Murmansk has its own airport (MMK), with direct daily flights from Moscow (Sheremetyevo and Domodedovo) and St. Petersburg, plus seasonal connections from other Russian cities. The airport is about 25 km southwest of the city, with a marshrutka into the centre.
The overnight train from St. Petersburg takes about 27 hours and is a memorable journey in itself, especially in winter — the line crosses the Arctic Circle near Polyarny Krug station, where it has become a tradition for the conductor to slow down and let passengers photograph the marker. There is also a direct service from Moscow (around 33 hours) and a slower train along the Karelian shore from Petrozavodsk. By road, the M18 runs north from St. Petersburg via Petrozavodsk; the final stretch is empty tundra and forest, with very few settlements.