Mayakovskaya Metro Station is one of the best-known stations of the Moscow Metro, opened in 1938 on the Zamoskvoretskaya Line. Mayakovskaya Metro Station mosaics by Alexander Deyneka run along the ceiling of the central hall, above arches faced in stainless steel.
The architect was Alexey Dushkin, and the station was the first deep-level column station in the Metro. It is a working station with trains every few minutes, so a visit is a matter of walking the platform and looking up. This guide explains what to see, where to look and how to pay the fare.
Quick Facts
| Russian name | Маяковская |
|---|---|
| Built / opened | 1938 |
| Architect(s) | Alexey Dushkin |
| Address | Triumfalnaya Square, Moscow, Russia OpenStreetMap · Google Maps |
| District | Tverskoy |
| Interchanges | Mayakovskaya (Line 2 (Zamoskvoretskaya, green), the station itself; the exit leads up to Triumfalnaya Square) Belorusskaya (Line 2 (Zamoskvoretskaya, green), the previous station on the line, one stop north) Tverskaya (Line 2 (Zamoskvoretskaya, green), the next station on the line, one stop south) |
| 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 times, 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 Mayakovskaya Metro Station?
The station combines architecture and art in a small space. The central hall has two rows of columns joined by arches faced in grooved stainless steel, the first use of the material in the Metro, with pink rhodonite on the columns and granite and marble on the floor and walls.
On the ceiling, 35 mosaics by Alexander Deyneka, of which 33 are visible, show the sky over the Soviet Union during a 24-hour day.
It also has a place in history: in November 1941 a conference of the Moscow Soviet, with a speech by Stalin, was held here, and the station served as a bomb shelter during the war. It is a short ride from the center.
How Mayakovskaya Metro Station Is Laid Out
The station is a deep-level hall with a central platform and two rows of columns, one on each side of the hall, with arches between them.
The central hall has the stainless steel arches and the ceiling mosaics in niches above them. Trains stop on both sides, and the escalator hall at the end leads up to the exit, which has its own newer mosaics and opens onto Triumfalnaya Square.
A sensible way to see it is to get off the train, walk the length of the central hall looking up, then go up the escalator to the exit and the square above.
Highlights of Mayakovskaya Metro Station
Deyneka's ceiling mosaics
Alexander Deyneka designed 35 mosaics for the ceiling niches, titled 24 Hours in the Land of the Soviets. Two of them are not visible, so 33 can be seen. They were made of smalt in the workshop of Vladimir Frolov in Leningrad.
They show the sky over the Soviet Union during a day, with aircraft, parachutists and clouds.
Tip: Walk slowly along the central hall and look up at each niche, since they are small and set high.
The stainless steel arches
The columns and arches along the platforms are faced in grooved stainless steel, the first use of this material in the Metro, which was then linked to aircraft design.
The polished surface reflects the light and the passing trains.
Tip: Look at the reflection of the mosaics in the steel, which doubles the view.
Rhodonite and marble
The columns carry pink rhodonite, and the floors and walls are finished in four shades of granite and marble.
The warm stone contrasts with the cool steel of the arches.
Tip: Look down as well as up, since the floor is patterned in granite and marble.
The first deep-level column station
Mayakovskaya was the first deep-level column station in the Moscow Metro. Instead of the three-vault pylon layout of earlier deep stations, its central vault is supported by two rows of columns.
The design gives the hall an open, airy feel.
Tip: Stand in the middle of the hall to see the two rows of columns on both sides.
The 1941 meeting
On 6 November 1941, when Moscow was under threat, a conference of the Moscow Soviet for the anniversary of the October Revolution was held in the station, and Stalin spoke there.
Throughout the war years the station was used as a bomb shelter.
Tip: Read the station's history before you go; it adds depth to the visit.
The exit and Triumfalnaya Square
New mosaics were created for the exit, which also uses marble and stainless steel. The escalator leads up to Triumfalnaya Square, where a large statue of Mayakovsky stands.
The square has theaters, a concert hall and many cafes.
Tip: Go up to the square after seeing the hall, and look at the monument to the poet.
Atmosphere
Under the high, curved ceiling, the hall is cool and bright, with the steel arches shining like polished metal and warm light on the pink stone. The mosaics sit above in their niches, small and colorful.
Trains arrive with a rush of air and a rumble, and passengers flow past without looking up, while visitors stop on the platform with cameras. The sound is the announcements and the hum of the escalators.
It is busiest at morning and evening rush hours, and calmer in the middle of the day and late in the evening, when the hall feels almost quiet.
History of Mayakovskaya Metro Station
Mayakovskaya opened on 11 September 1938 as part of the second stage of the Moscow Metro. It was designed by the architect Alexey Dushkin, who had also designed Kropotkinskaya and Ploshchad Revolyutsii.
The station was first called Triumfalnaya Ploshchad, after the square above it, and later Ploshchad Mayakovskogo. It is named after the Soviet poet Vladimir Mayakovsky.
It was the first deep-level column station in the Moscow Metro. Earlier deep stations used a layout with three vaults and heavy pylons, but Mayakovskaya’s central vault is supported by two rows of columns, one on each side of the hall.
Dushkin used stainless steel for the facing of the columns and arches, the first use of the material in the Metro and a nod to aircraft design. The columns also carry pink rhodonite, and the floors and walls are finished in four shades of granite and marble.
Alexander Deyneka designed the ceiling mosaics, titled 24 Hours in the Land of the Soviets, with a theme of flight. There were 35 in all, of which 33 are visible, made of smalt in the workshop of Vladimir Frolov in Leningrad. Critics have sometimes said they are small for the station and awkwardly placed in recessed niches.
On 6 November 1941, when Moscow was at risk, a conference of the Moscow Soviet of Worker Deputies, dedicated to the 24th anniversary of the October Revolution, was held in the station, and Stalin made a speech there. During the war years the station was used as a bomb shelter.
The station was later reconstructed, and new mosaics were created for the exit, which also uses marble and stainless steel. Today it is a working station on the Zamoskvoretskaya Line, with the original hall preserved.
Tickets and Booking for Mayakovskaya 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 fare (₽) by contactless bank card and a higher budget fare (₽) for a 90-minute fare, while some sources still give lower budget 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 to be small (₽), 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 Mayakovskaya Metro Station
Mayakovskaya station is on the Zamoskvoretskaya Line, in the center of Moscow, under Triumfalnaya Square.
- Metro: Mayakovskaya (Line 2, Zamoskvoretskaya, green). Belorusskaya is the previous station and Tverskaya the next.
- On foot: the exit opens onto Triumfalnaya Square, with the Mayakovsky monument, and the Moscow Planetarium is a short walk away.
The station has no interchange with other lines. A taxi can drop you on Triumfalnaya Square.
Accessibility
Accessibility details were not confirmed. The station is deep and is reached by a long escalator, 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
Triumfalnaya Square and the streets around it have many cafes and restaurants, and Tverskaya Street has more. Specific venues were not verified, so check opening hours before you go.
What to Bring
Bring a camera with a steady hand, since tripods are generally not suited to a busy station, and some rubles in cash for a ticket or a Troika card.
Best Views and Photo Spots of Mayakovskaya Metro Station
Middle of the central hall
The two rows of stainless steel arches converging toward the end of the hall, with the mosaics above.
Best time: Between trains in the middle of the day
Niche mosaics from below
A close view of one of Deyneka's mosaics set in its ceiling niche, showing the smalt in fine detail.
Best time: Mid-morning, when the platform is quiet
Platform edge reflections
The polished steel reflecting the lights and the passing train, taken from a safe distance behind the line.
Best time: Late evening
Triumfalnaya Square exit
The square above with the statue of Mayakovsky, a good outdoor frame after the station.
Best time: Evening, when the lights are on
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 and the turnstiles. Drone rules in Moscow are strict and change.
Family Suitability
The station is a short stop that suits families, with arches and mosaics that children can look for on the ceiling. It is a busy working station, so keep children 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 mosaics are on the ceiling and many passengers never notice them.
- Walk the whole length of the hall, since the best view of the arches is from the middle, not at the entrance.
- Rusmania notes a coin trick: throw a coin up on one side of an arch and it spins around to land at the foot of the other side. Do not try it in a crowd.
- Combine the station with the Moscow Planetarium and the Patriarch Ponds, which are within walking distance.
- Visit again at the exit to see the newer mosaics, which many visitors skip.
- Go in the middle of the day or late in the evening to avoid the rush hours.
Explore Nearby Mayakovskaya Metro Station
Sights near Mayakovskaya Metro Station
Moscow Planetariumabout 1.4 km away (~22 min walk) · typical visit: 1.5–3 hours
Moscow Zooabout 1.4 km away (~23 min walk) · typical visit: 2–4 hours
Tchaikovsky Concert Hall Moscowabout 100 m away (~1 min walk) · typical visit: About 2.5 to 3 hours for a concert
Patriarch's Ponds Moscowabout 700 m away (~11 min walk) · typical visit: About 1 to 2 hours
Moscow Metro · typical visit: 1.5–3 hours for a tour of showcase stations
Metro stations near Mayakovskaya Metro Station
Pushkinskaya Metro Stationabout 800 m away (~13 min walk)
Tverskaya Metro Stationabout 800 m away (~13 min walk)
Chekhovskaya Metro Stationabout 1.0 km away (~17 min walk)
Train stations and river piers near Mayakovskaya Metro Station
Belorussky Railway Terminalabout 1.3 km away (~21 min walk)
Restaurants and cafes near Mayakovskaya Metro Station
Butlerabout 450 m away (~8 min walk)
Grabliabout 650 m away (~10 min walk)
Pafosabout 800 m away (~13 min walk)
Evaabout 800 m away (~13 min walk)
Hotels near Mayakovskaya Metro Station
Hotel Pekin Moscowabout 250 m away (~4 min walk)
InterContinental Moscow Tverskayaabout 400 m away (~7 min walk)
Golden Apple Boutique Hotelabout 550 m away (~9 min walk)
Events and traditions near Mayakovskaya Metro Station
Pushkin Day and Russian Language Day in Moscowabout 650 m away (~11 min walk)
Moscow Tea Party Festivalabout 1.2 km away (~20 min walk)
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Safmar Tverskaya Moscow: Four-Star Hotel near Belorussky Station
Yolki-Palki: Russian Tavern Chain with Home Cooking in Moscow
How to see the most beautiful Moscow Metro stations in one route: Tips
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FAQ: Mayakovskaya Metro Station
Who designed Mayakovskaya station?
The architect Alexey Dushkin designed it, and it opened on 11 September 1938.
Who made the mosaics?
Alexander Deyneka designed the 35 ceiling mosaics, titled 24 Hours in the Land of the Soviets.
What is special about the architecture?
It was the first deep-level column station in the Moscow Metro, with stainless steel arches and pink rhodonite.
Do I need a ticket to see it?
Yes, a Metro fare is needed to enter. See the fares and payment section.
Is it named after a person?
Yes, after the Soviet poet Vladimir Mayakovsky; the station was earlier called Triumfalnaya Ploshchad.
Which line is it on?
Line 2, the Zamoskvoretskaya Line, in green, between Belorusskaya and Tverskaya.
How long do I need?
About 10 to 15 minutes to walk the hall and look at the mosaics.
Was it used as a shelter?
Yes, it served as a bomb shelter during the war years, and a conference with a speech by Stalin was held there in November 1941.
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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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