World Cup 2018 airport travel guide

If you’re lucky enough to be jetting off to the World Cup, you’re in for quite an adventure. The matches, the parties, the nail-biting penalties… However, you may not be looking forward to the logistics of travelling from match to match, especially when you don’t speak the language.

Good news: you don’t have to worry about navigating the airports, or about getting to the stadium on time. We’ve updated the FLIO app and our website especially for the World Cup, with the latest info on all airports and stadiums, including airport tips and advice, and details of how to get to each stadium – from largest to the the smallest and hardest to reach. 

Here’s an overview of our hard-researched World Cup. Info on how to get from airport to stadium is below, and you can click the airport names for for our airport overviews. We hope this helps ease your World Cup travels, so you can spend more time thinking about the games than the gates.

Eleven cities, twelve stadiums, thirteen airports, endless sporting excitement, here goes…

1. Moscow.

Fly to…

Sheremetyevo International Airport (SVO)
Domodedovo International Airport (DME)
Vnukovo International Airport (VKO)

Luzhniki Stadium, Moscow

Getting to Luzhniki Stadium

Metro and taxi

Name: Luzhniki Stadium
Size: Spectator capacity is 81,000
Address: Khamovniki District, Moscow, Russia

How to get from the airport to the stadium:

For easiest access to the stadium, we recommend the following options:

Metro
Using the metro system is the best way to skip Moscow’s heavy traffic jams in the competition days. From the airport, book yourself a taxi to Moscow’s ”Paveletsky” railway station and from there you only have to take a train for about 20 minutes to ”Sportivnaya” station situated close to Luzhniki stadium. The taxis are available right in front of the airport entrance.

Taxi fares to ”Paveletsky” railway station:

– From Vnukovo airport: RUB 1080 and will take around 51 minutes
– From Sheremetyevo airport: RUB 1200 and will take around 55 minutes
– From Domodedovo airport: RUB 1180 and will take around 55 minutes

Taxi fares direct to the stadium:

– From Vnukovo airport: RUB 1000 and will take around 45 minutes
– From Sheremetyevo airport: RUB 1170 and will take around 48 minutes
– From Domodedovo airport: RUB 1200 and will take around 55 minutes

Spartak Stadium, Moscow

Getting to Spartak Stadium 

Metro and taxi

Name: Spartak Stadium, also known as Otkritie Arena
Size: Spectator capacity is 45,360
Address: Volokolamskoye sh., 69, Moskva, Russia, 125424

How to get from the airport to the stadium:
Spartak Stadium is located 14 kilometres from Moscow’s city centre. The easiest way to get to the stadium is using Moscow’s metro system. Therefore, we recommend you first to take a taxi from the airport to the city ”Central Station” and from there get the ”purple Tagansko-Krasnopresnenskaya” line 7, to head over to the ”Spartak” metro station.

 Taxi fares to Moscow’s ”Central Station” railway station:
– From Domodedovo airport: RUB 1150 and will take around 50 minutes
– From Vnukovo airport: RUB 1080 and will take around 50 minutes
– From Sheremetyevo airport: RUB 1250 and will take around 55 minutes

Taxi fares direct to the stadium:
– From Sheremetyevo airport: RUB 1200 and will take around 1 hour
– From Domodedovo airport: RUB 1450 and will take around 1 hour
– From Vnukovo airport: RUB 1250 and will take around 1 hour and 15 minutes

2. St Petersburg.

Fly to…

Pulkovo Airport (LED)

St Petersburg Stadium, St Petersburg

Getting to Saint Petersburg Stadium

Free shuttle buses or taxi

Name: Krestovsky Stadium (officially called Saint-Petersburg Stadium)
Size: Spectator capacity is 67,000
Address: Futbol’naya Alleya, 1, Sankt-Peterburg, Russia, 197110

How to get from the airport to the stadium

Spectators of the sporting events at St. Petersburg all eligible for free travel on the shuttle bus, tram (19 or 48), bus (39, 43, 49, 128 and 158), all metro lines and all commuter routes. Beware: The right to free travel on the routes of sports competitions will work in accordance with the ticket date specified in the ticket and will be valid for the entire calendar day of the match until the end of traffic, but not more than four hours after the match.

For easiest access to the stadium, we recommend the following options:

1) Free shuttle buses

There are four different free shuttle buses that connect the airport to the stadium: Shutte S1, S10, S11 and S12. Travellers with a game ticket get a free ride on the day of the match. Bus stops are not provided along the way and disembarkation of passengers is carried out only at the final stops.

2) Taxi

The average fare for a taxi from Pulkovo Airport to the stadium costs RUB 1,669 and will take approximately 40 minutes.

3. Sochi.

Fly to…

Sochi International Airport (AER)

Fisht Stadium, Sochi

Getting to Fisht Stadium

Shuttle buses or taxi

Name: Fisht Stadium
Size: Spectator capacity is 48,000
Address: Olympic Ave, Adler, Krasnodarskiy kray, Russia, 354340

How to get from the airport to the stadium

Spectators of the sporting events at Sochi can take buses 57, 57K, 100, 125С, 124С to get to the stadium. Beware: Traffic around the stadium will be restricted on the days of soccer matches. Public transportation routes will be shortened and will end at the bus station near the Olympic Park Railway Station.  

For easiest access to the stadium, we recommend the following options:

1) Shuttle buses

There will be shuttle buses moving between the Sochi Railway Station and the Olympic Park and between Sochi International Airport and the Olympic Park.

2) Taxi

The average fare for a taxi from Sochi International Airport to the stadium costs RUB 300-370 and takes 12 minutes.

4. Yekaterinburg.

Fly to…

Koltsovo Airport (SVX)

Ekaterinburg Arena, Yekaterinburg

Getting to Ekaterinburg Arena

Taxi or Uber

Name: Officially called Central Stadium but during the World Cup it will be called Ekaterinburg Arena
Size: Spectator capacity is 35,696
Address: Ulitsa Repina, 5, Yekaterinburg, Sverdlovskaya oblast’, Russia, 620028

How to get from the airport to the arena

The distance from Koltsovo Airport to the centre of Yekaterinburg is 17 km and takes 25 minutes by car. To get to the arena, you could take Bus 1 which takes 45 minutes from the airport to “Prospekt Lenina” and from there take a five-minute bus (bus 2 or 25, or trolleybus 3, 7 or 17) to “Tsentralny Stadion”. This is the cheapest option but takes the longest and is complicated if you don’t speak or understand Russian.
For easiest access to the arena, we recommend the following options:

1) Taxi
A taxi is the quickest and most comfortable way to get from Koltsovo Airport to the arena. The price for a taxi ride to Ekaterinburg Arena is about RUB 650-800 and takes 18 minutes.

2) Uber 
Uber is another great affordable option to get to the arena. The average fare of an Uber from the airport to Ekaterinburg Arena is RUB 240-300 and takes around 18 minutes. 

5. Rostov-on-Don.

Fly to…

Platov Airpor (ROV)

Rostov Arena, Rostov-on-Don

Getting to Rostov Arena

Uber, taxi or tram

Name: Rostov Arena
Size: Spectator capacity is 45,000
Address: Rostov-on-Don, Rostov Oblast, Russia, 344002

How to get from the airport to the arena

The distance from Platov International Airport to Rostov Arena is 48 km or 40 minutes by car. Rostov Arena is located on the south bank of the river Don not far from the centre of Rostov-on-Don. It’s an approximate 15-minute walk to the stadium from the foot of the bridge over the river.  During the soccer championship, 86 shuttles will run between Platov Airport and Rostov-on-Don.

For easiest access to the arena, we recommend the following options:

1) Taxi

A taxi ride from the airport to Rostov Arena costs around RUB 1,100-1,400 and takes approximately 40 minutes.

2) Uber

Uber is also an affordable option to get to the arena. The average fare of an Uber from the airport to Rostov Arena is RUB 600-800 and takes around 38 minutes.

3) Tram

Rostov’s main railway station is located roughly four kilometres from the stadium. To get from the airport to the stadium you have to first take the Bus 285 to the Train Station Square. The bus ride costs RUB 95 and can take up to an hour. Once you’re in the central train station, take Tram 1 or 4 to get off at the stop “Voroshilovskiy Prospekt” and walk across the bridge to the stadium. 

6. Samara.

Fly to…

Kurumoch Airport (KUF)

Samara Arena, Samara

Getting to Samara Arena

Taxi or trams

Name: Cosmos Arena, also known as Samara Arena or Samara Stadium
Size: Spectator capacity is 44,918
Address: Ulitsa Dal’nyaya, Samara, Samarskaya Oblast’, Russia, 443072

How to get from the airport to the arena:

For easiest access to the arena, we recommend the following options:

1) Taxi

The average fare for a taxi from the airport to the arena costs RUB 800-1000 and will take around 32 minutes. 

2) Trams

To provide transportation for football fans during the soccer world cup, the city will deploy a total of 87 trams, which will run from Sportivnaya Street to Samara Arena.

7. Kazan (Republic of Tatarstan).

Fly to…

Kazan International Airport

Kazan Arena, Kazan

Getting to Kazan Arena

Uber, taxi, train or bus

Name: Kazan Arena
Size: Spectator capacity is 45,379
Address: Prospekt Khusaina Yamasheva, 115 А, Kazan, Tatarstan, Russia

How to get from the airport to the arena

Kazan Arena is located in the north-east of the city of Kazan, on the west bank of the Kazanka river, at about 6 kilometres from central Kazan. The distance from Kazan International Airport to Kazan Arena is 29 km or 28 minutes by car. All ticket holders of the soccer matches benefit from free railway passes on the routes between the airport and Kazan.

For easiest access to the arena, we recommend the following options:

1) Taxi

A taxi is the quickest and most comfortable way to get to and from Kazan airport. The average price for a taxi ride from the airport to Kazan Arena is about RUB 600-750 and takes around 25 minutes.

2) Uber

Uber is an even more affordable option to get to the arena. The average fare of an Uber from the airport to Kazan Arena is RUB 450-600 and takes around 26 minutes. 

3) Aeroexpress Train

The Aeroexpress train goes directly to Kazan railway station (directly connected with Terminal 1 and Terminal 1A) which is located in the centre of the city. It costs RUB 200 for standard class and RUB 400 for business class. It departs from the airport every 2 hours starting from 07:00-23:00. From there the arena can be reached with either tram 5 or 6. 

4) Bus

The bus is by far the cheapest way to get from the airport to the arena, however, it will take around 1 hour and 20 minutes to get there so this a great option if you have enough time. To get to the arena from the airport, take Bus 197 to Zakieva. From here you will have to make a connection of around three minutes and take Bus 5 to Gavrilova where you will have to walk around twenty minutes to get to the arena. The total estimated fare from the airport to the arena by bus is RUB 145.

8. Kaliningrad.

Fly to…

Khrabrovo International Airport (KGD)

Kaliningrad Stadium, Kaliningrad

Getting to Kaliningrad Stadium

Taxi or bus

Name: Kaliningrad Stadium, also called Arena Baltika
Size: Spectator capacity is 35,212
Address: Solnechnyy Bul’var, Kaliningrad, Kaliningradskaya Oblast’, Russia, 236006

How to get from the airport to the stadium:

For easiest access to the stadium, we recommend the following options:

Taxi
A taxi from the airport to the stadium costs RUB 400-600 and usually takes around 30 minutes to get there. Beware that actual fares vary depending on traffic, tolls and other unforeseen conditions. You can easily book a taxi at the airport transportation area.

Bus
For the convenience of the fans, in addition to the taxis, shuttle buses (pink colour) are also available in front of the airport to get you to the stadium and vice-versa.

9. Volgograd.

Fly to…

Volgograd International Airport (VOG)

Volgograd Arena, Volgograd

Getting to Volgograd Arena

Bus, trolleybuses and taxi

Name: Volgograd Arena, the FC Rotor Volgograd home
Size: Spectator capacity is 45,568
Address: ‎Prospekt Lenina, 76, Volgograd, Volgogradskaya Oblast’, Russia, 400005

How to get from the airport to the arena:

For easiest access to the arena, we recommend you to take a cab from the airport to Volgograd’s ”Central Station” and from there you can easily take either bus 95 or trolleybuses 9 or 12 to get to the arena. The closest station to the arena is ”Central Stadium” located 200m away from the arena. But if you are in a rush and don’t want to lose the match taking a taxi direct to the arena is the best idea! A taxi to the arena from the airport costs about RUB 1000 (tolls & surcharges may apply) and the journey takes 45 minutes depending on traffic condition.

Tip: Entrance to the Volgograd Arena on matchdays will be restricted for all modes of transport except for public vehicles or those having special passes for entry and parking in the stadium area. Therefore, if you do not have such a pass, it is better not to use a personal/rented car and use public transport.

10. Nizhny Novgorod.

Fly to…

Strigino International Airport (GOJ)

Getting to Nizhny Novgorod Stadium

Taxi or Uber

Name: Nizhny Novgorod Stadium
Size: Planned spectator capacity is 44,899
Address: Ulitsa Dolzhanskaya 2А, Building 1, Nizhnij Novgorod, Nizhegorodskaya oblast’, Russia, 603159

How to get from the airport to the stadium

Strigino International Airport is located in the Avtozavodskiy District, southwest of the downtown. It takes 40-50 minutes to drive from the airport to the town centre or to the Nizhny Novgorod Stadium if there is no traffic.
For easiest access to the stadium, we recommend the following options:

1) Taxi
The average fare for a taxi from Strigino International Airport to Nizhny Novgorod Stadium costs around RUB 600-750 and will take around 26 minutes.

2) Uber
You could also take an uber to get to the stadium from the airport. Uber fares for this route cost around RUB 300-380 and take 26 minutes.

11. Saransk (Republic of Mordovia.

Fly to…

Saransk International Airport (SKX)

Getting to Mordovia Arena

Shuttle buses or taxi

Name: Mordovia Arena, the FC Mordovia Saransk home
Size: Spectator capacity is 44,442
Address: Volgogradskaya Ulitsa, 1, Saransk, Respublika Mordoviya, Russia, 430009

How to get from the airport to the arena:

For the convenience of the fans, Saransk City Hall plans to launch shuttle bus services from the arena to the airport and vice-versa during the competitions. In addition to the shuttle buses, taxi services are also available at the airport transportation area. A taxi from the airport to the arena costs RUB 380 and will only take around 10 minutes to get there. 

Any tips you find en route, remember to upload them onto the FLIO app!

Счастливые путешествия!