Lubyanka Metro Station opened on 15 May 1935 on the Sokolnicheskaya Line, under Lubyanka Square in the center of Moscow, as part of the first stage of the Metro. Lubyanka Metro Station was called Dzerzhinskaya until 5 November 1990, when the square’s original name was restored.
Its vestibule on Nikolskaya Street holds a sculptural composition about the builders, and a transfer tunnel leads to Kuznetsky Most on Line 7. This guide explains what to look for, how the transfer works and how the fares work.
Quick Facts
| Russian name | Лубянка |
|---|---|
| Built / opened | 1935 |
| Architect(s) | Nikolai Ladovsky; vestibule by Daniil Fridman and Iosif Loveyko |
| Address | Lubyanka Square, Moscow, Russia OpenStreetMap · Google Maps |
| District | Meshchansky |
| Interchanges | Lubyanka (Line 1 (Sokolnicheskaya, red), the station itself, between Okhotny Ryad and Chistye Prudy, with a vestibule on Nikolskaya Street) Kuznetsky Most (Line 7 (Tagansko-Krasnopresnenskaya, purple), a transfer by tunnel) |
| 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 and the transfer are crowded.
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 Lubyanka Metro Station?
Lubyanka is one of the stations of the first Metro line of 1935, built under a square where the ground was difficult and the work was hard. The station opened on time, on 15 May 1935, and the vestibule on Nikolskaya Street carries a sculptural composition that commemorates the builders.
It was designed by Nikolai Ladovsky, with a vestibule by Daniil Fridman and Iosif Loveyko, and renovated later by Nina Aleshina and Alexander Strelkov. It is a tentative cultural heritage site.
The station is also a junction: a tunnel under it leads to Kuznetsky Most on Line 7, and a subway built in 1957 leads to the Detsky Mir store. It is the practical stop for Lubyanka Square and the streets around it.
Highlights of Lubyanka Metro Station
A station of the first line
Lubyanka opened on 15 May 1935, as part of the first stage of the Moscow Metro, and was called Dzerzhinskaya.
The ground under the square was difficult, but the builders opened the station as planned.
Tip: Look at the hall as one of the few stations of 1935 with a simple two-arched design.
The sculpture in the vestibule
A sculptural composition in the vestibule on Nikolskaya Street commemorates the efforts of the Metro builders.
It is a reminder of how hard the construction of the first line was.
Tip: Look for it in the vestibule on the Nikolskaya Street side.
A name that changed in 1990
The station was called Dzerzhinskaya, after the square, until 5 November 1990.
Then the square's original name, Lubyanka, was restored, and the station took it.
Tip: Look for the old name in older guidebooks and maps.
The transfer to Kuznetsky Most
A passenger tunnel under the station leads to Kuznetsky Most on the Tagansko-Krasnopresnenskaya Line.
Escalators in the middle of the platform were added in 1975 for the transfer.
Tip: Leave extra time for the transfer at rush hours.
The subway to Detsky Mir
In 1957 a subway was built from the vestibule to the new Detsky Mir (Children's World) store under Teatralny Proyezd.
The store is a separate business.
Tip: Check the store's own hours before you plan a visit.
Two streets, one vestibule
The vestibule opens on Nikolskaya Street on one side and Maly Cherkassky side street on the other.
The vestibule was designed by Daniil Fridman and Iosif Loveyko.
Tip: Check the exit signs for the street you need before you go up.
Atmosphere
The hall is warm and busy, with two arches, light marble and the steady flow of passengers heading for the transfer. The sound is trains, announcements and the footsteps of commuters.
Office workers, shoppers and visitors to the center use the station, and it is one of the busy junctions of the city.
It is busiest at rush hours, and calm in the middle of the morning on weekdays and late in the evening.
History of Lubyanka Metro Station
In 1933 the construction of the first line of the Moscow Metro began, and one of its stations was planned under Lubyanka Square, then called Dzerzhinsky Square. The ground under the square was difficult, and the work was hard.
The builders nevertheless opened the station as planned, on 15 May 1935, as Dzerzhinskaya. The station was designed by Nikolai Ladovsky, with a vestibule by Daniil Fridman and Iosif Loveyko. A design with three arches was planned for the four central stations of the line, but because of construction difficulties a simpler two-arched design was used here and at Chistye Prudy.
A sculptural composition in the vestibule on Nikolskaya Street commemorates the builders’ efforts.
In 1957 a subway was built from the vestibule to the new Detsky Mir store under Teatralny Proyezd. In 1965 it was decided that the station would become a transfer point to the planned Tagansko-Krasnopresnenskaya Line, and in 1975 escalators were added in the middle of the platform for the transfer to the new Kuznetsky Most station.
On 5 November 1990 the station was renamed Lubyanka, after the square, whose original name was restored. Nina Aleshina and Alexander Strelkov later worked on a renovation.
Today it is a working stop on Line 1, with a transfer to Line 7, and a tentative cultural heritage site.
Tickets and Booking for Lubyanka 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.
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 Lubyanka Metro Station
Lubyanka is in the center of Moscow, under Lubyanka Square, where the Tverskoy, Meshchansky, Basmanny and Krasnoselsky districts meet.
- Metro: Lubyanka (Line 1, Sokolnicheskaya, red), between Okhotny Ryad and Chistye Prudy.
- Transfer: Kuznetsky Most (Line 7, Tagansko-Krasnopresnenskaya, purple), by a passenger tunnel.
The vestibule opens on Nikolskaya Street and on Maly Cherkassky side street. The exit details and the walking times to nearby sights were not verified. Taxis can drop you on the streets nearby, though the center is often congested.
Accessibility
Accessibility details were not confirmed. The availability of lifts and step-free access at the station and on the transfer to Kuznetsky Most was not verified. Contact the Metro or check mosmetro.ru before traveling if you need step-free access or assistance.
Food Nearby
Nikolskaya Street, Teatralny Proyezd and the streets around Lubyanka Square 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 square has several exits, and some rubles in cash for a ticket or a Troika card.
Best Views and Photo Spots of Lubyanka Metro Station
The builders' sculpture
The sculptural composition in the vestibule on Nikolskaya Street that commemorates the builders of the station.
Best time: Mid-morning, outside rush hours
The two-arched hall
The platform hall with its two arches, seen from one end of the platform.
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 hall is common, but tripods and flash can be restricted, and the platform is busy at rush hours, so stand clear of the platform edge. Drone rules in Moscow are strict, especially in the center, and change.
Family Suitability
The stations are a practical stop for families visiting the center, with the Detsky Mir store nearby. They are busy junctions at rush hours, with long transfers, so keep children close and away from the platform edge. Strollers need a lift, and lift access was not confirmed.
Moscow Vibes Tips
- Check the exit signs before you go up; the vestibule opens on two different streets.
- Leave extra time for the transfer to Kuznetsky Most at rush hours.
- Look for the sculpture about the builders in the vestibule on Nikolskaya Street.
- Use the old name, Dzerzhinskaya, when you look at older maps and guidebooks.
- Ride one stop to Chistye Prudy to compare two stations with the same simpler two-arched design.
- Come in mid-morning on a weekday for the quietest platform.
Explore Nearby Lubyanka Metro Station
Sights near Lubyanka Metro Station
Bolshoi Theatre Moscow – about 550 m away (~9 min walk) · typical visit: 3–4 hours for a performance; about 1 hour for a guided tourMain image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Central Children's Store on Lubyanka Moscowabout 200 m away (~3 min walk) · typical visit: About 1 to 2 hoursMain image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Maly Theatre Moscowabout 400 m away (~7 min walk) · typical visit: About 3 hours for a performanceMain image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Museum of Soviet Arcade Machines Moscowabout 450 m away (~7 min walk) · typical visit: About 1 to 2 hoursMain image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Museum of the Patriotic War of 1812 Moscowabout 650 m away (~11 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 Lubyanka Metro Station
Kuznetsky Most Metro Stationabout 150 m away (~2 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Ploshchad Revolyutsii Metro Stationabout 500 m away (~8 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Teatralnaya Metro Stationabout 600 m away (~10 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Restaurants and cafes near Lubyanka Metro Station
Tkemaliabout 300 m away (~5 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
SAVVAabout 400 m away (~6 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Metropol Restaurantabout 400 m away (~6 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Varenichnaya No. 1about 500 m away (~8 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Hotels near Lubyanka Metro Station
The St. Regis Moscow Nikolskayaabout 150 m away (~2 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Hotel Savoy Moscowabout 300 m away (~4 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Ararat Park Hotel Moscowabout 350 m away (~6 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Events and traditions near Lubyanka Metro Station
Day of Slavic Writing and Culture in Moscowabout 500 m away (~8 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Circle of Light Festival in Moscowabout 550 m away (~9 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Related guides
Lubyanka: Square, Children’s Store, Solovetsky Stone and MetroMain image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Myasnitskaya: Moscow’s Butchers‘ Street, Tea House and Post OfficeMain image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
MOSS Boutique Hotel: Small Design Hotel Near Chistye PrudyMain image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Surf Coffee: Surf-Themed Specialty Coffee Spots in Central MoscowMain image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Dodo Pizza: Russian Pizza Chain with Branches across MoscowMain image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Browse more: More in Meshchansky · All Metro Stations
FAQ: Lubyanka Metro Station
When did Lubyanka open?
On 15 May 1935, as part of the first stage of the Metro, as Dzerzhinskaya.
When did it become Lubyanka?
On 5 November 1990, when the square's original name was restored.
Which lines meet here?
Line 1 at Lubyanka, with a transfer to Line 7 at Kuznetsky Most.
Who designed it?
Nikolai Ladovsky, with a vestibule by Daniil Fridman and Iosif Loveyko.
What is in the vestibule?
A sculptural composition that commemorates the builders, on the Nikolskaya Street side.
Do I need a ticket to see it?
Yes, a Metro fare is needed to enter. See the fares and payment section.
Is the Detsky Mir store connected?
A subway built in 1957 links the vestibule with the store; the store is a separate business.
How long do I need?
About 10 minutes to see the hall and the vestibule.
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