The Leninsky Prospekt Metro Station is on the Kaluzhsko-Rizhskaya Line, Line 6, and it opened on 13 October 1962 under Leninsky Prospekt at Gagarin Square. It is a shallow column station at a depth of about 16 meters, designed by a team led by A. F. Strelkov.
The station is a plain, light hall of the early 1960s and also a transfer point: a staircase in the middle of the platform leads to the Ploshchad Gagarina station of the Moscow Central Circle. This guide explains what the hall looks like, how the transfer works, which exits lead to the square with the titanium Gagarin monument, how fares and payment work for tourists, when the station is busy, and what to see nearby.
Quick Facts
| Russian name | Ленинский проспект |
|---|---|
| Built / opened | 1962 |
| Architect(s) | A. F. Strelkov, Nina Aleshina and Yu. V. Vdovin |
| Address | Leninsky Prospekt at Gagarin Square, Moscow OpenStreetMap · Google Maps |
| District | Gagarinsky |
| Interchanges | Leninsky Prospekt (Line 6, orange, the station itself, with two entrances linked by subways on the east side of the avenue and exits on both sides of Gagarin Square) Ploshchad Gagarina (Line 14, Moscow Central Circle, a free direct transfer by a staircase in the middle of the Metro platform) Akademicheskaya (Line 6, orange, the next station toward Novoyasenevskaya) |
| Opening hours | The Metro runs daily from early morning until about 01:00, with exact first and last train times differing by station and line, so check the operator's site for this station (as of October 2026 – check the official site, mosmetro.ru). |
| Best time to visit | Mid-morning, early afternoon and the evening after the rush are the calmest, while weekday rush hours are busy. The station is underground and can be visited in any season. |
| Last updated | October 9, 2026 |
Why Visit Leninsky Prospekt Metro Station?
The station is a good example of the standard column tri-span design of the 1960s in a variant with a more vaulted central span, with white marble pillars with a gray strip at the base and tiled outer walls. Its main practical value is the transfer: the staircase in the middle of the platform links to the Moscow Central Circle, and the station has exits on both sides of Gagarin Square.
The square, a short step away, holds the Monument to Yuri Gagarin, a titanium statue built for the 1980 Olympic Games. The station is also on the way to Neskuchny Garden and Gorky Park by foot or by bus. It is a calm, easy stop on a space-themed walk.
How Leninsky Prospekt Metro Station Is Laid Out
The station is a shallow column hall with three spans, two tracks and one island platform, at about 16 meters below ground, with two entrances interlinked by subways on the east side of Leninsky Prospekt and exits to both sides of Gagarin Square.
A staircase in the middle of the platform leads to the Ploshchad Gagarina station of the Moscow Central Circle, a transfer that was intended from the start but opened only on 10 September 2016. The adjacent stations on the orange line are Akademicheskaya toward Novoyasenevskaya and Shabolovskaya toward Medvedkovo. Follow the signs for the transfer or the exit to the square, and check the map in the hall.
Highlights of Leninsky Prospekt Metro Station
The marble column hall
The station was built in 1962 to a variant of the standard column tri-span design with a more vaulted central span. The pillars are faced with white marble with a strip of gray at the base, and the outer walls are tiled. Look along the rows of columns from the platform. Check the lighting, since the original metal fixtures were replaced in 2004 with fluorescent ones.
Tip: Look along the columns from the platform center.
The staircase transfer to the MCC
A staircase in the middle of the platform allows a free direct transfer to the Ploshchad Gagarina station of the Moscow Central Circle, the only underground station on the circle. The staircase was planned from the beginning but was used only from 10 September 2016. Check the time limit for free transfers on the operator's site.
Tip: Use the staircase from the middle of the platform.
The exits to Gagarin Square
The station has two entrances interlinked with subways on the east side of Leninsky Prospekt, and exits on both sides of Gagarin Square. Look at the signs for the exit nearest the monument. Check which exit you need before you go up.
Tip: Take the exit toward the square for the monument.
The Gagarin monument above
The Monument to Yuri Gagarin on the square was built for the 1980 Olympic Games and is made of titanium on a ribbed pedestal, and it was restored in 2024. See the Ploshchad Gagarina MCC Station guide for details. Check the angle for photographs.
Tip: View it from the park-like area near the circle station.
The avenue's four stations
Only four Metro stations stand on Leninsky Prospekt itself, among them Oktyabrskaya, this station, Novatorskaya and Troparyovo, according to a source. Check a map before planning a walk along the avenue.
Tip: Use buses along the avenue for long distances.
A plain, light 1960s hall
The hall is simple and functional, typical of the economical designs of the early 1960s, in contrast to the decorated marble halls of the 1930s and 1950s. Look at the white marble and tile. Check the Metro tour itinerary for comparison.
Tip: Compare the hall with a station from the 1930s.
Atmosphere
The hall is bright and plain, with rows of pale pillars, even lighting and a steady flow of passengers moving toward the staircase and the exits. The sounds are trains, announcements and the footsteps of commuters.
Students, office workers and visitors heading for the square use the station, and it is busiest at the weekday rush hours. Mid-morning and the evening after the rush are calmer. Above ground, the avenue is wide and busy with traffic.
History of Leninsky Prospekt Metro Station
The Leninsky Prospekt station opened on 13 October 1962 as part of the Kaluzhskaya Line, together with Oktyabrskaya and Akademicheskaya, and was named after Leninsky Prospekt. It was designed by a team of architects including A. F. Strelkov, Nina Aleshina and Yu. V. Vdovin.
The station is a shallow column station built to a variant of the standard tri-span design, with a more vaulted central span, white marble pillars with a strip of gray at the base and tiled outer walls. The original metal light fixtures were replaced in 2004 with fluorescent fixtures. A staircase in the middle of the platform was intended from the start as part of a transfer to a future circle station, but the transfer to Ploshchad Gagarina on the Moscow Central Circle opened only on 10 September 2016, more than 50 years later.
Dates and details should be checked against the Metro operator’s official sources, and this history is shorter than requested because few facts could be verified; sources credit the architects differently.
Tickets and Booking for Leninsky Prospekt Metro Station
Fares. The fare is the same for any length of ride and any number of transfers within the central zone, and sources give the price of one trip at a budget price level (₽) depending on the payment method, with a prepaid Troika card cheaper than a single ticket; because prices change, check the current tariff on the operator’s site mosmetro.ru. Free transfers between the circle and the Metro have a time limit on the first rail journey, according to one source, so check the current rule. Troika cards and tickets can be bought at ticket offices and ticket machines in Metro vestibules, and one guide notes that the machines may take only cash.
Payment. Contactless bank cards and smartphone payment are accepted at turnstiles, but some foreign cards may not work, and your country’s sanctions rules may restrict some payment services, so check this yourself; a Troika card topped up with rubles is the most reliable option. Rush hours are the weekday mornings and evenings, when the transfer staircase fills up.
Plan and Book
How to Get to Leninsky Prospekt Metro Station
Take the orange Line 6 to Leninsky Prospekt, between Akademicheskaya and Shabolovskaya, or the Moscow Central Circle (Line 14) to Ploshchad Gagarina and use the staircase transfer. The exits lead to both sides of Gagarin Square.
- By taxi: ask for Gagarin Square on Leninsky Prospekt.
- On foot: Neskuchny Garden is a walk along the avenue toward the center.
- Orientation: follow the signs for the exit toward the square or the transfer.
Accessibility
The station has a staircase transfer to the circle, and accessibility facilities such as lifts and step-free routes were not verified, so check mosmetro.ru or ask staff before you travel.
Food Nearby
Leninsky Prospekt and the streets around Gagarin Square have shops and cafes; the exact venues were not verified. See the Moscow Food Tour: Russian Cuisine and Local Specialties itinerary.
What to Bring
Bring a charged phone with a map and cash in rubles for a ticket or a Troika card.
Best Views and Photo Spots of Leninsky Prospekt Metro Station
The column hall along the platform
Rows of white marble pillars with even lighting.
Best time: Mid-morning, outside rush hour.
The staircase transfer
The staircase linking the Metro platform to the circle level.
Best time: Off-peak hours.
The vestibule exits on Gagarin Square
The entrances at the square edge.
Best time: Daytime.
The Gagarin monument from the square
The titanium figure rising above the avenue.
Best time: Late afternoon.
Photography Rules
Photography in the Metro is generally allowed for personal use without flash, but tripods and professional filming may need permission; do not block passengers or take photographs of staff.
Family Suitability
Suitable for families as part of a visit to the monument and Neskuchny Garden, though the platform has a staircase transfer and the station is busy at rush hour; strollers are awkward and lifts were not verified.
Moscow Vibes Tips
- Use the staircase in the middle of the platform for the circle transfer.
- Check the time limit for free transfers before a long detour.
- Choose the exit toward Gagarin Square for the monument.
- Combine the station with Neskuchny Garden and Gorky Park on a walk.
- Visit between the rush hours for a calm hall.
- Compare this plain hall with a decorated station on the Metro tour itinerary.
Explore Nearby Leninsky Prospekt Metro Station
Sights near Leninsky Prospekt Metro Station
Neskuchny Garden Moscowabout 1.3 km away (~20 min walk) · typical visit: About 1.5 to 3 hoursMain image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Metro stations near Leninsky Prospekt Metro Station
Ploshchad Gagarina MCC Stationabout 50 m away (~1 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Train stations and river piers near Leninsky Prospekt Metro Station
Luzhniki River Pierabout 1.9 km away (~31 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Hotels near Leninsky Prospekt Metro Station
Korston Club Hotel Moscowabout 1.4 km away (~22 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
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FAQ: Leninsky Prospekt Metro Station
When did the station open?
On 13 October 1962.
Which line is it on?
The orange Kaluzhsko-Rizhskaya Line, Line 6.
How deep is it?
About 16 meters; it is a shallow station.
Can I transfer to the Moscow Central Circle?
Yes, by a staircase in the middle of the platform to Ploshchad Gagarina.
What is above the station?
Gagarin Square with the titanium Gagarin monument.
Who designed it?
A team of architects including A. F. Strelkov.
Is it busy?
At weekday rush hours; calmer at other times.
Can I pay with a foreign card?
Some foreign cards may not work, so carry cash in rubles; see the fares section for sanctions rules.
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Last updated: October 9, 2026.
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