Travel on the Sleeper Train from St. Petersburg to Moscow Russia

If you plan to visit Russia and see the biggest cities, you might consider traveling by train from St. Petersburg to Moscow. Although flying is an option, the train is fast, comfortable and brings you to the heart of the city. Read here what it is like to travel on the overnight sleeper trains from St. Petersburg to Moscow.

After a visit to St. Petersburg, Russia, I travelled by train to Moscow, before my big railway adventure on the Trans Mongolian Railway to China. If you want to see and experience Russia, I strongly recommend seeing both Saint Petersburg and Russia (and take the Trans Mongolian Railway of course). 

The best way to see both cities is to take one of the trains from St. Petersburg to Moscow.

I walk you through the history of the line, things to do in St. Petersburg and in Moscow and your different options for the trains between the cities. Hop aboard!

I paid for everything in full myself. I was not paid or sponsored. All my opinions and experiences are my own.

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History of the Train from Saint Petersburg to Moscow

The railroad between St. Petersburg and Moscow was commissioned by Tsar Nicholas I in 1842. It took 10 years of planning and construction, to see the line finished on November 1^st 1851.

The 635 km (395 miles) journey connects the two capital cities of Russia, Saint Petersburg and Moscow by rail.

In the beginning, trains would run at a speed of 40 km/h and the train journey between St. Petersburg and Moscow would take 19 hours (including stops.)

In 1931 the deluxe train, the Red Arrow, reduced the travel time to 10 hours. This new daily train left the station at 23.55 (or 11.55 pm) and arrive at 07.55 (or 7.55 am) the next day.

Since 2009, a new high-speed train connecting St. Petersburg and Moscow, called the Sapsan High-Speed train, services the railway route. With 250 km/h (or 155 mph) the Sapsan trains from St. Petersburg to Moscow can cover the distance in 3 hours and 45 minutes.

Things to see in St. Petersburg Russia

I loved St. Petersburg! The city is perfect for a weekend trip from Europe, or to start off your travels in Russia. The city feels very European but is still packed to the brim with Russian culture and history.

Here are some things to see in St. Petersburg Russia. For more details, check my guide on one day in St. Petersburg.

• See the Church of the Savior on Blood, the famous onion shaped dome and red color is a must have picture when you go to St. Petersburg.
• Visit the Hermitage and stroll around for hours!
• Ride the St. Petersburg Metro lines! A tour of the most luxurious metro stations linked underground.
• Get some culture in and see the ballet!

Things to see in Moscow Russia

Moscow is the main starting point for all travels in Russia as most international flights will start here and is your connection to destinations further away in Russia (That is, if you don’t decide to take the train!). I only had a short sightseeing tour in Moscow but here are some things you must see in Moscow:

• Explore the Kremlin
• Visit Saint Basil’s Cathedral. You haven’t been to Russia if you haven’t seen this.
• GUM, the biggest department store you’ll even see
• Stand in the middle of the Red Square

My experience with the Sleeper train from St. Petersburg to Moscow

I didn’t start my overland journey on the Trans Mongolian Railway in Moscow. I wanted something else. Therefore, I decided to fly into St. Petersburg and from there, I took the train to Moscow before the start of my overland railway journey to Mongolia, Beijing, Tibet and Nepal.

We arrived early morning in St. Petersburg Russia. I was super excited as our big overland trip had finally started. We had almost 2 full days to explore St. Petersburg. Our train would leave at 23.15 (11.15 pm) from St. Petersburg to Moscow. We were scheduled to arrive in Moscow at 6.48 am the next morning.

We took the subway to the train station. I wasn’t used to carrying my big heavy backpack yet and everything took more time than I’d expected. We finally arrived at the platform and the train was already waiting for us.

After a quick picture with the sign, we needed to find our compartment. Of course, this was all the way at the end of the train, so we had to haul ass quickly, to make it in time.

We were greeted with a brisk nod of the head from our provodnika (female train host) and she showed us where the samovar (the kettle with hot water to make coffee and tea and instant soup) was.

This was my first experience with trains in Russia. We settled in the compartment and almost immediately left the train station of St. Petersburg. Our journey to Moscow had begun.

We shared a 4-bed compartment with 2 Russian men who drank vodka all night in the restaurant carriage. I remember I was worried if I’d be able to sleep, but as soon as the train left the outskirts of St. Petersburg and settled in a steady pace, I drifted off to sleep.

Before I knew it, we’d arrived in Moscow! I slept the whole night through and the provodnika woke us up in time. We saved a night in a hotel and travelled almost 400 miles. The city of Moscow awaited us.

Train Moscow to St. Petersburg

Of course, all the details mentioned in this post for the train from St. Petersburg to Moscow, also apply the other way around. The train from Moscow to St. Petersburg is the same one. Have you ever been to Moscow?

Moscow has a number of airports, all located on the outskirts of the city. For an average person staying in Moscow, it takes time to get to the airport.

Together with check-in times, security checks, boarding times and flying times, a flight to St. Petersburg might take just as much time as the train to Saint Petersburg! As an added bonus, the trains both arrive and depart from train stations easily connected to the metro system.

Different trains from St. Petersburg to Moscow

When I booked my train tickets from St. Petersburg to Moscow, I didn’t know much about the trains. I just booked one of the cheapest tickets available (€47 back then) and we left right before midnight and arrived before 7 am the next morning in Moscow.

But it turns out, your experience on the train from St. Petersburg to Moscow, greatly depends on what kind of train you’ll take.

The trains leave Moskovsky railway station/ St.Petersburg-Glavny (Санкт-Петербург-Главный) in St. Petersburg. The train station is connected to metro lines 1 and 3.

The trains from St. Petersburg stop in Moscow at the Leningradsky Station or Moscow-Passazhirskaya (Москва-Главная-Пассажирская). It is connected with metro lines 1 and 5 as well as several trams and buses.

Sapsan High-Speed Trains St. Petersburg to Moscow

Since 2009, the Sapsan High-Speed trains run between Moscow and St. Petersburg and vice versa. With 250 km/h (155 mph) the train journey takes less than 4 hours.

With comfortable chairs and its bullet-like appearance, this train doesn’t look at all like a Soviet train. The Sapsan High-Speed train from Saint Petersburg to Moscow is all about efficiency and modern speed.

Most carriages even have Wi-Fi onboard in 1^st class. There are 12 Sapsan trains per day going back and forth between Moscow and St. Petersburg. An economy train ticket on the Sapsan train will cost you (approx.) $68 or €55.

Red Arrow Sleeper train St. Petersburg to Moscow

The Red Arrow overnight sleeper train is an icon. And it’s red!

Since 1931, this train connects Moscow and St. Petersburg once a day and passengers can stay in 2^nd class compartments or have a 1^st class compartment all to themselves.

Prices start at $73 or €59 but you do save a night in a hotel and it includes a meal at the restaurant carriage. Although not the fastest nor the cheapest, the Red Arrow train from St. Petersburg to Moscow does give you a unique Russian train experience.

Luxury Grand Express Overnight Train

Maybe the Russians invented luxury? The Luxury Grand Express sure justifies its name. This is one of Russia’s first private owner train services and offers first-class train service between St. Petersburg and Moscow.

The train takes 8.30 hours and runs once a day, but you’d wish the train journey would take longer so you could enjoy the luxury longer.

Showers, private suits and a complimentary bathrobe is awaiting you.

Oh, and it also brings you from St. Petersburg to Moscow! Prices start at $100 or €82 but rise up quickly with added luxury.

Other trains from Saint Petersburg to Moscow and beyond

There are a number of different trains running on this railway road between Moscow and St. Petersburg. The route continues after Moscow to Vladimir and Nizhny Novgorod.

The lines also connect St. Petersburg to Helsinki (Finland) and there are plans to expand the high-speed tracks to align with other high-speed train routes in Europe. If you want to buy the tickets for your train from St. Petersburg to Moscow, I recommend buying them in advance online. You can do so here.

An alternative way to travel from St. Petersburg to Moscow is via a river cruise. Check the details here.

Have you ever been to St. Petersburg or Moscow? Have you ever travelled on a Russian train? Which of the train options would you choose to travel between Moscow and St. Petersburg? Share your ideas in the comment section below!