Vasileostrovskaya Metro Station opened on 3 November 1967 on Line 3 and is named after Vasilyevsky Island. For almost fifty years it was the only metro station on the island, and it still serves its centre, at the crossing of Sredny Prospekt and the 7th Line.
The pavilion is a square building raised on steps, a precaution against floods, and the hall below is a closed-type design with sliding doors on the platform wall. The decoration is simple: white marble, grey granite and a frieze of blue-green smalt above the doorways. It is a short, useful stop, and a good starting point for Andreevsky Boulevard and the streets of the island.
Quick Facts
| Russian name | Василеостровская |
|---|---|
| Built / opened | 1967 |
| Architect(s) | A. S. Getskin and V. P. Shuvalova (pavilion); A. Ya. Macheret, A. I. Pribulsky and L. S. Chupina with engineer V. I. Akatov (hall) |
| Address | Санкт-Петербург, пересечение Среднего проспекта и 7-й линии Васильевского острова OpenStreetMap · Google Maps |
| District | Vasileostrovsky District |
| Interchanges | Vasileostrovskaya (Line 3, the raised pavilion at Sredny Prospekt and 7th Line of Vasilyevsky Island) Primorskaya (Line 3, previous stop towards Begovaya) Gostiny Dvor (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. Avoid the weekday morning and evening rush, when the ticket hall is crowded. The boulevard outside is best on a dry day, when street musicians are most often out. |
| Last updated | October 16, 2026 |
Why Visit Vasileostrovskaya Metro Station, Saint Petersburg?
Vasileostrovskaya is the main metro gateway to the island’s grid of numbered lines, and its design shows how the city’s builders dealt with the threat of floods. The pavilion stands 11 steps above the street, so water would not reach the station.
The hall is a clear example of the closed-type station, restrained and calm. It is also next to Andreevsky Boulevard, a pedestrian street that is a pleasant place for a walk. You pay only for a metro ride, and 10 to 20 minutes is enough to see the pavilion and the hall.
Highlights of Vasileostrovskaya Metro Station, Saint Petersburg
A pavilion raised on steps
The square surface pavilion was designed by A. S. Getskin and V. P. Shuvalova with the engineer V. I. Akatov. It stands about 11 steps above the street so that flood water could not run into the station.
The pavilion is a simple four-sided building, and the steps are part of its character.
Tip: Look at the steps from the street to see how high the building is raised.
A very small ticket hall
The ticket and escalator hall in the pavilion is very small. During the rush hour, most of the entrance doors are closed, passengers are let in in groups and a queue forms on the steps.
It is one of the most noticeable features of the station for daily users.
Tip: Avoid the weekday rush if you want to enter without waiting.
A closed-type hall
Vasileostrovskaya 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.
It is a deep station, about 64 metres below the surface, and you reach the platform by escalator.
Tip: Wait at a door and watch the train doors align with the wall doors.
White marble, grey granite and a blue-green frieze
The underground hall was designed by A. Ya. Macheret, A. I. Pribulsky and L. S. Chupina with the engineer V. I. Akatov. It is simple and laconic: white marble walls, a grey granite floor and, above the doorways, a frieze of blue-green smalt.
The cool colours give it a calm, clean look.
Tip: Look up above the doors to see the frieze.
Andreevsky Boulevard
From the station, a pedestrian zone called Andreevsky Boulevard runs from Sredny Prospekt to Bolshoy Prospekt of Vasilyevsky Island. Street musicians often play there, and city festivals are held on it.
It is one of the pleasantest short walks on the island.
Tip: Walk the boulevard towards Bolshoy Prospekt for cafes and street life.
The island's only station for decades
For almost fifty years Vasileostrovskaya was the only metro station on Vasilyevsky Island, since the neighbouring Primorskaya lies on Decembrists Island. A second station on the island opened on 27 May 2015 on Line 5.
It explains why the station is so busy and why the island has long relied on buses and trams.
Tip: Use the nearby tram and bus stops for the Spit and the university embankment, which lie farther away.
Atmosphere
The pavilion is a plain square building on steps, with people queuing at the door in the rush hours. Below, the hall is cool and quiet, with white marble, grey granite and a blue-green frieze above the sliding doors.
The station is busiest in the weekday rush, when the small ticket hall fills up and doors are opened in turns. Between peaks it is calm, and the grid of the island’s lines outside is pleasant for a walk.
History of Vasileostrovskaya Metro Station, Saint Petersburg
Vasileostrovskaya opened on 3 November 1967 as part of the first section of Line 3, the Nevsko-Vasileostrovskaya line, between Vasileostrovskaya and Ploshchad Alexandra Nevskogo. It takes its name from Vasilyevsky Island and stands at the crossing of Sredny Prospekt and the 7th Line.
The pavilion was designed by A. S. Getskin and V. P. Shuvalova with the engineer V. I. Akatov. It is a square building raised 11 steps above the ground to prevent flooding of the station during river floods. The ticket and escalator hall inside is very small, so during rush hours most of the doors are closed and passengers are admitted in groups.
The underground hall was designed by A. Ya. Macheret, A. I. Pribulsky and L. S. Chupina with the engineer V. I. Akatov. It is a deep station, about 64 metres below the surface, and belongs to the closed type, in which the central hall is separated from the tracks by a wall with sliding doors like those of a lift. The decoration is simple and restrained: white marble walls, a grey granite floor and a frieze of blue-green smalt above the doorways.
For almost fifty years Vasileostrovskaya was the only metro station on Vasilyevsky Island, because the neighbouring Primorskaya stands on Decembrists Island. On 27 May 2015 a second station opened on the island, Sportivnaya on Line 5.
From the station, the pedestrian Andreevsky Boulevard runs from Sredny to Bolshoy Prospekt of Vasilyevsky Island. It has become one of the pleasantest streets in the city, with street musicians and occasional city festivals.
Today Vasileostrovskaya remains a busy through station on Line 3, between Primorskaya and Gostiny Dvor. It serves the centre of the island, its universities and its residential streets, and it gives visitors quick access to Nevsky Prospekt.
Tickets and Booking for Vasileostrovskaya Metro Station, Saint Petersburg
Vasileostrovskaya 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. The small ticket hall of this station fills up in the weekday morning and evening rush, and queues form on the steps. The official website of the Saint Petersburg Metro lists current fares, payment methods and categories.
Plan and Book
How to Get to Vasileostrovskaya Metro Station, Saint Petersburg
By metro: take Line 3 (the green Nevsko-Vasileostrovskaya line) and get off at Vasileostrovskaya, between Primorskaya and Gostiny Dvor. From the centre, it is one stop west of Gostiny Dvor, under the Neva.
On arrival: the square pavilion stands at the crossing of Sredny Prospekt and the 7th Line of Vasilyevsky Island, raised on steps above the street.
On foot or by bus and tram: Andreevsky Boulevard starts beside the station. For the Spit of Vasilyevsky Island and the university embankment, use a tram or bus, as they are farther away.
Accessibility
Vasileostrovskaya is a deep station reached by escalators from a very small ticket hall, and the pavilion is raised on steps. 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. Andreevsky Boulevard, Sredny Prospekt and Bolshoy Prospekt of Vasilyevsky Island have many cafes and restaurants within a short walk.
What to Bring
A payment card or a Podorozhnik card, and comfortable shoes for the walk along Andreevsky Boulevard. In rain or snow, warm or waterproof clothing for the steps.
Best Views and Photo Spots of Vasileostrovskaya Metro Station, Saint Petersburg
Sredny Prospekt, facing the pavilion
The square pavilion with its raised steps, set against the grid of the island's streets.
Best time: Daylight, ideally in clear weather.
Mid-hall, looking along the marble
White marble walls and grey granite floor with the frieze above the doors.
Best time: Early morning or late evening.
The blue-green smalt frieze
A close-up of the frieze above the sliding doorways shows the colour of the smalt.
Best time: Off-peak, when fewer passengers cross the frame.
Andreevsky Boulevard
The pedestrian boulevard with trees and benches, often with a musician playing.
Best time: Dry afternoons and summer evenings.
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 boulevard outside is pleasant. The steps at the pavilion, the small ticket hall in the rush hour and the long escalators 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 steps of the pavilion; they are a flood precaution and explain the building's raised look.
- Avoid the weekday rush if you can; the small ticket hall closes most doors and admits people in groups.
- Walk Andreevsky Boulevard after your ride; it starts next to the station.
- Look above the sliding doors for the blue-green smalt frieze.
- For the Spit and the university embankment, take a tram or bus; they are too far to walk comfortably from the station.
- If you need a second metro station on the island, Sportivnaya on Line 5 is the other option.
Explore Nearby Vasileostrovskaya Metro Station, Saint Petersburg
Sights near Vasileostrovskaya Metro Station, Saint Petersburg
Kunstkamera, Saint Petersburgabout 1.5 km away (~24 min walk) · typical visit: 2 hoursMain image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Spit of Vasilyevsky Island, Saint Petersburgabout 1.6 km away (~25 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.
Train stations and river piers near Vasileostrovskaya Metro Station, Saint Petersburg
Rumyantsev Descent Pier, Saint Petersburgabout 1.1 km away (~17 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
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FAQ: Vasileostrovskaya Metro Station, Saint Petersburg
Do I need a ticket to see Vasileostrovskaya 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 the pavilion raised on steps?
It stands about 11 steps above the street so that flood water could not run into the station.
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 align with the train doors.
What is the frieze above the doors?
A frieze of blue-green smalt runs above the doorways in the hall, over white marble walls and a grey granite floor.
Is it the only metro station on Vasilyevsky Island?
No, a second station, Sportivnaya on Line 5, opened on the island in 2015. For almost fifty years Vasileostrovskaya was the only one.
How deep is the station?
It is reported at about 64 metres below the surface, so you reach the platform by escalator.
How do I get to the Spit of Vasilyevsky Island?
It is farther than a comfortable walk, so use a tram or bus from the island's streets. See the getting there section for options.
Is it worth a special trip?
Not on its own, but it is the natural stop for Andreevsky Boulevard and the island. Take a minute to see the pavilion and the frieze.
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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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