How to Travel the Trans–Siberian Railway

The Trans-Siberian Railway isn’t, as one might think, one specific train called the “Trans-Siberian”. Taking the Trans-Siberian means taking a train from Moscow to Vladivostok that crosses Russia, via Siberia, in six days. These trains stop in several towns where you can get off. You can also choose to do the trip all in one go by staying on board until the last stop.

Many national trains follow these same railway lines. You can easily take one after another and do the same trip by buying a new ticket each time.

Aside from a few luxury trains chartered by private companies for well-off tourists, the trains that run on these tracks, including the Trans-Siberian trains, are normal, everyday trains, mostly used by locals.

A Trans-Mongolian train, Moscow to Beijing

When talking about Trans-Siberian trains, this often includes the equally important Trans-Manchurian and Trans-Mongolian trains. At first these trains, Chinese or Russian, take the same route as the Trans-Siberian, then they both branch off after Lake Baikal. This allows you to go from Moscow to Ulan Bator or Beijing.

• Trans-Siberian:
  Trains from Moscow to Vladivostok, 5,753 mi (9,259 km), 6 d 22 hrs
• Trans-Mongolian:
  Trains from Moscow to Beijing via Mongolia and Ulaanbaatar, 4,862 mi (7,826 km), 5 d 9 hrs and 40 min
• Trans-Manchurian::
  Direct trains from Moscow to Beijing that go via Manchuria (Chinese region), 5,582 mi (8,984 km), 5 d, 12 hrs

Trans-Siberian, Trans-Mongolian, Trans-Manchurian and all other national trains on these tracks go slowly. Some trains are faster than others, but there isn’t a single high-speed train. On average, these trains reach speeds of 30 mph (50 km/h). The quickest route to get to Ulaanbaatar, Vladivostok or Beijing, without stopping off anywhere, takes 4 to 7 days. In reality, only a handful of RTW travellers do this direct journey.

People are often mistaken in thinking that a Trans-Siberian trip is expensive. The cost varies a lot depending on the trains and the class you decide to go for. If you only take the journey into account, the cheapest direct Trans-Mongolian train from Moscow to Beijing costs around $540 (£410). But, if you take several trains and a bus here and there, you can do the same trip for just $175 (£130).

We’ll tell you more about this in the section on routes.

There are only two good reasons for wanting to do the whole Trans-Siberian journey directly and in one go, which is still six to seven days on the same train. One, if you’re quite simply in a hurry, or two, if you want to live the “Trans-Siberian experience” to the max. Some love it, others less so.

In general, train lovers enjoy the contemplative aspect of such a trip. You watch different landscapes go by, you don’t have a care in the world, and you don’t even feel guilty about it… But, above all, it’s an opportunity to meet locals, real ones, in an environment that’s made for socialising.

If you want to do the journey without stops, the only way to do it is to take a direct Trans-Siberian, Trans-Manchurian or Trans-Mongolian train. These trains don’t have a 3rd class (significantly cheaper), but your fellow travellers aren’t likely to change, so you’ll have plenty of time to really hit it off with them.

21% of our survey respondents did this trip directly, with one single train.

One of the main characteristics of RTW travellers is “having time”. So it’d be a shame then not to make a few stopovers. The least we can say is that there are plenty of places worth stopping off at along the route, starting with Lake Baikal and Ulaanbaatar. 78% of our survey respondents did this trip with stopovers.

There’s no open, flexible or unlimited ticket that allows you to hop on and off any train on the route. Nonetheless, there are daily trains on the tracks between Beijing and Moscow – both Trans-Siberian trains and national trains that cover shorter distances. You can easily organise your itinerary to get off one train and get on another. It’s not always necessary, but it’s still sensible to make sure you’ve bought your tickets at least a few days in advance, because the trains are often full, especially in high season in summer.

One of the big advantages of splitting up the trip with stopovers is that it allows you to take 3rd class trains which are much cheaper, so you can make huge savings on the overall journey.

According to our survey, 76% of survey respondents did the entire trip with stopovers. See “The Most Beautiful Stopovers” chapter for some great inspiration.

There isn’t really a difference, except the number of foreign tourists on the trains. There are significantly fewer heading west.

Based on our survey, 78% of respondents travelled east and the other 22% travelled west.

This difference can be explained by the fact that when you go east, Europeans and Brits can prepare their visa applications beforehand from their home country. Whereas, if you do the same trip but go west, you need to get them whilst abroad, which is somewhat more complicated.

Trains run all year round, even in the depths of winter. The Trans-Siberian route covers more than eight time zones and the climate is obviously extremely different from one end to the other, between Moscow, Beijing or Vladivostok. As a general rule:

In winter, the climate is harsh, the days are short and cold, but sunny, and the snowy landscapes on most of the route are truly magnificent. Temperatures around -4° F (-20° C) are normal and can drop exceptionally to -40° F/C. It’s essential to be well-equipped for the cold, like you would be for winter sports. In these conditions, you can easily, and even quite happily, go sightseeing. On board the trains, the cold isn’t an issue. They’re very well heated. In winter, it’s easier to get tickets for international trains that are often full well in advance in other seasons. In January and February, some trains run less frequently.

Around April, temperatures are milder, but the snow melts and there’s lots of mud in places. “In general”, this is the least beautiful time of the year.

From May to September, the weather is pleasant and the days are longer. The heart of summer is the high season. There are lots more foreign tourists. It’s harder to book a ticket at the last minute.

Lake Baikal (almost an unmissable stop on the route) has a different charm at each time of the year. It’s completely frozen from February to April and covered in drift ice until June. The LakeBaikal.com website describes the seasons on Lake Baikal in detail.

The routes below are for the Trans-Siberian, Trans-Mongolian and Trans-Manchurian trains and some other international lines.

Eastbound trains always have an even number, and westbound trains always have an odd number.

Be careful, as the international trains on Trans-Mongolian and Trans-Manchurian routes don’t have 3rd class. Nonetheless, it’s the one that RTW travellers usually go for, especially as it’s significantly cheaper. For those looking to reduce travel costs as much as possible, even if it means doing more stopovers and taking a few more trains, see the next section for the cheapest alternative routes.

Trains that cross the China – Russia, Russia – Mongolia and Mongolia – China borders are more expensive, especially the Trans-Mongolian and Trans-Manchurian trains whose tickets are also sometimes difficult to get. As well as customs procedures, the wagons need to be adjusted to changes in the rails, which takes several hours.

Crossing borders by bus is usually cheaper and quicker. This is a better option for most travellers.

In English, that’s the 2nd class sleeping compartment. Four berth compartments. In China, you hear of soft sleepers. Sometimes this class is referred to as hard sleepers. When that’s the case, it means that there’s a very slight difference in comfort compared to the soft sleeper class and it may be called 3rd class.

This class can be great when you have good compartment buddies, which is really a matter of luck.

In English, that’s the 3rd open-class sleeping compartment.

This is the most popular class (by far) amongst RTW travellers. 65% of our survey respondents travelled in this class at least once.

The compartments are open, with just an aisle between the two sides of the train. But each compartment has partitions. There’s not much privacy in this dormitory-style carriage.

In Russia, each “compartment” has four beds. On the other side of the aisle are 2-berth compartments running laterally throughout the length of the train. The 4-berth compartments are a few inches shorter than other classes, around 5’9” (1m80), so taller people will simply have their feet sticking out the end or be slightly bent.

However, on the other side, the 2-berth compartments are partitioned on each side. Subsequently, you can’t stick your feet out, which is unfortunate for people over 5’7” (1m75). The lower berth, on the 2-berth side, folds up to form two seats on either side of a small table.

In China, they call them hard sleepers. The layout of the berths is slightly different. They’re on three levels instead of two. There isn’t a bunk by the aisle, just small seats and tables to sit at during the day.

Most long-term travellers find it perfectly comfortable.

This class has the advantage of being a lot cheaper and more social, but sometimes noisier and brighter. You won’t find this class on all trains, especially not international trains*. We particularly advise women travelling alone to choose this class to avoid ending up in a compartment with bad company on a long journey.

Everyone has their own preference. You store your luggage in the bottom bunk which opens like a trunk in kupe class. When you choose this one, you can therefore easily access your bag without disturbing anyone and don’t have to climb to get into bed.

On the other hand, during the day, everyone will share it since it also serves as a communal seat. Out of courtesy, you’ll be encouraged to get up earlier so that everyone can sit down.

If you choose the top bunk, you can sleep there as much as you want and lie down there quietly at any time.

In platskart, the top bunk, the ones in the corridor and the ones near the toilets are sometimes cheaper.

Whatever the class, the toilets are communal and are located between each carriage. There’s a toilet cubicle and a space with a sink that you can use to freshen yourself up or get changed. There isn’t a shower, so it’s a good idea to take a washcloth.

These areas are cleaned very regularly. Even in 3rd class, where more people share this “hygiene” space, it’s usually clean and not too busy.

In Russia, you hear about the firmeny class for premium trains.

They’re the fastest, most comfortable and best equipped, but also the most expensive, especially as they don’t always have a 3rd class carriage.

Trains with just a one-digit number (sometimes followed by a letter) are all firmeny. Some firmeny trains even have a name as well as their number. A bit like the high-speed train from Paris – London called the Eurostar, you hear of the Rossiya, the Baikal, the Vostok, etc.

Trans-Mongolian tickets (No. 3 and No. 4) are often all sold out several weeks in advance, especially in the west-east direction. This is also true, to a lesser extent, for Trans-Manchurian trains (No. 1 and No. 2) and train n°6, Moscow – Ulaanbaatar.

Certain times of the year are very popular. Particularly in the summer and in September when lots of Mongolian students go to China. Private agencies buy tickets in bulk as soon as they’re available for sale, so that they can sell them on for more. The likelihood of getting a ticket at the station, even far enough in advance, is low. For these trains, unless you have a friend out there who can buy your ticket for you at least a few weeks in advance, it’s safer to buy your tickets online via a travel agency website, even if it means paying a commission.

Seats on Trans-Mongolian trains (No. 3 and No. 4) are even harder to get in Ulaanbaatar than from Moscow or Beijing. Sales are only open a few days before departure. The Ulaanbaatar – Beijing ticket (No. 23 and No. 24) is usually easier to get.

No need to panic! There are other solutions if these trains are full! The vast majority of RTW travellers do the same journey without any problem by taking other trains. See our chapter on alternative routes.

A train ticket from Ikoutsk to Ulan-Ude

As explained above, for international, Trans-Mongolian, etc. tickets, it’s better to buy them several weeks in advance, at least in high season.

Watch out, on Russian trains, tickets go on sale 45 days before departure, not before.

Generally speaking, prices can vary over time and even double. Algorithms that manage transport prices are usually pretty random. At the time of our tests on the Russian website rzd.ru, between March and April 2019, the advertised fare prices of tickets bought at the last minute were often cheaper than the others.

Trains inside Russia are quite easy to get the day before or the day of departure, especially in 3rd class (platskart) and when travelling alone.

It’s still better to plan a few days in advance or be flexible on the time, the exact date of departure or the class. Ticket office staff very rarely speak English. However, you can overcome this difficulty by learning some essential Russian words to ask for a train ticket.

Don’t think twice about having your destination station, the train number and the class you wish to travel in written on a piece of paper. All of that written in Cyrillic, of course.

You can buy a ticket, even for an international train, from any station. That said, as explained before, whether in Russia, Mongolia or China, tickets are very often all sold out at the station, sometimes a long time in advance. If you don’t want to take any risk at all, it’s better to buy them through an online travel agency.

Tip: in Russia, in the big stations, you can pay a small surcharge of just over one dollar (around 200 roubles) to get your tickets from a “service centre” (servis tsentr). This will help you avoid waiting in long queues.

In Vladivostok train station

Credit: Christophe Vadot

Compared to the usual standard that most RTW travellers are used to, we can confirm that the trains on the Trans-Siberian routes are comfortable.

The level of comfort still varies and mainly depends on the class you choose, but also on the train itself. The newer premium trains are more comfortable and better equipped than the express trains.

We talk about this in detail in the previous chapter on train class and types of train.

The sockets are the same C / F type found in most European countries.

Here is the C type, so you’ll problably need an adapter

No matter what train it is, you’ll always find a socket in each 1st class compartment and another 110V one in all bathrooms, regardless of the class.

In 2nd and 3rd class, everything depends on the train. More often than not, there’s only one socket in the corridor and opposite the bathrooms where you can charge your devices and keep an eye on them.

Newer trains, or those in the premium or “firmeny” class, are better equipped in this department and often have one, if not two, sockets per 2nd and 3rd class compartment.

If there’s an emergency and you need access to electricity, it’s acceptable to ask the provodnitsa if they can charge your phone for you in their compartment. Out of politeness, you should give them a tip, around $5, for their help.

On board, you can buy tea and coffee from the provodnitsa. A drinks and snacks seller sometimes passes through the carriages.

Passengers always make sure they have their own food. With hot water being free, many opt for instant noodles, but you’ll also see dried fish, salads, sandwiches and cured sausages… You can get supplies from all the sellers who wait on the platforms. They sell snacks and even some dishes for a reasonable price.

During the longer stops in big cities (rarely more than 20 minutes), you’ll just about have time to go to a kiosk in the station. It’s a good idea to ask the provodnitsa for the green light and do it “pronto”.

Having a pic-nic on the communal table is the best time to socialise and share. It’s not uncommon for others to offer you a bit of this or that, a glug of beer or a shot of vodka. Don’t hesitate to do the same in return.

Otherwise, there’s also the dining car option. But there isn’t always one, particularly on lower class trains and shorter journeys. Sometimes, it’s just a buffet car. On Trans-Siberian, Trans-Mongolian and Trans-Manchurian trains, the restaurant on-board is open from 10am to 10pm and they serve basic food that changes depending on the country you’re in. The menu costs around $10 to $30 (£10 to £20), but you can only pay in the local currency. The dining car is changed at border crossings. In Russia, on the menu you’ll find potatoes, soups and escalopes, ravioli or small stuffed pasties, whilst the restaurant on Mongolian railways serves rice and mutton. The Chinese company offers a unique menu, often consisting of several small dishes. In Russia, waiters and waitresses are usually tipped, around 5 to 10% of the bill.

Very few people speak English in Russia. There aren’t as many foreign tourists on the trains, especially outside the summer months. Off-season, there’s a good chance you’ll be the only one in your carriage and will therefore attract quite a crowd. People will be curious and try to talk to you.

Like anywhere, it’s always a good idea to be able to speak the local language, at least a little. Trans-Siberian trains are the ideal place to learn and practice.

We advise you to take a Russian language instruction book, or at least a dictionary or phrasebook. And, of course, the least you can do is learn to decipher the Cyrillique alphabet.

Nowadays, electronic translations on our phones are pretty high-performance and extremely handy. You can download Google Translate and use it offline. It’s easy and it’s free – take a look at this tutorial.

If you want to socialise and overcome the language barrier, we strongly recommend bringing food and beverage specialities from your country to share with others, having a few photos to show, taking a musical instrument that’s not too bulky and some simple games.

Reading is a great pastime on a train, but not really a way to open up to others.

For that, there’s a tried and tested method: playing games! The most popular Russian card game is Durak, and we suggest learning it here.

Feel free to brush up on the rules of your favourite card games. You won’t regret taking a basic little game with you like Doodle or mini chess and checkers.

Travelling thousands of kilometres by train is extraordinary. Finishing it or starting it on a plane, isn’t that a bit of a waste?

Did you know that you can go from London to Beijing exclusively by train?!

You can quickly get from London to Paris by train.

Then there are two direct sleeper trains between Moscow and France which go through Paris and Strasbourg or Nice. There are many more from major European cities. Perhaps this is a good opportunity to include a European tour in your RTW trip or your Trans-Siberian travel plans?

There isn’t a sleeper train that goes directly from London to Moscow. For that, you’ll have to go to France first. So, leaving London, the first step is to take the direct train between London and Paris. This is called the Eurostar. The journey only takes 2.5 hrs by passing through the Channel Tunnel. Unfortunately, tickets are often very expensive. The price of a one-way ticket can vary between $55 and $270 (£40 and £200). To get the best price, you need to buy your ticket at least one month in advance. To view the full fare table, go to the Eurostar website.

To get to Paris from London, you can also take a bus. There are several buses every day. It takes a lot longer (about 8.5 hrs), but it’s also a lot cheaper. BlaBlaBus’ average price is around $35 (£25).

First off, you need to go to Berlin. There are buses and trains every day. The cheapest Thalys train from Paris leaves at 8.15 am and costs $200 (£150). Or, there’s a Eurolines night bus that leaves every day from Paris. The fare is less than $35 (£25) on Oui SNCF and it’s a 14.25 hrs trip.

Once in Berlin, there are two direct night trains per week, Saturdays and Mondays, from the Berlin Ostbahnhof station. The journey takes about 25 hrs and passes through Poland and Belarus.

It seems like you can’t buy the ticket online from the official Deutsche Bahn website, but you’ll probably be able to buy the ticket directly at the ticket office in Berlin. It’s a Russian train from the national company RZD. You can buy the ticket on their website (russian).

It costs around $170 (£125) for a standard berth and barely $17 (£12.50) less for a normal seat.

Total between $365 (£265) and $205 (£150)

There isn’t a land checkpoint between Belarus and Russia. For this reason, according to the Russian rules, it’s therefore theoretically prohibited for a foreigner to enter Russia by train (or even by car).

However, the majority of trains heading to Moscow from major European cities go through Belarus, which is extremely contradictory.

With regard to this matter, the British Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) states on its website:

“If you’re planning on travelling by rail between the two countries, you should contact your train or tour operator when you make your booking to seek their advice. You should also consider contacting your nearest Russian embassy or consulate for advice on the latest situation for rail travellers.”

Two RTW travellers told us firsthand that they did this trip by train from Nice – Moscow and Paris – Moscow, without any problems at all. Other 2018 testimonies on the seat61 website further confirm this information.

These travellers didn’t encounter any customs controls at the Russian border. They subsequently got their passports stamped at the time of their first registration, once they’d arrived in Russia.

If you still want to avoid going through Belarus, you’ll have to go through Latvia, Estonia or Ukraine. This’ll ultimately take at least another 24 hours and be more expensive, even considering the savings on the Belarussian visa.

U.S. citizens need a visa to travel to Russia. They’re advised to apply for a multiple-entry tourist visa regardless of their entry / exit date, number of entries or duration of stay. This visa is valid for three years and can be used for a stay of six months or less. Whereas, the single-entry tourist visa is only valid for three months and can’t exceed a stay of 30 days.

To apply, you need to complete the online visa application form. Then, you need to print it out and go to one of the Visa Application Centres to apply. The standard service takes 4 to 20 business days and the express service takes 3 business days, and all visas cost $160. You can also apply by post but the process is longer and more expensive.

There’s also a transit visa that travellers should use if they’re transiting through Russia for over 24 hours. They’re issued for up to 10 days when travelling by train. The application process is the same, and you’ll need to provide proof of the visa of your destination country as well as onward tickets. If you’re travelling to Belarus via Russia, you must obtain a transit visa.

Embassy of Russia in the USA

Addr: 2650 Wisconsin Ave., NW Washington, DC 200007
Tel: (202) 939-8914
Email: [email protected]

British citizens need to get a tourist or transit visa before travelling to Russia. The single and double-entry tourist visas can be valid for up to 90 days, and the transit visa is usually valid for 10 days if travelling by train. These short term visa applications are accepted at the Russia Visa Application Centres.

First, you need to complete the Online Application Form. Then, you need to print it out and go to one of the Russia Visa Application Centres in London, Edinburgh or Manchester to apply for the visa. Then, if you’re aged 12 or over, you’ll also need to submit biometric data.

What’s more, you need to have a Tourist voucher/confirmation document stamped and signed by authorized person. As of August 2021, British tourists can now use their booking with a registered Russian hotel, or confirmation from a registered Russian tourist agency to apply for a single, double or multi-entry tourist visa for up to six months. Alternatively many online services can send you a valid voucher for a few pounds (or dollars). look up the terms russia voucher on a search engine. the Single entry visas are valid for the duration of the hotel booking and multi-entry visas allow the tourists to stay in Russia for up to 90 consecutive days out of a 180-day period.

Consular Section of the Embassy of Russia in the United Kingdom

Addr: 5 Kensington Palace Gardens, London W8 4QS
Tel: +44 (0) 203 668 7474
Email: [email protected]

U.S. citizens need to obtain a visa prior to arrival in China. There is an L visa for tourists and a G visa for transit. The traveller’s passport must have at least six months’ validity remaining, unless they’re applying for the ten-year multiple-entry L visa. In that case, the traveller’s passport must be valid for more than one year.

To start the application, fill out the online form on the China Online Visa Application (COVA) website. Make sure the application is submitted to the visa office in your jurisdiction. Take a look at this list to find your jurisdiction. Once completed, dated and signed, it needs to be submitted, in person, and paid for. The standard service processes the visa application within four working days, and the express service processes it within two to three working days.

Ultimately, it’s the consular officers who decide whether to issue a visa, as well as the type, validity period, duration of stay and number of entries, based on each individual application.

Embassy of China in the United States of America

Addr: 3505 International Place, NW Washington, DC 200008 USA
Tel: +001-202-495-2266
Email: [email protected]

British citizens usually need a visa to enter mainland China, and it’s best to organise it one month before you intend on travelling in China. There is an L visa for tourists and a G visa for transit. First, the traveller must complete, print and sign an online application form. Then they must book an appointment at a Chinese Visa Application Centre (London, Manchester and Edinburgh).

On the day of the appointment, in person, the traveller must take their application form, appointment sheet and other important documents to the Visa Application Centre. During the appointment, biometric data might also need to be submitted. The regular service processing time is four working days, and the express service processing time is usually three working days (express application submission is between 9am and 12pm). You must pay on the day, and the Visa Application Centres accept payments in cash or by debit card in pound sterling.

Embassy of China in the United Kingdom

Addr: 49 – 51 Portland Pl, London W1B 1JL, UK
Tel: +44 20 7299 4049
Email: [email protected]

U.S. citizens don’t require a visa to travel to Mongolia, and can stay there visa-free for up to 90 days, as long as the traveller’s passport is valid for at least six months after the date of arrival. If they stay for more than 30 days, they need to register with Mongolian Immigration within the first seven days in the country.

Embassy of Mongolia in the United States of America

Addr: 2833 M Street, NW Washington DC 20007
Tel: 1 (202) 333 7117
Email: [email protected], [email protected]

British citizens should get a visa before they travel to Mongolia. The tourist visa usually allows you to stay in Mongolia for up to 30 days and can be extended for another 30 days, but make sure you do this at least four days before the first visa expires. It’s also possible to obtain a visa on arrival at the Ulaanbaatar airport or Mongolian border checkpoints, however, this isn’t advised as it can cause longer processing times.

What’s more, Brits can now apply for an online visa that is generally issued within 72 hours of application. The online tourist visa (K2) is valid for 30 days, and the online transit visa (K6) is valid for 10 days. Travellers should carry digital or printed versions of their e-visas to present if necessary. Again, these can be obtained at Mongolian borders if the traveller has an onward ticket or a visa for their next country, but this could lead to longer processing times.

Required documents

• Completed, signed and dated application form
• Passport valid for at least six months before travel in / to Mongolia
• Passport size photo glued onto the application form
• Proof of onward tickets
• Proof of hotel booking or accommodation in Mongolia
• Proof of visa fee payment

Embassy of Mongolia in the United Kingdom

Addr: 7 – 8 Kensington Court, London W8 5DL
Tel: +44 (0)20 7937 0150
Email: [email protected], [email protected]

British and U.S. citizens can enter Belarus for a maximum of 30 days without a visa. However, if you’re travelling directly from or to Russia, this visa-free arrangement doesn’t apply to you and you’ll need a certain type of visa.

From Western Europe, most trains heading for Russia go through Belarus. For travelling through the country like this, the Belarussian embassy recommends getting a transit visa that’s valid the moment you cross the border.

Be careful, as crossing the Belarussian – Russian border is controversial. All the details on this subject can be found above in this paragraph.

More information:
Embassy of Belarus to the United Kingdom
Embassy of the Republic of Belarus in the United States of America