.railbookers.com, on 020 3327 0761.  They can advise you on the best trains, routes & hotels too.  They get very positive reviews, and look after their customers very well.  Browse suggested holiday itinerary to Moscow & sample prices.  At the time of writing, they offer a 3-night train journey from London to Moscow with a stopover in Berlin from £499 including 1 night hotel in Berlin & 1 night hotel in Moscow, but they can arrange one-way or return trips by train with whatever routes and stopovers you like, just ask.

• After booking, don't forget to arrange your Russian visa & Belarus transit visa.

• If you need train tickets within Russia, for example Moscow to St Petersburg, click here.

• Buy a special add-on ticket from almost any station in Britain to London International (St Pancras)

For more information about how to book European trains, see the How to buy European train tickets page.  If you are making a return journey or a one-way trip inbound from Moscow, please read the section above about booking westbound trains from Moscow to London.

Advice on booking westbound trains from Moscow to London...

UK agencies can easily book sleepers to Russia using the computer reservation system which covers trains starting in Germany.  However, berths on trains starting in Russia are held on the Russian reservation system, so UK agencies may have difficulty booking an inbound sleeper from Russia back to western Europe.  The German reservation computer sometimes has an allocation of berths for the inbound Moscow to Cologne or Berlin sleepers - If you are booking through Deutsche Bahn's UK office, ask the agent to try using the train number '11MJ' for the Moscow-Cologne train (whatever train number appears on their timetable enquiry screen) as this has been reported to work.  But if all else fails and your UK agency is unable to obtain the inbound Moscow-Cologne sleeper for you, simply ask them to book you (1) the return Eurostar+Thalys ticket from London to Cologne and back, (2) a one way sleeper from Cologne to Moscow.  Then book the return sleeper from Moscow to Cologne using a local Russian agency such as RealRussia, Svezhy Veter, Waytorussia.net or G&R International.  Alternatively, you can book westbound Moscow-Warsaw or Moscow-Berlin tickets using the online form below, then use www.europeanrail.com or DB's UK office to book the Warsaw or Berlin to London section.

Option 3:  London - Moscow via Berlin

	Moscow express... Russian Railways international train to Moscow...  Courtesy of David Smith
	Standard sleeper from Berlin to Moscow.
	Luxury sleeper:  One of the deluxe sleeper compartments on the Trans-European Express from Paris & Berlin to Moscow, 1 or 2 berth with shower/toilet.  Courtesy of António M. Tavares
	Berlin to Moscow:  The destination board on the Trans-European Express running all the way from Paris to Moscow.  Courtesy of www.railbookers.com.

This option is useful if you want to stop off in Paris or Berlin on the way, or need to leave London later in the day because of work commitments or the need to travel to London from remoter parts of the UK.  If you have the money it can also be the deluxe option, as a luxury sleeper (with double bed!) is available on the Berlin-Moscow train and deluxe sleeper compartments with private shower/toilet are available on the Paris-Berlin overnight train.  On the route map above, this option takes the alternative route shown in light blue via Paris as far as Berlin, then the direct route to Moscow shown in dark blue.

London ► Moscow

• Day 1, travel from London to Paris by Eurostar, leaving London St Pancras at 15:31 (14:01 on Saturdays), arriving Paris Gare du Nord at 18:47 (17:17 on Saturdays).  In Paris, it's a 10 minute walk from the Gare du Nord to the Gare de l'Est.  By all means take an earlier Eurostar if you'd like to spend some time in Paris, or if it has cheaper seats available.

• Day 1, travel from Paris to Berlin by the City Night Line sleeper train Perseus, leaving Paris Gare de l'Est daily at 20:05 and arriving at Berlin Hauptbahnhof at 08:28 next morning.  The Perseus has sleepers, couchettes, seats and a bistro car.  More pictures & information about this train.

• Day 2:  Travel from Berlin to Moscow on the Trans-European Express.  This runs on Tuesdays, Wednesdays & Saturdays all year round, and on Mondays to Saturdays in summer from 28 May to 4 October 2013, leaving Berlin Hauptbahnhof at 21:06 and arriving in Moscow Byelorruski at 00:58 two days later day (after midnight, so day 4 from London).  Because Russia no longer has daylight saving time, it will arrive at 23:58 (on day 3) from 31 March to 26 October 2013.  You can double-check times and the days when this train runs using http://bahn.hafas.de.  The Trans-European Express uses air-conditioned Russian sleeping-cars, with comfortable 1, 2 & 3-berth compartments with washbasin, and also has a luxury sleeping-car with 1 & 2 bed compartments with private shower & toilet and flat-screen TV, see the next paragraph.  A restaurant car runs between Berlin and Warsaw and between Brest and Moscow serving inexpensive meals, drinks and snacks.  Map of Moscow showing Byelorruski station.

• Luxury sleeping-car:  The Trans-European Express also has a luxury sleeping-car of the Russian Railways, introduced in 2004.  It has just four sleeper compartments, each with private shower and toilet, TV/DVD entertainment system, by day there is a sofa and coffee table, by night there is a full-width double bed plus additional single upper bunk if required.  The Berlin-Moscow one-way fare in this luxury sleeping-car is about €344 (£245) per person for two people sharing, or €448 (£320) for sole occupancy.  Try this link for more information about this luxury service, and see the photo opposite.  Traveller António Tavares reports that he was the only passenger, the other 3 compartments were empty - the car has a fancy bar area, which was closed on his trip, hot meals were included and served in his compartment, but only from Brest to Moscow.

Moscow ► London

How much does it cost?

How to buy tickets by email from Erail...

You cannot book this journey online.  However, I've prepared a booking form for you, listing all the specific trains you need to book.  Simply click here to open the form, fill it in with your dates & details and email it to sales@europeanrail.com.  Erail are a London-based agency of German Railways.  They will make the reservations and call you back to confirm the cost.  If you're okay with the price, you can give them your credit card details and buy the tickets.  Erail charge a £35 booking fee which includes postage to any UK address, or they can send to any address worldwide if you pay the courier fee.  Seat61 gets some commission if you buy tickets using this form.  If you need train tickets within Russia, for example Moscow to St Petersburg, click here.  Don't forget to arrange your Russian visa & Belarus transit visa.

How to buy tickets, other options...

Here's the full run-down of the best ways to book a train journey to Russia.  Bookings for the Berlin-Moscow sleeper open 90 days in advance, you can't buy tickets until reservations open.  Bookings for the westbound Moscow-Berlin sleeper open 45 days before departure.

• Book with Erail (www.europeanrail.com) by email or phone (email this special booking form to sales@europeanrail.com or call 020 7619 1083, lines open 08:30-18:00 Monday-Friday, 09:00-13:00 Saturday).  Seat61 gets some commission if you use the special booking form.  Erail uses the German Railways reservation system so can access all the fares shown above.   When they get your form, they will make all the reservations without obligation, then call you back to confirm the price and take your credit card details.  There's a £35 booking fee per transaction, but this can be worth it as their staff know what they are doing with bookings like this.  Tickets can be sent outside the UK if you live overseas.

• Book by phone with Deutsche Bahn's UK office on 08718 80 80 66, lines open 09:00-20:00 Monday-Friday, 09:00-13:00 Saturday & Sunday.  Prices are the same as those charged by Erail, though an advantage is that DB don't charge a booking fee, just a 2% fee for credit cards.  However, their staff aren't always as familiar with more exotic bookings like this, so make sure you are clear about exactly which trains you want to book before calling.

• Tailor-made travel arrangements with hotels:  If putting the trip together yourself seems too complicated (even with the booking forms and advice I provide!), one experienced company offers a compete tailor-made travel service with all your rail tickets booked for you and hotels arranged at stops along the way.  You simply tell them where you want to go and where you'd like to stop off on the way, and they will do the rest.  Contact www.railbookers.com, on 020 3327 0761.  They can advise you on the best trains, routes & hotels too.  They get very positive reviews, and look after their customers very well.  Browse suggested holiday itinerary to Moscow & sample prices.  At the time of writing, they offer a 3-night train journey from London to Moscow with a stopover in Berlin from £499 including 1 night hotel in Berlin & 1 night hotel in Moscow, but they can arrange one-way or return trips by train with whatever routes and stopovers you like, just ask.

• After booking, don't forget to arrange your Russian visa & Belarus transit visa.

• If you need train tickets within Russia, for example Moscow to St Petersburg, click here.

For more information about how to book European trains, see the How to buy European train tickets page.  If you are making a return journey or a one-way trip inbound from Moscow, please read the section above about booking westbound trains from Moscow to London.

Option 4:  By ferry via Amsterdam

	London to Amsterdam by Dutch Flyer train & ferry...  By train from London to the ferry terminal at Harwich.  Walk off the train into the terminal, get your boarding card & cabin key at the Stena Line desk & walk onto the overnight ferry to Hoek van Holland.  See the Netherlands page...
	Cosy cabins:  All passengers travel in a private cabin with shower, toilet, satellite TV & free WiFi.

The ferry alternative, with a free day in Amsterdam...

The fastest option is to take Eurostar via the Channel Tunnel using one of the options shown above, but there are some good reasons why you might prefer a ferry alternative.  For example, if there are problems affecting Eurostar or the Channel Tunnel, or if all the cheap Eurostar tickets have sold out, or if you live in the North of England, Scotland or East Anglia and want to by-pass London.  Or you might simply prefer a relaxing journey, cruising overnight on the Stena Line superferry to Hoek van Holland in a luxury en suite cabin with shower, toilet, satellite TV and free WiFi, spending a day at leisure exploring Amsterdam, then taking the Polish 'Jan Kiepura' EuroNight sleeper train from Amsterdam to Warsaw and the 'Polonez' sleeper train from Warsaw to Moscow.  Note that the direct Russian sleeping-car from Amsterdam to Moscow was discontinued in December 2012.  You can buy special Dutch Flyer train & ferry tickets from London or any National Express East Anglia rail station to Amsterdam using the Harwich-Hoek ferry, complete with a private cabin.  If you live in the North of England or Scotland, DFDS Seaways run an excellent daily overnight cruise ferry from Newcastle to IJmuiden (near Amsterdam), and P&O Ferries run a daily overnight cruise ferry from Hull to Rotterdam Europoort with bus/train connections to Amsterdam.  So catch the overnight cruise ferry to Holland, spend a day exploring Amsterdam, then hop on the sleeper to Russia! 

London, East Anglia & Amsterdam ► Moscow

• Day 1, travel overnight from London to Amsterdam by Dutch Flyer combined train & ferry service.  You leave London Liverpool Street station at 19:32 by train to Harwich International and board the luxurious overnight Stena Line superferry to Hoek van Holland, sailing at 23:15 and arriving at Hoek at 07:45 next morning.  All passengers get a comfortable private cabin with shower, toilet, satellite TV and free WiFi.  A connecting train will get you to Amsterdam Centraal at 09:48.  Cheap combined train & ferry tickets are offered on this route from London or any National Express East Anglia rail station to Amsterdam, covering both trains and the ferry, see the Netherlands page for full details of times, fares and how to buy tickets.

• Coming from the North of England or Scotland?  Take a train to either Hull or Newcastle, whichever is most convenient for where you live.  Transfer to the P&O overnight cruise ferry from Hull to Rotterdam or the DFDS Seaways cruise ferry from Newcastle to IJmuiden, the port of Amsterdam.  Both ferries have bars, restaurants & comfortable en suite cabins, arriving next morning.  For details of timetables, fares, station to port transfer arrangements & how to buy tickets for travel to Amsterdam via each of these ferry routes, see the UK-Netherlands page.

• Day 2, spend the day at leisure in Amsterdam, all the sights are easy walking distance from Centraal station.  Left luggage lockers are available at Amsterdam Centraal.

• Day 2 evening:  Travel from Amsterdam to Warsaw overnight on the EuroNight sleeper train Jan Kiepura, leaving Amsterdam Centraal at 19:01 and arriving Warsaw Centralna at 10:55 next morning (day 3).  The Jan Kiepura has modern air-conditioned Polish sleeping-cars (1 & 2-berth deluxe rooms with private toilet & shower plus TV/DVD player, 1, 2 & 3-berth standard rooms with washbasin, hot shower at end of the corridor, CCTV security, highly recommended), modern couchettes (more basic sleeping accommodation in 4-berth & 6-berth compartments), and reclining seats (not recommended).  The sleeper fare includes complimentary toiletries pack and morning tea or coffee and croissant.  An InterCity cafe car is attached in the morning for breakfast, but there's no catering car in the evening so feel free to take your own picnic, wine or beer on board!  More photos & information about the Jan Kiepura sleeper train.

• Day 3:  Spend some time in Warsaw, see the Warsaw Centralna station & city information.

• Day 3 afternoon:  Travel from Warsaw to Moscow on the sleeper train Polonez, leaving Warsaw Centralna at 16:25 and arriving Moscow Byelorruski station at 12:50 next day (day 4 from London).  The Polonez arrives Moscow an hour earlier between 31 March & 26 October, when most European clocks are put forward an hour but Russia's aren't.  The train is operated with one Russian set of sleeping-cars and one Polish set, so you stand a 50:50 chance of getting either country's train, but both sets feature 1st class 2-bed and 2nd class 3-bed compartments with carpet and washbasin, see the photos of the Polish train below.  A Russian restaurant car is attached for breakfast between Brest (just across the Belarus border) and Moscow.  Next morning, as the train passes through the small station of Borodino, look out for the plaques on the station building marked '1812' and '1942'...  Map of Moscow showing Byelorruski station.

Moscow ► Amsterdam, East Anglia & London

• Day 1:  Travel from Moscow to Warsaw overnight by the sleeper train Polonez, leaving Moscow Byelorruski station at 17:21 and arriving Warsaw Centralna at 08:30 next morning (day 2).  The train will leave Moscow an hour earlier between 31 March & 26 October, when most European clocks are put forward an hour but Russia's aren't.  The train has either Polish or Russian sleeping-cars (the two sets of carriages alternate) with 1st class 2-bed & 2nd class 3-bed compartments with carpet and washbasin.  A Russian restaurant car is attached between Moscow and Brest (on the Polish border) for dinner.

• Day 2:  Spend the day in Warsaw, see the Warsaw Centralna station & city information.

• Day 2:  Travel from Warsaw to Amsterdam on the EuroNight sleeper train Jan Kiepura, leaving Warsaw Centralna at 18:35 and arriving in Amsterdam Centraal at 09:59 next morning (day 3).  The Jan Kiepura has modern Polish sleeping-cars (1, 2 & 3-bed standard rooms with washbasin, 1 & 2-bed deluxe rooms with private shower & toilet, highly recommended), couchettes (more basic sleeping accommodation in 4- & 6-berth compartments) and reclining seats (not recommended).   An InterCity cafe car is attached in the evening as far as Berlin, serving snacks, drinks and hot meals, but feel free to take your own picnic, wine or beer on board!  Spend the morning in Warsaw.  More photos & information about the Jan Kiepura sleeper train.

• Day 3:  Spend the day in Amsterdam, left luggage lockers are available at Amsterdam Centraal station.

• Day 3, evening:  Travel from Amsterdam to London overnight by Dutch Flyer train & ferry.  You leave Amsterdam Centraal around 18:46 by train to Hoek van Holland, changing in Rotterdam.  Sail overnight on the luxury Stena Line superferry, sailing at 22:30 (21:30 weekends) and arriving in Harwich at 06:30.  You sleep in a comfortable private cabin with shower & toilet, satellite TV and free WiFi.  A connecting train will get you to London by around 08:50 (day 4 from Moscow).  Special cheap SailRail tickets are offered on this route from Amsterdam to London or any National Express East Anglia rail station, covering both trains and the ferry, see the Netherlands page for full details of times, fares and how to buy tickets.

• Heading for the North of England or Scotland?  Transfer from Amsterdam Centraal by bus or train+bus to the relevant ferry terminal and sail overnight by cruise ferry either with P&O Ferries from Rotterdam Europoort to Hull or with DFDS Seaways from IJmuiden (near Amsterdam) to Newcastle, whichever is most convenient for where you live.  Next morning (day 4) transfer to the station and take a train home.  For full details of train & ferry times, port transfer arrangements and how to buy tickets for each of these routes, see the UK-Netherlands page.

Introducing the EuroNight sleeper train Jan Kiepura from Amsterdam to Warsaw...

1, 2 or 3 bed sleepers:  The EuroNight Jan Kiepura has modern air-conditioned Polish sleeping-cars, with 1, 2 & 3 bed compartments, either standard with washbasin or deluxe with shower & toilet.  More info about this train.		A cosy standard sleeper seen with all 3 beds folded out & the  washbasin visible.		A standard sleeper with the beds folded away and seats folded out.  There's a socket for laptops & mobiles.

4-berth couchettes:  Ideal for families.  Much more space per person than 6-berth couchettes.

6-berth couchettes:  A very economical option, far better than a seat for just a few euros more...

Above: The Jan Kiepura also has two couchette cars, with 4 & 6 berth compartments.  There are toilets & washrooms at the end of the corridor.  More pictures & info about this train

...and the Polonez sleeper train from Warsaw to Moscow.

The sleeper train Polonez from Warsaw to Moscow uses Russian sleeping-cars one day and Polish sleeping-cars the next, so you've a 50:50 chance of getting the Polish train or the Russian train.  The Polish train is pictured above, about to leave Warsaw Centralna for Moscow.  Freshly repainted in the new PKP InterCity colours, each compartment (above right) has been smartly refurbished and can be used for single, double or triple occupancy, and features a washbasin, comfortable beds which convert to a seat for daytime use (as shown here).  Each car is in the charge of an immaculately-uniformed attendant from 'Wars', the Polish railways sleeper & dining car company.  An excellent train!

How much does it cost?

How to buy tickets...

• Step 1, buy a Dutch Flyer train & ferry ticket from London to Amsterdam online as shown on the London to Amsterdam page.  One ticket covers the whole journey, train and ferry then Dutch train.

• For journeys via P&O Hull-Rotterdam or DFDS Seaways Newcastle-Amsterdam, first buy your ferry ticket online at www.dfds.co.uk (Newcastle-Amsterdam) or www.poferries.com (Hull-Rotterdam).  Then check train fares and buy train tickets to Hull or Newcastle using www.thetrainline.com or www.nationalrail.co.uk;

• Step 2, book the Jan Kiepura Amsterdam to Warsaw sleeper train online at the German Railways website www.bahn.de.  Booking opens 90 days before departure.  Simply look for the direct EN (EuroNight) train with 0 changes in the search results and click to check availability.  You print out your own ticket.  Easy!

• Step 3, the Polonez from Warsaw to Moscow cannot be booked online, so book by phone.  Calling either German Railways' UK office on 08718 80 80 66 (lines open 09:00-20:00 Monday-Friday, 09:00-13:00 Saturday & Sunday, no booking fee) or www.europeanrail.com on 020 7619 1083 (08:30-18:00 Monday-Friday, 09:00-13:00 Saturdays, £35 booking fee but can sometimes have more time to help).  For journeys back from Russia, read this note about booking westbound trains from Moscow.  Another option for booking the Warsaw to Moscow Polonez is to contact reliable Polish train booking agency www.polrail.com.

• Alternatively, you can book the whole trip from London to Moscow via Amsterdam and Warsaw with UK ticketing agency www.europeanrail.com on 020 7619 1083 (08:30-18:00 Monday-Friday, 09:00-13:00 Saturdays, £35 booking fee), please quote 'seat61' when you book.

• Don't forget to arrange your Russian visa and Belarus transit visa.

Option 5:  New direct train from Paris to Moscow

	The Paris-Moscow Trans-European Express. This is a carriage destination board...  Courtesy of www.railbookers.com
	Luxury sleeper on the Trans-European Express from Paris to Moscow, 1 or 2 berth with shower & toilet plus TV/DVD.  Photo courtesy of António M. Tavares
	Standard sleeper on the Moscow to Paris train, in daytime mode.  Each compartment can be used as a 1, 2 or 3 berth.  Courtesy of  John  Delikanakis
	On the Paris-Moscow sleeper, the china & serviette stand are proudly branded Paris-Moscow! Courtesy of John  Delikanakis
	Moscow express... Russian Railways international train to Moscow...  Courtesy of David Smith

Starting 14 December 2011, a brand-new train called the Trans-European Express started linking Paris with Moscow three times a week in winter, five or six times a week in summer, taking 2 days and 1 night.  Run entirely by Russian Railways (RZD), it follows the success of RZD's twice-weekly direct sleeping-car from Paris to Moscow introduced in December 2007, which was attached to other trains and took two nights.  This was itself a resurrection of the direct Paris-Moscow sleeping-car service introduced by the Soviets in the 1960s and withdrawn in 1994.  The new train is safe, comfortable, and very civilised (apart from a rather late arrival in Moscow at certain times of year!).  On the route map above, this option takes the route shown in light blue via Paris as far as Berlin, then the direct route to Moscow shown in dark blue, a total of 3,177 km or about 1,985 miles from Paris to Moscow, making it the second-longest direct train in Europe.  See the information on the Russian Railways website.

London & Paris ► Moscow

• Day 1:  Travel from London to Paris Gare du Nord on any Eurostar you like.  The last one usually goes at 20:01, or 20:31 on Sundays.

• Spend the night in Paris.

• Day 2:  Travel from Paris to Moscow on the Trans-European Express.  This runs on Tuesdays, Wednesdays & Saturdays all year round, or Mondays to Fridays in summer from 28 May to 4 October 2013.  It leaves Paris Gare de l'Est at 08:28 and arriving at Moscow Byelorruski at 00:58 two days later (i.e. after midnight, so actually day 4 from London).  Because Russia now has no daylight saving time, it will arrive at 23:58 (on day 3) from 31 March until 26 October 2013.  See the information on the Russian Railways website.  The trains passes through Germany, Poland and Belarus to reach Russia, so you will need a Belarus transit visa.  Map of Moscow showing Byelorruski station.

Moscow ► Paris & London

• Day 1:  Travel from Moscow to Paris on the Trans-European Express.  This runs on Mondays, Thursdays & Sundays all year round, and daily except Fridays from 29 May to 3 October 2013.  It leaves Moscow Byelorruski station at 08:42 (08:00 from 30 March until 24 October 2013) and arrives at Paris Gare de l'Est at 20:42 the next day (day 2).  the train passes through Belarus, Poland and Germany to reach France, so you'll need a Belarus transit visa.  Map of Moscow showing Byelorruski station.

• Spend the night in Paris.

• Day 3, take any Eurostar you like back to London.  The first one usually leaves Paris Gare du Nord at 07:13 arriving London St Pancras at 08:30.

On board the Paris-Moscow Trans-European Express...

• Standard sleeping-cars:  These have 1, 2 & 3-bed compartments with washbasin, of the same 1990s-built air-conditioned type used on the Amsterdam-Cologne-Moscow route, see the photos above.  2 person occupancy is considered 'first class', 3 person occupancy is considered 'second class' but compartments are identical, and can be used with 1, 2 or 3 beds folded out.  They convert between a sofa with armrests by day and lower, middle and upper berths at night.  Soap, towels and all bedding are supplied.  The attendant car provide hot sweet Russian tea from the samovar at the end of the corridor.  Berths are sold individually, so you can book a bed in a 3-bed sleeper and share, which is the cheapest option. 

• Luxury sleeping-car:  The train has one luxury sleeping-car with four 1 or 2 bed compartments with private shower & toilet, a flat-screen TV with DVD system, complimentary breakfast provided.  Only whole compartments are sold, not individual berths.  The lower berth can be expanded into a full-width double bed.  By day, the berths fold away to become a sofa and table (see photo below right).  A complimentary breakfast is included, served in your compartment.

• Restaurant car:  A Polish restaurant car is attached between Paris and Warsaw, serving complete meals, drinks and snacks, and a Russian restaurant car operates between Best and Moscow.

• See the London to Ukraine page for prices between London and Kiev.

• Kiev to Moscow bought in the UK costs around £80 one-way in 4-berth or £130 one-way in 2-berth (all per person).

• There's a reduction if you buy both the Warsaw-Kiev and Kiev-Moscow tickets together, Warsaw-Kiev-Moscow becomes £146 one-way in 3-berth to Kiev then 4-berth to Moscow.

• You'll still need a Russian visa, but you don't go through Belarus if you go this way.

How to buy tickets...

• You can't book this journey online, you need to call or email an agency.

• To buy tickets, click here for a booking form which lists all the specific trains you need to book.  Fill in the form & email it to sales@europeanrail.com.  European Rail will make the reservations and call you back to confirm the cost.  Assuming you're okay with the price, you can give them your credit card details and they will send you the tickets.  European Rail is an experienced agency whose staff are used to making more exotic bookings like this.  They are equipped with the German Railways reservation & ticketing system, so have access to all the cheap fares for travel via Germany.  They charge a £35 booking fee which includes postage to any UK address, or they can send to any address worldwide if you pay the courier fee.  Seat61 gets some commission if you buy tickets using this form.  If you need train tickets within Russia, for example Moscow to St Petersburg, click here.  Don't forget to arrange your Russian visa and Belarus transit visa.

• All the necessary trains can be pre-booked from the UK for an eastbound journey.  However, for westbound journeys you'll need to book your Moscow-Kiev train in Moscow (or with someone like Real Russia using the online form below), and book your Kiev-Warsaw train in Kiev.  Erail can pre-book the Warsaw-London part of the journey if you like.

---

Other possible routes & options...

There are several other routes worth considering, especially if you want to stop off on the way in Scandinavia, the Baltic States or Ukraine, or to avoid travelling through Belarus and so avoid the cost and hassle of getting a Belarus transit visa (although this isn't really a problem, just an expense and a bit of extra bureaucracy).  All these routes take at least 3 nights compared with just 2 nights travelling on the direct route through Belarus, so the cost of an extra day or two's food and accommodation must be set against the cost of the Belarus visa for travel on a direct train to Moscow.  These alternative routes tend to involve a bit more legwork to book, too.  If you simply want to avoid Belarus, the quickest and easiest way to do this is to head south via Ukraine, see the section above.  You might not be saving much money by avoiding Belarus, but the opportunity to stop off in some fascinating places and countries makes these alternative routes worth considering.

London to Moscow via Warsaw, Vilnius & the Baltic States...

You can travel from London to Moscow via the Baltic states, avoiding Belarus, although this will take at least 2 nights longer than taking a direct train through Belarus.  The simplest option is London-Warsaw-Vilnius-St Petersburg and then on to Moscow, see the London to St Petersburg section below where this option is explained.  It avoids Belarus and gives you a day in Warsaw and a day in Vilnius. 

If you want to add Riga to your itinerary, simply travel from Vilnius to Riga by bus (www.eurolines.lv) or occasional train (see the Lithuania page), then take the daily overnight sleeper train from Riga to Moscow or Riga to St Petersburg, neither of which pass through Belarus. 

And if you want to add Tallinn as well, take a bus or train onwards from Riga to Tallinn then the overnight train from Tallinn to Moscow which also by-passes Belarus, see the Estonia page. 

The online booking form below will give you train times for Vilnius-Moscow (although this train passes through Belarus), Vilnius-St Petersburg (this train doesn't), Vilnius-Riga, Riga-Moscow & Riga-St Petersburg (none of which pass through Belarus) and let you buy tickets for these trains online, with tickets couriered to any UK or an EU address for £12 to £20.

London to Moscow via Copenhagen, Stockholm & Helsinki...

This is slower than the direct route, taking at least 3 nights to Moscow, though potentially only 2 nights to St Petersburg so not a bad option at all if you're heading there.  It avoids Belarus and lets you see a lot of  Scandinavia on the way.  You take an afternoon Eurostar to Brussels and a high-speed ICE to Cologne on day 1, the overnight City Night Line sleeper train from Cologne to Copenhagen, a fast X2000 train to Stockholm on day 2, then the overnight ferry to Turku with a train connection to Helsinki arriving in the morning of day 3.  Once in Finland, there are several daily 'Allegro' trains from Helsinki to St Petersburg taking just 3½ hours, or a daily overnight sleeper train from Helsinki to Moscow called the 'Tolstoi'.  Full details of the London-Helsinki train & ferry journey, the Helsinki to St Petersburg 'Allegro' trains & the Helsinki to Moscow 'Tolstoi' sleeper train are shown on the London to Finland page.

London to Moscow via Copenhagen, Stockholm & either Tallinn or Riga...

Another possibility is travelling from London to Copenhagen and on to Stockholm, then taking the overnight ferry to either Tallinn or Riga.  Direct sleeper trains then link both Tallinn and Riga to both Moscow & St Petersburg, none of which pass through Belarus. For full details of both the journey from London and the onward trains to Moscow & St Petersburg, see the London to Estonia page or London to Latvia page for details.

---

London to St Petersburg

There are several good ways to travel from the UK to St Petersburg by train:

• Option 1:  London to Moscow then Moscow to St Petersburg.  This is the fastest & most frequent option as it runs daily and can take as little as 2 nights if you take a daytime train to St Petersburg the same day you arrive in Moscow.  However, you can stop off in Moscow for however long you want, as the Moscow-St Petersburg leg is ticketed separately.  It goes via Belarus, so you'll need a Belarus visa as well as a Russian one.

• Option 2:  London to St Petersburg via Warsaw & Vilnius, avoiding Belarus.  This takes 4 nights, so is 2 nights longer than going via Moscow.  But you get a day at leisure in Warsaw and a day at leisure in Vilnius, the capital of Lithuania, and as it by-passes Belarus there's no Belarus visa to worry about.  Daily departures.

• Option 3:  London to St Petersburg with a stopover in Minsk.  The often-underrated capital of Belarus is worth a stop, so this option is worth considering, especially as the whole trip still only takes 3 nights even with 1 night in a hotel in Minsk.

• Option 4:  London to Stockholm by train, then new direct twice-weekly cruise ferry to St Petersburg.  A useful new option!

• Other options...  You could travel to Copenhagen, then Stockholm, take an overnight cruise ferry to either Tallinn or Helsinki, then a train to St Petersburg or Moscow.  Slower & more complex, but much to see on the way, a holiday in itself.

Option 1:  London to Moscow, then Moscow to St Petersburg...

This is the fastest and most frequent option, using daily direct trains from Cologne or Warsaw to Moscow, then one of many Moscow-St Petersburg trains.

• Travel from London to Moscow as shown in the London to Moscow section above.

• Travel from Moscow to St Petersburg by any of the many overnight trains, or on one of the new 'Sapsan' high-speed daytime trains in just 3 hours 55 minutes.

• To buy tickets, first arrange your London to Moscow tickets as shown above.

• Then book an internal Russian train between Moscow & St Petersburg using the booking form below which links to Russian rail ticketing & visa agency Real Russia.

Sapsan high-speed trains from Moscow to St Petersburg, in 3 hours 55 minutes...

Introduced in December 2009, the Sapsan (Peregrine Falcon) 250 km/h high-speed trains link Moscow & St Petersburg in just 3 hours 55 minutes.  The initial 3 services a day have now been increased to 5 trains each way every day.  The Sapsans have been very successful, with a 99% on-time performance and an average load factor of 80% (meaning each departure is on average 80% full).  Built by Siemens and based on the superb German ICE, they are set to revolutionise travel between Russia's two prime cities, with additional services and faster journey times to come as the line is progressively upgraded.  See the Russian railways' Sapsan video.

Traveller Ian Newberry reports:  "On May 19 [2010] I travelled from Moscow to St Petersburg on Sapsan train 156 leaving at 13:00.  Departure was punctual and the staff greeting passengers could not have been better - they all speak English as well as Russian.  The service on the train was extremely good and in business class a full 3 course meal was served with wines and spirits all included in the price of the ticket.  Information was supplied through screens and announcements in English as well as Russian. The train is very comfortable and arrived 5 minutes ahead of schedule at 17.40.  If one wants to avoid a night train then this is a very civilised way to travel, on a par with any equivalent TGV or ICE available in western Europe."

A 150mph Sapsan train between Moscow and St Petersburg and (above right) 2nd class seats.  Photos courtesy of Mark Pascoe

Overnight sleeper trains from Moscow to St Petersburg... 

The best Russian Railways overnight train is the famous Krasnaya Strela (Red Arrow) leaving Moscow (Leningradski Vokzal) at 23:55 daily, arriving in St Petersburg (Moskovski Vokzal) at 07:55 next morning.  The Krasnaya Strela has 2-berth and 4-berth sleeping cars plus two luxury sleeping-cars with 1 & 2-bed rooms with private toilet shower and TV/DVD entertainment.  The fare is about 3,280 rubles (£70 or $110) in a kupé 4-berth sleeper, 5,895 rubles (£126 or $197) spalny vagon 2-berth sleeper or 16,250 rubles (£551 or $865) luxury sleeper with private shower and toilet - although there are less swish, cheaper sleeper trains.  The Krasnaya Strela has now been joined by a couple of other premium sleeper trains, train 3/4 Ekspres and train 5/6 Nicholaevsky Express.  Since 2005, there's also a privately-run luxury train, the Grand Express, with fares from 3,700 rubles.  Click for information & online booking for the Grand Express.

A first class 2-berth sleeper on the Krasnaya Strela between Moscow & St Petersburg.  Photo courtesy of Chris Sparks		Train number 1/2, the famous Krasnaya Strela (Red Arrow) between St Petersburg & Moscow.  Photo courtesy of Chris Sparks

Option 2:  London to St Petersburg via Warsaw & Vilnius...

This option takes longer (4 nights) but has two major plusses. First, it by-passes Belarus so no need for a Belarus visa.  Second, you get a day at leisure exploring Warsaw and a day at leisure exploring Vilnius, the capital of Lithuania.

London ► St Petersburg via Vilnius

• Day 1, travel from London to Warsaw as shown on the London to Poland page.  You leave London at 15:04 (12:58 on Saturdays) by Eurostar to Brussels, superb high-speed ICE train to Cologne and the excellent EuroNight Sleeper train Jan Kiepura to Warsaw, arriving 10:55 on day 2.

• Day 2, spend the day exploring Warsaw, visiting the Palace of Culture & the old town.  Stay overnight - I recommend the excellent Polonia Palace Hotel, just across the road from the Palace of Culture skyscraper and Warsaw Centralna station, 20 minutes walk from Warsaw's old town.

• Day 3, travel from Warsaw to Vilnius by train, as shown on the Lithuania page.  You leave Warsaw Centralna at 07:20, make quick changes of train at the Lithuanian border and at Kaunas, arriving Vilnius at 18:15.  Bring your own supplies of food and beer for the journey.  Stay in Vilnius overnight - check Vilnius hotels here.

• Day 4, spend the day exploring historic Vilnius, capital of Lithuania.  In the evening, travel by direct sleeper train from Vilnius to St Petersburg, leaving Vilnius at 19:32 daily and arriving next day (day 5 from London) in St Petersburg Vitebski at 11:20.  The train has 2-berth and 4-berth sleepers.  This train passes directly from Lithuania into Latvia and then Russia, by-passing Belarus.  It crosses the Russian border at Pytalovo around 04:00.

St Petersburg ► London via Vilnius

• Day 1, travel from St Petersburg to Vilnius by direct sleeper train, leaving St Petersburg Vitebski at 20:40 arriving Vilnius at 08:18 next morning (day 2).  The train has 2-berth and 4-berth sleepers.  This train passes directly from Russia into Latvia into Lithuania, by-passing Belarus.  It crosses the Russian border at Pytalovo around 04:00, so for visa purposes the date you exit Russia is the date after you leave St Petersburg.

• Day 2, spend the day exploring Vilnius and stay there overnight - check Vilnius hotels here.

• Day 3, travel from Vilnius to Warsaw by train as shown on the Lithuania page, leaving Vilnius at 07:20, changing at Kaunas and at the Polish border at Sestokai arriving Warsaw Centralna at 20:50.  Bring your own supplies of food and beer for the journey.  Stay overnight in Warsaw - I recommend the excellent Polonia Palace Hotel, just across the road from the Palace of Culture skyscraper and Warsaw Centralna station, 20 minutes walk from Warsaw's old town.

• Day 4, spend the day exploring Warsaw.  In the early evening, catch the 18:35 EuroNight Sleeper train Jan Kiepura to Cologne for the ICE train to Brussels and Eurostar back to London, arriving on day 5 at 11:57 Mondays-Saturdays or 12:57 on Sundays.  Details of the Warsaw to London journey are shown on the London to Poland page.

Fares & how to buy tickets...

• See the London to Poland page for details of fares and how to buy tickets between London and Warsaw.  Booking opens 92 days ahead, the earlier you book the cheaper the fares.  You can book all the necessary tickets for this section online as shown.  London to Cologne starts at €59, Cologne to Warsaw starts at €49 with couchette.

• Warsaw to Vilnius costs around 140 zlotys (€35).  No reservation is necessary, you can buy the ticket at the station.

• Vilnius to St Petersburg can be pre-booked through Real Russia using the booking form below.  It costs around £119 in a 4-bed sleeper or £213 in a 2-bed sleeper, plus £12-£20 for delivery to a UK or EU address.

• Alternatively, UK-based ticketing agency European Rail (www.europeanrail.com) can arrange your whole trip from London to St Petersburg, call them on 020 7619 1083 (lines open 08:30-18:00 Monday-Friday, 09:00-13:00 Saturdays, £35 booking fee).  Please quote 'Seat61.com' when booking.

Option 3:  London to St Petersburg with a stopover in Minsk...

If you'd like to visit the capital of Belarus for 24 hours or more on the way, this option is daily with cheap Saver return fares available.  It doesn't cost much more, either.

• Travel from London to Minsk as shown in the section below.

• Spend a night & day in Minsk, or longer if you'd like.

• A sleeper train leaves Minsk at 17:40 arriving St Petersburg Vitebski station at 08:52.  It has 2-berth & 4-berth sleepers.

• Returning, a sleeper train leaves St Petersburg Vitebski at 19:08 arriving Minsk at 09:10.  It has 2-berth & 4-berth sleepers.

• Spend a day and night in Minsk, then travel from Minsk to London as shown in the section below

How much does it cost?

1. London to Cologne  by Eurostar+Thalys...	Fares for Eurostar+ICE start at €59 (£49) each way.  Fares for Eurostar+Thalys start at £56 one-way or £103 return  Fares vary like air fares, so book in advance to get the cheapest prices.  Child, youth, senior Eurostar fares
2. Cologne to Minsk by direct sleeper   then Minsk to St Petersburg,  approximate fare per person:	sharing 3-berth sleeper	sharing 2-berth  sleeper	single berth sleeper
Adult one-way fare:	£271	£341	£445

How to buy tickets... 

European Rail can book the whole trip in both directions.  Click here for a booking form.  You'll need to book a hotel in Minsk separately.

Option 4:  London to St Petersburg by train to Stockholm then direct cruise ferry...

• Travel from London to Stockholm by Eurostar, ICE, the excellent Cologne-Copenhagen City Night Line sleeper train and a fast X2000 high-speed train to Stockholm, as shown on the London to Sweden page.  You leave London in the afternoon on day 1, and arrive Stockholm early evening on day 2.  See the London to Sweden page for full details of train times, prices and how to buy tickets.

• Spend the night in Stockholm, find a hotel here.

• A new ferry company, St Peter Line (www.stpeterline.com), sails twice a week from Stockholm via Tallinn to St Petersburg using a luxurious cruise ferry.  She sails at 19:00 on various dates, arriving St Petersburg at 09:30 two nights later, with a day to explore in Tallinn on the way.  The return trip also takes 2 nights, with a day spent exploring Helsinki included.  See www.stpeterline.com to check sailing schedule and prices.  Other ferries on this route seem to have started up and been discontinued soon afterwards, it's hoped that this one will survive a bit longer!

• Onward trains to Moscow are explained on the train travel in Russia page.

Other options....

London to St Petersburg via Stockholm & Helsinki...

If you feel like seeing a bit of Scandinavia on the way to Russia, you could travel from London to St Petersburg via Stockholm and Helsinki.  This will take 3 nights / 4 days.  See the Finland page for information on the journey from London to Helsinki and the connections to St Petersburg.

London to St Petersburg via Stockholm & Tallinn...

Alternatively, you could travel from London to St Petersburg via Stockholm and Tallinn.  See the Estonia page for information on the journey from London to Tallinn, and the overnight sleeper train linking Tallinn and St Petersburg.

---

London to Minsk (Belarus)

	On its way!  The direct Belarus Railways sleeping-car to Minsk gathers speed down the platform.  This Belarus sleeper runs 3 times a week.
	Right:  A cosy 1, 2 or 3 berth sleeper compartment in the sleeper to Minsk.  It's seen here in daytime mode (although the top bunk is still folded out).

London ► Minsk

• Day 1:  Travel from London to Brussels by Eurostar, leaving London St Pancras daily except Saturdays at 15:04, arriving Brussels Midi at 18:05.  On Saturdays, depart London at 12:58 arriving Brussels Midi at 16:08.

• Day 1:  Travel from Brussels to Cologne by ICE high-speed train leaving Brussels Midi at 18:25 and arriving Cologne at 20:15.  On Saturdays you can also take the earlier 17:28 Thalys train arriving Cologne at 19:15.  You've time for a meal in Cologne.

• Day 1:  Travel from Cologne to Minsk by modern, air-conditioned sleeping-car of the Belarus Railways, leaving Cologne Hauptbahnhof on Tuesdays, Thursdays & Saturdays at 22:28.  After travelling across Germany and Poland, it arrives in Minsk at 23:11 the next day (Day 2 from London).  It will arrive at 00:11 from 28 October 2012 until 29 March 2013 and from 25 October 2013 to March 3014, as Belarus no longer has daylight saving time. Take you own supplies, including beer or wine if you like.  The sleeper has 1, 2 & 3 bed compartments.

Minsk ► London

• Day 1:  Travel from Minsk to Cologne by direct sleeping-car of the Belarus Railways, leaving Minsk on Tuesdays, Thursdays & Sundays at 09:34 (or at 08:34 from 30 March to 24 October 2013), crossing Poland and Germany and arriving in Cologne at 06:14 the next day.  The sleeper has 1, 2 & 3 bed compartments.

• Day 3:  Travel from Cologne to Brussels by ICE high-speed train, leaving Cologne daily at 07:43, arriving Brussels Midi at 09:35.

• Day 3:  Travel from Brussels to London by Eurostar.  On Mondays to Saturdays, a Eurostar leaves Brussels Midi at 10:56 and arrives London St Pancras at 11:57.  On Sundays, a Eurostar leaves Brussels Midi at 11:56 and arrives London St Pancras at 12:57.

How much does it cost?

1. London to Cologne  by Eurostar+Thalys...	Fares for Eurostar+ICE start at €59 (£49) each way.  Fares for Eurostar+Thalys start at £56 one-way or £103 return  Fares vary like air fares, so book in advance to get the cheapest prices.  Child, youth, senior Eurostar fares
2. Cologne to Minsk by sleeper  approx fare per person...	Sharing a 3-berth sleeper	Sharing a 2-berth  sleeper	In a single-berth sleeper
Normal one-way fare: (returns are twice the one-way fare)	£190	£212	£271

How to buy tickets, the easy way...

Click the button (or click here) and a booking form will appear which lists all the specific trains you need to book.  Fill in the form & email it to sales@europeanrail.com.  European Rail will make the reservations and call you back to confirm the cost.  If you're okay with the price, you can give them your credit card details and they will send you the tickets.  European Rail is an experienced agency whose staff are used to making more exotic bookings like this.  They are equipped with the German Railways reservation & ticketing system, so have access to all the cheap fares for travel via Germany.  They charge a £35 booking fee which includes postage to any UK address, or they can send to any address worldwide if you pay the courier fee.  Seat61 gets some commission if you buy tickets using this form.  If you need train tickets within Belarus & Russia, for example Minsk to Moscow or St Petersburg, click here.  Don't forget to arrange your Belarus visa.

How to buy tickets, the full story...

You cannot book this journey online, only by phone.  Bookings for the Cologne-Minsk sleeper open 60 days before departure, you can't book before reservations open. The best UK agencies to use to book tickets to Minsk are either Deutsche Bahn's UK office on 08718 80 80 66 (lines open 09:00-20:00 Monday-Friday, 09:00-13:00 Saturday & Sunday, no booking fee, 2% credit card fee but none for debit cards) or www.europeanrail.com on 020 7619 1083 (08:30-18:00 Monday-Friday, 09:00-13:00 Saturdays, £35 booking fee but are often more familiar with bookings like this).  If you are making a return journey (or a one-way inbound journey) see the note above about booking trains back from Russia, the same applies to journeys back from Minsk.  You can book westbound Minsk-Warsaw or Minsk-Berlin tickets using the online form below.

---

Buy Russian train tickets online...

What tickets can this system sell?  This system can sell tickets for any mainline train journey within Russia, Ukraine, Latvia, Estonia, Belarus, Lithuania, Kazakhstan and the other ex-Soviet states.  It will also sell tickets for journeys starting in those countries heading outwards, for example Moscow to Berlin or St Petersburg to Helsinki.  Reservations officially open 45 days before departure, but Real Russia allow you to request tickets up to 180 days ahead and they will contact you for payment when the price is confirmed. Can anyone buy tickets using this system?  Yes, you can buy tickets online with a credit card whether you live in the UK, USA, Canada, Australia, or wherever. How are tickets delivered?  Tickets can be collected free of charge at Real Russia's offices in Moscow or St Petersburg, or an e-ticket can be emailed to you so you can collect the ticket from most main stations in Russia.  For journeys starting in other ex-Soviet countries, tickets can be sent to UK or EU addresses for a £12-£15 charge, or couriered to any address worldwide, also for an extra charge. Who run this service?  Is it reliable?  This service is provided by Real Russia, a reputable joint UK-Russian company which has got good reports from users.  Real Russia can also sort out your Russian visa. Booking tips:  Look for a train marked 'Firm' if there is one. 'Firmeny' trains are the best 'quality' trains, with modern coaches and good on-board service.  'TBC' means the system cannot provide a price for that particular train automatically, but they'll contact you with a cost by phone or email. Is it cheaper to buy at the ticket office?  Real Russia charge the normal Russian Railways fare plus a 15-23% mark-up to cover their costs (all agencies charge a mark-up, in fact Real Russia is one of the cheapest agencies).  There's a 2.5% charge for credit card payments, but you can easily avoid this by calling their UK office to pay by debit card when your tickets are confirmed.  The fares shown include the mark-up, but not the credit card charge.  By all means buy tickets at the ticket office if you're flexible, but Russian trains can get fully-booked so it's good to pre-book if you want a specific date and train.  Russian Railways offer online booking but it's only in Russian, so it can be worth the extra to quickly and simply organise your Russian rail tickets in English.

---

Visas...

To visit Russia, you'll need a tourist visa.  You'll probably also need a Belarus transit visa, because all the direct sleeper trains from Cologne, Paris, Amsterdam, Berlin & Warsaw to Moscow pass though Belarus on the way, and so do the Berlin/Warsaw to St Petersburg trains.

How to arrange a Russian visa...

Always check the latest visa information, as it changes from time to time, but here's a quick run-down of the arrangements as at 2010:

• Tourist, transit or business visa?  A tourist visa allows stays of up to 30 days, and is usually what you need.  A business visa allows a longer stay, but is more expensive.  A transit visa allows up to 10 days in transit, but you aren't allowed to spend time in Moscow, as most Trans-Siberian travellers do, so a tourist visa is usually better.

• When to apply?  Visas are only issued 3 months or less before your intended date of entry to Russia, so there's no need to apply before then.  Ideally, allow a month for the visa processing, but if you have less time than this, don't panic, various agencies offer 'express' services that will help you get a visa much quicker.

• Letters of invitation & visa support:  A hangover from Soviet times is that to get a visa you need supporting documentation, usually just called 'visa support'.  In theory, this is a letter of invitation from your travel agency setting out confirmed travel & accommodation arrangements for your entire stay in Russia or (for independent travellers) an accommodation voucher issued by your hotel(s) showing confirmed accommodation for each and every night you plan to spend in Russia.  Having to pre-book all this would be ridiculously restrictive, so here's how it really works:  You go to an agency such as www.realrussia.co.uk or one of the Russian agencies listed above and they sell you the necessary visa support for a small fee, which allows you to get a visa without any genuine hotel bookings, so you can travel around freely just as you would in any other country, buying tickets and finding hotels as you go.  Behind the scenes, the agency usually has an arrangement with a local hotel, they make a dummy 'reservation' for the period you want to be in Russia so they can legally issue the visa support, though of course you don't pay for the hotel and everyone knows (apart from the Russian government) that you have no intention of ever using that hotel room.  Crazy, eh?

• The easy way to get a Russian visa:  UK residents can use www.realrussia.co.uk for a complete Russian visa service, this is the easiest & least-hassle way to sort your visa (to use their service, you need to resident in the UK for over 90 days before the application).  The total cost of obtaining a tourist visa through Real Russia is £116 or so including the necessary visa support and the actual cost of the visa.  Real Russia is a reliable UK agency based in Russia which arranges Russian, Belarus, Mongolian and Chinese visas simply and easily, with all the necessary legwork and visa support done for you.  They can arrange train tickets too.  They have been recommended by several seat61 correspondents.  Seat61 gets a small commission if you buy through www.realrussia.co.uk.  If you have feedback on their service, please email me.  US residents can use a similar US-based service, www.russia-travel.com.

• Alternatively, the do-it-yourself way to get a visa:  You can of course arrange a visa yourself.  The Russian embassy in London (www.rusemblon.org) has outsourced visa issuing to a UK company called VFS Global, so go to http://ru.vfsglobal.co.uk and follow the visa application instructions.  A tourist visa costs around £50 plus a £26 processing fee payable to VFS Global, so the total cost is around £76.  Unlike Real Russia, they won't provide the necessary visa support for you, you'll have to get it and provide it to them.  If you're going on an organised tour, your tour company may provide visa support documentation free of charge, but if you're travelling independently, this usually means paying a local Russian travel agency to provide you with a suitable visa support document, so this way isn't necessarily much cheaper than using www.realrussia.co.uk.

• Get your dates of entry & exit right!  It should be obvious, but I've known people date their visa for the date they arrive in Moscow, then get thrown off their sleeper train when it arrives at the Russian frontier the night before, as their visa wasn't valid for entering Russia until the next day.  Your date of entry into Russia is the date you physically enter Russian territory, in other words the date your train rolls across the frontier, not the date you reach Moscow, which is irrelevant.  Similarly, your date of exit is the date you physically leave Russian territory, which on a westbound sleeper train could be the day after you leave Moscow.  Double-check train times to see when it reaches the frontier, and double-check that the embassy have given you the right dates when you get your passport back with the visa.

• More information:  The Russian embassy in London website is www.rusemblon.org.  www.waytorussia.net has good information on Russian visas.

How to arrange a Belarus visa...

• You'll need a Belarus transit visa if you are travelling between London & Moscow on the direct London-Cologne-Berlin-Warsaw-Moscow route, as all the direct trains from Cologne, Berlin or Warsaw to Moscow or St Petersburg pass through Belarus.  However, getting a Belarus transit visa is relatively straightforward.  You'll need a tourist visa if you plan to stop off in Belarus.

• You will need to get your Russian visa before applying for the Belarus one, although you can apply for both together if you go through www.realrussia.co.uk.

• Cost:  The Belarusians significantly increased visa fees in June 2007 and again in August 2008.  A Belarus transit visa now costs £50 one-way or return if you arrange it yourself direct with the embassy, or £76 one-way or return (it's the same price one-way or return) arranged through www.realrussia.co.uk.  It takes 6 working days, or there's an extra-fee express option which takes 2 days.  Ouch!  Before you blame Johnny Foreigner for this, the high costs are in retaliation for stringent visa requirements imposed on Belarusian by the UK Foreign Office.

• For official visa information see the Belarus embassy website,  http://belembassy.org/index_eng.html or call 020 7938 3677.  The embassy address in London is 6 Kensington Court, London W8 5DL, visa section open 09:00-12:30 Monday, Tuesday, Thursday & Friday. 

• The simple way to get a Belarus transit visa:  If you live in the UK, the easiest and quickest way to get a Belarus visa is to use www.realrussia.co.uk.  Real Russia is a reliable UK agency which arranges visas simply and cheaply, including all necessary visa support included in the price shown on their site.  They have already recommended by one seat61 correspondent.  Seat61 gets a small commission if you buy through www.realrussia.co.uk using this link.  www.realrussia.co.uk can also arrange Chinese and Mongolian visas, and train tickets too.  If you have feedback on their service, please email me!

• Should you avoid Belarus?  Some people get worked up about trying to avoid Belarus, and with the new higher visa fees you might want to try.  Just remember that if you pay the visa fee, you can travel quickly and simply from western Europe to Moscow on a direct train through Belarus saving time and expense.  Avoiding Belarus by travelling via the Baltic states means an awkward and time-consuming relay race of trains and buses, taking at least 48 hours longer, with two extra hotel nights.  Going via Ukraine (Ukraine no longer requires EU citizens to buy a visa) is quicker, but will still take at least an extra 24 hours, changing trains in Kiev and with no easy way to pre-book the Kiev-Moscow train before you get to Kiev.  In other words, the detour might be interesting if you have the time and particularly want to see Ukraine or Lithuania/Latvia on the way, but it will take longer and in the end cost more than simply buying the visa and travelling direct.  To avoid Belarus by going via Ukraine, see above.

• Getting a Belarus transit visa in Moscow:  If you're travelling westbound and want to arrange a Belarus visa in Moscow, here's how.  The Belarus embassy is at Maroseika 17⁄6, 101990, Moscow, a couple of blocks from Kitai Gorod or Lubyanka metro stations.  To get to the visa office, go through wrought iron gates on the left-hand side of the main embassy building and the visa office is on the left.  You'll need photocopies of your passport, your Russian visa & your train ticket through Belarus, one passport photo, US$45 for same day visa issue or US$36 for next day visa issue (for British & EU citizens), payable in clean post-1995 US dollar bills, no change given.  The visa office is open 10:00-12:00 Mon, Tue, Thur & Fri (allow plenty of time) and you pick up your passport and transit visa between 16:00-16:30 on those days.  If you need dollars, you can change money into dollars at a nearby exchange office.  US passport holders are currently charged $177 for a same-day visa, because of charges imposed by the USA on Belarussians.  One traveller reports:  "You should plan to get there before 10.00 am. I was there at about 10.20 am and I was processed at 11.55 am. I paid 1,630 rubbles for same day service. I returned at 16.00 to collect my processed transit visa, so from start to finish it takes almost as much time as you spend travelling through Belarus. In spite of the frustration of the obstacle course just to get on the train, the trip itself was most enjoyable".  Visa regs & costs change from time to time, the above is current at the time of writing.  There's also a Belarus consulate in St Petersburg.

Sponsored links...

---

Holidays & tours to Russia by train

	020 3327 0761
	020 7619 1080 Please quote 'seat61'

Railbookers, www.railbookers.com, 020 3327 0761....

Tailor-made holidays to Russia by train!  Specialist travel company www.railbookers.com can tailor-make a flight-free holiday to Russia for you, with train travel & hotels, for however long you like, leaving on any date you like.  Tell them what you want and they'll advise you on the best trains, routes & hotels and sort it all out for you.  They get a lot of repeat business!   As a guide, a one-way train journey from London to Moscow including daytime train travel from London to Berlin, 1 night hotel in Berlin, sleeper to Moscow and 1 night hotel in Moscow starts at around £459 per person one-way.  Double that price for a return trip.  See their Moscow page for details and give them a call...

Erail, www.erail.co.uk, 020 7619 1080.  Please quote 'Seat61.com' when you call...

Moscow, St Petersburg & Berlin:  A 12-day grand tour to the Russian capitals and back by Eurostar, high-speed ICE train and comfortable Russian sleeper train from London with no flights involved, with 4 star hotels from £1,380.  And a stay in Berlin is thrown in.  See www.erail.co.uk.

---

The Thomas Cook European Timetable

There are truly remarkable books that are a 'must' for serious overland travellers and an inspiration for armchair travellers:

The Thomas Cook European Timetable...

This is the European train travel bible, with train, bus and ferry times for every country in Europe, including European Russia, Ukraine & Turkey as far as Istanbul.  It costs £14.99 from selected branches of Thomas Cook, or you can buy it online at www.thomascooktimetables.com.  Alternatively, buy the independent traveller's edition at Amazon.co.uk, Winter/Spring 2011/12 edition (Dec 2011 to June 2012) or Summer/Autumn 2012 edition (June to Dec 2012).  Still not convinced you need one? More information on what the Thomas Cook Timetable contains.

The Thomas Cook Overseas Timetable...

This was probably the most adventurous timetable ever produced.  It had train, bus & ferry times for every country in Asia, Africa, North and South America and Australasia, including non-European Russia, Asian Turkey, Mongolia, China and the Trans-Siberian Railway.  Sadly, the Nov/Dec 2010 edition was the very last to be published, but you may still be able to source a copy of the final edition at Amazon.co.uk, Overseas Timetable Winter 2010/2011 edition.

The Thomas Cook Rail Map of Europe...

This is the best and most comprehensive map of train routes right across Europe, from Portugal in the west to Istanbul, Moscow & Ukraine in the east, from Finland in the north to Sicily & Crete in the south.  High speed & scenic routes are highlighted.  Highly recommended!  Buy online at Amazon.co.uk with worldwide delivery.  See an extract from the map

---

Guidebooks

Definitely take a good guidebook, and a phrasebook may be a good idea too.  I think the Lonely Planets and Rough Guides are about the best out there for the independent traveller, and you will not regret buying one!  My own book, an essential handbook for train travel to Europe based on this website called "The Man in Seat 61", was published in June 2008, and is available from Amazon.co.uk with shipping worldwide.

Click the images to buy the book from Amazon.co.uk... 

---

Find hotels in Moscow, St Petersburg & Russia...

◄◄◄◄ Search all the main hotel booking sites at once... I'm a big fan of www.hotelscombined.com as it checks all the main hotel booking sites (Opodo, Expedia, Booking.com, Hotels.com, AsiaRooms, LateRooms etc.) to find the widest choice of hotels & the cheapest rates.  Try it and see!

Tripadvisor hotel reviews...

www.tripadvisor.com is a good place to find independent travellers' reviews of the main hotels.  It also has the low-down on all the sights & attractions too.

Backpacker hostels:  www.hostelbookers.com

If you're on a tight budget, don't forget about the hostels.  For backpacker hostels in Amsterdam and most other European cities at budget prices (either a dorm bed or an ultra cheap private room) see www.hostelbookers.com.

---

Travel insurance & health card...

Get travel insurance, it's essential...

Never travel without insurance from a reliable travel insurer with at least £1m or preferably £5m medical cover.  It should also cover loss of cash (up to a limit) & belongings, and cancellation. An annual multi-trip policy is usually cheapest even for just 2 or 3 trips a year (I have an annual policy myself).  Don't expect travel insurance to bail you out of every missed connection, though, see the advice on missed connections here.  Here are some suggested insurers, Seat61 gets a little commission if you buy through these links, and feedback from using insurance for rail & ferry travel is always welcome.

In the UK, use www.confused.com to compare prices & policy features across major insurance companies.

If you have a pre-existing medical condition or are over 65 (no age limit), see www.JustTravelCover.com.

        If you live in Australia, New Zealand, Ireland or the EU, try Columbus Direct's other websites.

   If you live in the USA or Canada, try Travel Guard USA.

Get an EU health card, it's free...

If you're a UK citizen travelling in Europe, you should apply for a free European Health Insurance Card, which entitles you to free or reduced rate health care if you become ill or get injured in many European countries, under a reciprocal arrangement with the NHS.  This replaced the old E111 forms as from January 2006.  The EHIC card is available from www.ehic.org.uk.  It doesn't remove the need for travel insurance, though.

Get a spare credit card, designed for foreign travel with no currency exchange loading & low/no ATM fees

Taking out an extra credit card costs nothing, but if you keep it in a different part of your luggage you won't be left stranded if your wallet gets stolen.  In addition, some credit cards are better for overseas travel than others.  Martin Lewis's www.moneysavingexpert.com/travel/cheap-travel-money explains which UK credit cards have the lowest currency exchange commission loadings when you buy something overseas, and the lowest cash withdrawal fees when you use an ATM abroad.

You can avoid ATM charges and expensive exchange rates with a Caxton FX euro currency Visa Card, or their multi-currency 'Global Traveller' Visa Card, see www.caxtonfx.com for info.

Get an international SIM card to save on mobile data and phone calls...

Mobile phones can cost a fortune to use abroad, and if you're not careful you can return home to find a huge bill.  Consider buying a global pre-paid SIM card for your mobile phone from www.Go-Sim.com, which can slash costs by up to 85%.  Go-Sim cuts call costs in 175 countries worldwide, and you can receive incoming calls and texts for free in 75 countries.  It's pay-as-you-go, so no nasty bills when you get home.  It also allows cheap data access for laptops & PDAs.  A Go-Sim account and any credit on it doesn't expire if it's not used between trips, unlike some others, so a Go-Sim phone number becomes your 'global phone number' for life.

 

---

Back to 'Rail travel to Europe' general page

Back to home page