Moscow Metro is probably the world’s most magnificent subway. It is not only beautiful, but also cheap, reliable and runs on time. In Moscow the Metro is often the fastest way to get around the city, compared to other means of public transportation or driving. During rush hours trains run every one to two minutes.
The Moscow Metro carries about 9 million passengers a day. That is why the trains and metro stations are very crowded especially during rush hours. So the best time for a sightseeing tour is either early morning or late evening.
History of the Moscow Metro
Most worth seeing stations
Language exercise "In the Metro"
Working hours:
The Moscow Metro operates from 5:50 am to 1:00 am.
Fares:
(as of January 2010)
There are singe-ride tickets, day passes and unlimited ride cards.
A single ride costs 26 roubles (plus 26 roubles for a piece of luggage).
up to 5-ride pass - 125 roubles
up to 10-ride pass - 240 roubles
up to 20-ride pass - 460 roubles
up to 60-ride pass - 1080 roubles
Card for 30 days - 1480 roubles (unlimited ride)
Children under 6 years of age ride for free.
It is not possible to enter the Metro without a valid ticket. To get in, it is necessary to insert the ticket into one of the automatic ticket gates.
Getting around in the Moscow Metro:
The sings in the Moscow Metro are written not only in Cyrillic, but also in Latin letters which makes is easier for millions of foreign tourists to find the way.
All Metro lines have numbers (1 to 12) and different colours.
Interchange stations can be easily recognised on the Metro map. When changing lines, the main difficulty is that interchange stations of different lines have different names. So it is important to know the right station.
Interchange map of the Moscow Metro (in English)
Allows to calculate travel time between the stations (takes some time to load)
Example:
To get from the Metro station "Kievskaya" (russ: Киевская) to "Mayakovskaya" (russ.: Маяковская), take the dark blue line (Nr. 3) to the station "Ploshchad Revolutsii" (russ.: Площадь Революции). To change lines, go to the station "Theatralnaya" (russ.: Театральная) of the dark green line (Nr. 2) and then go to Mayakovskaya.
Make sure you are travelling in the right direction!
Safety
Since 2005 efforts have been taken to enhance safety in the Moscow Metro. About 39 million euros were allocated to fund anti-terror activities. It is planned to equip the Metro with radio communication and alarm systems as well as with video surveillance. In 2006 surveillance cameras were installed in each car of the Ring Line trains.
The Metro Museum
The museum was opened in November 1967. It is situated at the Metro station "Sportivnaya" (russ.: Спортивная) of the red line (Nr. 1), just two stops away from the ring station "Park Kultury" (russ.: Парк Культуры).
Woking hours:
Monday: 11.00 am to 6.00 pm
Tuesday through Friday: 9.00 am to 4.00 pm
There is no entrance fee.
Telephone: ++7 495 222 7309
Guided tours by prior arrangement.
