Ploshchad Vosstaniya Metro Station was the last stop of the first Leningrad metro line when it opened on 15 November 1955. It lies in the Tsentralny District, at the junction of Nevsky Prospekt and Ligovsky Prospekt, beside Moskovsky Railway Station, and it has two vestibules and a passage to Mayakovskaya on Line 3.
Above ground, a round classical pavilion with a rotunda and a spire marks the entrance on the square. Below, the deep pylon hall has white stucco arches, a red granite floor and four reliefs on the theme of the October Revolution. Because it sits at the start of Nevsky Prospekt and beside the Moscow trains, it is one of the easiest stations to include in a first day in the city.
Quick Facts
| Russian name | Площадь Восстания |
|---|---|
| Built / opened | 1955 |
| Architect(s) | V. V. Gankevich, B. N. Zhuravlev and I. I. Fomin, with an engineer; the second vestibule (1960) had a separate design team |
| Address | Санкт-Петербург, площадь Восстания OpenStreetMap · Google Maps |
| District | Tsentralny District |
| Interchanges | Ploshchad Vosstaniya (Line 1, the round pavilion on Vosstaniya Square, or the second vestibule by Moskovsky Railway Station on Ligovsky Prospekt) Mayakovskaya (Line 3, interchange by passage and escalators) Chernyshevskaya (Line 1, next stop towards Devyatkino) Vladimirskaya (Line 1, next stop towards Prospekt Veteranov) |
| 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 reliefs, choose midday or a weekend rather than the weekday rush, when commuters and rail passengers fill the hall. The pavilion and the square are best seen in daylight. |
| Last updated | October 16, 2026 |
Why Visit Ploshchad Vosstaniya Metro Station, Saint Petersburg?
Ploshchad Vosstaniya combines a landmark pavilion with a richly decorated hall in one of the most convenient spots in the city. The rotunda with its spire answers the obelisk in the middle of the square, and the hall below carries four large reliefs that are easy to find and read.
It is also a practical hub. Moskovsky Station is next door, Nevsky Prospekt starts here, and an interchange leads to Mayakovskaya on Line 3. You pay only for a metro ride, and 20 to 30 minutes is enough to look around the hall.
Highlights of Ploshchad Vosstaniya Metro Station, Saint Petersburg
The rotunda pavilion on the square
The main vestibule stands on Vosstaniya Square, a classical building crowned by a rotunda with a spire. The spire was originally topped with the letter M for Metro, and it forms a dialogue with the obelisk in the middle of the square opposite.
It was designed by the architects V. V. Gankevich, B. N. Zhuravlev and I. I. Fomin, and it is one of the best-known entrances on the first line.
Tip: Look at it from the square, with the obelisk behind you, to see how the two relate.
Four October Revolution reliefs
Between the transfer escalator and the exit to Moskovsky Station, four bas-reliefs on the subject of the October Revolution of 1917 are set on the pylons of the central hall. They show the events and the people of the revolution in the heroic style of the period.
One of them is reported to include a figure of Stalin, which makes them a rare survival in the metro.
Tip: Walk the stretch between the escalator and the Moskovsky Station exit to see all four.
White stucco arches and red stone
The underground hall is a deep pylon station about 58 metres down. The architects kept the tunnel's shape and used the space efficiently: a base of red Ural marble rises about a metre, and above it wide white stucco arches open between the pylons. The floor is red granite.
The contrast of white and red gives the hall a ceremonial look.
Tip: Stand mid-platform and look along the line of arches.
Medallions and grilles on the pylons
On the central-hall side, the pylons are decorated with ornamental grilles set into round ventilation openings and with bas-relief medallions. They are small details that reward a slow walk along the platform.
Like the larger reliefs, they belong to the original 1955 design.
Tip: Look at the pylons at eye level and again higher up, where the round grilles are.
The second vestibule by Moskovsky Station
A second vestibule, opened in 1960, has exits to Moskovsky Station and Ligovsky Prospekt. It makes the station a direct link between the metro and the trains to Moscow, which have run from this square since 1847.
If you arrive by train from Moscow, this is the entrance you will probably use.
Tip: If you are heading to Nevsky Prospekt from the railway station, use the passage and the square pavilion for a better first view.
Interchange to Mayakovskaya
A passage and escalators connect Ploshchad Vosstaniya with Mayakovskaya on Line 3, the green line, which has its own famous red mosaic hall. The transfer makes it easy to see two very different stations in one trip.
There are two passages, so follow the signs for Mayakovskaya.
Tip: Allow a few extra minutes for the transfer, especially at rush hour.
Atmosphere
The pavilion is a landmark in itself, and the square outside is always full of people heading to trains, to Nevsky Prospekt or down into the metro. Below, the hall is bright and formal: white arches, red stone at the base and floor, and the four reliefs lit evenly along the pylons.
It is one of the busiest interchange points on the network, so expect crowds in the morning and evening rush and a steady flow of travellers with luggage from the railway station. Between peaks the platform is calmer, and the reliefs are easier to read.
History of Ploshchad Vosstaniya Metro Station, Saint Petersburg
The first Leningrad metro line opened on 15 November 1955, running from Avtovo to Ploshchad Vosstaniya with seven stations. Ploshchad Vosstaniya was the northern terminus, and the opening ceremony took place here. The station takes its name from the square, which was called Znamenskaya Square until 1918 and was renamed Uprising Square after the events of the February Revolution of 1917.
The square itself dates from the 1840s, when Moskovsky Railway Station, then called Nikolaevsky, was built. By the time the metro arrived, the area had long been a major crossing point of the city, with Nevsky Prospekt and Ligovsky Prospekt meeting beside the station.
The surface pavilion and the underground hall were designed by the architects V. V. Gankevich, B. N. Zhuravlev and I. I. Fomin. The pavilion is a classical building crowned by a rotunda and a spire, which was topped with the letter M for Metro. The hall is a deep pylon station, about 58 metres below the surface, with a red Ural marble base about a metre high, white stucco arches and a red granite floor.
On the pylons are ornamental grilles in round ventilation openings and bas-relief medallions. Between the transfer escalator and the exit to Moskovsky Station, four bas-reliefs on the October Revolution of 1917 decorate the central hall. One of them is reported to contain an image of Stalin, which has been preserved.
A second vestibule, with exits to Moskovsky Station and Ligovsky Prospekt, was opened in 1960. It connected the station directly with the railway terminal and made it easier for passengers from Moscow to reach the metro.
The station later became an interchange with Mayakovskaya, which opened in 1967 on Line 3. Passages and escalators link the two stations, so passengers can change between the red and green lines here.
Today Ploshchad Vosstaniya is entered in the register of cultural heritage objects of regional significance, like other stations of the first stage. It remains a busy station on Line 1, between Chernyshevskaya and Vladimirskaya, and one of the main gateways to the city centre.
Tickets and Booking for Ploshchad Vosstaniya Metro Station, Saint Petersburg
Ploshchad Vosstaniya 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 and when long-distance trains arrive. The official website of the Saint Petersburg Metro lists current fares, payment methods and categories.
Plan and Book
How to Get to Ploshchad Vosstaniya Metro Station, Saint Petersburg
By metro: take Line 1 (the red Kirovsko-Vyborgskaya line) and get off at Ploshchad Vosstaniya, between Chernyshevskaya and Vladimirskaya. You can also change from Line 3 at Mayakovskaya.
On arrival: the round pavilion stands on Vosstaniya Square, at the start of Nevsky Prospekt. A second vestibule opens towards Moskovsky Station and Ligovsky Prospekt.
By taxi or train: ask for Vosstaniya Square (площадь Восстания) or Moskovsky Station. Trains from Moscow arrive at the station next door.
Accessibility
Ploshchad Vosstaniya is a deep station reached by escalators, and it has a long transfer passage to Mayakovskaya. 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. Moskovsky Station and the streets around Vosstaniya Square and Nevsky Prospekt 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 Ploshchad Vosstaniya Metro Station, Saint Petersburg
Vosstaniya Square, facing the pavilion
The classical pavilion with its rotunda and spire, with the obelisk in the middle of the square behind you.
Best time: Daylight, ideally in clear weather.
Mid-platform, looking along the arches
White stucco arches above the red base and the red granite floor give a long, formal view.
Best time: Between trains, when the platform is clearer.
A relief on the central-hall pylons
One of the four October Revolution reliefs, seen straight on with the arches behind it.
Best time: Off-peak, when fewer passengers cross the frame.
A pylon medallion and grille
A close-up of a round grille and a bas-relief medallion shows the finer detail of the 1955 design.
Best time: Any time the platform is clear.
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 platform edge or passengers, and avoid photographing staff or other people.
Family Suitability
Easy for families because the stop is short and the reliefs are 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
- See the pavilion from the square before you go down; the rotunda and the obelisk make a pair.
- Look for the four reliefs between the transfer escalator and the Moskovsky Station exit; they are the main artwork of the hall.
- Use the second vestibule if you are coming from Moskovsky Station, and the square pavilion if you are heading to Nevsky Prospekt.
- Combine the stop with Mayakovskaya to compare a 1955 hall with a 1967 one in a single trip.
- Avoid the weekday rush if you want a clear view of the arches; midday is calmer.
- Take photos from the middle of the platform, with the arches receding, rather than close to the pylons.
Explore Nearby Ploshchad Vosstaniya Metro Station, Saint Petersburg
Sights near Ploshchad Vosstaniya 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.
Alexander Nevsky Lavra, Saint Petersburgabout 1.8 km away (~29 min walk) · typical visit: 1.5–3 hoursMain image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Metro stations near Ploshchad Vosstaniya Metro Station, Saint Petersburg
Mayakovskaya 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 850 m away (~14 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Dostoevskaya Metro Station, Saint Petersburgabout 900 m away (~14 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Train stations and river piers near Ploshchad Vosstaniya Metro Station, Saint Petersburg
Moskovsky Railway Station, Saint Petersburgabout 200 m away (~3 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
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FAQ: Ploshchad Vosstaniya Metro Station, Saint Petersburg
Do I need a ticket to see Ploshchad Vosstaniya 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 Ploshchad Vosstaniya?
It is named after Uprising Square, which was renamed in 1918 in memory of the events of the February Revolution of 1917. Before that it was called Znamenskaya Square.
Can I change to another line here?
Yes, the station is linked by passages and escalators to Mayakovskaya on Line 3, the green line.
How many entrances does it have?
Two: the round pavilion on Vosstaniya Square and a second vestibule, opened in 1960, by Moskovsky Station on Ligovsky Prospekt.
What are the reliefs in the hall?
Four bas-reliefs on the subject of the October Revolution of 1917 are set on the pylons between the transfer escalator and the exit to Moskovsky Station.
How deep is the station?
It is a deep pylon station, reported at about 58 metres, so you reach the platform by escalator.
Is it close to the main sights?
Yes. Nevsky Prospekt starts at the square, and Moskovsky Station is next door. See the nearby section for walking options.
Is it worth a special trip?
It is hard to avoid, since it is a central hub, and the hall is worth a quick look as you pass through. With more time, combine it with Mayakovskaya.
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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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