There is no airport express train and no metro station at Pulkovo — that is the first thing to know. What the airport does have is a simple bus-plus-metro combination that gets you to Nevsky Prospekt in about an hour for less than 200 rubles, and round-the-clock taxis. Here are all the options, with prices taken from the airport's official website.
The short version
The cheapest route: bus 39 or 39E to Moskovskaya metro station for 88 ₽, then the blue line straight to Nevsky Prospekt with no transfers. Buses run until about half past one at night; after that a taxi is the only option. Order it through the app or the official Yandex Go desks — the airport itself warns against private drivers touting at the exit.
Buses 39 and 39E to Moskovskaya
Both routes leave from the first floor of the terminal and terminate at Moskovskaya metro station. A ticket costs 88 ₽. Regular bus 39 runs every 5–7 minutes from 5:15 to 1:36; express 39E every 13–20 minutes from 6:00 to 1:40. Journey time depends on Moskovsky Prospekt traffic — allow twenty to thirty-plus minutes.
A transport-card kiosk works right by the bus stop on the square outside the terminal: it sells the Podorozhnik card, which makes every ride cheaper than a single ticket. Kiosk hours are 8:00–20:00 with a 13:00–14:00 break; if it is closed, pay on board.
Then the metro
Moskovskaya is on the blue line, which delivers you straight to the heart of the city: Tekhnologichesky Institut, Sennaya Ploshchad and Nevsky Prospekt, no transfers, about twenty more minutes. Staying near Moskovsky railway station? Change at Tekhnologichesky Institut towards Ploshchad Vosstaniya.
Bus 82E: for the south-west
The third route is express 82E to Prospekt Veteranov metro station (red line) — the same 88 ₽, every 15 minutes from 6:00 to 1:40. Useless for the centre, but if you are staying in the south-west of the city it saves the detour via Moskovskaya.
Taxi and transfers
The airport's official partner is Yandex Go: its desks in the baggage-claim area work around the clock, and you can order through the app or at the desk. The price depends on the tariff and time of day — the app shows it before you order. The airport officially advises against the private drivers touting at the exit: more expensive and less safe.
If you would rather be met with a name sign at a price fixed in advance, request a transfer and let carriers send you their offers.
At night: what runs after 1 am
The last buses leave the airport at 1:36–1:40, and the metro is closed by then — stations shut around midnight. For late arrivals that leaves the taxi: the desks in the arrivals hall work 24/7, and there is a queue of cars outside Pulkovo even in the small hours.
If someone meets you by car
The pick-up/drop-off lane by the terminal is free for the first 15 minutes — enough to drop off or collect a passenger. Beyond that the rates bite (2000 ₽ per every following half-hour), so waiting for a delayed flight is cheaper on the car parks: short-stay P2 charges 450 ₽ per 30 minutes, and 3 km away on Pulkovskoye Highway there is a free 120-space lot.
FAQ
Is there an airport express train from Pulkovo?
No. Pulkovo has no rail link and no metro — only buses, taxis and transfers.
How much is the bus from Pulkovo to the metro?
88 ₽ on any of the three routes: 39 and 39E (to Moskovskaya) and 82E (to Prospekt Veteranov).
How long does it take to reach the city centre?
Bus to Moskovskaya — 20–35 minutes depending on traffic, then about twenty more on the metro to Nevsky Prospekt. Allow an hour in total.
How do I get to the centre at night?
After 1:40 — taxi only: buses have stopped and the metro is closed. The Yandex Go desks in arrivals work 24/7.
