Sokolniki Metro Station opened in 1935 as the eastern end of the first Moscow Metro line, and is the stop for the large Sokolniki Park. Sokolniki Metro Station park access starts on Rusakovskaya Street, beside a hall of grey-blue marble pillars designed by Ivan Taranov and Nadezhda Bykova.
The first test run of the Metro took place between Sokolniki and Komsomolskaya in 1934, and a model of the station won a prize in Paris in 1937. This guide explains what to look for, how the station connects to the park and how the fares work.
Quick Facts
| Russian name | Сокольники |
|---|---|
| Built / opened | 1935 |
| Architect(s) | Ivan Taranov and Nadezhda Bykova |
| Address | Rusakovskaya Street, Moscow, Russia OpenStreetMap · Google Maps |
| District | Sokolniki |
| Interchanges | Sokolniki (Line 1 (Sokolnicheskaya, red), the station of 1935, between Krasnoselskaya and Preobrazhenskaya Ploshchad) Sokolniki (Line 11 (Bolshaya Koltsevaya), linked by a transfer) |
| 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 and sunny weekends are the busiest, when the platform fills with visitors on their way to Sokolniki Park.
The station works in every season, so it is a good stop on a cold or wet day. |
| Last updated | October 6, 2026 |
Why Visit Sokolniki Metro Station?
Sokolniki is where the Moscow Metro began. It was the eastern terminus of the first line for 30 years, and the first test run of the Metro in 1934 ran between Sokolniki and Komsomolskaya.
The station was designed by Ivan Taranov and Nadezhda Bykova, with tiled walls and pillars faced with grey-blue Ufaley marble. A model of it won a Grand Prix at the 1937 Paris World’s Fair.
It is also the stop for Sokolniki Park, one of the large green areas of the city, which lies beside the station. A transfer leads to the Bolshaya Koltsevaya Line, which links the station to the Big Circle.
Highlights of Sokolniki Metro Station
The terminus of the first line
Sokolniki opened on 15 May 1935 as the eastern end of the first Moscow Metro line, and kept that role for 30 years until the extension to Preobrazhenskaya Ploshchad.
The first test run of the Metro in 1934 ran between Sokolniki and Komsomolskaya.
Tip: Read the dates on the line map to see how the first line grew from this station.
Grey-blue Ufaley marble pillars
The station has tiled walls and pillars faced with grey-blue Ufaley marble, in the simple style of the first stage of the Metro.
It is a standard pillar tri-span station, built by the cut-and-cover method.
Tip: Look at the pillars from the platform to see the color of the marble under the lamps.
Prize at the Paris World's Fair
A model of the station was awarded a Grand Prix at the 1937 Paris World's Fair, which showed the Metro to the world.
The design by Ivan Taranov and Nadezhda Bykova is one of the earliest of the Metro.
Tip: Compare it with the lavish Circle Line stations to see how plain the first stations were.
A station built in months
Work on the station itself began in March 1934, and its concrete shell was completed in just five months. It opened with the rest of the line on 15 May 1935.
The tunnels from Krasnoselskaya had been under construction since the summer of 1933.
Tip: Think of the speed of construction when you see the plain, functional hall.
The gateway to Sokolniki Park
The station sits on Rusakovskaya Street, next to Sokolniki Park, one of the large parks of Moscow.
The walking time to the park entrances was not verified.
Tip: Check a map for the entrance that suits your plans, and allow time to walk.
The transfer to Line 11
A transfer links the station to Sokolniki on the Bolshaya Koltsevaya Line (Line 11), between Rizhskaya and Elektrozavodskaya.
It is a useful link to the Big Circle, which runs around the central area of the city.
Tip: Follow the Line 11 signs for the transfer.
Atmosphere
The hall is calm and plain, with grey-blue marble pillars and tiled walls that are typical of the first line. The light is even, and the platform feels more modest than the lavish stations of the Circle Line.
Passengers include commuters and, in good weather, many visitors heading for Sokolniki Park. The sound is trains and announcements, and families with strollers use the station on weekends.
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 Sokolniki Metro Station
The first line of the Moscow Metro was planned to cut Moscow on a northeast-southwest axis, beginning at Sokolniki Park and running through the three railway terminals and the central junctions. Sokolniki, at its northeastern end, was built by the cut-and-cover method.
The tunnels from Krasnoselskaya were under construction as early as the summer of 1933, but work on the station itself began in March 1934. The concrete shell of the station was completed in just five months. In 1934 the first test run of the Metro took place between Sokolniki and Komsomolskaya.
The architects were Ivan Taranov and Nadezhda Bykova. They designed a standard pillar tri-span station, the same template as Smolenskaya, Arbatskaya and Park Kultury, with tiled walls and pillars faced with grey-blue Ufaley marble.
Sokolniki opened with the rest of the first line on 15 May 1935. A model of the station was awarded a Grand Prix at the 1937 Paris World’s Fair, which brought attention to the new Metro.
The station was the eastern terminus of the line for 30 years, until the extension to Preobrazhenskaya Ploshchad opened in 1965.
Today the station remains on Line 1, between Krasnoselskaya and Preobrazhenskaya Ploshchad, with a transfer to the station of the same name on the Bolshaya Koltsevaya Line. It serves Sokolniki Park and the surrounding district.
Tickets and Booking for Sokolniki Metro Station
There is no ticket for the station itself; 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 station is busiest in the morning and evening on weekdays, and on sunny weekends when visitors head for the 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 Sokolniki Metro Station
Sokolniki is in the Sokolniki District, north-east of the center of Moscow, on Rusakovskaya Street.
- Line 1: Sokolniki (Sokolnicheskaya, red), between Krasnoselskaya and Preobrazhenskaya Ploshchad.
- Line 11: Sokolniki (Bolshaya Koltsevaya), linked by a transfer.
Sokolniki Park lies beside the station; the walking times to its entrances were not verified. A taxi can drop you at the vestibule on Rusakovskaya Street.
Accessibility
Accessibility details were not confirmed. The station is shallow, built by the cut-and-cover method, and is reached by escalators or stairs, but 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
Rusakovskaya Street and Sokolniki Park have cafes, restaurants and food stalls, especially in the warm season. 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 warm weather, bring water and comfortable shoes for the park.
Best Views and Photo Spots of Sokolniki Metro Station
Platform hall
The row of grey-blue marble pillars along the platform, in the plain style of the first line.
Best time: Late evening or mid-morning, when the platform is quieter
A marble pillar close-up
The grey-blue Ufaley marble of a pillar and the tiled wall beside it.
Best time: Between trains, with the platform clear
Vestibule on Rusakovskaya Street
The street entrance to the station, with the park nearby.
Best time: Daylight
Photography Rules
Photography rules in the station were not confirmed. Taking photographs on the platform is common, but tripods and flash can be restricted, and the station is busy at rush hours, so stand clear of the platform edge. Drone rules in Moscow are strict and change.
Family Suitability
The station is a good stop for families on the way to Sokolniki Park, with simple signs and a short ride from the center. 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
- Treat the station as a piece of history; its interest is that it was the first eastern end of the Metro.
- Check the line color before you transfer; Sokolniki on Line 1 and on Line 11 are different stations.
- Look at the grey-blue marble pillars before you leave, since they are the main decoration.
- Plan the walk to the park with a map, since the walking times and entrances were not verified.
- Avoid sunny weekend afternoons if you want the platform quiet.
- Compare the plain hall with a Circle Line station for a sense of how the Metro's style changed.
Explore Nearby Sokolniki Metro Station
Sights near Sokolniki Metro Station
Sokolniki Park Moscowabout 850 m away (~13 min walk) · typical visit: About 2 to 4 hours
Moscow Metro · typical visit: 1.5–3 hours for a tour of showcase stations
Train stations and river piers near Sokolniki Metro Station
Yaroslavsky Railway Terminalabout 1.9 km away (~31 min walk)
Related guides
How to use buses, trams and trolleybuses in Moscow: Front Door, Troika
Sokolniki: Moscow’s Falcon Park, Kitchen Debate Site and Ice Rink
Browse more: More in Sokolniki · All Metro Stations
FAQ: Sokolniki Metro Station
When did Sokolniki open?
On 15 May 1935, with the first Moscow Metro line, as its eastern terminus.
Who designed the station?
Ivan Taranov and Nadezhda Bykova.
What is the station made of?
It has tiled walls and pillars faced with grey-blue Ufaley marble.
Did it win an award?
A model of the station won a Grand Prix at the 1937 Paris World's Fair.
Is it the stop for Sokolniki Park?
Yes, the park lies beside the station on Rusakovskaya Street.
Do I need a ticket to see it?
Yes, a Metro fare is needed to enter. See the fares and payment section.
Is there a transfer?
Yes, to Sokolniki on the Bolshaya Koltsevaya Line (Line 11).
How long do I need?
About 5 to 10 minutes to see the hall.
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Last updated: October 6, 2026.
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