Pulkovo International Airport is the only airport of Saint Petersburg, on the southern edge of the city in Moskovsky District, about 15 to 20 kilometres from the centre by road. Since the new terminal took over in 2014, domestic and international flights have used one building, so there is no longer any need to find the right one of two terminals.
There is no train or metro line to the door. The standard route into town is a short bus ride from the stop outside Arrivals to Moskovskaya, the nearest metro station on the blue Line 2, and then a direct metro ride to the centre. Taxis are the alternative, and they are worth ordering through an official service. This page explains the options and what to expect.
Current access notice: As of October 2026: the airport has repeatedly introduced short temporary restrictions on takeoffs and landings for safety reasons, which can cause delays and diversions at short notice. Check your flight status with your airline and on the airport's official website before you leave for the airport.
Quick Facts
| Russian name | Аэропорт Пулково |
|---|---|
| Type | Airport |
| IATA code | LED |
| Built / opened | 2014 |
| Address | Санкт-Петербург, Пулковское шоссе, 41 OpenStreetMap · Google Maps |
| District | Moskovsky District |
| Metro | Moskovskaya (Line 2, reached by bus 39, express bus 39Ex or minibus K39 from the stop outside Arrivals; the metro station has its own bus terminal) |
| Opening hours | The terminal is generally understood to work around the clock, but flight times and the first and last buses and metro trains set the practical hours. Check your flight and the city transport timetable before an early or late journey (as of October 2026 – check the official site). |
| Admission | Free to enter the public areas of the terminal; you pay only for your flight and your onward transport. |
| Best time to visit | Pulkovo is busiest in the summer holiday season and around the main public holidays, and the morning and early evening are the peak hours for departures. Winter snow can delay flights for a few hours. For the quietest transfers, avoid the weekday rush hours on the roads and the metro, and allow extra time late at night when buses are less frequent. |
| Recommended duration | 2–3 hours |
| Website | pulkovoairport.ru |
| Last updated | October 16, 2026 |
How to Get from Pulkovo International Airport, Saint Petersburg to the City Center
| Option | Duration | Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Express bus 39Ex or minibus K39 to Moskovskaya, then metro | About 15 to 20 minutes by bus, plus about 15 minutes by metro to Nevsky Prospekt | ₽ | Recommended for most visitors. Both leave from the stop outside Arrivals and run frequently, the minibus most often. Moskovskaya is on the blue Line 2, with a direct train to the centre. Check the airport's official transport page for current frequency and the last journeys. |
| City bus 39 to Moskovskaya, then metro | About 30 to 35 minutes by bus, plus the metro | ₽ | The cheapest and slowest option, with more stops. It leaves from the same stop outside Arrivals. Best when you are not in a hurry or when the express bus is not running. |
| Metro from Moskovskaya to the centre | About 15 minutes to Nevsky Prospekt | ₽ | Line 2 runs directly from Moskovskaya to Nevsky Prospekt without a change. For the centre of the city, change at Gostiny Dvor or Mayakovskaya if you need the green line. Metro hours are limited at night. |
| Official taxi or taxi app | About 30 to 40 minutes, depending on traffic | ₽₽₽ | The most comfortable option, door to door, best with luggage, in a group or late at night. Use an official taxi service or app and agree the price first. |
| Night connection via Moskovskaya | Varies | ₽₽ | When the metro is closed, passengers heading to the centre change at Moskovskaya to the night buses. Confirm the current night routes with the city transport operator before you rely on them. |
₽ budget · ₽₽ moderate · ₽₽₽ upscale · ₽₽₽₽ splurge. Price levels are estimates compared with typical prices for visitors.
Why Visit Pulkovo International Airport, Saint Petersburg?
For most visitors Pulkovo is simply the gateway, so the useful question is how quickly and cheaply you get from the gate to the city. The airport has a clear answer: one terminal, one bus stop outside Arrivals and a transfer to Line 2 that takes you to Nevsky Prospekt without changing trains.
It also helps to know what to expect. Flights can be delayed or diverted when temporary restrictions are introduced, and international connections look very different from before 2022. Knowing the bus and metro options in advance saves time at night and in the morning, and keeps you from paying more than you need for the ride into town.
Highlights of Pulkovo International Airport, Saint Petersburg
One terminal for every flight
Since 2014 all domestic and international flights have used the single new terminal, which replaced the two older ones, Pulkovo 1 for domestic flights and Pulkovo 2 for international ones. If you read older guides, ignore the advice about choosing the right terminal.
Inside you will find the usual check-in halls, shops, cafes and left luggage, though the exact tenants change, so check the airport's official site for the current list.
Tip: Ignore advice about Pulkovo 1 and Pulkovo 2; if a driver or a map still uses those names, check the destination again.
The bus stop outside Arrivals
The buses to the city leave from a stop directly outside the Arrivals exit. The stop for the return journey to the airport is on Moskovsky Prospekt, on the city side.
Most arriving passengers use this stop, so it is easy to find, and the buses are announced in Russian and English on the display inside.
Tip: Look for the stop right outside the Arrivals doors; you do not need to walk to another building.
The express bus and the K39 minibus
Three services serve the same route to Moskovskaya: city bus 39, the express version 39Ex and the commercial minibus K39. The express bus and the minibus take about 15 to 20 minutes, and the ordinary bus about 30 to 35.
The minibus costs a little more than the city buses and leaves more often. Details of frequency and price change, so check the airport's official transport page.
Tip: Pick the express bus or the minibus when you are in a hurry; the ordinary bus stops more often.
Moskovskaya, the metro gateway
Moskovskaya station, opened in 1969, is on Line 2, the blue line, and has a bus terminal for the airport routes. From there a direct train takes you towards Nevsky Prospekt in about 15 minutes, so you do not need to change lines for the main sights.
The station has its own article on this site.
Tip: Buy or load your metro ticket at Moskovskaya, not at the airport, and follow the blue line signs.
Taxi and late arrivals
A taxi from the airport to the centre takes roughly 30 to 40 minutes, depending on traffic. Use an official taxi service or app, and avoid the drivers who approach you in the hall, because unofficial drivers have a record of overcharging foreign visitors.
If you arrive when the metro is closed, check the night transport options before you leave the terminal.
Tip: Agree the fare or use an app before you get in the car, and do not follow drivers who offer rides inside the terminal.
Pulkovo Heights nearby
The airport takes its name from Pulkovo, a village and a range of low hills just south of it. During the Siege of Leningrad the Pulkovo Heights were part of the front line, and a memorial to the defenders of Leningrad stands there.
It is not a stop on the airport routes, so go there only with a taxi or a tour and check the practical details.
Tip: Combine it with the Siege museum in the centre if the history of the blockade interests you.
Atmosphere
The terminal is wide, light and modern, with long halls, glass walls and the steady flow of travellers pulling suitcases between check-in and the gates. Announcements come in Russian and English, and the sounds are wheels on the floor, voices and the occasional boarding call.
At peak times in the morning and early evening, the departure halls are full, and the Arrivals area fills with people meeting passengers. In the middle of the night it is quieter and sparse, with cleaners and a few waiting passengers. Outside Arrivals, the bus stop has a steady queue, and the mood changes with the weather, especially in the long Petersburg winter.
History of Pulkovo International Airport, Saint Petersburg
The airport is named after Pulkovo, a village and a ridge of low hills south of the city. The ridge is known for the Pulkovo Observatory, founded in the nineteenth century, and for the front line of the Siege of Leningrad, when the Pulkovo Heights were one of the key defensive positions. A memorial to the defenders stands there.
Regular civil flights from the field south of Leningrad began in the 1930s. After the war, a terminal for domestic flights, later known as Pulkovo 1, served the city, and in the 1970s an international terminal, Pulkovo 2, was added. For decades the two buildings handled different flights, which meant that visitors had to know which one they needed.
In the 2000s the airport was modernised under a long-term operating arrangement, and a new terminal was built on the site. The new building opened in the early 2010s, and by 2014 it handled all domestic and international flights, replacing the two older terminals, which closed to passengers.
The new terminal gave Saint Petersburg a modern gateway, with a single hall for all flights and a layout that is easier to read than the older buildings. The airport grew rapidly in the following years and became one of the busiest in Russia.
After 2022, the picture changed. Many direct flights to the European Union ended with the closure of airspace and the introduction of sanctions, and international traffic shifted towards other destinations. The airport has also been affected by temporary restrictions on takeoffs and landings, introduced from time to time for safety reasons and causing delays and diversions.
Today Pulkovo remains the only airport of the city, with one terminal for all flights and a bus link to the metro at Moskovskaya. Visitors should check the current flight situation with their airline and the airport’s official site.
Tickets and Payment at Pulkovo International Airport, Saint Petersburg
There is nothing to book for the bus and metro options: you pay for a single ride.
- Bus and minibus: you can usually pay the driver or buy a ticket at the airport bus counter; the minibus costs a little more than the city bus.
- Contactless bank card and apps: accepted on many city buses and at metro turnstiles, but whether a card issued outside Russia works varies, and the sanctions rules of your own country may restrict the use of Russian payment services, so check this yourself before you travel.
- Metro: buy a ticket or a Podorozhnik card at Moskovskaya; fares and payment methods are explained in the metro station articles on this site and on metro.spb.ru.
- Taxi: order through an official service or app, and do not follow drivers who approach you in the hall. Unofficial drivers have a reputation for charging foreign visitors far more than the normal fare.
Rates for Russian citizens and concession categories differ. Check the airport’s official website, pulkovoairport.ru, for current transport details.
Flights, Transfers and Planning
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How to Get to Pulkovo International Airport, Saint Petersburg
From the centre: take Line 2, the blue line, south to Moskovskaya, which is a direct ride from Nevsky Prospekt, and change to bus 39, 39Ex or minibus K39 for the airport. The buses leave from the Moskovskaya bus terminal.
By taxi or car: the airport is about 15 to 20 kilometres south of the centre, reached via Sadovaya Street and Moskovsky Prospekt, then the road signed for the airport. Allow 30 to 40 minutes without traffic.
On arrival: follow the signs to Arrivals, and the bus stop is directly outside. Moskovsky District is the district of the city in which the airport lies.
Accessibility
A modern terminal such as Pulkovo is expected to have lifts, ramps and accessible toilets, but specific details were not confirmed for this article. Passengers who need help should request assistance through their airline before the flight and ask at the airport's information desks on arrival. The bus and metro links include stairs and long escalators, so a taxi may be easier with reduced mobility.
Food Nearby
The terminal has cafes, bakeries and fast-food outlets, but the names change, so check the airport's official site for the current list. Outside the terminal there is little within walking distance; the city has far more choice, so eating in the centre or near Moskovskaya is usually better.
What to Bring
A passport and your documents, a payment option for the bus or taxi, a warm layer in autumn and winter and some patience for possible delays. Security checks apply at the entrance, so keep liquids and electronics easy to reach.
Photography Rules
Photography in the public areas of the terminal is generally tolerated, but filming of security checks, staff and military or technical areas is not. Drones are not allowed near the airport, and tripods and professional equipment usually need permission from the airport.
Family Suitability
Workable for families. The terminal is modern and easy to navigate, but the bus and metro routes mean luggage, stairs and escalators, so a taxi is easier with young children or a stroller. Allow extra time for check-in and security, and keep children close in crowded halls.
Russia Vibes Tips
- Check the destination board of the bus, not only the number: 39, 39Ex and K39 all go to Moskovskaya, but the express and the minibus are quicker.
- Load your metro ticket at Moskovskaya, not at the airport; the queues are shorter and the staff know the foreign cards.
- On a night arrival, work out your plan before you leave the terminal; the metro is closed and buses are much less frequent.
- If your flight is delayed or diverted, follow your airline's official channels and the airport's website, and do not rely on rumours.
- Ignore guides that tell you to choose between Pulkovo 1 and Pulkovo 2; there is only one terminal now.
- Moskovskaya is a good place to buy a Podorozhnik card for the rest of your stay, because it is the first metro station you reach.
Explore Nearby Pulkovo International Airport, Saint Petersburg
Metro stations near Pulkovo International Airport, Saint Petersburg
Moskovskaya Metro Station, Saint Petersburgabout 6.7 km awayMain image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Nevsky Prospekt Metro Station, Saint Petersburgabout 15.4 km awayMain image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Ploshchad Vosstaniya Metro Station, Saint Petersburgabout 15.6 km awayMain image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Sights near Pulkovo International Airport, Saint Petersburg
State Hermitage Museum, Saint Petersburg · typical visit: 3-5 hours for the main highlightsMain image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Train stations and river piers near Pulkovo International Airport, Saint Petersburg
Moskovsky Railway Station, Saint Petersburgabout 15.5 km awayMain image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
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FAQ: Pulkovo International Airport, Saint Petersburg
Is there a train or metro to Pulkovo?
No. The nearest metro station is Moskovskaya on Line 2, and a short bus or minibus ride connects it to the terminal. See the options section for the routes and journey times.
Which terminal do I need?
There is only one. Since 2014 all domestic and international flights use the same new terminal. Older guides that mention Pulkovo 1 and Pulkovo 2 are out of date.
How far is the airport from the centre?
About 15 to 20 kilometres to the south, a journey of 30 to 40 minutes by taxi without heavy traffic. By bus and metro it takes about an hour door to door.
What is the IATA code?
LED. It comes from the city's earlier name, Leningrad, which is why it does not look like Saint Petersburg.
Is it safe to take a taxi from the airport?
Yes, if you use an official service or app and agree the price first. Avoid drivers who approach you in the hall, because unofficial drivers are known for overcharging.
Can flights be delayed by restrictions?
Yes. Temporary restrictions on takeoffs and landings are introduced from time to time for safety reasons and can cause delays and diversions. Check the notice at the top of this page and your airline's channels.
Can I pay for the bus with a foreign card?
It varies, and the sanctions rules of your own country may restrict the use of Russian payment services. Carry another way to pay, and see the booking section for details.
Is there a night bus from the airport?
Passengers heading to the centre when the metro is closed change at Moskovskaya to night buses. Confirm the current routes with the city transport operator before you rely on them.
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Last updated: October 16, 2026. Found an error or something out of date? Report it and we will check and fix it.
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