Vorobyovy Gory Metro Station is built into the lower deck of the Luzhniki Metro Bridge over the Moskva River, which makes it the only Metro station on a bridge. Vorobyovy Gory Metro Station bridge location also gives it glass walls, so passengers look out over the river and the city.
It is the stop for Sparrow Hills, the observation platform and Moscow State University. The station has been closed and rebuilt once, and it reopened in 2002. This guide explains what to look for, how to reach the viewpoint and how the fares work.
Quick Facts
| Russian name | Воробьёвы горы |
|---|---|
| Built / opened | 1959 |
| Architect(s) | Nikolay Shumakov |
| Address | Luzhniki Metro Bridge, Komsomolsky Prospekt, Moscow, Russia OpenStreetMap · Google Maps |
| District | Khamovniki |
| Interchanges | Vorobyovy Gory (Line 1 (Sokolnicheskaya, red), the station itself on the Luzhniki Metro Bridge, between Sportivnaya and Universitet, with exits to Sparrow Hills) |
| 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 | Daytime rides are best, since the glass walls give views of the river only in daylight, and clear weather gives the best views from the platform. Mid-morning on weekdays is calmer, and late evening is quiet.
The morning and evening rush hours and sunny weekends are the busiest, with crowds on the platform. |
| Last updated | October 6, 2026 |
Why Visit Vorobyovy Gory Metro Station?
The station is unique in the Metro. It sits inside the lower deck of a concrete arch bridge over the Moskva River, and it is the only station with windows, so you can see the river and the Luzhniki side from the platform.
It opened with the bridge in 1959, was closed in 1983 because the bridge was in poor condition, and reopened in 2002 after a reconstruction with glass walls.
It is also the closest Metro stop to Sparrow Hills, where an observation platform about 85 meters above the river looks over the city. The Moscow Cable Car, Moscow State University and the Luzhniki Stadium are all nearby.
Highlights of Vorobyovy Gory Metro Station
The only station on a bridge
The station is built into the lower deck of the Luzhniki Metro Bridge, a two-level concrete arch bridge over the Moskva River. The upper deck carries a road with six lanes.
It is the only Moscow Metro station located over water, and one of the few in the world on a bridge.
Tip: Look at the bridge from the river bank or from the Luzhniki side to see how the station fits into it.
Glass walls with river views
Vorobyovy Gory is the only Metro station with windows. After the reconstruction of 2002 the hall has glass walls, so passengers look out at the Moskva River, the Luzhniki complex and the city.
It is the best station of the Metro for daylight.
Tip: Choose a daytime ride and stand near the glass, since the view is dark at night.
The long closure and the rebuild
The station opened in 1959 and flooded in July of that year when rainwater broke through the roof. By the 1980s the bridge was structurally unsound, so the station closed in 1983 and trains used temporary bridges.
The restored station reopened on 14 December 2002.
Tip: Read the history before you go, since it explains why the station looks modern.
Name changes
The station was called Leninskiye Gory from 1959 until 1999, after the hills, which were renamed Lenin Hills in 1935. The historic name Sparrow Hills was restored in 1999.
Older maps and guides may still use the earlier name.
Tip: Look for both names when you use older maps or books.
The gateway to Sparrow Hills
The exits lead to the Sparrow Hills reserve. The observation platform stands on a steep bank about 85 meters above the river, with views of the Luzhniki Stadium, the skyline and Moscow State University behind.
The walking time to the platform was not verified.
Tip: Plan the walk to the platform with a map, and allow time for the slope.
The Moscow Cable Car link
The Moscow Cable Car connects Sparrow Hills with Luzhniki across the river, and the station is the stop for its upper end.
Its fares and hours are in its own article.
Tip: Combine a Metro ride on the bridge with a cable car ride back across the river.
Atmosphere
The platform is bright and open, with large windows along the hall and the river flowing below. Daylight pours in, which is rare in the Metro, and the sound of trains mixes with the traffic on the upper deck.
Passengers include students on their way to Moscow State University, visitors heading for the viewpoint and fans on match days at Luzhniki. At night the windows show the lights of the stadium and the city.
It is busiest at rush hours and in good weather at weekends, and calmer in the middle of the day on weekdays.
History of Vorobyovy Gory Metro Station
In the late 1950s the Sokolnicheskaya Line was extended past Luzhniki Stadium toward the new Moscow State University on Sparrow Hills, which were called Lenin Hills at the time, since 1935. The extension had to cross the Moskva River, and engineers built a combined road and Metro bridge with a station on its lower deck.
The Luzhniki Metro Bridge, a two-level concrete arch bridge, was officially opened on 12 January 1959, together with the section to Universitet. The station on its lower deck was called Leninskiye Gory and was designed by the architect Nikolay Shumakov. The upper deck carried six lanes of road traffic.
On 8 July 1959, soon after the opening, rainwater broke through the roofing of the station hall and flooded the tracks. By the 1980s the bridge was in poor structural condition, and the station was closed in 1983, supposedly temporarily, for repairs. In 1986–87 the tracks were moved to temporary steel bridges on either side.
In 1999 the historic name of the hills, Sparrow Hills, was restored, and the station was renamed Vorobyovy Gory in honor of the landmark. In July and August 2001 trains returned to the main bridge, the temporary bridges were removed, and the restored station reopened on 14 December 2002.
The rebuilt station has glass walls, which makes it the only Metro station with windows, and it is the only station located over water.
Today it is the stop for Sparrow Hills, the observation platform, Moscow State University and the Luzhniki Stadium, and one of the Metro’s most distinctive rides.
Tickets and Booking for Vorobyovy Gory 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 Sparrow Hills.
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 Vorobyovy Gory Metro Station
Vorobyovy Gory is on the Luzhniki Metro Bridge over the Moskva River, in the south-west of Moscow, at the foot of Sparrow Hills.
- Metro: Vorobyovy Gory (Line 1, Sokolnicheskaya, red), between Sportivnaya and Universitet.
- On foot: the exits lead to the Sparrow Hills reserve, and the observation platform and Moscow State University are a walk uphill; the walking times were not verified.
The Moscow Cable Car links the hills with the Luzhniki side. A taxi can drop you near the hill, though the approach roads are busy.
Accessibility
Accessibility details were not confirmed. The station is on a bridge, close to ground level, and is reached by stairs or escalators, but lift availability and step-free access were not verified. The paths to the observation platform climb a slope. Contact the Metro or check mosmetro.ru before traveling if you need step-free access or assistance.
Food Nearby
The Sparrow Hills reserve and the area around Moscow State University and the Luzhniki Stadium have cafes 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, comfortable shoes for the slope to the platform and some rubles in cash for a ticket or a Troika card. Add a layer in winter, since the platform is open to the wind.
Best Views and Photo Spots of Vorobyovy Gory Metro Station
Platform windows
The glass walls of the hall with the Moskva River and the Luzhniki side beyond, a view unique in the Metro.
Best time: Daylight, between trains
Luzhniki Metro Bridge from the river bank
The two-level arch bridge with the station window band along its lower deck.
Best time: Early morning or late afternoon light
Sparrow Hills observation platform
The skyline over the river and the Luzhniki complex from about 85 meters above the water.
Best time: Clear weather, around sunset
Moscow State University
The main building seen from the hill with the Metro bridge lower down.
Best time: Morning light
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 flash reflects in the glass, so shoot without it. The platform is busy at rush hours, so stand clear of the edge. Drone rules in Moscow are strict and change.
Family Suitability
The station is a good short stop for families, since children enjoy the glass walls and the view of the river. It is on a bridge with trains and traffic, so keep children close and away from the platform edge. Strollers need the escalator or a lift, and the paths to the viewpoint are on a slope; lift access was not confirmed.
Moscow Vibes Tips
- Ride in daylight if you can; at night the windows reflect the hall rather than showing the river.
- Turn off the flash in the glass-walled hall, which only reflects in the windows.
- Look at the bridge from the Luzhniki side to see the station as part of the arch.
- Do not look for the observation platform at the station; it is a walk up the hill.
- Check older maps for the name Leninskiye Gory, which is the same station.
- Combine the visit with a ride on the Moscow Cable Car back to Luzhniki.
Explore Nearby Vorobyovy Gory Metro Station
Sights near Vorobyovy Gory Metro Station
Sparrow Hills Moscowabout 850 m away (~14 min walk) · typical visit: 1.5–3 hours including the walk upMain image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Moscow State Universityabout 2.0 km away (~32 min walk) · typical visit: 1–2 hours for the campus and the viewMain image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Moscow Cable Carabout 600 m away (~9 min walk) · typical visit: 45–90 minutesMain image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
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.
Metro stations near Vorobyovy Gory Metro Station
Luzhniki MCC Stationabout 1.2 km away (~19 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Train stations and river piers near Vorobyovy Gory Metro Station
Luzhniki River Pierabout 200 m away (~3 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Hotels near Vorobyovy Gory Metro Station
Korston Club Hotel Moscowabout 700 m away (~11 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Spektr Hotel Moscowabout 1.4 km away (~22 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Events and traditions near Vorobyovy Gory Metro Station
Moscow Marathonabout 700 m away (~12 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Related guides
Sparrow Hills: Moscow’s Best Viewpoint, University and Nature ReserveMain image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Novodevichy: Convent, Cemetery and UNESCO Walk in KhamovnikiMain image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
How to visit Moscow’s observation decks: Free Views and Paid TowersMain image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Universitet Metro Station: Gateway to Moscow State UniversityMain image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Sportivnaya Metro Station: Luzhniki Stop with a Metro MuseumMain image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Browse more: More in Khamovniki · All Metro Stations
FAQ: Vorobyovy Gory Metro Station
Why is the station on a bridge?
The Metro extension to Moscow State University had to cross the Moskva River, so a combined road and Metro bridge was built with the station on its lower deck.
Is it the only station with windows?
Yes, Vorobyovy Gory is the only Moscow Metro station with windows and glass walls.
When did it open?
In 1959, as Leninskiye Gory, with the bridge. It closed in 1983 and reopened on 14 December 2002.
Why was it renamed?
The historic name of the hills, Sparrow Hills, was restored in 1999, and the station took it.
Is it the station for Moscow State University?
It serves Sparrow Hills and is close to the university; Universitet, the next station, is the other option.
Do I need a ticket to see it?
Yes, a Metro fare is needed to enter. See the fares and payment section.
Can I reach the observation platform from here?
Yes, the exits lead to the Sparrow Hills reserve and the platform is a walk uphill.
How long do I need?
About 10 minutes to see the platform, and more for the walk to the viewpoint.
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Last updated: October 6, 2026.
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