Sportivnaya Metro Station opened on 15 September 1997 on Line 5 and is named after the sports facilities nearby, the Petrovsky Stadium and the Yubileyny Sports Palace. It lies on the Petrograd Side beside Tuchkov Bridge, and since 2015 it has a second vestibule on Vasilyevsky Island, linked to the first by a 300-metre tunnel under the Malaya Neva.
It is the only station in the city with a travelator, a moving walkway, and one of the few two-level stations in the world. The decoration follows an ancient Greek sports theme, with mosaics above the escalators, Greek-style lamps and a text by Pierre de Coubertin on the end wall of the upper hall. It is a practical crossing between the two islands and an unusual place to ride.
Quick Facts
| Russian name | Спортивная |
|---|---|
| Built / opened | 1997 |
| Architect(s) | A. S. Konstantinov and V. S. Volonevich, with O. A. Kuznetsov and engineer N. I. Kulagin |
| Address | Санкт-Петербург, проспект Добролюбова, 20, корп. 1 (северный вестибюль); набережная Макарова (южный вестибюль) OpenStreetMap · Google Maps |
| District | Petrogradsky District |
| Interchanges | Sportivnaya (Line 5, north vestibule on the Petrograd Side by Tuchkov Bridge, or the south vestibule on Makarov Embankment, Vasilyevsky Island) Admiralteyskaya (Line 5, previous stop towards Shushary) Chkalovskaya (Line 5, next stop towards Komendantsky Prospekt) |
| 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 halls and the tunnel, choose midday or a weekday outside the rush hours. Avoid the hour before and after big events at the stadium and sports palace. |
| Last updated | October 16, 2026 |
Why Visit Sportivnaya Metro Station, Saint Petersburg?
Sportivnaya combines a clear theme with an engineering curiosity. The upper and lower halls are stacked on top of each other, and you travel between the Petrograd Side and Vasilyevsky Island on a travelator that runs for 300 metres under the river.
It is also useful. When the bridges are raised during the navigation season, the tunnel lets you cross between the islands. You pay only for a metro ride, and 15 to 25 minutes is enough to see the halls and walk or glide through the tunnel.
Highlights of Sportivnaya Metro Station, Saint Petersburg
A two-level, single-vault station
Sportivnaya was designed as a transfer hub with two halls, one above the other. Today each hall has one platform: trains from the centre arrive on the upper platform, and trains from Chkalovskaya and Krestovsky Ostrov use the lower one. The halls are linked by escalators.
It is a deep station, about 64 metres down, and each hall is a single vault.
Tip: Take the escalators between the halls to see the two levels from inside.
The travelator under the Malaya Neva
A 300-metre pedestrian tunnel runs under the Malaya Neva and connects the two vestibules, and it contains a horizontal escalator, a travelator, unique in the St Petersburg metro. It starts at the end of the lower tier.
It saves a long detour when the bridges are raised, and it is a fun ride in itself.
Tip: Use the tunnel if you are crossing between the Petrograd Side and Vasilyevsky Island in the evening, when the bridges may be open.
Mosaics by Alexander Bystrov
The architecture is a synthesis of monumental painting, sculpture and architecture on a sports theme. Above the escalators and in the underground halls are mosaic panels by the artist Alexander Bystrov, echoed by medallions on the walls.
They are bright, figurative and easy to read as you ride.
Tip: Look up at the panels above the escalators as you descend.
Greek-style lamps and the Olympic text
The ceiling is lit by lamps in the ancient Greek style. In the end wall of the upper tier is the text of Pierre de Coubertin's Ode to Sport, a reminder of the Olympic idea behind the theme.
The details tie the design to the stadium and sports palace that gave the station its name.
Tip: Walk to the end of the upper hall to read the text.
The north vestibule by Tuchkov Bridge
The northern vestibule is underground, entered through an underpass with a large hall. You can reach it from Bolshoy Prospekt of the Petrograd Side and from Dobrolyubov Avenue.
It is the original entrance of 1997 and the one closest to the stadium and the sports palace.
Tip: Follow the signs through the underpass rather than looking for a building.
The south vestibule on Vasilyevsky Island
The southern vestibule opened on 27 May 2015, also underground, on Makarov Embankment, near the Cadet Line and the 1st Line. It can be reached through glazed pavilions with escalators or by stairs.
It turned Sportivnaya into a crossing between the two islands, and it is sometimes called Sportivnaya-2.
Tip: Use this exit for the university embankment and the western side of Vasilyevsky Island.
Atmosphere
The station has a bright, almost ceremonial look, with mosaics over the escalators, Greek-style lamps and long escalator runs between the two levels. Below, the halls are calm, and the tunnel under the river has the quiet hum of the travelator.
It is busiest before and after events at the stadium and sports palace, and in the rush hours, when crowds move between the islands. Between peaks the halls and the tunnel are easy to enjoy at your own pace.
History of Sportivnaya Metro Station, Saint Petersburg
Sportivnaya opened on 15 September 1997 as part of the Sadovaya to Chkalovskaya section of what was then the Pravoberezhnaya line and is now Line 5, the Frunzensko-Primorskaya line. In the plans it was called Tuchkov Most. It is named after two big sports facilities nearby, the Petrovsky Stadium and the Yubileyny Sports Palace.
The station was designed by the architects A. S. Konstantinov and V. S. Volonevich, with O. A. Kuznetsov and the engineer N. I. Kulagin. It is a deep two-level, single-vault station, about 64 metres below the surface, and it is regarded as one of the most complex engineering structures in the history of Russian metro building. It was designed as a transfer hub, but today there is only one platform in each of the two halls.
Trains from the centre arrive on the upper platform, and trains from Chkalovskaya and Krestovsky Ostrov use the lower one. The halls are connected by escalators. At the end of the lower tier is the entrance to a pedestrian tunnel.
The decoration follows a sports theme in the spirit of ancient Greece. Mosaic panels by the artist Alexander Bystrov decorate the area above the escalators and the halls, and the ceiling is lit by lamps in the ancient Greek style. In the end wall of the upper tier is the text of Pierre de Coubertin’s Ode to Sport.
On 27 May 2015, a second, southern vestibule opened on Makarov Embankment on Vasilyevsky Island. It is linked to the northern vestibule by a 300-metre pedestrian tunnel under the Malaya Neva, in which a travelator, the only one in the city’s metro, carries passengers.
Today Sportivnaya is a through station on Line 5, between Admiralteyskaya and Chkalovskaya. It serves the Petrograd Side, the stadium and sports palace and, through the tunnel, the eastern end of Vasilyevsky Island.
Tickets and Booking for Sportivnaya Metro Station, Saint Petersburg
Sportivnaya needs no ticket of its own: you pay for a ride on the Saint Petersburg Metro and can look around the halls and the tunnel as part of your journey. 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 rush and around events at the stadium and sports palace. The official website of the Saint Petersburg Metro lists current fares, payment methods and categories.
Plan and Book
How to Get to Sportivnaya Metro Station, Saint Petersburg
By metro: take Line 5 (the purple Frunzensko-Primorskaya line) and get off at Sportivnaya, between Admiralteyskaya and Chkalovskaya. From Sadovaya on Line 2, 3 or 4, change to Line 5 at Sadovaya, Spasskaya or Sennaya Ploshchad and ride north.
On arrival: the north vestibule is underground by Tuchkov Bridge, reached through an underpass from Bolshoy Prospekt of the Petrograd Side and Dobrolyubov Avenue. The south vestibule is on Makarov Embankment, Vasilyevsky Island, reached through glazed pavilions or by stairs.
Between the islands: walk through the 300-metre tunnel with the travelator from the lower level.
Accessibility
Sportivnaya is a deep station reached by escalators, with a long tunnel and a travelator between the vestibules. 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. Bolshoy Prospekt of the Petrograd Side and Dobrolyubov Avenue have cafes and restaurants within a short walk, and Vasilyevsky Island has more along its first lines.
What to Bring
A payment card or a Podorozhnik card, and comfortable shoes for the long escalators and the tunnel. A phone with offline directions helps in choosing which vestibule to use.
Best Views and Photo Spots of Sportivnaya Metro Station, Saint Petersburg
Top of the escalators, looking at the mosaics
The mosaic panels above the escalators with the Greek-style lamps overhead.
Best time: Off-peak, when the escalators are less crowded.
End wall of the upper hall
The text of the Ode to Sport on the end wall, framed by the vault.
Best time: Between trains, when the platform is clearer.
The travelator in the tunnel
The long tunnel under the Neva with the moving walkway receding into the distance.
Best time: Quiet midday, when few people are in the tunnel.
Makarov Embankment, outside the south vestibule
The glazed pavilions of the south entrance with the river embankment beside them.
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 travelator or passengers, and avoid photographing staff or other people.
Family Suitability
Good for families, especially children who like the travelator and the escalators. The long escalator runs and the crowds around events need care with small children, and strollers should be folded or carried. A visit takes 15 to 25 minutes.
Russia Vibes Tips
- Use the tunnel with the travelator to cross between the Petrograd Side and Vasilyevsky Island when the bridges are raised.
- Check which vestibule is closer to your destination: north for the stadium and sports palace, south for Makarov Embankment.
- Take the escalators between the two levels to see how the stacked halls work.
- Look at the end wall of the upper hall for the text of the Ode to Sport.
- Avoid the hour around big events at the stadium and sports palace; the station fills up quickly.
- Follow the signs through the underpass at the north vestibule; there is no pavilion to spot.
Explore Nearby Sportivnaya Metro Station, Saint Petersburg
Sights near Sportivnaya 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.
Spit of Vasilyevsky Island, Saint Petersburgabout 1.3 km away (~20 min walk) · typical visit: 1–2 hours, plus time for any museumMain image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Kunstkamera, Saint Petersburgabout 1.4 km away (~23 min walk) · typical visit: 2 hoursMain image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Metro stations near Sportivnaya Metro Station, Saint Petersburg
Chkalovskaya Metro Station, Saint Petersburgabout 1.0 km 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 Sportivnaya Metro Station, Saint Petersburg
Rumyantsev Descent Pier, Saint Petersburgabout 1.6 km away (~26 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
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FAQ: Sportivnaya Metro Station, Saint Petersburg
Do I need a ticket to see Sportivnaya 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 Sportivnaya?
It is named after two big sports facilities nearby, the Petrovsky Stadium and the Yubileyny Sports Palace.
What is the travelator?
It is a moving walkway in a 300-metre pedestrian tunnel under the Malaya Neva, linking the north and south vestibules. It is the only one in the city's metro.
Why does the station have two levels?
It was designed as a transfer hub with two halls, one above the other. Today each hall has one platform: the upper one for trains from the centre, the lower one for trains towards Chkalovskaya.
Can I use it to cross to Vasilyevsky Island?
Yes, the south vestibule opened in 2015 on Makarov Embankment and is reached through the tunnel from the lower level.
How deep is the station?
It is reported at about 64 metres below the surface, so you reach the platforms by long escalators.
What is the theme of the decoration?
A sports theme in the spirit of ancient Greece, with mosaics by Alexander Bystrov and a text by Pierre de Coubertin.
Is it worth a special trip?
If you like unusual engineering, yes, and the tunnel with the travelator makes it a good crossing between the islands.
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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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