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Campus and Visitor Relations

Your source for campus and community information

Whether you’re a prospective student on a university tour or attending a campus event, we invite you to explore our campus and the Madison community. We’re here to help.

Schedule a tour     Plan your visit

Drop by our welcome centers

Memorial Union Welcome Desk

800 Langdon St. Phone: 608-265-3000

Union South Welcome Desk

1308 W. Dayton St. Phone: 608-890-3000

Wisconsin Institutes for Discovery

330 N. Orchard St. Phone: 608-316-4300

Explore campus from anywhere

Designed especially for prospective students and families, our student-narrated tour includes information about buildings, academics, transportation, housing, and all things surrounding the student experience. This is a great way to acquaint yourself with campus remotely. Read our Guide App accessibility and usability information .

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Discover unique places on campus

From student life to dining, check out what campus has to offer.

Experience Madison year-round

Madison is a place unlike any other. Explore the city in every season.

Got a question? Ask us anything

Our information and referral program, Ask Bucky, is here to help. If we don’t know the answer, we’ll direct you to someone who does.

Submit a question

• University of Wisconsin-Madison

Your future starts here

We have many opportunities for you to learn about programs and campus, as well as ways to connect with us to get all of your questions answered.

Explore our campus

Information sessions.

Join a virtual or in-person College of Engineering Prospective Student Information Session and learn more about what it’s like to be a Badger engineer. You’ll learn about our college, how to apply and what direct admission to a program means, as well as the many ways we support student success. You will also have the opportunity to ask questions at the end of the presentation.

Email questions to our College of Engineering advising team at [email protected] and someone will get back to you soon.

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Campus Tours

Guided tours are filled with facts and what to expect from your academic and student life. You’ll also meet with an admissions representative. Preview programs include a campus tour and meeting with folks from student services offices, admissions, academic departments, and possibly current students.

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Campus Virtual Tours

UW-Madison Campus Virtual Tour

Visit East Campus & Downtown, Bascom Hill, Academic Buildings, Athletics, Residence Halls and Dining, Student Unions, and Transportation & Safety.

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Interactive Virtual Tours on Google Earth

Uw-madison campus for ece students.

UW-Madison's 933-acre main campus is located on the shores of Lake Mendota and includes four National Historic Landmarks. Visit the Engineering Hall, Union South, and the Discovery Building!

• Click to open campus virtual tour on Google Earth More

City of Madison

Madison is one of the best places to live selected in many surveys. Visit the Wisconsin State Capitol, Monona Terrace, State Street, and Memorial Union!

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Residence Hall Tours

On this page.

• Prospective Student Tours More
• SOAR Guided Room Viewings More
• Bradley Learning Community Tours More
• Tour Video More
• Virtual Tours More
• >>> Single Rooms More
• >>> Double Rooms More
• >>> Triple & Quad Rooms More
• Dining Markets More

University Housing offers multiple options for getting an inside look at the residence halls , whether you’re an incoming admitted student attending SOAR, a prospective student touring campus, or someone checking out virtual tours from the comfort of home.

Prospective Student Tours

University Housing offers guided in-person tours for prospective future UW–Madison students and their guests.

To take a tour, log in and register at the UW–Madison Office of Admissions & Recruitment’s Visit Bucky page .

University Housing Ambassadors – current UW students – will be your guide, leading you through the Lakeshore neighborhood to see a common first-year student room. Next, tour groups will explore the  Four Lakes Market , located on the shore of Lake Mendota. Along the way, your University Housing Ambassador will talk about all the resources University Housing has to offer new Badgers, such as our:

• Dining and Culinary Services
• Student and professional staff members for resident support
• Student employment opportunities
• Hall and campus involvement opportunities
• Residential Learning and Affinity Communities
• Academic programs and University Housing tutors
• And much more!

University Housing is dedicated to being the place where everyone wants to live – and we would love to show you why.

Tours are available Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays at varying times. Visit the online tour schedule  for a complete listing of available times during your visit. All tours are approximately 45 minutes and begin at the  Carson Gulley Center , at 1515 Tripp Circle.

Registration

Prospective students and their guests must register for tours in advance.

Schedule a Tour

Parking around Slichter Hall is extremely limited. Tour participants are encouraged to make parking arrangements ahead of time. For parking information, please visit the  Department of Transportation Services .

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SOAR Guided Room Viewings

During the summer, incoming admitted students and their guests attending Student Orientation, Advising, and Registration (SOAR) can come to drop-in guided room viewings of selected sample resident rooms in several representative residence halls.

• 1:00pm – 2:30pm
• See our map !

Please note: We are not able to offer SOAR room viewings of other buildings or rooms due to summer conference participants staying in most of our residence halls and renovation projects. The room viewings offered represent many of our most common room types and building styles, to give a sense of what students can expect for their living space.

Bradley Learning Community Tours

Join us for an exclusive tour of the Bradley Learning Community (BLC) ! The BLC is a high-energy, high-involvement, close-knit environment that brings you fully into the “Wisconsin Experience.” This tour is led by knowledgeable Peer Mentors and specifically designed for admitted students eager to dive into campus life. You will take an immersive journey through our vibrant learning community, gaining firsthand insights into student life, our proximity to state-of-the-art facilities, and the unique learning experience we offer. One of the highlights? You’ll step inside a real residence hall room, getting an authentic glimpse into your potential future home away from home. Don’t miss this opportunity to envision your college journey with us!

Tours are available at Bradley Residence Hall most Fridays in April from 4:15 – 5:15pm. To take a tour, log in and register at UW–Madison Office of Admissions & Recruitment’s Visit Bucky events for admitted students page .

Schedule a BLC Tour

Join UW–Madison University Housing Ambassador Suzy as she takes you on a #LiveWithBucky ​ Tour of the University Residence Halls. See inside a room, check out amenities in our residence halls, and learn about all the services we offer that are built for your success.

Virtual Tours

A few representative samples of various room types and dining facilities in University Residence Halls are below. Check out additional virtual tours on individual residence hall and dining location pages. In addition, Campus & Visitor Relations offers a campus virtual tour of UW–Madison.

Single Rooms

Single (Adams)

Single (Barnard)

Single (Tripp)

Double rooms.

Double (Chadbourne)

Double (Phillips)

Double (Kronshage)

Double (Sellery)

Double (Ogg)

Double (Waters)

Triple & quad rooms.

Triple (Dejope)

Triple (Smith)

Quad (Dejope)

Dining markets.

Gordon Avenue Market

Gordon Avenue Market opened on the first floor of the Gordon Dining & Event Center in 2012. It is the main dining facility in the Southeast Neighborhood, located nearby Ogg, Sellery, Smith, and Witte Residence Halls.

Four Lakes Market

Located on the first floor of Dejope Residence Hall, Four Lakes Market is the main dining facility for in the Lakeshore Neighborhood. In addition to Dejope, other nearby residence halls include Bradley, Cole, Kronshage, Phillips, and Sullivan.

Are you a prospective student thinking about attending UW–Madison ? Planning a visit to campus? Come see a room in our residence halls while you’re here!

General Residence Hall Tours

University Housing Ambassadors – current UW students – will be your guide, leading you through the Lakeshore neighborhood to see a common first-year student room in Cole Residence Hall .  Next, tour groups will explore the Four Lakes Market located on the shore of Lake Mendota.  Along the way, your University Housing Ambassador will talk about all the resources University Housing has to offer new Badgers, such as our:

• Nationally recognized Dining and Culinary Services
• Incredible student and professional staff members
• 10 Residential Learning Communities
• Technology Learning Centers

University Housing is dedicated to being the place where everyone wants to live – and we would love to show you why.

Tours are available Monday through Friday at varying times. Visit the online tour schedule for a complete listing of available times during your visit. All tours are approximately an hour long and begin at the Carson Gulley Center , at 1515 Tripp Circle.

Prospective students and their guests must register for tours in advance. Schedule a Tour

Parking around Slichter Hall is extremely limited. Tour participants are encouraged to make parking arrangements ahead of time. For parking information, please visit the Department of Transportation Services .

Learning Community Tours

Want an extra boost to your first year experience?  While you’re here, schedule a personal tour of one of our 10 Residential Learning Communities , which bring together faculty, staff, and students around an explicit focus within the University Residence Halls.  Unique seminars, class sections, and aligned co-curricular activities all help produce smaller, more intentional communities that set students up for success. Schedule a Learning Community Tour (only available during the academic year from September to April)

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14 Must-See Earth Fest Events

After hosting Earth Week for the last six years , the Office of Sustainability is partnering with the Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies to launch Earth Fest , an annual celebration of Earth Day filled with over 50 innovative, exciting, and sustainable events. 

Join a growing campus community of experts and passionate students seeking to advance sustainability initiatives and goals on campus over eight days of programming. From exploring cutting-edge research to getting your hands dirty potting plants, all members of the campus community are invited to get involved. Visit the official Earth Fest website to see the full schedule of events offered from April 19 to April 26. 

Here’s a short list of events representing this year’s broad range of activities and topics: 

Earth Fest Kickoff Celebration Where: Discovery Building When: Friday, April 19, 1-6:30 p.m.

Kick off Earth Fest with a fun and engaging lineup of lectures, art performances, art galleries, and networking! Keynote speaker, Tony Reames, who is a leading international scholar and government policy advisor, will present about energy justice. There will also be two panel discussions where you can learn about business and sustainability as well as UW–Madison’s new sustainability goals. 

Free Art Friday: Earth Day Celebration – Upcycled T-Shirt Bag Where: Memorial Union, Chart Room When: Friday, April 19, 5-8 p.m.

Join Wheelhouse Studios, an open art studio on UW–Madison’s campus, for Free Art Friday! To celebrate Earth Day, Wheelhouse will be upcycling old t-shirts and turning them into tote bags. Join from 5 to 8 p.m. at Memorial Union with all the supplies and instructions provided. Learn how you can repurpose old t-shirts and turn them into new, functional items. 

A Just Transition Film Screening Where: Marquee Theater, Union South When: Saturday, April 20, 3:30-5 p.m.

Become an active environmentalist through social and policy change. A Just Transitionfollows the 2023 “March 4th to Earth Day” protest in Madison, featuring footage that highlights “local perspectives and voices about environmental injustice.” The film screening will be followed by a Q&A with members of the film crew. 

Nature Hike Where: UW Arboretum Visitor Center When: Sunday, April 21, 1-2:30 p.m.

Join staff from the UW–Madison Arboretum for a nature hike to learn about plants, animals, fungi, phenology, and ecology. Connect with the land and learn to identify more aspects of nature. This hike may cover some sloping terrain, so wear sturdy closed-toe shoes and be prepared for the weather. 

Natural Dyes – Color From Plants! Where: D.C. Smith Greenhouse When: Monday, April 22, 1:45-3:15 p.m.

Join students from DS 227 – Textile Design: Print & Dye for a showcase of their natural dye experiments. Learn how bark, flowers, and leaves can be transformed into natural dyes for textiles. Attendees will have the opportunity to participate in the workshop with a hands-on indigo demonstration. Be sure you dress for mess!

How Good Food Goes Bad: Understanding and Preventing Food Waste Where: 205 Babcock Hall When: Monday, April 22, 3-4 p.m.

Food waste has become one of the most pressing environmental concerns and a major focus of the USDA and EPA, with goals of cutting food waste in half by 2030. At this event, join the UW–Madison Department of Food Science to develop strategies to help you reduce your personal food waste. This interactive session will help you understand why good food often goes bad and what “best by” dates and other food labels mean. 

Slow Food x Scan Design Earth Day Dinner Where: The Crossing When: Monday, April 22, 6:30 p.m.

Join Slow Food UW and the Scan Design Foundation Fellowship Program for a Danish dining experience. Enjoy a cozy evening of food, community, and cultural exchange while supporting Slow Food’s mission of good, clean, and fair food for everyone. 

Sustainable Facility Tour of Bakke Recreation & Wellbeing Center Where: Bakke Recreation & Wellbeing Center When: Tuesday, April 23, 11 a.m.-12 p.m.

This tour will highlight one of the newest facilities on UW–Madison’s campus, the Bakke Recreation & Wellbeing Center. Join RecWell staff as they lead you around the facility, highlighting the sustainable practices at work within the building and the building’s operations, including bird-safe glass, reusable heat, and electric ice resurfacers. 

Earth Day Trivia Where: The Rathskeller, Memorial Union When: Tuesday, April 23, 6:30 p.m.

Test your knowledge with an environmentally themed trivia night hosted by the Nelson Institute undergraduate ambassadors and Campus Leaders for Energy Action Now (CLEAN). Bring your friends and participate in trivia to see how much you know about sustainability — and learn new things!

Fighting Fast Fashion: All-Gender Clothing Swap Where: Library Mall lawn When: Wednesday, April 24, 1-3 p.m.

The Office of Inclusion Education (OIE) will host an all-gender clothing swap to fight fast fashion. It’s estimated that Americans throw away 11.3 million tons of textiles every year, resulting in many environmental issues such as increased carbon emissions and overfilling landfills. Do your part to aid sustainable fashion and do some free “shopping” at the clothing swap! The week before the event, you can drop off any gently used clothing you may have in the main office of the Red Gym (room 217) to help OIE stock up for the swap.  

Plant Give Away Where: Allen Centennial Garden When: Wednesday, April 24, 3-5 p.m.

Bring your own mug to the Allen Centennial Gardens and transform it into a pot for houseplants and herbs. Allen Centennial Gardens will provide the soil and plants (while supplies last). This is a perfect way to kick off your own home garden or make an addition to your plant collection. 

Sustainability Research Networking and Brainstorming Where: Memorial Union, Old Madison When: Wednesday, April 24, 3-4:30 p.m. 

The university has recently launched the Sustainability Research Hub , with services aiming to alleviate financial and administrative barriers to sustainability collaboration and coordination. Network with fellow researchers at Memorial Union and participate in facilitated discussions around sustainability. Build your connections and discuss new “research topics, challenges, solutions, and resources.” 

Roadmapping Sustainability in the Wisconsin School of Business Where: 3290 Grainger Hall When: Thursday, April 25, 5:30-7 p.m.

Gather with business school leadership, faculty, and students while joining the Social and Environmental Business Advocates (SEBA) as they discuss sustainability in the Wisconsin School of Business. Topics include the progress the business school has made on sustainability initiatives, current and future opportunities for sustainability curriculum, and the opportunities to overcome the challenges that stall further progress. 

Zero Waste Workshop Where: 280 Science Hall When: Friday, April 26, 9:30-11 a.m. AND 3:30-5:00 p.m.

Join in for an interactive and inclusive discussion designed to shape the university’s future as a zero waste campus. Provide feedback on UW–Madison’s draft zero waste action plan and help refine the universities strategies to make a meaningful impact on campus sustainability. The zero waste workshop will be offered twice on Friday April 26, once in the morning and once in the late afternoon.

By: Maddy Doeden

MSC celebrates 35 years on campus

As a top-ranking research institution, UW–Madison is recognized as a community for students all around the globe. This spring marks 35 years of the Multicultural Student Center (MSC) serving as a home away from home for many students here at UW. 

Founded in 1988, the MSC was established to support the academic lives of students of color. Through enriching programs and services , inclusive spaces, and dedicated resources, the MSC centers, affirms and celebrates the diverse and intersectional identities of students of color and other underrepresented students  in order to cultivate a sense of belonging and community while strengthening all students’ capacity to learn, lead and thrive.

Today, the MSC includes nine staff members and four identity centers: the Black Cultural Center (2017), APIDA Student Center (2019), Latinx Cultural Center (2019), and Indigenous Student Center (2021). The MSC also provides programs and services that support Middle Eastern and North African students.

To honor this milestone, the MSC’s 35th Anniversary Gala was held on April 4, 2024 for all students, staff, faculty, alumni, and community members to attend. The event featured a keynote address by founding director, Candace McDowell, who acknowledged both the struggles and successes of the MSC during her 22-year tenure. Four student organizations performed cultural dances (Grupo Folklorico de UW-Madison, Vietnamese Student Association, Elevation Dance Team, and Unit.E).

In recognition of its support of the MSC since its inception (the MSC’s first location was the Browsing Library in Memorial Union), the Wisconsin Union revealed its annual Mini Terrace Chair honoring the 35th anniversary of the MSC, with proceeds from sales to benefit the MSC’s food insecurity initiative. 

In addition to the gala, the MSC’s art gallery and historical exhibit, “Exist, Resist, Persist: 35 Years of the MSC” was on display in the Class of 1973 Art Gallery from March 11 through April 5. The exhibit, developed in partnership with the Rebecca L. Blank Center for Campus History , included historical information and archival materials alongside original artworks that depict the meaning and impact of the MSC.

One student in particular, Maggie Konig , has dedicated herself to understanding the rich history of the MSC by sorting through the past.

“Last year, the director of the MSC, Claudia Guzmán , approached me with the idea of doing something special for the 35 year anniversary of the MSC and I agreed to help her,” Konig said. Konig was already serving as a programming intern for the APIDA Student Center since fall 2022.

Konig began her research last summer, referring to original documents housed in the MSC, UW archives, and even Steenbock Library , piecing together a history that spanned beyond the inception of the MSC to the 1960s, when Black students began demanding increased support and services, resulting in the Afro-American and Race Relations Center, which was on campus from 1968-1973.

“Whereas we think that the MSC’s history only spans 35 years, it’s clear that students of color have been making their voices heard here over the last five decades,” Konig stated.

From sorting 20-year-old MSC meeting minutes, to learning more about the Holley Report (a critical archival piece in the process of the MSC establishment spearheaded by then-student Charles Holley), Konig has seen it all.

“I noticed when reading news articles and transcripts from oral histories, people would often talk about certain concepts that I feel in many cases we are still fighting for to this day.

At a predominantly white institution, for the few students of color here, it’s so often they experience feelings of isolation or only being perceived by peers through stereotypes they may have encountered.” 

That being said, as a welcoming place for all, the MSC is dedicated to continuing its fight for students of all marginalized identities. 

“I think so much of the MSC is built on community, ” Konig said. “It’s never just one person doing everything. It’s always been collective and collaborative. Even in just planning these celebrations, we can see that coming forward; everyone steps up. We help each other.”

For more information about the MSC, visit https://msc.wisc.edu/ or stop by the second floor of the Red Gym. To contribute to the MSC’s $50,000 fundraising campaign, visit go.wisc.edu/MSC-gifts .

More about MSC today

Four student organizations performed cultural dances at the MSC 35th Anniversary Gala

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College of Agricultural & Life Sciences

Sen. baldwin visits center for dairy research to learn how uw is supporting new dairy businesses, usda deputy secretary torres smalls visits uw-madison.

On Friday, April 12, USDA Deputy Secretary Xochitl Torres Small visited the UW-Madison campus as part of a multi-week college tour highlighting career opportunities for the next generation of farmers, foresters, researchers, and entrepreneurs. Her visit included stops at the D.C. Smith Greenhouse , a discussion with campus leaders whose divisions receive USDA funding, and a session with UW undergraduate and graduate students with an interest in agriculture, public policy and leadership.

“Rural America is hard at work, producing the food, fiber, and fuel our nation relies on,” said Agriculture Deputy Secretary Torres Small. “President Biden’s historic investment in rural America supports that work across the country through real-life solutions to decades-old challenges—expanding access to high speed internet, updating waste-water infrastructure, and increasing competition through more and better markets. USDA is committed to investing in farmers to promote growth and build a stronger, more sustainable economy for people in rural communities throughout Wisconsin and nationwide.”

In a session with more than 30 UW students from a wide variety of agricultural, scientific, policy and business disciplines, she discussed approaches to changing the food and agriculture sector to build an agriculture food system that is sustainable and equitable. Student also raised questions on a variety of topics, including USDA energy, food assistance and export programs.

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• Preplanned tours
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• Themed tours
• Customized tours
• St. Petersburg

Moscow Metro

The Moscow Metro Tour is included in most guided tours’ itineraries. Opened in 1935, under Stalin’s regime, the metro was not only meant to solve transport problems, but also was hailed as “a people’s palace”. Every station you will see during your Moscow metro tour looks like a palace room. There are bright paintings, mosaics, stained glass, bronze statues… Our Moscow metro tour includes the most impressive stations best architects and designers worked at - Ploshchad Revolutsii, Mayakovskaya, Komsomolskaya, Kievskaya, Novoslobodskaya and some others.

What is the kremlin in russia?

The guide will not only help you navigate the metro, but will also provide you with fascinating background tales for the images you see and a history of each station.

And there some stories to be told during the Moscow metro tour! The deepest station - Park Pobedy - is 84 metres under the ground with the world longest escalator of 140 meters. Parts of the so-called Metro-2, a secret strategic system of underground tunnels, was used for its construction.

During the Second World War the metro itself became a strategic asset: it was turned into the city's biggest bomb-shelter and one of the stations even became a library. 217 children were born here in 1941-1942! The metro is the most effective means of transport in the capital.

There are almost 200 stations 196 at the moment and trains run every 90 seconds! The guide of your Moscow metro tour can explain to you how to buy tickets and find your way if you plan to get around by yourself.

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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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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