Moscow Vnukovo Airport Guide

Whether you have a layover, overnight sleepover or you are just quickly passing through, our Moscow Vnukovo Airport Guide is a great place to start planning your visit. Here, you’ll find information on services and facilities available inside the airport – including details about airport lounges, WiFi, mobile charging points, lockers, 24-hour food options, nearby hotels, and everything in between.

It was must say nicer than camping out at Domodedovo or for that matter Heathrow.
– surejb

VKO Airport Overview

To help you plan your layover, here is a quick run-down of what travellers have reported to us during their time at Moscow Vnukovo Airport.

What to Expect

Moscow Vnukovo Airport (code: VKO) is the smallest of Moscow’s three main airports and the third busiest in Russia.
This medium-sized airport is divided into two terminals. The main terminal – Terminal A – is used for domestic and international flights. Terminal D currently houses arriving flights mostly from North Caucasus.
All main announcements (delays, boarding, final calls and so on) are made in Russian and English. Like everywhere in Russia, only a few staff members speak English. Anticipate language barriers.
WiFi is available. See WiFi information in the airport guide below.
Economy class travellers can buy a pass and relax in one airport lounge. See Airport Lounges in the guide below for locations and rates.

Sleeping in Vnukovo Airport

We have very few reviews from travellers who have spent the night here. If you plan to spend the night, please have a backup plan.
All benches in Terminal A have armrests, so they are not comfortable for sleeping. But some exhausted and desperate passengers will push two benches together to create a makeshift bed.
Airport staff are generally tolerant of the sleeping travellers – perhaps until the airport starts to become crowded.
Almost all benches located landside have metal seats, and the ones found airside have soft padding.
Some people rent a film in the mini-cinema to have a comfortable place to relax. See More Services in the airport guide below.
There are no dedicated sleeping areas at Vnukovo airport, but there is a dark section without windows in the international departures area between gates 28/28A and 29/29A.
For uninterrupted sleep, there are several hotels located near the airport. See the Airport Hotels section below for locations, or read traveller airport reviews for more tips.

To help us keep this guide up-to-date, you can add or update information or write a review to submit airport tips and photos. For more airport information, continue scrolling down to explore more in our Vnukovo Airport Guide.

Airport Hours

The airport is open 24 hours.

Rest & Relaxation Zones

There are no dedicated sleeping areas, quiet areas or rest zones. If this information has changed, click here to update this guide.

Cots

The airport does not provide cots to stranded travellers. If this has changed, click here to update the guide.

Airport Hotels

If sleeping in the airport sounds like a nightmare, there are hotels at Moscow Vnukovo Airport, including sleep capsules inside terminal A:

Hotel inside Vnukovo Airport

Aerosleep Capsule Hotel – Capsules include a bed, storage, WiFi, a smart TV and power outlets for mobile charging. Location: Terminal A, 3rd Floor

Hotels near the airport

Doubletree by Hilton Moscow Vnukovo – Connected to the terminal by an underground tunnel.
Four Points by Sheraton Moscow Vnukovo Airport – Scheduled to open in June 2023. This hotel will be within walking distance of the airport terminal.

Airport Lounges

Pay-per-use, Single Visit Passes & Lounge Memberships

Regardless of what class of service you are flying, there are lounges that you can enter by paying at the door, purchasing a lounge pass or through a lounge membership program.

Art Lounge – Location: Terminal A, Airside, 2nd Floor, near Gate 23. International and in-transit flights only. Hours open 24 hours. Lounge Access: Prepaid lounge pass • Lounge membership programs.
Fountain Lounge – Location: Terminal A, Airside, 2nd Floor, food court area. Lounge Access: Lounge membership programs.
Prokofiev Premier Lounge – Location: Terminal A, 2nd Floor, near Gate 13. Shower are available. Lounge Access: Prepaid lounge pass • Lounge membership programs.
Top Lounge – Location: Terminal A, Airside, 3rd Floor, near Gate 21. Hours: open 24 hours. Lounge Access: Lounge membership programs.
Tchaikovskiy Lounge – Location: Terminal A, International Airside, 2nd Floor. Shower are available. Hours: open 24 hours. Lounge Access: Pay at the door • Prepaid lounge pass • Lounge membership programs.
Rakhmaninov Lounge – Location: Terminal A, Domestic Airside between gates 11/11A and 12/12A. Shower are available. Hours: open 24 hours. Lounge Access: Pay at the door • Lounge membership programs.
Business Lounge International and Domestic – Location: Terminal A, Landside, 3rd Floor. Hours: open 24 hours. Lounge Access: Pay at the door • Prepaid lounge pass • Lounge membership programs.

Food & Drinks

Vnukovo has a variety of local and international food concessions throughout the airport. Unfortunately, we do not know if 24-hour options are available. If you know, click here to update the guide.

Drinking Water
A reader tells us, “Drinking water fountain [is] available near Gate 19 of terminal A (international flights)” (May 2025)

Luggage Storage & Lockers

A luggage storage room is located in Terminal A, on the underground level. The rate is 500 RUB/day for standard luggage or 800 RUB/ day for overweight luggage (over 30kg).

Mobile Charging

In January 2019, a reader sent us this update: “Chargers are available in some places of airports. Either just walk around the food court and look at the bottom of the walls (some of them do not work), or there is a charger in the IUIU restaurant. USB sockets next to gate 23 with blue sign Turkish airlines.”

Showers

Showers are available inside a few of the lounges. [ see Airport Lounges above ]

WiFi/Internet

Free WiFi is available at Moscow Vnukovo Airport in Terminal A for 15 minutes. Device authentication is required via SMS, which costs around 50 ₽ (depending on the operator). After the free 15 minutes, you will be asked to pay asked to pay 129 rubles for 24 hours. Free WiFi is available at the airport lounges. Additionally, an Internet Cafe is located in Terminal A on the 2nd floor on the right.

More Airport Information

More Services, Facilities & Things To Do On A Layover

ATMs / Cash Machines – Need cash? ATMs are available. Fees may apply, so check your bank’s fee schedule and daily withdrawal limit if you are travelling internationally. You may also want to notify your bank of your travel plans. Locations: Terminal A, Landside. There are no ATMs airside.

Family Services – Travelling with small children? Here are a few services that may be of interest to you:

Children’s Playroom – Location: Terminal A, landside, 2nd floor on the left. No fees or medical certificates are required, but a flight ticket is required. Only one parent can accompany in the playroom due to limited space inside, but the other can wait in a kind of lounge just near the room.
Children’s Play Areas – These are similar to the playroom but on a much smaller scale, and a fee is required. Location: Terminal A, airside, domestic and international departures. Rate: 300 ₽ per 30 minutes.
Parenting Room – The parenting room is equipped with baby cribs, changing tables and play areas. Location: Terminal D. No fees; however, you must obtain a medical certificate to gain entry – see Health Centre located in Terminal A. Available for children under seven, but parents with children under three have priority.

Luggage Carts – Need a hand with your bags? Luggage carts are free of charge near the airport entrance/check-in and the baggage claim area.

SIM Cards – A reader tells us, “You can purchase SIM cards right after exiting [the] baggage claim zone. SIM card will be after you cross the ‘green corridor'”.

Smoking Rooms – Due to the new Russian federal anti-smoke law, smoking inside any airport terminals in Russia is completely prohibited, so all smoking rooms are closed now. Smoking is allowed only in the street and not closer than 25 meters away from any terminal entrance.

Airlines

Vnukovo Airport is served by the following airlines: Azerbaijan Airlines • Azimuth • Bulgarian Air • Ellinari • flydubai • FlyOne • Gazprom Avia • Georgian Airways • Hong Kong Airlines • iFly • Iran Aseman Airlines • Iraqi Airways • Izhavia • Lufthansa • Mahan Air • Nouvelair Tunisie • Pobeda • Rossiya • RusLine • SCAT • Severstal Aircompany • Somon Air • Syrian Arab Airlines • Tunisair • Turkish Airlines • Utair • Uzbekistan Airways • Vologda Aircompany • Wizz Air • Yakutia Airlines.

Airport Transportation: Getting To/From The Airport

Please note: A majority of public transportation signage and PA announcements are in Russian only. If you are not familiar with the Russian language, you may find it helpful to keep an easily accessible list of your metro, bus, and train stops or routes written in Russian and your native language as a quick reference while navigating your way around.

Bus

VKO airport is connected to the city bus system via routes 611, 611C and 611F. These options connect you to the Yugo-Zapadnaya metro station, where you can connect to onward travel. For fares, routes and schedules, visit the Moscow Vnukovo Airport website.

Hotel Shuttles

At the time of this update, we could not find any hotels that offer an airport shuttle. See also Airport Hotels above.

Minibus

Minibus route 45m operates between Vnukovo Airport and the Yugo-Zapadnaya metro station from 7:00 AM – 10:30 PM. The Ford van minibuses depart every ten minutes or once it is full. To access the minibus via metro, take Line 1 (red) to the Yugo-Zapadnaya metro station at the southwest (bottom) end of the line. The minibus stops are at the curb outside of the Yugo-Zapadnaya metro station and at the forecourt of Vnukovo Airport Terminal A. At the time of this update, the fare is RUR 100 per passenger (plus RUR 10/extra piece of luggage).

Taxi

Taxis are readily available outside the first floor at Terminal A and Terminal B.

Train

Vnukovo Airport is connected to central Moscow via the non-stop Aeroexpress. The Aeroexpress originates at the Kievskiy railway terminal (metro stop: Kievskaya) and runs to the underground level of Terminal A (total trip time: 35 minutes). For fares, schedules and routes, visit the Aeroexpress website.

Security & Safety

Sleeping in any airport can include a certain level of risk, especially when travelling alone. It’s important to take certain precautions to ensure your safety and the security of your valuables. Here are a few tips:

Safety First. It’s a good idea to know where the security office is located and look for video cameras where you plan to sleep. You can also ask the security personnel for advice on the safest places to spend the night.
Don’t Seclude Yourself. If you’re travelling alone, we recommend you stay near other travellers or close to security. This will help you feel more secure and deter potential thieves.
Hide Your Valuables. It’s also important to hide your valuables. Don’t leave them out in plain view, as this could make you a target for theft. Additionally, if you are a deep sleeper, you may want to padlock your bag to something or sleep with your bag up against a wall to make it harder for someone to access zippers and pockets. We have received reports of sleepers who woke up without their phones and laptop bags. The travellers were left with just their headphones and laptop bag strap.
Stay Alert. It’s best to stay alert and awake if you feel unsafe or uncomfortable. Drink coffee or other caffeinated beverages to help you stay awake, and remember that you can always catch up on sleep during your flight. These simple precautions can help you enjoy a safe night at the airport.

Last updated: 2024-08-26

This guide is for informational purposes only to assist with your planning. All information, including rates and hours, is subject to change at any time without notice. The information in this airport guide is based on information collected and/or received from the airports, lounges, hotels, transportation providers, and their websites. We are not representatives of any of the above-mentioned service providers. To report errors or to add/update any items mentioned in the guide: update the airport guide or write a review.