Hi Guys

I need some help from people on the ground in Moscow near the

Sheremetyevo Airport
Domodedovo Airport

I’m travelling from Heathrow – UK with a team of figure skaters that have been invited to skate at the Olympic Stadium on Saturday the 10th of May.

It’s looking like the group might be split and landing at different airports.
I need to know the travelling time from the airports by road (in a car) to Olympic Stadium (Moscow Arena)

Regards
Shaun

wish i was on my bike

i'm not currently "on the ground" but used to live there and still travel there frequently. Moscow has HORRIBLE traffic jam problems, so a lot of the answer to your question depends on when your people are travelling. If you're arriving at 5/6am on some morning (taking one of the midnight flights), you can make it to sheremetevo to olympiisky in 45 minutes tops. If you're coming in on a weekday during business hours, it could take 3 hours ...

Back in 1999, I used to leave the office in central moscow at 5:45 for a 7:30 flight from Shery. Then it became 5:00, then 4:30; now 4:00 or even 3:30 to be safe. Traffic in moscow sucks. (note that technically rush hour is 7am to 11am and 4.30pm to 8pm, but in reality it's bad basically from 5 or 6am until around 10pm)

Also, for the flight in, be aware that unless you're paying extra for VIP service, the passport line wait at Shery can be quite long - plan on an hour (though you may get lucky and get through faster).

Domodedovo is a more modern, and nicer, airport, but it's to the south of town, and Olympiiski is to the north - so it'll take quite a bit longer to get in. I haven't flown into Domodedovo for many years, so don't have hard info, but I understand there is now a train, which could be quite a bit faster. In the old days coming in to the center from Domodedovo was an hour on a good day, so I'd expect you're probably talking at least double or triple that now (unless, again, your people are arriving at 5am or something).

Good luck, and hopefully someone will answer who has more "hard" data than I!

Thanks mate.

That helps a lot, thank-you, sounds like we might need some luck longer than we figured then!

Shaun

I am 'on the ground' right now. Looking out of the window, the main Minsk/Majeck road in (Kutuzovsko Prospect) is flowing well - but it is a sunny sunday lunchtime.

We usually fly to Sheremetyevo on the late evening Aerofart from Heathrow. From touchdown we are usually in our flat within an hour - hour and half. Passport queues have improved over the last 4 years, with increasing numbers of Russians travelling, and are generally about 15 minutes by which time baggage is ready (unlike T5). We are met by friends or family who drive us to our flat, not too far from Olympic Stadium - add another 10 minutes in good traffic conditions. Taxis would be the same times. Last one I used I paid 1000roubles - GBP20.

Domodedovo is further out - allow, say, another 20 minutes.

BUT, as travelfor4 says, the wrong time of day and it could well take twice as long. The Mkad (equivalent to M25) is often static for an hour or more. Main routes in/out are often solid on weekdays. Particularly bad I find, is the 3rd Ring, that passes the stadium, on weekday afternoons.

You are skating on saturday. If you are arriving then, things will be smoother - many Moscovites flee the city on friday afternoons (adding to chaos) for summer weekends at their Dachas, leaving roads quieter until the mass return on sunday evenings.

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Thank-you so much guys, wicked information nice one

Not sure about when we’re getting in, all I can say at the moment is, it’s on Friday. Skating on Saturday PM – see a few sights on Sunday – fly home Monday.

Sound like its going to be proper hectic

Once more, thanks.
Kind Regards
Shaun

10th is it arrival date? what time the show starts? 'cos route time on saturday morning is 30% shorter then saturday daytime. on the other side it's May holidays so the city will be abandoned for a week

Olimpik stadium - what exact place? there are two different olimpic arenas in Moscow,
(sport plaza "Olimpiysky" and olimpic complex "Luzhniki") in very different directions from the city center. get detailed adress from organisers.
if really miss a good bike ride, may be go by mototaxi from airport to arena? MSK StuntCrew will be honored

Hi motobelka

Thanks for that, I will find out which complex it is, and post reply later today... not got that info with me

Thanks

Kind Regards
Shaun

i've just been told its

Ñïîðòèâíûé êîìïëåêñ "Îëèìïèéñêèé"

Also have to travel to moscow Friday 9th because practice skate is Saturday 10th in the Morning.

if this is the wrong arena i will find out when i go to work, in half hours time.

Regards
shaun

Guys, I'm thinking of staying at the Akademicheskaya Hotel in June for 3 days (my first time in Russia). Those of you who know Moscow; is this a reasonable place? I want to stay as close to the city as possible; not too expensive (plus secure parking for the GS).
I'd also appreciate some info on best digs in St Petersburg also; any suggestions?

Thanks, Mick.

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Hi m8

we should catch up for a quick , or vodka

shaun

akademhotel is very close to the center (5 min on a bike) and to bikers gathereing places (3 and 10 min depends on choosed direction) but
- this is closer Welcome to Park Place +7(495)956-50-50 (call there it's really a hotel not only apartments) and seems to me same price
- this is cheaper HOTEL "SOYUZ" and it half kilometer from M10 Moscow-S-Peterburg (what makes you morning departure to Piter much easier). it's very decent place whith big secure parcing - see this picture of bikes on the front page? the place is loved by bikers. of course it's not the center but it's on Leningradka highway - straight line to Kremlin (15 min on bike) 15 min to redneck bikers paradise Sexton pub and 5 min to stuntmen grounds ( Sheremetievo highway).
if you didn't book akademhotel yet i strongly recommend Soyuz.
for Peterburg - you are coming in high season so be ready for VERY expensive hotels and whats much worse NO PLACES all over the city ( belive me it's true). you should book now. if you wanna save some, stay out of the city, somwhere like Hotel OLGINO. St.-Petersburg. Russia
and just info - every hotel in Msk and SPb, even the smallest one, has secure parking

this is sport plaza "Olimpiysky" and it's equally far from both Sheremetievo and Domodedovo
if you are coming Fri you'll have planty of time 'cos you gonna need it - normally on Friday evening city roads are totally jammed in any direction . where are you going to stay that's the question now. if close to arena it sure will be a long way from airport, 1 hour in a car at least. but let's remember May holidays - it can be easier.
practise early in the morning is good - no traffik problem at all.

Hi Motobelka

Thanks for this information, it helps a lot. I’ve been told by (Terri) the team coach that the hotel is being sorted out by NISA (National Ice Skating Association) and is very close to Olimpiysky sport plaza. I’ve not got a name for the place yet but as soon as I do I will update you.

Thanks for the tip about Mototaxi, the “MSK StuntCrew” sounds like a fun ride. how much do you think it would cost from the airport (Sheremetievo on friday 9th may at 20:15 i think )to the Olimpiysky sport plaza in a Taxi ? maybe a few, we have about 32 people coming over.

One other quick question I have is this. We are going to try and fit in some sights on Sunday. We would like to see Red Square and the Kremlin, is it far from Olimpiysky ? And what other things are worth a look nearby ?

If you know anybody that would like some dollars to act as a “Fixer” once we get clear of customs, maybe helping with transport and language problems to the hotel that would be cool. would be nice to get the kids in the hotel as soon as we can, ages are about 12-15 years..

Thanks
Shaun

impossible is nothing
Ãîñòèíèöà Ðåíåññàíñ Ìîñêâà. Çàáðîíèðîâàòü íîìåð â ãîñòèíèöå Ðåíåññàíñ, öåíû íà ðàçìåùåíèå i think that's the hotel. it's just at the back side of arena.
the taxi you need is a small bus .if one big bus it goes like EU 150-170 ( depends on the bus) if two smaller ones it 'll cost EU 200. if you try to get a taxi right at the airport that will be around EU 400.

olimpyisky is 10 min from red square on sunday. of course there are many more places to see but to sort them out we need to know the taste of the group. sightseeing or museums or art objects or extremals meeting points or just good places to eat.

fixer - of course thats possible, a friend of mine used to work as a professional guide before she desided to get her another MBA . i asked her already but she needs time to clear out what's her schedule for May.

Dear ukiceman,

Your hosts need to have someone at BOTH airports to meet you.
Sheremetyevo is a pain in the ass.
But at Sheremetyevo they should get you onto a public bus to go to the 'aerovoksal' which is a bus station close to the metro. Thereafter use the metro system to get to your chosen hotel unless that hotel is miles away from any metro station.

Domodedovo is really nice.
You all need to hop onto the train which goes directly to Paveletsky Voksal train station which has a metro station attached to it. Thereafter use the metro to get to the hotel.

If you choose to try taking people in coaches or mini buses on the roads, then you will encounter traffic jams - moscow can get pretty gridlocked during the day and especially friday night/ saturday morning and sunday night when people are coming and going from their dachas outside moscow.

My honest view is that you need locals who can deal with the bus, train and metro tickets on your behalf and all of you use public transport.

I go to Moscow every summer (for the last 14 years) and I think this is the best solution.

Rgds

Les