Alexandrovsky Sad Metro Station is the easiest way to arrive at the western wall of the Moscow Kremlin. It is a station on the light-blue Filyovskaya line, and its exits open close to the Alexander Garden, which gives the station its name, and to Vozdvizhenka Street.
The station opened on 15 May 1935 along with the first stage of the Metro, according to a general source, which makes it one of the oldest in the system. It is also part of a large interchange hub, so many visitors pass through it on the way to Red Square, the Arbat or the Russian State Library without noticing how old it is.
Quick Facts
| Russian name | Александровский сад |
|---|---|
| Built / opened | 1935 |
| Address | Vozdvizhenka Street 1, Moscow (улица Воздвиженка, 1) OpenStreetMap · Google Maps |
| District | Arbat |
| Interchanges | Alexandrovsky Sad (Filyovskaya line (Line 4), Exits lead to the Alexander Garden and Vozdvizhenka Street) Biblioteka Imeni Lenina (Sokolnicheskaya line (Line 1), Interchange, connected by passages) Arbatskaya (Arbatsko-Pokrovskaya line (Line 3), Interchange, connected by passages) Borovitskaya (Serpukhovsko-Timiryazevskaya line (Line 9), Part of the same hub; a direct transfer is not confirmed, check station signs) |
| Opening hours | The Moscow Metro runs daily from early morning until about 01:00, but the exact opening and closing times at this station were not verified (as of October 2026 – check the Moscow Metro's official site). |
| Best time to visit | Late morning and early afternoon on weekdays are calmer, while weekday rush hours and weekend evenings near the Kremlin are the busiest. The station can be used year-round, and a Kremlin visit pairs well with a morning start. |
| Last updated | October 10, 2026 |
Why Visit Alexandrovsky Sad Metro Station?
Alexandrovsky Sad is more of a gateway than a showpiece, but it is worth knowing for several practical reasons. It is the closest Metro stop to the Alexander Garden and the Kremlin ticket entrance, according to a map listing, and it is joined by passages to Biblioteka Imeni Lenina and Arbatskaya.
It is a shallow station, about 8 meters below the surface, according to a general source, so the ride up is short. Its history is also unusually layered: it has had four names in 90 years. For anyone interested in the first Metro stage of the 1930s, it is one of the stations that carry that story.
How Alexandrovsky Sad Metro Station Is Laid Out
The station is the end point of the Filyovskaya line in the city center, and it forms one hub with Biblioteka Imeni Lenina on the Sokolnicheskaya line and Arbatskaya on the Arbatsko-Pokrovskaya line, with Borovitskaya on the Serpukhovsko-Timiryazevskaya line close by, according to a general source. Passages join the stations underground, and there are additional exits and a second transfer corridor to Biblioteka Imeni Lenina that were added in the 1960s.
Follow the signs by line name or by the exit to the Alexander Garden, the Kremlin or Vozdvizhenka. A direct transfer to Borovitskaya is not confirmed by one source, so use the signs and expect a longer walk for that connection.
Highlights of Alexandrovsky Sad Metro Station
A gateway to the Alexander Garden and the Kremlin
The station is named after the Alexander Garden that runs along the western Kremlin wall, and its exits lead toward the garden and Vozdvizhenka Street. For a visitor, this is the quickest underground link to the western side of the Kremlin. The Kutafiya Tower, where visitors enter the Kremlin, is nearby, according to a map listing.
Tip: Check the exit signs and use the one for the Alexander Garden if you are going to the Kremlin.
A four-station interchange hub
Alexandrovsky Sad forms one large interchange hub with Biblioteka Imeni Lenina, Arbatskaya and Borovitskaya, according to a general source. The first two connect by passages, and a second transfer corridor to Biblioteka Imeni Lenina was added in the 1960s. It lets passengers change between four lines in one complex.
Tip: Allow several minutes for a transfer, since the passages are long and busy in rush hour.
A shallow first-stage station
Alexandrovsky Sad is a shallow station, unlike many of the deeper stations elsewhere in the Moscow Metro. It opened with the first stage of the Metro in 1935 on the line that later became the Filyovskaya line. It shows the early approach of shallow tunnels.
Tip: Expect a short escalator ride compared with deep stations.
Four names in 90 years
The station was first named Komintern, then Ulitsa Kominterna and later Kalininskaya, before it was officially renamed Vozdvizhenka in 1990 for only a few days and then became Alexandrovsky Sad, according to general sources. The names reflect the political changes of the 20th century and the nearby Kremlin garden.
Tip: Older maps or books may show an earlier name, so check the date.
The eastern end of the Filyovskaya line
Alexandrovsky Sad is the eastern terminus of the Filyovskaya line, which runs west across the Moskva river to Kuntsevskaya, with a branch to Moscow City, according to a general source. Arriving here, you step out in the very center, next to the Kremlin.
Tip: Use the line to reach Moscow City or Kievskaya from the center.
A short walk to Red Square and the Arbat
From the station it is a short walk to Manezhnaya Square and Red Square, and the Arbat is close by through Arbatskaya. See the Red Square and Arbat itineraries on this site. Vozdvizhenka Street leads past the Schusev Museum of Architecture and Pashkov House.
Tip: Start a Kremlin and Red Square walk here, then finish at another station.
Atmosphere
Alexandrovsky Sad is a busy transfer point in the very center of Moscow, so the platforms and passages are full of commuters, students from nearby universities and visitors heading for the Kremlin. The station is shallow, so trains are heard soon after you step off the escalator, and the passages that link the hub’s stations carry a steady stream of people.
It is calmer in the late morning and early afternoon, and quietest late in the evening. Details of the platform decoration were not verified, so check the station when you pass through.
History of Alexandrovsky Sad Metro Station
Alexandrovsky Sad was built with the first stage of the Moscow Metro and opened on 15 May 1935, according to a general source. It was then called Komintern, and it stood on a branch that later became part of the Filyovskaya line. In 1937 it was renamed Ulitsa Kominterna.
Although the station was built at the same time as Biblioteka Imeni Lenina, the two were not joined by a transfer until 1938, when Alexandrovsky Sad became part of the Arbatsko-Pokrovskaya line for a time, according to a general source. A temporary vestibule served the two stations and was removed in the 1940s.
In 1946 the station took the name Kalininskaya, after Mikhail Kalinin, and kept it until 1990, according to a general source. During the 1960s, further access to the subways under the crossroads and a second transfer corridor to Biblioteka Imeni Lenina were added.
The line’s history is complicated: after the opening of Arbatskaya on the Arbatsko-Pokrovskaya line in 1953, the section was changed, and in 1958 it became a fully separate line, the Filyovskaya line, according to a general source. In 1990 the station was officially renamed Vozdvizhenka, after the nearby square, but after only a few days it received the name Alexandrovsky Sad, after the Alexander Garden by the Kremlin.
Today the station is the eastern terminus of the Filyovskaya line, and part of the largest interchange hub in the city center. Details of the station’s architect, design and later renovations could not be verified, so this history is shorter than usual; check the Moscow Metro’s official site for the current information.
Tickets and Booking for Alexandrovsky Sad Metro Station
Fares. Visitors from abroad use the same Metro as everyone else. A single ride and other options are available at the ticket offices and machines, and many people use a transport card or the official Moscow Metro app. Fare amounts and which options work for foreign visitors were not verified, so check the Moscow Metro’s official site for the current fares and payment options. Rates and rules change and may depend on the payment method.
Payment. Cash in rubles is the most reliable way to buy a ticket. Do not assume that cards issued outside Russia will work. Check the Moscow Metro’s official information for accepted payment methods before travelling.
Rush hours. The busiest times are the weekday morning and evening rush hours, when the transfer passages are crowded, so travel at other times if you can.
Plan and Book
How to Get to Alexandrovsky Sad Metro Station
The station is on the Filyovskaya line (Line 4), at the eastern end, and is part of a hub with Biblioteka Imeni Lenina (Line 1), Arbatskaya (Line 3) and Borovitskaya (Line 9).
- By Metro: ride the Filyovskaya line to the end of the line, or use the interchange stations; follow the signs for Alexandrovsky Sad and the exits to the Alexander Garden or Vozdvizhenka.
- On foot: the Kremlin and the Kutafiya Tower are within a few minutes’ walk, and Manezhnaya Square and Red Square are a short walk beyond.
- By taxi: Vozdvizhenka and Mokhovaya Streets are close, but traffic in the center is heavy.
Accessibility
Accessibility at this station, including lifts, ramps and step-free routes through the interchange passages, was not verified. The Moscow Metro offers help for passengers with reduced mobility, but check the Metro's official site and plan extra time for the long transfer passages.
Food Nearby
The streets around Manezhnaya Square, Vozdvizhenka and the Arbat have many cafes and restaurants, and the Okhotny Ryad mall below Manezhnaya Square has a food court. Specific venues were not verified here; see the shopping malls and Russian food guides on this site.
What to Bring
Bring a transport card or cash in rubles, comfortable shoes for the long transfer passages and a charged phone with an offline map. Large bags can be awkward in crowded passages at rush hour.
Photography Rules
Photography rules in the Moscow Metro were not verified; taking photographs is generally tolerated in stations, but tripods, flash and filming of staff or security may be restricted, so follow signs and staff instructions.
Family Suitability
The station is suitable for families, but the transfer passages are long and crowded at rush hour, so keep children close. Stroller access and lift availability were not verified, so allow extra time and check the Metro's official information.
Moscow Vibes Tips
- Use this station to start a Kremlin and Red Square walk, then finish at a different station to avoid backtracking.
- Follow the line colors and the exit signs rather than the station names, since four stations share one hub.
- For Borovitskaya, follow the signs, since a direct transfer is not confirmed.
- Leave extra time for the transfer between lines, which can take several minutes.
- Check older maps against the current name, since the station has had four names.
- If a Kremlin ticket is part of your plan, check the entrance times before you leave the station.
Explore Nearby Alexandrovsky Sad Metro Station
Sights near Alexandrovsky Sad Metro Station
Pashkov House Moscowabout 300 m away (~5 min walk) · typical visit: About 20 to 30 minutesMain image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Schusev State Museum of Architecture Moscowabout 100 m away (~1 min walk) · typical visit: About 1.5 to 2 hoursMain image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Alexander Garden Moscowabout 250 m away (~4 min walk) · typical visit: 30–60 minutesMain image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Diamond Fund Moscowabout 350 m away (~6 min walk) · typical visit: About 1 hourMain image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Armoury Chamber Moscowabout 350 m away (~6 min walk) · typical visit: 1.5–2 hoursMain image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Metro stations near Alexandrovsky Sad Metro Station
Teatralnaya Metro Stationabout 900 m away (~15 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Aleksandrovsky Sad Metro Stationabout 50 m away (~1 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Biblioteka Imeni Lenina Metro Stationabout 150 m away (~3 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Restaurants and cafes near Alexandrovsky Sad Metro Station
WA Gardenabout 200 m away (~3 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Krasotaabout 200 m away (~3 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Gvidonabout 350 m away (~5 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Ikraabout 350 m away (~5 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Hotels near Alexandrovsky Sad Metro Station
Stella Di Mosca Hotelabout 450 m away (~7 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Assambleya Nikitskaya Hotelabout 450 m away (~8 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Cheers Arbat Mini-Hotelabout 550 m away (~9 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Events and traditions near Alexandrovsky Sad Metro Station
Defender of the Fatherland Day in Moscowabout 350 m away (~6 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Tatiana Day (Students' Day) in Moscowabout 400 m away (~7 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Related guides
Red Square and Moscow Kremlin Walking Itinerary: Route and TimingsMain image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Arbat and New Arbat Walking Itinerary: Route, Sights and TimingsMain image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Moscow Metro Tour: Most Beautiful Stations Itinerary: 5 StationsMain image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Rhythm & Blues Cafe: Live Music Club Behind the State LibraryMain image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Rule Taproom: Craft Beer with 27 Taps Behind the State LibraryMain image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Browse more: More in Arbat · All Metro Stations · All Other Hubs
FAQ: Alexandrovsky Sad Metro Station
Which line is Alexandrovsky Sad on?
The Filyovskaya line (Line 4), at its eastern end.
Is it close to the Kremlin?
Yes, the Alexander Garden and the Kutafiya Tower, where visitors enter the Kremlin, are a short walk away.
Can I transfer to other lines?
Yes, to Biblioteka Imeni Lenina, Arbatskaya and Borovitskaya, though a direct transfer to Borovitskaya is not confirmed.
When did the station open?
On 15 May 1935, with the first stage of the Metro, according to a general source.
Why was it renamed?
It had several political names and was named Alexandrovsky Sad in 1990, after the Alexander Garden.
Is it a deep station?
No, it is shallow, about 8 meters below the surface.
How do I pay for the Metro?
Check the Moscow Metro's official payment information before travelling, as cards issued abroad may not be accepted.
Is the station a tourist sight?
Mostly it is a gateway, but it is part of the first Metro stage.
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Last updated: October 10, 2026. Found an error or something out of date? Report it and we will check and fix it.
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