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Moscow Metro Tour: Most Beautiful Stations Itinerary: 5 Stations

By Moscow Vibes ·

Moscow Metro Tour: Most Beautiful Stations Itinerary: 5 Stations
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The Moscow Metro Tour: Most Beautiful Stations Itinerary is a ride, not a walk: five stations of the 1930s to 1950s, each decorated like a public palace, joined by short transfers. It suits anyone who wants to see the Metro as a sight and has half a day.

The route assumes about three hours at a slow pace, with five minutes or so at each station and a few minutes of riding between them. By the end you will have seen bronze statues, ceiling mosaics, illuminated stained glass, a baroque hall and a station with a large mosaic, and you will know where to stand to photograph them without blocking the passengers.

At a glance: Start at Ploshchad Revolyutsii for the bronze figures, move to Mayakovskaya for the ceiling mosaics, then ride the Circle Line to Novoslobodskaya, Komsomolskaya and Kievskaya.

Half Day: Five Stations from Ploshchad Revolyutsii to Kievskaya

The order follows the line changes so that you never ride a long way back. The first two stations are close to Red Square and the center, the next two are on the Circle Line, and the last is on the western side of the city. Allow about three hours, longer if you stop to photograph at each station.

  1. Ploshchad Revolyutsii – Start at this station (Line 3, dark blue), opened in 1938 and designed by Alexey Dushkin: low arches lined with bronze figures of soldiers, workers and farmers; passersby rub the nose of the bronze dog for luck, which is a legend (20 minutes)
  2. Mayakovskaya – Walk to Teatralnaya and ride the green Line 2 north to Mayakovskaya (1938, also by Dushkin), with the ceiling mosaics by Alexander Deyneka in oval niches; stand in the middle of the hall to see the rows of columns and the niches (20 minutes)
  3. Novoslobodskaya – Ride one stop to Belorusskaya and change to the brown Circle Line (Line 5), then ride to Novoslobodskaya (1952), where illuminated stained-glass panels with brass borders line the pillars (20 minutes)
  4. Komsomolskaya – Ride two stops on the Circle Line to Komsomolskaya, with its yellow baroque ceiling, chandeliers and mosaics; it is one of the busiest stations, so go in a quiet hour (20 minutes)
  5. Kievskaya – Ride the Circle Line to Kievskaya, which has three halls under one name; the Arbatsko-Pokrovskaya hall (Line 3, dark blue) opened in 1953 with a large mosaic called Folk Festivities in Kiev (30 minutes)

Tip: Ride between 10:00 and 16:00 on a weekday, because the Circle Line and Komsomolskaya are very crowded at rush hours, and keep to the edge of the platform when you photograph.

Moscow Vibes Tips

  • Look up at Mayakovskaya and Komsomolskaya: the ceilings are the main feature, and most visitors only look at the walls.
  • At Novoslobodskaya the stained-glass panels glow most strongly in the evening hall light, so leave this station for the late afternoon if you can.
  • At Kievskaya, walk through all three halls if you have time: they are connected on foot and each has a different style.
  • Take one ride in the first or last car to see the platform ends, where the entrance vestibules of some stations are as decorated as the halls.
  • Carry a small bag: the stairs and the passages between halls are narrow, and a big bag is hard to manage on the escalators; see the How to store luggage in Moscow guide.
  • Keep the Cyrillic station name on your phone, since the signs on the platforms are in Russian first; see the How to read Cyrillic quickly as a traveler guide.

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FAQ

Which Moscow Metro stations are the most beautiful?

The five on this route are among the best known: Ploshchad Revolyutsii, Mayakovskaya, Novoslobodskaya, Komsomolskaya and Kievskaya. See the How to see the most beautiful Moscow Metro stations in one route guide for fares and rules.

Do I need a special ticket for the stations?

No, the stations are part of the normal Metro and you only pay the fare to enter; see the How to see the most beautiful Moscow Metro stations in one route guide.

Can I take photographs in the stations?

Photography is generally allowed in passenger areas, but tripods and drones are not practical and staff may ask you to move; follow the signs and do not block passengers.

How long does the tour take?

About three hours for five stations, with a few minutes of riding between them and time for photographs.

Is the tour suitable for children?

Yes for older children, but the stations are crowded at rush hours and the escalators are long, so hold small children's hands.

Can I add more stations?

Yes. Teatralnaya, Taganskaya and Belorusskaya are on the way and also decorated; see the 10 Most Impressive Soviet-Era Buildings in Moscow list for related buildings.

Is it safe to ride at night?

The Metro runs until after midnight and the stations are staffed, but the decorated stations are best seen in daylight hours, when they are less crowded.

Can I pay with a foreign card?

Foreign Visa and Mastercard cards are reported not to work in Russia, and your country's sanctions rules may restrict some services, so check how to pay for the Metro yourself.

* Affiliate link: as an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you.

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Last updated: October 8, 2026.

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