When you don't want to drive

Такси

It is increasingly difficult to simply hail a cab on the streets of Moscow and St. Petersburg. Your best alternative is to order a taxi ahead of time from one of the private companies. Many of these operate out of the major tourist hotels. We've included a few of these companies, their addresses and phones here and the CLO has other listings if you need them.

Many Russians make use of а частник private car. Individuals who own cars will moonlight as taxi drivers, negotiating prices with each fare. You should make use of this resource only if your language skills and knowledge of current prices are good enough to prevent you from being "taken for a ride". Women travelling alone should not use the частники, as well as any individual travelling after dark, or to distant locations in the city.

Payment for any taxi service should be in roubles, unless you are using the services of one of the companies listed here. They will accept credit card

payment in foreign currency, at the current exchange rate. Though prices change quickly, in the summer of 1994 it cost $35.00 for a one-way trip from one of the major tourist hotels to Sheremetevo Airport.

  1. Intourtrans

    24-hour service

    tel. 941-84-90

    cash (roubles) or credit cards

  2. Statistica

    tel. 945-34-12

    hours: 7:00am-5:00pm

    cash only

  3. Hertz Rent-A-Car

    tel. 284-43-91

    hours: 9:00am-7:00pm

    credit cards only

  4. Rasco Taxi Service (Radisson Hotel)

    tel. 941-84-90

    hours: 7:00am-11:00pm

    cash or credit cards

  5. Autosun (Penta Hotel)

    tel. 971-61-01 X2532

    hours: 7:30am-12:30am

    cash or credit cards

  6. Class Company

    tel. 199-74-14

    hours: 8:00am-10:00pm

    cash only

    hourly rates: $12.00-$24.00 (depending on make of car)

  7. Lingva Taxi

    tel. 290-63-24 (reservations require 6 hours advance notice)

    hours: 7:30am-6:00pm

    cash only

    hourly rates: $10.00