St. Petersburg Metro

St. Petersburg Metro Information

Russians and class, an unbreakable bond. They do everything with class, including the design of their metro networks. This is especially true of the St Petersburg metro. Elegant in design, it is one of the most attractive metros in the world. It was commissioned in 1955 to serve the people of St Petersburg, Leningrad Oblast. Due to the difficult geology of St Petersburg, this metro is home to some of the deepest metro stations in the world, and as a whole is considered to be one of the deepest metro networks in the world. Currently, the metro consists of only 5 lines, but a total of 9 lines are planned. There are 67 stations along its entire length of 113 km. It’s popularity with the public is no secret. With an annual ridership of more than 763 million (2014), the St. Petersburg Metro is considered to be the 19th busiest metro network in the world. Peterburgsky Metropoliten is the body entrusted with the task of running the metro both smoothly and efficiently.

The St. Petersburg metro, managed by the St. Petersburg Metropolitan Government, serves approximately 2,250,000 passengers per day. However, it does not offer 24-hour service and operates from 5:43 to 00:52 (M-D).

The metro has no air conditioning and does not allow passengers to walk between platforms. There are no driverless trains. However, there are windowless steel doors at ten of the metro stations, which is a unique feature of this transport system.

St. Petersburg Metro Map

Map of Saint Petersburg Metro showing different lines and stations. Click on the map to enlarge it or download the Saint Petersburg Metro map in PDF format.

Lines and Stations Overview

The St Petersburg metro system currently consists of 5 lines and 69 stations, with a total length of 118.6 kilometres (73.7 miles). A sixth line is under construction and is scheduled for completion in 2020. More than 2.3 million passengers, both residents and tourists, use the service of more than 1600 metro cars every day. The system also provides employment for 16,000 people in various sectors.

Each line is identified by a unique number and colour to help locals and tourists find their way around.

Details of Line 1: Kírovsko-Výborgskaya

Opened in 1955, Line 1 is the oldest line in the system. It has 19 stations and is 29.65 km long, with a total journey time of approximately 47 minutes. The line runs from Avtovo to Lesnaya station.

• Line color: Red
• Line number: 1
• Line name: Kírovsko-Výborgskaya
• Number of stations: 19
• Line length: 29.65 kilometers (18.42 miles)
• Total trip duration: 47 minutes
• Operating hours: 5.45 a.m. to 1:00 a.m.

Stations: Devyatkino, Vladimirskaya, Grazhdansky Prospekt, Pushkinskaya, Akademicheskaya, Tekhnologichesky Institut, Politekhnicheskaya, Baltiyskaya, Ploschad Muzhestva, Narvskaya, Lesnaya, Kirovsky Zavod, Vyborgskaya, Avtovo, Ploshchad Lenina, Leninsky Prospekt, Chernyshevskaya, Prospekt Veteranov, Ploshchad Vosstaniya

Details of Line 2: Moskovsko-Petrográdskaya

Line 2, St Petersburg’s second line, was opened in 1961. The most recent development was in 2006, when Prospekt Prosveshcheniya and Parnas stations were connected. The line is 30.1 kilometres (18.70 miles) long and has 18 stations. It runs from Tekhnologicheskiy to Parnas, with a total journey time of approximately 47 minutes.

• Line color: Blue
• Line number: 2
• Line name: Moskovsko-Petrográdskaya
• Number of stations: 18
• Line length: 30.1 kilometers (18.70 miles)
• Total trip duration: 32 minutes
• Operating hours: 5.45 a.m. to 1:00 a.m.

Stations: Parnas, Sennaya Ploshchad, Prospekt Prosvescheniya, Tekhnologichesky Institut, Ozerki, Frunzenskaya, Udelnaya, Moskovskiye Vorota, Pionerskaya, Elektrosila, Chornaya Rechka, Park Pobedy, Petrogradskaya, Moskovskaya, Gorkovskaya, Zvyozdnaya, Nevsky Prospekt, Kupchino

Details of Line 3: Nevsko-Vasileóstrovskaya

Line 3 was opened in 1967 and has been in operation since 1984, when the last station was added. It runs from Vasileostrovskaya to Rybatskoye and has 10 stations and a total length of 27.6 kilometres (17.1 miles). The entire journey on this line takes about 32 minutes.

• Line color: Green
• Line number: 3
• Line name: Nevsko-Vasileóstrovskaya
• Number of stations: 10
• Line length: 27.6 kilometers (17.1 miles)
• Total trip duration: 32 minutes
• Operating hours: 5.45 a.m. to 1:00 a.m.

Stations: Primorskaya, Yelizarovskaya, Vasileostrovskaya , Lomonosovskaya, Gostiny Dvor, Proletarskaya, Mayakovskaya, Obukhovo, Ploshchad Alexandra Nevskogo 1, Rybatskoye

Details of Line 4: Pravoberézhnaya

Line 4, which opened in 1985, added its newest station in 2009. It has 8 stations over 11 kilometres and the whole journey takes about 19 minutes.

• Line color: Orange
• Line number: 4
• Line name: Pravoberézhnaya
• Number of stations: 8
• Line length: 11.21 kilometers (6.9 miles)
• Total trip duration: 19 minutes
• Operating hours: 5.45 a.m. to 1:00 a.m.

Stations: Teatralnaya, Novocherkasskaya, Spasskaya, Ladozhskaya, Dostoyevskaya, Prospekt Bolshevikov, Ligovsky Prospekt, Ulitsa Dybenko, Ploshchad Alexandra Nevskogo 2, Kudrovo

Details of Line 5: Frúnzensko-Primórskaya

This line, opened in 2008, is the latest addition to the system. The last station was opened in 2012. It comprises 12 stations over a length of 20.04 kilometres (12.5 miles) and the average journey time is around 30 minutes.

• Line color: Purple
• Line number: 5
• Line name: Frúnzensko-Primórskaya
• Number of stations: 12
• Line length: 20.04 kilometers (12.5 miles)
• Total trip duration: 30 minutes
• Operating hours: 5.45 a.m. to 1:00 a.m.

Stations: Komendantsky Prospekt, Sadovaya, Staraya Derevnya, Zvenigorodskaya, Krestovsky Ostrov, Obvodny Kanal, Chkalovskaya, Volkovskaya, Sportivnaya, Bukharestskaya, Admiralteyskaya, Mezhdunarodnaya

Details of Line 6

The future Line 6, named Krasnosel’sko-Kalininskaya, is currently under construction and will run from the south-west to the north-east. It is expected to be operational by 2025.

Operating Hours and Frequency

The metro system operates from 5:45 a.m. to 1:00 a.m. On special occasions, such as New Year’s Eve, service is extended until 2:00 a.m.

Trains run every 2 to 3 minutes during normal hours. At peak times, the interval is reduced to 95 seconds.

The busiest hours on the St. Petersburg Metro are from 8:00 to 9:00 and from 17:00 to 19:00.

The special night timetable is as follows

The night schedule runs from 1:00 am to 5:00 am and is implemented only on special holidays such as:

• New Year’s Eve (from December 31-January 1)
• Orthodox Christmas (January 6-7)
• Easter
• May 1-2
• May 9-10
• The “Night of the Museums”
• “City Day” celebration
• “Scarlet Sails” celebration

The night-time timetable has certain fare restrictions:

• Smartcard and online payments are not accepted from 3:00am until the station closes.
• During this time, only tokens can be purchased and stations can only be accessed by passengers with tokens or passes.

Night trains run on Line 5 from 30 April to 15 November, when the bridges over the Neva River are raised. These trains run between Admiralteyskaya and Sportivnaya stations from 1:00 a.m. to 3:00 a.m. Passengers can access Sportivnaya station from both entrances.

Only tokens can be used to pay for night travel. Trains run every 20 minutes during these hours.

There are certain restrictions on boarding and alighting at some stations on public holidays:

• Lobby 1 of Prospekt Veteranov (exit to Dachniy Prospekt);
• Lobby 2 of Leninskiy Prospekt (exit to Bulvar Novatorov);
• Entrance 2 of Ploschad Lenina (exit to Ulitsa Lebedeva);
• Lobby 1 of Devyatkino
• Lobby 1 of Moskovskaya (exit to Altayskaya Ulitsa);
• Lobby 2 of Nevskiy Prospekt (exit to Griboedova Canal);
• Entrance of Tekhnologicheskiy Institut 1;
• Entrance of Ploschad Alexandra Nevskogo 2 (exit to Chernoretskiy Pereulok);
• Dostoyevskaya Entrance;
• Spasskaya Lobby.

Interconnections

Interconnections between Lines:

Stations that allow transfers between different lines are named after the intersecting lines. There are currently at least 7 transfer points, as follows:

• Line 1 and Line 2 Connection: At Tekhnologichesky Institut 1 (Line 1) and Tekhnologichesky Institut 2 (Line 2) stations
• Line 1 and Line 3 Connection: At Plochad Vosstania (Line 1) and Mayakoskaya (Line 3) stations
• Line 1 and Line 4 Connection: At Vladimirskaya (Line 1) and Dostoyevskaya (Line 4) stations
• Line 1 and Line 5 Connection: At Pushkinskaya (Line 1) and Zvenigorodskaya (Line 5) stations
• Line 2 and Line 3 Connection: At Nevsky Prospekt (Line 2) and Gostiny Dvor (Line 3) stations
• Line 2, Line 4, and Line 5 Connection: At Sennaya Ploschad (Line 2), Spasska (Line 4), and Sadovaya (Line 5) stations
• Line 3 and Line 4 Connection: At Ploshad Aleksandra Nevskogo 1 (Line 3) and Ploshad Aleksandra Nevskogo 2 (Line 4) stations

Connections to Other Transportation Systems:

St Petersburg’s integrated transport system allows easy transfers between the metro and various railway stations and ports. The connecting metro stations are:

The following metro stations connect to train stations:

• Ploshad Lenina metro station (Line 1): Connects to Finlyandksy Vokzal train station.
• Plochad Vosstania metro station/ Mayakovskaya: Connects to Moscovsky Vokzal train station.
• Pushkinskaya metro station / Zvenigorodskaya: Connects to Vitebskyky Vokzal train station.
• Baltiskaya metro station (Line 1): Connects to Baltisky Vokzal train station.
• Ladozhskaya metro station (Line 4): Connects to Ladozhskiy Vokzal train station.
• Devyatkino metro station (Line 1): Connects to Devyatkino train station.
• Obukhovo metro station (Line 3): Connects to Obukhovo train station.
• Rybatskoe metro station (Line 3): Connects to Rybatskoe train station.
• Kupchino metro station (Line 3): Connects to Kupchino train station.
• Udelnaya metro station (Line 2): Connects to Udelnaya train station.
• Staraya Derevnya metro station (Line 5): Connects to Staraya Derevnya train station.

The following stations connect to ports:

• Primorskaya metro station (Line 3): Connects to Morskoy Vokzal maritime port.
• Proletarskaya metro station (Line 3): Connects to Rechnoy Vokzal river port.

Fares, Tickets, and Passes

The St. Petersburg Metro accepts a variety of payment methods, including one-way tokens (zheton), single tickets, rechargeable magnetic cards and prepaid cards for frequent travellers. These can be obtained from ticket offices and automatic machines at stations.

Tokens and Tickets:

Single use token: The price for a single metro trip is RUB 45 (USD 0.65).

The baggage fee is also RUB 45 (USD 0.65) and can be paid with a token or an electronic card during the card’s validity period.

Transport Passes:

All transport passes are valid on the Saint Petersburg metro and are listed as follows:

• Monthly Transport Pass (tram, trolleybus, bus, metro) – RUB 2900 (USD 42.08)
• Monthly Bus Pass for School Students – RUB 515 (USD 7.47)
• Monthly Bus Pass for Higher Education Students – RUB 1035 (USD 15.02)
• Standard Personal Bus Pass – RUB 576 (USD 8.36)

Metro TravelCard:

• Pass for 10 trips within a 7-day period – RUB 355 (USD 5.15)
• Pass for 20 trips within a 15-day period – RUB 680 (USD 9.87)
• Pass for 40 trips within a 30-day period – RUB 1300 (USD 18.86)
• Pass for 70 trips within a 90-day period – RUB 45 (USD 0.65) per trip. The total price for a 70-trip pass is RUB 3150 (USD 45.71)

Metro Parking

The St. Petersburg Metro offers a parking service for its commuters. Tickets are available which include parking and two journeys per day. It is not necessary to buy a separate ticket once the parking ticket has been purchased.

Parking is available at the following stations:

• Line 1: Leninskiy Prospekt, Kirovskiy Zavod, Politekhnicheskaya, Grazhdanskiy Prospekt
• Line 2: Prospekt Prosvescheniya, Pionerskaya, Parnas, Kupchino
• Line 3: Ploschad Alexandra Nevskogo, Obukhovo
• Line 4: Ladozhskaya
• Line 5: Volkovskaya

Parking Schedule

For vehicles entering from 6:01 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., parking is free for commuters who transfer to public transportation. However, all vehicles must exit the parking area before 11:59 p.m. the same day.

Regulations, Tips, and Warnings

• When transporting baggage, ensure that it is properly packed and no larger than 121 x 200 cm (47.6 x 78.7 in) to avoid inconvenience to other passengers.
• Access to escalators should be via the revolving turnstiles. The turnstiles are reserved for passengers with paper tickets, passengers with luggage and passengers with children under the age of seven. In addition, priority should be given to disabled passengers, pregnant women and the elderly.
• Children under the age of seven travel free of charge. They must carry proof of their age.
• Pets should be transported in suitable carriers or crates that do not exceed 120 cm (47.2 inches) in any dimension. Pets should not be allowed unrestricted access to the Metro.
• Photography is permitted only in authorised areas and must be taken without flash.
• Certified guide dogs (with a muzzle and special identification) accompanying visually impaired passengers may travel free of charge.

Noteworthy Facts

Like the Moscow Metro, the St Petersburg Metro is known as the “underground palace” or “people’s palace”. This concept, conceived by Stalin, allows ordinary people to experience the same grandeur and opulence once reserved for the Tsars. Stalin died two years before the St Petersburg Metro opened.

The St Petersburg Metro is not only a people’s palace, but also a museum of history and elegance. Line 1 is notable for its marble walls, large columns, reliefs and mosaics in honour of Stalin.

A striking example is Avtovo station, where an inscription reads: “Eternal glory to the brave defenders of Leningrad”. Pushkinskaya station has a statue of Pushkin, Kirovskiy Zavod has reliefs with industrial themes, Baltiyskaya is decorated with marble and mosaics, and Narvskaya station has bronze decorations commemorating Stalin.

The most impressive station, however, is Admiralteyskaya, with its huge mosaics on the theme of the sea. This station is part of Line 5, the newest line in the system.

Future Expansions

The following are the future development plans for the Saint Petersburg Metro:

December 2018 – Line 5, new stations:

• Prospekt Slavy
• Dunayskaya
• Shushary

March 2018 – Line 3, new stations:

• Novokrestovskaya
• Begovaya

December 2019 – Line 4, new stations:

• Teatral′naya
• Gorniy instituto

December 2022 – Line 6, new stations:

• Yugo-Zapadnaya
• Putilovskaya

Access to the Airport

St Petersburg Pulkovo Airport is approximately 17 kilometres (10.6 miles) from the city centre. One of the cheapest ways to get to and from the airport is to use a combination of metro and bus services.

A connection to the airport can be made at the Moskovskaya metro station, which offers the following transport options:

Bus number 39 Pulkovo 1 goes to the domestic terminal and bus number 13 Pulkovo 2 goes to the international terminal.

Alternatively, you can take a taxi or a minibus known as a “marshutka”, depending on your budget and preferred level of comfort. The journey from the railway station to the airport takes about 20 minutes. The ticket price is between 30 and 40 roubles, with luggage charged separately.

City Touring via Metro

The St Petersburg Metro is a museum in itself. Visitors can take 60- or 90-minute tours, included in the price of the ticket, led by local guides.

These tours are a great way to learn about the history of the Soviet Union, with the main stops being Ploshchad Vosstaniya, Avtovo, Kirovskiy Zavod and Admiralteyskaya.

The metro also provides easy access to the city’s main tourist attractions:

• To visit the Church of the Redemption, the Kazan Cathedral, the Russian Museum, the Mikhailovsky Theatre or the Gostiny Dvor shopping centre, get off at the Nevsky Prospect / Gostiny Dvor stations on lines 2 and 3 respectively.
• For the Hermitage Museum or St. Isaac’s Cathedral, get off at Admiralteyskaya (line 5).
• To visit Vasilyevsky Island, take the metro to Vasileostrovskaya station (line 3).