Vnukovo International Airport is the oldest operating airport in Moscow, about 30 km south-west of the center, and since 2023 it has a direct Metro link: the Aeroport Vnukovo station on Line 8A is built into the lower level of Terminal A. The Aeroexpress train to Kievsky Railway Terminal and buses to Metro stations in the south-west complete the options.
This guide explains how the Metro and the train compare, the fares and hours reported by the sources found, how the terminal is arranged and what to check before you travel, since the sources differ and some are old, and since fares and schedules change.
Quick Facts
| Russian name | Международный аэропорт Внуково |
|---|---|
| Type | Airport |
| IATA code | VKO |
| Built / opened | 1933 |
| Address | Vnukovo International Airport, 2-ya Reysovaya Street, Vnukovo settlement, Moscow OpenStreetMap · Google Maps |
| District | Vnukovo (within Moscow's Novomoskovsky administrative area), about 30 km south-west of central Moscow |
| Metro | Aeroport Vnukovo (Line 8A, yellow (Solntsevskaya), integrated with the lower level of Terminal A) |
| Opening hours | The airport is reported to work around the clock for flights, while shops and 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 quiet, with the Metro closing around 01:00 and a night bus as the main option. Allow extra time in winter, and check the Aeroexpress timetable on the day. |
| Recommended duration | Arrive well before your flight; the Metro and train stations are a short walk from Terminal A |
| Website | vnukovo.ru |
| Last updated | October 8, 2026 |
How to Get from Vnukovo International Airport to the City Center
| Option | Duration | Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Moscow Metro Line 8A from Aeroport Vnukovo | About 40 minutes to Delovoy Tsentr, with connections to the center | A budget price (₽) in an older source; check the current fare | The newest and most budget-friendly option, with a direct underground exit from Terminal A. Reported hours are about 05:30 to 01:00. Change at Delovoy Tsentr or Aminevskaya to reach other lines, and check the current Metro map, since it changes. |
| Aeroexpress train to Kievsky Railway Terminal | About 35 to 40 minutes | Reported from the moderate price level (₽₽) depending on the source and the ticket type; check the official site | The station is on the sub level in front of Terminal A. Trains run about hourly in the day according to sources, with first and last trains at about 06:00 to 24:00. From Kievskaya the Metro reaches the center in minutes. Check the timetable, since it differs between sources. |
| Bus 911 to Salaryevo Metro, or other buses | About 20 minutes to Salaryevo, then the Metro | A budget price (₽) with the Metro in older sources; check the current fare | Buses run every 7 to 15 minutes to the Salaryevo station on Line 1, and a night bus N11 was reported. The airport website was said not to publish a bus timetable, so check the stop. |
| Official airport taxi or private transfer | About 45 to 90 minutes depending on traffic | A upscale price (₽₽₽) for a booked ride in a recent guide; check the price before you ride | The simplest option with luggage and for late arrivals. Book through the official desk or an app, and avoid offers in the arrivals hall. |
Why Visit Vnukovo International Airport?
Vnukovo is the easiest of Moscow’s airports to leave if you are staying near the Metro: the Metro station is a few minutes from the terminal, with a direct underground exit into Terminal A, and the Aeroexpress station is on the sub level in front of Terminal A.
The airport is smaller than Sheremetyevo and Domodedovo and is structured around a single terminal complex, which makes it simple to navigate, while Terminals B and D are reported to be barely used for passengers. Knowing the Metro and train options in advance avoids unofficial taxis.
Highlights of Vnukovo International Airport
Terminal A
Terminal A is the main passenger terminal and handles both domestic and international flights, in a unified terminal complex that makes navigation simple. Terminals B and D were reported as barely used for passenger service. The Metro and Aeroexpress stations are at its lower levels. Check the official site for your flight's arrangements.
Tip: Follow the signs to the Metro or Aeroexpress on the lower level.
The Aeroport Vnukovo Metro station
The Aeroport Vnukovo station of the Solntsevskaya Line, Line 8A, opened in September 2023 as the first Metro station in Russia to reach an airport, with a direct underground exit into Terminal A. A guide reported service from about 05:30 to 01:00 and a ride of about 40 minutes to the Delovoy Tsentr station, where you can change to other lines. The fare in an older source was a budget price (₽).
Tip: Check the Metro hours and the fare, which may have changed.
The Aeroexpress to Kievsky Railway Terminal
The Aeroexpress station is on the sub level in front of Terminal A, and trains run to Kievsky Railway Terminal at Kievskaya Metro in about 35 to 40 minutes, reported hourly, with an intermediate stop at Aminevskaya in one source and non-stop in others. Fares in sources ranged from the moderate price level (₽₽). From Kievskaya the Metro reaches the center in minutes.
Tip: Check the timetable and whether the train stops at Aminevskaya on the day.
Express bus 911 to Salaryevo
Buses 911 and 911K run to the Salaryevo Metro station on Line 1, reported every 7 to 15 minutes with a journey of about 20 minutes, and bus 579 goes to Pykhtino. Buses also serve the Yugo-Zapadnaya and Troparyovo stations in older sources. A night bus N11 was reported to the center. Routes and fares change, so check them.
Tip: Use the Metro instead if you are going to the center, since the bus is a link to other lines.
Taxis and transfers
The journey to the center by taxi takes 45 to 90 minutes depending on traffic, and sources quote a price at the upscale level (₽₽₽) for a booked ride, with much higher prices for rides ordered on the spot. Book through an official desk or an app and avoid offers in the arrivals hall. Agree the price before you ride.
Tip: Book in advance rather than on the spot, since walk-up prices are much higher.
Local feel and the old airfield
Vnukovo is described as the oldest operating air hub in Moscow, with a long history, and it still feels like a compact airport compared with the others. It handles mainly domestic flights and some international flights, mostly from Eastern Europe according to an older source. Check which airlines serve your destination.
Tip: Check your airline's terminal before you leave the city.
Atmosphere
Vnukovo is compact and orderly for a Moscow airport: one main terminal, signs in Russian and English and a direct route down to the Metro and the train. It is quieter than Sheremetyevo, with short queues outside peak hours.
The busiest times are early morning and late afternoon, and at night it is quiet, with the night bus as the main public transport. In winter allow extra time for roads and weather.
History of Vnukovo International Airport
Vnukovo is described as the oldest operating airport in Moscow, opened in the 1930s on the south-western side of the city. It grew into one of the capital’s main airports, handling domestic flights and a number of international destinations.
In September 2023 it became the first airport in Russia to have a Metro line extended directly to it, with the Aeroport Vnukovo station on the Solntsevskaya Line. Dates and details 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 Vnukovo International Airport
Metro and Aeroexpress tickets. Metro tickets are sold at the ticket office in the station, and Aeroexpress tickets at the ticket offices and machines and online. An older source said that cash and Russian cards were accepted; whether foreign cards work was not verified. Foreign Visa and Mastercard cards are reported not to work in Russia, so carry cash in rubles, and your country’s sanctions rules may restrict some payment services, so check this yourself.
Buses. City buses were reported not to accept cash in an older source, so check how to pay.
Taxis. Book only through the official airport taxi desk or an app, and avoid offers from men in the arrivals hall. For current fares and timetables check the official site vnukovo.ru.
Flights, Transfers and Planning
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How to Get to Vnukovo International Airport
The simplest route is the Moscow Metro Line 8A (yellow, Solntsevskaya) to Aeroport Vnukovo, which has a direct exit into Terminal A; check the Metro map for the connection to your hotel.
- By train: the Aeroexpress from Kievsky Railway Terminal at Kievskaya Metro (Line 3, dark blue, Line 4, light blue, and Line 5, brown) to the airport; see the Kievsky Railway Terminal guide.
- By bus: bus 911 connects with the Salaryevo Metro station on Line 1.
- By taxi: book through the official desk or an app and allow 45 minutes to 1.5 hours.
Accessibility
The airport has lifts, wide halls and luggage trolleys, and the Metro station is integrated with the terminal for an easy transfer with luggage. Detailed accessibility services were not verified on the official site, so check vnukovo.ru or ask the airline for assistance in advance.
Food Nearby
The terminal has cafes, restaurants and shops, but the exact venues were not verified, so check the official site. For the city 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 Metro, the Aeroexpress and taxis, a charged phone and a warm layer in winter.
Photography Rules
Photography in public areas of the terminal is generally allowed, but not 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 airport is compact, the Metro and the Aeroexpress are close to the terminal and the stations have lifts. Allow extra time with children and luggage, and use a taxi at night.
Moscow Vibes Tips
- Use the Metro if your hotel is near a Metro line, since the station is built into Terminal A.
- Check the Metro hours before a late arrival, since the line closes around 01:00.
- Check whether your Aeroexpress train stops at Aminevskaya, since sources differ.
- Carry cash in rubles for tickets, since foreign cards are reported not to work.
- Book a taxi in advance rather than on the spot, since walk-up prices are much higher.
- Use the Aeroexpress and the Metro together to avoid road traffic on the way to the center.
Explore Nearby Vnukovo International Airport
Metro stations near Vnukovo International Airport
Aeroport Vnukovo Metro Stationabout 200 m away (~4 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Train stations and river piers near Vnukovo International Airport
Kievsky Railway Terminalabout 23.4 km awayMain image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Sheremetyevo International Airportabout 40.7 km awayMain image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Domodedovo International Airportabout 44.1 km awayMain image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Paveletsky Railway Terminalabout 26.2 km awayMain image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
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Moscow Metro Tour: Most Beautiful Stations Itinerary: 5 StationsMain image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Ramenki Metro Station: Yellow Line Stop in the South-WestMain image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Browse more: More in Vnukovo (within Moscow's Novomoskovsky administrative area), about 30 km south-west of central Moscow · All Airports · All Airports & Transport
FAQ: Vnukovo International Airport
How far is Vnukovo from the center?
About 30 km south-west; the Aeroexpress takes about 35 to 40 minutes to Kievsky Railway Terminal.
Does the Metro go to Vnukovo?
Yes. The Aeroport Vnukovo station on Line 8A is integrated with Terminal A, according to a guide; check the Metro map for connections.
What is the cheapest way to the city?
The Metro or a bus to Salaryevo, which cost much less than the Aeroexpress; see the options section.
Does the Aeroexpress accept foreign cards?
Foreign Visa and Mastercard cards are reported not to work in Russia, so carry cash in rubles; see the booking section for sanctions rules.
Is there a night service?
A night bus N11 was reported, and the Metro runs until about 01:00; check the current hours.
How long does a taxi take?
About 45 minutes to 1.5 hours depending on traffic, at an upscale price (₽₽₽) for a booked ride.
How many terminals are in use?
Terminal A is the main one, and Terminals B and D were reported barely used for passengers; check your flight.
How do I get to another Moscow airport?
Take the Metro or the Aeroexpress to the city and then the train to the other airport; see the Sheremetyevo and Domodedovo guides.
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Last updated: October 8, 2026.
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