Oktyabrskaya Metro Station is a hub of two linked stations at Oktyabrskaya Square on the Garden Ring, on the way to Gorky Park. Oktyabrskaya Metro Station Gorky Park access is by a walk toward the river, and the Circle Line hall of 1950, designed by Leonid Polyakov, uses an Empire style that recalls the victory of 1812.
The hall has arches with soldier medallions, pylons with two golden torches and a floor of grey and red granite. The station was first called Kaluzhskaya. This guide explains what to look for, how the two stations connect and how the fares work.
Quick Facts
| Russian name | Октябрьская |
|---|---|
| Built / opened | 1950 |
| Architect(s) | Leonid Polyakov |
| Address | Kaluzhskaya Square (Oktyabrskaya Square), Moscow, Russia OpenStreetMap · Google Maps |
| District | Yakimanka |
| Interchanges | Oktyabrskaya (Line 5 (Koltsevaya, brown), the decorated station of 1950, between Dobryninskaya and Park Kultury) Oktyabrskaya (Line 6 (Kaluzhsko-Rizhskaya, orange), the station of 1962, between Shabolovskaya and Tretyakovskaya, linked by staircases) |
| Opening hours | The Moscow Metro normally runs from early morning until around 1:00 at night, and the two Oktyabrskaya 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 and sunny weekends are the busiest, when the platform and the staircases are crowded.
The stations work in every season, so the hub is a good stop on a cold or wet day. |
| Last updated | October 6, 2026 |
Why Visit Oktyabrskaya Metro Station?
The Circle Line hall is one of the best examples of the Empire style in the Metro. Leonid Polyakov took the mid-19th-century triumphal Neoclassical style as a base and used the theme of the 1812 victory over Napoleon to echo the victory of 1945.
The arches carry large bas-reliefs with medallions of Soviet Army soldiers, and each pylon has two anodized aluminum torches that give a golden glow to the bright grey marble.
The vestibule on the square has large bas-reliefs of trumpeters lit from below, and the station is a convenient stop for Gorky Park and the museums toward the river. The station was called Kaluzhskaya until 1961.
Highlights of Oktyabrskaya Metro Station
The Empire-style hall
Leonid Polyakov designed the Circle Line hall, which opened on 1 January 1950. He took the mid-19th-century triumphal Neoclassical Empire style as a base and used the theme of the 1812 victory over Napoleon to match the victory of 1945.
It is a deep pylon tri-vault station.
Tip: Stand in the middle of the central hall to take in the arches and the pylons.
Arches with soldier medallions
Both the central hall and the platform halls are divided by arches with large bas-reliefs. They contain medallions of Soviet Army soldiers surrounded by ornaments.
The reliefs give the hall its ceremonial look.
Tip: Look up at the arches from the platform, where each medallion is easy to see.
Golden torches on the pylons
The pylons have bas-reliefs centered on ventilation grilles, flanked by two anodized aluminum torches. The torches give a golden glow to the bright grey marble.
The effect is warmest in the evening light of the hall.
Tip: Look for the torches at the sides of each pylon, not only at the top.
Gilded wreaths and stars on the walls
The station walls are covered with ceramic tiles decorated with relief images of gilded wreaths and stars.
The floor is laid with grey and red granite, bordered by a pattern of bright and dark marble around the central hall.
Tip: Look down at the border pattern around the central hall.
The vestibule and its trumpeters
The large vestibule on Oktyabrskaya Square has large bas-reliefs of trumpeters on its exterior, lit by lamps hidden as columns beneath. Inside, the ticket and escalator halls have casts and reliefs with battle banners, weapons and women symbolizing glory, by G. Motovilov.
In 1989 the structure was built into the Moscow Institute of Steel and Alloys.
Tip: Look at the trumpeters from the street in the evening, when they are lit.
The Line 6 station of 1962
The Kaluzhsko-Rizhskaya Line station opened on 13 October 1962 and was the northern terminus of its line until 1970. It has block white marble pylons and walls faced with white ceramic tile.
A set of staircases was added to the central hall of the Circle Line station for the transfer.
Tip: Use the staircases at the end of the Circle Line hall for the transfer to Line 6.
Atmosphere
The Circle Line hall is bright and ceremonial, with grey marble pylons glowing under the torches and gilded wreaths on the walls. The arches overhead carry soldier medallions, and the whole hall feels like a memorial gate.
Passengers flow between the two lines and the street, and in good weather many visitors head for Gorky Park. The sound is footsteps, announcements and trains.
It is busiest at rush hours and on sunny weekends, and calmer in the middle of the day on weekdays and late in the evening.
History of Oktyabrskaya Metro Station
The Circle Line station opened on 1 January 1950 with the first segment of the fourth stage of the Moscow Metro. It was first called Kaluzhskaya, after Kaluzhskaya Square on the Garden Ring, which was named after the city of Kaluga and was called October Square for part of the Soviet period.
The architect was Leonid Polyakov, who took the mid-19th-century Neoclassical triumphal Empire style as the basis of the design. He built in the theme of the 1812 victory over Napoleon to match the 1945 Soviet victory, applying it to the standard deep pylon tri-vault plan.
The hall has arches with large bas-reliefs of soldier medallions, pylons with two golden torches, walls of ceramic tiles with gilded wreaths and stars, and a floor of grey and red granite. The vestibule on the square has bas-reliefs of trumpeters outside and casts of battle banners, weapons and Soviet Army figures inside, by G. Motovilov.
On 6 June 1961 the station was renamed Oktyabrskaya, and the square’s historic name Kaluzhskaya was restored in 1992.
On 13 October 1962 a second station, Oktyabrskaya on the Kaluzhsko-Rizhskaya Line, opened beside it. A set of staircases was added to the central hall of the Circle Line station for the transfer. The new station was the northern terminus of its line until 1970, and has white marble pylons and white tile walls. Its freestanding vestibule is on Bolshaya Yakimanka Street, about half a block north of the square.
In 1989 the vestibule of the Circle Line station was built into the Moscow Institute of Steel and Alloys.
Today the hub serves the Yakimanka District and the way to Gorky Park, the Muzeon Art Park and the museums toward the river.
Tickets and Booking for Oktyabrskaya 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 ticket, while some sources still give lower prices. 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 hub is busiest in the morning and evening on weekdays, and on sunny weekends when visitors head for Gorky Park.
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 Oktyabrskaya Metro Station
Oktyabrskaya is in Yakimanka District, south of the center of Moscow, at Oktyabrskaya (Kaluzhskaya) Square on the Garden Ring.
- Circle Line: Oktyabrskaya (Line 5, Koltsevaya, brown), between Dobryninskaya and Park Kultury; this is the decorated station.
- Line 6: Oktyabrskaya (Kaluzhsko-Rizhskaya, orange), between Shabolovskaya and Tretyakovskaya, linked by staircases at the end of the Circle Line hall.
The Circle Line vestibule is on the square, and the Line 6 vestibule is on Bolshaya Yakimanka Street. For Gorky Park, walk toward the river; the walking time was not verified. A taxi can drop you at the square.
Accessibility
Accessibility details were not confirmed. The stations are deep and are reached by escalators, 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
Oktyabrskaya Square, Bolshaya Yakimanka Street and the streets toward Gorky Park have cafes, restaurants and shops. Specific venues were not verified, so check opening hours before you go.
What to Bring
Bring a camera and some rubles in cash for a ticket or a Troika card. In summer, bring water for the walk to Gorky Park.
Best Views and Photo Spots of Oktyabrskaya Metro Station
Middle of the Circle Line hall
The row of grey marble pylons with golden torches and arches with medallions receding along the hall.
Best time: Late evening or mid-morning, when the hall is quieter
Pylon torches close-up
The two anodized aluminum torches beside a pylon relief, glowing against the grey marble.
Best time: Between trains, with the platform clear
Trumpeter reliefs on the vestibule
The large bas-reliefs of trumpeters on the vestibule, lit from below by lamps hidden as columns.
Best time: Dusk or evening, when the lights are on
Staircases to Line 6
The staircases at the end of the Circle Line hall leading to the transfer.
Best time: Quiet moments in the middle of the day
Photography Rules
Photography rules in the stations were not confirmed. Taking photographs on the platform is common, but tripods and flash can be restricted, and the hub is busy, so stand clear of the platform edge. Drone rules in Moscow are strict and change.
Family Suitability
The hub is a short stop that suits families on the way to Gorky Park, and children can look for the torches and the trumpeter reliefs. It is a busy working station, so keep children close and away from the platform edge. Strollers need the escalator or a lift, and lift access was not confirmed.
Moscow Vibes Tips
- Look for the two torches beside each pylon; they are what give the hall its golden glow.
- Look at the trumpeter reliefs on the vestibule from the street in the evening, when they are lit.
- Check the line color before you go down; the two Oktyabrskaya stations are on Lines 5 and 6.
- Do not confuse the square's two names: Oktyabrskaya and Kaluzhskaya Square are the same place.
- Use the staircases at the end of the Circle Line hall for the transfer to Line 6.
- Check a map for the walk toward Gorky Park, and allow extra time in summer.
Explore Nearby Oktyabrskaya Metro Station
Sights near Oktyabrskaya Metro Station
Gorky Park Moscowabout 600 m away (~10 min walk) · typical visit: 2–4 hoursMain image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Muzeon Art Park Moscowabout 450 m away (~8 min walk) · typical visit: 1–2 hoursMain image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
New Tretyakov Gallery Moscowabout 450 m away (~7 min walk) · typical visit: 2–3 hoursMain image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Garage Museum of Contemporary Art Moscowabout 550 m away (~9 min walk) · typical visit: 2–3 hoursMain image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Moscow Metro · typical visit: 1.5–3 hours for a tour of showcase stationsMain image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Metro stations near Oktyabrskaya Metro Station
Dobryninskaya Metro Stationabout 750 m away (~12 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Serpukhovskaya Metro Stationabout 850 m away (~14 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Polyanka Metro Stationabout 1.1 km away (~17 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Train stations and river piers near Oktyabrskaya Metro Station
Paveletsky Railway Terminalabout 1.8 km away (~29 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Events and traditions near Oktyabrskaya Metro Station
Moscow Summer Fairabout 1.5 km away (~24 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Orthodox Easter in Moscowabout 1.8 km away (~29 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
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Neskuchny Garden Moscow: Free Entry, Orlov Summer House and PondsMain image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Krymsky Val: New Tretyakov Gallery, Muzeon Park and Gorky ParkMain image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
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Browse more: More in Yakimanka · All Metro Stations
FAQ: Oktyabrskaya Metro Station
When did the Circle Line station open?
On 1 January 1950, as Kaluzhskaya, and it was renamed Oktyabrskaya on 6 June 1961.
Who designed it?
The architect Leonid Polyakov, in an Empire style with the theme of the 1812 victory over Napoleon.
What are the torches?
Two anodized aluminum torches beside each pylon that give a golden glow to the grey marble.
What is on the arches?
Large bas-reliefs with medallions of Soviet Army soldiers surrounded by ornaments.
Which Oktyabrskaya is the decorated one?
The Circle Line station (Line 5, brown). The Line 6 station is plainer, with white marble and tile.
Do I need a ticket to see it?
Yes, a Metro fare is needed to enter. See the fares and payment section.
Is it the station for Gorky Park?
It is one of the stations used for Gorky Park, with a walk toward the river. See the getting there section.
How long do I need?
About 10 to 15 minutes to walk the Circle Line hall and look at the arches and torches.
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Last updated: October 6, 2026.
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