If you\u2019ll be doing any exploring in Moscow, we recommend you additionally get the <\/p>\n\n\n\n

• Yandex.metro<\/strong> (\u042f\u043d\u0434\u0435\u043a\u0441.\u041c\u0435\u0442\u0440\u043e) app. It will tell you the best way to get to your destination on the metro, while the Maps app itself will give you options to combine a metro trip with other transport to get there faster. However, the Moscow metro is an attraction within itself, so we highly recommend traveling by metro in Moscow. (This app also works for 8 other cities in Russia).<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n

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  Next, we recommend you download the app for the National Russian Rail Service (app #4). It\u2019s called Russian Railways<\/strong>. On this app, you can look up routes and buy train tickets, see your tickets and schedule, and get a QR code so you don\u2019t need to deal with paper tickets. They also have real time tracking of the trains. Finally, you can change or cancel your reservations for free on the app up to 8 hours before the trip. We had to cancel a train journey (more on that here)<\/strong> and got all of our money back within 3 days (we had a Russian bank account, but it should only take slightly longer to refund your original method of payment).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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  <\/span>General Train Tips: Classes, Trains and Tips for Eating on Board<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

  As mentioned, having the Russian Rail app will make your life easier. We can\u2019t stress this enough!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

  Which Train Do I Want? Top or Bottom?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

  Russian trains usually have three \u201cclasses\u201d with varying levels of comfort (more on that below). In all classes, you will get a bunk, access to the bathroom, and unlimited hot water. The lower bunks in all classes fold up during the day and become seats. The upper bunks, depending on the class and specific train, will fold away into the wall to give more room for the seats below when they aren\u2019t being slept in.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

  Biggest tip – know not only which class you are booking, but which train<\/strong> you are booking! We traveled mostly in 2nd class, but what the carriages looked like and what amenities were offered varied widely depending on the age and model of the train. Our longest journey was from Khabarovsk to Ulan-Ude. We were lucky enough to have (accidentally) booked that part of the journey on the nicest, most modern train – look for train 001\u042d\u0410<\/strong> going from Vladivostok to Moscow and 002\u042d<\/strong> going from Moscow to Vladivostok if you want to ride in luxury! Another very nice train was the 325EA<\/strong>: we took this train from Perm to Kazan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

  Usually, the bottom<\/strong> bunks are more expensive. Since we traveled as a pair, we just got one bottom and one top bunk each time. Remember that during the day, the bottom bunk converts to a seat so keep that in mind as well – it could be possible that someone you don\u2019t know is sleeping above you and will want somewhere to sit during the day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

  Finally, if you are a female traveling solo, some trains offer \u201cfemale only<\/strong>\u201d compartments if you feel that would be a good option for you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

  While you might have the idea that Russians can be cold or unfriendly, we found this to be completely untrue – especially on the train! Taking a train in Russia is a great opportunity to get to know Russians and Russian culture – if you know a few phrases of Russian, even better, though gesturing (and your offline google translate app) will also go a long way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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  Russian Train Classes<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

  You can choose<\/p>\n\n\n\n

  • First class<\/strong>, called SV<\/strong> or Luxe<\/strong>, or in Cyrillic (CV<\/strong>), is just what it sounds like. These train compartments only contain two bunks, as well as other amenities (some even include a shower). Unless you are traveling with a very high budget, these will likely be too expensive to be worth it. We never traveled in first class so we cannot say for ourselves if it would be worth the splurge.<\/li>
  • Second class<\/strong> is also known as \u201ccoupe<\/strong>\u201d or in Cyrillic (\u043a\u0443\u043f\u0435<\/strong>). These trains have four bunks per compartment, with a small shared table in the middle. The doors to each compartment can be closed and lead out to a hallway through which you can access the bathroom and the hot water. <\/li>
  • Third class<\/strong> is called platzkart<\/strong> (\u043f\u043b\u0430\u0446\u043a\u0430\u0440\u0442<\/strong>). This is more like a hostel on wheels, definitely the cheapest option of the three. The compartments are more like \u2018nooks\u2019 that cannot be closed off like in coupe. There are also bunks lining the hallway. It is very noisy, but, as mentioned, people are often very friendly. There is nothing that brings people together like a long train trip; so if you are interested in a social experience and don\u2019t mind that it could be noisier, it\u2019s worth checking out.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n

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