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The Picasso Museum Barcelona and How to Visit in 2024

There’s no better place to live modern art than at the Picasso Museum Barcelona, the first museum dedicated to Pablo Picasso and one of the most extensive collections going.

In fact, at the Museu Picasso you’ll find the world’s largest collection of Picassos.

Whether you’re just stopping in for a couple frescoes or going for the full Picasso Museum Tour you’re going to want to do this right – so let’s get into it.

The Barcelona Picasso Museum

This is a must on any Barcelona itinerary , as you’ll find a permanent collection of more than 4,000 of Picasso’s works here.

Most of the art is from his early years and showcases the maturation and evolution of a skilled artist.

The majority of these extensive collections were donated by Pablo Picasso himself , as a thanks to his friend Jaime Sabartés, the founder of the museum.

⚠️  Warning ⚠️ : Barcelona’s top two attractions must now be booked in advance .

You can book fast track tickets to both individually or get them as part of a discount pass:

• ⛪ Buy now:  Sagrada Familia Fast Track Admission (skip the lines)
• 🏞️ Buy now:  Park Guell Fast Track Admission  (skip the lines)
• 🎟️  Buy now: Best of Barcelona Bundle (Sagrada + Park Guell + 10% discount code for all else)

You will not be able to book these tickets on site – lock in your tickets ASAP or you could miss out.

The museum opened in 1963 and has been growing ever since, and aside from the new Moco Museum this is probably the most sought after art museum in the city.

The Museo Picasso is located in a historic building off Carrer de Montcada in the trendy Born district . Here, there are rooms dedicated to the different stages of Picasso’s life.

What to See at the Picasso Museum in Barcelona

Picasso’s formative years.

The Barcelona Picasso museum begins with a fascinating cross-section of Picasso’s first academic years , featuring some of his darkest works created over the winter at the Madrid Academy.

You’ll also see more cheerful work created during his vacations to the village of Horta de San Joan .

There is some very impressive academic demonstration of light and shadow that are hard to believe he created while still just a boy. The adolescent age continues to be told later in other joyous paintings from his hometown of Malaga.

The Blue Period

The financial difficulties experienced by Pablo Picasso in this era meant he couldn’t even afford to buy colours. His solution? Not using them.

Here you notice the  economical approach to his frescoes of the time – and it’s clear his state of mind made it impossible to create anything cheerful.

The period was prompted by the death childhood friend Carles Casagemas. Casagemas shot himself because of an unrequited love for one Germaine Pichot – later one of the five subjects of Picasso’s The Young Ladies of Avignon .

The Barcelona Picasso connection? All the ladies were prostitutes on the city’s famous Carrer d’Avinyó, one of the highlights of the Barcelona Gothic Quarter .

Under the Influence

Continuing the tour you’ll see and admire copies of Velazquez, who Picasso considered a blueprint of sorts, and many other copies of the old masters who influenced Picasso.

You’ll especially see the artistic kinship between Picasso’s work and that of Velazquez, though Picasso always maintained his own personal touch.

The Barcelona Spain Years

You could find Picasso in Barcelona between about 1895 and 1904.

He had an active presence in the area and you can see how the paintings absorbed the latest trends of a modern city .

You’ll even find some humour, like the fake newspaper clippings depicting his friend Sabartes in erotic exploits with several women.

The Rose Period

Here Picasso used cheerful reds, oranges, and pinks to depict clowns, harlequins and circus performers. Professional growth and maturity marked his move to Paris.

It was there that he realized he needed to use a stage name and his signature (which normally included two first names) became simply PICASSO. This is Picasso’s Pink Period.

You’ll end the tour passing through the Pigeon Room (which apparently Picasso painted because his terrace in California was infested) to the Las Meninas Room , where you’ll find an extravagant variety of works from Velazquez.

Picasso Museum Prices

General admission tickets to the Picasso Museum in Barcelona include access to the regular collection, access to the regular collection and temporary exhibitions, or just the temporary exhibitions.

Buying in advance online saves €1.00 per ticket and guarantees your spot.

If you show up to the ticket windows you’re paying more and risking it being sold out (common, especially weekends).

• Adult: €12.00 (or €14.00 with temporary exhibitions)
• 18-25, students with ID, and 65+: €7.00 (or €7.50 with temporary exhibitions)
• Temporary exhibitions only: €6.50 (adults) or €4.50 (discounted)
• Under 18: free.
• Audio guide in English: €5.00 extra.

For all discounted tickets ID must be shown – visitors under 14 must be accompanied by a paying adult.

A word of advice: if your Barcelona visit includes more than one of Barcelona’s best museums it’s worth it to grab yourself an Articket BCN discount pass .

With it you’ll save up to 45% off museum ticket window prices .

Where to Book Barcelona Picasso Museum Tickets

Again, since Picasso Museum tickets often sell out before closing it’s recommended to buy them in advance online .

Just select your type of ticket, a date, and your entrance time (times are staggered about every 15 minutes) to guarantee your spot.

An added bonus: if you’ve already got your Barcelona Picasso museum tickets you won’t have to wait in line. You’ll go straight in at the Calle Montcada 17 entrance.

Book your advance tickets clicking the button below:

Barcelona Picasso Museum Guided Tour Tickets

Sometimes a basic Picasso Museum ticket just isn’t enough and it’s better to have a licensed local guide .

There’s no better way to trace Picasso’s Barcelona life than with the 90 minute guided tours in English .

Along this Barcelona Picasso Museum tour (masks now optional! 😉) you’ll follow the man’s life in chronological order through the museum.

You’ll be fed interesting anecdotes on Picasso’s life , and get the full picture like no general admission could ever give you.

The super-informative presentation on the private life and career of Picasso even has some great history of the city of Barcelona thrown in.

• Adults: €33.00.
• Children (0-17): €23.00.

Picasso Museum tours run Tuesday to Sunday at 4:00 pm.

This is an exclusive Barcelona Picasso Museum tour offer that’s not even offered at the museum itself. For more info click the button below:

Wondering if it’s worth the extra money? Check out tons of Barcelona Picasso Museum tour reviews .

Free Days at the Barelona Picasso Museum

If you’re in Barcelona at the right time you’ll be happy to know that the Museu Picasso participates in free museum Sundays – in my opinion the best of all the free things to do in Barcelona .

Free entrance is found on the following dates:

• The first Sunday of every month from 9:00 am to 7:00 pm.
• Thursday afternoons from 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm.
• Open Door Days (February 12th, May 18th, and September 24th)

Careful! Free day entrance times must be booked in advance at the official Museu Picasso website .

Free tickets are subject to availability and can only be booked up to 4 days in advance .

Barcelona Picasso Museum Hours

All Picasso Museum hours listed below include holidays.

Keep in mind that the Barcelona Picasso Museum ticket office closes 30 minutes before the museum so if you haven’t booked online make sure you show up in time.

Updated hours for 2024:

• Monday: closed
• Tuesday to Sunday: 10:00 am to 7:00 pm.
• Closed: January 1, May 1, June 24, December 25.

Free entrance : Thursday afternoons from 4:00 pm till 7:00 pm, the first Sunday of the Month, and during the Open Doors free museum days on May 18th, and September 24th.

Tickets for these dates can only be bought 4 days in advance using the  the official website .

There are reduced hours on December 24 and December 31 – the museum closes at 2:00 pm. On January 5th it closes at 5:00 pm.

And how much time for a visit to the Picasso Museum in Barcelona?

Leave around   90 minutes for the visit, or 120 minutes if you’re including the temporary exhibition.

Related : How Many Days Should I Stay in Barcelona?

Where is the Picasso Museum in Barcelona?

The Picasso museum is located at 15-23 Carrer Montcada in the Born neighbourhood and just a stone’s throw from the legendary Gothic Quarter.

The nearest Barcelona metro stations are Jaume I (yellow line L4) and Arc de Triomf (red line L1)

Buses: 120, 45, V15, V17, 39, 51, H14.

🚌 Coming to the Picasso Museum? Make sure you know how to get around Barcelona on public transport first.

Related : Best Things to Do in Barcelona

Picasso Museum Barcelona Hacks

• Always book your Picasso museum tickets in advance to avoid lines and rejection.
• If you’re visiting more than one museum use the Articket BCN discount card .
• Go very early in the day to avoid the biggest crowds.
• Grab an audio guide unless you’re a complete Picasso expert.
• Combine your Picasso Museum visit with a look at the nearby Catalan Music Palace .
• Grab a drink or coffee nearby at the great outdoor bar Antic Cafe.
• Talk to a member of staff about exclusive entrance for kids with strollers/prams.
• Lockers can be rented on site for €1.00 (bring exact 1 euro coin change).
• There are shops near the Picasso museum selling similar souvenirs for much cheaper.
• Drinks are not allowed in so drink them up before you enter!

Temporary Exhibitions at the Museu Picasso Barcelona

Again, the Museu Picasso in Barcelona is home to some interesting Picasso Museum temporary exhibitions which are included in the general admission ticket .

Some examples of past temporary exhibitions in Barcelona include Mythologies, Cubism and War, Jacqueline (Picasso’s wife), and Picasso: Photography and Ceramic.

As mentioned before, temporary exhibitions at the Barcelona Picasso Museum can be had for the following prices:

• Temporary exhibition only (adult): €6.50.
• Temporary exhibition only (18-25 and 65+): €4.50.
• Temporary exhibition only (under 18): free.

Again, make sure to bring ID for the discounted tickets.

Where to Eat Near the Museu Picasso in Barcelona

You can have some of Barcelona’s best tapas nearby at El Xampanyet or Cal Pep . Both of these top Barcelona restaurants can only be described as high quality, homemade, and traditional.

Another great option is  Nou Celler , a place serving traditional Catalan food at affordable prices. The lunch set menu costs just €12.00 with a starter, main, dessert, and drink.

I would personally go for the escalivada (a grilled veggie dish), buttifarra (a local sausage), or gazpacho (a cold tomato soup).  Another option for €20.00 is the tapas tasting menu where you’ll get about a dozen different tastes.

You’ll find Nou Celler in Carrer de la Princesa 16 just two minutes away from the Picasso Museum.

Barcelona Picasso Museum FAQ

Fans of Pablo Picasso will no doubt find the museum  the perfect way to experience his life and art – it is the most extensive collection of Picasso art in the world, covers every period of his life from childhood to death, and hosts nearly 5000 pieces of art.

The museum is also a perfect introduction for curious minds who have often heard the name but never bothered to dig deeper, especially when learning via the guided tour.

You can find the Picasso Museum in the Born neighbourhood of the Old City (technically La Ribera ), spread out over 5 medieval palaces on Montcada Street (Carrer de la Montcada).  It’s just a short walk from Jaume I metro station.

Pablo Picasso spent some of his most productive artistic years in Barcelona, from about 1895 to 1904, and it was in the city’s bars and coffee houses that he met many acquaintances that changed his life forever.

One of these people was local Jaume Sabartés, who originally wanted to open the museum in Picasso’s hometown of Malaga, but was later persuaded by Picasso to change the location to Barcelona.

The original museum was opened with Sabartés’ private collection of just 500 or so works – under the name the the Sabartés Collection , with Picasso refusing to put his name on a building as a statement against the Franco regime.

Walk up tickets are available on normal days, though it is strictly recommended to book in advance to avoid having to wait in lines – which can get quite long, especially in the summer heat.

For free museum days (first Sunday of every month and Thursday afternoons) booking in advance is mandatory, though it can only be done up to 4 days in advance.

Photography is allowed for standard cameras and smart phones, however the use of tripods and flash photography is strictly prohibited.

For a thorough visit of all the exhibition rooms expect it to take about 70-90 minutes. Add on 15-20 minutes for the temporary exhibition if applicable.

Adult general admission tickets cost €12.00, while students/seniors cost €7.00. Audio guides can be added for €5.00.

Yes, 90 minute guided tours in English run Tuesday through Sunday at 4:00 pm. Tickets cost €33.00 for adults and €23.00 for visitors between the ages of 0-17. Max group size is 15. Bookings can be made through at the Tiquets Picasso Museum Guided Tour page.

Need More Picasso in Barcelona?

If you still haven’t got enough information on the Picasso Museum in Barcelona or anything else related to your vacation then why not harass me with a little message below? I’d be happy to help.

Also! Any compliments or criticisms about the blog are greatly appreciated since I am always striving to make this resource better and better – fire away!

And don’t be afraid to join the Barcelona Picasso museum discussion by joining my group I’m Off to Barcelona – here you can ask any questions, air out grievances, and chat with thousands of Barcelona travelers.

Enjoy your Barcelona Picasso experience! 🎨

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• February 27, 2020 at 11:34 am Lucile Hola Courtney, I've contacted the museum to ask them directly, they have a special cloakroom for suitcases, so it's allowed ;) Cheers, Lucile Reply
• December 8, 2019 at 2:20 am Sheila Hello! Thank you for such a great site - it’s been extremely helpful. I’ve just booked three guided tours for 7 pm on Thursday night for 12 Euros (two adults, one child). It doesn’t look like the free admission tickets are available yet (its 2 am on the Sunday prior to the free admission day). Do I need to also get three free admissions when they become available (that is, have I just purchased the tour, but not the admission)? Thanks, Sheila Reply
• September 20, 2019 at 10:28 am Lucile Hi John, I always recommend buying tickets in advance online for several reasons. You'll be able to skip the line, you'll be sure to enter in the attraction and sometimes you can even save money buying online ;) If you're only talking about Picasso museum tickets, I think it won't be too busy at this period of the year and don't forget that you can have free ticket on the first Sunday of the month and on Thursday's afternoon, you'll have to "buy" your ticket in advance online even if it's free! Reply

PICASSO MUSEUM, Museum

Picasso museum.

Hi, I'm James, your personal guide. Together with MyWoWo, I'd like to welcome you to one of the wonders of the world.

Today I'll accompany you through the Picasso Museum, which is one of the most fascinating and alluring places in Barcelona!

This gallery will show you many things about the life and artistic events of the great Catalan painter, and you'll go on a journey through Picasso's earlier works when he was friends with the artistic avant-garde of Barcelona that would meet at the Els Quatre Gats tavern, which still exists in the heart of the Gothic Quarter.

You're now in front of the museum located at No. 19, Via Carrer de la Montcada, a medieval street that winds through the Gothic Quarter and dates back to around the middle of the 1100s. The Picasso Museum occupies five stone palaces that are also a fine example of Catalan Gothic buildings.

You should know that Picasso himself had the idea of opening a museum in Barcelona, and he proposed the idea to his Catalan friend and biographer Sabartés. The latter forwarded the proposal to the city of Barcelona, and within three years the museum had already been inaugurated. The first set of works included Sabartés' personal collection as well as Picasso's masterpieces from the Museum of Art of Barcelona . Over the years, the collection has gradually been enriched with additional bequests and donations.

The museum is exclusively dedicated to the first part of the life of Picasso, who was born in Malaga in 1881; that's why you'll mostly see his early works dating back to his stays in Barcelona. The first time he moved here he was fourteen years old, and came with his father who taught at the School of Fine Arts. After he moved to Madrid to attend the famous San Fernando Academy, and then returned here four years later before moving to Paris at the beginning of the new century. He came back to Barcelona several times until 1934, the date of his last visit. The Civil War and the Franco regime, which the artist had decisively sided against, forced him into exile.

FUN FACT: Picasso lived in Paris on several occasions, where as a young man he struggled to make ends meet. One of the more unfortunate years was 1911, which is also the year when Leonardo's Mona Lisa was stolen from the Louvre Museum. Did you know that the artist was even accused of having stolen it himself?

Scarica MyWoWo! La Travel App che ti racconta le meraviglie del mondo!

Barcelona introduction, the wonders of local cuisine, sagrada familia, casa batlló, gothic quarter, barceloneta, joan miró foundation, passeig de gràcia, santa maria del mar, plaça del rei, plaça sant jaume, santa maria del pi, palace of catalan music, museo maritim, museo mares.

PLAN YOUR VISIT

Articket BCN Spaces for hire

Guided tours and audio guides

• 15 h - Guided tour to the collection ( english )
• 16 h - Guided tour to the collection ( english )
• 11.00 h - Guided tour to the collection ( english )
• 11.15 h - Guided tour to the collection ( french )
• 12.30 h - Guided tour to the collection ( spanish )
• 12.45 h - Guided tour to the collection ( catalan )

€6 Guided tours + Admission to the museum

It’s necessary to purchase your ticket with guided tour in advance or make a prior booking:

Purchasing of admission tickets in advance with guided tour

Buy tickets

Via e-mail   R eservation

Reservation tel.:  (+34) 93 256 30 22  Monday to Friday, 10am. to 1pm. Maximum 9-person booking. The booking will be confirmed via e-mail.

Meeting point

Palau del Baró de Castellet Montcada, 17, with the entry ticket in hand. Please be punctual. If you do not arrive 10 minutes beforehand, your place will be lost and may be taken by another person.

• Within the opening times of the museum
• Catalan and Spanish
• English, French, Italian, German and Portuguese
• Russian, China, Mandarin, Japanese and Korean

€150 per group

€180 per group

€200 per group

Service conditions:

• The prices don't include tickets
• The prices don't include 21% VAT
• The prices don't include admission and have a 20% supplement on public holidays and at night time

Bookings of private guided visits:

• By e-mail  Reservation
• Reservation tel.:  (+34) 93 256 30 22  Monday to Friday, 10am. to 1pm. Maximum 25-person booking. The booking will be confirmed via e-mail.

For the collection

Multimedia audio guide that helps you appreciate the works. It describes 51 noteworthy works in the collection and their eras, and includes additional works that enable your understanding of the context in which the works were created.

Language : Catalan, Spanish, English, French, Italian, German, Russian, Japanese, Chinese (Mandarin) and South Korea

Highlights of our collection

If you don’t have much time to visit our museum, you can discover the 12 highlights of our collection.

Duration: 30 minutes (approximate)

Audio guide aimed at children

(In the collection)

The children's audio guide offers an interactive experience through the senses, movement, research and games, so as to encourage them to look and to learn by means of these tools.

Language : Catalan, Spanish, English and French

How to get the audio guide?

At the museum, the same day of your visit in the audio guide desk during museum opening hours.

Continue up to date

PLAN YOUR VISIT

Articket BCN Spaces for hire

Guided tours to the collection

On Sundays and Tuesdays

Family workshop: Photo-graphic territories

Saturdays 6th April; 4th and 25th May 2024

Bernard Plossu. Catalan landscapes of Picasso

Fri, 01/03/2024 - 12:00 - Sun, 15/09/2024 - 12:00

Welcome to the Picasso Museum Barcelona!

Tuesday to Sundays from 10am to 7pm. See opening hours

Entrevista a Bernard Plossu

María Picasso López, the mother of a genius

José Ruiz Blasco, the father of a genius

Who was the enigmatic Margot?

Yvette Guilbert

Puzzle of "Las Meninas" by Picasso

Jaume Sabartés, the secretary, friend and confidante of Picasso

Restoration and technical study of "Science and Charity"

Inhabitants of the Museum: Pere Romeu, the soul of Quatre Gats

The Porxos d’en Xifré, Picasso’s first residence in Barcelona

Drawings of Picasso. Portraits of the Quatre Gats

The Infanta Margarita Maria, a tragic icon

More than 4.000 artworks to get to know the Collection

Pablo Picasso

Science and Charity

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picasso museum - audio guide or free tour or both - Barcelona Forum

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I would suggest that you do some reading on the Internet and then tour this collection with the audio guide. Personally I feel that would you give you the best opportunity to linger in front of those canvases that really capture your eye.

My view of guided tours is that you are compelled to tour at the pace of the guide and stop in front of those paintings that the guide chooses.

Your taste maybe very different to that of the Tour Guide and you may well wish to linger longer in front of paintings not of his/her choosing.

On Sundays from 15:00 entrance is free (free all day o the first Sunday of each month) but you still need to book a ticket online in advance. With free entry an audio guide is 5€ (the option is also available online).

amirlvine - I saw that about the free afternoon on Sunday, but also read that the Museum is very busy on those free afternoons too.

The amount of people allowed in is limited, that's one of the reasons that tickets are dispensed even when it's free. Until recently the only way to get a free ticket was to stand in line, which took a long time as many people wanted to use the free option but now you can book a free timed entrance online thus saving the wait.

This topic has been closed to new posts due to inactivity.

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Tour Details

Moscow metro tour: architectural styles of the subway.

Duration: 2 hours

Categories: Culture & History, Sightseeing

This metro tour of Russia’s capital and most populous city, Moscow, is your chance to get a unique insight into the beautiful and impressive architecture of the city's underground stations. Admire their marble walls and high ceilings representing Stalin's desire for glory after World War 2, and see first-hand how the interiors change with the rise of new political eras. Your guide will lead you through the complex network, which is one of the most heavily used rapid transit systems worldwide, with over two billion travelers in 2011.

Opened in 1935, Moscow’s underground system, now 190 miles (305 km) long with 185 stations, is today one the largest and most heavily used rapid transit systems in the world. On this Moscow metro tour, discover the impressive architecture of Moscow’s underground stations and learn how they reflect the Soviet era.

Getting around by metro, your local guide will take you through parts of Moscow’s infamous history. Stop at stations built during the time of the USSR (Soviet Union) that are praised as one of the most extravagant architectural projects from Stalin’s time. After World War 2, he was keen on establishing Stalinist architecture to represent his rising regime and a recognized empire. Learn how when his successor started the de-Stalinization of the former Soviet Union in 1953, the extravagancy of the architecture was toned down.

Discover how the unique character of each station reflected several different eras. While stations like Kievskaya and Slavyansky Bulvar have pompous halls and high stucco ceilings brimming with extravagant decorations, those built later, like Volzhskaya, are lightly adorned with sparse furnishings. Architect Alexey Dushkin and painter Alexander Deyneka were just two of the many artists who made these magnificent landmarks possible.

Revel in Moscow's glory days, as well as the years of scarcity, on this fascinating Moscow metro experience. Conclude your tour at one of the central stations in Moscow. If you're lucky, you may even find the secret entrance to the unconfirmed Metro-2, a parallel underground system used by the government -- a mystery which has neither been denied nor confirmed today.

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Culture Shock Rating

We have a wide range of tours designed to give you an insight into the destination you're travelling in and there is something for everybody. The culture shock ratings considers the destination visited, transport used, activities undertaken and that "Wow, I'm really not at home now!" factor. While generalisations are always tricky, a summary of our gradings is as follows…

This is the least confronting of our tour range. Transport used on the trip is either private or a very comfortable public option, the activities included are usually iconic sites and locations that are not all too confronting.

The tour can include a mix of private and public transport providing a level of comfort that is slightly below what you would experience at home. Sites visited are usually iconic sites, tours can also include market visits, visits to communities etc that provide the traveller with a fantastic insight into destination.

Expect to rough it for parts of this tour, whether it's a packed public bus where you are forced to stand, a visit to a local market, a local community, you are sure to have an experience that is very different from what you're used to at home.

The comforts of your home town and the environment you are used to are more of a rarity. Expect some challenging transport options, visits to local sites and areas that don't resemble anything at home.

You're out there in the global community! You are likely to be exposed to the elements, travel in whatever means of transport is available and basically take it as it comes, whatever comes! It can be tough.

Physical Rating

Our physical rating gives you an idea of how much huffing and puffing you can expect on the tour. While generalisations are always tricky, a summary of our gradings is as follows…

These tours have very limited physical activity. Usually climbing in and out of the transport provided, walking through sites, markets etc included in the itinerary.

These tours have a bit of physical activity but nothing that should challenge you too much. This could be climbing on and off public transport through to a walk through the destination you're travelling in, they can include walking only tours or a combination of walking and transport.

These tours involve a bit of physical activity from walking up and down hills in the destination you're travelling in or the surrounding areas. Climbing on and off local transport or riding a bike up to 30 kms along predominantly flat terrain or jumping in a kayak for a gentle paddle on flat water.

These Tours will provide you with some solid physical activity. Whether its bike riding, walking, trekking, kayaking or riding on public transport you will need to have a good level of fitness to enjoy this tour.

Be prepared for some serious physical activity. These tours are our most challenging and involve some serious walking, hiking or bike riding. Can involve step climbs by foot or pedal and some challenging public transport options in the destination you are travelling.

Luxury Rating

Some trips are like a stroll on the beach, while others have you trekking alpine passes. Some of you thrive on camping out on the savannah, while others may prefer a hot shower and a comfortable bed in a lodge. Follow the grading systems below to find the right trip for you.

To help you choose the trip that's right for you, we've broken all of our trips down into four service levels. Measuring the comfort level of the accommodation and transport. So whether you're travelling on a budget and want to save money by using public transport, or prefer upgraded accommodation and are happy to pay a little more, then we have a level for you.

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The Moscow Metro Museum of Art: 10 Must-See Stations

There are few times one can claim having been on the subway all afternoon and loving it, but the Moscow Metro provides just that opportunity.  While many cities boast famous public transport systems—New York’s subway, London’s underground, San Salvador’s chicken buses—few warrant hours of exploration.  Moscow is different: Take one ride on the Metro, and you’ll find out that this network of railways can be so much more than point A to B drudgery.

The Metro began operating in 1935 with just thirteen stations, covering less than seven miles, but it has since grown into the world’s third busiest transit system ( Tokyo is first ), spanning about 200 miles and offering over 180 stops along the way.  The construction of the Metro began under Joseph Stalin’s command, and being one of the USSR’s most ambitious building projects, the iron-fisted leader instructed designers to create a place full of svet (radiance) and svetloe budushchee (a radiant future), a palace for the people and a tribute to the Mother nation.

Consequently, the Metro is among the most memorable attractions in Moscow.  The stations provide a unique collection of public art, comparable to anything the city’s galleries have to offer and providing a sense of the Soviet era, which is absent from the State National History Museum.  Even better, touring the Metro delivers palpable, experiential moments, which many of us don’t get standing in front of painting or a case of coins.

Though tours are available , discovering the Moscow Metro on your own provides a much more comprehensive, truer experience, something much less sterile than following a guide.  What better place is there to see the “real” Moscow than on mass transit: A few hours will expose you to characters and caricatures you’ll be hard-pressed to find dining near the Bolshoi Theater.  You become part of the attraction, hear it in the screech of the train, feel it as hurried commuters brush by: The Metro sucks you beneath the city and churns you into the mix.

With the recommendations of our born-and-bred Muscovite students, my wife Emma and I have just taken a self-guided tour of what some locals consider the top ten stations of the Moscow Metro. What most satisfied me about our Metro tour was the sense of adventure .  I loved following our route on the maps of the wagon walls as we circled the city, plotting out the course to the subsequent stops; having the weird sensation of being underground for nearly four hours; and discovering the next cavern of treasures, playing Indiana Jones for the afternoon, piecing together fragments of Russia’s mysterious history.  It’s the ultimate interactive museum.

Top Ten Stations (In order of appearance)

Kievskaya station.

Kievskaya Station went public in March of 1937, the rails between it and Park Kultury Station being the first to cross the Moscow River.  Kievskaya is full of mosaics depicting aristocratic scenes of Russian life, with great cameo appearances by Lenin, Trotsky, and Stalin.  Each work has a Cyrillic title/explanation etched in the marble beneath it; however, if your Russian is rusty, you can just appreciate seeing familiar revolutionary dates like 1905 ( the Russian Revolution ) and 1917 ( the October Revolution ).

Mayakovskaya Station

Mayakovskaya Station ranks in my top three most notable Metro stations. Mayakovskaya just feels right, done Art Deco but no sense of gaudiness or pretention.  The arches are adorned with rounded chrome piping and create feeling of being in a jukebox, but the roof’s expansive mosaics of the sky are the real showstopper.  Subjects cleverly range from looking up at a high jumper, workers atop a building, spires of Orthodox cathedrals, to nimble aircraft humming by, a fleet of prop planes spelling out CCCP in the bluest of skies.

Novoslobodskaya Station

Novoslobodskaya is the Metro’s unique stained glass station.  Each column has its own distinctive panels of colorful glass, most of them with a floral theme, some of them capturing the odd sailor, musician, artist, gardener, or stenographer in action.  The glass is framed in Art Deco metalwork, and there is the lovely aspect of discovering panels in the less frequented haunches of the hall (on the trackside, between the incoming staircases).  Novosblod is, I’ve been told, the favorite amongst out-of-town visitors.

Komsomolskaya Station

Komsomolskaya Station is one of palatial grandeur.  It seems both magnificent and obligatory, like the presidential palace of a colonial city.  The yellow ceiling has leafy, white concrete garland and a series of golden military mosaics accenting the tile mosaics of glorified Russian life.  Switching lines here, the hallway has an Alice-in-Wonderland feel, impossibly long with decorative tile walls, culminating in a very old station left in a remarkable state of disrepair, offering a really tangible glimpse behind the palace walls.

Dostoevskaya Station

Dostoevskaya is a tribute to the late, great hero of Russian literature .  The station at first glance seems bare and unimpressive, a stark marble platform without a whiff of reassembled chips of tile.  However, two columns have eerie stone inlay collages of scenes from Dostoevsky’s work, including The Idiot , The Brothers Karamazov , and Crime and Punishment.   Then, standing at the center of the platform, the marble creates a kaleidoscope of reflections.  At the entrance, there is a large, inlay portrait of the author.

Chkalovskaya Station

Chkalovskaya does space Art Deco style (yet again).  Chrome borders all.  Passageways with curvy overhangs create the illusion of walking through the belly of a chic, new-age spacecraft.  There are two (kos)mosaics, one at each end, with planetary subjects.  Transferring here brings you above ground, where some rather elaborate metalwork is on display.  By name similarity only, I’d expected Komsolskaya Station to deliver some kosmonaut décor; instead, it was Chkalovskaya that took us up to the space station.

Elektrozavodskaya Station

Elektrozavodskaya is full of marble reliefs of workers, men and women, laboring through the different stages of industry.  The superhuman figures are round with muscles, Hollywood fit, and seemingly undeterred by each Herculean task they respectively perform.  The station is chocked with brass, from hammer and sickle light fixtures to beautiful, angular framework up the innards of the columns.  The station’s art pieces are less clever or extravagant than others, but identifying the different stages of industry is entertaining.

Baumanskaya Statio

Baumanskaya Station is the only stop that wasn’t suggested by the students.  Pulling in, the network of statues was just too enticing: Out of half-circle depressions in the platform’s columns, the USSR’s proud and powerful labor force again flaunts its success.  Pilots, blacksmiths, politicians, and artists have all congregated, posing amongst more Art Deco framing.  At the far end, a massive Soviet flag dons the face of Lenin and banners for ’05, ’17, and ‘45.  Standing in front of the flag, you can play with the echoing roof.

Ploshchad Revolutsii Station

Novokuznetskaya Station

Novokuznetskaya Station finishes off this tour, more or less, where it started: beautiful mosaics.  This station recalls the skyward-facing pieces from Mayakovskaya (Station #2), only with a little larger pictures in a more cramped, very trafficked area.  Due to a line of street lamps in the center of the platform, it has the atmosphere of a bustling market.  The more inventive sky scenes include a man on a ladder, women picking fruit, and a tank-dozer being craned in.  The station’s also has a handsome black-and-white stone mural.

Here is a map and a brief description of our route:

Start at (1)Kievskaya on the “ring line” (look for the squares at the bottom of the platform signs to help you navigate—the ring line is #5, brown line) and go north to Belorusskaya, make a quick switch to the Dark Green/#2 line, and go south one stop to (2)Mayakovskaya.  Backtrack to the ring line—Brown/#5—and continue north, getting off at (3)Novosblodskaya and (4)Komsolskaya.  At Komsolskaya Station, transfer to the Red/#1 line, go south for two stops to Chistye Prudy, and get on the Light Green/#10 line going north.  Take a look at (5)Dostoevskaya Station on the northern segment of Light Green/#10 line then change directions and head south to (6)Chkalovskaya, which offers a transfer to the Dark Blue/#3 line, going west, away from the city center.  Have a look (7)Elektroskaya Station before backtracking into the center of Moscow, stopping off at (8)Baumskaya, getting off the Dark Blue/#3 line at (9)Ploschad Revolyutsii.  Change to the Dark Green/#2 line and go south one stop to see (10)Novokuznetskaya Station.

Check out our new Moscow Indie Travel Guide , book a flight to Moscow and read 10 Bars with Views Worth Blowing the Budget For

Jonathon Engels, formerly a patron saint of misadventure, has been stumbling his way across cultural borders since 2005 and is currently volunteering in the mountains outside of Antigua, Guatemala.  For more of his work, visit his website and blog .

Photo credits:   SergeyRod , all others courtesy of the author and may not be used without permission

Claudia Looi

Touring the Top 10 Moscow Metro Stations

By Claudia Looi 2 Comments

Komsomolskaya metro station looks like a museum. It has vaulted ceilings and baroque decor.

Hidden underground, in the heart of Moscow, are historical and architectural treasures of Russia. These are Soviet-era creations – the metro stations of Moscow.

Our guide Maria introduced these elaborate metro stations as “the palaces for the people.” Built between 1937 and 1955, each station holds its own history and stories. Stalin had the idea of building beautiful underground spaces that the masses could enjoy. They would look like museums, art centers, concert halls, palaces and churches. Each would have a different theme. None would be alike.

The two-hour private tour was with a former Intourist tour guide named Maria. Maria lived in Moscow all her life and through the communist era of 60s to 90s. She has been a tour guide for more than 30 years. Being in her 60s, she moved rather quickly for her age. We traveled and crammed with Maria and other Muscovites on the metro to visit 10 different metro stations.

Arrow showing the direction of metro line 1 and 2

Moscow subways are very clean

To Maria, every street, metro and building told a story. I couldn’t keep up with her stories. I don’t remember most of what she said because I was just thrilled being in Moscow.   Added to that, she spilled out so many Russian words and names, which to one who can’t read Cyrillic, sounded so foreign and could be easily forgotten.

The metro tour was the first part of our all day tour of Moscow with Maria. Here are the stations we visited:

1. Komsomolskaya Metro Station  is the most beautiful of them all. Painted yellow and decorated with chandeliers, gold leaves and semi precious stones, the station looks like a stately museum. And possibly decorated like a palace. I saw Komsomolskaya first, before the rest of the stations upon arrival in Moscow by train from St. Petersburg.

2. Revolution Square Metro Station (Ploshchad Revolyutsii) has marble arches and 72 bronze sculptures designed by Alexey Dushkin. The marble arches are flanked by the bronze sculptures. If you look closely you will see passersby touching the bronze dog's nose. Legend has it that good luck comes to those who touch the dog's nose.

Touch the dog's nose for good luck. At the Revolution Square station

Revolution Square Metro Station

3. Arbatskaya Metro Station served as a shelter during the Soviet-era. It is one of the largest and the deepest metro stations in Moscow.

Arbatskaya Metro Station

4. Biblioteka Imeni Lenina Metro Station was built in 1935 and named after the Russian State Library. It is located near the library and has a big mosaic portrait of Lenin and yellow ceramic tiles on the track walls.

Lenin's portrait at the Biblioteka Imeni Lenina Metro Station

5. Kievskaya Metro Station was one of the first to be completed in Moscow. Named after the capital city of Ukraine by Kiev-born, Nikita Khruschev, Stalin's successor.

Kievskaya Metro Station

6. Novoslobodskaya Metro Station  was built in 1952. It has 32 stained glass murals with brass borders.

Novoslobodskaya metro station

7. Kurskaya Metro Station was one of the first few to be built in Moscow in 1938. It has ceiling panels and artwork showing Soviet leadership, Soviet lifestyle and political power. It has a dome with patriotic slogans decorated with red stars representing the Soviet's World War II Hall of Fame. Kurskaya Metro Station is a must-visit station in Moscow.

Ceiling panel and artworks at Kurskaya Metro Station

8. Mayakovskaya Metro Station built in 1938. It was named after Russian poet Vladmir Mayakovsky. This is one of the most beautiful metro stations in the world with 34 mosaics painted by Alexander Deyneka.

Mayakovskaya station

One of the over 30 ceiling mosaics in Mayakovskaya metro station

9. Belorusskaya Metro Station is named after the people of Belarus. In the picture below, there are statues of 3 members of the Partisan Resistance in Belarus during World War II. The statues were sculpted by Sergei Orlov, S. Rabinovich and I. Slonim.

10. Teatralnaya Metro Station (Theatre Metro Station) is located near the Bolshoi Theatre.

Teatralnaya Metro Station decorated with porcelain figures .

Taking the metro's escalator at the end of the tour with Maria the tour guide.

Have you visited the Moscow Metro? Leave your comment below.

January 15, 2017 at 8:17 am

An excellent read! Thanks for much for sharing the Russian metro system with us. We're heading to Moscow in April and exploring the metro stations were on our list and after reading your post, I'm even more excited to go visit them. Thanks again 🙂

December 6, 2017 at 10:45 pm

Hi, do you remember which tour company you contacted for this tour?

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Moscow Metro Tour

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Description

Moscow metro private tours.

• 2-hour tour $87:  10 Must-See Moscow Metro stations with hotel pick-up and drop-off
• 3-hour tour $137:  20 Must-See Moscow Metro stations with Russian lunch in beautifully-decorated Metro Diner + hotel pick-up and drop off. 
• Metro pass is included in the price of both tours.

Highlight of Metro Tour

• Visit 10 must-see stations of Moscow metro on 2-hr tour and 20 Metro stations on 3-hr tour, including grand Komsomolskaya station with its distinctive Baroque décor, aristocratic Mayakovskaya station with Soviet mosaics, legendary Revolution Square station with 72 bronze sculptures and more!
• Explore Museum of Moscow Metro and learn a ton of technical and historical facts;
• Listen to the secrets about the Metro-2, a secret line supposedly used by the government and KGB;
• Experience a selection of most striking features of Moscow Metro hidden from most tourists and even locals;
• Discover the underground treasure of Russian Soviet past – from mosaics to bronzes, paintings, marble arches, stained glass and even paleontological elements;
• Learn fun stories and myths about Coffee Ring, Zodiac signs of Moscow Metro and more;
• Admire Soviet-era architecture of pre- and post- World War II perious;
• Enjoy panoramic views of Sparrow Hills from Luzhniki Metro Bridge – MetroMost, the only station of Moscow Metro located over water and the highest station above ground level;
• If lucky, catch a unique «Aquarelle Train» – a wheeled picture gallery, brightly painted with images of peony, chrysanthemums, daisies, sunflowers and each car unit is unique;
• Become an expert at navigating the legendary Moscow Metro system;
• Have fun time with a very friendly local;
• + Atmospheric Metro lunch in Moscow’s the only Metro Diner (included in a 3-hr tour)

Hotel Pick-up

Metro stations:.

Komsomolskaya

Novoslobodskaya

Prospekt Mira

Belorusskaya

Mayakovskaya

Novokuznetskaya

Revolution Square

Sparrow Hills

+ for 3-hour tour

Victory Park

Slavic Boulevard

Vystavochnaya

Dostoevskaya

Elektrozavodskaya

Partizanskaya

Museum of Moscow Metro

• Drop-off  at your hotel, Novodevichy Convent, Sparrow Hills or any place you wish
• + Russian lunch  in Metro Diner with artistic metro-style interior for 3-hour tour

Fun facts from our Moscow Metro Tours:

From the very first days of its existence, the Moscow Metro was the object of civil defense, used as a bomb shelter, and designed as a defense for a possible attack on the Soviet Union.

At a depth of 50 to 120 meters lies the second, the coded system of Metro-2 of Moscow subway, which is equipped with everything you need, from food storage to the nuclear button.

According to some sources, the total length of Metro-2 reaches over 150 kilometers.

The Museum was opened on Sportivnaya metro station on November 6, 1967. It features the most interesting models of trains and stations.

Coffee Ring

The first scheme of Moscow Metro looked like a bunch of separate lines. Listen to a myth about Joseph Stalin and the main brown line of Moscow Metro.

Zodiac Metro

According to some astrologers, each of the 12 stops of the Moscow Ring Line corresponds to a particular sign of the zodiac and divides the city into astrological sector.

Astrologers believe that being in a particular zadiac sector of Moscow for a long time, you attract certain energy and events into your life.

Paleontological finds 

Red marble walls of some of the Metro stations hide in themselves petrified inhabitants of ancient seas. Try and find some!

• Every day each car in  Moscow metro passes  more than 600 km, which is the distance from Moscow to St. Petersburg.
• Moscow subway system is the  5th in the intensity  of use (after the subways of Beijing, Tokyo, Seoul and Shanghai).
• The interval in the movement of trains in rush hour is  90 seconds .

What you get:

• + A friend in Moscow.
• + Private & customized Moscow tour.
• + An exciting pastime, not just boring history lessons.
• + An authentic experience of local life.
• + Flexibility during the walking tour: changes can be made at any time to suit individual preferences.
• + Amazing deals for breakfast, lunch, and dinner in the very best cafes & restaurants. Discounts on weekdays (Mon-Fri).
• + A photo session amongst spectacular Moscow scenery that can be treasured for a lifetime.
• + Good value for souvenirs, taxis, and hotels.
• + Expert advice on what to do, where to go, and how to make the most of your time in Moscow.

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