Buniniskaya Alleya Metro Station (more commonly written Buninskaya Alleya) is the southern terminus of the Butovskaya Line, on the far south-western edge of Moscow in the Yuzhnoye Butovo District. It opened on 27 December 2003 and is the southernmost station of the Moscow Metro.
This is not an underground station. It stands on an elevated viaduct, with a long platform covered by a metal canopy and a west-facing vestibule that opens onto the street that gives the station its name. It is a practical, rare example of the light-metro idea in Moscow, and the best reason to visit is the ride itself: a metro line that runs above the rooftops of a residential district rather than beneath them.
Quick Facts
| Russian name | Бунинская аллея |
|---|---|
| Built / opened | 2003 |
| Address | Buninskaya Alleya, Yuzhnoye Butovo District, Moscow (Бунинская аллея, район Южное Бутово, Москва) OpenStreetMap · Google Maps |
| District | Yuzhnoye Butovo |
| Interchanges | Buninskaya Alleya (Butovskaya Line (Line 12), West-facing vestibule toward Buninskaya Alleya; a lift on the east side of the station) |
| Opening hours | The Moscow Metro normally runs from early morning until around 1:00 at night, and the station is open to passengers during those hours. Exact first and last train times vary by direction (as of October 2026 – check the official site). |
| Best time to visit | The station suits any season, but the open platform is exposed to weather: late spring to early autumn is the most comfortable, and winter needs warm clothing.
The station is the line's busiest; mornings and early evenings are the crowded times, and weekday midday is quiet. |
| Last updated | October 17, 2026 |
Why Visit Buniniskaya Alleya Metro Station?
Buninskaya Alleya shows what the Moscow Metro looks like when it is built as an elevated line. The Butovskaya Line began in the 1980s as a light-metro project, and its stations stand on a continuous viaduct.
It is the end of the line in two senses: the southern terminus of the Butovskaya Line and the southernmost station of the entire metro system. The line’s busiest station is also this one, so it shows the commuter life of the south-west.
For a visitor, the interest is the view and the contrast with the deep stations of the centre: a platform in open air under a canopy, with an everyday district around it.
Highlights of Buniniskaya Alleya Metro Station
A platform on a viaduct
The station stands on a viaduct, with an outer platform about 90 metres long carried on a special elevated structure. The Butovskaya Line is one of two lines in the Moscow Metro that run mostly on the surface, and its stations are elevated rather than underground. Passengers board in open air, above the street and the blocks of Yuzhnoye Butovo, which is unlike anything in the central lines. The platform is simple, functional and designed for commuters.
Tip: Ride toward the end of the line on a clear day to see the district from above; sit on the left, as the platform is on the left side of the train on all of the line's stations.
The metal canopy
A metal canopy protects the platform from rain and snow. It is the station's main architectural feature, a roof stretched along the length of the viaduct that gives shelter without enclosing the space. The line's stations share a common design, so the canopy at Buninskaya Alleya looks like its neighbours, but the setting at the end of the line makes it the most visible. In winter the canopy keeps the platform dry but not warm.
Tip: Bring a warm layer in winter, since the canopy shelters from snow but not from the wind.
The vestibule facing the alley
The vestibule faces west and opens onto Buninskaya Alleya, the street after which the station is named. It was open to passengers when the station opened in December 2003. From the vestibule you step directly into the residential streets of Yuzhnoye Butovo, with shops and apartment blocks around. The simple layout means that finding your way is easy.
Tip: Use the west-facing vestibule as your starting point and follow the alley toward the residential streets.
The lift on the east side
On the east side of the station there is a dedicated lift for passengers with limited mobility, which makes the elevated platform accessible without stairs. It is a useful feature on a line where all the stations are on viaducts. If you travel with a wheelchair, a stroller or heavy luggage, look for the lift first and confirm with the operator that it is working.
Tip: Check the lift's status on the operator's accessibility information before you travel.
The southernmost station of the metro
Buninskaya Alleya is the southern terminus of the Butovskaya Line and, as of recent years, the southernmost station in the whole Moscow Metro. The line opened on 27 December 2003 with five stations, and this one is the last on the south side, beyond Ulitsa Gorchakova. For a metro enthusiast it is a natural end of the line, with trains turning back toward Bittsevsky Park in the north.
Tip: If you ride from Bittsevsky Park, allow time for the whole journey, which is the full length of the line.
The busiest station on the line
Of the stations on the Butovskaya Line, Buninskaya Alleya is the busiest. It serves a large residential district at the end of the line, so many passengers board here in the morning. That makes it a good place to see the daily commuting of the south-west, with crowds in rush hours and a quieter platform at midday. The line is short, about ten kilometres, but it carries many people.
Tip: Avoid the morning and early-evening rush hours if you want a quiet ride and a free seat.
Atmosphere
Buninskaya Alleya feels like the end of a commuter line. The platform is open to the air, covered by a metal canopy, and the sounds are those of the street below and of trains arriving and turning back. Around it stand apartment blocks of a district that grew up around the line.
In the morning rush the platform fills with residents heading for the metro network in the north; at midday it is calm. The view is of rooftops and roads rather than tunnels, and in winter wind and snow reach the platform under the canopy. It is a workaday station, and its character comes from the setting and the daily routine.
History of Buniniskaya Alleya Metro Station
The Butovskaya Line has its origins in the mid-1980s, when it was planned as a light-metro line, with an elevated track to serve the new residential districts of Northern and Southern Butovo. For many years it was marked on maps as line L1, and it was the only line of the metro lying entirely outside the Moscow Ring Road.
On 28 December 1999 the city government approved the planning decisions for building lines of surface, or light, metro to residential districts including Novokosino, Zhulebino and Southern and Northern Butovo. Construction of the elevated structure began in the early 2000s.
The first section of the Butovskaya Line opened on 27 December 2003, with five stations: Ulitsa Starokachalovskaya, Ulitsa Skobelevskaya, Bulvar Admirala Ushakova, Ulitsa Gorchakova and Buninskaya Alleya. The first section was about five and a half kilometres long. Most of the stations are on a viaduct; only Ulitsa Starokachalovskaya is underground, where it adjoins the Serpukhovsko-Timiryazevskaya Line at Bulvar Dmitriya Donskogo.
Buninskaya Alleya was the southern end of the line from the start. The outer part of the station, with a platform about 90 metres long, stands on a viaduct, and a metal canopy covers the platform. The vestibule faces west and opens onto Buninskaya Alleya, and a lift on the east side was built for passengers with limited mobility.
The line did not remain in its original form. In 2014 the line was extended north, and the Butovskaya Line was renumbered and treated as a regular line of the metro rather than a separate light-metro line. The old L1 designation was dropped in March 2014. Since the extension, the line runs from Bittsevsky Park in the north to Buninskaya Alleya in the south, a length of about ten kilometres.
The tunnels of the line after Ulitsa Starokachalovskaya are in effect a continuation of the Serpukhovsko-Timiryazevskaya Line, but trains do not run from one line to the other, and passengers have to change at Bulvar Dmitriya Donskogo and Ulitsa Starokachalovskaya.
Buninskaya Alleya has remained the line’s southern terminus, and the busiest station on the line. Plans to extend the line further south have been discussed in the past, but none had been confirmed, and as of recent years it remains the southernmost station of the Moscow Metro.
Tickets and Booking for Buniniskaya Alleya Metro Station
The Moscow Metro charges per ride, so you pay on entry, and the Butovskaya Line uses the same standard fare system as the rest of the metro. Check the official site, mosmetro.ru, for current fares and rules (as of October 2026).
- Paper tickets: single or two-ride tickets are sold at ticket offices and machines and are open to any visitor.
- Troika card: a reloadable transport card sold and topped up at stations; a virtual version can be issued through the Metro Moskvy app.
- QR code, bank card or phone, and biometrics: available at suitably marked turnstiles, but these depend on your phone, your card and, for biometric payment, advance setup in the app.
The sanctions rules of your own country may restrict the use of Russian payment services, so check this yourself before you travel. Weekday mornings and early evenings are the busiest rush hours; this is the busiest station on the line, so midday is far calmer.
Plan and Book
How to Get to Buniniskaya Alleya Metro Station
By metro: take the grey-blue Butovskaya Line (Line 12) to Buninskaya Alleya, the southern terminus. The line starts at Bittsevsky Park in the north, where there is a transfer to the Kaluzhsko-Rizhskaya Line at Novoyasenevskaya; there is also a transfer to the Serpukhovsko-Timiryazevskaya Line at Ulitsa Starokachalovskaya and Bulvar Dmitriya Donskogo.
From the station: the vestibule faces west and opens onto Buninskaya Alleya, with the residential streets of Yuzhnoye Butovo around it. A lift on the east side serves the platform.
Other transport: buses and taxis serve the district; check a current map app for routes. From the centre, the journey on the metro involves a change onto the Butovskaya Line, so allow extra time.
Accessibility
The platform is elevated on a viaduct, and the station has a dedicated lift on its east side for passengers with limited mobility, according to the station's description. Check the operator's accessibility information on its official site and in the Metro Moskvy app for the current state of the lift before you travel with a wheelchair or a stroller.
Food Nearby
There are no landmark restaurants at the station. Everyday cafes, bakeries and shops are along Buninskaya Alleya and in the residential streets of Yuzhnoye Butovo, and a shopping centre named after the alley stands nearby. For a sit-down meal many visitors prefer to eat in the centre. Check what is open on the day.
What to Bring
A warm layer in cold months, since the platform is open to the air, and comfortable shoes for the walk into the district. Travel light, as security staff at metro entrances can ask to check bags.
Best Views and Photo Spots of Buniniskaya Alleya Metro Station
Platform under the canopy
A long view along the elevated platform with the metal canopy overhead, the district beyond and a train arriving.
Best time: Mid-morning on a weekday, when the platform is quiet
Platform end at the terminus
The end of the platform shows the track ending at the terminus and the open sky above the district, a view that is unusual for the metro.
Best time: Dusk, when street lights come on
West-facing vestibule
The vestibule and the alley it opens onto, with the apartment blocks of Yuzhnoye Butovo behind.
Best time: Morning light on a clear day
View from the train
A ride toward the terminus gives a continuous view of the viaduct and the rooftops of the district; the platform is on the left of the train.
Best time: Clear daytime, outside rush hours
Photography Rules
Handheld photos for personal use are common in the Moscow Metro, but keep clear of the platform edge and do not block passengers. Professional shoots and tripods need permission from the metro operator, so check the rules on its official site before you plan them.
Family Suitability
The station is an easy stop for families, with a lift on the east side and a short visit. The ride on the elevated line is a draw for children who like trains. The platform is open to the air, so dress warmly in winter, and avoid the rush hours with a stroller, as this is the busiest station on the line.
Moscow Vibes Tips
- Ride the whole line from Bittsevsky Park for the full effect: the Butovskaya Line is short, about ten kilometres, and the elevated stretch shows the south-west from above.
- Sit on the left side of the train; the platform is on the left on all stations of the line, and the view over the district is best from there.
- Use the station as a turning point rather than a destination: spend a short time on the platform and then ride back, as there are few sights in the immediate area.
- Check the transfer points when you plan your route: from the centre you change onto the line at Bulvar Dmitriya Donskogo and Ulitsa Starokachalovskaya, or at Bittsevsky Park.
- Look out for the spelling: the station is more commonly written Buninskaya Alleya, so use that form on maps and in navigation apps.
Explore Nearby Buniniskaya Alleya Metro Station
Sights near Buniniskaya Alleya Metro Station
Kuzminki Park Moscowabout 24.7 km away · typical visit: About 2 to 3 hoursMain image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Serebryany Bor Moscowabout 27.7 km away · typical visit: About 3 to 5 hoursMain image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Moscow Transport Museumabout 27.7 km away · typical visit: About 2 to 3 hoursMain image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
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FAQ: Buniniskaya Alleya Metro Station
Is Buniniskaya Alleya the same as Buninskaya Alleya?
Yes. Buninskaya Alleya is the more common English spelling of the Butovskaya Line's southern terminus. Use that form in maps and navigation apps.
Is Buninskaya Alleya an underground station?
No. It is an elevated station on a viaduct, with an outer platform about 90 metres long and a metal canopy. Most stations on the Butovskaya Line are elevated.
Which is the southernmost station of the Moscow Metro?
Buninskaya Alleya, the southern terminus of the Butovskaya Line, is the southernmost station of the Moscow Metro as of recent years. Plans to extend the line further south have been discussed but are not confirmed.
When did the station open?
It opened on 27 December 2003, together with four other stations, as the first section of the Butovskaya Line. It has been the southern end of the line ever since.
How do I get there from the city centre?
Ride the metro to Bulvar Dmitriya Donskogo, the south end of the Serpukhovsko-Timiryazevskaya Line, and change to the Butovskaya Line at Ulitsa Starokachalovskaya, or change at Bittsevsky Park. Check a route planner for the current best option.
Is there a lift at the station?
Yes. A lift on the east side of the station serves passengers with limited mobility. Check the operator's accessibility information for its current status before you travel.
Is the station worth a visit?
It is an unusual metro experience because of the viaduct platform and the ride above the rooftops. It is not a decorated hall like those in the centre, so go for the setting.
How does it compare with the stations in the centre?
It is entirely different: open to the air, elevated and functional. For decorated halls, see the Moscow Metro Tour itinerary; here the interest is the light-metro design.
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Last updated: October 17, 2026.
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