How to get from Mineralnye Vody airport to Kislovodsk: full guide

Overview: airport → Kislovodsk

Mineralnye Vody airport (IATA code: MRV) is about 50 kilometers from Kislovodsk. It's the closest airport to the resort — others (Nalchik, Stavropol) are farther away, with fewer and more expensive flights.

ЦЕНА	ПЕРЕСАДКИ	АВИАКОМПАНИЯ	ДАТА ВЫЛЕТА	ДАТА ВОЗВРАЩЕНИЯ
Купить от 12324 ₽	Без пересадок		08.06.2026	10.06.2026
Купить от 16114 ₽	Без пересадок		02.07.2026	03.07.2026
Купить от 14389 ₽	Без пересадок		25.08.2026	08.09.2026
Купить от 12937 ₽	Без пересадок		23.09.2026	29.09.2026
Купить от 13103 ₽	Без пересадок		13.10.2026	20.10.2026
Купить от 14080 ₽	Без пересадок		08.11.2026	19.11.2026

There are four ways to get from the airport to Kislovodsk:

• 🚌 Taxi or transfer — the fastest (40–60 min), but also the most expensive (from 1500 RUB).
• 🚇 Train — budget-friendly and reliable (from 385 RUB, including the minibus to the station), but slower (about 2 hours).
• 🚌 Bus — the cheapest (from 180 RUB), but runs infrequently and drops you off on the outskirts.
• 🚗 Rent a car — handy for active travelers (from 2500 RUB/day).

Below you'll find detailed instructions for each option, current prices for 2026, and my personal tips.

🚌 By taxi or transfer

• 💵 Cost: from 1500 RUB (by Yandex Go meter)
• ⏲ Travel time: 40–60 minutes
• 🕑 Operating hours: 24/7

A taxi booked through an app (Yandex Go, Uber) from the airport to Kislovodsk costs from 1500 RUB. The official taxi counter at the airport will run you from 2000 RUB, while the freelance drivers in the parking lot charge even more (though you can haggle with them).

For a more comfortable ride, book a private transfer. The driver will meet you with a sign at the exit and take you straight to your hotel. Calculate the price and book your ride using the form below:

Or compare prices on these services:

• 🚌 Kiwitaxi — transfer from Mineralnye Vody airport
• 🚌 Intui.travel — transfer and taxi

🚇 By train (via Mineralnye Vody train station)

• 💵 Cost: from 385 RUB (50 RUB minibus + 335 RUB train)
• ⏲ Travel time: 1 hour 50 minutes – 2 hours 10 minutes
• 🕑 Train operating hours: from 04:50 to 20:50 (every 30–60 minutes)
• 🚌 Minibus #11: from 06:00 to 19:30 (every 20–30 minutes)

This is the cheapest and most reliable option if you're okay with spending about 2 hours on the road.

Step 1. From the airport to Mineralnye Vody train station
Hop on minibus #11 (the stop is right in front of the arrivals terminal). It runs from 06:00 to 19:30 every 20–30 minutes. The fare is 50 RUB, and the ride takes 20–25 minutes. The minibus drops you off right at the station.

Step 2. From Mineralnye Vody train station to Kislovodsk
At the station, switch to a train to Kislovodsk. A ticket costs from 335 RUB, and the trip takes about an hour and a half. Trains depart from 04:50 to 20:50 every 30–60 minutes.

Step 3. From Kislovodsk train station to your hotel
The train arrives at Kislovodsk station right in the city center. From there, you can walk to most hotels or take a taxi for from 80 RUB.

Check the current train schedule on Tutu.ru.

🚌 By bus (direct or with a transfer)

• 💵 Cost: from 180 to 300 RUB (bus ticket)
• ⏲ Travel time: 1 hour 15 minutes – 1 hour 30 minutes
• 📅 Operating hours: 7 direct buses a day from the airport, 9 buses a day from the bus station

Buses don't run every hour, and schedules change. Consider this option if a taxi is too expensive and the train times don't work for you.

Option 1 (direct and convenient): Direct buses to Kislovodsk leave from the airport (stop at the arrivals terminal). Check the schedule on the carrier's website: kmvavto.ru/schedule/min-vody-airport/. Buses run about 7 times a day.

Option 2 (with a transfer): Take minibus #11 to Mineralnye Vody bus station (the stop is called "Rynok Ruslan" — 50 RUB, 20–25 minutes), then transfer to an intercity bus to Kislovodsk. There are more departures this way — about 9 per day. Schedule: kmvavto.ru/schedule/mineral-water/.

Where to buy bus tickets in advance:

• 🚌 Tutu.ru — bus tickets
• 🚌 Unitiki.com — bus tickets

🚗 Renting a car at the airport

• 💵 Rental cost: from 2500 RUB/day
• ⏲ Travel time to Kislovodsk: 40–60 minutes
• 🕑 Rental desks open: 24/7 (at the terminal)

If you're planning to explore the Caucasian Mineral Waters region or the nearby mountains (Arkhyz, Dombay, Elbrus), it's super convenient to pick up a car right at the airport. Rental services have desks in the terminal.

Book a car in advance through these aggregators:

💡 Rental tip: In Kislovodsk's tourist center, there are lots of no-stopping and no-parking signs, and tow trucks are very active. For long-term parking, choose a hotel that offers free on-site parking.

Comparing all options

Useful tips (personal experience)

• 🚌 Don't take a taxi from the parking lot. Freelance drivers charge 1.5–2 times more than app prices. Order Yandex Go instead — the car will pull up to the exit in 5–10 minutes.
• 🚇 If you arrive during the day — take the train. It's the best balance of price and comfort. Minibus #11 will take you to the station, and the train goes right into the center of Kislovodsk.
• ⚠ At night — only a taxi. Minibus #11 runs until 19:30, and trains until 20:50. After that, your only options are a taxi or a transfer.
• 🚗 Renting a car is worth it for 3+ days. If you're planning trips to the mountains (Arkhyz, Dombay, Elbrus), the car will pay off.
• 📅 Check the bus schedule for your travel dates. It changes depending on the season. More buses run in summer, fewer in winter.