Taganskaya Metro Station is two stations in one hub under Taganka Square, on the Circle Line and on Line 7. Taganskaya Metro Station majolica panels decorate the pylons of the Circle Line hall, which opened in 1950 and has 12 gilded chandeliers with blue majolica centers.
The hall was designed by K. Ryzhkov and A. Medvedev in a flamboyant post-war style based on traditional Russian motifs. A short walk leads to Bunker-42 and the Taganka area. This guide explains what to look for, how the two stations connect and how the fares work.
Quick Facts
| Russian name | Таганская |
|---|---|
| Built / opened | 1950 |
| Architect(s) | K. Ryzhkov and A. Medvedev (Circle Line station) |
| Address | Taganskaya Square, Moscow, Russia OpenStreetMap · Google Maps |
| District | Tagansky |
| Interchanges | Taganskaya (Line 5 (Koltsevaya, brown), the decorated station of 1950, between Kurskaya and Paveletskaya) Taganskaya (Line 7 (Tagansko-Krasnopresnenskaya, purple), the station of 1966, between Kitay-gorod and Proletarskaya, linked by a passage) |
| Opening hours | The Moscow Metro normally runs from early morning until around 1:00 at night, and the two Taganskaya 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 and the passages are crowded.
The stations work in every season, so the hub is a good stop on a cold or wet day. |
| Last updated | October 6, 2026 |
Why Visit Taganskaya Metro Station?
The Circle Line hall is one of the most ornate of the Metro. Forty-eight majolica panels cover the faces of the pylons, with floral elements and profile reliefs of Red Army and Navy servicemen, and the panels facing the central hall are set on a blue majolica background.
Twelve gilded chandeliers with blue majolica centers hang in the central hall, and the station was the deepest in the Metro from 1950 to 1958.
The Line 7 station, opened in 1966, has white and black ceramic tiles and metallic artworks on a space theme, so the hub shows two eras of Metro design. It is a convenient stop for Bunker-42 and the Taganka district.
How Taganskaya Metro Station Is Laid Out
Taganskaya is a hub of two stations under Taganka Square, linked by passages, with exits on the square.
The Circle Line station (Line 5, brown) is a deep pylon station with a long central hall. Its pylons carry the majolica panels, and gilded chandeliers hang along the hall. The Line 7 station (Tagansko-Krasnopresnenskaya, purple) is a separate pylon station with white and black tiles and space-themed metal artworks, joined by the upper passage.
A sensible way to see the hub is to go to the Circle Line hall first, walk along its length looking at the panels and chandeliers, then follow the passage to the Line 7 station before you go up to the square.
Highlights of Taganskaya Metro Station
The 48 majolica panels
Forty-eight majolica panels cover the faces of the pylons in the Circle Line hall. They are the work of Ye. Blinova, P. Kozhin, A. Sotnikov, A. Berzhitskaya and Z. Sokolova.
The panels combine floral elements with profile bas-reliefs of World War II Red Army and Navy servicemen, each panel dedicated to a group such as pilots, tank crews and sailors.
Tip: Look at the panels along the pylons one by one to spot the different branches of the forces.
Blue majolica and monochrome panels
The color scheme is balanced so that the panels facing the central hall are on a blue majolica background, while those in the platform halls are monochrome.
The blue gives the central hall a distinct look.
Tip: Compare the central hall with the platform halls to see the change in color.
Twelve gilded chandeliers
The central hall is lit by 12 gilded chandeliers, each with a center of blue majolica that matches the panels.
They are part of the flamboyant style of the post-war Circle Line.
Tip: Look up from the middle of the hall, where several chandeliers are in view at once.
One of the deepest stations
The Circle Line station opened on 1 January 1950 and was the deepest station in the Moscow Metro until 1958.
It is a deep pylon station, built with post-war flamboyance and traditional Russian decorative motifs.
Tip: Note the length of the escalator ride, which shows how deep the station is.
The end of the hall and its replaced sculpture
The end of the central hall once held a large sculptural group of Stalin and youth. In 1961 it was replaced by a work of the same authors, with Lenin, the coats of arms of the Soviet republics and the Hero Cities, and it was taken down in late 1966 to make way for the transfer.
The changes show how the decoration followed events.
Tip: Look at the end of the hall, where the transfer now leads.
The 1966 Line 7 station
The Tagansko-Krasnopresnenskaya Line station opened on 31 December 1966, on the Zhdanovsky radius. It has white and black ceramic tiles and metallic artworks on a space theme.
It was the terminus of its line until 1970.
Tip: Walk through the passage to see its plain, modern style next to the Circle Line hall.
Atmosphere
The Circle Line hall is warm and busy, with blue and white majolica panels on the pylons and golden chandeliers hanging along the center. The mood is festive and a little heavy, like a ceremonial hall under the ground.
Passengers flow between the two lines through long passages, and the sound is footsteps, announcements and trains. Visitors stop to look at the panels and the chandeliers.
The hub is busiest at rush hours, and calmer in the middle of the day and late in the evening. The Line 7 station is plainer and brighter, with its white and black tiles.
History of Taganskaya Metro Station
The Circle Line station of Taganskaya opened on 1 January 1950, with the first segment of the fourth stage of the Moscow Metro, on the line that orbits central Moscow. It is named after Taganka Square, a major junction of the Garden Ring.
The architects were K. Ryzhkov and A. Medvedev. The deep pylon station was built with post-war flamboyance, and its decoration is based on traditional Russian motifs. It was the deepest station of the Moscow Metro from 1950 until 1958.
The pylons carry 48 majolica panels by Ye. Blinova, P. Kozhin, A. Sotnikov, A. Berzhitskaya and Z. Sokolova, with floral elements and profile reliefs of Red Army and Navy servicemen. Twelve gilded chandeliers with blue majolica centers hang in the central hall.
The end of the central hall once held a large sculptural group of Stalin and youth. It was replaced in 1961 by a new work by P. Baladin and Ye. Blinova, which showed Lenin, the coats of arms of the Soviet republics and the Hero Cities of Leningrad, Stalingrad, Sevastopol and Odessa. It was taken down in late 1966 to make way for a transfer.
The transfer led to the new Taganskaya station of the Zhdanovskaya Line, now the Tagansko-Krasnopresnenskaya Line, which opened on 31 December 1966. It is a pylon station with white and black ceramic tiles and metallic artworks on a space theme, and it served as the terminus of its line until 1970.
The Circle Line station was closed for work and reopened on 20 December 2006, according to a source.
Today the two stations form one hub, with a transfer between them, and the Circle Line hall remains a showcase of the Metro’s post-war style.
Tickets and Booking for Taganskaya 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 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 hub is busiest in the morning and evening on weekdays, especially in the transfer passages.
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 Taganskaya Metro Station
Taganskaya is in the Tagansky area, south-east of the center of Moscow, under Taganka Square on the Garden Ring.
- Circle Line: Taganskaya (Line 5, Koltsevaya, brown), between Kurskaya and Paveletskaya; this is the decorated station.
- Line 7: Taganskaya (Tagansko-Krasnopresnenskaya, purple), between Kitay-gorod and Proletarskaya, linked by a passage.
The exits open onto Taganka Square. Bunker-42 is a short walk from the station. A taxi can drop you at the square, though traffic on the Garden Ring is heavy.
Accessibility
Accessibility details were not confirmed. The stations are deep and are reached by long escalators and passages, and 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
Taganka Square and the streets around it have many cafes and restaurants. 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.
Best Views and Photo Spots of Taganskaya Metro Station
Middle of the Circle Line hall
The line of pylons with majolica panels and the gilded chandeliers hanging along the hall.
Best time: Late evening or mid-morning, when the hall is quieter
A single majolica panel
One panel with its floral border and serviceman relief in close detail, on blue majolica.
Best time: Between trains, with the platform clear
Chandelier from below
A gilded chandelier with its blue majolica center against the vault.
Best time: Any time, with the hall lit
Line 7 station platform
The white and black ceramic tiles and the metallic space-themed artworks.
Best time: Weekday afternoons
Photography Rules
Photography rules in the stations were not confirmed. Taking photographs on the platform is common, but tripods and flash can be restricted, and the hub is busy, so stand clear of the platform edge. Drone rules in Moscow are strict and change.
Family Suitability
The hub is a short stop that suits families on the way to Taganka, and children can look for the sailors and pilots in the panels. 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
- Check the line color before you go down; only the brown Circle Line station has the majolica panels.
- Look for the pilots, tank crews and sailors in the profile reliefs, each panel is dedicated to a different group.
- Compare the central hall with the platform halls, where the panels are monochrome.
- Use the passage to the Line 7 station to see the plain 1966 design in contrast.
- Combine the stop with Bunker-42, which is a short walk from the station.
- Avoid the rush hours if you want room to photograph the panels and chandeliers.
Explore Nearby Taganskaya Metro Station
Sights near Taganskaya Metro Station
Bunker-42 Moscowabout 200 m away (~3 min walk) · typical visit: 1.5–2.5 hours
Novospassky Monastery Moscowabout 1.7 km away (~27 min walk) · typical visit: 1–1.5 hours
Moscow Metro · typical visit: 1.5–3 hours for a tour of showcase stations
Museum of Russian Icons Moscowabout 700 m away (~12 min walk) · typical visit: About 1.5 to 2 hours
Kotelnicheskaya Embankment Building Moscowabout 900 m away (~14 min walk) · typical visit: About 30 minutes to 1 hour
Metro stations near Taganskaya Metro Station
Marksistskaya Metro Stationabout 100 m away (~1 min walk)
Train stations and river piers near Taganskaya Metro Station
Novospassky River Pierabout 1.3 km away (~21 min walk)
Paveletsky Railway Terminalabout 1.6 km away (~26 min walk)
Kursky Railway Terminalabout 1.8 km away (~29 min walk)
Hotels near Taganskaya Metro Station
Swissotel Krasnye Holmy Moscowabout 1.1 km away (~18 min walk)
Ibis Moscow Centre Bakhrushinaabout 1.3 km away (~22 min walk)
Related guides
Kotelnicheskaya Embankment: Stalin Skyscraper and the Yauza Mouth
Taganka: Taganskaya Square, the Theatre and Moscow’s Old Sloboda
Proletarskaya Metro Station: Glass Pavilions and Line 10 Transfer
Miratorg: Supermarkets in Moscow, Hours and What to Buy
Igor Butman Jazz Club: Live Jazz Near Taganskaya, Hours and Tips
Browse more: More in Tagansky · All Metro Stations
FAQ: Taganskaya Metro Station
Why are there two Taganskaya stations?
The Circle Line station opened in 1950, and the Line 7 station opened in 1966 and is linked to it by a passage.
Which Taganskaya is the decorated one?
The Circle Line station (Line 5, brown), with 48 majolica panels and 12 gilded chandeliers.
Who designed it?
The architects K. Ryzhkov and A. Medvedev designed the Circle Line station, which opened on 1 January 1950.
What are the panels made of?
Majolica, a glazed earthenware, with floral elements and reliefs of Red Army and Navy servicemen.
Was it once the deepest station?
Yes, it was the deepest station of the Moscow Metro from 1950 until 1958.
Do I need a ticket to see it?
Yes, a Metro fare is needed to enter. See the fares and payment section.
What is the Line 7 station like?
It opened in 1966 and has white and black ceramic tiles and metallic artworks with a space theme.
How long do I need?
About 10 to 15 minutes to walk the Circle Line hall and look at the panels.
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