Gorkovskaya Metro Station opened on 1 July 1963 on Line 2 and is named after the writer Maxim Gorky. It lies in the Petrogradsky District, on the Petrograd Side, and its round pavilion stands in Alexander Park, close to the Kronverk of the Peter and Paul Fortress. For visitors it is the main metro stop for the fortress and the oldest part of the city.
The pavilion was completely rebuilt in 2009 and now looks like a futuristic disc, while the hall below keeps its original design with a portrait of Gorky on the end wall. The station is easy to find and quick to see, and it works well as a starting point for the Petrograd Side.
Quick Facts
| Russian name | Горьковская |
|---|---|
| Built / opened | 1963 |
| Architect(s) | S. I. Evdokimov, N. I. Bashnin, A. P. Izoitko, S. L. Mikhailov and E. I. Travnikov (hall); pavilion rebuilt in 2009 by the architectural workshop XUAR. T-project |
| Address | Санкт-Петербург, Александровский парк (Кронверкский проспект, у пересечения с Каменноостровским проспектом) OpenStreetMap · Google Maps |
| District | Petrogradsky District |
| Interchanges | Gorkovskaya (Line 2, the round pavilion in Alexander Park, near the Kronverk of the Peter and Paul Fortress) Petrogradskaya (Line 2, previous stop towards Parnas) Nevsky Prospekt (Line 2, next stop towards Kupchino) |
| Opening hours | The metro runs daily 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. For a calm look at the hall, choose midday or a weekday outside the rush hours. The pavilion and the park are best seen in daylight, and summer weekends are the busiest. |
| Last updated | October 16, 2026 |
Why Visit Gorkovskaya Metro Station, Saint Petersburg?
Gorkovskaya is the metro stop for the Peter and Paul Fortress, so many visitors pass through it. The old dome was replaced by a bold modern pavilion, a striking contrast to the fortress and the park around it.
The hall has a clear theme: a portrait of Gorky in relief on the end wall, patterned grilles drawn from his works and a petrel on the cable-cabinet doors. You pay only for a metro ride, and 10 to 20 minutes is enough to see the pavilion and the hall.
Highlights of Gorkovskaya Metro Station, Saint Petersburg
The 2009 round pavilion
The surface pavilion stands in Alexander Park, near the Kronverk of the Peter and Paul Fortress. It was originally a squat round building with a dome, built to a standard design by A. S. Getskin and V. P. Shuvalova, and in 2009 it was completely rebuilt by the workshop XUAR. T-project.
The new building is a round, futuristic structure that is often compared to a spaceship.
Tip: Look at it from the park path first; the shape is easiest to read from a distance.
The portrait of Gorky on the end wall
The end wall of the hall carries a portrait of the writer in relief, made by the sculptors M. R. Gabe, A. M. Torich and P. A. Yakimovich. It is the focal point of the station and closes the view along the platform.
The design of the hall is dedicated to Gorky.
Tip: Walk to the end of the platform for a close look; the portrait is best seen straight on.
Patterned grilles and the petrel
Decorative grilles with patterns taken from Gorky's works are fixed on the track walls. On the doors of the cable cabinets, the image of a petrel in dark metal strips recalls his famous poem.
They are small details but they carry the theme through the hall.
Tip: Look across the tracks to see the grilles and the bird on the doors.
A pylon hall with a shortened centre
Gorkovskaya is a deep pylon station, about 53 metres below the surface, with a shortened central hall. The hall designers were S. I. Evdokimov, N. I. Bashnin, A. P. Izoitko, S. L. Mikhailov and E. I. Travnikov, and the hall was left unchanged by the reconstruction.
The arrangement gives it a compact, enclosed feel.
Tip: Stand mid-platform to see the pylons and the arched openings repeat.
The tunnel under the Neva
The tunnel that links Gorkovskaya with Nevsky Prospekt passes under the Neva at one of its widest points and falls away near the left bank, so that the head of a train is about six metres lower than its tail.
It is a quiet piece of engineering that you feel only on the ride south.
Tip: Notice the slope as you ride towards Nevsky Prospekt.
The gateway to the fortress and the park
The station stands near the Peter and Paul Fortress, Alexander Park, the Saint Petersburg Mosque and the Leningrad Zoo. It is the usual metro stop for the fortress and the Petrograd Side.
From the pavilion you can walk to the fortress in a few minutes.
Tip: Plan your route on foot from the pavilion; the fortress entrance is a short walk through the park.
Atmosphere
The pavilion is round and shiny and looks very new beside the old fortress walls and trees of Alexander Park. People stream in and out, many of them heading to the fortress, the zoo or the university streets of the Petrograd Side.
Below, the hall is calm and enclosed. The relief portrait of Gorky closes the platform, and the grilles and petrels along the tracks carry the theme. It is busiest at rush hour and on summer weekends, when visitors head for the fortress.
History of Gorkovskaya Metro Station, Saint Petersburg
Gorkovskaya opened on 1 July 1963 as part of the first section of Line 2, the Moskovsko-Petrogradskaya line, between Tekhnologichesky Institut and Petrogradskaya. It was named after the nearby avenue, which at that time carried the name of the writer Maxim Gorky. In 1991 the avenue was given back its historical name Kronverksky, but the station kept its name.
The original pavilion stood in Alexander Park, near the Kronverk of the Peter and Paul Fortress. It was built to a standard design by A. S. Getskin and V. P. Shuvalova and was a laconic, squat round building covered with a dome.
The underground hall was designed by S. I. Evdokimov, N. I. Bashnin, A. P. Izoitko, S. L. Mikhailov and E. I. Travnikov, and the decoration is dedicated to Gorky. It is a deep pylon station, about 53 metres below the surface, with a shortened central hall. On the end wall is a portrait of the writer in relief by the sculptors M. R. Gabe, A. M. Torich and P. A. Yakimovich. Decorative grilles with patterns drawn from his works are fixed on the track walls, and a petrel in dark metal strips is shown on the doors of the cable cabinets.
The station closed in October 2008 for a reconstruction that lasted about 14 months and reopened in December 2009. The pavilion was completely rebuilt by the architectural workshop XUAR. T-project and became a futuristic round structure, often compared to a spaceship. The underground hall was not changed.
The tunnel linking Gorkovskaya with Nevsky Prospekt passes under the Neva at one of its widest places, and it slopes down near the left bank so that the head of a train is about six metres lower than the tail.
Today Gorkovskaya is a through station on Line 2 between Petrogradskaya and Nevsky Prospekt. It serves the Peter and Paul Fortress, Alexander Park, the Saint Petersburg Mosque and the Leningrad Zoo, and it is one of the main metro stops for visitors on the Petrograd Side.
Tickets and Booking for Gorkovskaya Metro Station, Saint Petersburg
Gorkovskaya needs no ticket of its own: you pay for a ride on the Saint Petersburg Metro and can look around the 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. The station is busiest in the weekday morning and evening rush and on summer weekends, when visitors head for the fortress. The official website of the Saint Petersburg Metro lists current fares, payment methods and categories.
Plan and Book
How to Get to Gorkovskaya Metro Station, Saint Petersburg
By metro: take Line 2 (the blue Moskovsko-Petrogradskaya line) and get off at Gorkovskaya, between Petrogradskaya and Nevsky Prospekt. From the centre, it is one stop north of Nevsky Prospekt, across the Neva.
On arrival: the round pavilion stands in Alexander Park, near the Kronverk of the Peter and Paul Fortress, at the junction of Kamennoostrovsky and Kronverksky prospects.
On foot: the fortress is a short walk through the park from the pavilion, and the Saint Petersburg Mosque and the Leningrad Zoo are also nearby.
Accessibility
Gorkovskaya is a deep station reached by escalators. Whether a lift or other step-free route is 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. Kamennoostrovsky Prospekt and the streets around Alexander Park have many cafes and restaurants within a short walk, and the park itself has small kiosks in the warm season.
What to Bring
A payment card or a Podorozhnik card, and comfortable shoes for the walk to the fortress. In winter, warm clothing for the park path.
Best Views and Photo Spots of Gorkovskaya Metro Station, Saint Petersburg
Alexander Park path, facing the pavilion
The round pavilion with the fortress trees and sky behind it, a strong contrast of old and new.
Best time: Daylight, ideally in clear weather or at dusk when it is lit.
End of the platform at the Gorky portrait
The relief portrait of the writer closes the hall, framed by the pylons.
Best time: Between trains, when the platform is clearer.
Across the tracks to the petrel doors
The dark metal petrel on the cable-cabinet doors and the patterned grilles show the theme in detail.
Best time: Off-peak, when fewer passengers cross the frame.
Mid-platform, looking along the pylons
The pylons and arched openings repeat towards the end wall.
Best time: Early morning or late evening.
Photography Rules
Casual photography on the platform is generally tolerated, but tripods and professional filming typically need permission from the metro. Do not block the escalators or passengers, and avoid photographing staff or other people.
Family Suitability
Easy for families because the stop is short and the pavilion is easy to spot. The long escalator ride and the busy platform at rush hour need care with small children, and strollers should be folded or carried. The park and the zoo nearby make it a good starting point for a family day.
Russia Vibes Tips
- Look at the pavilion from the park before you go down; the shape is more striking from a distance than at the door.
- Use Gorkovskaya for the fortress and Alexander Park; Petrogradskaya is the better choice for the northern Petrograd Side.
- Look across the tracks for the petrel on the cable-cabinet doors; it is easy to miss.
- Notice the slope on the ride towards Nevsky Prospekt, where the tunnel passes under the Neva.
- Avoid the weekday rush and summer weekend afternoons if you want a clear view of the hall.
- Plan your walk to the fortress on foot from the pavilion; there is no need for a taxi.
Explore Nearby Gorkovskaya Metro Station, Saint Petersburg
Sights near Gorkovskaya Metro Station, Saint Petersburg
Peter and Paul Fortress, Saint Petersburg · typical visit: 2–4 hoursMain image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
State Museum of Political History of Russia, Saint Petersburgabout 400 m away (~6 min walk) · typical visit: 1.5–2.5 hoursMain image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Cruiser Aurora, Saint Petersburgabout 1.0 km away (~17 min walk) · typical visit: 1–1.5 hoursMain image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
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FAQ: Gorkovskaya Metro Station, Saint Petersburg
Do I need a ticket to see Gorkovskaya station?
You need to pay for a metro ride to enter the platform area. There is no separate sightseeing ticket. See the fares section for payment options.
Why is it called Gorkovskaya?
It was named after the nearby avenue, which carried the name of the writer Maxim Gorky in 1963. The avenue regained its old name Kronverksky in 1991, but the station kept its name.
Is it the closest station to the Peter and Paul Fortress?
Yes, the pavilion stands in Alexander Park near the Kronverk of the fortress, and it is the usual metro stop for visitors. See the nearby section for walking options.
Why does the pavilion look so modern?
The original dome was replaced when the pavilion was completely rebuilt in 2009 by the workshop XUAR. T-project. The underground hall was left unchanged.
What is on the end wall of the hall?
A relief portrait of Gorky by the sculptors M. R. Gabe, A. M. Torich and P. A. Yakimovich.
How deep is the station?
It is reported at about 53 metres below the surface, so you reach the platform by escalator.
How do I get there from the centre?
Take Line 2 from Nevsky Prospekt; Gorkovskaya is the next stop, across the Neva. See the getting there section for details.
Is it worth a special trip?
Not on its own, but if you are visiting the fortress you will use it, so take a moment to see the pavilion and the Gorky portrait.
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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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