A taxi ride to the city centre takes around 30 minutes (traffic dependent) and should cost around $40. Taxis touts operate in front of both terminals and are to be avoided. Book a taxi from one of the official taxi company booths. It is advisable to prebook a taxi and be met on arrival.

Car rental companies include Avis, Hertz, National and Budget.

Taxis are available from outside both terminals; passengers should avoid the renegade taxi drivers and go to the official taxi counter. Rates are fixed. There is an express bus services, which leaves from outside Sheremetyevo 1 and 2 for the nearby metro stations that connect to the city centre. Minibuses are also available.

Tel: +7 495 232 6565.

None.

Moscow Airport is a soulless, dimly lit, grey building and long stopovers here should be avoided if possible. The staff are slow and inefficient and the queues for passport control and check-in are long. Once through check-in, however, the facilities are fine, including bureaux de change, restaurants, bars, duty-free shopping and a post office. Disabled facilities are limited but wheelchair transfer from the aircraft to the terminal building can be arranged in advance. Left luggage counters, a business conference centre and ATMs are available in Terminal 2.

Russian is the official language. Some people speak English, French or German.

The official currency is the Rouble (RUB), which is divided into 100 kopeks. Most major credit cards, like Visa and Mastercard are accepted in the larger hotels and at places that deal with foreign tourists. Currency can be changed at banks, currency exchange booths and hotels. Travellers cheques are difficult and expensive to cash, but if necessary it is advised to take them in US Dollars or Euro. ATMs are widely available in major cities. It is hard to get rubles outside Russia and travellers are advised to take good condition US dollars or Euro notes to change once there. It is illegal to pay for goods or services in hard currency, though it is often accepted.

Most international flights will arrive at Sheremetyevo II. Sheremetyevo I, about 15 miles (24km) away, serves domestic flights. Public and Express buses, taxis and free airline shuttles are available between the terminals.