Aviamotornaya Metro Station opened in 1979 on the Kalininsko-Solntsevskaya Line and is decorated with a theme of aviation and flight. Aviamotornaya Metro Station ceiling, covered with golden four-sided pyramids, is meant to resemble a flying carpet hovering above the platform.
At the end of the hall a metal sculpture shows the flight of Icarus. The station takes its name from Aviamotornaya Street, named for an aviation engine institute, and a transfer links it to the Bolshaya Koltsevaya Line. This guide explains what to look for and how the fares work.
Quick Facts
| Russian name | Авиамоторная |
|---|---|
| Built / opened | 1979 |
| Architect(s) | Alexander Strelkov and Nikolay Demchinsky |
| Address | Aviamotornaya Street, Moscow, Russia OpenStreetMap · Google Maps |
| District | Lefortovo |
| Interchanges | Aviamotornaya (Line 8 (Kalininsko-Solntsevskaya, yellow), the decorated station of 1979, between Ploshchad Ilyicha and Shosse Entuziastov) Aviamotornaya (Line 11 (Bolshaya Koltsevaya), linked by a transfer since the end of 2024; lobbies on Aviamotornaya Street and at Proyezd Entuziastov) |
| Opening hours | The Moscow Metro normally runs from early morning until around 1:00 at night, and the two Aviamotornaya stations are open to passengers during those hours.
Exact first and last train times were not confirmed, so check the Metro's official information (as of October 2026 – check the official site, mosmetro.ru). |
| Best time to visit | Mid-morning and early afternoon on weekdays are calmer, and late evening is quiet. The morning and evening rush hours are the busiest, when the platform and the transfer are crowded.
The stations work in every season, so the hub is a good stop on a cold or wet day. |
| Last updated | October 6, 2026 |
Why Visit Aviamotornaya Metro Station?
The station shows the ambitions of the Metro of the late 1970s. Its theme is aviation, a reference to the Central Institute of Aviation Motor Development that gave the street and the station their name.
The ceiling is the main feature: golden four-sided pyramids cover the vault and are meant to look like a flying carpet. At the end of the hall a metal sculpture shows the flight of Icarus.
The station is also a useful interchange in the south-east of the center. Since the end of 2024 a transfer links it to the Bolshaya Koltsevaya Line, which opened its own Aviamotornaya station in 2020, so many visitors change lines here.
Highlights of Aviamotornaya Metro Station
The ceiling of golden pyramids
The ceiling of the platform hall is covered with golden four-sided pyramids. They are meant to resemble a flying carpet hovering above the passengers.
The lighting makes the pyramids glow, which gives the hall its character.
Tip: Look up from the middle of the hall, where the pattern of pyramids is clearest.
The Icarus sculpture
At the end of the hall, a metal sculpture shows the flight of Icarus, the mythical figure who flew on wings.
It is the second part of the station's aviation theme.
Tip: Walk to the end of the hall to see the sculpture up close.
An aviation theme
The theme of Aviamotornaya is aviation and flying, a reference to its name, which comes from Aviamotornaya Street, named for the Baranov Central Institute of Aviation Motor Development.
The station opened on 30 December 1979.
Tip: Look for other aviation motifs along the hall.
Architects Strelkov and Demchinsky
Alexander Strelkov and Nikolay Demchinsky designed the station. Strelkov also worked on Novoslobodskaya, with its stained glass.
The station is part of the Kalininsky radius, which opened in 1979.
Tip: Compare the hall with the stained-glass Novoslobodskaya on the Circle Line.
A transfer to the Big Circle
The Bolshaya Koltsevaya Line station of the same name opened in 2020, and a transfer point to the Line 8 station opened at the end of 2024.
It is part of a hub with the Novaya railway stop.
Tip: Follow the line colors and numbers at the transfer, since both stations share a name.
Between Ploshchad Ilyicha and Shosse Entuziastov
On Line 8, the station lies between Ploshchad Ilyicha and Shosse Entuziastov, in the Lefortovo District.
The line runs from the center toward Novokosino in the east.
Tip: Use the station as a base for exploring Lefortovo.
Atmosphere
The hall is warm and golden, with the pyramids of the ceiling glittering above the platform and the Icarus sculpture at the far end. The effect is theatrical, like a hall under a canopy.
Passengers flow between the two lines at the transfer, and the sound is trains, announcements and footsteps. Commuters from the east of the city use the station every day.
It is busiest at rush hours, and calmer in the middle of the day and late in the evening, when the ceiling is easiest to see.
History of Aviamotornaya Metro Station
The Kalininsky radius of the Moscow Metro opened on 30 December 1979, the first stage of what is now the Kalininsko-Solntsevskaya Line, running from Marksistskaya east to Novogireyevo. Aviamotornaya was one of the stations of the first stage, between Ploshchad Ilyicha and Shosse Entuziastov.
The station was designed by the architects Alexander Strelkov and Nikolay Demchinsky. Its theme is aviation and flying, a reference to its name, which comes from Aviamotornaya Street, in turn named for the Baranov Central Institute of Aviation Motor Development.
The ceiling is covered with golden four-sided pyramids, which resemble a flying carpet, and at the end of the hall a metal sculpture shows the flight of Icarus.
In the 2010s the Bolshaya Koltsevaya Line, the Big Circle, was built, and a station of the same name was built in the neighborhood. The Lefortovo market was cleared in July 2016 to start construction. The new station opened on 27 March 2020 as part of the extension of the Nekrasovskaya line.
The new station has two lobbies, one on Aviamotornaya Street and one at Proyezd Entuziastov, and forms a hub with the Novaya railway stop of the Kazansky direction. A transfer between the two Aviamotornaya stations opened on 30 December 2024.
Today the station remains a busy interchange in Lefortovo, with its golden ceiling as its best-known feature.
Tickets and Booking for Aviamotornaya Metro Station
There is no ticket for the stations themselves; entering needs a Metro fare. Reports on 2026 fares differ: a budget-level fare (₽) for a single ride with a Troika card, a slightly higher budget-level fare (₽) by contactless bank card and a higher budget-level fare (₽) for a 90-minute ticket, while some sources still give lower prices. Check the current fare on the official Moscow Metro site, mosmetro.ru.
- Troika card: a reusable card sold at ticket windows and top-up machines in station halls and through the official Metro app; the deposit is reported as a small amount (₽), so check the price.
- Foreign cards: reports conflict on whether foreign Visa or Mastercard cards and phone payments work at the turnstiles, so carry rubles in cash and buy a ticket or card at a ticket window.
- Trains: the railway stop at the hub is a separate service with its own fares.
- Rush hours: the hub is busiest in the morning and evening on weekdays, especially at the transfer.
Rates for Russian citizens and concessions differ. All fares and payment methods are listed on the official site, mosmetro.ru.
Plan and Book
How to Get to Aviamotornaya Metro Station
Aviamotornaya is in the Lefortovo District, in the south-east of Moscow, on Aviamotornaya Street.
- Line 8: Aviamotornaya (Kalininsko-Solntsevskaya, yellow), between Ploshchad Ilyicha and Shosse Entuziastov; this is the decorated station.
- Line 11: Aviamotornaya (Bolshaya Koltsevaya), linked by a transfer, with lobbies on Aviamotornaya Street and at Proyezd Entuziastov.
A taxi can drop you at Aviamotornaya Street. Follow the signs for Line 8 to reach the decorated hall.
Accessibility
Accessibility details were not confirmed. The Line 8 station is deep and is reached by escalators, and lift availability and step-free access were not verified. Contact the Metro or check mosmetro.ru before traveling if you need step-free access or assistance.
Food Nearby
Aviamotornaya Street and the streets around the hub have cafes, shops and fast food outlets. Specific venues were not verified, so check opening hours before you go.
What to Bring
Bring a camera and some rubles in cash for a ticket or a Troika card.
Best Views and Photo Spots of Aviamotornaya Metro Station
Middle of the platform hall looking up
The golden pyramids of the ceiling receding along the hall like a flying carpet.
Best time: Late evening or mid-morning, when the hall is quieter
Icarus sculpture at the end of the hall
The metal sculpture of the flight of Icarus, closing the view of the hall.
Best time: Between trains, with the platform clear
Platform view along the hall
The length of the golden ceiling with a train at the platform.
Best time: Weekday afternoons
Photography Rules
Photography rules in the stations were not confirmed. Taking photographs on the platform is common, but tripods and flash can be restricted, and the hub is busy, so stand clear of the platform edge. Drone rules in Moscow are strict and change.
Family Suitability
The station is a short stop that suits families, and children enjoy the golden ceiling and the Icarus sculpture. It is a busy working station, so keep children close and away from the platform edge. Strollers need the escalator or a lift, and lift access was not confirmed.
Moscow Vibes Tips
- Look up at the ceiling as soon as you step off the train; the pyramids are the best feature of the station.
- Check the line before you transfer; the two Aviamotornaya stations are on Lines 8 and 11.
- Look for the Icarus sculpture at the end of the hall, which most passengers pass without noticing.
- Use the Proyezd Entuziastov lobby of the Line 11 station if you are heading for the railway stop.
- Compare the hall with Novoslobodskaya, designed by one of the same architects, for a contrast in style.
- Visit between rush hours so you can look up in peace.
Explore Nearby Aviamotornaya Metro Station
Sights near Aviamotornaya Metro Station
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FAQ: Aviamotornaya Metro Station
When did Aviamotornaya open?
On 30 December 1979, on the Kalininsky radius of the Metro.
Who designed the station?
The architects Alexander Strelkov and Nikolay Demchinsky.
What is the theme?
Aviation and flying, with a ceiling of golden pyramids like a flying carpet and a sculpture of Icarus.
What does the name mean?
It comes from Aviamotornaya Street, named for the Baranov Central Institute of Aviation Motor Development.
Is there a transfer?
Yes, to the Bolshaya Koltsevaya Line station of the same name, opened at the end of 2024.
Do I need a ticket to see it?
Yes, a Metro fare is needed to enter. See the fares and payment section.
Which Aviamotornaya is the decorated one?
The Line 8 station (Kalininsko-Solntsevskaya, yellow), the older one.
How long do I need?
About 10 minutes to walk the hall and see the ceiling and the sculpture.
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Last updated: October 6, 2026. Found an error or something out of date? Report it and we will check and fix it.
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