You’re looking to buy a russian train ticket for your Trans-Siberian journey but you don’t have a local russian MIR bank card ? No worries, there are alternatives to buy it online with your Visa or Mastercard in 2024 !
In this post I’m sharing with you 2 legit and reliable booking platforms to buy your russian train tickets as well as tickets for the Trans-Mongolian and Trans-Manchurian.
Last updated : 21/04/2024
RZD & other russian booking platforms
To buy a ticket on the RZD website (the national russian railway company), Tutu.ru or even Grand Service Express (a private railway company) you must have a russian bank card.
Even if the Visa or Mastercard logos appear on these websites, it is not possible anymore. Many russians still have their Visas and Mastercards, but the payments goes through another system (probably MIR, I’m no banking expert), not the international Visa/Mastercard one we know in the west/rest of the world.
Disclaimer : the following booking platforms have very similar names, it might be confusing !
RussianTrain.com
RussianTrain.com is a licensed russian tour operator part of the Anyday travel LTD and the one I recommend you to book on. The ticket prices include all taxes and fees.
The customer team is easily reachable by phone, email, Whatsapp and even Facebook. They can also arrange LOI/Voucher for your visa application.
Their website is available in 6 different languages which are : english, french, italian, spanish, portugese and german; You can choose your prefered currency between euro, british pound, US dollar, swiss franc …
All the destinations I looked for in the search bar were available, including deep in Siberia and in Crimea, but if you don’t see the place you’re looking for, just contact the customer service.
Note : they have exchange ticket fees of 1400₽ and tickets for international travels with China and Mongolia are non refundable.
RussianRailways.com
RussianRailways.com is also part of the Anyday travel LTD like the previous one and same, the payment goes through foreign partners. The booking interface is very easy to use, you can change the currency to euro, US dollar, swiss franc or british pound but it’s only available in english.
All service fees are included in the ticket prices.
However, not all destinations in Russia are available, or at least in the search bar. I couldn’t find places such as Makhachkala, or Nizhny Bestyakh (opposite Yakutsk). Contact the customer service if you cannot find a specific destination, they can arrange it for you.
Note : they also have cancelation and exchange ticket fees of 1400₽ per seat and train tickets for Mongolia and China are not refundable.
It’s mandatory to have an insurance to travel in Russia and apply for a russian visa (including the e-visa)
I recommend Attollo Assistance (24/7 assistance, medical expenses up to 35 000 €, repatriation)
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