Moscow Sheremetyevo Airport
Worst Airport Winner
Lasting Impressions....
Memorable comments left by travellers:
"If Putin really wants to clean up his country, this is where he should start. Would someone please get his attention to this page" (?)
"After hearing all the horror stories I was scared to go through Russia." (?)
"I am afraid that the horror stories are nothing but true." (Farouk Mogheth)
"Dear traveller? Welcome to Hell on Earth!" (Alexander)
"[My wife] moved from her bench after a woman nearby vomited. Several hours later my wife passed the spot and the vomit had not been cleaned." (Gibby)
"First the atmosphere in the terminal building is awful, its dark like cave, dirty and small space." (?)
FEATURED REVIEWS
by ov104
No complaints at all. Stayed one night there in terminal 2 on arrival floor. Sleeping was comfortable although the benches were not really soft. High presence of police and security staff, but they didn't bother anybody who was sleeping. As it was hot summer, the temperature inside was just right.
by zakryto, 7/21/2009
I am from Moscow and have flown in and out of Sheremetyevo many times. It was built in the 1970s and has that silly look that has not been updated since. The decor seems to have been inspired by old tin cans, which cover all the walls and the ceiling. I honestly do not remember sitting down in the airport much in this airport, because the lines are so damn long. First, you stand in line to get your boarding pass. Then, you stand in line while they open and examine EVERYBODY's suitcases. Then, you stand in line to check your passport. I think that happens twice, in succession. Then you stand in line to go through the metal detectors. There are metal detectors again right next to each departure gate, and there are lines there too. And in case you are arriving and not departing, the very first thing that greets you on arrival is a super-long line to get a stamp in your passport in a windowless basement room (sort of like JFK, actually!). Those of you not raised in the Soviet Union should treat the experience as cultural tourism with a dash of time travel, because SVO offers a good approximation of what life was like in the 1970s and 80s--you spend about 40 of your waking hours waiting in line and have to endure constant invasions of your privacy. There are duty-free shops in the airport, but you don't get to waste your money in those unless you arrive three to four hours before departure. On the plus side, SVO is unlike life in the USSR in one respect: there is toilet paper in the bathrooms.
by nebulouseye
This was the most disgusting airport I've ever been to after 10 years of traveling. I had an asthma attack due to all the cigarette smoke, the toilets overflowed and the floor was covered crap and there were piles of trash all over the place. The few staff that spoke English only knew how to insult visitors. My 1-hour connection seemed like 1 month.
Airport Guide
Here is some information that we've picked out of from your reviews. Be sure to read the review pages for the most up-to-date experiences:
- dimly lit
- unhelpful staff
- limited seating
- long lines
- bring your own food
- try the hallway on the second level to avoid the crowds
- bribery
- benches
- "sleeping room for babies" is clean, has bathrooms, sofas and tables and cribs
Moscow Travel Sites
- Hostels and Budget Accommodation in Moscow - I've booked my own accommodation on this site. If you are too old for hostels and too cheap for hotels, like me, you'll find some good properties. They offer dorms, private rooms, B&Bs, Apartments.
