Are you planning a trip to Russia and finding yourself caught up in the odyssey of buying Russian train tickets? You’re not alone. Since the international sanctions, the process has become quite complicated for foreign travelers. But don’t worry: in this article, I’ll explain how to book train tickets in Russia under the current circumstances—without hassle and without needing to speak Russian.
Why you can’t buy directly on the RZD website anymore
It used to be simple: you’d go to the Russian Railways website (RZD.ru), pick your train, pay with your card, and that was it. But since 2022, most international travelers have run into two big problems:
- You can’t pay with foreign cards (Visa, Mastercard, etc.).
- The RZD website is blocked in many countries: to access it, you need to use a VPN that connects you through Russia.
This has turned booking a train ticket in Russia from abroad into an unexpected challenge for many travelers. However, there are reliable solutions to get around these restrictions and buy tickets safely and legally with a foreign card.
One option is to apply for a MIR card through YooMoney and receive it at home before traveling to Russia. If you don’t want to apply for a MIR card or prefer a simpler solution, you can use one of the options listed below, which allow you to purchase tickets or services from abroad using a foreign card.
Options for booking Russian train tickets from abroad
Since the official Russian website no longer accepts foreign cards, the only solution is to use intermediary websites or portals from neighboring countries like Kazakhstan or Belarus. Here are the three best alternatives right now:
1. Authorized Russian intermediary
- Languages available: Spanish, English, French, German, Italian, Portuguese
- Very easy to use
- High commission (30% to 50% over the original price)
- URL: Russiantrain
RussianTrain is an authorized agency that resells Russian train tickets. It’s owned by Anyday Travel LLC (based in Russia) and acts as an official sub-agent for the RZD railway company. It’s a very user-friendly platform, available in multiple languages, and lets you pay with a foreign card easily.
The main downside is the price. A ticket that costs €50 on the RZD website can end up costing €75 here. It’s perfect if you don’t want any hassle and don’t mind paying a bit more for convenience.
2. Kazakh portal with good prices
- Interface language: English
- Reasonable commission (5% to 10% of the ticket price)
- Requires entering names transliterated in Russian (e.g., “Moskva” instead of “Moscow”)
- URL: https://tickets.kz
This Kazakh portal sells Russian train tickets at prices close to the official rates. Although it also shows options for flights, buses, or hotels, at the moment you can only book Russian trains here. It works well for popular routes like Moscow – St. Petersburg or Kazan – Moscow.
Payments are made in Kazakhstani tenge – KZT (symbol: ₸). Even though it accepts foreign cards, some banks may block the transaction because it can look unusual. I recommend notifying your bank in advance to avoid any issues.
3. Official Belarusian Railways
- Website language: Russian and Belarusian
- Prices very similar to RZD
- Allows payment with foreign Visa or Mastercard, and Samsung Pay
- URL: https://www.rw.by
This is an interesting option if you want to pay almost the same as the RZD website. The main downside is that the site is only available in Russian or Belarusian, so you’ll need to use an automatic browser translator to complete the booking.
You’ll need to register, confirm your email, and then proceed with payment. Although they accept foreign cards, some banks might block the transaction since it’s processed in Belarusian rubles – BYN (symbol: Br). I recommend letting your bank know in advance to avoid any blocks.
What if I don’t want to buy online?
You can also buy tickets directly at the train station. However:
- Staff may not always speak English.
- Seats may sell out, especially on popular tourist routes.
- Some trains require advance booking.
For all these reasons, if you already have your itinerary planned, it’s best to book your tickets online.
Quick comparison: the three best options
| Platform | Language | Ease of use | Approx. commission | Foreign card payment | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RussianTrain | English, Spanish, French, German, etc. | Very easy | High (30–50%) | Yes – Visa & Mastercard | Perfect for hassle-free booking |
| Tickets.kz | English/Kazakh/Russian | Moderate – Use Russian transliterated names | Low (5–10%) | Yes – Visa, Mastercard & Amex | Good value for money |
| RW.by | Russian/Belarusian | More complex – Needs a translator | Minimal | Yes – Visa, Mastercard, UnionPay & Samsung Pay | Use a browser translator |
Use RZD as a search tool
Even if you can’t buy tickets on RZD.ru, the site is still the best reference for:
- Checking schedules
- Seeing the different train types (overnight, Sapsan, Rossiya, etc.)
- Checking official prices
All you need is a VPN to access it. Once you find the train you want, you can book it through one of the alternative platforms above.
Conclusion
Booking train tickets in Russia these days isn’t as straightforward as it used to be, but it’s still totally doable if you know how. Just choose the option that best fits your needs:
- Want it fast and hassle-free, even if it costs more? → RussianTrain
- Prefer to save money with a slightly more involved process? → Tickets.kz
- Want the lowest price and don’t mind using Google Translate for the trickiest option? → RW.by
Plan ahead, use the RZD website as a guide, and pick the alternative that works best for your trip.
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