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Moscow Metro

The Moscow Metro operates in the city Moscow and partly in the Moscow region. Metro is the most effective, cheapest and safest form of transport in Moscow. The Moscow Metro is one of the busiest subways of the world by number of carried passengers. Metro, buses and trams create an efficient public transport system in Moscow.

The Moscow Metro has 14 lines and 263 stations (January 2024, excluding the Monorail line and the Moscow Central Ring railway line). Underground lines have radial-ring structure (in accordance with the historical layout of Moscow). Radial-ring scheme means that most of the lines cross the territory of the city in different directions, passing through the central part of the city (radiate from the city center). There is also a circular subway line that connects the radial lines. Many stations of the Moscow metro has free wireless internet (Wi-Fi). Most Moscow metro stations open for entrance of passengers from 5:35 to 1:00. (Stations operating mode can be changed during some holidays.)

Metro station sign

Some stations of the Moscow metro have original design, and they are examples of the art of socialist realism. These stations can be considered architectural landmarks of Moscow. 44 stations of the Moscow metro recognized as objects of cultural heritage of Russia.

More than half of Moscow subway stations serve more than 50 thousand passengers per day. The most heavily used stations are: Komsomolskaya, "Vykhino", Yugo-Zapadnaya, "Novogireevo", "VDNKh", "Kuzminki", "Tushinskaya", "Shchelkovo", Kitay-Gorod. This subway stations are serving from 100 to 150 thousand people every day. There are metro stations lokated close to all railway stations of Moscow.
Warehouse of forgotten things is on the "Kotelniky" metro station.

Construction of the metro in Moscow began in November 1931. The first line was opened on 15 May 1935. The construction of new metro stations in Moscow continues. New stations are opened every year. New subway lines are under construction. Development plans of the Moscow subway agreed with the plans of land transport development, in order to create the most convenient for passengers’ transportation infrastructure of the city.

The fare on the Moscow metro

The simplest recommendation for tourists how to pay the fare: buy a "Troika" card at the box office and charge the required amount on it. Use the card to pay for the metro, bus, tram. Return the card to the cashier after the end of your trip to Moscow (and get a deposit back).

It is possible to pay the fare in the Moscow metro (2024) using contactless cards and tickets of different types. Some of the types of tickets are valid only in the metro. Some cards and tickets can be used in buses, trams and trolleybuses. There are also tickets with validity period of 90 minutes.

Travel tickets are recorded electronically on a paper ticket or on a "Troika" transport card (the most popular options).

Payment methods are developing rapidly. You can pay for travel (for example) using some bank (contactless) cards and using smartphones.

Metro ticket office in Moscow

On the photo: subway ticket offices (on the right), a vending machine for buying and replenishing transport cards (on the left) and a device for checking the balance of the card (yellow, in the center).

"Troika" transport card This is an electronic card for paying for travel on public transport. The deposit for the Troika card is 150 rubles. (The deposit can be returned when the card is returned to the cashier; money not spent on travel will not be returned.) Any type of ticket and a subscription for commuter electric trains can be recorded on the Troika card.

Ticket “Wallet” of the “Troika” card:
The cost of one metro trip is 54 rubles (2024).
The “90 minutes” tariff allows you to make one trip by metro, monorail, MCC or MCD and an unlimited number of trips by ground transport. Cost - 81 rubles.

"Yediniy" ticket. Ticket «Единый» (united for different modes of transport) has many variations. Can be purchased for the number of trips or for the number of days. The ticket allows you to travel by metro, monorail, bus, trolleybus or tram. The ticket is valid throughout Moscow (with a few exceptions).
It can be either on paper or recorded on a Troika card. Tickets written on a paper form do not provide the right to travel on the MCD railway. Tickets for 30, 90 and 365 days are sold only on the Troika card.

Some of the tariffs for the Central Zone (2024):
1 trip - 65 ₽.
2 trips - 130 ₽.
60 trips - 3150 ₽.
1 day - 315 ₽.
3 days - 600 ₽.

troyka Moscow metro ticket
Moscow metro ticket
Moscow metro ticket
Tarkista tiedot Moskovan metro virallisilla verkkosivuilla: http://mosmetro.ru.

Check the information on the official website of the Moscow Metro: http://mosmetro.ru.

Facts and Figures (2024)

  • Number of lines: 14.
  • Number of stations: 263.
  • The total length of lines: 466.
  • The average operational speed of trains (including stops): 41.6 km/h.
  • The longest stage: "Krylatskoye" - "Strogino" (6625 m).
  • The shortest stage: Arbatskaya - "Alexandrovsky Sad" (328 m) and "Vistavochnaya" - "Mezdunarodnaya" (500 m).

There are some metro stations most popular among tourist: Ploschad Revolutsii, Alexandrovsky Sad, Arbatskaya, Okhotny Ryad, Vorobyovy Gory, Theatralnaya, Tretyakovskaya and some other stations.

Useful links Useful links for travelers:
Hotels near the Red Square in Moscow.
Guided tours in Moscow - choose online.
Flights and tickets.
Railway tickets in Russia (and in Europe).
Moscow - information and tourist guide.

For more information about metro stations and lines location in Moscow plese visit the interactive metro map.

Moscow metro map

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