Lubyanka Square Moscow lies about 900 meters north-east of Red Square, at the meeting point of Bolshaya Lubyanka, Myasnitskaya and Teatralny Proyezd. Its name is first recorded in 1480, when Grand Prince Ivan III settled many Novgorodians in the area, and it is known today for three very different landmarks: the large Lubyanka building, the Central Children’s Store and the Solovetsky Stone.
The square is a big open space of traffic and facades rather than a place to sit, and it is the starting point of Myasnitskaya Street. It is best seen as a short stop within a walk through the center, with the metro station under it, Kitay-Gorod and Kuznetsky Most close by, and the Polytechnic Museum next door.
Quick Facts
| Russian name | Лубянка |
|---|---|
| Address | Lubyanskaya Square, about 900 meters north-east of Red Square, central Moscow OpenStreetMap · Google Maps |
| District | Meshchansky |
| Metro | Lubyanka (Sokolnicheskaya Line (Line 1, red), The station lies under the square; one exit leads directly into the Central Children's Store, and the vestibule on Nikolskaya Street has a sculpture about the metro builders; the walking times to other sights were not verified) Kitay-Gorod (Kaluzhsko-Rizhskaya Line (Line 6, orange) and Tagansko-Krasnopresnenskaya Line (Line 7, purple), A short walk away; the exit and the walking time were not verified) |
| Opening hours | The square is public and can be visited at any time of day; the Central Children's Store, the museum and the cafes keep their own hours.
(as of October 2026 – check the official site) |
| Admission | Walking the square is free. The store is open to browse, and the Polytechnic Museum and other venues set their own admission and rules. |
| Best time to visit | The square can be visited all year, and it is best in daylight. It is decorated for the New Year holidays, when it is busier. Crowd patterns were not verified. |
| Recommended duration | 1 to 2 hours |
| Last updated | October 7, 2026 |
What Is (and Isn't) Part of a Visit to Lubyanka?
| Part | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Lubyanka Square and the pavements | Included in the standard ticket | A public square that can be crossed and viewed at any time. |
| Central Children's Store | Included in the standard ticket | A shopping center open to browse, with the clock in its atrium; shops have their own hours. |
| Solovetsky Stone | Included in the standard ticket | A free memorial in a small garden; access may be limited at times. |
| Lubyanka building | Outside / not part of it | A working building of the security services, seen from the outside only; the prison museum needs special authorization. |
| Polytechnic Museum | Separate ticket or institution | A museum next to the garden with its own ticket and hours. |
| Sretensky Monastery | Outside / not part of it | On Bolshaya Lubyanka Street, with its own rules. |
| Kitay-Gorod and Kuznetsky Most | Outside / not part of it | Nearby areas with their own guides. |
Why Visit Lubyanka?
Lubyanka brings together several periods of Moscow’s history in one square: the former insurance company building that later housed the security services, the Central Children’s Store built between 1953 and 1957, and the Solovetsky Stone, a memorial installed in 1990.
It is also a good place to see the Lubyanka metro station, which opened in 1935, and the giant clock in the atrium of the store. It is free to walk, easy to reach and a natural link between Kitay-Gorod, Kuznetsky Most and Myasnitskaya.
How Lubyanka Is Laid Out
Lubyanka Square is a large, open junction with the Lubyanka building on one side and the Central Children’s Store on the other. The Lubyanka metro station operates under the square, and a pedestrian link joins its vestibule with the store, which was built in 1957 under Teatralny Proyezd.
The Lubyanka building stretches along Bolshaya Lubyanka and Myasnitskaya streets. The small garden in front of the Polytechnic Museum, at the corner of Lubyansky Proyezd and Novaya Square, holds the Solovetsky Stone, and the vestibule on Nikolskaya Street, with its sculpture of the metro builders, is nearby.
A sensible walk starts at the Lubyanka station, looks at the store and its clock, crosses to the garden with the Stone and ends with the view of the Lubyanka building from the pavement, followed by Myasnitskaya Street or Kuznetsky Most.
Highlights of Lubyanka
The Central Children's Store
The store, known by its historical name Detsky Mir, was designed by Alexey Dushkin and built between 1953 and 1957. It was the largest children's store in Europe, was closed for reconstruction in 2008 and reopened on 31 March 2015, with the original design recreated. In its main atrium hangs a giant clock, Raketa Monumental, with the largest mechanical clock movement in the world. A metro exit leads directly into the building.
Tip: Go inside to see the clock, which is not visible from the square.
The Lubyanka building
Lubyanka is the popular name of the building that holds the headquarters of the FSB. It began in the late 19th century as the seat of an insurance company and was extended by a design of 1947 that doubled its size. It also contains the Lubyanka prison, and a prison museum needs special authorization to visit. It is a sight from the outside only.
Tip: See it from the pavement of Bolshaya Lubyanka, where the long facade can be seen.
The Solovetsky Stone
The Solovetsky Stone is a memorial to victims of Soviet-era political repression, made from a stone brought from the Solovki prison camp in the White Sea and installed in 1990. It stands in the small garden near the Polytechnic Museum, across from the Lubyanka building. The Solovetsky Stone is also associated with annual commemorative gatherings. Access to the garden may be limited at times.
Tip: Check on site whether the garden is open, since fences are sometimes put up.
The Lubyanka metro station
The station opened in 1935 as part of the first stage of the metro, originally under the name Dzerzhinskaya, after Dzerzhinsky Square, and it was renamed on 5 November 1990 when the square regained its name. The vestibule on Nikolskaya Street has a sculpture composition about the metro builders. In 1957 a passage was built to the Central Children's Store.
Tip: Use the exit to the store if you want to go from the platform straight into the building.
The Polytechnic Museum
The Polytechnic Museum stands next to the small garden with the Solovetsky Stone, at the corner of Lubyansky Proyezd and Novaya Square. It is a separate museum with its own ticket, and its hours and exhibitions were not checked for this guide. It is a useful stop if you want an indoor visit near the square.
Tip: Check the museum's own site before you plan the visit.
Bolshaya Lubyanka Street
The street runs from the square toward the Sretensky Gates and holds the Sretensky Monastery, which was moved here in the early 16th century. The Lubyanka building runs along its side. It is a good way to continue the walk toward the boulevards of the ring.
Tip: Continue north along it to reach Sretenka Street and the boulevards.
Atmosphere
Lubyanka Square is wide and busy with traffic, and its edges are formed by large buildings of stone: the Lubyanka building on one side and the broad facade of the Central Children’s Store on the other. The pavements are used by people moving between the metro, the store and the nearby streets.
The mood is serious near the Lubyanka building and the Solovetsky Stone, and lighter around the store, where families gather. The square is decorated for the New Year holidays. The crowd varies by time of day and season, and no figures were verified.
History of Lubyanka
The square’s name is first recorded in 1480, when Grand Prince Ivan III of Moscow, who had conquered Novgorod in 1471, settled many Novgorodians in the area. A medieval cannon foundry once stood on the site where the Central Children’s Store now stands.
The Lubyanka building began at the end of the 19th century as the seat of an insurance company. It was later taken over by the security services and extended, and by 1947 a new design had doubled its size. The building is popularly called the Lubyanka, and it contains the Lubyanka prison.
The Lubyanka metro station opened in 1935 as part of the first stage of the metro, under the name Dzerzhinskaya, after Dzerzhinsky Square, as the square was then called. A fountain once stood in the center of the square, and later a statue of Felix Dzerzhinsky.
The Central Children’s Store, designed by Alexey Dushkin, was built between 1953 and 1957, and a passage joined it with the metro vestibule in 1957. It was the largest children’s store in Europe. It was closed for reconstruction in 2008, the original building was taken down in 2010 and rebuilt, and it reopened on 31 March 2015, with the original architectural design recreated.
In 1990 the Solovetsky Stone, brought from the former Solovki prison camp, was installed opposite the Lubyanka building as a memorial to victims of Soviet-era political repression. On 5 November 1990, the metro station was renamed Lubyanka after the square regained its original name. The statue of Dzerzhinsky was removed from the center of the square in August 1991.
Today the square is known for its three landmarks: the Lubyanka building, the Central Children’s Store and the Solovetsky Stone. The Lubyanka metro station operates under the square.
Tickets and Booking for Lubyanka
There is no ticket for the square or the store. The Polytechnic Museum and other venues sell their own tickets, and no individual venue was verified for this guide. Check each venue’s own site for hours and prices before you plan a visit. The Lubyanka building is not open to ordinary visitors, and a visit to its prison museum needs special authorization.
- Neighboring areas: Kitay-Gorod, Kuznetsky Most and Myasnitskaya, with their own guides, are close by.
- Payment: foreign Visa and Mastercard cards are reported not to work in Russia, and the sanctions rules of your own country may restrict some Russian payment services, so check this yourself.
Rates for Russian citizens and concessions differ at most venues, so check each venue’s own page for all categories.
Plan and Book
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Suggested Itineraries for Lubyanka
1 hour
Start at the Lubyanka station and go into the Central Children's Store to see the clock in the atrium. Cross to the small garden with the Solovetsky Stone and look at the Lubyanka building from the pavement.
2 hours
Follow the 1-hour route, then walk along Myasnitskaya Street to the Tea House and the post office complex, or along Kuznetsky Most. Plan a coffee stop on the way.
3 hours
Add the Polytechnic Museum, planned with its own hours, and a walk north along Bolshaya Lubyanka to Sretenka Street and the boulevards. Check venue hours first.
How to Get to Lubyanka
The Lubyanka metro station, on Line 1, lies under the square, and one of its exits leads directly into the Central Children’s Store. Kitay-Gorod (Lines 6 and 7) is a short walk away. The exits and walking times were not verified, so check the exits on site.
- Metro: use Lubyanka for the square; the metro guides on this site explain the lines and exits.
- Taxi: the taxi apps guide of this site explains the options; the square has heavy traffic and limited stopping.
Accessibility
No accessibility information for the square was found. The store and the metro station have their own facilities, which were not verified, so check on site before you go.
Food Nearby
Cafes and restaurants are in the Central Children's Store and along Myasnitskaya, Kuznetsky Most and the nearby streets. No individual venue was verified for this guide, so check opening hours and menus on site.
What to Bring
Comfortable shoes for crossing the wide junction and layers for the season. Bring rubles in cash for small purchases, since foreign cards are reported not to work.
Best Views and Photo Spots of Lubyanka
The Lubyanka building from Bolshaya Lubyanka
The long facade of the building along the street, seen from the opposite pavement. Follow any instructions of security staff.
Best time: Morning light.
The atrium clock in the Central Children's Store
The giant clock in the main atrium, seen from the floor. The clock is the central sight of the hall.
Best time: Any time during store hours.
The Solovetsky Stone garden
The simple stone in a small garden near the Polytechnic Museum. Treat it as a memorial, and take photographs quietly.
Best time: Daylight.
Photography Rules
No general photography rules for the square were found. Government buildings and their surroundings can have restrictions, so follow signs and the instructions of security staff, and avoid photographing near entrances. The store and the museum set their own rules.
Family Suitability
The Central Children's Store makes the square a practical family stop, with the clock in the atrium and the shops. The rest of the square is a busy junction, and the memorial and the Lubyanka building are serious subjects for older children. Stroller access on the pavements and in the store was not verified.
Moscow Vibes Tips
- Take the metro exit that leads into the Central Children's Store if you want to avoid the busy junction.
- See the clock from inside the atrium, since it cannot be seen from the square.
- Treat the Solovetsky Stone as a memorial and keep your voice low in the garden.
- Do not expect to visit the Lubyanka building; it can only be seen from the pavement.
- Walk on to Myasnitskaya Street for the Tea House, which is a short way from the square.
- Use the underground passages at the square, since the junction is wide and busy.
Explore Nearby Lubyanka
Sights near Lubyanka
Central Children's Store on Lubyanka Moscowabout 100 m away (~2 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 300 m away (~5 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 350 m away (~6 min walk) · typical visit: About 1 to 2 hoursMain image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Bolshoi Theatre Moscow – about 450 m away (~7 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.
Museum of the Patriotic War of 1812 Moscowabout 600 m away (~10 min walk) · typical visit: About 1.5 to 2 hoursMain image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
GUM Moscowabout 600 m away (~10 min walk) · typical visit: 1–2 hoursMain image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Metro stations near Lubyanka
Lubyanka Metro Stationabout 100 m away (~1 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Kuznetsky Most Metro Stationabout 100 m away (~2 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Ploshchad Revolyutsii Metro Stationabout 450 m away (~7 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Restaurants and cafes near Lubyanka
Tkemaliabout 250 m away (~4 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
SAVVAabout 300 m away (~5 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Metropol Restaurantabout 300 m away (~5 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Varenichnaya No. 1about 450 m away (~7 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Nightlife near Lubyanka
Papa's Barabout 200 m away (~4 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Kadril Karaoke Clubabout 250 m away (~4 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Hotels near Lubyanka
Hotel Metropol Moscowabout 300 m away (~5 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
The St. Regis Moscow Nikolskayaabout 100 m away (~2 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Hotel Savoy Moscowabout 200 m away (~3 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Events and traditions near Lubyanka
Circle of Light Festival in Moscowabout 450 m away (~7 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Day of Slavic Writing and Culture in Moscowabout 550 m away (~9 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Non/fiction Book Fair in Moscowabout 700 m away (~11 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Related guides
Kuznetsky Most: Moscow’s Old Shopping Street and French ShopsMain 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.
Kitay-Gorod: Walls, Varvarka Street and What to SeeMain image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Sretenka: Moscow’s Old Pilgrim Road, Monastery and BoulevardsMain image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Detsky Mir: Children’s Goods Chain and the Lubyanka Store ExplainedMain image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Browse more: More in Meshchansky · All Neighborhoods
FAQ: Lubyanka
What is Lubyanka?
A square in central Moscow, and the popular name of the building of the security services on it.
Can I visit the Lubyanka building?
No, it is a working building; a prison museum needs special authorization.
What is the Solovetsky Stone?
A memorial to the victims of political repression, erected in 1990.
What is the Central Children's Store?
A large store, built in 1953 to 1957 and rebuilt in 2015, with a giant clock in its atrium.
Which metro station is the nearest?
Lubyanka, on Line 1, under the square.
Was the station once named differently?
Yes, Dzerzhinskaya, until 5 November 1990.
Is there an entrance fee?
No for the square; the museum next door sets its own rules.
How long does a visit take?
About 1 to 2 hours, including the store.
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Last updated: October 7, 2026. Found an error or something out of date? Report it and we will check and fix it.
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