Rizhsky Railway Terminal is the smallest of Moscow’s main railway stations, on Rizhskaya Square north of the center, between Prospekt Mira and the Garden Ring. It opened in 1901 as the Vindavsky Station and is named for the Latvian capital, Riga, to which trains once ran.
Today the terminal mainly serves suburban trains of the Rizhsky direction toward the north-west of the Moscow region. Two Rizhskaya Metro stations lie beside it, and a separate MCD platform called Rizhskaya is a short walk away, so check which station you need. Timetables and ticket rules change, so check the official sources before you travel.
Quick Facts
| Russian name | Рижский вокзал |
|---|---|
| Type | Railway station |
| Built / opened | 1901 |
| Address | Rizhskaya Square 1, Moscow (Рижская площадь, 1) OpenStreetMap · Google Maps |
| District | Meshchansky |
| Metro | Rizhskaya (Kaluzhsko-Rizhskaya Line (Line 6, orange), The station lies on Rizhskaya Square beside the terminal; exact exits and walking times were not verified, but the walk is short) Rizhskaya (Bolshaya Koltsevaya Line (Line 11, teal), A station of the same name on the large ring line; exits and walking times were not verified) |
| Opening hours | Trains run daily, and the ticket offices and services inside have their own hours. Check the timetable for your train (as of October 2026 – check the official site). |
| Admission | Entering the station is free. Tickets are needed for suburban and regional trains. |
| Best time to visit | The terminal is busiest at the morning and evening rush hours and on weekends and holidays. For a calm visit, go mid-morning or early afternoon on a weekday. Crowd patterns were not verified. |
| Recommended duration | 10 to 20 minutes to see the station and the square; longer if you are changing to a train. |
| Website | rzd.ru |
| Last updated | October 7, 2026 |
How to Get to and from Rizhsky Railway Terminal
| Option | Duration | Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Metro, Kaluzhsko-Rizhskaya Line (orange, Line 6) from Rizhskaya | About 10 to 15 minutes to central stations such as Kitay-Gorod; times not verified | Standard Metro fare; see the How to buy a Moscow Metro ticket guide | Best for central Moscow. The line runs south via Prospekt Mira, where you can transfer to the Circle Line. Trains run from early morning to after midnight. |
| Metro, Bolshaya Koltsevaya Line (teal, Line 11) from Rizhskaya | Varies by destination | Standard Metro fare | Best for crossing the north and east of the city without going through the center, for example toward Sokolniki. |
| MCD lines D2 and D4 from the Rizhskaya platform | Varies by destination | Standard city fare; see the guide on the MCD | Suburban-style trains that cross the city. The platform is a short walk from the terminal; check the station name. See the How to use the Moscow Central Diameters (MCD) guide. |
| Suburban trains of the Rizhsky direction | Varies by destination | Check the official fare | Trains leave from the terminal and are best for towns north-west of Moscow. |
| Taxi | Depends on traffic | Check the app for the fare | Use a taxi app and the official pick-up point rather than offers from touts. See the How to use taxi apps in Moscow guide. |
Why Visit Rizhsky Railway Terminal?
Rizhsky is a place to pass through, not a major sight: the station is a quiet terminal for suburban trains, with far smaller crowds than the big stations on Komsomolskaya Square. It is useful for visitors who want a train toward the north-west of the Moscow region, and for an easy change between the Metro and the suburban lines.
It is also linked to the Rizhskaya Metro stations, of which the orange-line station was designed by Latvian architects, a reminder of the station’s name. Be careful with the several stops called Rizhskaya in the area, since they are different stations.
Highlights of Rizhsky Railway Terminal
The historic terminal
The station was opened on 11 September 1901 as the Vindavsky Station, for the Moscow to Vindava railway, which was started in 1897, and it later took the name Rizhsky after the line toward Riga via Rzhev and Velikiye Luki. The Rizhsky suburban line itself opened on 30 June 1901. The terminal is small and low-key, a contrast to the larger stations.
Tip: Check the departures board for the platform of your suburban train.
Rizhskaya Square
The terminal faces Rizhskaya Square on Prospekt Mira, with the Metro entrances and the tram and bus stops around it. The square is a transport interchange and a good place to orient yourself before you walk toward Prospekt Mira or the Garden Ring. See the Marina Roshcha guide on this site for the area.
Tip: Check the entrance signs, since the Metro and the station have separate doors.
Rizhskaya on the orange line
The Rizhskaya Metro station of the Kaluzhsko-Rizhskaya Line opened on 1 May 1958 and was designed by the Latvian architects Arturs Reinfelds and Vaidelotis Apsitis, as the station is named after the nearby Rizhsky Station and the city of Riga. It lies between Prospekt Mira and Alekseyevskaya. See the How to see the most beautiful Moscow Metro stations in one route guide on this site.
Tip: Look at the design of the hall, which is distinct from the central stations.
Rizhskaya on the large ring line
The Rizhskaya station of the Bolshaya Koltsevaya Line, the large ring line, opened on 1 March 2023 and lies between Maryina Roshcha and Sokolniki. It is the way to cross the north of the city without going through the center. Transfers to the orange-line station are possible.
Tip: Use it if you want to reach stations around the north and east of the city.
The MCD platform called Rizhskaya
A separate railway platform called Rizhskaya, on the Alekseyevskaya connecting branch, serves lines D2 and D4 of the Moscow Central Diameters, and it lies a short walk from the terminal and the Metro. There is also a platform of the same name on the Leningradskaya line of the October Railway. Do not confuse them with the Rizhsky terminal. See the How to use the Moscow Central Diameters (MCD) guide on this site.
Tip: Check the exact station name and line on your ticket or app before you set out.
The Rizhsky suburban line
Suburban trains of the Rizhsky direction leave from the terminal and run toward the north-west, including Nakhabino and towns toward Volokolamsk, and some trains come from the Kursky direction. The line follows the railway toward Rzhev and Velikiye Luki. The service pattern changes, so check the timetable.
Tip: Use the app or the ticket machines for suburban trips.
Atmosphere
The station is far quieter than the big terminals: a modest hall, a few ticket windows and a short row of platforms, with commuters bound for the north-western suburbs crossing it at rush hour. Announcements are less constant, and the air smells of coffee and rail dust.
Outside, Rizhskaya Square is busy with trams, buses and people moving between the Metro entrances, and Prospekt Mira runs past with its steady traffic. The terminal is busiest at the morning and evening rush hours and at weekends. At night the square is lit and quieter.
History of Rizhsky Railway Terminal
The Moscow to Vindava railway was started in 1897 to link Moscow with the Baltic port of Vindava, now Ventspils. The suburban line of the same direction opened on 30 June 1901, and the terminal, called the Vindavsky Station, was opened on 11 September 1901 on the northern edge of the city. It was later renamed the Rizhsky Station, as the line led toward Riga via Rzhev and Velikiye Luki.
In 1959 the line was transferred to the Moscow Railway. Traffic between Volokolamsk and Rzhev was first run by steam locomotives and later by diesel trains. Over the decades the terminal’s role changed: long-distance trains toward the Baltic states were reduced and then ceased, and the station became mainly a suburban terminal.
The Metro came to the square in 1958, when the Rizhskaya station of the Kaluzhsko-Rizhskaya Line opened on 1 May 1958, designed by the Latvian architects Arturs Reinfelds and Vaidelotis Apsitis and named after the station. In the 21st century the Rizhsky direction became part of the Moscow Central Diameters, with a platform called Rizhskaya, which was opened in 1949 as Rzhevskaya, serving lines D2 and D4. The Rizhskaya station on the large ring line opened on 1 March 2023.
Today the terminal serves suburban trains toward Nakhabino and the north-west, and the area around Rizhskaya Square is an interchange of Metro, trams, buses and MCD platforms. The services offered change with the timetable, so the official schedule of the railway operator should be checked.
Tickets and Payment at Rizhsky Railway Terminal
Tickets for suburban and regional trains are sold by the railway operator, on its official website and app, at the station ticket offices and at ticket machines. Sales for long-distance trains, where they exist, usually open weeks to a few months before departure, and if your date is not yet on sale, the timetable has not been released. Show your ID at boarding for long-distance trains, and check the official sources for any rules that depend on nationality.
- Metro and MCD: pay the city fare at the turnstiles; see the guides on buying a Metro ticket and on the MCD.
- Payment: foreign Visa and Mastercard cards are reported not to work in Russia, so check the payment options on the official sites, and the sanctions rules of your own country may restrict some Russian payment services, so check this yourself.
- Taxis: avoid unofficial drivers who approach you and use a taxi app.
Rates for Russian citizens and concessions differ, so check the official site, rzd.ru, for all ticket categories.
Flights, Transfers and Planning
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How to Get to Rizhsky Railway Terminal
The terminal is on Rizhskaya Square, beside two Rizhskaya Metro stations: the orange Kaluzhsko-Rizhskaya Line (Line 6) and the teal Bolshaya Koltsevaya Line (Line 11). A separate MCD platform called Rizhskaya is a short walk away. Exits and walking times were not verified.
- Tram and bus: several tram and bus lines stop on Rizhskaya Square.
- Taxi: use a taxi app and the official pick-up point.
Accessibility
No official accessibility details were found. The terminal is small and has Metro links nearby, but step-free routes and lifts were not verified, so contact the railway operator for assistance before you travel.
Food Nearby
The station has kiosks inside, and Rizhskaya Square and Prospekt Mira have cafes and shops. No individual venue was verified for this guide, so check opening hours on site.
What to Bring
Your ticket on your phone or a printout, a charged phone, and cash in rubles for small purchases, since foreign cards are reported not to work.
Photography Rules
Photography is generally allowed in the public halls and on the square, but security staff may ask you not to photograph checkpoints, officials or equipment. Follow the signs, and avoid drones near railway property.
Family Suitability
The terminal is workable for families and calmer than the large stations, but it is crowded at rush hours, and strollers and luggage need to be planned for on the platforms and in the Metro. Allow extra time to find the right entrance on the square.
Moscow Vibes Tips
- Check the exact station name: Rizhsky Terminal, Rizhskaya MCD platform, Rizhskaya on the Leningradskaya line and two Metro stations all carry the same word.
- For suburban trips, the terminal and the MCD platform are different stations, so look at your ticket or app.
- Use the orange-line Rizhskaya station for the quickest ride toward the center.
- Do not expect long-distance departures here; check the timetable for the services that run.
- Carry small bills in rubles, since foreign cards are reported not to work at kiosks.
- See the How to buy train tickets at Moscow railway stations guide on this site for the ticket offices and machines.
Explore Nearby Rizhsky Railway Terminal
Metro stations near Rizhsky Railway Terminal
Rizhskaya Metro Stationabout 50 m away (~1 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Sights near Rizhsky Railway Terminal
Central Armed Forces Museum Moscowabout 1.4 km away (~23 min walk) · typical visit: 2–3 hoursMain image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Moscow Cathedral Mosqueabout 1.6 km away (~26 min walk) · typical visit: About 30 minutes to 1 hourMain image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Apothecary Garden Moscowabout 1.7 km away (~27 min walk) · typical visit: About 1.5 to 2.5 hoursMain image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Jewish Museum and Tolerance Center Moscowabout 1.9 km away (~30 min walk) · typical visit: 2–3 hoursMain image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Hotels near Rizhsky Railway Terminal
Azimut Hotel Olympic Moscowabout 1.1 km away (~19 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Related guides
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How to use the Moscow Central Diameters (MCD): Lines D1–D4 and FaresMain image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
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FAQ: Rizhsky Railway Terminal
Is Rizhsky a big station?
No, it is the smallest of Moscow's main terminals, mostly for suburban trains.
Which Metro stations are there?
Rizhskaya on the orange Line 6 and on the teal Line 11.
When did it open?
On 11 September 1901, as the Vindavsky Station.
Why is it called Rizhsky?
After Riga, to which the line once led.
Are there trains to Riga?
Not as far as is known; check the official timetable.
Is the MCD platform part of the terminal?
No, the Rizhskaya platform is a separate station nearby.
Is there left luggage?
Check the station services; see the How to store luggage in Moscow guide.
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 this yourself.
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Last updated: October 7, 2026.
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