world travel map push pin

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Travel Maps with Pins

Personalized push pin travel maps - track your journeys and tell stories of your adventures with our world map labeled for exploration. Discover new places, historic facts, ocean currents, countries, lakes, deserts, and a myriad of cities for you to plan your next journey and track places you've been with colored pins!

Second map I have brought for a friend. The quality is on that will pass down for many generations! Love it. Customer service is superb! No need to keep looking- this is the place for your next adventure map!!!!

The map is detailed and all the locations and geography that you would want for a world map. The labeling and visualization of the geography is stunning. We have the 48x32 inch size and think the price is well worth it. The pin board mounting is strong and looks fantastic. Top notch and worth every bit. Even the packaging was outstanding.

My family loves the map. Its is the center of our dining room and the kids love picking places to visit.

The details in the map are fantastic. It makes quite a feature and get a LOT of compliments on it.

We purchased the largest sized map and glad we did. It is stunning and looks like a piece of art. The pinboard is strong and won't crush. I was concerned if it would be too soft but found they have a higher quality than most shops. The packaging was solid and arrived safely and fast.

As world travelers, we wanted something to mark our memories. The details are extraordinary and we love the ability to see the ocean details. Perfect to mark our cruises.

The details in the map are fantasic. We also go the Explorer Cards and love them too. The whole family is enjoying the map and having fun learning about geography.

Spreading the Joy of Travel

Explore the world with expert cartography - the product of 30+ years of passionate geographic research backed by Master's Degrees in Geographic Information Systems (GIS) from Penn State University and Environmental Science from University of South Florida.

We make the best maps, leveraging the beauty of geography to craft comprehensive labeled travel maps that are kept current with world events for all the thousands of locations we feature. Having one in your home will inspire you to travel more, and ignite conversation with everyone that visits!

Push Pin Travel Maps

What sets our push pin map apart: We are professional Geographers and GIS Scientists, and we take extraordinary time to make beautiful, accurate, comprehensive maps. Our maps feature real bathymetry , cultural references, landmarks, historical voyages, UNESCO World Heritage Sites, and much more! This enables you to tell your story as you pin your travels, tracking where you've been and where you aspire to go.

Explore the world with a framed pin board map or beautiful stretched canvas wall art. We invested in the best equipment and built the nation's best push pin map production center to ensure that your personalized map will last a lifetime. Our push pin map studio is located in Pleasanton, California, USA, where we produce museum-quality fine art maps, made to order just for you.

Learn With Labeled World Maps

How many countries are there in the world.

In 2024, there are 193 recognized countries in the United Nation’s official geographic database . The United Nations is an organization of independent States that was formed in 1945 under a Charter to promote and maintain international relations and peace. In addition to UN member states there are 2 non-member observer states: the State of Palestine, and Holy See, bringing the total to 195. Additionally there are quasi-states that meet the criteria for statehood, but not recognized by other states, such as Taiwan / Republic of China and the People’s Republic of China.

A country is an area of land with recognized boundaries and unified by one central government. The government represents the nation of people. Generally, the four characteristics of a country include

• an area of land that is defined by borders
• a permanent population
• a formal government
• sovereign territory that is diplomatically reinforced by one single independent government.

However, what specific areas constitute a country is an ever-evolving debate, with various regions claiming independence to varying degrees of recognition around the globe. The Holy See and Palestine, notable as UN observers, have wide recognition though are not UN members. Areas of disputed sovereignty have less recognition, such as Taiwan and Kosovo, which change over time.

Our world maps represent all of the countries using the United Nations geographic database.  However, there are many constraints when displaying the world as a flat rectangular wall map in a very small scale. The Earth covers 196.9 million square miles (510 million kilometers). Using GIS technology, we can reduce geographic features to a fraction to enable the visual display as a wall map. When appropriate, we must take measures to prioritize details in a map where labeling may obscure the visibility of the geography. We prioritize the visualization of features to enable a perspective of the location, size, and shape of areas. We apply comprehensive and modern projections that eliminate large exaggerations of lands such as Greenland when the Mercator projection is applied. Using two parallels at the 45-degree latitude on both the northern and southern hemispheres, we can optimize the visualization of the major bodies of land. Our projections are designed to prioritize the shape and area of land to maximize our visualization. 

We make our maps at our studio in Pleasanton, California, USA. These are our works of art, and we craft each one to order - we do not keep stock products in inventory.

Each map is a product of years of research and design. We love the opportunity to combine science and art in these wonderful travel maps, and we especially love personalizing them just for you!

Your map will be produced to your specifications using our archival quality materials and fade-resistant inks on large format printers. If you choose a poster in canvas or paper it will be rolled and mailed to you. For ready-to-hang options in framed or stretched canvas, we will mount your map on archival quality pin board and include everything you need to start pinning and build lifelong memories.

We do not use foamcore or cork backing - the gatorfoam we mount pin maps to is a premium archival quality rigid material that will not warp over time, bend away, or crush as you pin your travels. Your pins will be held tight for a lifetime. This material also enables us to offer you incredible clarity with satin paper options that have a smooth finish, in addition to our canvas offerings.

Our canvas wrap and framed maps include premium hanging hardware as well. You will find the pre-installed rigid hangers make it easy for you to hang your map and keep it solidly level, and no guessing or measuring where to drill like for a wire!

USA Travel Maps

Cartography: Geographic World History

Learning geography and world history is an inherently intertwined process. As political and social movements lead to shifts in land ownership, the creation of new nations, and the redrawing of boundaries, these changes are meticulously documented through surveys and record keeping. Historical events, from wars and treaties to exploration and colonization, directly influence geographical demarcations, thereby shaping the world map as we know it today. Meanwhile, the geographical context often plays a pivotal role in understanding the causes and outcomes of historical events, such as how mountain ranges have served as natural fortifications or how river valleys have cradled early civilizations. We invite you to explore the largest lakes in the world and learn about the physical geography of their formations as well as their bordering countries using GIS technology. Together, the study of geography and world history provides a comprehensive view of humanity's footprint on the Earth. In our maps, we point out unique sites around the world that typically are not on most maps, yet these significant locations, such as the current 7 wonders of the world , are only a few examples. Using travel destination guides , interviewing world travelers, and through dedicated research, we highlight special sites around the world. Gifts for travelers, history and geography fans alike, would enjoy exploring our Gallery of World Maps and Explorer Cards .

Our Travelers Also Loved

The details matter:   Our products are created by a professional Geographer and Cartographer who has the passion and experience, including Master's degrees in GIS and Environmental Science, to create impressive maps for your home or office. We understand the massive amount of accurate information necessary for a great map, so we highly recommend our maps — professionally designed with GIS.

The main differences are the colors and cartographic styles. The informative details (labeling) are the same throughout the maps with a few exceptions:  

The  Voyager 2  includes snow/ice modeling. We use the MODIS satellite data collected in February to show the snow/ice cover on the landscape, which you can see represented in white in the northern hemisphere.

The  Voyager 1  excludes the snow/ice modeling, so you can visualize the elevation and landscape of the terrain that lies beneath the snow cover.

The  Magellan World Map  features additional facts about Ferdinand Magellan's epic voyage around the world.

The  Voyager, Nautilus, Magellan, Darwin, and Odyssey World Maps  include modeling of the landscape and terrain (deserts, forests, flat lands, and more) and elevation features — which illustrate the mountainous regions. We applied a hillshade to model the sunlight at 3 p.m. consistently around the world. The hillshade provides a 3D effect. It is a flat surface — yet looks 3D due to the incredible modeling technique.

The  Voyager, Nautilus, Magellan, and Odyssey World Maps  include all 63 USA National Parks (as of 2024). In addition, all of these maps include renowned National Parks in several countries around the world.

The  Endeavor, USS Enterprise, Humboldt, and Columbus World Maps  provide a classic look at Earth without terrain modeling. Each of these maps depicts beautiful cartographic styles — from modern, sleek designs to antique-inspired designs that capture the character of old-world maps.  

All of our world maps feature our unique ocean floor elevation modeling derived from NOAA oceanic data. This data illustrates the formations of islands, archipelagos, plate tectonics, and ocean currents by displaying the sea floor elevation across the Earth's oceans.  

We offer poster prints in canvas and paper, shipped rolled in a tube. While we love making pin board maps, our maps are comprehensive and will be useful in whatever way is important to you. Our posters are a great entry point to travel maps and are easy to take with you on your adventures (canvas will work best for packing). You may also DIY a display solution, choose from our poster hanger kits, or seek out a frame service local to you.

You will find on our product pages a variety of framing options. Framed maps will ship ready to hang and include push pins so you can get started pinning your location easily. We have developed an incredibly unique and easy hanging solution which every framed map includes. These do not feature glazings unless the page states so or you request it - it would get in the way of the pins!

Traditional stretched canvas in a gallery style wrap, with the art continuing over the sides. This format is lightweight at smaller sizes, and also is available at giant wall-spanning multi panel sizes.

The canvas is wrapped around a solid wood frame, premium pinboard, and is installed with our premium rigid hanging solution that makes it easy to mount on your wall.

All of our maps are handcrafted, made to order just for you, and we will work with you to craft your personal masterpiece map. Most of our map product pages will guide you through their options, but ALL of our maps can be customized. Include your quote, family names, or logo as directed, or reach out to our support for something special - we can also accept commissions for custom colorways!

All custom maps will receive a proof via email, and you will approve your proof before we print your map and begin crafting it to your specs. This will elevate your map to be an unforgettable gift, family heirloom, or personal travel diary.

World Map Poster and Framed Sizes

Our push pin maps are available in a variety of sizes, so we can accommodate any space within your home or office. Take a look at this video to see a side-by-side comparison of our sizes.

The most important factor when choosing your map is size. The World is a huge place, but smaller prints like a world map poster are easy to travel with!

Map Finish Types

• Framed satin paper or canvas mounted to pinboard
• Stretched canvas with pinboard for a frameless gallery look
• Rolled posters in paper or canvas for easy travel
• Adhesive fabric or glossy wall coverings to transform an entire space in your home

Custom Travel Map Gift

Maps are great for every age, gender, and occasion. Start an adventure, keep a push pin map as a touchable memory that can be personalized!

• Perfect for wedding gifts
• Lovely anniversary gifts  
• Mother's Day Gifts or Father's Day Gifts
• Graduation gifts for those just starting out in the world
• Esteemed retirement gifts
• Bucket List

Gift Wrap and nicely assembled card available for your gift.

All of our push pin maps are mounted to archival quality pin boards. This premium, rigid material will not only hold your pins tight for a lifetime, but also provides a smooth surface that allows us to offer you smooth satin paper prints. In contrast to canvas there is no fabric weave visible, making text and other details clearer when printed at small sizes.

Canvas prints are better able to stand up to being touched, and allow us to offer the frameless stretched “canvas wrap” format at up to very large sizes.

We offer framing for both canvas and paper, and they both look incredible. From more than a couple feet away, the differences fall away, and either will earn you admiration as they hang from your wall.

• Paper: better clarity of tiny details
• Canvas: more options for sizing, better fingerprint resistance
• Framed and Canvas Wrap maps come pre-installed with unique rigid hangers, featuring an incredibly easy positioning process that'll keep your map level and steady even while you're placing your pins. Just have a hammer and some space on your wall ready. View our instructional video to learn more.
• Poster options will additionally offer hanging kits, or you can keep it rolled for easy travel, or even take it on as a project to frame it yourself.

Yes. Your mark on the world is permanent.

Our pin maps are produced with archival quality gatorfoam pin boards that will retain their shape over time, avoiding the issue of pins falling loose on their own like in common foamcore or cork boards. Push pin maps are made to be used!

About GeoJango Maps

GeoJango is committed to creating a new type of map, one that truly reflects the beauty of the world. We use accurate geographical data to document countries, cities, rivers, lakes, mountains and many other physical features. We also include historical events, ancient civilizations and significant landmarks in order to tell the story of Earth. The result is a beautifully designed push pin map that you can use to decorate your home, track your travels and learn new information about our world.   © GeoJango ™ , LLC, 2024

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Wayfarer Executive, World Push Pin Map

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• Ships within 2 business days
• Map is 24 by 36 inches; professionally mounted on foamcore
• Includes 100 assorted push pins, rigid black backing and pre-installed hanging hardware.

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• Description

Keep a visual record of your travels abroad with a Wayfarer push-pin travel map. From the adept cartographers of Natural Geographic, the 24x36 print depicts a Winkel tripel projection of our celestial home in it's finest detail. Delightful flourishes and earthly tones typify traditional styling, suitable for the more staid of home decor. This splendid print comes in several frame options from the simple to ornate. Alternate uses for the Wayfarer include: office or customer locations, genealogy, research, and education. Let only your imagination be the limit.

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• Push Pin Travel Maps
• Standard Round Pins
• Specialty Pins
• Travel Decor
• U.S. States
• Bucket List Trackers
• Luggage Tags
• Passport Covers / Wallets
• Shipping & Policies
• Canvas Personalization Info.
• Gift Certificates

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• Paper Push Pin Travel Maps
• ∙ World Maps
• ∙ State Maps
• ∙ Other Countries/Regions
• ∙ Sports/Hobby Maps
• ∙ Golf Maps
• Framed Canvas Push Pin Travel Maps
• ∙ Canvas Posters Only - Multiple Sizes
• Gallery Wrapped Canvas
• Large 3 Panel Canvas Maps
• Canvas Posters Only - Multiple Sizes
• ∙ Bucket List Trackers
• ∙ Family Map Art
• ∙ Custom Family Sign Art
• ∙ Cork Memory Boards
• ∙ Travel Wall Art
• Travel Gear
• ∙ Luggage Tags
• ∙ Passport Covers / Wallets
• Speciality Pins
• Family Map Art

• Custom Family Sign Wall Art

• Personalized Bucket List Trackers

• Memory Boards

• Travel Wall Art

Gallery Wrapped - Blue Oceans World Travel Map with pins

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• Personalize Your Map
• Float Mount Frames
• More Info...

PERSONALIZED JUST FOR YOU!

We realize one personalization design does not fit all. That’s why our graphic designer created 9 unique personalization templates for our canvas travel maps so you can truly make the map your own! Select your favorite option from the drop-down menu above and enter your text in the designated box. Keep an eye on your email (and spam folder) the next few days in case we have some questions about your personalization. See our Personalization Guidelines Page for more info on the personalization process.

Choose from 9 Personalization Templates

How to Order

To order, simply select "Yes, include personalization" from the drop-down menu above. Next, select one of the 9 personalization layouts and enter your text in the provided “Personalization Text” box. Please Note: If the option you select includes a quote or saying it will be included unless you request for the quote to be removed or changed. Next select "Yes" or "No" from the “Pin Legend” drop-down menu (a pin legend can be added to all 9 options. See options 1, 2, 4, 6, 7, 8 & 9 for examples of pin legends). Enter your legend text in the provided "Legend Text" box. Lastly, select “Add to Cart” to proceed through the checkout process. Click Here for more info on pin legends and the personalization process.

Ordering Example

If you choose option 5, but you would like to add a pin legend and change the quote, enter your personalization as follows:

Mike & Brenda Change Quote to: Oh, the places we'll go! Legend Text: Mike’s Travels, Brenda’s Travels, Our Travels Please enter everything you would like printed on your map. If you leave out a date, we will not print a date. If you select option 4, 5, 6, 7 or 9 and do not want the quote included, please leave a note that says "Remove Quote". If you’d like the quote changed to your own special quote, leave a note that says “Change quote to…”. If you want to see a proof of your personalization, leave a note that says “Send Proof”.

ADD A FLOAT MOUNT FRAME

Give your Gallery Wrapped push pin map a little extra dimension and intrigue by adding a stylish float mount frame. Float mount frames are a fresh, modern take on the traditional picture frame. Our Gallery Wrapped canvas travel maps are mounted inside the frame with a ½” gap on each side between the map and the frame to create the appearance that the map is floating within the frame. No dark magic here! Just a unique addition to your travel map that gives you a modern contemporary design that will look like your map came fresh out of an art gallery. Please note: Float frames are only available in the 24” x 36” or 24" x 24" gallery wrapped size.

• Depth - 2 1/4" (How far it hangs off the wall)
• Finished Size - 26" x 38" or 26" x 26" (North America/Europe)
• Width of moulding on front - 7/16"
• Available for maps in the 24" x 36" or 24" x 24" size

WHY GALLERY WRAPPED CANVAS?

With clean modern lines due to its frameless design, our Gallery Wrapped Canvas Maps draw all the focus to the beauty of the map itself, creating a timeless interactive art piece you will be proud to show off to friends and family for many years to come. Our Frameless Canvas Maps are printed on premium canvas for an upgrade that will give you a rich, textured look and feel that ensures your map will stand out prominently wherever it is hung. Each canvas map is printed in house using our fancy-schmancy latex printer which creates a vibrant print that truly looks like a work of art! Did we mention that our Canvas Pin Maps make the perfect 2nd Anniversary Gift idea, which is traditionally the Cotton Anniversary? Pin where your love has traveled on your personalized Gallery Wrapped Canvas Map!

How is it made?

Every Push Pin Travel Map is handcrafted in The United States of America. We take great pride in every map we produce. We start by building a wooden frame which we then attach to a sheet of hardboard for superior durability. After that we affix sturdy foamcore board to the frame and then masterfully stretch the canvas map print over the frame with our slick stretching machine, while securing the canvas on the back to ensure nice, clean lines. A metal hanger is installed on the back so your map will arrive ready to hang right out of the box. Find out more details as well as answers to other popular questions in our FAQ section here .

Sizing & Specs

Standard Size

• Finished Size: 24” High x 36” Wide
• Depth: 1.5"
• Weight: 11 lbs
• Finished Size: 30” High x 45” Wide
• Weight: 15 lbs

North America & Europe Maps

• Finished Size: 24” High x 24” Wide
• Weight: 10 lbs

What's in the box?

Everything you need!

• Your stunning, ready-to-hang Canvas Push Pin Travel Map
• 150 Pins in a mixture of red, white and black
• Bear claw hanger

We do not include any invoices within our packages as we ship so many of our products as gifts. If you are sending a gift and would like us to include a gift note, please leave a note at checkout in the “Order Notes” box which can be found in the shopping cart.

Shipping info...

• Free Shipping: Ground shipping is free on all continental US orders over $50. Need your order right away? Choose one of our Express shipping options at checkout.
• Processing Time: All our products are handmade to order. Therefore, it may take 1-3 business days to process your order and get it shipped out to you.
• Transit Time: Most orders are shipped via FedEx or UPS. Transit time varies by location, but should not exceed 5 business days. International & APO orders may take slightly longer to arrive.

Check out our Shipping & Policies page for more details about our shipping & returns policies, including an estimated transit time map for US orders.

Build Your Own Travel Wall

(This wall includes our canvas wall art , a bucket list tracker and a cork memory board .)

Customer Reviews

It was the perfect Xmas gift and is lovely in any room. We ran out of pins on the first day! It is a wonderful experience reminiscing on a visual of all our travels and dreaming of more to come.

Love this. It looks great on the wall. I just wish the bigger sizes could have the float Mount frame.

It was my lucky day when I came across Push Pin Travel Maps. Not only can I highly recommend them, I couldn't be more pleased with my Blue Oceans World Travel Map with pins. The map is beautiful, its quality is excellent and it is highly decorative. And their customer service is extraordinary. Twice I had a question and both times their detailed answer arrived by return. Mike & Brenda, THANK YOU!

Awesome service and awesome map! Shipped super fast and very nicely packaged. Looks great on my wall. I look forward to filling in my travels, past and future :-)

Push Pin staffs were very helpful and prompt in answering all of my questions. The maps received on-time and are very high quality.

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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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