Is Moscow Safe for Tourists in 2026?

Unlicensed taxi drivers known locally as bombilas aggressively solicit arrivals in the arrivals hall at Sheremetyevo International Airport (SVO), particularly at Terminals B and C. They quote attractive initial prices of 500-800 RUB, then escalate demands to 3,000-8,000 RUB or more once the passenger is in the vehicle and moving. A documented 2025 criminal case involving five police officers from the airport interior ministry directorate revealed that officers actively helped touts identify and steer vulnerable arrivals toward unlicensed cabs.

How to avoid: Download Yandex Go before landing and book your ride from inside the arrivals hall using the app -- a legitimate taxi to central Moscow within the Garden Ring should cost 1,200-1,800 RUB and the price is fixed before you enter the vehicle. Alternatively, purchase an Aeroexpress train ticket at the terminal for the 35-minute ride to Belorussky railway station. Never follow anyone who approaches you unsolicited inside the terminal.

Where: Sheremetyevo International Airport (SVO) arrivals halls, Terminals B and C, Leningradskoe Highway corridor between terminal exit and official taxi ranks

Drivers outside Domodedovo Airport (DME) operate a fixed-price scam in which they agree on a fare before departure but present a running meter or POS terminal showing a drastically inflated total on arrival. Reports document cases where fares quoted at 1,500 RUB resulted in card charges exceeding 25,000 RUB on the driver's own POS terminal. Some drivers carry POS terminals pre-configured to charge foreign card amounts in euros or dollars at an undisclosed conversion rate.

How to avoid: Use Yandex Go or the Domodedovo official taxi desk in the arrivals hall -- the desk issues a printed receipt with a fixed fare before you board. If using an app, confirm the destination, fare, and vehicle details inside the terminal before walking to the pickup point. Never hand your bank card to a driver who claims his terminal only takes card.

Where: Domodedovo Airport (DME) arrivals hall exit, DME-2 terminal exterior taxi rank area, Kashirskoye Highway approach road outside the terminal

Individuals posing as plainclothes police officers approach tourists near major landmarks and demand to inspect their documents, citing invented offenses such as suspected drug possession or illegal currency exchange. Once the tourist opens their wallet or bag to produce a passport, an accomplice nearby palms cash or the victim is pressured to pay a fabricated fine on the spot. This scam is well documented around Okhotny Ryad metro station, Alexandrovsky Garden near the Kremlin, and along Tverskaya Ulitsa.

How to avoid: Real Russian police officers are uniformed and must show official credentials on request. Offer to walk with the officers to the nearest police station (otdeleniye politsii) -- genuine officers will comply, scammers will lose interest immediately. Never open your wallet or allow anyone to touch your documents or belongings during such an encounter.

Where: Alexandrovsky Garden along the western Kremlin wall, Okhotny Ryad metro station exits on Manezhnaya Square, along Tverskaya Ulitsa between Pushkinskaya and Okhotny Ryad metro stations

With most mainstream booking platforms operating under restrictions for Russian hotels following 2022 sanctions, fraudulent listing sites and fake rental agencies have proliferated, targeting tourists who search for Moscow accommodation outside major platforms. These sites use stolen photos of legitimate Moscow apartments near Patriarch's Ponds or Zamoskvorechye district, collect full payment or a security deposit via international transfer or cryptocurrency, and are unreachable on arrival. Some also sell counterfeit invitation letters needed for Russian tourist visa applications that will fail border inspection.

How to avoid: Book accommodation only through major verified platforms that still operate for Russia, or work directly with a licensed Russian tour operator who can provide a legitimate visa invitation letter on official hotel letterhead. Video-call the property before transferring any money if booking outside major platforms. Be very cautious of any rental that requests payment in cryptocurrency or via international wire transfer.

Where: Primarily an online scam targeting travelers before arrival; fake listings often feature stolen photos of apartments in Zamoskvorechye district, Patriarch's Ponds area (Patriarshiye Prudy), and near Tverskaya Ulitsa in central Moscow