Moscow to Kazan by Train, Plane, Car or Bus

To get from Moscow to Kazan you have four real options: the overnight train (11–14 hours, from ₽1,650 in a seated car up to ₽4,000 in a kupé compartment), a plane (1h 25min flight from Moscow’s three airports, from around ₽3,500), a car on the new toll motorway M-12 “Vostok” (810 km, about 8 hours, ₽5,909 in tolls in 2026) or a bus (13–17 hours from ₽1,650). Worth knowing upfront: there is no high-speed direct train. The famous Moscow–Kazan high-speed rail project — which was supposed to cut the journey to three and a half hours — has been on paper for years and is not operational.

What I recommend if you ask me: the overnight train. You leave Moscow in the evening, sleep in a berth and wake up in the heart of Kazan just in time for breakfast. You save a night’s hotel, it’s cheap and it’s a genuinely Russian experience in itself. The plane only makes sense if you’re doing Kazan as a day trip or your schedule is really tight. Here’s a breakdown of all four options with concrete data — 2026 prices, timetables, stations, which train to pick — and the practical details you need before buying your ticket.

By train: the classic option (and the one I recommend)

The train between Moscow and Kazan is one of the most popular rail routes in Russia. The distance by rail is around 793 km via the historic route (through Murom and Vekovka), and trains cover it in between 11 and 14 hours depending on the service. There are 6 to 9 daily departures from Moscow, almost all overnight. They leave from Kazansky Vokzal — the station dedicated to this direction since 1862 — and arrive right in the heart of Kazan.

Premium trains: the 002Й “Tatarstan” and the double-decker 023/024

If you want a good night’s sleep and to arrive feeling fresh, these are the two go-to options:

• Train 002Й “Premium” (Tatarstan): the branded firmennyy train of the Republic of Tatarstan. Departs Kazansky at 20:40 and arrives at Kazan’s central station at 08:00 (11h 20min). Only three stops. Modern carriages with showers in the SV class cabins. Prices from ₽3,950 in kupé (closed 4-berth compartment) and ₽12,740 in SV (2-berth deluxe cabin).
• Train 023/024 “Двухэтажный” (double-decker): the two-storey train running between Moscow and Kazan since 2015. Takes around 12 hours. Has first and second class, both in kupé-style compartments. A firm favourite: prices are lower than the Premium and if you get an upper berth on the second floor, the views as you roll into Tatarstan at dawn are spectacular.

Budget trains: the 056М and the 274Х

If your budget is tight or you don’t mind trading some comfort:

• Train 056М (Moscow–Yekaterinburg): passes through Kazan and is the fastest of all (just under 11 hours). The catch: it drops you at Kazan-2 / Vosstanie-Pass. (also called Severny Vokzal or North Station), in the Moskovsky district, about 15–20 minutes from the centre by metro (red line, «Северный вокзал» stop). Prices: platzkart (open-plan berth car) from ₽2,624, kupé from ₽2,869.
• Train 274Х: the cheapest option. Departs at 00:55 and arrives at 13:04 (12h 09min). Has a seated car (sidiachiy) from ₽1,648, kupé from ₽2,112 and SV from ₽7,077. The sidiachiy is a reclining seat with no berth — I’d only recommend it if you’re on a really tight budget and can sleep sitting up.

If you want to understand exactly what platzkart, kupé and SV mean, what the carriages look like from the inside and what’s included in each class, everything is explained in detail in the guide to train types and classes in Russia.

Which station you depart from — and which you arrive at

In Moscow, trains to Kazan leave from Kazansky Vokzal (Kazan Station), on Komsomolskaya Square. It’s one of three stations sharing that same square, alongside Yaroslavsky (where the Trans-Siberian departs) and Leningradsky (to St Petersburg). Metro: Komsomolskaya, line 1 (red) or line 5 (circle). The current building, designed by Aleksey Shchusev and inaugurated in 1940, is one of central Moscow’s great architectural landmarks — worth arriving early just to take it in.

In Kazan, most trains pull in at Kazan-Pass. (Kazan-1), the central station. It’s right next to the Kazan Kremlin and a 10-minute walk from Bauman Street, the main pedestrian thoroughfare. If your train is the 056М or any service continuing towards Yekaterinburg, you’ll arrive at Kazan-2 (also known as Vosstanie-Pass. or Severny Vokzal), a bit further from the centre. Always check the arrival station on your ticket before getting off.

How to buy your ticket

Here’s the problem: since 2022, the official Russian Railways website (RZD.ru) no longer accepts Visa, Mastercard, American Express or any card issued outside Russia. The solution is to buy through an international intermediary that accepts Western cards and issues the official RZD ticket. I explain how the process works, which intermediary I use and what the ticket looks like in the guide to buying train tickets in Russia with a foreign card.

A few practical tips: buy at least 30–45 days in advance to get good prices and the berths you want (I always go for the lower berth — your luggage sits right underneath, no climbing and you can sit to eat). Tickets go on sale roughly 60–90 days out. Keep your ticket printed or on your phone; in Russia, the QR code sent by the agency is valid.

By plane: the fastest option

Flying is the quickest: the flight takes between 1 hour 25 minutes (S7 Airlines, the fastest) and 1 hour 45 minutes (most others). There are over 15 direct flights a day between Moscow and Kazan, so finding a seat at a decent price is relatively easy. It makes the most sense if you’re in a hurry, if you’re doing Kazan as a weekend getaway from Moscow, or if you simply prefer flying to spending the night on a train.

Airlines, prices and airports

• Aeroflot (flag carrier): from Sheremetyevo (SVO). Day and night flights. From around ₽6,500 (~€65).
• Pobeda (Aeroflot’s low-cost arm): from Sheremetyevo (SVO). Very cheap tickets but with extra charges for checked luggage and seat selection. From ₽3,500 (~€35).
• S7 Airlines: from Domodedovo (DME). The fastest option (1h 25min). From around ₽6,500.
• Smartavia: from Sheremetyevo (SVO). A mid-size carrier with a solid reputation. From ₽3,500.
• Nordwind, Red Wings, Rossiya: seasonal services with good prices but fewer frequencies.

Moscow airport: the bulk of flights leave from Sheremetyevo (SVO). There are options from Domodedovo (DME) with S7 and from Vnukovo (VKO) with Pobeda. If you’re already in Moscow, choose whichever airport is most convenient for your hotel — the Aeroexpress connects all three to the centre in 35–50 minutes.

Kazan airport: Kazan International Airport (KZN), about 26 km south of the centre. See below for how to get from KZN to the city centre.

How to book your flight

Same problem as with trains: Aeroflot, Pobeda, S7 and other Russian airlines no longer accept foreign Visa or Mastercard, and Western search engines like Skyscanner or Kayak have not shown flights to Russia since 2022. The solution is international intermediaries that do accept Western cards and issue the ticket in your name. Full details in the guide on how to book flights to Russia with a foreign card.

Also worth reading: the new rules for flying in Russia from March 2026 — if your flight is delayed by more than 30 minutes you can return the ticket and get a full refund, among other important changes for passengers.

By car: the M-12 “Vostok” motorway changed everything

For decades, driving to Kazan meant the M-7 “Volga”: 818 km toll-free but with congested stretches and 12–16 hours behind the wheel. Since December 2023, when the new toll motorway M-12 “Vostok” fully opened, the journey has been cut dramatically: 6.5 to 8 hours from Moscow to Kazan, with a speed limit of 120 km/h. It’s the biggest road infrastructure project in Russia in decades.

M-12 “Vostok” (toll, fast)

• Distance: 810 km from Moscow to the Kazan exit (Shali). From there, an additional 20 km on ordinary roads to the centre.
• Total time: 7–8 hours with stops. Almost as fast as the train and far quicker than the M-7.
• Speed limit: 120 km/h.
• Toll cost in 2026: ₽5,909 for cars (~€60) for the full Moscow–Shali stretch; ₽9,009 for SUVs and minivans, more for heavy vehicles. Individual sections are charged if you only cover part of the route.
• Payment: the system uses cameras that read licence plates. If you have a T-Pass transponder (electronic), the toll is deducted automatically. Without one, you have 5 days to pay online at the Avtodor website or at Lukoil/Rosneft petrol stations. Foreign Visa and Mastercard do not work on the Avtodor system — only a Russian MIR card or cash in roubles.

M-7 “Volga” (free, slow)

• Distance: 818 km.
• Time: 12–16 hours depending on traffic and stops.
• Speed limit: 90 km/h with urban stretches at 60 km/h.
• Route: passes through Vladimir, Nizhny Novgorod, Chuvashia and Tatarstan. The historic route, with heavy truck traffic and plenty of small towns along the way.

I’d only choose the M-7 over the M-12 if you’re planning tourist stops (Vladimir, Suzdal, Nizhny Novgorod) or if you’re driving an older or rental car with mileage restrictions and prefer to avoid the toll. If you’re heading straight to Kazan, the M-12 is clearly the better option.

Does renting a car make sense as a foreigner?

For most visitors arriving from abroad, no. The drawbacks stack up: you need an international driving permit, Western rental platforms (Hertz, Avis, Europcar) no longer operate in Russia, Russian companies (Karenta, Rentmotors) do rent to foreigners but payment without a Russian card is complicated, and car-sharing services like Yandex Drive only work with a Russian MIR card. Add up the toll, fuel, rental and potential issues with speed cameras, and flying or taking the train almost always works out cheaper.

Driving does make sense if you’re travelling in your own vehicle from a neighbouring country (Kazakhstan, Belarus, etc.) or if you’re touring several Volga cities in one trip. In that case, the M-12 is the most comfortable option.

By bus: the cheapest option

The bus is the cheapest alternative and, paradoxically, one of the least comfortable. It’s the typical choice for students and budget backpackers, and for travellers heading to an intermediate city between Moscow and Kazan (Cheboksary, Naberezhnye Chelny, Ulyanovsk).

• Duration: 13–17 hours, almost always overnight.
• Price: from ₽1,650 (~€16). Some premium services reach ₽2,000–2,500.
• Departure stations in Moscow: most leave from Avtovokzal Kotelniki (Kotelniki metro station, purple Tagansko-Krasnopresnenskaya line) or from the Central Bus Terminal on Shchyolkovskoye Shosse 75 (Shchyolkovskaya metro, blue line).
• Arrival station in Kazan: Avtovokzal Vostochny (East Bus Terminal), not in the centre. From there you’ll need a taxi or public transport to reach the Kremlin (~20–30 min).
• Operators: various, with Mercedes Sprinter minibuses or full-size air-conditioned coaches with reclining seats.

Quick summary: which option is right for you

• Short on time and want to make the most of the day: plane. 1h 25min and you’re there. Makes sense if you’re doing Kazan as a one-day trip from Moscow or if you’re connecting to an international flight.
• Want a genuine Russian experience and to save a night’s accommodation: overnight train. It’s my favourite and the one I recommend most. Choose the 002Й “Tatarstan Premium” if comfort matters to you, the double-decker 023/024 if you fancy the views at dawn.
• Travelling in a group of 3–4 with a mid-range budget: car via the M-12 can work out well if you split costs, especially if you’re planning a Volga road trip.
• Really tight budget: train 274Х in sidiachiy (seated, ₽1,648) or the bus (from ₽1,650). Same price range, but the train drops you closer to the centre.
• Travelling with lots of luggage, a pet or young children: train. It takes oversized luggage, pets (in a fully-booked kupé) and is far more manageable with kids than a budget flight or overnight bus.

From the airport or station to the centre of Kazan

How to get to the city centre depending on where you arrive:

From KZN airport to the centre (26 km)

• Aeroexpress (express train): 30 minutes, ₽56. Around 6 departures per day, arriving at Kazan-Pass. station in the centre. The quickest and cheapest option. Works with the standard Kazan public transport card.
• Bus 197: 1h–1h30, ~₽50. Drops you at Prospekt Pobedy metro station. From there, take the metro to Kremlevskaya (central stop, right by the Kremlin) in about 15 minutes. Runs every 30 minutes from 6:00 to 22:00.
• Yandex Go taxi: ₽500–800 (~€5–8) and 30–40 minutes. You’ll need to pay in cash if you don’t have a Russian MIR card — download the Yandex Go app before you travel and request cash payment.

From Kazan-Pass. station (central)

If you arrive on the 002Й, the 023/024, the 274Х or any other train at the central station: you’re 10 minutes on foot from the Kremlin and Bauman Street, the main pedestrian area. The Kremlevskaya metro stop (red line) is right next door. Metro fare: ₽31 with a transport card, ₽36 paying cash to the driver.

From Kazan-2 (if you arrive on the 056М or trains to Yekaterinburg)

Kazan-2 station is in the Moskovsky district, 5–6 km from the centre. A 2-minute walk brings you to «Северный вокзал» (Severny Vokzal) metro station, from where the red line takes you straight to Kremlevskaya in about 15 minutes. Alternative: bus 89 to the Ulitsa Baturina stop, right by the Kremlin. Yandex taxi to the centre: ~₽200.

Once you’re in Kazan, I recommend these two guides to get the most out of your visit: things to do in Kazan (18 must-see places with a map) and the Kazan Kremlin guide (a UNESCO World Heritage site and the only Tatar kremlin in the world).

Frequently asked questions