• You can exchange currency at any of Moscow's three major airports — Sheremetyevo (SVO), Domodedovo (DME), and Vnukovo (VKO). FX desks operate in both arrivals and departures areas, and many of them run around the clock.
• Airport exchange rates are always worse than city rates. That's not a bug — it's the business model of the airport FX desk: high rent, low repeat traffic, and transit customers with no real alternative. Spreads at an airport are easily 1.5 to 2 times wider than in the city.
• The widget below shows current city-bank rates in Moscow for comparison. When you see the rate at an airport desk, compare it against the numbers in the widget.
• Loss-minimisation strategy: exchange only enough at the airport to get to where you're staying, plus a minimum for day one. Do the main exchange at a bank in the city.
• If you carry a Mir / UnionPay / Russian debit card, paying for transport and cafes at the airport works with no exchange at all.

Below is a detailed breakdown of each airport, where the FX desks are located, and a strategy for getting through with minimal damage to your wallet.

Why airport rates are worse than city rates

Plenty of travellers wonder why, and there's a straightforward answer. An airport FX desk is a business operating in a high-rent zone with low repeat traffic. In 90% of cases, the customer is a one-off: they land, exchange, and leave. So the margin gets built into the spread up front.

On top of that, the airport is a captive market. Someone who's just landed doesn't have a city bank within reach and no time to go hunting for one. They either exchange here or not at all — and the desks know it.

The typical numbers look like this: the spread on US dollars at a city bank's FX desk runs around 1 to 2 rubles; at an airport desk, it's 3 to 5 rubles. On the euro and the yuan, the gap can be even wider. On 200 dollars, that's a difference of 400 to 800 rubles. On 1,000 dollars, it's 2,000 to 4,000 rubles. That's a lot.

When airport exchange is still justified

The airport FX desk isn't pure evil. There are three situations in which exchanging there is the rational call.

The amount is very small. If you need 30 to 50 dollars' worth of rubles for a taxi and a coffee, your loss on the rate will be 100 to 200 rubles. That's tolerable. Trekking into the city to find a bank for that kind of money makes no sense.

Late-night arrival. If your flight lands at 2 AM and you need to get into Moscow, city banks are closed — so it's either exchange at the airport or travel with no cash. Better to exchange, but only a small amount.

Urgent departure. Same logic: if you have rubles left over before flying out and want to convert them into the currency of your destination, doing it at the airport is more convenient than hunting for a city bank an hour before boarding.

In every other scenario, it's smarter to exchange the bulk amount in the city. For more on the rate difference, see airport or city: where it's better to exchange currency in Moscow.

Compare city rates right now

The widget below shows Moscow banks with up-to-date USD/EUR/CNY rates and branch addresses:

Note the city rate for the currency you need, and the moment you see an airport rate you'll know exactly how much worse it is.

Sheremetyevo (SVO)

Moscow's busiest airport by passenger traffic. FX desks operate in every terminal. In Terminals B, C, D, and E, they're on both the arrivals and departures floors. Rates can vary slightly between terminals because the desks are often run by different operators.

Where to find a desk. In the arrivals area, usually after baggage claim, near the exit into the main hall. In the departures area, right after check-in, before or after security.

Operating hours. Some desks run 24/7; others align with the flight schedule. In practice for a passenger, that means at least one desk in each major terminal is open at any time of day.

Things to know. If you're arriving at SVO and heading into the city, you can't exchange before baggage claim — the desks all sit past that point. So plan the exchange as part of your walk through the airport, not before it.

Domodedovo (DME)

The second-busiest airport by passenger traffic, and historically important for Russian domestic routes. FX desks are located in the main concourse, both in the arrivals area and in the check-in / departures area.

Where to find a desk. At Domodedovo, the desks are more centralised — typically in the main concourse on the ground floor, just past the arrivals exit.

Operating hours. Several points run 24/7.

Things to know. DME has historically had a slightly narrower choice of operators than SVO. Rates can be a touch worse.

Vnukovo (VKO)

Moscow's third airport. FX desks are present in both the arrivals area and the departures area.

Where to find a desk. In arrivals, after the baggage claim exit. In departures, in the common area past check-in.

Operating hours. Some desks run 24/7.

Things to know. VKO is the most compact of the three airports. Finding a desk is easier, but the number of options is smaller too.

Loss-minimisation strategy

In short: exchange the minimum at the airport, the rest in the city. The specifics depend on whether you're arriving or departing.

Arrival scenario. At the airport, exchange enough to cover:

• Taxi fare to where you're staying (if you're taking a taxi), or the Aeroexpress fare plus metro/taxi (if you're using public transport).
• A light dinner and basic day-one expenses.
• A "just-in-case" buffer — another 1,000 to 2,000 rubles.

That's 3,000 to 5,000 rubles total, enough for a normal first day. It's the equivalent of 35 to 60 USD at the current rate. Everything else goes through a city bank the next morning.

Departure scenario. If you're flying out and want to convert your remaining rubles into the currency of your destination, the smarter move is to do it at a city bank a day or two before the flight. If you've missed that window and you're already at the airport with a stack of rubles, work out how much you actually need in the destination currency. It may make sense to exchange only a small amount on the spot for a taxi and a coffee, and either leave the rest in rubles or convert them through your bank's app onto a foreign-currency account.

Comparison table: your amount, your strategy

The figures are approximate and depend on the current rate, but the order of magnitude is right.

Alternative: card payment at the airport and on arrival

If you hold a Russian card (Mir, UnionPay, or Visa/Mastercard issued by a Russian bank), you don't need to exchange currency at the airport at all. Taxis, the Aeroexpress, and cafes all accept cards, and the metro accepts Mir. It's the most convenient and effectively "free" way to get through your first day.

If you carry a foreign Visa/Mastercard issued outside Russia, it won't work with merchants or ATMs in Moscow. That's the public position of the payment systems themselves. In that case, cash exchange becomes unavoidable — and an airport FX desk turns from an "option" into a necessity, for the minimum amount that gets you to morning. For a detailed breakdown of what works with cards, see cash or card in Russia in 2026.

What you definitely should NOT do at the airport

• Exchange the whole large sum at the desk on arrival. That's the single most expensive decision you can make in your first hour in Moscow.
• Accept the desk's rate without comparing it to the city. The widget at the top of this article — and on our other pages — gives you the benchmark. If the desk's spread is three times wider, that's a reason to exchange the bare minimum.
• Sign anything "extra" at the desk. If they offer you a card, insurance, or to open an account, say no. You're there to exchange currency and head for the taxi — nothing else.

Where to look next

• 24/7 currency exchange in Moscow — what's open at night in the city.
• Airport or city: where it's better — a detailed comparison by scenario.
• Which currency to take to Russia — preparation before the trip.

Frequently asked questions

Which Sheremetyevo terminal has the best rate?

The difference between terminals is usually small — on the order of 0.5 to 1 ruble per dollar. Don't trek across the airport hunting for a "better" desk: exchange the minimum at the nearest one and top up in the city.

Can I exchange at the airport on weekends and holidays?

Yes — airport FX desks run 24/7, weekends and holidays included. The airport's own schedule matters more here than the banking calendar.

Which currencies do FX desks at Moscow airports accept?

The standard set is USD, EUR, CNY. Some desks handle a wider list (GBP, JPY, AED, KZT, and others), but not all do. The exact list is posted at the desk itself.

Which banknotes are best to bring to an airport FX desk?

The standard ones: 50s and 100s for USD/EUR, and 100s for CNY. Airport desks accept old or damaged notes reluctantly, since there's no time or equipment for a thorough check.

Can a foreigner buy rubles at the airport?

Yes, in exchange for cash USD/EUR/CNY and a number of other currencies. It's a basic desk service.

What if the desk doesn't have the ruble denominations I want when paying out?

The cashier hands over whatever's in the till. Sometimes that's a mix of large and small notes, sometimes only thousands. If smaller notes matter to you, ask up front — the cashier will usually accommodate a reasonable request.