Before departing for Moscow, I had heard that the Moscow Metro was something special. As expected, it truly is stunning. On the second day of my visit to Moscow, the weather was terrible, with rain all day long, which led to an unplanned journey through the Moscow Metro.
The Russian government invested heavily in building the Moscow Metro, and every station and its ticket hall features symbolic historical or cultural architecture and sculptures. I personally believe that each metro station is a museum, with unique designs—some historical, some modern—and each one is a feast for the eyes.
The Moscow Metro has a total of 196 stations, and the Russian government spent the most on constructing the central ring line, Kol'tsevaya (Circle) Line. So, if you’re short on time, you must still check out the ring line. Let me introduce a few of the uniquely designed stations I visited and found particularly impressive.
PLOSHCHAD' REVOLYUTSII (Revolution Square), Arbatsko - Pokrovskata Line
Sculptures of the Soviet people
KOMSOMOL'SKAYA (Komsomolskaya), Kol'tsevaya (Circle) Line
Mosaic murals commemorating Russia’s victory in World War II
NOVOSLOBODSKAYA (Novoslobodskaya) , Kol'tsevaya (Circle) Line
Colored glass underground
VOROB'EVY GORY (Vorobyovy Gory), Sokol'nicheskaya Line
Exhibits showcasing Russia’s aerospace industry
The decoration of the Moscow Metro is lavish and beautiful, and art lovers could easily spend an entire day here.
Celebration banner for the 70th anniversary of the victory in World War II
Also, it’s worth mentioning the fare for the Moscow Metro. I’m not sure if it’s because of the communist influence, but the fare is a flat rate—you tap your card at the entrance. No matter how many stations you ride or how long you stay, it only deducts the cost of one trip (a single ride costs 50 RUB, about HKD$8; I bought a 5-ride pass, averaging about 36 RUB per ride, around HKD$5.7). On the day I explored the Moscow Metro, I paid the equivalent of HKD$5.7 and spent three hours underground.
For those planning to visit Moscow, consider setting aside half a day to explore the various metro stations—it’s definitely worth it. However, professional photography equipment like DSLRs is not allowed in the Moscow Metro (I used a regular compact camera that day). Although I didn’t see any signs or notices, nor did I see staff stopping photographers with DSLRs, it’s better to be cautious.
********************************************
“She” Journeys · Shero
Post-90s · Female · A Solo “She” Adventure
If you’d like to read more of my solo travel stories, feel free to follow my Facebook page and experience my “she” journeys (:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sherotravels
********************************************