Sheremetyevo International Airport (SVO) in Moscow is Russia's main international aviation hub and a major base for Aeroflot. Operating 24 hours a day, SVO features a vast, interconnected multi-terminal complex. While it handles continuous domestic and international flights, spending an overnight layover here requires a clear understanding of terminal access, transit rules, and where to find the most comfortable rest areas.
Tap to choose your sleep style
Free: gate seating
No booking needed- Terminal C airside: padded gate seating clusters, soft armchairs in secondary concourse alcoves, and quieter corners near closed secondary gates after late-night flight banks depart
- Terminal B airside: foot traffic drops significantly between 1:00 AM and 4:30 AM, with padded benches, carpeted waiting zones and seat-integrated charging
- Landside halls stay open 24 hours, but airport security may check passports and flight details
Paid: capsule pods
Bookable by the hour- GettSleep Capsule Hotels in Terminals B, C and D, both airside and landside
- Private, soundproofed cabins with clean bedding, air conditioning, power outlets and locker storage
- Express-By-GettSleep in the Southern transit area, for international transit passengers; confirm current availability
Hotel: Radisson Blu
Landside, connected to D, E and F- Radisson Blu Sheremetyevo is directly connected to Terminals D, E and F via a covered walkway
- It is located landside, so check your transit rules before leaving the transit area
- Book ahead if you want a proper bed and a full night of sleep
Security & Terminal Layout Rules
Two terminal clusters separated by the airport runways
Sheremetyevo is split into two primary terminal clusters separated by the airport runways:
Southern Terminal Complex (Terminals D, E, F)
- Historically served the majority of international long-haul flights.
- Terminals D, E, and F are connected airside via pedestrian corridors, allowing seamless walking transfers between gates.
- Note: Terminal operational status can shift based on seasonal airline schedules; Terminal D handles major domestic/international traffic, while E and F may have restricted access or reduced operations.
Northern Terminal Complex (Terminals B, C)
- Terminal B: Primary domestic flight terminal.
- Terminal C: Modern, high-capacity international terminal directly attached to Terminal B.
Inter-Terminal Transport (Northern vs. Southern)
- Connected via an automated underground inter-terminal passenger train (PTS) operating 24/7.
- The train connects the airside and landside zones of the Northern complex (B/C) to the Southern complex (D/E/F) in a few minutes.
- Train service can be suspended for maintenance; shuttle buses are then used between the complexes.
Security & Access Rules
- Airside Transit (Post-Security): International transit passengers with an onward boarding pass and valid transit visa (if exiting the transit zone) can remain airside 24/7. Security checkpoints operate continuously.
- Landside (Pre-Security): Public arrivals and check-in halls stay open 24 hours. Transport police and airport security perform regular overnight patrols and may check passports and flight details for passengers resting in public halls.
Top Rest Areas Inside Transit (Airside & Landside)
A mix of gate concourses, capsule pods and transit hotels
Sheremetyevo offers a mix of modern gate concourses, paid capsule sleeping pods, and transit hotel facilities across both operational complexes.
Terminal C – International Airside
Environment: Terminal C is SVO's newest and most modern international facility. The departures concourse features high ceilings, wide walkways, and modern amenities.
Seating: Offers padded gate seating clusters, soft armchairs in secondary concourse alcoves, and quieter corners near closed secondary gates after late-night flight banks depart.
Terminal B – Domestic Airside (Upper Floor Alcoves)
Environment: Handles heavy domestic flight traffic. Foot traffic drops significantly between 1:00 AM and 4:30 AM.
Seating: Features padded bench seating along gate corridors, carpeted floor patches in upper-level waiting zones, and charging stations integrated into lounge seats.
Capsule Hotels & Sleep Pods (Paid In-Terminal Accommodation)
GettSleep Capsule Hotels
Located both airside and landside across major terminals (e.g., Terminal C airside 3rd floor, Terminal B landside 3rd floor). Offers private, soundproofed individual sleeping cabins/capsules with clean bedding, air conditioning, power outlets, and locker storage, bookable by the hour.
Express-By-GettSleep
Offers compact private rooms and capsules within the Southern transit area without requiring entry into Russia (for international transit passengers). Confirm that Terminal E is open and the facility is operating before you plan around it.
Radisson Blu Sheremetyevo
Directly connected to Terminals D, E, and F via a covered walkway.
What to Expect Overnight
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Full overhead safety lighting remains fully illuminated across all terminal concourses 24 hours a day.
Audio flight announcements and security advisories run continuously in Russian and English (and select Asian languages in Terminal C). Flight announcements decrease slightly during late-night hours, but floor-scrubbing equipment operates routinely overnight.
Continuous climate control runs year-round. During autumn and winter months, indoor temperatures near floor-to-ceiling glass facades and landside entrance doors can feel noticeably cold.
Select 24-hour cafes, bakeries (such as Shokoladnitsa or Cinnabon), and grab-and-go kiosks operate around the clock across both landside and airside sectors in Terminals B and C.
Free drinking water refill fountains are stationed near major restroom blocks across newer terminal concourses.
Free public Wi-Fi is available throughout the airport (typically requires SMS authentication via a mobile phone number).
Overnight Survival Checklist for Travelers
Tick each item off as you pack it.
A Smooth Night at Sheremetyevo
To ensure an overnight stay at Sheremetyevo International Airport (SVO) goes as smoothly as possible, advance preparation is essential. Navigating between the Northern (B/C) and Southern (D/E/F) terminal complexes is quick via the 24-hour underground automated train. If you prefer to rest in open gate areas, Terminal C airside offers the newest padded seating and quietest corners after midnight. By packing warm layers to counter cold winter drafts, carrying an eye mask and earplugs to block continuous lighting, and keeping local cash on hand for refreshments, you can turn a long layover at Moscow's primary hub into a safe and manageable rest period before your morning flight.
