Get your art history fix in the unlikeliest of places.
Out of a total of 239 Moscow metro stations, these top ten museum-like stations are chosen for their rich history and picturesque designs that are not to be missed when visiting the capital of Russia.
1. Ploshchad Revolyutsii Station
Photo by moscow_metro_architecture on InstagramNamed after the Revolution Square, the Ploshchad Revolyutsii station boasts an impressive mix of wooden floors, domed ceilings, and Socialist Realism statues depicting ideal citizens of a Soviet society. It was designed by Alexey Dushkin and opened in 1938, making it one of the oldest stations in the system. You can find this stop on the Arbatsko-Pokrovskaya metro line.
2. Kievskaya Station
Photo by moscow_metro_architecture on InstagramThis station’s entrance is a reproduction of an Art Nouveau Paris Metro entrance, gifted from France in exchange for Russian artwork to be placed in the Madeleine metro station in Paris. The Kievskaya station opened in 1954 and is home to extravagant chandeliers and ornate mosaics featuring Russo-Ukrainian unity. Make sure to stop here if you’re riding the Koltsevaya metro line.
3. Komsomolskaya Station
Photo by moscow_metro_architecture on InstagramThe Komsomolskaya station is the busiest in the entire Moscow Metro system. It was designed by Alexy Shchusev in 1952 to honor a famous speech by Joseph Stalin. The station’s cheery yellow walls, Baroque-style ceiling, and countless dazzling chandeliers are quite the contrast to what you might expect to see underground. There are also eight large ceiling mosaics depicting Russia’s fight for independence, so don’t skip this stop on the Koltsevaya metro line.
4. Mayakovskaya Station
Photo by m.gonzalezreginato on InstagramOne of the most famous metro stations in the world, this grand display of Stalinist architecture opened in 1938 and was used as a command station during World War II. Mayakovskaya station was designed by Alexey Dushkin, showcasing marble floors and 34 ceiling mosaics illustrating “24 Hours in the Land of the Soviets.” Find this stop on the Zamoskvoretskaya metro line.
5. Elektrozavodskaya Station
Photo by jeffheimsath on InstagramAppropriately named after the lightbulb factory nearby, this station’s ceiling has six rows of incandescent lights, making it one of the brightest stops in the metro system. It opened in 1944 and is full of striking marble pillars and portraits of famous Russian scientists. You won’t want to miss this stop on the Arbatsko-Pokrovskaya metro line.
6. Novoslobodskaya Station
Photo by moscow_metro_architecure on InstagramWalking into Novoslobodskaya station is like stepping into a fairytale with its checkered floors and stained-glass arches. It was designed by Alexey Dushkin and opened in 1952. Make sure to check out the mosaic called “Peace Throughout the World” while you’re at this stop on the Koltsevaya metro line.
7. Slavyansky Bulvar Station
Photo by moscowmetroexplorer on InstagramThe Art Nouveau-style of Slavyansky Bulvar station opened in 2008 with walls made of green Cuban marble and metallic foliage decor. Its eclectic combination of nature and modernity makes this stop on the Arbatsko-Pokrovskaya metro line an absolute must-see.
8. Park Kultury Station
Photo by moscow_metro_architecture on InstagramThis recreational sport-themed station designed by Igor Rozhin in 1950 features granite tiles that resemble carpet and a whopping 26 sculptures of Soviet youth engaging in leisure activities. There is also a statue of Maxim Gorky, the famous writer and activist who Moscow’s version of Central Park is named after. Visit the station and the park via the Koltsevaya metro line.
9. Teatralnaya Station
Photo by mavenonthemove on InstagramThe grandiose Teatralnaya station got its name from the nearby Theatre Square, home to the famous Bolshoi Theatre. This metro stop highlights beautifully carved ceilings, and sculptures that represent music and dance from former Soviet Union countries. It was made with marble taken from the original Church of Christ the Saviour after it was demolished in 1931, just seven years before the station was opened. You can find this stop on the Zamoskvoretskaya metro line.
10. Taganskaya Station
Photo by Architecture & Design on FacebookTaganskaya station, opened in 1950, is an incredible display of traditional Russian architecture. Notable features include its Red Army theme and the blue marble artwork depicting World War II servicemen that spans its walls. Catch this must-stop on the Koltsevaya metro line.
