5 reasons to ride the Moscow Central Circle
These commuter trains circle the capital at a bird’s-eye view: in 1.5 hours, you can see the entire city.
1. See the entire city in 90 minutes
A ride on the Moscow Central Circle (MCC), an urban-metro railway orbital line that operates on the Moscow Ring Railway (a physical railway line), is one of the most affordable ways to take a sightseeing tour of the city. The fare is just 75 rubles (approx. $0.95). A full loop takes about 90 minutes: during that time, the train travels 54 kilometers and makes 31 stops. Also, the Moscow Central Circle can be used as a hope-on-hop-off route. Board at any station, get off at your favorite one and head back – a single day pass (415 rubles; approx. $5) is the best option for this.
2. Watch the sunrise or celebrate New Year's Eve
The first trains depart from MCC stations at 5:30 AM – settle by the window and watch the sun rise over Moscow, ushering in the day. If you enjoy city views after sunset, no problem: the Moscow Circle closes at 1:00 AM.
By the way, you can also celebrate New Year's Eve on the Moscow Circle. On New Year's Eve, ‘Ded Moroz’ (Russian Santa Claus) appears at stations and on trains – it's worth planning your favors in advance! On New Year's Eve, the MCC operates nonstop and, from 8:00 PM, station access is free.
3. Work in peace or have a romantic date
Comfortable ‘Lastochka’ trains run along the circle: they are equipped with air conditioning, power outlets and USB charging ports, Wi-Fi and restrooms. Importantly, although they travel at speeds of up to 160 km/h, the rhythmic clatter of the wheels, typical of rail travel, is almost completely absent. This is because the trains run on seamless rails, which make the ride smoother. Each train also has a special “silent car”: passengers are asked to mute their phones and not use them during the journey and to listen to music only with headphones. You can find it by a special sticker with a man with his finger on his lips.
4. See Moscow's main sights from an unusual perspective
The MCC route passes through all of the capital's districts. So, in an hour and a half of travel, you can see the city's landmarks without any extra effort. From the train's windows, you'll see the skyscrapers of Moscow City, the Luzhniki Sports Complex, the Ostankino Tower, Losiny Ostrov Park, the ancient Izmailovo Monastery, as well as the Novodevichy Convent.
5. Take a journey from the past to the future
The Moscow Central Circle (MCC) is the successor to the Moscow Ring Railway, which was built in the early 20th century for freight and passenger transport. Art Nouveau-style station buildings have survived at the ‘Kanatchikovo’, ‘Presnya’ and ‘Likhobory’ stations.
The circle’s recent past is marked by an unusual passage from ‘Ploshchad Gagarina’ station to the nearby ‘Leninsky Prospekt’ Moscow Metro subway station. When plans were made in the 1960s to resume passenger service on the Moscow Ring Railway, an exit was built from the center of the subway station. As a result, it was mothballed for half a century and only reopened when the MCC project began.
The Moscow Central Circle (MCC) also features the latest technology. For example, a driverless train has been operating on the route for two years now. Currently, it is under the control of a train operator, but testing of a fully autonomous train has also recently begun.
