Sportivnaya Metro Station opened on 1 May 1957 on the Sokolnicheskaya Line, about 42 meters underground in the Khamovniki District of Moscow. Sportivnaya Metro Station is named after the nearby Luzhniki sports complex, and was itself called Luzhniki earlier.
An out-of-station transfer, about 200 meters away, leads to the Luzhniki station of the Moscow Central Circle. The upper floors of its vestibule are reported to house the Moscow Metro Museum. This guide explains what to look for, how the transfer works and how the fares work.
Quick Facts
| Russian name | Спортивная |
|---|---|
| Built / opened | 1957 |
| Architect(s) | Nadezhda Bykova, Ivan Taranov, I. Gokhar-Kharmandaryan and B. Cherepanov |
| Address | Khamovnichesky Val, Khamovniki District, Moscow, Russia OpenStreetMap · Google Maps |
| District | Khamovniki |
| Interchanges | Sportivnaya (Line 1 (Sokolnicheskaya, red), the station itself, between Vorobyovy Gory and Frunzenskaya) Luzhniki (Moscow Central Circle (MCC), an out-of-station transfer, about 200 m) |
| 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, and the station fills before and after events at Luzhniki.
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 Sportivnaya Metro Station?
Sportivnaya is the station for the Luzhniki sports complex, a deep pylon station with three vaults, about 42 meters underground, which opened in 1957 as part of the first stage of the Frunzensky radius.
It is also a transfer point: the Luzhniki station of the Moscow Central Circle, about 200 meters away across Khamovnichesky Val, links the Metro with the surface ring railway.
The three-storey vestibule is reported to house the Moscow Metro Museum on its upper two floors, which displays 70 years of Metro memorabilia. Check the museum’s current status and rules before you plan a visit. The decoration of the hall itself was not described in the sources found.
Highlights of Sportivnaya Metro Station
A deep station of 1957
Sportivnaya is a deep pylon station with three vaults, about 42 meters underground, opened on 1 May 1957.
It lies on the Frunzensky radius, which follows the bend of the Moskva River.
Tip: Allow time for the long escalator ride between the street and the platform.
The station for Luzhniki
The station is named after the nearby Luzhniki Olympic Complex, and was called Luzhniki earlier.
It is the usual way to the stadium, which fills the station on event days.
Tip: Avoid the station for an hour before and after a big event.
The link to the Moscow Central Circle
An out-of-station transfer leads to Luzhniki on the Moscow Central Circle, about 200 meters away, across Khamovnichesky Val.
The MCC station opened in September 2016.
Tip: Check the MCC fares separately and follow the transfer signs.
A museum in the vestibule
The upper two floors of the three-storey vestibule are reported to house the Moscow Metro Museum, with 70 years of Metro memorabilia.
The museum's current status, hours and entry rules were not verified.
Tip: Check the museum's own information before you plan a visit around it.
Between Vorobyovy Gory and Frunzenskaya
On Line 1, the station lies between Vorobyovy Gory toward the south-west and Frunzenskaya toward the center.
Both neighbors have their own articles.
Tip: Ride one stop to Vorobyovy Gory for the station on the bridge over the Moskva River.
A team of architects
The station was designed by a team that included Nadezhda Bykova and Ivan Taranov, with other architects named in some sources.
The same architects worked on several stations of the same stretch of the line.
Tip: Compare the hall with Frunzenskaya, the next station toward the center.
Atmosphere
The hall is deep and quiet on ordinary days, with three vaults on pylons and the long hum of the escalators. The sound is trains, announcements and the footsteps of commuters.
Residents of the center-south-west and visitors heading for Luzhniki use the station. On event days the platform fills with fans, flags and noise, and then empties quickly.
It is calm in the middle of the day on weekdays and late in the evening.
History of Sportivnaya Metro Station
The Sokolnicheskaya Line, the oldest line of the Moscow Metro, was extended south-west in the 1950s along the bend of the Moskva River, in the Frunzensky radius. The first stage, from Park Kultury to Sportivnaya, opened on 1 May 1957, and was 2.4 kilometers long.
Sportivnaya is a deep pylon station with three vaults, about 42 meters underground, in the Khamovniki District. It was called Luzhniki at first, after the Luzhniki Stadium, and is named for the nearby Luzhniki Olympic Complex. The architects included Nadezhda Bykova and Ivan Taranov.
On 12 January 1959 the line was extended to Universitet, near Moscow State University, with Vorobyovy Gory as the station on the way.
In September 2016 the Luzhniki station of the Moscow Central Circle opened about 200 meters away, across Khamovnichesky Val, and an out-of-station transfer links it with Sportivnaya.
The three-storey vestibule is reported to house the Moscow Metro Museum on its upper two floors, which displays 70 years of Metro memorabilia.
Today the station is a working stop on Line 1, serving the Luzhniki complex.
Tickets and Booking for Sportivnaya 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 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.
- MCC and the museum: the fares for the Moscow Central Circle, and the entry rules of the Metro museum, were not verified separately.
- Rush hours and events: the station is busiest in the morning and evening on weekdays, and before and after events at Luzhniki.
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 Sportivnaya Metro Station
Sportivnaya is in the Khamovniki District, in the center-south-west of Moscow, beside Khamovnichesky Val and the Luzhniki complex.
- Metro: Sportivnaya (Line 1, Sokolnicheskaya, red), between Vorobyovy Gory and Frunzenskaya.
- MCC: Luzhniki (Moscow Central Circle), an out-of-station transfer about 200 meters away, across Khamovnichesky Val.
The exit details and the walking times to the stadium and other sights were not verified. A taxi can drop you near the vestibule, though traffic is heavy on event days.
Accessibility
Accessibility details were not confirmed. The station is deep, about 42 meters down, and reached by long escalators, and the availability of lifts and step-free access was not verified. Contact the Metro or check mosmetro.ru before traveling if you need step-free access or assistance.
Food Nearby
Khamovnichesky Val and the Luzhniki area have cafes, kiosks and shops, which are busiest on event days. Specific venues were not verified, so check opening hours before you go.
What to Bring
Bring a map or a navigation app for the transfer to the MCC, and some rubles in cash for a ticket or a Troika card.
Best Views and Photo Spots of Sportivnaya Metro Station
The deep hall
The three vaults of the pylon hall, 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 station were not confirmed. Taking photographs of the hall is common, but tripods and flash can be restricted, and the platform is busy at rush hours and before events, so stand clear of the platform edge. Drone rules in Moscow are strict and change, and are tighter near stadiums.
Family Suitability
The station is a practical stop for families on the way to an event at Luzhniki. It is deep, with long escalators, and crowded on event days, so keep children close and away from the platform edge. Strollers need a lift, and lift access was not confirmed.
Moscow Vibes Tips
- Avoid the station for an hour before and after a match or concert at Luzhniki.
- Follow the signs for the transfer to the MCC; the Luzhniki station is outside the Metro, across Khamovnichesky Val.
- Check the Metro museum's own information before you plan a visit around it.
- Ride one stop to Vorobyovy Gory for the station on the bridge over the Moskva River.
- Use the old name, Luzhniki, when you look at older plans and maps of the station.
- Visit between rush hours so you can look at the hall in peace.
Explore Nearby Sportivnaya Metro Station
Sights near Sportivnaya Metro Station
Novodevichy Convent Moscow – about 600 m away (~9 min walk) · typical visit: 1.5–2 hours for the convent; 3–4 hours with the cemeteryMain image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Novodevichy Cemetery Moscowabout 500 m away (~8 min walk) · typical visit: About 1.5 to 2 hoursMain image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Novodevichy Pond Moscowabout 700 m away (~11 min walk) · typical visit: 45–90 minutesMain image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Metro stations near Sportivnaya Metro Station
Frunzenskaya Metro Stationabout 1000 m away (~16 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Vorobyovy Gory Metro Stationabout 1.5 km away (~24 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Luzhniki MCC Stationabout 350 m away (~5 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Train stations and river piers near Sportivnaya Metro Station
Luzhniki River Pierabout 1.4 km away (~23 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Hotels near Sportivnaya Metro Station
Spektr Hotel Moscowabout 200 m away (~3 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Events and traditions near Sportivnaya Metro Station
Moscow Marathonabout 1.0 km away (~17 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Related guides
Novodevichy: Convent, Cemetery and UNESCO Walk in KhamovnikiMain image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Khamovniki: Novodevichy Convent, Prechistenka and the Golden MileMain image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Leo Tolstoy Estate Museum Moscow: Tolstoy’s Winter Home and HoursMain image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Multimedia Art Museum Moscow: Photography, Hours and TicketsMain image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Museum of Moscow: Tickets, Hours and What to SeeMain image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Browse more: More in Khamovniki · All Metro Stations
FAQ: Sportivnaya Metro Station
When did Sportivnaya open?
On 1 May 1957, as part of the first stage of the Frunzensky radius.
How deep is it?
About 42 meters, in a deep pylon station with three vaults.
Which line is it on?
Line 1, the Sokolnicheskaya Line, in red, between Vorobyovy Gory and Frunzenskaya.
Is it the station for Luzhniki?
Yes, it is named after the Luzhniki Olympic Complex.
Can I change to the Moscow Central Circle?
Yes, by an out-of-station transfer to Luzhniki, about 200 meters away.
Is there a museum in the station?
The upper floors of the vestibule are reported to house the Moscow Metro Museum; check its current status.
Do I need a ticket to see it?
Yes, a Metro fare is needed to enter. See the fares and payment section.
How long do I need?
About 10 minutes to see the hall, more for the museum and the transfer.
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Last updated: October 6, 2026. Found an error or something out of date? Report it and we will check and fix it.
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