How to get to Pulkovo Airport

Let's figure out the best way to get to Pulkovo to make sure you catch your flight.

By Public Transport

St. Petersburg has the second most developed metro system in the country after Moscow, but there is no station directly next to Pulkovo Airport. Therefore, the scheme for getting to Pulkovo by public transport will look like this: first, you travel to Moskovskaya metro station, and then transfer to a bus or shuttle bus to Pulkovo. Three options are suitable for you.

• Bus No. 39. Without traffic jams, you will reach the airport in 35 minutes. Buses run from 5:10 AM to 00:44 AM with an interval of 12–20 minutes and make eight stops along the route. Bus schedules can be found on the official website of Pulkovo Airport.
• Bus No. 39E — express: this fast bus travels from the metro to the airport without stops, so the journey takes only 20 minutes. Buses run from 6:00 AM to 11:03 PM with an interval of 25–30 minutes.
• Shuttle bus K39. The journey time is about 20 minutes. You can take shuttle bus K39 from 7:00 AM to 11:30 PM; they usually depart from the metro every five minutes.

From one of St. Petersburg's train stations, you will get to Pulkovo using the same scheme: metro + bus. There is a metro station next to each train station.

• Moskovsky railway station: Ploshchad Vosstaniya station. You can reach Moskovskaya station in 20 minutes.
• Ladozhsky railway station: Ladozhskaya station — you will be at Moskovskaya in 30 minutes.
• Finlyandsky railway station: Ploshchad Lenina station, the transfer will take 25 minutes.
• Baltiysky railway station: Baltiyskaya station — you will reach Moskovskaya in 15 minutes.
• Vitebsky railway station: Pushkinskaya station. 15 minutes — and you are at Moskovskaya.

This option for getting to Pulkovo Airport is the most budget-friendly. The cost of the metro + bus combo will be within 200 rubles.

By Car or Carsharing

You can get to Pulkovo Airport from the center of St. Petersburg in 30 minutes without traffic jams, but during rush hour, the journey can take up to an hour or even more, depending on weather conditions. 

To get to Pulkovo, follow Pulkovskoye Highway. From the ring road, there are two turns: the first leads to Pulkovo-2, but you need the second one — to Pulkovo-1. Then continue along the highway until the exit to parking P13.

At the airport, you can park in short-term or long-term parking — they differ in cost and location relative to the entrance.

Prices for short-term parking start from 150 rubles for 30 minutes, and for long-term parking — from 200 rubles per day. The second option is suitable if you want to both arrive at the airport and leave the airport in your own car upon return.

An alternative way to get to Pulkovo Airport is carsharing. Pulkovo Airport even has designated spots for Yandex.Drive and Delimobil cars. To use carsharing services, you need to register in one of the applications (registration will take time, so it's better to do it in advance). Be sure to study the rules for ending car rental at the airport — where you can leave the car and where you cannot. 

You can only get there faster via the WHSD (Western High-Speed Diameter), a toll highway. A specific speed limit is set here. Such a trip allows you to get to the airport by car, carsharing, or taxi in less time. The only catch: you'll have to pay for entry. 

By Taxi

The most comfortable way to get to Pulkovo Airport: you can easily travel at night, without needing to make transfers or look for parking. The average cost of a taxi ride from the center of St. Petersburg to Pulkovo Airport is around 1,000 rubles, depending on the fare. A ride from Baltiysky and Vitebsky railway stations will usually be slightly cheaper, while from Moskovsky, Finlyandsky, and Ladozhsky railway stations, the cost will be a bit higher.

To save money, it's better to order a taxi online — taxi drivers soliciting passengers near train stations usually set higher fares. 

Note that during periods of high demand, the cost of a trip may increase, and finding an available car can take a long time. In such a case, you can secure yourself by pre-booking a transfer. One of its advantages is fixed rates. Moreover, this way you definitely won't be late for your flight, as the booking is made in advance, and the driver arrives at the specified address at the appointed time. A transfer can be ordered from any part of the city.

How long does it take to get to Pulkovo

How long the journey to Pulkovo Airport will take is difficult to say: it all depends on your location, the chosen mode of transport, and the traffic situation. But we can still estimate approximately.

• By car, the journey time usually ranges from 30 minutes to an hour, depending on weather and road conditions. During rush hour, the time may increase.
• By public transport, you will most likely make it within an hour and a half. Buses and shuttle taxis travel from Moskovskaya metro station to the airport, with a journey time of about 30–45 minutes, plus the travel time to Moskovskaya metro station — approximately 15–30 minutes.
• By taxi, the trip usually takes from 30 minutes to an hour, but here too, the exact time depends on a multitude of factors.

We wish you the fastest and safest trips to the airport from any city!