Pushkinskaya Metro Station opened on 30 April 1956, a few months after the first Leningrad metro line, and it is devoted entirely to the poet Alexander Pushkin. It lies on Zagorodny Prospekt in the Admiralteysky District, beside the Vitebsky Railway Station, which is the departure point for trains to the town of Pushkin and to Pavlovsk.
At the end of the central hall stands a statue of Pushkin with a painted view of the park at Tsarskoye Selo behind him, lit from below. The pylons are white marble, the floor is dark red granite and black lamps with crystal bowls stand in the niches. It is one of the most admired halls on the first line, and it is easy to combine with a transfer to Zvenigorodskaya.
Quick Facts
| Russian name | Пушкинская |
|---|---|
| Built / opened | 1956 |
| Architect(s) | V. A. Petrov and L. M. Polyakov (underground hall); A. A. Grushke, A. S. Getskin and V. P. Shuvalova (pavilion), with engineer S. M. Epstein |
| Address | Санкт-Петербург, Загородный проспект, 50 OpenStreetMap · Google Maps |
| District | Admiralteysky District |
| Interchanges | Pushkinskaya (Line 1, the vestibule on Zagorodny Prospekt, next to the Vitebsky Railway Station) Zvenigorodskaya (Line 5, interchange by passage, Line 5 (purple)) Vladimirskaya (Line 1, previous stop towards Devyatkino) Tekhnologichesky Institut (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 statue and the panel, choose midday or a weekend rather than the weekday rush, when commuters fill the hall. The Vitebsky Station building outside is best seen in daylight. |
| Last updated | October 16, 2026 |
Why Visit Pushkinskaya Metro Station, Saint Petersburg?
Pushkinskaya is one of the clearest examples of a single idea carried through a whole station. The statue of Pushkin, the painted park scene behind it and the lamps with their gilded shields and spears all belong to the same tribute, so you can read the story without a guide.
It is also an easy stop to include. The Vitebsky Station next door runs trains to Pushkin and Pavlovsk, and the station is an interchange with Line 5 at Zvenigorodskaya. You pay only for a metro ride, and 20 to 30 minutes is enough to look around.
Highlights of Pushkinskaya Metro Station, Saint Petersburg
The statue of Pushkin at the end of the hall
At the end of the central underground hall stands a statue of Alexander Pushkin by the sculptor Mikhail Anikushin. It is the focal point of the station and one of the first monuments to the poet to be placed underground in the Soviet Union.
The statue closes the long view down the platform and gives the hall a quiet, almost memorial mood.
Tip: Walk to the end of the platform for a close look; the best view is straight down the hall.
The painted park of Tsarskoye Selo
Behind the statue is a panel by the artist M. A. Engelke showing a corner of the park at Tsarskoye Selo, where Pushkin studied. The panel is lit from below by fluorescent lamps, which gives it a glow like a window.
It links the station to the town of Pushkin, which you can reach by train from the Vitebsky Station.
Tip: Stand a little to one side of the statue to see the panel without the sculpture blocking it.
White marble pylons and a red granite floor
The underground hall was designed by the architects V. A. Petrov and L. M. Polyakov. The pylons are faced with white marble, and the floor is dark red granite with a border pattern of black and white stone.
The contrast of pale stone and deep red gives the hall a warm, formal look.
Tip: Look down as well as ahead; the border pattern on the floor is easy to miss.
Lamps with crystal bowls
Black metal floor lamps with crystal bowls stand in niches along the hall. They are decorated with gilded stylised shields, spears and other details.
The warm light they give is part of the station's atmosphere, and the details are worth a closer look.
Tip: Pick one niche and look at the gilded details up close.
A pavilion beside the Vitebsky Station
The station was first called Vitebskiy Vokzal after the railway station next to it, and later renamed after the poet. The surface pavilion was designed by A. A. Grushke, A. S. Getskin and V. P. Shuvalova, with engineer S. M. Epstein, and stands on Zagorodny Prospekt.
From the Vitebsky Station you can take an electric train to Pushkin and Pavlovsk.
Tip: Look at the Vitebsky Station building next door before you go down; it is the oldest railway terminal in the country.
Transfer to Zvenigorodskaya
Pushkinskaya forms an interchange with Zvenigorodskaya on Line 5, the purple line. This lets you compare two very different periods of metro design within a few minutes of each other, the 1950s hall here and the modern station on the newer line.
The transfer is useful for reaching other parts of the city.
Tip: If you transfer, follow the signs for Zvenigorodskaya and allow a few extra minutes.
Atmosphere
The hall feels formal and warm at once. White marble rises on both sides, the red granite floor glows under the lamps, and the statue of Pushkin at the end draws the eye along the platform. Behind it, the painted park gives a soft light.
This is a busy interchange and a railway-terminal station, so it fills with commuters and travellers during the day. Between peaks the hall is calmer, and you can stand and look at the statue without being hurried along.
History of Pushkinskaya Metro Station, Saint Petersburg
The first Leningrad metro line opened on 15 November 1955 with seven stations. Pushkinskaya was built as part of that first stage, but technical problems delayed its opening, and it began operating on 30 April 1956. In the plans it was called Vitebskiy Vokzal, after the railway station next to it.
The station was later renamed in honour of the poet Alexander Pushkin. The town of Pushkin, formerly Tsarskoye Selo, can be reached by train from the Vitebsky Station, and the station’s design is devoted entirely to the poet.
The surface pavilion was designed by A. A. Grushke, A. S. Getskin and V. P. Shuvalova, with the engineer S. M. Epstein. The underground hall was designed by V. A. Petrov and L. M. Polyakov. The pylons are faced with white marble, and the floor is dark red granite with a black-and-white stone border. Black metal floor lamps with crystal bowls and gilded shields and spears stand in niches.
At the end of the central hall stands a statue of Pushkin by the sculptor Mikhail Anikushin. Behind it is a panel by the artist M. A. Engelke showing a corner of the park at Tsarskoye Selo, lit from below. The station is considered one of the most beautiful on the first line, and it was one of the first in the country to place a memorial to a poet underground.
The station sits deep, about 57 metres below the surface, with an island platform between two tracks. It is entered in the register of cultural heritage objects of regional significance, like other stations of the first stage.
In later decades Pushkinskaya became an interchange. It is connected to Zvenigorodskaya on Line 5, the Frunzensko-Primorskaya line, so passengers can change between the red and purple lines here. It remains a busy station on Line 1, between Vladimirskaya and Tekhnologichesky Institut.
The Vitebsky Station next door continues to run commuter and suburban trains, including services to Pushkin and Pavlovsk, so the metro and the railway share a steady flow of passengers throughout the day.
Tickets and Booking for Pushkinskaya Metro Station, Saint Petersburg
Pushkinskaya 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 station is especially busy in the weekday morning and evening rush, when commuter trains arrive at the Vitebsky Station. The official website of the Saint Petersburg Metro lists current fares, payment methods and categories.
Plan and Book
How to Get to Pushkinskaya Metro Station, Saint Petersburg
By metro: take Line 1 (the red Kirovsko-Vyborgskaya line). From Ploshchad Vosstaniya, Pushkinskaya is the second stop towards Prospekt Veteranov, after Vladimirskaya. You can also change from Line 5 at Zvenigorodskaya.
On arrival: the vestibule opens onto Zagorodny Prospekt, beside the Vitebsky Railway Station.
By taxi or train: ask for Zagorodny Prospekt, 50 (Загородный проспект, 50), or for the Vitebsky Station. Trains from the Vitebsky Station run to Pushkin and Pavlovsk.
Accessibility
Pushkinskaya 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. The Vitebsky Station and the streets around Zagorodny Prospekt have small cafes and shops, and a wider choice lies towards Nevsky Prospekt.
What to Bring
A payment card or a Podorozhnik card, and a camera or phone ready before you go down. If you plan to take a train to Pushkin or Pavlovsk, check the timetable first.
Best Views and Photo Spots of Pushkinskaya Metro Station, Saint Petersburg
Platform, looking at the Pushkin statue
The statue at the end of the hall, with the panel of the park behind it, framed by the pylons.
Best time: Between trains, when the platform is clearer.
A lamp in a niche
A black lamp with a crystal bowl and gilded shields and spears shows the detail of the design.
Best time: Any time the platform is clear.
Floor border pattern
The black-and-white border laid in the red granite is a close-up detail that adds colour to a photo.
Best time: Off-peak, when fewer passengers cross the frame.
Zagorodny Prospekt, facing the pavilion
The classical facade of the pavilion beside the Vitebsky Station, seen from the street.
Best time: Daylight, ideally in clear weather.
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 statue is easy to see. The long escalator ride 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 at the Vitebsky Station building outside before you go down; it is part of the story of the station's name.
- View the statue from mid-platform first, then walk up close to see the panel behind it.
- Look down at the red granite floor; the black-and-white border is a detail most people overlook.
- Combine the stop with a train to Pushkin or Pavlovsk if you are heading to the palaces; the terminal is next door.
- Transfer at Zvenigorodskaya if you want to compare the 1950s hall with a modern station.
- Photograph the statue from a slight angle to avoid reflections from the lamps.
Explore Nearby Pushkinskaya Metro Station, Saint Petersburg
Sights near Pushkinskaya 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.
Metro stations near Pushkinskaya Metro Station, Saint Petersburg
Zvenigorodskaya Metro Station, Saint Petersburgabout 400 m away (~6 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Tekhnologichesky Institut Metro Station, Saint Petersburgabout 800 m away (~13 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Spasskaya Metro Station, Saint Petersburgabout 950 m away (~16 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Train stations and river piers near Pushkinskaya Metro Station, Saint Petersburg
Vitebsky Railway Station, Saint Petersburgabout 50 m away (~1 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Saint Petersburg Central Bus Stationabout 1.8 km away (~29 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
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FAQ: Pushkinskaya Metro Station, Saint Petersburg
Do I need a ticket to see Pushkinskaya 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 Pushkinskaya?
The station was first called Vitebskiy Vokzal, after the neighbouring railway station, and was later renamed in honour of the poet. Trains from the Vitebsky Station go to the town of Pushkin.
Who made the statue of Pushkin?
The statue at the end of the hall is by the sculptor Mikhail Anikushin. Behind it is a panel by the artist M. A. Engelke showing a corner of the park at Tsarskoye Selo.
Can I transfer here to another line?
Yes, Pushkinskaya forms an interchange with Zvenigorodskaya on Line 5, the purple line.
How deep is the station?
It is a deep station, reported at about 57 metres, so you reach the platform by escalator.
How do I get there from the centre?
Take Line 1; Pushkinskaya is the second stop after Ploshchad Vosstaniya towards Prospekt Veteranov. See the getting there section for the stations in order.
Is the station protected?
Yes, it is entered in the register of cultural heritage objects of regional significance, like other stations of the first line.
Is it worth a special trip?
If you like early Soviet design, yes, and it is easy to combine with a trip to Pushkin or Pavlovsk. 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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