A visit to Moscow wouldn't be complete without visiting the Moscow Metro Stations. Yes, visiting, not only using them as a mode of transport. These are the worlds most beautiful subway stations, they look like museums! Train stations with chandeliers? They were built as Palaces for the People. These are my Top 3 Train Stations in Moscow, you got to see this!
What Stations to Visit on the Moscow Metro?
There are so many beautiful metro stations in Moscow, it's hard just to choose my favorites. The Metro opened up in 1935, and is now the busiest metro in Europe. It has 241 stations and is constantly expanding. It's pretty easy to ride the metro, as you can download maps in English, and the stations, and the ticket machines have English options. Plus the trains have announcements and signage in RUSSIAN and ENGLISH! I bought a re-usable TROIKA card, and just tapped in and out as needed. The Metro operates from 5:30am to 1am.
The best part of the Moscow Metro stations is that you can ride the trains all day long on a single entry, a long as you don't exit. This gives you enough time to see all the stations if you like! And you don't have to wait long for trains, they come around every 90 seconds during peak hour. I guess that's how you quickly move the 8.5 million daily rides of the Moscow Metro! The other thing I marvel is the extremely long escalators, they seem to go down forever. These are some of the longest escalators in the world. You'll see it in the video! Here are some metro stations I think are worth visiting. Not all of them are on the same line, but remember, you can ride all day long!
- Mayakovskaya Station
- Komsomolskaya Station
- Kievskaya Station
- Novoslobodkaya Station
- Taganskaya Station
- Ploschad Revolutsii
- Electrozavodskaya Station
Mayakovskaya Station
Opened in 1938, Mayakovskaya Station is built in an amazing art deco style. Named after the famous Russian poet, Vladimir Mayakovsky. The style of this station was based on the Soviet future. Made from stainless steel, pink rhodonite and marble, some say it was re-used from the demolished Moscow Cathedral of Christ the Savior. It's an incredible sight to see, especially if you can photograph it without any passengers. A long platform with polished steel arches, a clean and modern look.
The ceiling has 34 different mosaics, each portraying a different picture. It was called 24 Hours in the Land of the Soviets. Portraying different Soviet images, like Soviet airplanes, grain harvesting, birds flying next to a Soviet ship. Mayakovskaya Station won an award at the New York Worlds Fair.
During WW2, when airstrikes hit the city, it was used as a bomb shelter. Some say that even Stalin used it as a bomb shelter. Up to half a million residents used the underground stations as shelters, which is incredible. This station can't be missed!
Komsomolskaya Station
This station is named for the Komsomol Communist youth workers who helped build the stations. It was like the youth division of the Communist party. Komsomolskaya Station (on the Koltsevaya Line) opened in 1952. It's one of the busiest stations in the whole of Moscow Metro.
This is another unique station. Featuring bright yellow walls, and a ceiling decorated in a baroque style. The columns are covered in white marble, with detailed ornate plaster adorning the ceiling. There are incredible ceiling mosaic artworks too. Don't forget to always look up in the metro! There is the famous mosaic of Vladimir Lenin giving a speech in Red Square.
The mosaics showcase different periods of the Russian people with ancient battles to Soviet imagery. And don't forget the metro platform is lit with hanging chandeliers. Yes, chandeliers in the metro! Komsomolskaya Station won the Grand Prize at Expo 58 in Brussels. You honestly won't know where to begin to look at this beautiful train station, feels like a museum!
Kievskaya Station
This is another station that can't be missed in Moscow. It's also now spelled Kiyevskaya, but I prefer the original spelling. It was built under the supervision Nikita Krushchev, it's thought as a way of tribute to his roots and where he lived. The station pays tribute to the Ukrainian people and their relations with Russia (with a Soviet lens). It's named after the capital city of Ukraine, Kyiv or Kiev. The station celebrates Ukrainian-Russian unity. I get that this is delicate and complicated for some, but I think this station is one of the more beautiful ones in Moscow and shouldn't be missed!
There are several Kievskaya Stations that are interconnected, depending on which line you are riding. The most traditional station is on the Koltsevaya Line, which features marble, elaborate arches. It's the classical Soviet Style station, with plenty of propaganda of Lenin, promoting Soviet ideology. You can't miss all the hammer and sickles in the artwork. This Kievskaya Station also has large hanging chandeliers, prepare the be amazed. You could just stand there, look at the the marble arches, chandeliers and mosaics. The loud hum of the arriving train is the only indication you are at an underground train station. Don't underestimate the power of imagery, truly a people's palace.
The other Kievskaya Station is more modern and on the Filyovskaya Line. It isn't as prominent or as visited as the station on the Koltsevaya Line, but worth checking out. This station features tall octagonal pillars that are covered with a yellow marble, simple but ornately decorated with wheat towers the top. The platform walls are bright and fully tiled with a two tone diamond pattern. The ceiling has 3 rows of circular lights with a light fixture centred in each one. This station feels much more modern.
There is also free Wifi on the Moscow Metro. Download a map, and ride the train to explore the metro stations. Hop off a one station, walk around, take photos, and hop on the next train to explore again. A safe and warm way to explore Moscow, especially when it's raining and cold outside! These Moscow Metro Stations are truly some of the world's most beautiful train stations.
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