A blogger Polly from USA, who lives in Moscow and teaches English, made a list of her favorite metro stations.
If you’ve ever had even the most cursory glance at a Moscow guide book, you’re sure to have heard about the metro system and it’s ostentatious stations. While it’s true that the stations are incredible works of art, the strangest thing by far about the Moscow metro stations are how easily you get used to them. I can’t even begin to imagine how many times I’ve irritably pushed through a throng of snap-happy tourists as I tried to get to my next appointment. But when I stopped to think about it, I think the tourists really did have the right idea – the appreciation, that is. Not the blocking of busy people.
So in that spirit, I took a little ride around the metro to refresh my memory and actually look at where I was going everyday. Then, I chose my favorite spots. While a ride around the circle line is an easy guide for tourists looking for over-the-top metro architecture, it’s an exercise that can take up 2+ hours. If you don’t have that much time, or just want the highlights, may I present to you:
Polly’s (Unofficial, Totally Subjective) Best Moscow Metro Stations List
Metro Prospekt Mira (Source)
1. Prospekt Mira [Проспект Мира]
Officially opened in 1952, Prospekt Mira is a great metro station to start with. (It’s the station on the circle line at the northern intersection of the orange line.) To many Muscovites the station might not seem that impressive compared to others, but the long row of chandeliers, arched ceilings, and massive soviet murals are usually enough to make foreigners’ jaws drop. But let’s not stop because it only gets crazier from here…
Metro Komsomolskaya (Source)
2. Komsomolskaya [Косомольская]
In terms of grandiose metro stations, it doesn’t get much… grandioser… than Komsomolskaya. Located on the circle line at the northern intersection of the red line, Komsomolskaya is exactly the kind of over-the-top station of a tourist’s dream. Let’s get this out of the way first: it’s really yellow. And the style, oddly enough for a metro station opened at the height of the USSR, is 100% Baroque. The station is filled with a long procession of mosaics all following the theme of the Russian fight for freedom. From the 13th century to WWII, all of the major historical battles are there in mosaic form just so, you know, you can get your history and art lessons in while you’re on the way to work.
Metro Ploschad Revolutsii (Source)
3. Ploschad Revolutsii [Площадь Революции]
Built in 1938, Ploshchad Revolutsii is one of the most famous metro stations in Moscow – primarily because it’s one of the two stations that lead directly to the Kremlin and Red Square. Follow the blue line to the very center of the city to get a look at this unique ode to the greatness of the USSR. It’s hard not to notice the 76 bronze, larger-than-life sculptures depicting different parts of the soviet population. Perched on pedestals running the length of the station there are school children, factory workers, peasant women, writers, and more! You’ll notice that some of them are tarnished in some places: it is believed to be good luck if you rub the statues as you walk by. The dog is a particular favorite.
Entrance to Metro Mayakovskaya (Source)
4. Mayakovskaya [Маяковская]
Just one stop below the norther part of the circle line on the green line is Mayakovskaya, named for the famous Russian poet and playwright Vladimir Mayakovsky. Mayakovskaya station was opened in 1938 and considered cutting edge at the time as both sides of the station featured arches. The best part of Mayakovskaya is the ceiling: the station has the theme “24-Hour Soviet Sky” and mosaic throughout the station depict a bright Soviet future. A 2005 addition, an extra exit, is equally as amazing. The entire massive ceiling was renovated to reveal a final mosaic showing imagery from Mayakovsky’s poem ‘Moscow Sky’.
Metro Vorobyovy Gory (Source)
5. Vorobyovy Gory [Воробьевы Горы]
While Vorobyovy Gory is not really an exciting metro station in and of itself, it’s definitely worth a trip down south on the red line. Why? The metro station is located directly over the river and, if you translate its name (Sparrow Hills), you can imagine the great view you get of the surrounding area. The metro station itself is little more than massive glass panels that let you see in all directions.
Metro Pyatnitskoye Shosse (Source)
6. Pyatnitskoye Shosse [Пятницкое Шоссе]
OK, so this one is a little bonus and a metro stop that most tourists (let alone Muscovites) would ever make it to. It’s the newest metro stop at the very tippy top of the blue line, Pyatnitskoye Shosse. To be quite honest, if you go outside you’ll be met with a bit lot of nothing aside from unending, identical houses. However if you’ve got time to kill, it’s worth heading up for a look. To its ultra-sleek black marbled everything to the super cool curved platform, it’s a far cry from the typical style of the older metro stations.
Source: A Girl and Her Travels
