Sleeping in Moscow Sheremetyevo Airport

Whether your situation calls for a short nap or an overnight slumber, this sleep guide will give you the essential information needed to prepare you for sleeping in Moscow Sheremetyevo Airport. Our guide is updated with the help of airport sleepers who tell us about their experiences at Moscow Sheremetyevo Airport.

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Sleeping in Moscow Sheremetyevo Airport

Locations & Seating

Thanks to the 2018 World Cup, the airport instituted a “good behavior” policy, which included fining travellers 100-500 rubles for “offenses” such as sleeping in the airport. We’re not sure how long this policy will remain in place for, but be aware. Travellers most often report on the South Terminals of D, E, and F, as these house more international flights and overnight sleepers compared to the North Terminals. D, E, and F are more comfortable and have more amenities, too. In general, each departure gate has a good amount of seating, including a few seats that are armrest-free and/or padded. The floor is mostly tiled, so bring along an extra layer or sleep mat for some cushion and warmth.

Here are sleep spots that travellers have reported:

A carpeted area where Terminals D and E meet, though it may now be a shop.
Terminal F has some corners near gates with armrest-free seating.
A Burger King near Gate 40 in Terminal D may have some padded benches, good especially overnight when the eatery closes.

Rest Zones

At the time of this update, there are no designated rest zones within the airport.

Temperature

Do anticipate cold temperatures, especially overnight. Terminal F may be warmer than Terminals D and E. Arrive prepared with a blanket or even a sleeping bag. A hoodie provides extra warmth if the terminal gets even colder.

Lighting

Travellers report bright lights throughout the airport. Come prepared with eyeshades or something else to cover your eyes, such as a shirt or towel.

Noise

This busy airport is definitely noisy most of the time. Daytime sleepers can expect to hear frequent announcements, and at night, it may quiet down just a bit. A few overnight travellers mentioned announcements that continue at all hours and cleaning crews that have no problem getting close to a sleeping person to get their job done. Plan ahead by bringing earplugs or noise-cancelling headphones.

Showers

Freshen up (and loosen those stiff muscles) with a shower before your flight. Shower facilities are located in Terminal D, pre-Security, on Floor 2, near Baikal Lounge. For entry, pay at the Baikal Lounge; fee of 400 rubles includes 30-minute access, plus towel and toiletries. Also in Terminal D, head to the GettSleep rest area, fee is 500₽ for 30 min with towel, gel/soap). Hours: 24 hours. Additionally, several pay-to-use lounges have shower facilities. See our Moscow Sheremetyevo Airport Guide for details and locations.

Food & Drink

When you get the midnight munchies or give up trying to sleep and need a coffee to stay awake, 24-hour options are available in every Terminal.

Hotels

Prefer some privacy and comfort? If you would like a good solid sleep between flights, sleep capsules are available in Terminal E’s departure area. Sleep Capsules have 12 mini-rooms that must be rented in person. Rent by the hour, up to 8 hours, during the day (starting at 500 rubles/hour, decreasing as you purchase more time). Overnight capsules available, starting with a 2-hour block (760 rubles). Bring your own pillow and blanket or rent for 100-150 rubles each. GoSleep Pods are also available: Terminal E, 3rd Floor, International Flights, rental rates start at 250 ₽ per hour. If you prefer a more traditional hotel, check out the Radisson Blu Hotel Sheremetyevo Airport which is located across from the hotel, with a walkway and shuttle connecting from Terminals D, E, and F. See the hotel section in our Airport Guide for locations or visit Tripadvisor to find hotels deals at Sheremetyevo Airport.

Lounges

If you are looking for a private place to nap for a few hours in between flights, check out the Baikal Lounge, located in Terminal D. In addition to offering a comfortable place to hang out, they have a few private sleep rooms that can be rented. Rooms can be booked at the lounge door. For more information on pay-to-use lounges, check out our Moscow Sheremetyevo Airport Guide.

Security & Safety

In general, the airport staff seem to tolerate or ignore airport sleepers, but with the recent 2018 World Cup “good behavior” policy, we’re not sure whether this has changed. Most travellers report little issue from security guards and police.

At the time of this update, we have no reports from travellers commenting on safety issues at Moscow Sheremetyevo Airport. As a precaution, here are a few tips to ensure you have a safe airport sleeping experience:

Know Where Security is Located. Whether you are sleeping in the airport by yourself or with friends, it is good to know where security is. Know where their office is located and look for video cameras in the spot you decide to stay the night. Ask security where it is safe to spend the night. They’ve probably seen many airport sleepers before you and they will direct you to a safe spot.
Don’t Seclude Yourself. If you are travelling alone we recommend that you sleep near other travellers or close to security.
Hide Your Valuables. Don’t leave all your mobile devices out in plain view. We have received reports from people who woke up with earphones and no ipod and a laptop bag strap and no laptop bag (or laptop). Same goes with important documents and money. Keep these secure on your body, so that no one can get them without waking you up.
Secure Your Bags. If you are a deep sleeper, you may want to padlock your bag to something. If your bags have zippers turn the bag upside down (zippers to the floor) or sleep with your bag up against the wall, so that it would be hard for someone to access.
Choose to Stay Alert. If you don’t feel safe, drink coffee and stay awake and be alert. You can always sleep on the plane!

Pro-tip: If you are sleeping in the public zone, don’t be surprised if you receive an early morning wake-up call. Security is known to make the rounds waking people up as travellers begin to arrive for morning flights.

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