Okhotny Ryad Metro Station opened on 15 May 1935 on the Sokolnicheskaya Line, in the very center of Moscow, a short walk from Red Square. Okhotny Ryad Metro Station has been renamed more times than any other station of the Metro, and still holds a mosaic portrait of Karl Marx from the years when it was called Prospekt Marksa.
It is a shallow station with three vaults and imported Italian marble on its pylons, with a transfer to Teatralnaya. This guide explains the names, the vestibules and how the fares work.
Quick Facts
| Russian name | Охотный Ряд |
|---|---|
| Built / opened | 1935 |
| Architect(s) | Yuri Revkovsky and others; vestibule by Dmitry Chechulin |
| Address | Manezhnaya Square and Teatralny Proyezd, Tverskoy District, Moscow, Russia OpenStreetMap · Google Maps |
| District | Tverskoy |
| Interchanges | Okhotny Ryad (Line 1 (Sokolnicheskaya, red), the station itself, between Biblioteka Imeni Lenina and Lubyanka, with a western vestibule by Manezhnaya Square and an eastern vestibule at Teatralny Proyezd) Teatralnaya (Line 2 (Zamoskvoretskaya, green), a transfer through the eastern vestibule) |
| Opening hours | The Moscow Metro normally runs from early morning until around 1:00 at night, and the stations are 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 platforms and the transfers are crowded.
The stations work in every season, so they are a good stop on a cold or wet day. |
| Last updated | October 6, 2026 |
Why Visit Okhotny Ryad Metro Station?
Okhotny Ryad is one of the stations of the first Metro line, in the heart of the city, with the Kremlin, Red Square, the State Historical Museum and the Bolshoi Theatre within a short walk.
Its name changed more often than any other: Okhotny Ryad, Imeni Kaganovicha, Okhotny Ryad again, Prospekt Marksa from 1961, and Okhotny Ryad again in 1990. A mosaic portrait of Karl Marx from that period remains in the station.
The pylons are faced with imported Italian marble, described as the only documented use of imported material in the Metro. A rainwater flood during construction was a setback. A transfer leads to Teatralnaya, while Ploshchad Revolyutsii is reached only through it.
How Okhotny Ryad Metro Station Is Laid Out
Okhotny Ryad is one of three stations around Theatre Square, and the way they connect is not obvious.
- Okhotny Ryad (Line 1, red): the shallow three-vault hall, with a western vestibule by the Hotel Moskva and Manezhnaya Square, and an eastern vestibule at the corner of Bolshaya Dmitrovka Street, Teatralny Proyezd and Theatre Square.
- Teatralnaya (Line 2, green): reached from the eastern vestibule, through a mezzanine.
- Ploshchad Revolyutsii (Line 3, blue): no direct transfer; it is reached through Teatralnaya.
Follow the signs and the line colors, and leave extra time at rush hours, when the passages are crowded.
Highlights of Okhotny Ryad Metro Station
The most renamed station
Okhotny Ryad has been renamed more times than any other Metro station.
It was Okhotny Ryad from 1935, Imeni Kaganovicha from 1955 to 1957, Prospekt Marksa from 1961, and Okhotny Ryad again in 1990.
Tip: Look for the old names in older guidebooks and maps.
The mosaic portrait of Karl Marx
A mosaic portrait of Karl Marx remains in the station, a reminder of the years when it was called Prospekt Marksa.
Its location in the hall was not described in the sources found.
Tip: Look along the end walls of the hall for the portrait.
Italian marble on the pylons
The pylons are faced with imported Italian marble, described as the only documented use of imported material in the Metro.
A claim that it came from a demolished cathedral is disputed.
Tip: Look at the veining of the marble in the light of the lamps.
A flood during construction
The station was first planned with two vaults, and became a three-vault pylon station.
Rainwater broke through the vault before it was sealed, and flooded the station, a setback for the builders.
Tip: Look at the pylons and vaults as a late change of plan.
Two vestibules
The western vestibule is by the Hotel Moskva, at Manezhnaya Square, and the eastern one at the corner of Bolshaya Dmitrovka Street, Teatralny Proyezd and Theatre Square.
The eastern vestibule is the transfer to Teatralnaya.
Tip: Check the exit signs for the side you need before you go up.
A meeting place
The central hall is a traditional place to meet, though the station has no seating or sculptures.
It is wide, with a long platform between the pylons.
Tip: Choose a clear landmark, like a pylon number, if you arrange to meet someone here.
Atmosphere
The hall is wide and busy, with marble pylons, warm lamps and the steady flow of passengers toward the transfers and the vestibules. The sound is trains, announcements and the footsteps of thousands of commuters.
Office workers, shoppers and visitors to Red Square and the theaters use the station, and it is one of the busiest in the center of Moscow.
It is busiest at rush hours and in the evening, and calmest in the middle of the morning on weekdays.
History of Okhotny Ryad Metro Station
The first line of the Moscow Metro opened on 15 May 1935. Okhotny Ryad, named after the old market street, was one of its stations, in the very center of the city, by Manezhnaya Square. Its architects included Yuri Revkovsky, and Dmitry Chechulin worked on the vestibule.
The station was first planned with two vaults, and was built as a three-vault pylon station. During construction, rainwater broke through the vault before it was sealed, and flooded the station. The pylons are faced with imported Italian marble, the only documented use of imported material in the Metro.
The station has had more names than any other: Okhotny Ryad from 1935, Imeni Kaganovicha from 1955 to 1957, then Okhotny Ryad again, and Prospekt Marksa from 30 November 1961. The mosaic portrait of Karl Marx dates from that time and remains in the station.
In 1990 the original name was restored. In the same year, the original escalators of the western vestibule were replaced.
The eastern vestibule is a transfer to Teatralnaya on the Zamoskvoretskaya Line, opened in 1938, and Ploshchad Revolyutsii on the Arbatsko-Pokrovskaya Line is reached only through Teatralnaya.
Today Okhotny Ryad is a working stop on Line 1, and one of the busiest stations of the center.
Tickets and Booking for Okhotny Ryad 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 a lower budget-level fare (₽). 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, and the transfers are crowded.
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 Okhotny Ryad Metro Station
Okhotny Ryad is in the Tverskoy District, in the very center of Moscow, by Manezhnaya Square, a short walk from Red Square.
- Metro: Okhotny Ryad (Line 1, Sokolnicheskaya, red), between Biblioteka Imeni Lenina and Lubyanka.
- Transfer: Teatralnaya (Line 2, green); Ploshchad Revolyutsii (Line 3, blue) through Teatralnaya.
The western vestibule is by the Hotel Moskva and Manezhnaya Square, and the eastern one at Teatralny Proyezd. The walking times to Red Square and the other sights were not verified. Taxis cannot always stop close to the Kremlin.
Accessibility
Accessibility details were not confirmed. The availability of lifts and step-free access, at the station and on the transfers, was not verified. Contact the Metro or check mosmetro.ru before traveling if you need step-free access or assistance.
Food Nearby
Manezhnaya Square, Tverskaya Street and the streets around Theatre 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 three stations are linked by long passages, and some rubles in cash for a ticket or a Troika card.
Best Views and Photo Spots of Okhotny Ryad Metro Station
Along the marble pylons
The row of Italian-marble pylons receding along the platform, with the warm lamps.
Best time: Late evening or mid-morning, when the platform is quieter
The Marx mosaic
The mosaic portrait of Karl Marx, a reminder of the station's years as Prospekt Marksa.
Best time: Between trains, with the platform clear
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 platforms and the passages are busy at rush hours, so stand clear of the platform edge. Drone rules in Moscow are strict, especially near the Kremlin, and change.
Family Suitability
The stations are a practical stop for families heading for Red Square and the theaters. They are very busy at rush hours, with long passages, so keep children close and away from the platform edge. Strollers need a lift, and lift access was not confirmed.
Moscow Vibes Tips
- Use the western vestibule for Manezhnaya Square and the Kremlin, and the eastern one for Theatre Square and the transfer to Teatralnaya.
- Do not look for a direct transfer to Ploshchad Revolyutsii; go through Teatralnaya.
- Look at the old names in older guidebooks and maps: Prospekt Marksa and Imeni Kaganovicha.
- Choose a clear landmark if you plan to meet someone; the central hall is a traditional meeting place.
- Leave extra time at rush hours; this is one of the busiest stations of the center.
- Come in mid-morning on a weekday for the quietest platform.
Explore Nearby Okhotny Ryad Metro Station
Sights near Okhotny Ryad Metro Station
Red Square Moscow – about 500 m away (~8 min walk) · typical visit: 1–2 hours for the square, 3–5 hours with St Basil's and one museumMain image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
State Historical Museum Moscowabout 250 m away (~4 min walk) · typical visit: 2.5–4 hoursMain image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Bolshoi Theatre Moscow – about 350 m away (~6 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.
Alexander Garden Moscowabout 550 m away (~9 min walk) · typical visit: 30–60 minutesMain image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Moscow Museum of Archaeologyabout 150 m away (~2 min walk) · typical visit: About 45 minutes to 1 hourMain image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Metro stations near Okhotny Ryad Metro Station
Teatralnaya Metro Stationabout 200 m away (~3 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Ploshchad Revolyutsii Metro Stationabout 350 m away (~6 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Aleksandrovsky Sad Metro Stationabout 700 m away (~12 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Restaurants and cafes near Okhotny Ryad Metro Station
Kappo Hiroki Arakawaabout 100 m away (~1 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Belugaabout 150 m away (~2 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Grand Cafe Dr. Zhivagoabout 150 m away (~2 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Varenichnaya No. 1about 350 m away (~6 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Hotels near Okhotny Ryad Metro Station
Four Seasons Hotel Moscowabout 50 m away (~1 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Hotel National Moscowabout 100 m away (~2 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
The Carlton 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 Okhotny Ryad Metro Station
Moscow Fish Weekabout 100 m away (~2 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Golden Autumn Festival in Moscowabout 200 m away (~3 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Related guides
Non/fiction Book Fair in Moscow: Gostiny Dvor, Dates and TicketsMain image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Circle of Light Festival in Moscow: Projection Mapping and FireworksMain image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Gardens and Flowers Festival in Moscow: Summer Gardens on City SquaresMain image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Journey to Christmas Festival in Moscow: Fairs, Lights and RinksMain image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Tatiana Day (Students‘ Day) in Moscow: Traditions and EventsMain image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Browse more: More in Tverskoy · All Metro Stations
FAQ: Okhotny Ryad Metro Station
When did Okhotny Ryad open?
On 15 May 1935, as part of the original Metro line.
Why was it called Prospekt Marksa?
It was renamed in 1961, and the name lasted until 1990. A mosaic portrait of Karl Marx remains in the station.
Can I change to Teatralnaya?
Yes, through the eastern vestibule, by a transfer to Line 2.
Can I change directly to Ploshchad Revolyutsii?
No. Go through Teatralnaya, which links both.
Who designed it?
Yuri Revkovsky and others; Dmitry Chechulin worked on the vestibule.
Do I need a ticket to see it?
Yes, a Metro fare is needed to enter. See the fares and payment section.
Is it near Red Square?
Yes, a short walk away; the walking time was not verified, so check a map.
How long do I need?
About 10 minutes to see the hall.
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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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