By Train

There are plenty of trains running on the main routes (Moscow-Yaroslavl and Moscow-Nizhny Novgorod) on which most all the towns in this region lie, so it's quite easy to travel between towns here, as well as to and from Moscow. Two types of trains will get you to most of these towns: elektrichkas (suburban commuter trains) and normal long-distance trains. In addition to being cheaper, elektrichkas run more frequently. But they are also a bit less comfortable, and there's no reserved seating. Check with a local travel agent in Moscow or at the station itself for train schedules. With the exception of traveling by elektrichka at busy times (Friday evenings and weekends), you should not have trouble getting a ticket the same day you wish to travel.

Fares & Schedules

Most elektrichkas will stop in all the towns listed here; it's best to double-check, however, which stops your long-distance train makes.

Commuter trains to Klin, site of Tchaikovsky's House Museum, depart from Moscow's Leningrad station. For the New Jerusalem Monastery, take an elektrichka from Moscow's Rizhsky station and get off at Istra. From there take any local bus to the Muzey (museum) stop. Rostov is four hours by long-distance train from Yaroslavsky station in Moscow, and five hours by elektrichka (changing in Aleksandrov). Elektrichkas also run regularly between Rostov and Yaroslavl (originating in Moscow's Yaroslav station); the trip lasts 1-1½ hours. Sergiev-Posad is 1½ hours by elektrichka from Yaroslavsky station. Vladimir is a three- to four-hour train ride by long-distance train from Moscow's Kursk station. There is no train directly to Suzdal. To get there, take the train to Vladimir, then catch one of the frequent buses to Suzdal that run every hour from Vladimir bus station. Although there's a train station near Yasnaya Polyana, the commuter trains departing from Moscow's Kursk station run only to Tula. The trip takes about three hours. Yaroslavl is five hours by long-distance train from Moscow's Yaroslav station.