Moskovskaya Metro Station opened on 25 December 1969 on Line 2 and stands on Moskovsky Prospekt in the south of the city. It has no surface pavilion but two underground vestibules, and it is best known to visitors as the metro stop where shuttle buses to Pulkovo Airport pick up and drop off.
The hall is a closed-type design with sliding doors along the platform wall, and it is said to be the longest of its kind in the city. Above ground is Moscow Square with fountains and a monument of Lenin. For most visitors this is a transfer point on the way to or from the airport, so this guide focuses on exits, the airport bus stop and the station’s design.
Quick Facts
| Russian name | Московская |
|---|---|
| Built / opened | 1969 |
| Architect(s) | N. V. Kamensky and S. G. Mayofis (hall); A. S. Getskin, V. P. Shuvalova and others (vestibules and passages) |
| Address | Санкт-Петербург, Московский проспект (северный вестибюль у Алтайской улицы, южный у Авиационной улицы), Московская площадь OpenStreetMap · Google Maps |
| District | Moskovsky District |
| Interchanges | Moskovskaya (Line 2, underground vestibules on Moskovsky Prospekt: north at Altaiskaya Street (airport buses) and south at Aviatsionnaya Street) Park Pobedy (Line 2, previous stop towards Parnas) Zvyozdnaya (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. Avoid the weekday rush if you have luggage, as the stairs and tunnels get crowded. Moscow Square above is best on a dry day. |
| Last updated | October 16, 2026 |
Why Visit Moskovskaya Metro Station, Saint Petersburg?
Moskovskaya is the stop where many trips to Saint Petersburg begin or end. The airport shuttle buses connect it directly with Pulkovo, and the metro takes you from here into the centre in a single line.
It is also an early example of platform doors. The station was among the first in the world to have them, and its hall is the longest closed-type hall in the city. You pay only for a metro ride, and 10 to 15 minutes is enough to see the hall and find the right exit.
Highlights of Moskovskaya Metro Station, Saint Petersburg
Airport buses at the north exit
The north vestibule is at the corner of Moskovsky Prospekt and Altaiskaya Street, and this is where buses to and from Pulkovo Airport stop. Shuttle routes 39, 39E and K39 run between the station and the airport terminal.
It is the easiest way to reach the centre from the airport without a taxi.
Tip: Use the north vestibule for the airport buses and check the route number on the stop sign.
Two underground vestibules
The station has no surface pavilions. Passengers enter by stairs down to pedestrian tunnels that lead to two underground vestibules, the south one at Moskovsky Prospekt and Aviatsionnaya Street and the north one at Altaiskaya Street.
The vestibules, ticket halls and passages were designed by A. S. Getskin, V. P. Shuvalova and other architects.
Tip: Look for the stairs at street level on Moskovsky Prospekt; there is no building to spot.
The longest closed-type hall
Moskovskaya is one of about ten closed-type stations in the city, sometimes called a horizontal lift. The central hall is separated from the tracks by a wall with sliding doors that line up with the train doors, and this is the longest such hall in the city.
The hall was designed by N. V. Kamensky and S. G. Mayofis.
Tip: Walk along the hall to feel its length, and wait at a door to watch the doors align.
Early platform doors
The station opened in 1969, but it already had platform screen doors, making it one of the first stations in the world with such a system. The doors keep the hall quiet and clean, and hide the trains until they stop.
It is a quiet piece of engineering history on an ordinary commuter line.
Tip: Compare the hall with an open-platform station on the same line to feel the difference.
Moscow Square and the Lenin monument
Above the station is Moscow Square, a large open space with fountains and a monument of Vladimir Lenin in the middle. The station is named after its position on Moskovsky Prospekt, near this square.
The square is a landmark for the district and a convenient place to meet.
Tip: Come up through either vestibule and look for the fountains and the monument.
A link to the airport and Pushkin
Besides the airport shuttles, minibuses run from the station area to the town of Pushkin and to the ExpoForum exhibition centre. It works as a small transport hub on the southern side of the city.
Bus and minibus routes change, so check the signs at the stops.
Tip: Check the destination board of each bus before boarding, as routes can change.
Atmosphere
The hall is long, bright and orderly, with the wall of sliding doors running along the platform. It is quiet compared with an open-platform station, and the lighting is even and functional.
The stairs and tunnels outside are busy with travellers carrying luggage, especially at the north vestibule where the airport buses stop. At rush hour it is crowded with commuters, and on summer days Moscow Square is a pleasant open space above.
History of Moskovskaya Metro Station, Saint Petersburg
Moskovskaya opened on 25 December 1969 as part of the section of Line 2, the Moskovsko-Petrogradskaya line, from Park Pobedy to Moskovskaya. It is named after its position on Moskovsky Prospekt, near Moscow Square.
The station has no ground pavilions. It has two underground vestibules, south and north, reached by stairs and pedestrian tunnels. The south entrance is at the corner of Moskovsky Prospekt and Aviatsionnaya Street, and the north entrance is at Moskovsky Prospekt and Altaiskaya Street. The vestibules, ticket halls and passages were designed by A. S. Getskin, V. P. Shuvalova and other architects.
The underground hall was designed by N. V. Kamensky and S. G. Mayofis with engineers. It belongs to the closed type, in which the central hall is separated from the tracks by a wall with sliding doors, like a lift, and it is the longest such hall in the city. Although it opened in 1969, the station already had platform screen doors, and it is regarded as one of the first stations in the world to have them.
Moskovskaya became the metro stop for Pulkovo Airport, from which shuttle buses run to the terminal. Buses and minibuses also connect it with the town of Pushkin and with the ExpoForum exhibition centre. The north vestibule is where the airport buses stop.
Above the station is Moscow Square, with fountains and a monument of Lenin at its centre, a landmark of the southern part of the city.
Today Moskovskaya remains a busy through station on Line 2, between Park Pobedy and Zvyozdnaya. It serves the residential districts of the south and the airport traffic, and is the usual first or last stop for visitors who arrive or leave by air.
Tickets and Booking for Moskovskaya Metro Station, Saint Petersburg
Moskovskaya needs no ticket of its own: you pay for a ride on the Saint Petersburg Metro. The fare is a flat one regardless of distance (₽). The airport shuttle bus has its own fare, paid separately on the bus (₽).
- 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 busy in the weekday morning and evening rush and at airport arrival peaks. The official website of the Saint Petersburg Metro lists current fares, payment methods and categories.
Plan and Book
How to Get to Moskovskaya Metro Station, Saint Petersburg
By metro: take Line 2 (the blue Moskovsko-Petrogradskaya line) towards Kupchino and get off at Moskovskaya, between Park Pobedy and Zvyozdnaya. From the centre, change to Line 2 at Nevsky Prospekt or Tekhnologichesky Institut.
On arrival: there is no pavilion. Go down the stairs from Moskovsky Prospekt to one of two underground vestibules: north at Altaiskaya Street, where the airport buses stop, or south at Aviatsionnaya Street.
From the airport: take shuttle bus 39, 39E or K39 from the arrivals hall to the north vestibule of Moskovskaya, then ride the metro into the centre.
Accessibility
Moskovskaya is reached by stairs and pedestrian tunnels, with escalators to the platform. 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, especially with luggage or a wheelchair.
Food Nearby
There are no verified cafes inside the station. Cafes, shops and fast-food outlets stand around Moskovsky Prospekt and Moscow Square, and the airport has its own cafes and restaurants.
What to Bring
A payment card or a Podorozhnik card, and a luggage-friendly bag if you travel from the airport. Warm clothing in winter, as the tunnels and stairs are cold.
Best Views and Photo Spots of Moskovskaya Metro Station, Saint Petersburg
Mid-hall, looking along the sliding doors
The long wall of sliding doors runs away in perspective, a clear view of the closed-type design.
Best time: Between trains, when the hall is clearer.
Moscow Square, at the fountains
The open square with the fountains and the Lenin monument at its centre.
Best time: Daylight, ideally in clear weather and in summer when the fountains run.
North vestibule stairs
The stairs and tunnel entrance on Moskovsky Prospekt, with airport buses nearby.
Best time: Off-peak, when fewer travellers are on the stairs.
A sliding door at the moment of opening
The wall doors and train doors opening together show how the system works.
Best time: Any time, from behind the line.
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
Workable for families, especially on the way to or from the airport. The stairs, tunnels and rush-hour crowds need care with small children and strollers, so check for step-free routes before you travel. A visit takes only a few minutes.
Russia Vibes Tips
- Use the north vestibule at Altaiskaya Street for airport buses; the south vestibule is for Aviatsionnaya Street.
- Check the route number of each bus before boarding, as shuttle and minibus routes can change.
- If you have luggage, avoid the weekday rush; the stairs and tunnels get crowded.
- Wait at a sliding door to watch the platform doors align with the train doors.
- Look at Moscow Square before you go down; the fountains and the Lenin monument are a quick stop.
- Ride one stop to Park Pobedy if you want to see the neighbouring station and the large park beside it.
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Pulkovo International Airport, Saint Petersburgabout 6.7 km awayMain image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
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FAQ: Moskovskaya Metro Station, Saint Petersburg
Do I need a ticket to see Moskovskaya 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.
How do I get from Pulkovo Airport to Moskovskaya?
Take shuttle bus 39, 39E or K39 from the arrivals area to the north vestibule, then ride the metro. See the getting there section for the exit.
Why are there doors on the platform?
It is a closed-type station, sometimes called a horizontal lift, with a wall of sliding doors that line up with the train doors. It is the longest such hall in the city.
Is it the oldest station with platform doors?
It is regarded as one of the first stations in the world with platform screen doors, although it opened in 1969.
Where are the exits?
There are two underground vestibules on Moskovsky Prospekt: north at Altaiskaya Street, where the airport buses stop, and south at Aviatsionnaya Street.
How do I get to the centre from here?
Take Line 2 towards Parnas and change to other lines at Nevsky Prospekt or Tekhnologichesky Institut. See the getting there section for details.
What is on Moscow Square?
A large open space with fountains and a monument of Lenin in the middle, directly above the station.
Is it worth a special trip?
Only as a transfer point, since it is the main metro link for the airport. Take a minute to see the hall and the square.
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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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