The Akademicheskaya Metro Station is on the Kaluzhsko-Rizhskaya Line, Line 6, between Profsoyuznaya and Leninsky Prospekt, and it opened on 13 October 1962. It lies at a depth of about 8.5 meters in the Akademichesky district of south-west Moscow and was designed by Yuliya Kolesnikova, Petukhova and Fokina.
The station is a working stop rather than a showpiece, but it gained new importance when a transfer to the Akademicheskaya station of the Troitskaya Line opened in 2025. This guide explains what is known about the station and its history, how the transfer works, how fares and payment work for tourists, when the station is busy, and how to reach the nearby stops and sights on the avenue toward Gagarin Square.
Quick Facts
| Russian name | Академическая |
|---|---|
| Built / opened | 1962 |
| Architect(s) | Yuliya Kolesnikova, Petukhova and Fokina |
| Address | Akademichesky district, south-west Moscow, on the Kaluzhsko-Rizhskaya Line OpenStreetMap · Google Maps |
| District | Akademichesky |
| Interchanges | Akademicheskaya (Line 6, orange (Kaluzhsko-Rizhskaya), the station itself, between Profsoyuznaya and Leninsky Prospekt) Akademicheskaya (Troitskaya Line (Line 16), a separate station reached by a transfer that opened in 2025) Leninsky Prospekt (Line 6, orange, the next station toward Medvedkovo, with the Gagarin monument above) |
| Opening hours | The Metro runs daily from early morning until about 01:00, with exact first and last train times differing by station and line, so check the operator's site for this station (as of October 2026 – check the official site, mosmetro.ru). |
| Best time to visit | Mid-morning, early afternoon and the evening after the rush are the calmest, while weekday rush hours are busy. The station is underground and can be used in any season. |
| Last updated | October 9, 2026 |
Why Visit Akademicheskaya Metro Station?
The station is mainly a transit point: it links the orange line, one of the longest north-south lines of the Metro, with the newer Troitskaya Line, which opened its Akademicheskaya station in September 2025, with an underground transfer tunnel opening later that year according to one source. It is useful for travelers heading across the south-west.
It is also an example of the early-1960s generation of stations on the line, built with the Oktyabrskaya and Leninsky Prospekt stations on the same opening day. It is a short ride from Leninsky Prospekt and the Gagarin monument. It is not a station to visit for its decoration, and a visit takes only a few minutes.
How Akademicheskaya Metro Station Is Laid Out
The station is a shallow underground station at a depth of about 8.5 meters on the Kaluzhsko-Rizhskaya Line, between Profsoyuznaya toward Novoyasenevskaya and Leninsky Prospekt toward Medvedkovo.
A transfer connects it to the Akademicheskaya station of the Troitskaya Line, which opened to passengers in September 2025, and an underground transfer tunnel opened later, according to one source. Because details of the transfer were not verified, follow the signs in the station and check the Metro operator’s map for the current route and walking time.
Highlights of Akademicheskaya Metro Station
A station of the 1962 generation
The station opened on 13 October 1962 on the Kaluzhskaya Line, the same day as Oktyabrskaya and Leninsky Prospekt, and was designed by Yuliya Kolesnikova, Petukhova and Fokina. Look at the hall's plain design. Check how it differs from the decorated stations of the 1930s.
Tip: Compare the hall with an older marble station on the Metro tour itinerary.
A shallow station
The station lies at a depth of about 8.5 meters, so the escalator ride is short compared with the deep stations of the center. Look at the short escalator. Check the vestibule and exits on the map.
Tip: Allow only a few minutes for the ride to the surface.
The Troitskaya Line transfer
A transfer to the Akademicheskaya station of the Troitskaya Line opened in September 2025, with an underground tunnel opening later according to one source. Check the signs and the operator's map for the current route.
Tip: Check the transfer signs before you go down to the platform.
The link to Leninsky Prospekt
The next station toward the center is Leninsky Prospekt, which has an exit to Gagarin Square and the titanium Gagarin monument. See the Leninsky Prospekt Metro Station guide. Check the ride time before you plan.
Tip: Ride one stop to see the square.
The name
The station is named for the several Akademichesky Proyezd streets that formerly stood nearby, which were themselves named for the Russian Academy of Sciences, though all have been renamed since. Check the district's history if you are curious.
Tip: Notice the academic names around the district.
The orange line
The Kaluzhsko-Rizhskaya Line, Line 6, runs from the south-west through the center to the north-east, and this station is part of its southern section. Check a Metro map for the line's route.
Tip: Use the line to reach VDNKh and the north.
Atmosphere
The hall is plain and practical, with even lighting and a steady flow of commuters from the surrounding residential districts. The sounds are trains, announcements and the footsteps of people heading for the escalators.
The station is busiest at the weekday rush hours, and calmer mid-morning and in the evening. It is an everyday stop rather than a sight, used by students and residents of the south-west.
History of Akademicheskaya Metro Station
The Akademicheskaya station opened on 13 October 1962 as part of the Kaluzhskaya Line, designed by Yuliya Kolesnikova, Petukhova and Fokina. It is a shallow underground station at a depth of about 8.5 meters. The station is named for the several Akademichesky Proyezd streets that formerly stood nearby, named in turn for the Russian Academy of Sciences, all of which have since been renamed.
A transfer to the Akademicheskaya station of the Troitskaya Line opened in September 2025, and an underground transfer tunnel opened later, in December 2025, according to one source that cites an announcement by the Moscow city website.
Dates and details should be checked against the Metro operator’s official sources, and this history is shorter than requested because few facts could be verified; the line number and the details of the new transfer were not verified.
Tickets and Booking for Akademicheskaya Metro Station
Fares. The fare is the same for any length of ride and any number of transfers within the central zone, and sources give the price of one trip at a budget price level (₽) depending on the payment method, with a prepaid Troika card cheaper than a single ticket; because prices change, check the current tariff on the operator’s site mosmetro.ru. Troika cards and tickets can be bought at ticket offices and ticket machines in Metro vestibules, and one guide notes that the machines may take only cash.
Payment. Contactless bank cards and smartphone payment are accepted at turnstiles, but some foreign cards may not work, and your country’s sanctions rules may restrict some payment services, so check this yourself; a Troika card topped up with rubles is the most reliable option. Rush hours are the weekday mornings and evenings, when the station is busy.
Plan and Book
How to Get to Akademicheskaya Metro Station
Take the orange Line 6 to Akademicheskaya, between Profsoyuznaya and Leninsky Prospekt, or use the transfer from the Troitskaya Line’s Akademicheskaya station.
- By taxi: ask for Akademicheskaya Metro.
- On foot: Leninsky Prospekt and Gagarin Square are one Metro stop away.
- Orientation: follow the signs for the line or the transfer you need.
Accessibility
The station is shallow with escalators, but accessibility facilities such as lifts and step-free routes, including on the new transfer, were not verified, so check mosmetro.ru or ask staff before you travel.
Food Nearby
The streets around the station have shops and cafes typical of a residential district; the exact venues were not verified. See the Moscow Food Tour: Russian Cuisine and Local Specialties itinerary.
What to Bring
Bring a charged phone with a map and cash in rubles for a ticket or a Troika card.
Best Views and Photo Spots of Akademicheskaya Metro Station
The platform hall
The plain hall with rows of columns and a train arriving.
Best time: Mid-morning, outside rush hour.
The escalator ride
The short escalator to the surface.
Best time: Off-peak hours.
The vestibule exits
The entrances in the residential district.
Best time: Daytime.
Leninsky Prospekt nearby
The avenue and Gagarin Square one stop away.
Best time: Late afternoon.
Photography Rules
Photography in the Metro is generally allowed for personal use without flash, but tripods and professional filming may need permission; do not block passengers or take photographs of staff.
Family Suitability
Suitable for families as a transit stop, with a short escalator ride, though the station is busy at rush hour and lifts were not verified; keep strollers away from the platform edge.
Moscow Vibes Tips
- Check the transfer signs, since the Troikatskaya link is new and may change routes.
- Ride one stop to Leninsky Prospekt to see Gagarin Square.
- Travel between the rush hours for calmer platforms.
- Treat this as a transit stop and plan sightseeing at nearby stations.
- Compare this plain hall with a decorated station on the Metro tour itinerary.
- Check the operator's map for the newest lines in the south-west.
Explore Nearby Akademicheskaya Metro Station
Sights near Akademicheskaya Metro Station
Neskuchny Garden Moscowabout 3.6 km away · typical visit: About 1.5 to 3 hoursMain image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
State Darwin Museum Moscowabout 750 m away (~12 min walk) · typical visit: 2–3 hoursMain image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Metro stations near Akademicheskaya Metro Station
Leninsky Prospekt Metro Stationabout 2.3 km awayMain image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Ploshchad Gagarina MCC Stationabout 2.3 km awayMain image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
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Moscow Metro Tour: Most Beautiful Stations Itinerary: 5 StationsMain image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
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FAQ: Akademicheskaya Metro Station
When did the station open?
On 13 October 1962.
Which line is it on?
The orange Kaluzhsko-Rizhskaya Line, Line 6.
Can I transfer to the Troitskaya Line?
Yes, since 2025; check the signs for the route.
How deep is it?
About 8.5 meters; it is a shallow station.
Who designed it?
Yuliya Kolesnikova, Petukhova and Fokina.
Why is it called Akademicheskaya?
After Akademichesky Proyezd streets that stood nearby, named for the Academy of Sciences.
Is it a sightseeing station?
Not really; it is mainly a transit stop.
Can I pay with a foreign card?
Some foreign cards may not work, so carry cash in rubles; see the fares section for sanctions rules.
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Last updated: October 9, 2026. Found an error or something out of date? Report it and we will check and fix it.
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