Moscow Metro

How Metro is unfriendly to english speakers

I live in Moscow almost all my life and for me Metro is the main transport that I use for commuting. It`s fast and cheap while it allows you to reach almost everything you need across Moscow. But it`s really low-adopted for tourists. Only few years ago Moscow Metro got a map where you could find name of the stations in English and only some trains have voice announcements in English (the next station is ...). But if you are on a station and you want to understand which way you should take (left platform or right) it`s absolutely impossible to guess because we don`t translate the names of the stations which on the navigate "line" on the tunnel wall and also, we don`t even translate the name of the exact station! So, you can`t even understand where you are :)

Guess what the name of this station...

...or what way (platform) should you chose to reach Arbatskaya station  

If you think that you could find everything in the internet you're wrong - at this moment the En version of the official site doesn't work:

404 unfortunately

So, everything is made to say you "You're not at home! Don't understand Russian? I don't care!". But as I said before Metro is useful, cheap and really fast (which is important if you don't want to spend hours in traffic jams - it's very busy). And if you're bagpacking and want to live a bit like an average citizen of Moscow ("moskvich") or you just want to see how beautiful Metro is, these tips below will help you.

So, there are few tips that could help you and be prepared to your visit to Moscow

Operating time

5:30 am - 1:00 am

Payment

Now (end of 2016) it`s possible to pay using your credit card. Of course, you could buy a ticket for cash as well.
Basically, there are two main way to pay for public transport in Moscow: usual tickets (could be for one or more rides or be valid for 1,5 hours) and Troyka card (like Oyster card in London or Zapping system in Lisbon). Both could be used in Merto and in a bus.
It`s cheaper to rent Troyka card. So, you go to every station, ask a сashier for Troyka, pay 50 RUR (0,8$) as deposit and now you could ask a сashier to put some money on it. Later you also could top up it. But be ready that a women on the other side of glass doesn't know English well. 

Troyka means three horses

Usual ticket

The benefits of Troyka are: you could use it in bus, metro, monorail line and it`s much cheaper vs cards for 1 or 2 or even 20 rides (ticket for 1 ride costs 50 RUR and 1 ride using Troyka costs 32 RUR). 

To find how much money on your card just tap it to the device which usually hangs on a wall near a ticket office.

When you go through a wicket you will see how much money (or rides if you bought a ticket) on your card.

Go on the left side

In case you are going to do a lot of rides (not only using Metro but using bus) it could be cheaper to "record" a travel card on your Troyka card like 60 rides.

Also, Troyka has it`s own site which perfectly works in english. Check it for more information.

Navigation

The latest version of the map you could download here. But don`t forget to download on your smartphone a great app by Yandex which will helps you to reach the station you need. You could download it here, just click on the icon of your OS. After you get the app you could switch the language tapping on the setting icon. 

Yandex Metro

Also, you could make your route using convenient desktop version of the same application here.
These apps will help you not just chose the right line and make interchange, but even to pick the right carriage which to make your interchange shorter.

Sometimes there are signs in the floor that will help you to find the exit or interchange to the line that you need.

Go straight and you'll get to Kurskaya station

And a small lifehack: when you go from the down town the voice that named station will be feminine and when you go to the down town the voice will be male.

Wi-Fi

There is free wi-fi almost in each carriage. You just need to connect to MosMetro_Free and watch a bit of commercial.

Sometimes the first screen looks like this

Or like this

Be aware of

Metro is really crowded because many citizens use it for commuting. So, chose the time for sightseeing between the working hours (10am - 5pm) or do it on the weekend in the morning.
Be careful, some trains terminate before the last station on the line. There is always an announcement but in Russian. Just wait for another train.
There are pickpockets. So, keep an eye on your belongs, keep your bag and grip your mobile phone.


And remember, don`t be afraid of asking someone for help. Many Russians (especially who look like hipsters) know English and are happy to practice with the foreigners.

It`s likely that they know english. One of them will help you

Cheers!