If you want to travel from Riga to Moscow by bus, today there’s only one regular line option: the overnight Ecolines service, operated by the Latvian company Norma-A SIA. It leaves every day at 19:40 from Riga’s international bus station, crosses through the Terehova–Burachki checkpoint, and arrives the next day at the Severnye Vorota station in Moscow at 18:00. About 22 hours on paper, although in practice real travelers report between 24 and 40 hours depending on the queue at the border.
I’ve cross-checked the official information with hundreds of traveler accounts published on Telegram channels between 2023 and 2026 so you know how long the trip really takes, what they’ll ask you at the border, what you can take with you, and what they’ll confiscate.
Practical details of the Ecolines bus
The bus is Ecolines’ international line 821145, operated by the Latvian company Norma-A SIA. It’s the only one authorized by intergovernmental agreement to keep the route running after most other international lines to Russia disappeared.
- Departure from Riga: Autoosta international bus station (Pragas iela 1), platform 7. Daily at 19:40.
- Arrival in Moscow: Severnye Vorota station (ul. Dybenko 7), the next day at 18:00.
- Opposite direction: departure from Moscow at 17:15, arrival in Riga the next day around 08:45.
- Intermediate stops: Jekabpils (21:50) and Rezekne (23:40) in Latvia.
- Theoretical border crossing: Terehova between 00:45 and 04:00, Burachki between 04:00 and 08:00.
- Price: around €89 according to Ecolines’ official website (one way only).
- Booking: ecolines.ru or ecolines.net, both valid. Also at the counters at Autoosta and Severnye Vorota.
I’d recommend booking in advance if you’re traveling in high season (May–September) or around New Year. There’s only one bus and it fills up.
How long the border crossing really takes
I’ve gone through dozens of accounts posted in the @RF_Latvia_chat2 Telegram chat between 2024 and 2026, and the conclusion is clear: times vary enormously and the queue at the border is what decides whether your trip lasts 18 hours or 40.
Some real-life examples:
- Good case (July 2024, Vitaly, Moscow→Riga direction): about 6 hours total to clear both borders.
- Average case (October 2023, Alex): 5 hours at the Russian border and 4 hours at the Latvian one. Arrival ~6 hours behind schedule.
- Bad case (October 2023, Tatiana): 32 hours for Moscow–Riga, instead of the 19 expected.
- Current situation (April 2026, Lenok): “For Ubylinka and Burachki, you’re doing well if it’s only 10 hours”. The electronic queue system has improved things, but the Russian border is still slow.
The rule of thumb: under normal conditions, count on 8–12 hours to clear both borders. In high season and on holidays, don’t rule out 15 hours or more. If your trip has a tight connection in Moscow, don’t buy this ticket.
To follow the border situation in real time, the two most useful channels are @rf_latvia (official posts) and @RF_Latvia_chat2 (daily traveler reports). I’ve put together a guide to the best Telegram groups for tracking Russia’s borders if you want a wider list.
What they’ll ask you and what they may inspect
Border control on the Russian side at Burachki is thorough and not at all like the quick check at an airport. The most recurring things travelers report:
- You may be called in for a 30 to 60 minute interview.
- You may be asked to unlock your phone so they can review emails, messaging apps, photos, browser history, and the Telegram channels you’re subscribed to. The idea is to gauge your political stance on the war and check whether you have suspicious contacts. I go into more detail in this article on phone checks at the Russian border.
- Verification of your phone’s IMEI.
- Random luggage inspection. If they find something prohibited on a passenger, they often switch to a general inspection (which adds extra delay for everyone).
On the Latvian side checks are less intense, but passengers with Russian passports are sometimes asked to fill out declarations. And if you’re carrying euros in cash, you must declare them above €10,000; many travelers recommend not carrying more than €500 in cash.
What you can and can’t bring with you
This is the most important point and the one almost no one talks about. Since October 12, 2025, Russian customs at Burachki applies far stricter rules for passengers entering from the EU by bus:
- Only used personal items (clothing, toiletries, electronics for personal use).
- Up to around 25 kg, according to traveler reports.
- It’s forbidden to bring in: food, alcohol, tobacco, packaged gifts, souvenirs, and in general any new item still in its packaging.
- Reports include cases of half-eaten sandwiches and bottles of cognac being seized at the border.
- If you take medication, keep it to a reasonable personal-use quantity, and for prescription drugs, carry the prescription on you.
Ecolines itself keeps a permanent notice on its website about the EU product restrictions when entering Russia. It’s worth reading before you travel. For the full list of items, see my article on what you can and can’t bring through Russian customs.
What the trip is like onboard
So you know what to expect with no surprises: the Ecolines coaches on the Moscow route are not the newest in the fleet. They’re double-decker buses. On board you’ll find:
- Reclining seats, Wi-Fi, 220V sockets, air conditioning.
- Onboard toilet and a small drinks service.
- Onboard attendant on most services.
- Luggage allowance: one carry-on up to 5 kg and one checked bag up to 30 kg.
Bring water, light food for the Latvian side (once you’re in Russia they may take it from you), a blanket or hoodie, a power bank and, if you can, a book. Wi-Fi and sockets are useful, but coverage drops in the border area.
If your destination is Saint Petersburg or Pskov
For Saint Petersburg (and Pskov along the way) there’s an Ecolines bus from Riga, but it crosses the border via Estonia, not Latvia: it leaves Riga at 08:55 and reaches Saint Petersburg at 22:25 (~13h30, around €65), with a stop in Pskov around 17:40. It’s the comfortable option if Moscow is not your destination. I’ve put together a separate guide on the bus to Saint Petersburg from Tallinn and Riga.
Tips before buying your ticket
- Book in advance and pick a seat on the lower deck if you suffer from motion sickness or want to sleep better.
- Don’t plan a tight connection in Moscow. The arrival time is approximate and 4–8 hour delays are common.
- Get your phone ready before you leave. Remove Telegram channels you’d rather not show and sensitive photos from your gallery. It’s legal but it can speed up your crossing.
- On the day of departure, check the border situation on @rf_latvia.
- Bring snacks, water and something warm. In the queue you may be made to get off the bus in the cold for hours.
How much does the Riga–Moscow bus cost?
Around €89 if you book it on the Ecolines website.
How long does the trip take?
On paper, 22 hours. In practice, according to traveler reports, more than 24 hours is the most common. In high season, around New Year or when there are incidents, it can stretch to 30 hours or more. The border is the main cause of delays.
How many stops does the bus make?
Three main stops: Jekabpils and Rezekne in Latvia, and the Terehova–Burachki border. There are no stops on Russian territory before Moscow, so you can’t use this bus to get off in Pskov or Saint Petersburg.
Can I bring food or gifts on the bus?
Almost nothing. Since October 12, 2025, Russian customs at Burachki only allow used personal items (clothing, toiletries, personal electronics). You cannot bring in food, alcohol, tobacco, packaged gifts or souvenirs.
Can I get off the bus and cross the border on foot to go faster?
You used to be able to, but not anymore. Since March 2025, the Terehova–Burachki crossing can only be done in a motorized vehicle. Crossing on foot or by bicycle is forbidden.
Are there other bus companies covering Riga–Moscow?
No. Ecolines, operated by Norma-A SIA, is the only regular line operator. Lux Express stopped serving Moscow in 2022, FlixBus and Eurolines don’t reach Russia, and private transfers are banned by Latvian decree 643.
What about Saint Petersburg from Riga?
Also with Ecolines, but that bus doesn’t cross via Latvia: it goes through Estonia (Koidula–Kunichyna Gora). It leaves Riga at 08:55 and reaches Saint Petersburg at 22:25, ~13h30, around €65, with an intermediate stop in Pskov.
