Is Moscow Metro the biggest?

Carrying millions of passengers every day, the Moscow Metro is the 8th-largest metro system in the world and the largest outside of China. It is exceedingly well operated, and at peak hours, trains arrive every 90 seconds.



As of 2026, the Moscow Metro is not the biggest in the world by length or number of stations, but it remains the largest in Europe and the biggest outside of China. It currently has 304 stations and roughly 535 km of route length, ranking as the 8th-longest system globally. The world's largest metro networks are overwhelmingly located in China, with Shanghai (802 km) and Beijing (836 km) dominating the top spots. However, the Moscow Metro is world-famous for its "underground palace" architecture, featuring marble walls, mosaics, and ornate chandeliers. It is also one of the most efficient, with peak-hour headways as low as 90 seconds. While it may not be the longest, its Big Circle Line (57 km) is one of the world's longest circular metro lines, showcasing Russia's commitment to ambitious urban infrastructure development.

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The Shanghai Metro is the world's longest metro network at 803 kilometres (499 mi) and has the highest annual ridership at 2.83 billion trips. The New York City Subway has the greatest number of stations with 472.

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At that time geological surveys were conducted and it appeared that the nature of the soil would make tunneling particularly difficult in Moscow. Many underground rivers were discovered. It was safer to dig tunnels deep under the ground level. The depth of the tunnels usually ranges from 35-55 meters.

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THE world's deepest metro, underground station is the Arsenalna Station on the Kiev Metro in Ukraine, at 107 meters deep. The world's largest metro station is Union Square Station on the Dubai Metro in the United Arab Emirates which covers an area of 67,056 square meters.

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Our number one metro overall? The Seoul Subway in South Korea topped the list. The overall ranking takes into account every element of our study - so that includes the number of stations with step-free access, the price of a ticket and the age of the system (amongst many others).

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Moscow's metro system is known for its expansive reach and high ridership — 9 million people take the train across Russia's capital each day. But the Moscow Metro is also known for its ornate design and glamorous decorations.

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The day ticket for the Moscow metro can be purchased at any of the stops in the city. The price is ? 265 ( US$ 2.90) per day and ? 500 ( US$ 5.40) for three days.

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The Metro is one of the busiest subway networks in the world and on a normal weekday will carry more than 8 million passengers along 286.8 miles (461.5 km) of track, visiting 258 stations on route.

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1. Stockholm, Sweden: Stockholms metro system, known as the Tunnelbana, is often referred to as the worlds longest art gallery. Many of its stations are adorned with colorful murals, sculptures, and unique designs.

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The list was topped by the reliable, safe and comfortable public transport in Berlin. 97 percent of Berliners raved about their city's transport network, with their metro U-Bahn offering travellers 175 stations across nine simple-to-navigate lines.

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Hong Kong, China: Mass Transit Railway (MTR) The MTR is globally renowned for being the most profitable, cleanest, and most efficient metro system in the world.

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