Admiralteyskaya Metro Station is the deepest in Russia, at 86 metres, and it is also one of the best-decorated stations in Saint Petersburg. It opened on 28 December 2011 on Line 5 and sits in the historic centre, a few minutes’ walk from Saint Isaac’s Cathedral, the Admiralty and Palace Square.
Getting to the platform is part of the experience: you ride a long escalator, walk through a connecting corridor and then take a second, shorter escalator. At the bottom, a hall in cream and gold marble is dedicated to the Russian navy. This guide explains what to look for, how to find the vestibule, and how to pay for the ride.
Quick Facts
| Russian name | Адмиралтейская |
|---|---|
| Built / opened | 2011 |
| Architect(s) | Alexander Konstantinov (lead architect), with V. Khilchenko, D. Boytsov and N. Romashkin-Timanov |
| Address | Санкт-Петербург, Кирпичный переулок, 3 OpenStreetMap · Google Maps |
| District | Central District |
| Interchanges | Admiralteyskaya (Line 5, the vestibule at Kirpichny Lane, on the corner with Malaya Morskaya Street) Sadovaya (Line 5, next stop towards Komendantsky Prospekt; interchange to Sennaya Ploshchad (Line 2) and Spasskaya (Line 4)) Sportivnaya (Line 5, next stop on the other side, across the Neva) |
| Opening hours | The metro runs daily, usually from early morning until shortly after midnight, and the station follows the network schedule; hours can change with works on the line (as of October 2026 – check the official site of the Saint Petersburg Metro). |
| Best time to visit | The station is indoors, so it works in any season and in any weather, and it is a useful shelter on a rainy or snowy day in the centre. Between the weekday rush hours is the best time to look at the hall in peace. In the evening the escalators and platform are generally calmer. |
| Last updated | October 16, 2026 |
Why Visit Admiralteyskaya Metro Station, Saint Petersburg?
Admiralteyskaya is the deepest station in the city, and the ride down is long enough to make it a sight in itself. The hall below is decorated with a naval theme that links it to the Admiralty building a short walk away: reliefs of admirals, anchors, a wind rose and the little ship from the Admiralty spire.
It is also the most convenient station for the central sights. It stands close to Saint Isaac’s Square, the Senate Square, the Hermitage and Palace Square, and it takes pressure off the crowded stations on Nevsky Prospekt. You need only the fare for a ride, and half an hour is enough to look around.
How Admiralteyskaya Metro Station, Saint Petersburg Is Laid Out
The station has three levels. At street level, the vestibule occupies the ground floor of a rebuilt apartment house on Kirpichny Lane. From it, a long escalator carries you down to an intermediate hall, where a sloping corridor connects to a second, shorter escalator. This leads to the platform hall, a long colonnaded space with a single island platform between the tracks.
Plan the visit in order: look at the mosaic and entrance panel in the vestibule, ride down, then walk the length of the platform hall to see the reliefs. Return by the same route, or ride one stop to Sadovaya and compare the two.
Highlights of Admiralteyskaya Metro Station, Saint Petersburg
The 86-metre descent
Admiralteyskaya is the deepest station in Russia. The ground at this depth is firm, and the station sits well below the city's soft upper layers, which is why the line had to run so deep here. A long first escalator, a sloping corridor and a shorter second escalator carry you down.
The length of the ride is the first thing visitors notice, and the views along the way show the tunnel stretching out below you.
Tip: Stand on the right and keep to the side while the escalator runs, as commuters pass on the left.
The vestibule in a rebuilt apartment house
The surface building was created inside an old apartment house on the corner of Kirpichny Lane and Malaya Morskaya Street. For years the platform was finished but had no usable entrance, because no acceptable site for a street-level hall could be found in the dense historic centre. The solution was to rebuild the house itself.
From the outside the building blends with the street, so look for the metro sign at the corner.
Tip: Use the exit on Kirpichny Lane for Saint Isaac's Square; check the signs at the top of the escalator.
The Founding of the Admiralty mosaic
In the vestibule, a mosaic titled The Founding of the Admiralty shows the origins of the shipyard that gave the district its name. It sets the nautical theme before you descend. Nearby, a panel at the entrance shows ships under sail.
Both are easy to see at street level, so they work as a quick stop even if you do not go down.
Tip: Look at the mosaic before descending, when the vestibule is quieter.
Anchors, the wind rose and the little ship
Smaller details carry the naval theme. Anchors decorate the walls, and a wind rose is set into the floor. Next to the station name you will see the small ship that sits on top of the Admiralty spire, a symbol of the city.
These details reward a slow walk, as they are easy to miss when you are following the crowd.
Tip: Look down as well as up: the wind rose is in the floor.
The platform hall in cream and gold marble
The platform hall is a column-and-wall design finished in cream-golden marble, with a long arcade that gives it a grand, ceremonial feel. The lead architect was Alexander Konstantinov, working with several colleagues.
The warm stone and the regular rhythm of the arches make it one of the most photogenic halls on Line 5.
Tip: Walk to the far end of the platform for the longest view down the arcade.
Reliefs of Russian admirals
The decoration of the underground hall is devoted to the rise of the Russian fleet, and bas-reliefs honour admirals and the navy. They tie the station to the Admiralty building above and to Peter the Great's naval history.
Take a moment to read the faces and scenes between trains rather than rushing through.
Tip: Visit between trains, when the platform is clear enough to see the reliefs.
The 'ghost station' years
Admiralteyskaya was built as part of Line 5 in the 1990s, but its platform stood unused for 14 years. Trains passed through without stopping, slowing as they went, because the surface vestibule had not been resolved. The station was finally opened on 28 December 2011.
It was meant to relieve the crowded stations on Nevsky Prospekt and to give a more direct route to the Hermitage and the main squares.
Tip: If you ride towards Sadovaya, the line is the same one that trains used to run through here without stopping.
Atmosphere
At street level the vestibule is quiet and low-key, tucked into an ordinary-looking building. The escalator ride is the real arrival: a long, steady descent with the hum of the machinery, warm light and a sense of the city being left far behind.
On the platform the hall is wide and calm, with golden marble and the rhythm of the arches. Most of the people here are commuters and visitors heading to the central sights. Weekday mornings and evenings are busy, but between rush hours it is easy to stand back and look along the arcade.
History of Admiralteyskaya Metro Station, Saint Petersburg
Line 5 was begun in 1987, and its first section opened in 1997. Admiralteyskaya was built along with it, but it could not open: nobody had decided where the surface entrance should go in the dense historic centre. For about 14 years the platform stood finished but unused, and trains passed through without stopping, slowing as they went.
Several plans were considered. One would have demolished an apartment house at the corner of Kirpichny Lane and Malaya Morskaya Street and built an office centre with a metro vestibule inside it, but the project met many obstacles. In the end the decision was to acquire the apartment house and rebuild it to hold the vestibule. Work restarted in the late 2000s, and by mid-2009 the question of the exit had finally been settled.
The station finally opened on 28 December 2011. It was meant to relieve the crowded stations at Nevsky Prospekt and Gostiny Dvor, and to give a more direct route to the Hermitage and the squares around the Admiralty. A planned transfer to a station on the green line, tentatively called Admiralteyskaya-2, has not been built.
Technically, it is a deep column-and-wall station with an island platform, 86 metres below the surface. That made it the deepest station in Saint Petersburg and in Russia, replacing Komendantsky Prospekt, which had held the record before. The escalators run in two stages with a corridor between them, because a single flight could not reach the platform.
The lead architect was Alexander Konstantinov, working with V. Khilchenko, D. Boytsov and N. Romashkin-Timanov. The decoration tells the story of the Russian navy in the time of Peter the Great: a mosaic of the founding of the Admiralty in the vestibule, a panel of ships at the entrance, anchors, a wind rose in the floor and bas-reliefs of admirals in the hall. The small ship from the Admiralty spire appears next to the station’s name.
Today Admiralteyskaya is an ordinary working station on Line 5 and the nearest metro stop to Saint Isaac’s Square, the Senate Square, the Hermitage and Palace Square.
Tickets and Booking for Admiralteyskaya Metro Station, Saint Petersburg
Admiralteyskaya needs no ticket of its own: you pay for a ride on the Saint Petersburg Metro and can look around the vestibule and platform hall while you wait for a train. The fare is a flat one regardless of distance (₽).
- Contactless bank card: accepted at turnstiles marked for bank-card payment, but whether a card issued outside Russia works varies, and the sanctions rules of your own country may restrict the use of Russian payment services, so check this yourself before you travel.
- Podorozhnik card: a reusable transport card sold at metro ticket offices, and usually the simplest option for visitors who plan several rides.
Rates for Russian citizens and concession categories differ from the standard fare. Weekday morning and evening rush hours are the busiest times at the turnstiles and on the escalators. The official website of the Saint Petersburg Metro lists current fares, payment methods and categories.
Plan and Book
How to Get to Admiralteyskaya Metro Station, Saint Petersburg
By metro: Admiralteyskaya is on Line 5, the purple line. From the centre, the easiest way is to change to Line 5 at Sadovaya, which is linked to Sennaya Ploshchad (Line 2) and Spasskaya (Line 4), and ride one stop. Admiralteyskaya has no interchange with the other lines.
On foot: the vestibule is on Kirpichny Lane, at the corner with Malaya Morskaya Street, in the block between Nevsky Prospekt and Saint Isaac’s Square. From Nevsky Prospekt it is a short walk; Saint Isaac’s Cathedral, the Admiralty and Palace Square are all within about ten minutes on foot.
By taxi: ask for Kirpichny Lane, 3 (Кирпичный переулок, 3).
Accessibility
Admiralteyskaya is a very deep station, and the platform is reached by two stages of escalators with a long corridor between them. Whether lifts or other step-free routes are available was not verified for this article, so check the accessibility information on the official website of the Saint Petersburg Metro and consider asking staff before you travel.
Food Nearby
There are no verified cafes inside the station. Cafes, bakeries and restaurants are in the streets around the vestibule, along Malaya Morskaya Street and Nevsky Prospekt, and around Saint Isaac's Square.
What to Bring
A payment card or a Podorozhnik card, and a phone or camera ready before you descend. Comfortable shoes are useful for the long corridors and escalators.
Best Views and Photo Spots of Admiralteyskaya Metro Station, Saint Petersburg
The vestibule mosaic and entrance panel
The Founding of the Admiralty mosaic and the panel of ships introduce the nautical theme before you descend.
Best time: Off-peak hours, when the vestibule is clear.
Top of the long escalator
The view down the escalator shows how far the station lies below the street.
Best time: Outside rush hour, when the escalator is not packed.
Far end of the platform hall
From here the whole arcade of cream-golden marble runs away in front of you.
Best time: Between trains on a quiet midday.
The wind rose in the floor
A close-up of the wind rose and the small ship next to the station name.
Best time: Any time; look down while the platform is clear.
Photography Rules
Casual photography in the station is generally tolerated, but tripods and professional filming typically need permission from the metro. Do not block the escalators, the platform edge or passengers, and avoid photographing staff or other people.
Family Suitability
Easy for families, though the long escalator rides and the busy platform at rush hour need care with small children. Strollers should be folded or carried on the escalators, and whether lifts are available is not verified here. Children usually enjoy the long ride down and the ships and anchors in the decoration.
Russia Vibes Tips
- Take photos at the top of the escalator as well as on the platform; the length of the descent is hard to see from the bottom.
- Combine the station with a walk. Saint Isaac's Cathedral and the Admiralty are only a few minutes away on foot.
- Ride one stop to Sadovaya to compare two very different Line 5 halls and to reach the interchange with Lines 2 and 4.
- Use the right exit. Look at the signs at the top of the escalator to leave towards Kirpichny Lane or Malaya Morskaya Street.
- Look for the small ship next to the station name; it is the same one that stands on the Admiralty spire.
- Do not stop in the middle of the escalator. Step to the side if you want to take a photograph.
Explore Nearby Admiralteyskaya Metro Station, Saint Petersburg
Sights near Admiralteyskaya Metro Station, Saint Petersburg
Saint Isaac's Cathedral, Saint Petersburg – about 550 m away (~9 min walk) · typical visit: 1.5–2 hours for the cathedral interior; allow another 45–60 minutes for the colonnade.Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Bronze Horseman, Saint Petersburg · typical visit: 20–40 minutesMain image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Palace Square, Saint Petersburg · typical visit: 30–60 minutes, more with the HermitageMain image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
State Hermitage Museum, Saint Petersburg · typical visit: 3-5 hours for the main highlightsMain image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Nevsky Prospekt, Saint Petersburg · typical visit: 2–4 hours for the main stretch; a full day with stopsMain image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Metro stations near Admiralteyskaya Metro Station, Saint Petersburg
Nevsky Prospekt Metro Station, Saint Petersburgabout 750 m away (~12 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Spasskaya Metro Station, Saint Petersburgabout 1.1 km away (~17 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Sadovaya Metro Station, Saint Petersburgabout 1.1 km away (~17 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Train stations and river piers near Admiralteyskaya Metro Station, Saint Petersburg
Rumyantsev Descent Pier, Saint Petersburgabout 1.2 km away (~19 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Vitebsky Railway Station, Saint Petersburgabout 1.9 km away (~31 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
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Senate Pier, Saint Petersburg: Boat Trips by the Bronze HorsemanMain image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
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FAQ: Admiralteyskaya Metro Station, Saint Petersburg
Is Admiralteyskaya the deepest station in Russia?
Yes. At 86 metres below the surface it is the deepest metro station in Saint Petersburg and in Russia, and one of the deepest in the world.
Do I need a ticket to see the station?
You need to pay for a metro ride to reach the platform. There is no separate sightseeing ticket, and the vestibule can be seen from the street. See the fares section for payment options.
Is there an interchange to other lines?
No, not at present. A transfer to a station on the green line was planned but has not been built. To change lines, ride one stop to Sadovaya.
Why was it a ghost station?
The platform was built in the 1990s, but no site for the surface vestibule could be agreed in the dense centre. Trains passed through without stopping for about 14 years, until it opened in 2011.
How close is it to the main sights?
It is the nearest metro stop to Saint Isaac's Square, the Senate Square, the Admiralty, the Hermitage and Palace Square, all within about ten to fifteen minutes on foot.
How long does the escalator ride take?
It takes a few minutes in two stages, with a corridor between the two escalators. Allow extra time on the way up, especially at rush hour.
What is the decoration about?
It is devoted to the Russian navy and the founding of the Admiralty under Peter the Great, with mosaics, reliefs of admirals, anchors and a wind rose.
Is it worth a special trip?
If you are already in the centre, yes, because the station is close to the main sights and takes little time. It pairs well with Avtovo and the other decorated stations on Line 1.
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Last updated: October 16, 2026. Found an error or something out of date? Report it and we will check and fix it.
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