Biblioteka Imeni Lenina Metro Station: Single-Vault Hall, Transfers

Biblioteka Imeni Lenina Metro Station opened on 15 May 1935 on Line 1 (Sokolnicheskaya, red), under Mokhovaya Street in central Moscow. The station is named after the nearby Russian State Library.

This guide focuses on how to use the four-station junction, what to notice in the hall, and how fares work for entering the Metro.

Quick Facts

Russian name	Библиотека имени Ленина
Built / opened	1935
Architect(s)	A. I. Gontskevich and S. Sulin; vestibule by Samuil Kravets
Address	Vozdvizhenka Street 3/5 and Mokhovaya Street, Arbat District, Moscow, Russia OpenStreetMap · Google Maps
District	Arbat
Interchanges	Biblioteka Imeni Lenina (Line 1 (Sokolnicheskaya, red), the station itself, between Kropotkinskaya and Okhotny Ryad, under Mokhovaya Street) Arbatskaya (Line 3 (Arbatsko-Pokrovskaya, blue), a transfer) Aleksandrovsky Sad (Line 4 (Filyovskaya, light blue), a transfer) Borovitskaya (Line 9 (Serpukhovsko-Timiryazevskaya, gray), a transfer)
Opening hours	The Moscow Metro normally runs from early morning until around 1:00 at night, and the 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 platforms and the transfers are crowded. The stations work in every season, so they are a good stop on a cold or wet day.
Last updated	October 7, 2026

Why Visit Biblioteka Imeni Lenina Metro Station?

Biblioteka Imeni Lenina gives a very specific snapshot of early Metro engineering: a shallow, single-vault hall with yellow tile and marble finishes, surrounded by one of Moscow’s most practical central transfer junctions.

Even if the Russian State Library is the destination, this station is the recognizable gateway—connected underground to Arbatskaya, Aleksandrovsky Sad, and Borovitskaya.

How Biblioteka Imeni Lenina Metro Station Is Laid Out

This junction is easiest to understand as four stations linked by transfers, with different “end” options depending on where you emerge.

• Biblioteka Imeni Lenina (Line 1, red): the shallow, single-vault station under Mokhovaya Street.
• Arbatskaya (Line 3, blue): connected by transfer passages.
• Aleksandrovsky Sad (Line 4, light blue): connected by passages.
• Borovitskaya (Line 9, gray): shares the ground vestibule and the exit area around Mokhovaya Street and Borovitskaya Square.

In practice, follow the signs for the line color you need and leave extra time during peak hours.

Highlights of Biblioteka Imeni Lenina Metro Station

Single-vault hall on Line 1

Soil conditions and the narrow space meant the builders used a single-vault design—an unusual choice for Moscow’s first line.

Tip: Stop in the middle of the platform and look up at the arched vault.

Yellow tiles and marble

The hall’s interior is finished with plaster, yellow ceramic tiles, and marble, giving the space a warm, bright feel.

Tip: Look along the walls at the tile surfaces under station lighting.

Stone mosaic on the end wall

At the blind end wall of the hall there is a stone mosaic in a Florentine manner, built from different facing stones.

Tip: Walk to the far end of the platform to see the mosaic in closer detail.

Named after the Russian State Library

The station is named for the Russian State Library nearby—but the library itself is a separate institution with its own visitor rules.

Tip: Check the library’s official guidance if planning a reading-room or exhibition visit.

A four-station transfer hub

Biblioteka Imeni Lenina sits in a four-station junction that connects to three other stations via transfers.

Tip: Before you head down, confirm the color of the line you need (blue for Arbatskaya, light blue for Aleksandrovsky Sad, gray for Borovitskaya).

Shared vestibule with Borovitskaya

The station shares the ground-level vestibule and street exits with Borovitskaya, in the area around Mokhovaya Street.

Tip: Check the exit signs on the concourse before you come up—there are different corners of the square.

Atmosphere

The hall is shallow and arched, with yellow tiles and marble that make it feel bright even underground. The soundscape is close-up: trains arriving, announcements, and footsteps funneling toward the transfers.

This is one of the busiest junction areas in the center, especially when people move between the four connected stations.

History of Biblioteka Imeni Lenina Metro Station

Biblioteka Imeni Lenina opened on 15 May 1935 as part of the first stage of the Moscow Metro, under Mokhovaya Street. It was named after the nearby Russian State Library (which was called the Lenin Library from 1925 to 1992).

The station’s single-vault construction was shaped by difficult soil and a narrow building space near the surface; it was built using mining methods rather than an open-pit approach.

Transfers developed over time. Aleksandrovsky Sad (then called Komintern) was connected via transfer passages in 1938, and Borovitskaya opened with a connection in 1986. The surrounding exit areas were later re-aligned as the junction grew.

Legends and Myths about Biblioteka Imeni Lenina Metro Station

Portrait in the mosaic (subject identification unclear)

Disputed by historians. The station’s hall includes a stone mosaic with a portrait-like subject, described as a Florentine-style mosaic in various sources. The exact identity of the portrait subject is not verified in the research notes.

Tickets and Booking for Biblioteka Imeni Lenina Metro Station

You don’t buy a special ticket for the station itself. Entering requires a standard Metro fare.

Fares and payment options can change. As of October 2026, reported single-ride prices vary by source and payment method (e.g., Troika card vs contactless bank card vs a time-based ticket). Check the current fares and payment methods on the official Moscow Metro website (mosmetro.ru).

• Troika card: sold at ticket windows and top-up machines in station halls, and also via the official Metro app.
• Contactless bank cards and phone payments: reports conflict on whether foreign cards work reliably at gates; carry cash as a backup and buy at a ticket office if needed.

How to Get to Biblioteka Imeni Lenina Metro Station

Biblioteka Imeni Lenina is in central Moscow under Mokhovaya Street, in the Arbat District area, between Kropotkinskaya and Okhotny Ryad.

• Metro: Biblioteka Imeni Lenina (Line 1, Sokolnicheskaya, red).
• Transfers: Arbatskaya (Line 3, blue), Aleksandrovsky Sad (Line 4, light blue), Borovitskaya (Line 9, gray).
• Street access: the vestibule is at Vozdvizhenka Street 3/5.

When heading to the Kremlin or Alexander Garden, allow extra time because the transfers are crowded at peak hours.

Accessibility

Accessibility details (step-free routes, lifts, and step-free connections between the connected lines) were not confirmed. If step-free access is important, check official Metro guidance before traveling (as of October 2026).

Food Nearby

There are cafés and restaurants along Vozdvizhenka Street, Mokhovaya Street, and the surrounding Arbat area. For reliable opening hours, check each place’s own current information before heading out.

What to Bring

Bring a navigation app or offline map, because the station connections involve longer underground passages. Carry cash for flexibility at ticket offices, especially if you want to buy a card rather than rely on contactless payment. A small amount of patience helps—crowds build quickly near transfers.

Best Views and Photo Spots of Biblioteka Imeni Lenina Metro Station

Inside the Line 1 hall (from the middle of the platform)

A clear view of the single vault from the center of the platform, with the yellow tiles and marble reflecting the station lighting.

Best time: Mid-morning on weekdays when platforms are less crowded

At the far end of the platform, facing the blind end wall mosaic

The stone mosaic on the blind end wall is easier to study when fewer people are passing through that end of the hall.

Best time: Between train arrivals, when the platform clears briefly

Photography Rules

Photography rules in the station were not confirmed. General guidance: the platforms are busy, so stand well back from the edge; avoid blocking pedestrian routes and follow staff instructions if restrictions are announced. Drone use in central Moscow is heavily regulated, especially near sensitive areas—check the current rules before flying.

Family Suitability

Good for families using the Kremlin and Alexander Garden area: Line 1 is relatively shallow. The transfers to the other lines are long and busy at peak times, so keep children close and allow more time for moving through corridors.

Moscow Vibes Tips

• To spot the hall’s main feature, look up from the middle of the platform at the single arched vault.
• When transferring, follow the line colors: blue for Arbatskaya, light blue for Aleksandrovsky Sad, and gray for Borovitskaya.
• Plan for extra time at rush hours—this junction is busy and it takes longer to navigate the connected corridors.
• Before going up to street level, read the exit signs carefully: the shared vestibule serves more than one corner.
• If you’re going to the Russian State Library, remember the station is only the Metro stop nearby—not the library entrance.
• For a calmer look around, aim for mid-morning on a weekday rather than peak commuting times.

Explore Nearby Biblioteka Imeni Lenina Metro Station

Sights near Biblioteka Imeni Lenina Metro Station

• 
  AI

  Main 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 minutes
• 
  AI

  Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
  Moscow Kremlin – about 450 m away (~8 min walk) · typical visit: 3–5 hours for Cathedral Square plus the Armoury Chamber
• 
  AI

  Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
  Pashkov House Moscowabout 200 m away (~3 min walk) · typical visit: About 20 to 30 minutes
• 
  AI

  Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
  Diamond Fund Moscowabout 200 m away (~3 min walk) · typical visit: About 1 hour
• 
  AI

  Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
  Armoury Chamber Moscowabout 200 m away (~3 min walk) · typical visit: 1.5–2 hours

Metro stations near Biblioteka Imeni Lenina Metro Station

• 
  AI

  Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
  Borovitskaya Metro Stationabout 200 m away (~3 min walk)
• 
  AI

  Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
  Alexandrovsky Sad Metro Stationabout 150 m away (~3 min walk)
• 
  AI

  Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
  Aleksandrovsky Sad Metro Stationabout 150 m away (~3 min walk)

Restaurants and cafes near Biblioteka Imeni Lenina Metro Station

• 
  AI

  Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
  WA Gardenabout 350 m away (~6 min walk)
• 
  AI

  Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
  Krasotaabout 350 m away (~6 min walk)
• 
  AI

  Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
  Gvidonabout 450 m away (~8 min walk)
• 
  AI

  Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
  Ikraabout 450 m away (~8 min walk)

Hotels near Biblioteka Imeni Lenina Metro Station

• 
  AI

  Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
  Stella Di Mosca Hotelabout 600 m away (~10 min walk)
• 
  AI

  Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
  Assambleya Nikitskaya Hotelabout 600 m away (~10 min walk)
• 
  AI

  Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
  Russo-Balt Hotel Moscowabout 650 m away (~11 min walk)

Events and traditions near Biblioteka Imeni Lenina Metro Station

• 
  AI

  Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
  Defender of the Fatherland Day in Moscowabout 300 m away (~5 min walk)
• 
  AI

  Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
  Tatiana Day (Students' Day) in Moscowabout 450 m away (~8 min walk)

Related guides

• 
  AI

  Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
  Orthodox Easter in Moscow: Paschal Vigil, Traditions and Dates
• 
  AI

  Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
  Orthodox Christmas in Moscow: Services, Traditions and Transport
• 
  AI

  Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
  Bolshaya Nikitskaya: Conservatory, Pushkin’s Church and Mansions
• 
  AI

  Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
  Stars Coffee: Pinsky’s Specialty Coffee Chain, Flagship on Novy Arbat
• 
  AI

  Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
  Severyane: Russian Oven and Grill Cooking on Bolshaya Nikitskaya

Browse more: More in Arbat · All Metro Stations

?

FAQ: Biblioteka Imeni Lenina Metro Station

When did Biblioteka Imeni Lenina Metro Station open?

On 15 May 1935, as part of the first stage of the Moscow Metro.

Why is it called Biblioteka Imeni Lenina?

It is named after the nearby Russian State Library, which was called the Lenin Library from 1925 to 1992.

What’s distinctive about the station hall?

The hall is shallow and has a single-vault design; it’s the only single-vault station on the first Metro line.

Which lines can I transfer to here?

Arbatskaya (Line 3), Aleksandrovsky Sad (Line 4), and Borovitskaya (Line 9).

Do I enter the station from the library?

No. The station is not inside the Russian State Library; it’s a Metro stop named after the library and the larger junction with several nearby exits.

Do I need a separate ticket to visit the hall?

No separate ticket is sold for the station itself, but you do need a valid Metro fare to enter.

Report an issue on this page

What is it about?
Opening hours or pricesDirections or metroClosed or movedWrong factSomething else

What is wrong?

The correct information (optional)

Send report

* Affiliate link: as an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you.