Polyanka Metro Station (Полянка) is a Line 9 stop (Serpukhovsko-Timiryazevskaya, gray) that opened on 23 January 1986. It sits about 36.5 meters underground in the Yakimanka District near Bolshaya Polyanka Street, and it’s known for a large sculpture of a couple with a child inside a circle placed at the end of the platform.
On this guide page, the focus is on what to notice inside the station and how fares work for entry.
Quick Facts
| Russian name | Полянка |
|---|---|
| Built / opened | 1986 |
| Architect(s) | S. A. Sevastianov and M. L. Trenin |
| Address | Bolshaya Polyanka Street, Yakimanka District, Moscow, Russia OpenStreetMap · Google Maps |
| District | Yakimanka |
| Interchanges | Polyanka (Line 9 (Serpukhovsko-Timiryazevskaya, gray), the station itself, between Borovitskaya and Serpukhovskaya) |
| 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, when the platform is crowded.
The station works in every season, so it is a good stop on a cold or wet day. |
| Last updated | October 7, 2026 |
Why Visit Polyanka Metro Station?
Polyanka is worth a short stop for one clear reason: a prominent sculpture of a couple with a child, inside a circle, set right at the end of the platform in a deep column hall. It’s a straightforward Metro photo-and-stroll stop on Line 9, especially if you’re heading to Bolshaya Polyanka Street and central galleries.
How Polyanka Metro Station Is Laid Out
Polyanka is a single-line station on Line 9 (gray). Inside, it’s a column hall with three vaults; the key landmark (the family sculpture) sits at the end of the platform.
Highlights of Polyanka Metro Station
The family sculpture at the platform end
At the end of the platform, a large sculpture shows a couple with a child inside a circle.
Tip: Walk all the way to the far end of the platform rather than taking photos from the escalators.
A deep column hall
Polyanka is a column station with three vaults, built deep underground (about 36.5 meters).
Tip: Stand around the mid-platform area and look along the columns for the full depth effect.
A late-Soviet addition to Line 9
It opened later than the southern part of Line 9—Polyanka opened in 1986 after the line’s initial southern expansion in 1983.
Tip: If you’re passing through twice (northbound/southbound), compare the station feel with nearby stops.
Named after Bolshaya Polyanka Street
The station name comes from Bolshaya Polyanka Street in the Yakimanka District.
Tip: When you exit, follow Bolshaya Polyanka Street south toward the older central neighborhoods.
No transfers at Polyanka
There are no line changes here. A planned Yakimanka transfer connection on Line 6 was discussed in the 1980s but never built.
Tip: For transfers, plan via Borovitskaya or Serpukhovskaya instead.
Atmosphere
The platform hall has a calmer feel than big central junctions: even lighting, a long row of columns, and the steady mix of train sounds, announcements, and commuters’ footsteps.
Expect the busiest periods during weekday rush hours; outside those peaks it feels easier to move around and walk to the end of the platform to find the sculpture.
History of Polyanka Metro Station
The Serpukhovsko-Timiryazevskaya Line opened in stages, with the southern part opening on 8 November 1983. Polyanka then opened later, on 23 January 1986.
Polyanka is a column station with three vaults, about 36.5 meters underground. It was designed by S. A. Sevastianov and M. L. Trenin and named after Bolshaya Polyanka Street.
A transfer to a planned Yakimanka station on another line was planned in the 1980s but was never built, so Polyanka remains a one-line stop today.
Legends and Myths about Polyanka Metro Station
Peace-symbol reading of the sculpture
Disputed by historians. A blog (not verified here as an official interpretation) describes the sculpture’s motifs as peace-related symbols such as an olive branch and doves, and links this look to the station’s opening.
Tickets and Booking for Polyanka Metro Station
There is no separate ticket for Polyanka itself—entry requires a Metro fare.
Fare details vary by payment method and card type in publicly reported information. For up-to-date prices and what payment methods work for international visitors, check the official Moscow Metro site (mosmetro.ru) as of October 2026.
In practice, many visitors use either:
- Troika: a reusable card sold at ticket windows and top-up machines in Metro station halls and via the official Metro app.
- Contactless payments: some sources report payment by contactless bank cards or phones, but foreign-card compatibility is inconsistent in public reports—carry cash as a backup.
Plan and Book
How to Get to Polyanka Metro Station
Polyanka is in the Yakimanka District, in central Moscow, south of the Moskva River, on/near Bolshaya Polyanka Street.
Metro: Polyanka (Line 9, Serpukhovsko-Timiryazevskaya, gray), located between Borovitskaya and Serpukhovskaya.
Surface transport: Trolleybus 1 is listed as a connection in some sources, but walking times to stops weren’t verified.
Accessibility
Accessibility details (lifts/elevators and step-free routes) were not verified for Polyanka. Because the station is deep (around 36.5 meters underground), step-free access may be limited—check the official Moscow Metro accessibility information (as of October 2026) before relying on it.
Food Nearby
Bolshaya Polyanka Street and the surrounding Yakimanka streets have cafes and restaurants, but specific venues weren’t verified here—check hours on the spot or via the latest official listing for each place.
What to Bring
A navigation app or offline map (the hall is deep and signs can be your guide) and a way to pay the Metro fare—either a Troika card or cash for purchasing a ticket at a station ticket office (specific card/payment compatibility should be checked for current conditions).
Best Views and Photo Spots of Polyanka Metro Station
End of the platform
The large family sculpture framed at the far end of the platform—best captured by walking toward it rather than shooting from the escalators.
Best time: Mid-morning or early afternoon on weekdays (fewer crowds).
Mid-platform along the columns
The perspective lines of the columns stretching down the hall, giving the station’s deep feel.
Best time: Late evening or mid-morning (even interior lighting, less rush).
Photography Rules
Photography rules inside Metro stations were not confirmed for Polyanka. If there are posted signs or staff instructions, follow them; rush hours can make tripods difficult, so plan to step aside to avoid blocking the platform edge. Drone use is restricted in central Moscow—check current local drone rules before flying.
Family Suitability
Generally family-friendly as a quick indoor landmark: children can enjoy the sculpture at the platform end. The station is deep with long escalators, and it can get crowded at rush hour—keep an eye on children near the platform edge.
Moscow Vibes Tips
- The sculpture is easy to miss if you stop near the escalators; walk to the end of the platform.
- If you need transfers, don’t plan on Polyanka—use Borovitskaya or Serpukhovskaya instead.
- Pair Polyanka with Bolshaya Polyanka Street: once you’re above ground, the street leads through the older parts of the Yakimanka District.
- For photos, avoid rush-hour peaks when the platform is crowded, and let people pass if you stop to frame the sculpture.
Explore Nearby Polyanka Metro Station
Sights near Polyanka Metro Station
Tretyakov Gallery Moscowabout 450 m away (~7 min walk) · typical visit: 2–3 hours per buildingMain 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.
Marfo-Mariinsky Convent Moscowabout 400 m away (~6 min walk) · typical visit: About 1 to 1.5 hoursMain image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Muzeon Art Park Moscowabout 1000 m away (~16 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 1.1 km away (~17 min walk) · typical visit: 2–3 hoursMain image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Metro stations near Polyanka Metro Station
Novokuznetskaya Metro Stationabout 800 m away (~13 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Tretyakovskaya Metro Stationabout 700 m away (~11 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Dobryninskaya Metro Stationabout 1.0 km away (~16 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Train stations and river piers near Polyanka Metro Station
Paveletsky Railway Terminalabout 1.6 km away (~26 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Restaurants and cafes near Polyanka Metro Station
Mushroomsabout 200 m away (~4 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Oblomovabout 900 m away (~15 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Hotels near Polyanka Metro Station
Ibis Moscow Centre Bakhrushinaabout 1.1 km away (~18 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Hotel Baltschug Kempinski Moscowabout 1.2 km away (~20 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Events and traditions near Polyanka Metro Station
Moscow Summer Fairabout 750 m away (~12 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Orthodox Easter in Moscowabout 1.1 km away (~18 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Related guides
Yakimanka: Gorky Park, Muzeon and the Tretyakov GalleriesMain image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Zamoskvorechye: Pyatnitskaya Street, Ordynka and Old ChurchesMain image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
How to visit the Tretyakov Gallery: Tickets, Hours and Which BuildingMain image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
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.
Browse more: More in Yakimanka · All Metro Stations
FAQ: Polyanka Metro Station
When did Polyanka Metro Station open?
Polyanka opened on 23 January 1986.
Which line is Polyanka on?
It’s on Line 9 (Serpukhovsko-Timiryazevskaya, gray), between Borovitskaya and Serpukhovskaya.
How deep is the station?
It is about 36.5 meters underground.
What’s the main thing to look for inside the station?
A large sculpture of a couple with a child, inside a circle, placed at the end of the platform.
Do I need a ticket to enter?
Yes. Entering the Metro requires a fare (there is no separate ticket just for this station).
Can you change to other lines at Polyanka?
No. Polyanka has no transfers. A planned Yakimanka connection on another line was not built.
How long does it take to see the hall and the sculpture?
Plan around 10 minutes if we go straight to the end of the platform and back.
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Last updated: October 7, 2026. Found an error or something out of date? Report it and we will check and fix it.
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