Elektrozavodskaya Metro Station is a Metro station of 1944 on the Arbatsko-Pokrovskaya Line, named after the electric light bulb factory nearby. Elektrozavodskaya Metro Station lamps are the theme of its original design, which planned a ceiling covered with six rows of 318 circular incandescent lamps.
It was built in the middle of the Second World War, and the wall bas-reliefs added during construction document the struggle of the war. A transfer to the Bolshaya Koltsevaya Line opened at the end of 2024. This guide explains what to look for, how the two stations connect and how the fares work.
Quick Facts
| Russian name | Электрозаводская |
|---|---|
| Built / opened | 1944 |
| Address | Elektrozavodskaya, Moscow, Russia OpenStreetMap · Google Maps |
| District | Basmanny |
| Interchanges | Elektrozavodskaya (Line 3 (Arbatsko-Pokrovskaya, dark blue), the decorated station of 1944, between Baumanskaya and Semyonovskaya) Elektrozavodskaya (Line 11 (Bolshaya Koltsevaya), linked by a transfer since the end of 2024; between Sokolniki and Lefortovo) |
| 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 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 is crowded and it is hard to stop and look up.
The station works in every season, so it is a good stop on a cold or wet day. |
| Last updated | October 6, 2026 |
Why Visit Elektrozavodskaya Metro Station?
The station is named after the light bulb factory nearby, and its design was built around that idea. The preliminary layout planned a ceiling covered with six rows of circular incandescent inset lamps, 318 in total.
It opened on 15 May 1944, during the Second World War. The first architect died during construction, and work stopped until 1943. Another architect finished it and added a theme of bas-reliefs on the walls documenting the struggle of the war.
It is described as one of the most spectacular and better-known stations of the Metro, and it is a short ride from the center. The new transfer to the Bolshaya Koltsevaya Line makes it a useful hub in the east.
Highlights of Elektrozavodskaya Metro Station
The ceiling lamp theme
The station is named after the electric light bulb factory nearby, and the preliminary layout planned a ceiling covered with six rows of circular incandescent inset lamps, 318 in total.
The idea gave the hall its character, with light as the subject.
Tip: Look up at the ceiling from the middle of the hall to see how the lamps are arranged.
The wartime bas-reliefs
The station's first architect died during construction, and work stopped until 1943. Another architect finished it, adding bas-reliefs on the walls to document the struggle of the war.
The reliefs are one of the clearest signs of the station's wartime origins.
Tip: Look at the walls as well as the ceiling, where the reliefs are placed.
A station built in wartime
Elektrozavodskaya opened on 15 May 1944, in the third stage of the Metro, while the Second World War was still being fought.
It is one of the stations of the Pokrovsky radius that were completed during the war.
Tip: Read the dates on the line map to see how the eastern part of the line was built.
A name from the factory
The name means Electric Plant, after the electric light bulb factory nearby, one of the local industries that gave the district its character.
Several stations on the line carry the names of nearby factories.
Tip: Look at the line map to find other stations named after local industries.
The transfer to the Bolshaya Koltsevaya Line
On 30 December 2024 a transfer opened to the station of the same name on the Bolshaya Koltsevaya Line, a shallow-column station in Basmanny District.
It links the line with the Big Circle between Sokolniki and Lefortovo.
Tip: Follow the line colors and numbers when you transfer, since the stations share a name.
Between Baumanskaya and Semyonovskaya
On the Arbatsko-Pokrovskaya Line, the station lies between Baumanskaya and Semyonovskaya, in the east of the center.
The line was extended eastward in the 1940s, and the station was one of its early stops.
Tip: Use the station as a point to explore the east side of the center, away from the usual tourist routes.
Atmosphere
The hall is calm and warm, with the light of the ceiling lamps shining across the polished stone. The walls carry reliefs that give a serious, wartime note to the otherwise bright space.
Passengers walk through at a steady pace, and the sound is footsteps, announcements and trains. Visitors stop to look up at the ceiling and photograph the lamps.
It is busiest at the morning and evening rush hours, when the platform is crowded. In the middle of the day and late in the evening, the hall is quieter and easier to see.
History of Elektrozavodskaya Metro Station
The Arbatsko-Pokrovskaya Line was built in stages, and its history is complicated, because of changing priorities. Despite the outbreak of the Second World War, construction of the Metro continued, and in 1944 stations of the Pokrovsky radius were completed.
Elektrozavodskaya was built as part of the third stage of the Metro. It was named after the electric light bulb factory nearby, and its preliminary layout included an idea, credited to Schuko, of covering the ceiling with six rows of circular incandescent inset lamps, 318 in total.
The station’s first architect died during construction, and the outbreak of the war stopped work until 1943. Another architect finished the station, adding a new theme of bas-reliefs on the walls to document the struggle of the war.
The station opened on 15 May 1944, between Baumanskaya and Semyonovskaya. The line was extended eastward several times in the following years.
In the 2010s the Bolshaya Koltsevaya Line was built, with a station planned at Elektrozavodskaya. During planning it was named Elektrozavodskaya, then in June 2015 it was officially renamed Rubtsovskaya, and in November 2019 it was renamed back to Elektrozavodskaya.
On 30 December 2024 the Arbatsko-Pokrovskaya station opened a transfer to the Bolshaya Koltsevaya station, a three-span shallow-column station in Basmanny District, which linked the two lines.
Today the station is a working hub in the east of the center, and its ceiling and reliefs are the part visitors remember.
Tickets and Booking for Elektrozavodskaya Metro Station
There is no ticket for the station itself; 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.
- Rush hours: the station is busiest in the morning and evening on weekdays.
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 Elektrozavodskaya Metro Station
Elektrozavodskaya is in the east of the center of Moscow, in the Basmanny area, on the Arbatsko-Pokrovskaya Line.
- Line 3: Elektrozavodskaya (Arbatsko-Pokrovskaya, dark blue), between Baumanskaya and Semyonovskaya.
- Bolshaya Koltsevaya Line: Elektrozavodskaya (Line 11), between Sokolniki and Lefortovo, linked by a transfer since the end of 2024.
A taxi can drop you near the station. Follow the signs for Line 3 to reach the decorated hall.
Accessibility
Accessibility details were not confirmed. The station 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
The streets around the station have cafes, shops and fast food outlets, though specific venues were not verified. 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 Elektrozavodskaya Metro Station
Middle of the platform hall looking up
The rows of ceiling lamps seen from below, the station's central theme.
Best time: Late evening or mid-morning, when the hall is quieter
Wall bas-reliefs
The reliefs on the walls documenting the struggle of the war, in close detail.
Best time: Between trains, with the platform clear
Platform view along the hall
The length of the hall with its lamps and walls receding into the distance.
Best time: Weekday afternoons
Photography Rules
Photography rules in the station were not confirmed. Taking photographs on the platform is common, but tripods and flash can be restricted, and the station 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 who are riding the Metro, and children can look for the ceiling lamps. 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 as soon as you step off the train; the ceiling lamps are the best part of the hall.
- Check which Elektrozavodskaya you are on before you transfer; the Line 3 station and the Bolshaya Koltsevaya station share a name.
- Look at the wall reliefs as well as the ceiling; they were added during the war.
- Visit in the middle of the day or late in the evening to avoid the rush hours.
- Combine the stop with a ride on the Bolshaya Koltsevaya Line, which opened this transfer at the end of 2024.
- Read the station name on the line map; it refers to the light bulb factory nearby.
Explore Nearby Elektrozavodskaya Metro Station
Sights near Elektrozavodskaya Metro Station
Moscow Metro · typical visit: 1.5–3 hours for a tour of showcase stations
Metro stations near Elektrozavodskaya Metro Station
Semyonovskaya Metro Stationabout 950 m away (~15 min walk)
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FAQ: Elektrozavodskaya Metro Station
Why is it called Elektrozavodskaya?
It is named after the electric light bulb factory nearby; the name means Electric Plant.
When did the station open?
On 15 May 1944, in the third stage of the Metro, during the Second World War.
What is the ceiling theme?
The preliminary design planned six rows of circular incandescent lamps, 318 in total, referring to the light bulb factory.
What are the bas-reliefs?
Reliefs on the walls that document the struggle of the war, added when a second architect finished the station.
Can I transfer to the Bolshaya Koltsevaya Line?
Yes, a transfer opened at the end of 2024 to the station of the same name on that line.
Do I need a ticket to see it?
Yes, a Metro fare is needed to enter. See the fares and payment section.
Which line is the decorated station on?
Line 3, the Arbatsko-Pokrovskaya Line, in dark blue.
How long do I need?
About 10 to 15 minutes to walk the hall and look at the ceiling.
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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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