Smolenskaya Metro Station on the Arbatsko-Pokrovskaya Line opened on 5 April 1953, about 50 meters under the Arbat District in the centre-west of Moscow. Smolenskaya Metro Station was built to replace an older, shallow station of the same name, which later reopened on the Filyovskaya Line, so there are two Smolenskaya stations today.
They are in different halls, on different lines, and there is no direct transfer between them. This guide explains the difference, what is known about the deep station and how the fares work.
Quick Facts
| Russian name | Смоленская |
|---|---|
| Built / opened | 1953 |
| Architect(s) | Igor Rozhin and another architect |
| Address | Smolenskaya Square, Arbat District, Moscow, Russia OpenStreetMap · Google Maps |
| District | Arbat |
| Interchanges | Smolenskaya (Line 3 (Arbatsko-Pokrovskaya, blue), the deep station, between Kiyevskaya and Arbatskaya) Smolenskaya (Line 4 (Filyovskaya, light blue), a separate shallow station of the same name, without a direct transfer) |
| 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 platform is 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 Smolenskaya Metro Station?
Smolenskaya is a deep pylon station of the Arbatsky radius, about 50 meters underground, and until Park Pobedy opened in 2003 it was the deepest station on its line. It was designed by Igor Rozhin and opened on 5 April 1953.
Its story is a little confusing, and worth knowing: the deep station replaced an older, shallow station of the same name on the first lines, and the older stations were later reopened as the Filyovskaya Line. Moscow now has two Smolenskaya stations, on Line 3 and Line 4, in the same district.
Visitors who know the difference save time. The decoration of the deep station was not described in the sources found.
Highlights of Smolenskaya Metro Station
A deep pylon station
The Line 3 station is a deep pylon station, about 50 meters underground, opened on 5 April 1953.
Until Park Pobedy opened in 2003, it was the deepest station on the line.
Tip: Allow time for the long escalator ride between the street and the platform.
Built to replace an older station
The deep station was built in 1953 to replace an older Smolenskaya, which had opened in 1935.
The older station was later reopened as part of the Filyovskaya Line.
Tip: Check the line color on the signs to be sure which station you are in.
Two stations with one name
The Line 4 station of 1935 is shallow and opened on 15 May 1935, as part of the first Metro line.
There is no direct transfer between the two Smolenskaya stations.
Tip: Leave extra time if you need to move between the two stations.
Designed by Igor Rozhin
The deep station was designed by Igor Rozhin, with another architect.
Rozhin also worked on other stations of the 1950s, such as Park Kultury on the Circle Line.
Tip: Compare the hall with Kiyevskaya, the next station out, which opened on the same day.
Between Kiyevskaya and Arbatskaya
On Line 3, the station lies between Kiyevskaya toward the west and Arbatskaya toward the east.
Both neighbors have their own articles.
Tip: Ride one stop to Arbatskaya for the stations near the Old Arbat.
At Smolenskaya Square
The station serves the area of Smolenskaya Square, on the Garden Ring, in the Arbat District.
The exits and the sights nearby were not verified.
Tip: Check a map for your exit before you go up.
Atmosphere
The hall is deep and calm, with the long hum of the escalators and the footsteps of commuters. The sound is trains, announcements and the rolling of suitcases.
Residents of the center-west, office workers and visitors heading for the Arbat use the station, and it is busy in the morning and the evening.
It is calm in the middle of the day on weekdays and late in the evening.
History of Smolenskaya Metro Station
In 1935, when the first line of the Moscow Metro opened, a branch ran from Okhotny Ryad to Smolenskaya Square, on the Garden Ring. Its Smolenskaya station opened on 15 May 1935, in the Arbat District, close to the surface.
In the early 1950s the Arbatsky radius was rebuilt deeper under the ground. The new, deep Smolenskaya opened on 5 April 1953, with Arbatskaya and Kiyevskaya, to replace the older stations. It was designed by Igor Rozhin as a deep pylon station about 50 meters underground, and was the deepest station on its line until Park Pobedy opened in 2003.
The older stations were not closed for good. After a change of plans, they reopened in 1958 as part of the new Filyovskaya Line, so Smolenskaya, the old station of 1935, is today on Line 4.
The two Smolenskaya stations share a district and a name, but have no direct transfer. The deep one is on Line 3, between Kiyevskaya and Arbatskaya.
Today the deep station is a working stop on Line 3, and a tentative cultural heritage site. Details of its decoration should be checked.
Tickets and Booking for Smolenskaya 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 lower fares. 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.
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 Smolenskaya Metro Station
Smolenskaya is in the Arbat District, in the centre-west of Moscow, around Smolenskaya Square on the Garden Ring.
- Metro, deep station: Smolenskaya (Line 3, Arbatsko-Pokrovskaya, blue), between Kiyevskaya and Arbatskaya.
- Metro, shallow station: Smolenskaya (Line 4, Filyovskaya, light blue), a separate station without a direct transfer.
The exit details and the walking route between the two stations were not verified. A taxi can drop you on the Garden Ring.
Accessibility
Accessibility details were not confirmed. The Line 3 station is deep, about 50 meters down, and reached by long escalators, and the availability of lifts and step-free access, at both stations, was not verified. Contact the Metro or check mosmetro.ru before traveling if you need step-free access or assistance.
Food Nearby
Smolenskaya Square, the Garden Ring and the nearby Arbat streets have 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 two stations of the same name are easy to confuse, and some rubles in cash for a ticket or a Troika card.
Best Views and Photo Spots of Smolenskaya Metro Station
The deep platform hall
The deep hall of the Line 3 station, seen from one end of the platform.
Best time: Late evening or mid-morning, when the platform is quieter
Photography Rules
Photography rules in the stations were not confirmed. Taking photographs of the halls is common, but tripods and flash can be restricted, and the platforms are busy at rush hours, so stand clear of the platform edge. Drone rules in Moscow are strict and change.
Family Suitability
The stations are practical stops rather than a family destination. The Line 3 station is deep, with long escalators, and busy at rush hours, so keep children close and away from the platform edge. Strollers need a lift, and lift access was not confirmed.
Moscow Vibes Tips
- Check the line color before you travel: Smolenskaya on Line 3 is blue, and on Line 4 it is light blue.
- Do not plan a quick change between the two Smolenskaya stations; there is no direct transfer.
- Look at the photographs of the older shallow station of 1935 if you want to see how much the design changed by 1953.
- Ride one stop to Arbatskaya for the stations near the Old Arbat.
- Ride one stop to Kiyevskaya to compare two deep stations that opened on the same day.
- Visit between rush hours so you can look at the hall in peace.
Explore Nearby Smolenskaya Metro Station
Sights near Smolenskaya Metro Station
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.
Pushkin Memorial Apartment on Arbat Moscowabout 200 m away (~3 min walk) · typical visit: About 1 hourMain image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Melnikov House Moscowabout 400 m away (~7 min walk) · typical visit: About 1.5 to 2 hours (guided tour)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Vakhtangov Theatre Moscowabout 600 m away (~9 min walk) · typical visit: About 3 hours for a performanceMain image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Multimedia Art Museum Moscowabout 1.2 km away (~19 min walk) · typical visit: About 1.5 to 2 hoursMain image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Metro stations near Smolenskaya Metro Station
Arbatskaya Metro Stationabout 1.5 km away (~25 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Kiyevskaya Metro Stationabout 1.1 km away (~18 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Train stations and river piers near Smolenskaya Metro Station
Kievsky Railway Terminalabout 1.1 km away (~17 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Kievsky River Pierabout 1.1 km away (~19 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Restaurants and cafes near Smolenskaya Metro Station
White Rabbitabout 50 m away (~1 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Chef's Tableabout 100 m away (~2 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Sakhalinabout 200 m away (~4 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Multikulturaabout 950 m away (~15 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Hotels near Smolenskaya Metro Station
Hotel Belgrad Moscowabout 200 m away (~4 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Golden Ring Hotel Moscowabout 300 m away (~5 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Lotte Hotel Moscowabout 350 m away (~5 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Events and traditions near Smolenskaya Metro Station
December Nights Music Festival in Moscowabout 1.4 km away (~23 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Orthodox Easter in Moscowabout 1.4 km away (~23 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Related guides
Dorogomilovo: Kutuzovsky Prospekt, Borodino Panorama and UkrainaMain image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Arbat: Old Arbat Street, Tsoi Wall and Pushkin’s ApartmentMain image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Nabat Palace Arbat: Four-Star City Hotel on Old Arbat StreetMain image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Radisson Collection Hotel Moscow: Stay in the Ukraina SkyscraperMain image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Due Forni: Italian Dining on Bolshoy Savvinsky Lane in KhamovnikiMain image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Browse more: More in Arbat · All Metro Stations
FAQ: Smolenskaya Metro Station
When did the deep Smolenskaya open?
On 5 April 1953, on the Arbatsko-Pokrovskaya Line.
Why are there two Smolenskaya stations?
The deep station of 1953 replaced an older one of 1935, which later reopened on the Filyovskaya Line.
Can I change between them?
There is no direct transfer between the two stations.
How deep is the Line 3 station?
About 50 meters.
Who designed it?
The architect was Igor Rozhin, with another architect.
Do I need a ticket to see it?
Yes, a Metro fare is needed to enter. See the fares and payment section.
Which line is each station on?
Line 3 (blue) for the deep station, and Line 4 (light blue) for the shallow station.
How long do I need?
About 10 minutes to see the hall.
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