Sheremetyevo International Airport is Moscow’s busiest airport, about 30 to 36 km north of the center, and the main base of Aeroflot. It is laid out in two terminal complexes, a northern one with Terminals B and C and a southern one with Terminals D, E and F, linked by an underground automatic train and a free shuttle.
The fastest and most predictable way to the city is the Aeroexpress train to Belorussky Railway Terminal, and cheaper options are an express bus to the Metro at Khovrino and public buses to other Metro stations. This guide explains which terminal you are likely to use, how the connections work, what the main fares are according to the sources found, and what to check before you travel, because fares, hours and terminal assignments change.
Quick Facts
| Russian name | Международный аэропорт Шереметьево |
|---|---|
| Type | Airport |
| IATA code | SVO |
| Built / opened | 1959 |
| Address | Sheremetyevo International Airport, Khimki, Moscow Oblast OpenStreetMap · Google Maps |
| District | Khimki (Moscow Oblast), about 30 to 36 km north-north-west of central Moscow |
| Metro | Khovrino (Line 2, green, bus 1195 to Terminals B and C, about 20 minutes, from the bus terminal at the station) Rechnoy Vokzal (Line 2, green, public bus toward the airport, 30 minutes to 1 hour according to one source) Planernaya (Line 7, purple, public bus or fixed-route taxi toward the airport, 30 minutes to 1 hour according to one source) |
| Opening hours | The airport is reported to work around the clock for flights, while shops, left luggage and other services have their own hours, so check the official site (as of October 2026 – check the official site). |
| Best time to visit | Early morning and late afternoon are the busiest times at check-in and security, while night hours are quieter. Allow extra time in winter, when traffic on the northern approaches and weather can slow transfers, and allow more time if you have to change terminals. Aeroexpress timetables differ between sources, so check the current hours. |
| Recommended duration | Arrive well before your flight; allow extra time for check-in and security |
| Website | svo.aero/en |
| Last updated | October 8, 2026 |
How to Get from Sheremetyevo International Airport to the City Center
| Option | Duration | Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aeroexpress train to Belorussky Railway Terminal | About 50 minutes from Terminals D, E and F and about 65 minutes from Terminals B and C | A moderate price (₽₽) in standard class according to one recent source, with a lower weekend promotional fare; check the official site for current fares | The most reliable option. The train has a station in the Southern Terminal Complex and a stop for Terminals B and C and runs with intermediate stops at Okruzhnaya, Savyolovsky and Belorussky. From Belorussky Railway Terminal you reach the Metro at Belorusskaya. Hours and frequency were reported differently by different sources (first train about 05:00 to 05:45, last about 21:15 to 23:30), so check the timetable. |
| Aeroexpress bus 1195 to Khovrino Metro | About 20 minutes to the Metro | A moderate price (₽₽) according to one source; check the current fare | Leaves from Terminals B and C roughly every 10 to 15 minutes and stops near Terminals D, E and F. Khovrino is at the northern end of Line 2 (green), so it suits visitors staying on that line. Check the current schedule, since it may change. |
| Public bus or minibus to Rechnoy Vokzal or Planernaya Metro, or the night bus N1 | About 30 minutes to 1 hour | Not verified | The cheapest option, with routes such as bus 851 to Rechnoy Vokzal and a night bus N1 that crosses the city to Kitay-Gorod. Routes and numbers change, so check them before you rely on them. |
| Official airport taxi or private transfer | About 45 to 90 minutes depending on traffic | A upscale price (₽₽₽) to the center in a recent guide; check the price before you ride | The simplest option with luggage. Use a taxi booked through the airport's official desk or app or a pre-booked transfer, and avoid men who offer rides in the arrivals hall. |
Why Visit Sheremetyevo International Airport?
Most visitors arrive at Sheremetyevo rather than visit it, so the practical points matter more than sightseeing: which terminal, how to leave the building and how to get to the center without traffic. The airport has an Aeroexpress station inside the southern complex, a link to the Metro by express bus and an underground train between terminals.
It is also useful to know the layout in advance: the southern complex of Terminals D, E and F, with Terminal F reported as one of the largest in Europe, forms one connected block with the Aeroexpress terminal, while Terminals B and C are in the northern complex some distance away. Knowing where your flight uses can save a long transfer on arrival.
Highlights of Sheremetyevo International Airport
The Southern Terminal Complex: Terminals D, E and F
Terminals D, E and F, together with the Aeroexpress train terminal, form the unified Southern Terminal Complex, the main international block, and Terminal F is described as one of the largest in Europe. They are linked by walkways and an underground train, so you can move between them without going outside. Check which terminal your airline uses before you travel, since assignments change.
Tip: Check your terminal on your ticket or the official site, since the complexes are far apart.
The Northern Terminal Complex: Terminals B and C
Terminals B and C form the Northern Terminal Complex and are older terminals, used mainly for domestic and some regional flights according to one guide. The Aeroexpress also stops here, and the bus 1195 to Khovrino leaves from here. A free shuttle links Terminals C and F. Allow extra time if you must change complexes.
Tip: Allow time for the transfer if your connection involves both complexes.
The underground train between terminals
An automatic train runs underground between Terminals D, E and F, the Aeroexpress terminal and Terminal B, with a journey of about 4 minutes including boarding according to one source. It leaves from Sheremetyevo Station 2 in the pedestrian tunnel between Terminals D and E and from Sheremetyevo Station 1 on the first floor of Terminal B. It is the quickest way between complexes, and it is free.
Tip: Follow the train signs rather than walking, since the walk between complexes is long.
The Aeroexpress station
The Aeroexpress train station is part of the Southern Terminal Complex, and trains run to the city with intermediate stops. According to the official airport site, the journey from Terminals D, E and F to Belorussky Railway Terminal takes about 50 minutes and from Terminals B and C about 65 minutes. This is the most reliable link, since it does not depend on traffic.
Tip: Check the official site for the current timetable and fare before you travel.
The bus link to the Metro at Khovrino
The Aeroexpress express bus, route 1195, leaves from Terminals B and C roughly every 10 to 15 minutes and goes to Khovrino Metro station at the northern end of the green line, with a stop near Terminals D, E and F, in about 20 minutes. It is moderate-priced (₽₽) according to one source. It is a cheaper alternative to the train, and it connects directly to the Metro.
Tip: Use this bus if you are staying along Line 2 and want to avoid a transfer.
Night and public buses
Public buses and minibuses run to the Rechnoy Vokzal and Planernaya Metro stations, taking from 30 minutes to an hour according to one source, and a night bus, N1, runs across the city to Kitay-Gorod Metro station. They are the cheapest options and are used by local travelers. Check the current routes and numbers, since they change.
Tip: Use the night bus only after checking its route, since it follows a different path from the train.
Atmosphere
Sheremetyevo is a very large, busy, modern airport: wide halls of glass and steel, long walkways, moving belts and queues at check-in and passport control at peak hours. The southern complex, with Terminals D, E and F in one connected block, feels like a single huge building.
Signs are in Russian and English, and staff at information desks usually speak some English. The busiest times are early morning and late afternoon, with quieter hours at night. Distances between terminals and train stations are long, so expect to walk a lot with luggage, and take your time to find the right entrance.
History of Sheremetyevo International Airport
Sheremetyevo began as an airfield north of Moscow and became the capital’s main international airport, with the first terminal opened in 1959 and later expansions. It is the main base of Aeroflot and its partners.
Over the years the airport grew into several terminals. The southern complex of Terminals D, E and F was developed as the main international block, linked to a rail connection, and Terminal F is one of the largest in Europe according to a guide. The northern complex of Terminals B and C is older.
A rail link, the Aeroexpress, connects the airport to the city, and the terminals are connected by an automatic underground train. Details of dates, terminals and facilities should be checked on the official airport site, and this history is shorter than requested because few facts could be verified.
Tickets and Payment at Sheremetyevo International Airport
Aeroexpress tickets. Tickets are sold at the Aeroexpress ticket offices in the terminals and at the stations, and online. An older source said that the Aeroexpress website accepted only Russian cards while the ticket offices took cash; whether foreign cards are accepted now was not verified, so carry cash in rubles. Foreign Visa and Mastercard cards are reported not to work in Russia, and your country’s sanctions rules may restrict some payment services, so check this yourself.
Buses. The express bus is paid at the ticket office or on board, and public buses on board.
Taxis. Book only through the official airport taxi desk or an app, and be wary of unofficial drivers offering rides in arrivals, who often charge much more. For current fares and timetables, check the official site svo.aero.
Flights, Transfers and Planning
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How to Get to Sheremetyevo International Airport
The simplest route to the airport is the Aeroexpress train from Belorussky Railway Terminal, at Belorusskaya Metro (Line 2, green, and Line 5, brown); see the Belorussky Railway Terminal guide. The train also stops at Savyolovsky Railway Terminal.
- By bus and Metro: take Line 2 to Khovrino and the express bus 1195 to Terminals B and C, about 20 minutes; the bus also stops near Terminals D, E and F.
- Other buses: public buses leave from Rechnoy Vokzal and Planernaya, and a night bus N1 comes from Kitay-Gorod.
- By taxi: use the official taxi service and allow 45 minutes to 1.5 hours depending on traffic.
Accessibility
The airport has wide halls, lifts and moving walkways, and the Aeroexpress trains and terminal connections are designed for luggage, but distances are long. Detailed accessibility services were not verified on the official site, so check svo.aero or ask the airline for assistance in advance.
Food Nearby
The terminals have cafes, restaurants, shops and duty-free stores, according to a guide, with the widest choice in the southern complex. The exact venues were not verified, so check the official site, and for the city center see the Moscow Food Tour: Russian Cuisine and Local Specialties itinerary.
What to Bring
Bring your passport and travel documents, cash in rubles for the Aeroexpress ticket office and taxis, a charged phone and a warm layer in winter.
Photography Rules
Photography in public areas of the terminals is generally allowed, but it is not allowed near security checkpoints or at border control, and drones must not be flown near the airport. Follow signs and staff instructions.
Family Suitability
Suitable for families, as the terminals have lifts, wide halls and luggage trolleys, and the Aeroexpress train is easy with strollers. Distances between terminals are long, so allow extra time with children and luggage, and use the underground train between complexes.
Moscow Vibes Tips
- Check which terminal your airline uses before you travel, since the northern and southern complexes are far apart.
- Use the underground train between complexes instead of walking, since the walk is long with luggage.
- Carry cash in rubles for the Aeroexpress ticket office, since the online site was reported to accept only Russian cards.
- Choose the Aeroexpress train in rush hour, since it is not affected by traffic on the road.
- If your hotel is on the green Metro line, compare the express bus to Khovrino with the train, since it saves a transfer.
- Book a taxi only through the official desk or app and ignore offers from men in the arrivals hall.
Explore Nearby Sheremetyevo International Airport
Train stations and river piers near Sheremetyevo International Airport
Belorussky Railway Terminalabout 23.1 km awayMain image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Savyolovsky Railway Terminalabout 21.7 km awayMain image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Paveletsky Railway Terminalabout 29.5 km awayMain image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Kievsky Railway Terminalabout 26.3 km awayMain image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
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Browse more: More in Khimki (Moscow Oblast), about 30 to 36 km north-north-west of central Moscow · All Airports · All Airports & Transport
FAQ: Sheremetyevo International Airport
How far is Sheremetyevo from the center?
About 30 to 36 km north of central Moscow; the Aeroexpress train takes about 50 to 65 minutes to Belorussky Railway Terminal.
Which terminal will I arrive at?
Most international flights use the southern complex of Terminals D, E and F, but assignments change, so check your ticket and the official site.
How do I move between terminals?
Use the free underground train between Terminals D, E, F, the Aeroexpress terminal and Terminal B, or the free shuttle between C and F.
What is the cheapest way to the city?
Public buses to the Rechnoy Vokzal or Planernaya Metro stations, or the express bus to Khovrino, which cost less than the train; see the options section.
Does the Aeroexpress accept foreign cards?
Foreign Visa and Mastercard cards are reported not to work in Russia, and an older source said the website accepted only Russian cards, so carry cash in rubles.
Is there a night service?
A night bus N1 runs from the airport across the city to Kitay-Gorod Metro station; check the current route.
How long does a taxi take?
About 45 minutes to 1.5 hours to the center depending on traffic, at an upscale price (₽₽₽) in a recent guide.
How do I get to another Moscow airport?
Take the Aeroexpress to the city, then the Metro to the railway terminal for Domodedovo or Vnukovo, which takes 2.5 to 4 hours in total; see the Paveletsky and Kievsky Railway Terminal guides.
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Last updated: October 8, 2026. Found an error or something out of date? Report it and we will check and fix it.
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