The Southern River Station is one of Moscow’s two main river terminals, in Nagatinsky Zaton on the right bank of the Moskva River, at Andropov Avenue 11. The present building opened in 1986 to a design by the architect Yuri Kogan, and it was reconstructed from 2021 and reopened in 2023 with a new look.
It serves long cruises to Volga cities and a pier on the city’s regular river transport route, and it has an observation deck and a park beside it. It is far from the center, and the access from the Metro has changed, so check the route before you go. Cruise schedules and operators change, so check them with the operators.
Current access notice: As of October 2026: one source reports that the nearest Metro station, Tekhnopark, is closed for an indefinite period, while another still lists it as the nearest station. Check the current Metro status before you go, or use the Kozhukhovskaya route with bus 831.
Quick Facts
| Russian name | Южный речной вокзал |
|---|---|
| Type | River pier / station |
| Built / opened | 1986 |
| Architect(s) | Yuri Kogan (original design, 1985) |
| Address | Andropov Avenue 11, building 2, Moscow (проспект Андропова, 11, корпус 2) OpenStreetMap · Google Maps |
| District | Nagatinsky Zaton |
| Metro | Tekhnopark (Zamoskvoretskaya Line (Line 2, green), Reported about 15 minutes' walk through Dream Island park and the Southern landscape park, via exits 7 and 8; one source says the station is closed for an indefinite period, so check before you go) Kozhukhovskaya (Lyublinsko-Dmitrovskaya Line (Line 10, light green), Exit 2, then bus 831 for about three stops to the Southern River Station stop; not verified for the current year) |
| Opening hours | River services run in the navigation season, usually from spring to autumn, and times depend on the operator. Entry to the building and the embankment is free (as of October 2026 – check the official site). |
| Admission | Entry to the terminal and the embankment is free. Tickets are needed for cruises and for the regular river transport route. |
| Best time to visit | Late spring to early autumn is the season for cruises, the regular boats and the parks, and weekends are the busiest. In winter the river services stop and the building is quiet. Crowd patterns were not verified. |
| Recommended duration | About an hour for the building, the observation deck and the embankment; longer for a cruise. |
| Last updated | October 7, 2026 |
How to Get to and from Southern River Station
| Option | Duration | Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Metro to Tekhnopark, then walk (check the station status) | About 15 minutes on foot from the station; Metro time to the center about 20 to 30 minutes, not verified | Standard Metro fare; see the How to buy a Moscow Metro ticket guide | Zamoskvoretskaya Line (Line 2), the nearest station to the terminal, via exits 7 and 8, then through Dream Island park and the Southern landscape park. One source reports that the station is closed for an indefinite period, so check the status first. |
| Metro to Kozhukhovskaya, then bus 831 | Varies; the bus ride is about three stops | Standard Metro and bus fares | Lyublinsko-Dmitrovskaya Line (Line 10), exit 2, then bus 831 to the Southern River Station stop. Check the bus route and the current service, since it was reported by one source. |
| Regular river transport, route 2 | Varies by stops | Check the operator's fare | Boats run on route 2 between ZIL and Pechatniki, with a stop at the Southern River Station pier; check the season and the timetable. |
| Taxi | Depends on traffic | Check the app for the fare | Best with luggage for a long cruise. Use a taxi app and the official pick-up point; the navigation address is the driveway from Andropov Avenue. See the How to use taxi apps in Moscow guide. |
| Buses on Andropov Avenue | Varies by route | Check the official fare | Buses stop on Andropov Avenue and nearby; see the How to use buses, trams and trolleybuses in Moscow guide. |
Why Visit Southern River Station?
The reopened terminal is a modern river hub with a new facade that shows five female figures symbolizing the five seas that Moscow is linked to, and a new observation deck with a view of the river. Entry is free, and the embankment and the parks around it are a quiet place to walk.
It is also useful as a departure point for cruises to cities such as Nizhny Novgorod, Yaroslavl, Kostroma and Kazan, and as a stop on the regular river route that links the district with other parts of the city. It is far from the central sights, so allow time to get there and check that the services you want are running, as river transport is seasonal.
Highlights of Southern River Station
The reconstructed terminal
The building was designed in 1985 by the architect Yuri Kogan in the style of Soviet modernism, resembling a boat, and opened in 1986. After years of neglect in the 1990s, when it was used as a market, it was completely reconstructed from 2021 and reopened in 2023 with significant architectural changes in a neomodern style. It stands on the right bank of the Moskva River in Nagatinsky Zaton.
Tip: Walk around the building to see both the street side and the river side.
The five seas on the facade
Five female figures on the facade symbolize the five seas to which Moscow is linked by water: the Black, Caspian, Azov, White and Baltic seas, the same idea behind the port of five seas nickname. They are the main decorative feature of the new facade. The spire of the building is also a landmark seen from the river. See the Northern River Station guide on this site for the other terminal.
Tip: Look at the facade in the morning or the late afternoon, when the light falls across the figures.
The observation deck
The reopened terminal has a new observation deck, described as cozy and modern, with a view of the river and the surroundings. Entry to the building is free. Check that the deck is open on the day, since access can depend on the season and the weather.
Tip: Go on a clear evening for the best light over the river.
The embankment and the parks
Two landscape parks, called Northern and Southern, lie beside the pier, with playgrounds for children, paid and free parking and a bus stop. The terminal is close to the Dream Island amusement park, so the area works for a half-day outing. See the Kolomenskoye guide on this site for another green area nearby.
Tip: Walk the embankment and the Southern landscape park toward the river bend.
Regular river transport, route 2
The Southern River Station pier is a stop on route 2 of the city's regular river transport, which runs between the ZIL area and Pechatniki, more than 11 kilometers long and open since the autumn of 2023. New electric boats were added to the regular fleet in May of a recent year. Check the route map and the operator's schedule before you go.
Tip: Use the regular boat as a cheap river ride; check the stops and the season.
Long cruises from the piers
The terminal is a hub for long-distance cruises, with cruises reported to 30 cities in Russia, including Nizhny Novgorod, Yaroslavl, Kostroma, Kolomna, Tver and Kazan, starting from the piers. The terminal was first built in the 1930s as a wooden building near the Danilovsky Bridge, before moving to its present place. See the How to get from Moscow to Kolomna guide on this site for another way to reach Kolomna.
Tip: Check the operator for the pier and boarding time of your cruise.
Atmosphere
The terminal is much quieter than a railway station. On a summer day cruise passengers pull suitcases toward the piers, families walk the embankment and the horn of a departing ship carries across the water, while the new facade with its five figures catches the sun.
Behind it the parks are open and calm, with playgrounds and paths along the river. In winter the cruises are off, and the building and the embankment are mostly empty, apart from a few walkers. The terminal is busiest at weekends in the navigation season.
History of Southern River Station
The first Southern River Station was a wooden building built in 1932 near the Danilovsky Bridge, from which passengers could take boat trips on the Oka, Volga and Kama rivers. During the Second World War the terminal and the piers of the Southern River Port served the evacuation of residents and the supply of Moscow by water.
In 1972 the building was dismantled and a temporary landing was opened on the Nagatinskaya embankment because of the reconstruction of the area. At that time there were routes to Nizhny Novgorod and Ryazan.
The present terminal was designed in 1985 by the architect Yuri Kogan in the style of Soviet modernism, in the shape of a boat, and opened in 1986 in Nagatinsky Zaton. In the 1990s, after the collapse of the Soviet Union, river transport fell into crisis and almost ceased, and the building was turned into a children’s goods fair and a car market.
From 2021 the building was completely reconstructed and reopened in 2023 with significant changes, including a new facade with five female figures symbolizing the five seas, and an observation deck. A pier of the regular river transport network, on route 2 between ZIL and Pechatniki, opened in the autumn of 2023.
The terminal is again a hub for long cruises and the regular river route. The services change with the season and the operators, so check the schedules with the operators and the official sources.
Tickets and Payment at Southern River Station
Tickets for cruises are sold by the river-cruise operators, on their official websites, at the ticket offices at the terminal and through agents. Sales for long cruises usually open months ahead, and if your date is not yet on sale, the schedule has not been released. Cruise tickets are usually tied to a ship, a cabin type and a date, and your name and passport details may be required for long cruises, so check the operator’s rules for foreign guests. Tickets for the regular river transport are sold by its operator at the piers or by app.
- Metro and bus: pay the city fare; see the guides on buying a Metro ticket and on buses.
- Payment: foreign Visa and Mastercard cards are reported not to work in Russia, so check the payment options on the operators’ 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 website of the operator you choose for all ticket categories.
Flights, Transfers and Planning
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How to Get to Southern River Station
The terminal is at Andropov Avenue 11, building 2, in Nagatinsky Zaton. The nearest Metro station is Tekhnopark on the green Zamoskvoretskaya Line (Line 2), reported about 15 minutes’ walk away through Dream Island park and the Southern landscape park, but one source says the station is closed for an indefinite period, so check its status. Another route is Kozhukhovskaya (Line 10), exit 2, then bus 831 for about three stops.
- Bus: buses run along Andropov Avenue, and a stop called Southern River Station is near the terminal.
- Taxi and parking: use a taxi app; the terminal has paid and free parking, as reported.
Accessibility
No official accessibility details were found. The terminal was completely reconstructed and reopened in 2023, but step-free routes, lifts to the observation deck and the access to the piers were not verified, so contact the operators before you travel.
Food Nearby
The terminal and the nearby parks have cafes and kiosks, and the Dream Island amusement park nearby has more. No individual venue was verified for this guide, so check opening hours on site.
What to Bring
A jacket or windbreaker for the water, comfortable shoes for the park walk, your ticket and passport for cruises, and cash in rubles for small purchases, since foreign cards are reported not to work.
Photography Rules
Photography is allowed on the embankment and in the parks, and drones are subject to Moscow's strict rules, so avoid flying them near the terminal. Indoor photography may be restricted in places, so follow the signs and staff instructions.
Family Suitability
The terminal and the parks suit families, with playgrounds, an embankment and the Dream Island amusement park close by, and short river trips are workable with children. The walk from the Metro and the stairs to the observation deck and piers can be hard with strollers, and the cruise season is short.
Moscow Vibes Tips
- Check the Tekhnopark station status before you travel, since one source says it is closed and another still lists it.
- Use the Kozhukhovskaya route with bus 831 if the walk from Tekhnopark is not possible.
- For navigation, use the driveway from Andropov Avenue, the entrance used by taxis and cars.
- The Northern River Station is a separate terminal on the other side of the city, so check which one your cruise uses.
- Combine the visit with the Dream Island park or the Kolomenskoye park nearby.
- Look at the five figures on the facade from the river side as well as the street.
Explore Nearby Southern River Station
Metro stations near Southern River Station
Tekhnopark Metro Stationabout 800 m away (~13 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Train stations and river piers near Southern River Station
Northern River Stationabout 22.5 km awayMain image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Related guides
Kolomenskoye: UNESCO Ascension Church, Wooden Palace and ParkMain image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
How to take a Moskva River cruise: Piers, Boats, Prices and SeasonMain image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
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Browse more: More in Nagatinsky Zaton · All Airports & Transport · All River Piers and Stations
FAQ: Southern River Station
Where is the Southern River Station?
In Nagatinsky Zaton, at Andropov Avenue 11, building 2.
When did the present building open?
In 1986; it was reconstructed and reopened in 2023.
Who designed it?
The architect Yuri Kogan, in 1985.
What do the five figures on the facade mean?
They symbolize the five seas Moscow is linked to.
Is entry free?
Entry to the building and embankment is free; cruises need tickets.
Is it the same as the Northern River Station?
No, that is a separate terminal on the other side of the city.
Which cities can I cruise to?
Reported options include Nizhny Novgorod, Yaroslavl and Kazan; check the operators.
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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