How to buy Russian train tickets as a foreigner (2026)

Short answer: buy on the official Russian Railways (RZD) site or app, or at a station ticket office with your passport. The hard part for foreigners is payment: cards issued abroad do not work in Russia, so you need a Russian card, a fast-payment (SBP) option, or cash at the ticket office.

1. Where to buy

• Official site and app: rzd.ru and the "RZD Passengers" app. The site has an English version; the app interface is mainly Russian.
• Station ticket office (касса): the most reliable option if you have no Russian card. Bring your passport; cash and Russian cards are accepted.
• Resellers: some sites accept foreign cards for a service fee. Check that the ticket is issued by RZD and that the name matches your passport.

2. Passport details: the mistake that costs a seat

Every long-distance ticket is personal. Enter your name in Latin letters exactly as in the passport you will travel with, choose "foreign passport" as the document type, and type the number without spaces. A mismatch can mean being refused boarding.

3. Carriage classes

4. E-registration and boarding

Most tickets bought online come with electronic registration: you board by showing the passport entered at booking. Keep the PDF or app ticket on your phone anyway. Departure times on tickets are shown in local time of the station; double-check when crossing time zones.

5. Before you pay

1. Check the date and station — Moscow has several mainline stations.
2. Check refund conditions shown at checkout.
3. Prices change with demand; buy popular routes and holiday dates early.

Rules and sales windows change. The RZD site and the ticket office are the final source.