Kurskaya Metro Station is a large hub beside Kursky railway station, where the Circle Line, the Arbatsko-Pokrovskaya Line and, through a transfer, the Lyublinsko-Dmitrovskaya Line meet. Kurskaya Metro Station transfer passages link the stations, and the Circle Line hall of 1950 is a rare deep column station in the Stalinist style.
A large circular lobby with a bronze sculpture of wheat serves both stations, and a plaque on the wall records the original plan for the Circle Line. This guide explains which station is which, how the transfers work and how the fares work.
Quick Facts
| Russian name | Курская |
|---|---|
| Built / opened | 1950 |
| Architect(s) | G. Zakharkov and Z. Chernysheva, supervised by Ivan Zholtovsky |
| Address | Kursky Railway Station, Zemlyanoy Val, Moscow, Russia OpenStreetMap · Google Maps |
| District | Basmanny |
| Interchanges | Kurskaya (Line 5 (Koltsevaya, brown), the Circle Line station of 1950, between Komsomolskaya and Taganskaya) Kurskaya (Line 3 (Arbatsko-Pokrovskaya, dark blue), the station between Ploshchad Revolyutsii and Baumanskaya, linked by passages) Chkalovskaya (Line 10 (Lyublinsko-Dmitrovskaya, light green), linked to Kurskaya by a transfer) |
| Opening hours | The Moscow Metro normally runs from early morning until around 1:00 at night, and the Kurskaya 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 and train departure times are the busiest, when the passages and platforms 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 Kurskaya Metro Station?
Kurskaya is a hub more than a showpiece, but it has details worth a look. The Circle Line station, designed by G. Zakharkov and Z. Chernysheva under Ivan Zholtovsky, won a Stalin Prize in 1950 and is a rare deep column station.
The large circular underground lobby has a bronze sculpture of wheat at its center, a reference to Kursk as the center of the Chernozem region. On the wall of the station, a metal plaque reads Kurskaya, large ring, 1945–1949, which shows the original plan for the Circle Line.
It is also a practical stop. Kursky railway station, Chkalovskaya and the Moscow Central Diameters trains are all in the same area, so many visitors pass through it on the way to other parts of the city and beyond.
How Kurskaya Metro Station Is Laid Out
Kurskaya is a hub of two stations beside Kursky railway station, with passages to a third station, Chkalovskaya, and to the commuter trains.
The Circle Line station (Line 5, brown) is a deep column station with a long hall. A large vestibule to the north, next to the railway station, serves both stations and has a large circular underground lobby with a bronze sculpture of wheat at its center. An arbor with a staircase leads to the Line 3 station (Arbatsko-Pokrovskaya, dark blue), which also links to the 1938 vestibule. A further transfer leads to Chkalovskaya (Line 10, Lyublinsko-Dmitrovskaya, light green).
Follow the line colors and the station names on the signs, and allow extra time for the long passages.
Highlights of Kurskaya Metro Station
The Circle Line hall
The Circle Line station opened on 1 January 1950 and is a rare deep column station built in the Stalinist style of the early 1950s.
It was designed by G. Zakharkov and Z. Chernysheva under the supervision of Ivan Zholtovsky, and the design won a Stalin Prize in 1950.
Tip: Walk the length of the hall to see the columns, which are less common in the Circle Line than pylons.
The bronze wheat sculpture
The large circular underground lobby at the northern vestibule has a bronze sculpture of wheat at its center. It refers to Kursk as the center of the Chernozem region, the black-earth farming area.
The lobby serves both the Circle Line and the Line 3 stations.
Tip: Look for the sculpture in the middle of the lobby rather than along the walls.
The plaque of the large ring
A large metal plaque on the station wall, adorned with artwork, carries the inscription Kurskaya, large ring, 1945–1949.
It shows the original plan for the Circle Line to follow the Garden Ring, with a smaller ring line planned along the Boulevard Ring.
Tip: Look for the plaque on the wall of the station hall, since most passengers miss it.
The Line 3 station
The Arbatsko-Pokrovskaya station is named after the nearby Kursky railway station and is linked to the Circle Line station and to the 1938 vestibule.
It lies between Ploshchad Revolyutsii and Baumanskaya.
Tip: Use it if you are coming from the center on Line 3.
The transfer to Chkalovskaya
From Kurskaya it is possible to transfer to Chkalovskaya on the Lyublinsko-Dmitrovskaya Line (Line 10), which links the hub to the north and south of the city.
The passage is long, so allow extra time.
Tip: Follow the light green signs for Line 10 at the transfer.
Beside Kursky railway station
The station is named after Kursky railway station and sits beside it. Trains from the station serve the Moscow Central Diameters lines D2 and D4, as well as long-distance routes.
The hub makes a useful point for changing between the Metro and rail.
Tip: Check the exit signs for the railway station before you leave the Metro if you are catching a train.
Atmosphere
Kurskaya is a large, busy hub with a constant flow of passengers between the lines, the railway station and the street. The sound is announcements, rolling luggage and the footsteps of commuters.
The circular lobby is wide and open, with a bronze sheaf of wheat at its center, and the Circle Line hall is long and solemn, with its columns running into the distance.
It is busiest at rush hours and around train departures, and calmer in the middle of the day and late in the evening.
History of Kurskaya Metro Station
The Circle Line was not part of the original plans of the Moscow Metro, and was built in stages in 1950–1954 around the center of the city. A plaque at Kurskaya, Kurskaya, large ring, 1945–1949, records an earlier plan to have the Circle Line follow the Garden Ring, with a smaller ring planned along the Boulevard Ring.
The Circle Line station of Kurskaya opened on 1 January 1950, in the first segment of the line, between Komsomolskaya and Taganskaya. It was designed by the architects G. Zakharkov and Z. Chernysheva under the supervision of Ivan Zholtovsky, and was awarded a Stalin Prize in 1950.
It is a rare deep column station, built in the Stalinist architecture of the early 1950s. A large vestibule to the north, adjacent to Kursky railway station, serves both the Circle Line station and the Arbatsko-Pokrovskaya station, and has a large circular underground lobby with a bronze sculpture of wheat at its center.
The Arbatsko-Pokrovskaya station is named after Kursky railway station and is linked to the Circle Line station by passages and to the 1938 vestibule. From it, a transfer leads to Chkalovskaya on the Lyublinsko-Dmitrovskaya Line.
The railway station also serves the Moscow Central Diameters trains on lines D2 and D4, which makes the hub one of the main interchanges between the Metro and the rail network.
Today the hub is one of the busiest in the city, with the Circle Line hall and the wheat sculpture as its best-known features.
Tickets and Booking for Kurskaya 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: railway and commuter trains from Kursky station are separate services with their own fares.
- Rush hours: the hub is busiest in the morning and evening on weekdays, especially in the transfer passages.
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 Kurskaya Metro Station
Kurskaya is in the Basmanny District, east of the center of Moscow, beside Kursky railway station on the Garden Ring.
- Circle Line: Kurskaya (Line 5, Koltsevaya, brown), between Komsomolskaya and Taganskaya.
- Line 3: Kurskaya (Arbatsko-Pokrovskaya, dark blue), between Ploshchad Revolyutsii and Baumanskaya.
- Line 10: Chkalovskaya (Lyublinsko-Dmitrovskaya, light green), reached by a transfer.
The large northern vestibule is next to Kursky railway station. A taxi can drop you at the station square.
Accessibility
Accessibility details were not confirmed. The stations are deep and are reached by escalators and long passages, and lift availability and step-free access were not verified. With luggage and crowds, allow extra time. Contact the Metro or check mosmetro.ru before traveling if you need step-free access or assistance.
Food Nearby
Kursky railway station and the streets around it have cafes, fast food outlets and shops. Specific venues were not verified, so check opening hours before you go.
What to Bring
Bring a map or a navigation app for the transfer passages, and some rubles in cash for a ticket or a Troika card.
Best Views and Photo Spots of Kurskaya Metro Station
Circular lobby with the wheat sculpture
The bronze sheaf of wheat at the center of the large round lobby, with the passengers' movement around it.
Best time: Late evening or mid-morning, when the lobby is quieter
Middle of the Circle Line hall
The long hall with its columns receding into the distance.
Best time: Between trains, with the platform clear
Plaque of the large ring
The metal plaque with artwork and the inscription Kurskaya, large ring, 1945–1949.
Best time: Quiet moments in the middle of the day
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 and the crowds. Drone rules in Moscow are strict and change.
Family Suitability
The hub is a short stop that suits families, but it is large and busy, with long passages and crowds, so keep children close. Strollers need the escalator or a lift, and lift access was not confirmed. Allow extra time with luggage or small children.
Moscow Vibes Tips
- Check the line color and the station name before you transfer; Kurskaya has two stations plus Chkalovskaya in one hub.
- Look for the bronze wheat sculpture in the center of the circular lobby; it is the hub's best-known detail.
- Find the plaque of the large ring on the wall; it records an earlier plan for the Circle Line.
- Allow extra time for the transfer passages, especially with luggage or at rush hour.
- Use the northern vestibule if you are heading to Kursky railway station.
- Visit in the middle of the day or late in the evening to avoid the rush hours.
Explore Nearby Kurskaya Metro Station
Sights near Kurskaya Metro Station
Moscow Metro · typical visit: 1.5–3 hours for a tour of showcase stationsMain image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Bauman Garden Moscowabout 1.0 km away (~16 min walk) · typical visit: About 1 to 1.5 hoursMain image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Andrey Rublev Museum Moscowabout 1.2 km away (~20 min walk) · typical visit: About 1.5 to 2 hoursMain image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Metro stations near Kurskaya Metro Station
Chkalovskaya Metro Stationabout 250 m away (~4 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Train stations and river piers near Kurskaya Metro Station
Kursky Railway Terminalabout 150 m away (~2 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Kazansky Railway Terminalabout 1.7 km away (~28 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Hotels near Kurskaya Metro Station
Philadelphia Hotel Moscowabout 850 m away (~14 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Guten Duck Moscow Hostelabout 1.2 km away (~20 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Rus Chistye Prudy Hostelabout 1.4 km away (~23 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Events and traditions near Kurskaya Metro Station
Day of Slavic Writing and Culture in Moscowabout 2.0 km away (~32 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
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Browse more: More in Basmanny · All Metro Stations
FAQ: Kurskaya Metro Station
Why are there two Kurskaya stations?
The Line 3 station is older, and the Circle Line station opened on 1 January 1950. Both are linked, and Chkalovskaya is reached by a further transfer.
Who designed the Circle Line station?
G. Zakharkov and Z. Chernysheva, under the supervision of Ivan Zholtovsky; the design won a Stalin Prize in 1950.
What is the wheat sculpture?
A bronze sculpture of wheat in the circular lobby, a reference to Kursk as the center of the Chernozem region.
What does the plaque say?
Kurskaya, large ring, 1945–1949. It shows the original plan for the Circle Line to follow the Garden Ring.
Is it by the railway station?
Yes, the northern vestibule is adjacent to Kursky railway station, which gives the hub its name.
Do I need a ticket to see it?
Yes, a Metro fare is needed to enter. See the fares and payment section.
Which lines can I change to?
Line 3 at Kurskaya and Line 10 at Chkalovskaya, plus the Moscow Central Diameters at the railway station.
How long do I need?
About 10 to 15 minutes to see the Circle Line hall and the lobby, longer for transfers.
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Last updated: October 6, 2026.
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