Borovitskaya Metro Station opened on 23 January 1986 on the Serpukhovsko-Timiryazevskaya Line, about 46.5 meters under the very center of Moscow. Borovitskaya Metro Station is one of four stations of the first four-station transfer in the Metro, nicknamed ABBA, with Aleksandrovsky Sad, Biblioteka Imeni Lenina and Arbatskaya.
It shares its ground vestibule with Biblioteka Imeni Lenina, on Mokhovaya Street and Borovitskaya Square. This guide explains the junction, what is known about the station and how the fares work.
Quick Facts
| Russian name | Боровицкая |
|---|---|
| Built / opened | 1986 |
| Architect(s) | Lev Popov and Vadim Volovich |
| Address | Borovitskaya Square and Mokhovaya Street, Moscow, Russia OpenStreetMap · Google Maps |
| District | Arbat |
| Interchanges | Borovitskaya (Line 9 (Serpukhovsko-Timiryazevskaya, gray), the station itself, between Chekhovskaya and Polyanka, with a shared vestibule to Mokhovaya Street and Borovitskaya Square) Biblioteka Imeni Lenina (Line 1 (Sokolnicheskaya, red), a transfer) Arbatskaya (Line 3 (Arbatsko-Pokrovskaya, blue), 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 long passages are crowded.
The stations work in every season, so they are a good stop on a cold or wet day. |
| Last updated | October 6, 2026 |
Why Visit Borovitskaya Metro Station?
Borovitskaya is part of an unusual piece of the Metro: a four-station junction in the center, nicknamed ABBA after the first letters of Aleksandrovsky Sad, Borovitskaya, Biblioteka Imeni Lenina and Arbatskaya. It was set up in 1986, and was the first four-station transfer in Moscow.
The station is about 46.5 meters deep, designed by Lev Popov and Vadim Volovich, and is mainly used as a transfer station. It shares its ground vestibule and exit to Mokhovaya Street and Borovitskaya Square with Biblioteka Imeni Lenina.
It is the practical stop for the western side of the Kremlin and for Alexander Garden. The decoration of the hall was not described in the sources found.
How Borovitskaya Metro Station Is Laid Out
Borovitskaya is one of four stations that together form the ABBA junction in the center of Moscow, and the way they connect is not obvious.
- Borovitskaya (Line 9, gray): the deep station, about 46.5 meters underground.
- Biblioteka Imeni Lenina (Line 1, red) and Arbatskaya (Line 3, blue): both have direct transfers to Borovitskaya, and share its ground vestibule and exit to Mokhovaya Street and Borovitskaya Square.
- Aleksandrovsky Sad (Line 4, light blue): there is no direct transfer to it from Borovitskaya; it is reached through either Biblioteka Imeni Lenina or Arbatskaya.
Follow the signs and the line colors, and leave extra time at rush hours, since the passages between the four halls are long.
Highlights of Borovitskaya Metro Station
The ABBA junction
Borovitskaya is one of four stations of the first four-station transfer in Moscow, set up in 1986.
The nickname comes from the first letters of Aleksandrovsky Sad, Borovitskaya, Biblioteka Imeni Lenina and Arbatskaya.
Tip: Look at the Metro map to see how the four stations fit together before you go.
A deep station of 1986
Borovitskaya is about 46.5 meters underground, and opened on 23 January 1986.
It is the end of the section from Serpukhovskaya, 2.8 kilometers long.
Tip: Allow time for the long escalator ride between the street and the platform.
A shared vestibule
The station shares its ground vestibule and exit to Mokhovaya Street and Borovitskaya Square with Biblioteka Imeni Lenina.
The vestibule is the part of the station that you see from the street.
Tip: Check the exit signs before you go up, since the exits lead to different sides of the square.
Transfers to two lines
Direct transfers lead to Biblioteka Imeni Lenina on Line 1 and Arbatskaya on Line 3.
No direct transfer leads to Aleksandrovsky Sad.
Tip: To reach Aleksandrovsky Sad, change at Biblioteka Imeni Lenina or Arbatskaya first.
Designed by Popov and Volovich
The architects are given as Lev Popov and Vadim Volovich, with the engineer E. Barsky.
The decoration of the hall was not described in the sources found.
Tip: Compare the hall with Polyanka, the next station toward the south.
At the heart of the center
The station lies in the very center of Moscow, close to the Kremlin and Alexander Garden.
The walking times to them were not verified.
Tip: Check a map for the route to Alexander Garden before you go up.
Atmosphere
The hall is deep and busy, with a steady flow of passengers heading for the long passages to the other three stations. The sound is trains, announcements and the long hum of the escalators.
Office workers, students and visitors to the Kremlin and the museums nearby use the station, and it is mainly a transfer point.
It is busiest at rush hours, and calm in the middle of the morning on weekdays and late in the evening.
History of Borovitskaya Metro Station
In the 1980s the Serpukhovsko-Timiryazevskaya Line was extended north from its southern radius, which had opened in 1983, into the very deep section under the districts of Yakimanka and Arbat. On 23 January 1986 the section from Serpukhovskaya to Borovitskaya opened, 2.8 kilometers long.
Borovitskaya is about 46.5 meters deep, in the center of Moscow, and was designed by Lev Popov and Vadim Volovich, with the engineer E. Barsky. It shares its ground vestibule and exit to Mokhovaya Street and Borovitskaya Square with Biblioteka Imeni Lenina.
In 1986 it became part of the first four-station transfer in Moscow, nicknamed ABBA after the first letters of the four stations: Aleksandrovsky Sad, Borovitskaya, Biblioteka Imeni Lenina and Arbatskaya. Direct transfers lead to Biblioteka Imeni Lenina on Line 1 and to Arbatskaya on Line 3, but not to Aleksandrovsky Sad.
On 31 December 1987 the line was extended north to Chekhovskaya, and later farther.
Today Borovitskaya is a working stop on Line 9, mainly used as a transfer station.
Tickets and Booking for Borovitskaya 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 fare, while some sources still give lower fares. 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.
- Rush hours: the stations are busiest in the morning and evening on weekdays, and the transfers are crowded.
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 Borovitskaya Metro Station
Borovitskaya is in the very center of Moscow, in the Arbat District, by Borovitskaya Square and Mokhovaya Street, close to the Kremlin.
- Metro: Borovitskaya (Line 9, Serpukhovsko-Timiryazevskaya, gray), between Chekhovskaya and Polyanka.
- Transfers: Biblioteka Imeni Lenina (Line 1, red) and Arbatskaya (Line 3, blue); Aleksandrovsky Sad (Line 4) through either.
The exit details and the walking times to the Kremlin and Alexander Garden were not verified. Taxis cannot always stop close to the Kremlin, so check the traffic rules on the day.
Accessibility
Accessibility details were not confirmed. The station is deep, about 46.5 meters down, and reached by long escalators, and the availability of lifts and step-free access, at the station and on the transfers, was not verified. Contact the Metro or check mosmetro.ru before traveling if you need step-free access or assistance.
Food Nearby
Mokhovaya Street, Vozdvizhenka and the streets around the Arbat have many cafes, restaurants and shops. Specific venues were not verified, so check opening hours before you go.
What to Bring
Bring a map or a navigation app, since the four stations are linked by long passages, and some rubles in cash for a ticket or a Troika card.
Best Views and Photo Spots of Borovitskaya Metro Station
The platform hall
The deep hall seen from one end of the platform, with the line of columns and the lamps.
Best time: Late evening or mid-morning, when the platform is quieter
Photography Rules
Photography rules in the stations were not confirmed. Taking photographs of the halls is common, but tripods and flash can be restricted, and the platforms and the passages are busy at rush hours, so stand clear of the platform edge. Drone rules in Moscow are strict, especially near the Kremlin, and change.
Family Suitability
The stations are a practical stop for families heading for the Kremlin or Alexander Garden, but very deep, with long escalators and long passages between the halls. Keep children close and away from the platform edge, especially at rush hours. Strollers need a lift, and lift access was not confirmed.
Moscow Vibes Tips
- Check the line color before a transfer: red for Biblioteka Imeni Lenina and blue for Arbatskaya.
- To reach Aleksandrovsky Sad, change at Biblioteka Imeni Lenina or Arbatskaya; there is no direct way from Borovitskaya.
- Leave extra time at rush hours; the passages between the four halls are long.
- Check the exit signs before you go up; the vestibule serves two stations and several corners of the square.
- Look at the Metro map first to see why the junction is nicknamed ABBA.
- Come in mid-morning on a weekday for the quietest platforms.
Explore Nearby Borovitskaya Metro Station
Sights near Borovitskaya Metro Station
Moscow Kremlin – about 650 m away (~11 min walk) · typical visit: 3–5 hours for Cathedral Square plus the Armoury ChamberMain image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Alexander Garden Moscowabout 400 m away (~6 min walk) · typical visit: 30–60 minutesMain image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Pushkin State Museum of Fine Arts Moscowabout 450 m away (~7 min walk) · typical visit: 2–3 hours per buildingMain image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Schusev State Museum of Architecture Moscowabout 150 m away (~2 min walk) · typical visit: About 1.5 to 2 hoursMain image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Pashkov House Moscowabout 150 m away (~3 min walk) · typical visit: About 20 to 30 minutesMain image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Metro stations near Borovitskaya Metro Station
Arbatskaya Metro Stationabout 150 m away (~2 min walk)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)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)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Restaurants and cafes near Borovitskaya Metro Station
Elevenabout 350 m away (~6 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
WA Gardenabout 350 m away (~6 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Krasotaabout 350 m away (~6 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Gvidonabout 500 m away (~8 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Hotels near Borovitskaya Metro Station
Russo-Balt Hotel Moscowabout 450 m away (~8 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Bokstel Hostelabout 500 m away (~8 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Stella Di Mosca 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 Borovitskaya Metro Station
December Nights Music Festival in Moscowabout 450 m away (~7 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Defender of the Fatherland Day in Moscowabout 500 m away (~8 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Related guides
How to visit the Armoury Chamber and the Diamond Fund: What to SeeMain image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Biblioteka Imeni Lenina Metro Station: Single-Vault Hall, TransfersMain 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.
Melnikov House Moscow: Tours, Hexagon Windows and How to BookMain image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Browse more: More in Arbat · All Metro Stations
FAQ: Borovitskaya Metro Station
When did Borovitskaya open?
On 23 January 1986, with the section from Serpukhovskaya.
What is ABBA?
The nickname of the four-station junction of Aleksandrovsky Sad, Borovitskaya, Biblioteka Imeni Lenina and Arbatskaya, set up in 1986.
Can I change to Aleksandrovsky Sad?
Not directly. Change at Biblioteka Imeni Lenina or Arbatskaya, which both link to it.
How deep is it?
About 46.5 meters.
Who designed it?
Lev Popov and Vadim Volovich, with the engineer E. Barsky.
Do I need a ticket to see it?
Yes, a Metro fare is needed to enter. See the fares and payment section.
Is it an entrance to the Kremlin?
No. It is a Metro station near the Kremlin, which has its own entrances and tickets.
How long do I need?
About 10 minutes to see the hall, more for the transfers.
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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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