Mayakovskaya Metro Station opened on 3 November 1967 on Line 3 and is named after the poet Vladimir Mayakovsky. It lies in the Tsentralny District, with its vestibule on the ground floor of a building on Nevsky Prospekt, and it is linked to Ploshchad Vosstaniya on Line 1 by a passage that also leads to Moskovsky Station.
It is one of the best-known interiors on the network. The walls of the hall are lined with intense red smalt, and mosaic panels close both ends of the hall. The platform is behind a wall with sliding doors, so you step into the train as if boarding a lift. It is a busy interchange, but it is easy to see in a few minutes.
Quick Facts
| Russian name | Маяковская |
|---|---|
| Built / opened | 1967 |
| Architect(s) | A. S. Getskin, V. P. Shuvalova and engineer S. P. Shchukin (vestibule); Yu. V. Bilinsky, A. D. Bocharov and G. F. Mikhailov with engineers E. A. Erganov, L. V. Frolov and G. P. Kononchuk (hall) |
| Address | Санкт-Петербург, улица Марата, 1/71 (вход также с Невского проспекта) OpenStreetMap · Google Maps |
| District | Tsentralny District |
| Interchanges | Mayakovskaya (Line 3, the vestibule on the ground floor of a building on Nevsky Prospekt, with entrances from Nevsky Prospekt and Marata Street) Ploshchad Vosstaniya (Line 1, interchange by passage and escalators) Gostiny Dvor (Line 3, previous stop towards Begovaya) Ploshchad Alexandra Nevskogo I (Line 3, next stop towards Rybatskoye) |
| 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 red walls and the mosaics, choose midday or a weekend rather than the weekday rush, when the interchange is crowded. The Nevsky Prospekt entrance is best seen in daylight. |
| Last updated | October 16, 2026 |
Why Visit Mayakovskaya Metro Station, Saint Petersburg?
Mayakovskaya is the clearest example of a station designed around a single person. The poet’s name, his portrait in copper and quotations from his poem Good! greet you at the vestibule, and the red hall below carries the theme further.
It also shows one of the more unusual station types in the city, a closed-type or horizontal-lift station, where the track is hidden behind sliding doors. It is a useful hub as well, between Nevsky Prospekt, Moskovsky Station and Line 1. You pay only for a metro ride, and 20 to 30 minutes is enough to look around.
Highlights of Mayakovskaya Metro Station, Saint Petersburg
The poet in copper at the vestibule
On both sides of the pylon in front of the escalator hall, the sculptor M. T. Litovchenko created a composition with a copper image of Mayakovsky and quotations from his poem Good! The letters are small and cut with care, and the reverse side, visible from the escalators, carries a further quotation.
It is the first thing you see and sets the tone.
Tip: Look at both sides of the pylon; the quotation on the back is easy to miss.
Red smalt walls
The walls of the underground hall are lined with smalt of an intense red tone, a material that gives a deep, glowing surface. The colour is strong and warm, and in the lighting of the hall it fills the whole space.
It is the station's most recognisable feature and is easy to photograph.
Tip: Stand at the centre of the hall to see the red surface on both sides.
Mosaic panels at both ends
At both ends of the hall, mosaic panels are devoted to the poet's work. They are large and set in the red surroundings, so they act as the focal points of the hall.
They are best seen from the middle of the platform, looking along the hall.
Tip: Walk to one end for a close look, then look back down the hall.
A station behind sliding doors
Mayakovskaya is one of about ten closed-type stations in the city. It has no open platform edge: the central hall is separated from the tracks by a wall with sliding doors, and the train doors line up with them, as in a lift.
This makes it feel safer and quieter than an open platform, and it also hides the train until it stops.
Tip: Wait at a door and watch the train doors align with the wall doors.
A vestibule in an ordinary building
Unlike many stations, Mayakovskaya has no separate pavilion. Its vestibule is on the ground floor of a building on Nevsky Prospekt, with entrances from the avenue and from Marata Street.
The entrance is easy to miss if you are looking for a freestanding building.
Tip: Look for the metro sign at street level on Nevsky Prospekt.
Transfer to Ploshchad Vosstaniya
A passage and escalators connect Mayakovskaya with Ploshchad Vosstaniya on Line 1, and the transfer corridor also leads to Moskovsky Station. This makes the station a key link between the green and red lines and the Moscow trains.
The station was first called Gostiny Dvor in the plans, but the name was changed shortly before opening.
Tip: Follow the signs carefully; the corridor serves both the transfer and the railway station.
Atmosphere
The hall is warm and almost glowing. Red smalt covers the walls, the mosaics close both ends and the lights are reflected in the polished surfaces. With the sliding doors along the platform, the space feels enclosed and calm even when it is busy.
This is a busy interchange, so expect a steady crowd of commuters and visitors at most times of day, especially in the morning and evening rush. Between peaks it is easier to stand and look at the walls and the mosaics.
History of Mayakovskaya Metro Station, Saint Petersburg
Mayakovskaya opened on 3 November 1967 as part of the first section of Line 3, the Nevsko-Vasileostrovskaya line, between Vasileostrovskaya and Ploshchad Alexandra Nevskogo. In the plans it was called Gostiny Dvor, but the name was changed shortly before opening, and the station took the name of the nearby Mayakovsky Street. The street and the station honour the poet Vladimir Mayakovsky.
The vestibule was designed by the architects A. S. Getskin and V. P. Shuvalova with the engineer S. P. Shchukin. It sits on the ground floor of a building on Nevsky Prospekt, with entrances from the avenue and from Marata Street. The underground hall was designed by Yu. V. Bilinsky, A. D. Bocharov and G. F. Mikhailov, with the engineers E. A. Erganov, L. V. Frolov and G. P. Kononchuk.
The station is a deep island-platform station, about 51 metres below the surface. It belongs to the closed type, sometimes called a horizontal lift, in which the central hall is separated from the tracks by a wall with sliding doors. It was one of the first in the city of this type.
The design is devoted to the poet. In the vestibule, the sculptor M. T. Litovchenko made a composition with a copper image of Mayakovsky and quotations from his poem Good! In the hall, the walls are lined with intense red smalt, and mosaic panels at both ends are devoted to the poet’s work.
The station is linked to Ploshchad Vosstaniya on Line 1 by a transfer passage with escalators, and the passage also leads to Moskovsky Station. It is therefore one of the main interchange points in the centre of the city, joining the red and green lines and the railway.
Today Mayakovskaya remains a busy station on Line 3, between Gostiny Dvor and Ploshchad Alexandra Nevskogo I. It serves the eastern end of Nevsky Prospekt and the streets around Vosstaniya Square, and it is among the stations most often photographed by visitors for its red hall.
Tickets and Booking for Mayakovskaya Metro Station, Saint Petersburg
Mayakovskaya 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. This is one of the busiest interchange stations on the network, especially in the weekday morning and evening rush. The official website of the Saint Petersburg Metro lists current fares, payment methods and categories.
Plan and Book
How to Get to Mayakovskaya Metro Station, Saint Petersburg
By metro: take Line 3 (the green Nevsko-Vasileostrovskaya line) and get off at Mayakovskaya, between Gostiny Dvor and Ploshchad Alexandra Nevskogo I. From Line 1, change at Ploshchad Vosstaniya by the passage.
On arrival: the vestibule is on the ground floor of a building on Nevsky Prospekt, with entrances from Nevsky Prospekt and from Marata Street.
By taxi or bus: ask for the metro station Mayakovskaya or for Marata Street at Nevsky Prospekt. Many city bus and tram routes run along Nevsky Prospekt.
Accessibility
Mayakovskaya is a deep station reached by escalators, and it has a long transfer passage to Ploshchad Vosstaniya. 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. Nevsky Prospekt, Marata Street and the streets around Vosstaniya Square have many cafes and shops, so you will find plenty of choice within a short walk.
What to Bring
A payment card or a Podorozhnik card, and a camera or phone ready before you go down. Comfortable shoes help with the long transfer passage.
Best Views and Photo Spots of Mayakovskaya Metro Station, Saint Petersburg
Mid-hall, looking along the red walls
The red smalt walls on both sides with a mosaic panel closing the hall at the end.
Best time: Between trains, when the hall is clearer.
A mosaic at the end of the hall
A close look at one of the large panels devoted to the poet's work, framed by the red surroundings.
Best time: Off-peak, when fewer passengers cross the frame.
A sliding door on the platform wall
The row of doors in the wall shows the closed-type design and reflects the red of the walls.
Best time: Any time the hall is clear.
The vestibule pylon
The copper image of the poet and the lettering of the quotation from Good! on the pylon in front of the escalator hall.
Best time: Off-peak, when the vestibule is less crowded.
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, the sliding doors or passengers, and avoid photographing staff or other people.
Family Suitability
Easy for families because the stop is short and the red hall is easy to see. The long escalator ride, the transfer passage and the busy platform at rush hour need care with small children, and strollers should be folded or carried. A visit takes only a few minutes.
Russia Vibes Tips
- Look for the sliding doors on the platform wall; they explain why you cannot see the tracks from the hall.
- Check the back of the vestibule pylon from the escalators; a second quotation is placed there.
- If you are coming from Line 1, follow the passage from Ploshchad Vosstaniya; it also leads to Moskovsky Station.
- Combine the stop with Ploshchad Vosstaniya to compare a 1955 hall with a 1967 one.
- Avoid the weekday rush if you want a clear view of the red walls; midday is calmer.
- Take photos along the length of the hall rather than at the doors, to show the red walls and the mosaic together.
Explore Nearby Mayakovskaya Metro Station, Saint Petersburg
Sights near Mayakovskaya Metro Station, Saint Petersburg
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.
Saint Michael's Castle, Saint Petersburgabout 1.4 km away (~22 min walk) · typical visit: 1.5–2 hoursMain image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Metro stations near Mayakovskaya Metro Station, Saint Petersburg
Ploshchad Vosstaniya Metro Station, Saint Petersburgabout 300 m away (~5 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Vladimirskaya Metro Station, Saint Petersburgabout 600 m away (~10 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Dostoevskaya Metro Station, Saint Petersburgabout 600 m away (~10 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Train stations and river piers near Mayakovskaya Metro Station, Saint Petersburg
Moskovsky Railway Station, Saint Petersburgabout 400 m away (~7 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Vitebsky Railway Station, Saint Petersburgabout 1.8 km away (~30 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
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FAQ: Mayakovskaya Metro Station, Saint Petersburg
Do I need a ticket to see Mayakovskaya 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 Mayakovskaya?
It is named after the poet Vladimir Mayakovsky and the nearby Mayakovsky Street. In the plans it was called Gostiny Dvor, but the name was changed shortly before opening.
Why are there doors on the platform?
It is a closed-type station, sometimes called a horizontal lift. The hall is separated from the tracks by a wall with sliding doors that align with the train doors.
What are the red walls made of?
The walls of the hall are lined with smalt, a coloured glass material, in an intense red tone.
Can I change to another line here?
Yes, a passage and escalators link Mayakovskaya with Ploshchad Vosstaniya on Line 1, and the corridor also leads to Moskovsky Station.
How deep is the station?
It is reported at about 51 metres below the surface, so you reach the platform by escalator.
Where is the entrance?
The vestibule is on the ground floor of a building on Nevsky Prospekt, with entrances from Nevsky Prospekt and from Marata Street.
Is it worth a special trip?
If you like distinctive interiors, yes, and it is easy to combine with Ploshchad Vosstaniya and Nevsky Prospekt. With limited time, it is a quick stop on any ride through the centre.
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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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