If you don’t speak or understand Russian, the Moscow Metro might seem complicated to use. However, once you start using it, you’ll quickly realize that it’s actually quite simple. Moreover, the Moscow Metro is also a major tourist attraction due to the beauty of some of its stations. I’ll also show you which stations are worth visiting.
Introduction
The Moscow Metro (also known as the People’s Palace) was inaugurated in 1935 during Stalin’s era. It’s one of the largest and densest metro systems in the world. It connects the city center with industrial and residential areas, allowing for quick and easy travel around Moscow. Additionally, it’s also a tourist attraction thanks to the stunning architecture of many of its stations.
The official website of the Moscow Metro offers some interesting facts:
- In 2025, the Moscow Metro remains one of the busiest in the world, with over 7 million passengers per day. It has 14 lines (each identified by its own color), more than 250 stations, and a network that spans over 430 kilometers, including new lines like the large circle line (Line 11).
- The deepest station is Park Pobedy (Victory Park), located 84 meters underground. It also features the longest escalator in the system, measuring 126 meters. Looking down gives you vertigo—it seems to have no end.
- The train frequency is impressive: trains arrive every 90 seconds (or even less in central stations). So if you hear one coming, don’t rush—another one will be there very soon.
1. Useful Information Before You Start
Before using the Moscow Metro, there’s some very useful information you can check online:
Official Moscow Metro Website:
- http://mosmetro.ru (Russian version)
- http://engl.mosmetro.ru (English version). At the time of writing this article, the English version is still not functional.
Official Moscow Metro Map:
- Interactive Moscow Metro map to plan your routes.
Mobile Apps: Yandex Metro is a free and very useful app since you don’t need an internet connection to view maps or plan routes (they can be viewed in Latin alphabet, although the map itself is in Cyrillic). It’s available for Android and iPhone, and also has a web version in English.
Moscow Metro Hours: Most stations open from 5:30 AM to 1:00 AM.
Ticket Types: You can buy single-ride tickets (75 rubles per trip), but the most practical (and cheapest) option is the Troika card, which costs 63 rubles per trip. You can also pay directly at the turnstiles with bank cards (Visa, Mastercard, or Mir) or via your mobile using Apple Pay, Google Pay, or Mir Pay. Note: some foreign cards may not work due to sanctions, so the Troika card remains the most reliable option.
All these payment methods are also valid for buses, trolleybuses, and trams, as they’re part of Moscow’s unified public transportation system.
The following are the ticket prices and travel passes available in 2025:
Single Tickets
- Ediny Ticket (1 trip): 75 rubles.
- Ediny Ticket (2 trips): 150 rubles.
- 90-Minute Ticket: 94 rubles. Allows one trip by metro or monorail and unlimited transfers on bus, trolleybus, and tram within 90 minutes.
💳 Troika Card
The Troika card is a rechargeable card that allows you to pay for trips on the metro, monorail, MCC (Moscow Central Circle), MCD (Moscow Central Diameters), buses, trolleybuses, and trams.
- Card cost: 50 rubles (refundable when returned).
- Fare per trip: 63 rubles using the wallet mode.
- 90-Minute Ticket: 94 rubles.
📆 Unlimited Travel Passes (Ediny)
These passes allow unlimited trips on the metro, monorail, MCC, and ground transport within the central zone:
- 1 day: 365 rubles.
- 3 days: 700 rubles.
- 30 days: 3,070 rubles.
- 90 days: 7,430 rubles.
- 365 days: 22,000 rubles.
💳 Bank Card or Mobile Payment
You can pay directly at the turnstiles with bank cards (Visa, Mastercard, Mir) or mobile devices (Apple Pay, Google Pay, Mir Pay). The fare per trip is 64 rubles.
🧾 Other Options
- 60-Trip Ticket: 3,420 rubles (57 rubles per trip).
- Social passes: Available for students and other groups with reduced fares.
2. How to Get Around the Moscow Metro
I’ll try to explain as simply as possible how to move around the Moscow Metro. If you’re used to other metro systems, some of the tips here might seem obvious—others, maybe not so much.
2.1. Entering the Metro
From the street, metro stations are marked with a large red M.
You enter from street level or by going down stairs, at the bottom of which you’ll see:
- A row of doors with green signs where you can enter. These say “Metro Entrance” in Russian and English.
- Another row of doors with red signs saying “Do not enter”—these are the exit doors (don’t enter through these).
Once inside, each station’s main hall has a large metro map to help you orient yourself, as well as ticket vending machines and a staffed ticket window.
2.2. Buying Tickets
Once inside, you can buy tickets in two main ways:
- Automatic ticket machines. They’re available in both Russian and English and are easy to use.
- Ticket windows. While using the machines isn’t hard, it’s more convenient to buy tickets at a staffed window (marked with the word “KACCA”). Wait in line (if there is one) and take your turn. You don’t need to speak any Russian. For example, if you want to buy a Troika card and load it with 500 rubles, just say “Troika” and hand over 550 rubles (the card deposit is 50 rubles). The staff will give you a card you can use to travel.
2.3. Access to the Platform
From the ticket window you’ll see the entrance turnstiles, which have card readers (some stations have newer systems, others more old-fashioned).
Tap your card or ticket on the reader. The red light will turn green to indicate you can pass. The screen will show your remaining balance or trips.
Each line of turnstiles has a booth with a staff member who monitors access and allows children under 7 years old (who travel free) or wheelchair users to enter.
It’s worth noting that each passenger is supposed to have their own ticket. However, with the 60-trip Troika card or the Wallet mode, it’s common practice for families or friends to share one card.
After passing through the turnstiles, you’ll find escalators that take you deep underground. Stand on the right-hand side to let people in a hurry pass on the left. Once you reach the bottom, follow the directional signs for lines and directions. It helps to have a map in both Russian and English, as signage is usually in Cyrillic. Since the 2018 FIFA World Cup, most stations now also include English signs.
Trains come every 1–2 minutes, so if you hear one arriving, there’s no need to rush—another will follow shortly.
2.4. Boarding the Train
When the train arrives, just wait for people to get off before entering. During rush hours it can get crowded, so be quick—getting bumped is common. Most importantly, move away from the door quickly, as the doors close firmly.
Once inside, look for a seat or a good place to hold on, as the trains can sway quite a bit. The metro cars are generally older and noisy, although they’re being gradually renovated.
2.5. Traveling Between Stations
If you don’t speak or read Russian, use your metro map and count the number of stops until your destination. Inside each car, near the doors, there’s a map of the whole metro and a map of the current line.
Station announcements are made in Russian and English. In general, a male voice announces stations on trains heading toward the city center, and a female voice for trains heading away. On the circular line (Line 5), the male voice is used for clockwise direction, and the female voice for counter-clockwise.
You’ll also see signs with the station names, but they can be hard to read from inside the train.
If you need to transfer, look for colored signs indicating the next line—each line has its own color and the signs are easy to follow if you know the color of the line you need.
Transfers between lines usually involve stairs, escalators, and underground corridors. You can make unlimited transfers on the same ticket until you exit the metro.
If you miss your stop, no worries. Just get off and catch the train going in the opposite direction.
2.6. Exiting the Metro
Once you reach your destination, get off the train and follow the white signs with black letters that say “Exit to the city” via the escalators. There may be several exits—look for the one that gets you closest to your final destination.
3. Must-See Metro Stations
Which stations are the most beautiful is very subjective and depends on personal taste. That said, I’ll go with the classification made by Russian architect Yuri Gridchin, which I think is pretty solid. You can check it out here: http://news.metro.ru/thebest.html.
He categorizes the best stations into two groups. First, the magnificent stations (5 stars)—a total of 20 (Top 20). I’ve marked them on the map below using a rectangle and their corresponding line colors:
Most of them are on lines 1, 2, 3, 5, and 7. Click the links below to see photos of each station:
- Línea 1:
- Línea 2:
- Línea 3:
- Línea 5
- Línea 7:
- Línea 9:
He also lists around 46 stations with 4 stars (“beautiful stations”). If you have time and want to explore more, check them out via this link.
4. Guided Tours of the Moscow Metro
Finally, if you want to dive deeper into the Moscow Metro experience, guided tours are a great way to learn about its history and hidden gems. Don’t hesitate to join one and discover more about this fascinating transport system! Several companies offer tours in various languages including English, Spanish, French, and Italian.
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