Park Kultury Metro Station is the stop for Gorky Park, a hub of two linked stations at the corner of Komsomolsky Avenue and the Garden Ring, next to Krymsky Bridge. Park Kultury Metro Station Gorky Park access is by a walk across the river, and the Circle Line hall has large Chinese-style lamps, four Empire-style torchieres and a panel of Maxim Gorky.
The Circle Line station opened in 1950 and the Line 1 station in 1935. This guide explains what to look for, how the stations connect and how the fares work.
Quick Facts
| Russian name | Парк культуры |
|---|---|
| Built / opened | 1950 |
| Architect(s) | Yelena Markova (vestibule, with Rozhin) |
| Address | Komsomolsky Prospekt and Garden Ring, Moscow, Russia OpenStreetMap · Google Maps |
| District | Khamovniki |
| Interchanges | Park Kultury (Line 5 (Koltsevaya, brown), the decorated station of 1950, between Oktyabrskaya and Kiyevskaya) Park Kultury (Line 1 (Sokolnicheskaya, red), the station of 1935, between Frunzenskaya and Kropotkinskaya, reached through the shared vestibule) |
| Opening hours | The Moscow Metro normally runs from early morning until around 1:00 at night, and the two Park Kultury 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 hub is crowded with visitors on their way to Gorky Park.
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 Park Kultury Metro Station?
The station is the starting point for Gorky Park and the Muzeon sculpture park, and many visitors pass through it. Its Circle Line hall is darker and more solemn than the bright stations nearby, with large lamps in the form of Chinese lanterns hanging from the ceiling.
Four Empire-style torchieres add to the lighting, and at the end of the hall an image of Maxim Gorky carries an inscription in metal letters, Gorky Park of Culture and Rest, with the original long name in bronze letters next to it.
The Line 1 station opened in 1935 as part of the first Metro line, so the hub shows two eras of the Metro. The vestibule beside Krymsky Bridge is a landmark.
How Park Kultury Metro Station Is Laid Out
Park Kultury is a hub of two stations that share a large vestibule at the corner of Komsomolsky Avenue and the Garden Ring, next to Krymsky Bridge.
The Circle Line station (Line 5, brown) is a deep pylon tri-vault station with a central hall, lamps and torchieres, and a Gorky panel at the blind end. The Line 1 station (Sokolnicheskaya, red) is a separate station, reached from the same vestibule. A long escalator links the Circle Line hall with the transfer and the exit to the city.
For Gorky Park, leave through the vestibule and cross Krymsky Bridge. To see the decoration, walk the Circle Line hall to its end and then take the escalator up.
Highlights of Park Kultury Metro Station
The Chinese-style lamps
The Circle Line hall is lit by chandeliers in the form of large Chinese lamps, which hang from the ceiling along the hall.
They give the hall its soft, warm light and a distinctive look.
Tip: Look up from the middle of the hall, where several lamps are in view at once.
Four Empire-style torchieres
Four torchieres in the Empire style stand in the hall, adding to the lighting and the formal look of the station.
They contrast with the lanterns overhead.
Tip: Look for the torchieres at the sides of the hall, which are easy to miss in the crowds.
The Gorky panel and inscription
At the blind end of the Circle Line hall, an image of Maxim Gorky is shown with the inscription Gorky Park of Culture and Rest in metal letters.
The original long form of the name appears in bronze letters next to Gorky's image.
Tip: Walk to the end of the hall to read the inscription, which is the station's best-known detail.
The vestibule by Krymsky Bridge
The large vestibule stands at the corner of Komsomolsky Avenue and the Garden Ring next to Krymsky Bridge. It was co-designed with Rozhin by Yelena Markova, and it also serves as the transfer to the Line 1 station.
It is a landmark on the Garden Ring.
Tip: Look at the building from the street before you enter, since it is the best view of the hub.
The Line 1 station of 1935
The Sokolnicheskaya Line station opened on 15 May 1935 as part of the first Metro line and was the terminus of the Frunze branch.
It was first named after the Gorky Central Park of Culture and Leisure, until 1980.
Tip: Use it if you are coming from the center on Line 1.
The gateway to Gorky Park
The station is named after Gorky Park, which lies across the Moskva River. Visitors walk out through the vestibule and cross Krymsky Bridge to reach the park, the Muzeon sculpture park and the museums beside them.
The walking time was not verified.
Tip: Check a map for the walking route and allow extra time in summer when the paths are crowded.
Atmosphere
The Circle Line hall is dim and warm, with large lamps hanging in a line and a dark stone finish that makes it feel more solemn than the white-marble stations nearby. The Gorky panel at the end draws the eye along the hall.
Passengers flow between the two lines and the street, and in summer the hub fills with visitors on their way to Gorky Park. The sound is footsteps, announcements and trains.
It is busiest at rush hours and at weekends in good weather, and calmer in the middle of the day on weekdays and late in the evening.
History of Park Kultury Metro Station
The Sokolnicheskaya Line station of Park Kultury opened on 15 May 1935, as part of the first Metro line, and was the terminus of the Frunze branch. It was first called Tsentralnyi Park Kultury i Otdykha imeni Gorkogo, the Gorky Central Park of Culture and Leisure, after the park across the Moskva River, and kept the long name until 1980.
The Circle Line station opened on 1 January 1950, with the first segment of the line, as its initial terminus. It is a deep pylon tri-vault station, with a large vestibule at the corner of Komsomolsky Avenue and the Garden Ring, next to Krymsky Bridge, co-designed with Rozhin by Yelena Markova.
Because it was a terminus, reversal sidings lie in front of the station, and a service branch to the Sokolnicheskaya Line was used to move rolling stock before the Circle Line’s depot opened in 1954.
The hall is lit by large Chinese-style lamps, with four Empire-style torchieres. At the blind end is an image of Maxim Gorky and the inscription Gorky Park of Culture and Rest in metal letters. The original long form of the name appears in bronze letters next to the image.
The station was first called Park Kultury imeni Gorkogo. During the 1980 Moscow Olympics the name was shortened, because announcements were repeated in English and French during the games.
The vestibule serves both stations, and a long escalator links the Circle Line hall with the transfer and the exit to the city.
Today the hub is the main station for Gorky Park, the Muzeon sculpture park and the museums across the river.
Tickets and Booking for Park Kultury 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 at weekends in good weather when visitors go to 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 Park Kultury Metro Station
Park Kultury is in Khamovniki District, south-west of the center of Moscow, at the corner of Komsomolsky Avenue and the Garden Ring, next to Krymsky Bridge.
- Circle Line: Park Kultury (Line 5, Koltsevaya, brown), between Oktyabrskaya and Kiyevskaya; this is the decorated station.
- Line 1: Park Kultury (Sokolnicheskaya, red), between Frunzenskaya and Kropotkinskaya, reached through the shared vestibule.
For Gorky Park, leave through the vestibule and cross Krymsky Bridge; the walking time was not verified. A taxi can drop you near the bridge, though traffic on the Garden Ring is heavy.
Accessibility
Accessibility details were not confirmed. The Circle Line 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
The Garden Ring and Komsomolsky Avenue have cafes and shops, and Gorky Park across the river has many cafes and food stalls. 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 Park Kultury Metro Station
Middle of the Circle Line hall
The line of large lamps hanging along the hall, with the Gorky panel at the far end.
Best time: Late evening or mid-morning, when the hall is quieter
Gorky panel at the end of the hall
The image of Maxim Gorky with the metal-letter inscription and the bronze long name beside it.
Best time: Between trains, with the platform clear
Vestibule at Krymsky Bridge
The large vestibule on the corner of the Garden Ring, with the bridge beside it.
Best time: Daylight or early evening
Krymsky Bridge looking toward the park
The bridge over the Moskva River on the way to Gorky Park, with the river and the skyline.
Best time: Sunset
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 large lamps. 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
- Walk to the blind end of the Circle Line hall for the Gorky panel; most passengers never go that far.
- Look at the original long station name in bronze letters next to Gorky's image.
- Check the line color before you go down; the two Park Kultury stations are on Lines 5 and 1.
- Do not look for the park at the station; it lies across Krymsky Bridge, so plan the walk.
- On sunny weekends, use another entrance of the park if the hub is crowded, or travel earlier in the day.
- Combine the stop with the Muzeon Art Park and the New Tretyakov Gallery, which are on the far side of the bridge.
Explore Nearby Park Kultury Metro Station
Sights near Park Kultury Metro Station
Gorky Park Moscowabout 750 m away (~12 min walk) · typical visit: 2–4 hours
Muzeon Art Park Moscowabout 850 m away (~14 min walk) · typical visit: 1–2 hours
New Tretyakov Gallery Moscowabout 850 m away (~14 min walk) · typical visit: 2–3 hours
Garage Museum of Contemporary Art Moscowabout 900 m away (~15 min walk) · typical visit: 2–3 hours
Moscow Metro · typical visit: 1.5–3 hours for a tour of showcase stations
Train stations and river piers near Park Kultury Metro Station
Kievsky Railway Terminalabout 1.9 km away (~30 min walk)
Restaurants and cafes near Park Kultury Metro Station
Bagebiabout 650 m away (~11 min walk)
Multikulturaabout 700 m away (~12 min walk)
Ainaabout 800 m away (~13 min walk)
Hotels near Park Kultury Metro Station
Maidens Hotel Moscowabout 600 m away (~10 min walk)
Library Hostel Moscowabout 1.1 km away (~19 min walk)
Golden Ring Hotel Moscowabout 1.4 km away (~23 min walk)
Events and traditions near Park Kultury Metro Station
Moscow Summer Fairabout 1.2 km away (~20 min walk)
Orthodox Easter in Moscowabout 1.3 km away (~21 min walk)
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FAQ: Park Kultury Metro Station
Is Park Kultury the station for Gorky Park?
Yes. The park lies across the Moskva River, and visitors walk over Krymsky Bridge from the station.
When did the Circle Line station open?
On 1 January 1950, as the first segment of the line and its initial terminus.
When did the Line 1 station open?
On 15 May 1935, in the first Metro line, as the terminus of the Frunze branch.
What are the lamps?
Large chandeliers in the form of Chinese lamps, with four Empire-style torchieres.
Who is shown at the end of the hall?
Maxim Gorky, with the inscription Gorky Park of Culture and Rest in metal letters.
Do I need a ticket to see it?
Yes, a Metro fare is needed to enter. See the fares and payment section.
Why was the name shortened?
During the 1980 Olympics, because announcements were repeated in English and French.
How long do I need?
About 10 to 15 minutes to walk the Circle Line hall and look at the lamps and the Gorky panel.
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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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