The unmissable Red Square
Visiting Red Square is one of those strange experiences where everything looks familiar, but you are now seeing it from a totally new perspective. View the Kremlin right next to Lenin’s mausoleum, symbols of the country’s communist past, opposite Moscow’s largest department store, GUM, a clear symbol of capitalism.
Savour the history
St Basil’s Cathedral is a work of art which is well worth viewing in real life. To get a real feel for the past, visit the KGB museum and the Armoury Museum, which contains everything from swords and religious regalia to Fabergé eggs.
Take some time out
Take time out from the spectacular to visit Patriarshy Prudiy, just out of the city centre. It translates as ‘Patriarch’s Pond’ and it is a good visual guide to Stalinist Russia, as the pond and gardens are surrounded by tall blocks of flats from the Stalin era. Visit nearby restaurant Pavilion, for an outstanding taste of post-communist cuisine. A visit here is affordable after finding cheap flights to Moscow.
When to go
Moscow flight prices hit their peak during summer, so avoid booking your flights at this time if you want to get the best deals on your return flights. Shoulder season is in April and May, or September and October, and is often full of flights to Moscow at good prices.
To be able to enjoy the city under more hours of daylight and roam the city without snow, book your Moscow flights between April and September. Avoid the winter unless you enjoy the cold, in which case don’t forget your warm coat, hat and gloves.
If you enjoy the snow, a true Moscow experience with minimal tourists can be enjoyed throughout the winter months; the city can be a special place in the run up to Christmas. Keep your eyes peeled for some last-minute flights during this time, as the festive atmosphere alone is absolutely worth it.
Airports and airlines
Moscow has three principal airports: Moscow Domodedovo, Moscow Sheremetyevo, and Moscow Vnukovo. We suggest that you search for Moscow Airports (All) on Netflights, as each airport has good links to the city centre. This will increase your chances of finding cheap flights to Moscow.
Moscow Domodedovo (DME)
Domodedovo is located around 26 miles away from Moscow and has just one terminal divided into two concourses. You will find direct flights here with Netflights from London Heathrow with British Airways. Indirect flights with Lufthansa, Austrian Airlines or Swiss Air are also great alternatives. View more flights to Moscow Domodedovo airport.
Moscow Sheremetyevo (SVO)
Slightly closer to the city centre at 18 miles away, Sheremetyevo Airport has four operating terminals and two parallel runways. It is the international hub for Aeroflot airlines, which flies here direct from London airports. Air France, Finnair, and Alitalia amongst others offer well priced indirect flights from national airports. View more flights to Moscow Sheremetyevo airport.
Moscow Vnukovo (VKO)
Moscow’s oldest operating airport, Vnukovo, is the closest to the city centre at only 17 miles away. There are few direct flights here from the UK. Turkish Airlines services flights to this airport. Save by travelling indirect, as a stopover can be more economical. View more flights to Moscow Vnukovo airport.
Getting around the airports
Domodedovo Airport’s terminal is large, but easily navigated on foot. In Sheremetyevo Airport, three of the terminals are within walking distance, and there is a free shuttle bus to connect them with the fourth terminal. The terminals at Vnukovo are all very close together, making pedestrian travel easy.
Getting to the city from the airport
The Aeroexpress high-speed tram connects Domodedovo Airport to the city in 40-50 minutes, Sheremetyevo to the city in 30 minutes, and Vnukovo in 35 minutes. There is also a bus service to connect the airports to the city. For Domodedovo, the train is the third option.
Don't forget before you fly
Before your cheap flight to Moscow departs, make you sure have the right visa to enter the country. Send all applications well in advance of your travel dates, as normal tourist visa applications take an average of 10 working days to be processed. The process may take longer, so keep that in mind when looking for last-minute flights. You will also have to visit a visa application centre to have your fingerprints scanned as part of the process.
