Want to know how to travel on the Trans Siberian on a budget? Then you’ve come to the right place. This blog explains exactly how to organise an independent trip on the Trans Siberian for the cheapest possible way. Read on and discover how!

The Trans Siberian train is the ultimate classic world train journey. Some would say the Mount Everest of train journeys. A dream of all rail enthusiasts, travellers and romantics. One of those dream, bucket-list journeys you would love to take… But isn’t it incredibly expensive? Involving a costly tour and complicated logistics?

NO… Not at all

With a little bit of prior organisation, you can travel across Russia, independently on a simple, backpackers budget. We spent 30 days travelling all the way from Finland to Vladivostok on the Pacific coast and our total daily budget was US $20 each per day. This included all the train tickets, food, accommodation and daily expenses. Not including visa and departing flight!

We’ll now take you through the nuts and bolts on how we did this.

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Trans Siberian on a budget

Below we will cover

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Read our Trans Siberian rail journey story in full

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How long does it take?

The classic 9288 KM Trans Siberian rail journey is from Moscow to Vladivostok and takes almost 7 days. You would have to be a masochist to attempt this in one go though.

Direct or stopping off

The cheapest way to travel from Moscow to Vladivostok is to book a direct ticket. However, we recommend splitting the trip into sections so you can get off the train and take a look at the interesting cities and beautiful landscapes en route.

You have to book separate tickets for each leg of the journey if you do this. You cannot buy a through ticket to Vladivostok (or the other direction) and break the journey mid way. It costs a little more, but not a lot, and is well worth it.

Tour or Independent?

We found it quite easy to travel independently in Russia. If you are the type of traveller that needs the comfort and security of somebody to do all the organising and planning for you then maybe a tour is for you. But it will cost considerably more though.

Tours will run into the thousands of dollars to do the same journey. If you are an independent traveller then a little forward planning can make your Trans Siberian trip go smoothly and efficiently with little effort.

Advance Planning

Some people like to just wing it and book tickets and accommodation as they go. The advantage of this is having flexibility. The disadvantage is uncertainty and time wasted in trying to get things organised in transit.

Our Russian tourist visa was for 30 days and we wanted to see as much as possible in this time frame. So we got on the RZD website and booked all our separate train journeys in advance. We also booked most of our accommodation on Booking.com so we knew in advance where we’d be staying on arrival.

Russia is an enormous country and 30 days is not a lot of time. So we wanted to maximise it.

This was our itinerary.

We felt that this gave us a reasonable amount of time to get a good taste of each place with the time frame we had. It also gave us some breathing space at the end for any unforeseen complications, of which thankfully there were none.

We were travelling in mid winter in Siberia and we thought that it could play havoc with departure and arrival times. How wrong we were! The Russian railways ran like clockwork on every journey we took. We even arrived in Vladivostok early!

Watch our journey on YouTube

How much does a ticket cost?

This is a difficult one to answer because it depends on many factors. Whether you travel directly from Moscow to Vladivostok or buy separate journey tickets. Whether you book online or in a ticket office. Booking through agents incur extra fees. What class you travel in, the type of train you travel on and which seat or sleeping berth you buy.

We’ll guide you through this minefield but as an indicator, the current (May 2020) online, cheapest price for a 3rd class Platskartny sleeper berth direct from Moscow to Vladivostok is 10,500 Roubles = US $140

Below is the price we paid for individual journeys in 2018

3rd Class Platskartny berth unless indicated differently

As you can see, a total of US $203 to travel almost 10,000 KM with 5 stops is quite reasonable.

How to book tickets

If you want to travel on the Trans Siberian on a budget and you want to book in advance then cut out the middle man and go straight to the RZD Website. This is the official website for the State Russian railway company. No need to use an agency that will charge a commission.

The RZD site used to have a bad reputation for being notoriously difficult to navigate, all in Russian and would not accept most foreign cards. Then, when Russia hosted the FIFA world cup in 2018, the site got an overhaul. It is now very user friendly and easy to navigate. You can check the schedules, select your train you want, choose the class and berth and pay. You then print out your ticket to take with you. Done… You are now set to travel on the Trans Siberian!

Booking at the ticket office

Of course, if you do not want to arrange everything in advance and travel more freely, then you can book in any ticket office at any station in Russia. You do risk not being able to get on the train you want, as they can sell out close to departure date, especially in the busier summer period.

Also, if you want to select a specific berth for a comfortable journey, you’re best booking in advance as the best ones go first. We’ll come to that next.

Another thing is that it is difficult to find a ticket window with somebody who speaks anything other than Russian. If your Russian is poor or non existent, then we suggest you get somebody to write out in Cyrillic the precise ticket you want. Google translate is always a lifesaver too, if your ticket seller has the patience to bother.

Which berth to chose in 3rd class

Now we get down to the fine art of which berth to chose. If you are travelling 2nd class Kupe, then it does not matter too much as you will be isolated in a 4 berth cabin. However, the frugal traveller in a 3rd class, Platskartky carriage will be wise to choose carefully. Your position can make or break your comfort and enjoyment of the journey.

Rule number one – Head for the middle

The ends of the carriage are where all the action happens. There are toilets at both ends and on the left side is the samovar and the provodnitsa’s (carriage attendant’s) cabin. People tend to gather here to chat and socialise.

So head for the centre of the carriage if you want to avoid the crowds.

Trans Siberian on a budget – Different berth options

You have 4 choices.

Top berth – In the 4 berth sections the top berths are great places if you do not want to socialise much during the day. You can lie on your permanently made bed and have some solitude. If you want to sit below, then you have to share your neighbour’s seat. It requires some gymnastics to get up. You can store your luggage in the shelf above you.

Bottom berth – The bottom berths are the most sought after. These are easy to access. Also they give you direct access to the window and table to eat from. During the day you will have visitors from above and around you who will share your bed as a seat. Great for making new friends onboard. You store your luggage underneath the bed which is the most secure place.

Top lateral berth – The 2 laterals run alongside the corridor so there is much more passing foot traffic. They are shorter in length too, so less room to stretch out for the taller passenger. The top berth is the better of the two as at least you can escape the chaos during the day.

Bottom lateral berth – The worst place in the carriage. During the day you will be expected to pack up your bed and set up the table there. It becomes a table and two seats where you have little room for storage. It is a small space with no privacy at all and is best avoided.

Conclusion

It can be said that the most popular seats in order are – bottom berth, top berth, top lateral, bottom lateral. In fact the prices of the seats used to differ to show this. The bottom berth being most expensive. However, the pricing structure on the RZD site seems to have changed now and they are all the same price.

Travelling as a couple, we found the best configuration for us was to book the top and bottom bunks on the same side of a 4 berth section. This way, between us we both had full access to the bottom seat with the table and window. Also we could take it in turns to climb above during the day if we wanted some privacy. The best of both worlds!

Read our Trans Siberian rail journey story

Places to visit

With only a 30 day visa for such a vast nation you have to be selective over which places you chose to visit. These are the places we chose and why.

Saint Petersburg – Great city to start in the West. The imperial capital for two hundred years. Highlights – The Winter Palace, The Hermitage museum, Church of the spilled blood.

Moscow – The great capital city of Russia and a classic world city. Amazing history and architecture. Highlights – The Kremlin, Red Square, St Basil’s church, Lenin’s Mausoleum, GUM.

Yekaterinburg – Fascinating industrial city on the Iset river and gateway to Siberia. Highlights – Church of the blood where the Romanov’s were assasinated, Military history museum.

Irkutsk – Great Siberian city and jumping off point to access Lake Baikal. Highlights – Beautiful wooden buildings with Siberian architecture, Block 130.

Listvyanka – Small town on the shores of Lake Baikal, the world’s deepest lake. Highlights – Winter hiking on the lake and ice sculptures. Dog sledding and hovercraft rides.

Ulan Ude – Fascinating Buryiat city near the Mongolian border. Highlights – Datsan Rinpoche Bagsha Buddhist temple, World’s biggest Lenin head statue, Ethnographic museum.

Vladivostok – Great Russian Pacific port city and the end of the line. Highlights – Fortress Museum, S-56 Submarine visit, Drinking vodka in the bars to celebrate completing the Trans-Siberian!

Other possible interesting places to visit en route. – Perm, Omsk, Novosibirsk, Krasnoyarsk.

Read our Trans Siberian rail journey story in full

Budget Accommodation

If travelling on the Trans Siberian on a budget and you are looking for the cheapest accommodation, then head to Booking.com to see what your best options are. We opted for hostels to save money but chose double rooms for privacy. The prices were very reasonable.

Below is where we stayed and what we paid.

• Saint Petersburg – Simple Hostel. US$ 4.80 each for a dorm bed.
• Moscow – Tikhy Tchas Hostel – US$ 8.40 each for a twin room. WOULD NOT RECOMMEND. Noisy, cramped, unfriendly.
• Yekaterinburg – Hostel R.E.D – US$ 8.13 each for a double room.
• Irkutsk – Art Hostel – US$ 6.77 each for a twin room. WOULD NOT RECOMMEND. Noisy, unfriendly.
• Listvyanka – Guesthouse U Batushki – $US 6.77 each for a twin room.
• Ulan Ude – Clean Hostel Na Borsoeva – $US 7.31 each for a twin room
• Vladivostok – Gallery and More Guest House – US$ 10 each for a double room

So on average we paid US$ 7.42 per person, per night.

What to Pack

As well as the usual items you take along on a backpacking trip, there are a few specific things that can enhance your experience when travelling on the Trans Siberian on a budget. Here is a list of the extras that made life so much more pleasant for us.

Comfortable clothes

The first thing you notice when boarding the Trans Siberian is that all the locals immediately slip into comfortable travelling clothes. Trackies for the men, leggings for the ladies. Some even walk around in pyjamas all day long. It’s a long journey so you may as well get comfy.

Warm Clothes

Although the heat is always cranked up on the Trans – Siberian, it can be a bit cold out! We travelled in February when it dropped to -30 C out there. Brrrr…. It was great to have a thick, warm down jacket to slip on for those 30 minute station stops where you get to jump off and look around.

Slippers

A crucial item to pack. Although you wear your shoes outside, you need to have a nice pair of slip on slippers for walking around the train. This is an absolute must for your Trans – Siberian wardrobe. You can buy cheap plastic ones locally.

Entertainment

It goes without saying that on a 7 day train journey you will want some form of entertainment to while away the hours. Although chatting with the locals and watching the world go by the window is entertaining in itself.

We made sure we had plenty of music, downloaded podcasts, Russian language lessons, movies and Ebooks on our devices before departure. We didn’t have SIM cards so were offline the whole time which is a nice break.

I also carried a paper copy of the Trailblazer Trans Siberian handbook. This is stuffed full of great information about the journey for the rail enthusiasts.

A power supply

In the third class carriages there is a very limited supply of power. Normally one socket at either end of the carriage that will be jealously fought over by many passengers. So bring along a good, well charged power bank to keep your gadgets juiced up. You’ll make a lot of new friends with it too.

Toiletries

The bad news is that there are no shower facilities when travelling platskartny class. Just a small sink to wash in, in a cramped toilet space. If you are travelling for a few days or more, you might want some wet-wipes to give yourself a stand-up going over at some stage. Also bring soap, a toothbrush and toothpaste. A towel is provided along with your linen.

Food and Drinking accessories

Hot water is provided from the constantly boiling samovar at the end of the carriage. This will be the basis of your food and drink supply for your journey. To help conveyancing it is prudent to bring a good plastic keep cup. One of those that has a lid to avoid spillages. A metal flask is a great addition to keep a water supply to hand.

Also we found one of those rubber, collapsible camping bowls to be invaluable for making noodle soups in. Bring a spoon, penknife, knife and fork, a sturdy shopping bag for carrying your food in and spare plastic bags for your waste. Think camping!

Food and Drink

Over such a long journey, you do not want to be caught short with not enough food and drink. Keeping well fed and watered is the key to a pleasant journey. Fortunately you have a few options available but if you are riding the Trans Siberian on a budget, then you want to be prepared. These are your options.

The restaurant car

Virtually all trains have a restaurant car. I visited a few but never ate at any of them. They tend to be quite overpriced and poor quality from what I have heard. Therefore, best to stay away.

Buying food on the platforms

There can be random food available along the way from the station platforms. Kiosks tend to sell snacks and junk food. Some have noodles.

Therefore it is better to look out for the old babushkas who stand around the small stations touting their homemade local foods. It’s good to help the local informal economy and they make some tasty treats which will still be hot. The downside is you cannot always guarantee something will be available so it’s best to be prepared and use this as a backup.

Look to buy fresh smoked Omul fish from the sellers around Sludyanka village station near Lake Baikal.

Buying on the train carriage

Your provodnitsa, (carriage attendant) may also have a supply of snacks available to sell to passengers. There will be a list outside their cabin and sometimes they come around with a trolley. Often it will be just tea, coffee and light, basic food so it is best not to rely on this.

Take your own food

This is the cheapest method by far, the method of most other Russian passengers and the method we recommend for the frugal traveller. Locals can be seen boarding with huge bags full of tasty treats which they will be nibbling on almost the entire journey.

As soon as the train gets going, out come the jars of pickled vegetables, boiled eggs, cold meats and packets of sunflower seeds. It is likely you will be invited to join in, the Russians are hospitable like that. It’s nice to able to reciprocate.

So get shopping, fill a bag before you depart and join in the rolling feast. Here’s an example of what food we took along with us on the 67 hour trip from Yekaterinburg to Irkutsk.

When to travel

This is entirely down to personal preference but it is possible to travel on the Trans Siberian all year round. We particularly chose February because we wanted to experience Siberia in the dead of winter. It was absolutely beautiful and I thoroughly recommend it.

In winter the landscape becomes a frozen wonderland. Lake Baikal freezes over and it’s possible to hike out on the lake. It is fascinating to see how the local people live is these extreme conditions.

How we got there and away

There are so many ways to access the beginning and end of the Trans Siberian railway, It is not possible to list them all here. So I will just highlight how we did it.

We were travelling overland from West to East and were entering Russia from Finland. Coming from Helsinki, Finland, we found the cheapest way to do this was by bus to Saint Petersburg with Lux express. In 2018 this cost only €10 but now in 2020 the cheapest ticket seems to be €15.

Departing Russia from Vladivostok leaves few overland options. Either a train back along the line and down to Mongolia or China, or there is a ferry that departs occasionally for South Korea.

We wanted to take the ferry but were travelling in the winter period when sailings are less regular and sometimes delayed due to weather conditions. As our 30 day visa was almost expiring we chose to fly from Vladivostok to Seoul instead. The flight cost €163 which was about the same price as the ferry.

Trans Siberian on a budget – Bonus tips

This post has tried to cover as much as possible concentrating on how to travel on the Trans Siberian on a budget. However, It is not entirely comprehensive. Another great online resource for all Trans Siberian rail travel information is The man in seat 61.

Please leave a comment below

If you have any further questions about how to travel on the Trans Siberian on a budget, then please ask us in the comment section below. We’ll be happy to help with queries. Also, if you have any extra information you’d like to share, that would be great too.

Happy Travels!

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How to travel the world as a Frugal Traveller

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