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Funko HQ Store - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)

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A Visit to Funko Headquarters: The Ultimate Fan Experience

Posted on Last updated: November 1, 2023

Home » Destinations » Washington State » A Visit to Funko Headquarters: The Ultimate Fan Experience

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The Funko headquarters is in Everett, WA, and it is a fun thing to do near Seattle with kids who love Disney, Star Wars, Stranger Things, Marvel, DC Comics, and more!

This funko hq post was written by family travel expert marcie cheung and may contain affiliate links, which means if you click on the link and purchase the item, i will receive an affiliate commission at no extra cost to you. all opinions remain my own..

As someone born and raised in the Seattle area, I love to highlight things that make our state unique.

When I heard that the Funko Headquarters in Everett was open to the public a few years ago, I grabbed my family and we headed up to this immersive store.

We’ve been back many times since then and we’ve taken out-of-town guests there to find cool treasures. Plus, it’s one of my favorite selfie spots!

Keep scrolling to see whether or not it’s something your family might geek out about!

What is Funko?

Funko  is a pop culture brand that designs highly collectible products like vinyl figures, action toys, plushies, clothing, housewares, and accessories.

Their products appeal to a diverse audience. You’ve probably seen their items on display in office cubicles, as well as kids’ rooms.

They feature characters from Star Wars, Disney films, Marvel & DC Comics, cult classic movies, and more! The list is endless as they are constantly launching new products.

Do you want to know when you’ve truly “made it” in this world?  You’ll know when Funko makes a vinyl figure of you!

The History of Funko Headquarters: How a Small Toy Company Became a Pop Culture Phenomenon

Funko was founded in 1998 by Mike Becker in Snohomish, Washington. Initially, the company focused on creating nostalgic bobbleheads of pop culture icons from the 1960s and 1970s.

In 2005, Becker sold the company to Brian Mariotti, who expanded Funko’s product line to include vinyl figures, action figures, plush toys, and other pop culture collectibles.

Mariotti also shifted the company’s focus from classic characters to contemporary pop culture franchises such as Star Wars, Marvel, and DC Comics.

Funko gained widespread popularity in the early 2010s with the introduction of their Pop! Vinyl line of figures. These figures feature a distinctive style with oversized heads and eyes, and they quickly became a hot collector’s item among fans of popular culture.

Today, Funko has licenses to create merchandise for hundreds of franchises, including movies, TV shows, video games, and sports teams.

In 2017, Funko went public on the NASDAQ stock exchange, with an initial public offering (IPO) that raised $125 million.

The company’s headquarters are now located in Everett, Washington, and they continue to produce a wide variety of pop culture collectibles that are beloved by fans all over the world.

Funko Headquarters

Did you know that  Funko is headquartered  in Everett, Washington just about 30 minutes north of Seattle? I had no idea until I started seeing all the hype for their new headquarters several years ago.

As I mentioned above, it’s been headquartered in Snohomish County since it was founded in 1998!

Where is Funko HQ?

The Funko HQ is at 2802 Wetmore Avenue, Everett, WA 98201 .

FROM SEATTLE:

• Take 1-5 North to exit 192 (Broadway)
• Continue onto Broadway Ave
• Turn left on Hewitt Ave
• Turn right on Wetmore Ave

FROM VANCOUVER, BC:

• Take 1-5 South to exit 194 (Everett Ave)
• Turn right on Everett Ave
• Turn left on Wetmore Ave

There is a parking garage across the street and limited street parking.

Is the Funko Headquarters Worth the Trek to Everett?

For SURE! Whether your family is an avid Funko collector or you simply are a fan of pop culture, the Funko Everett HQ is a place to experience this cultural phenomenon.

They have all the Funko collectibles you can dream of plus you can create your own custom Funko. Even if you don’t think you’ll buy anything, it’s worth looking around at all the cool photo ops.

Think of it as a Funko pop museum with an amazing gift shop!

The goal of the newly relocated Funko HQ is to get consumers to get offline and experience life in person. They redesigned a historic 90,000-square-foot building in downtown Everett in 2017.

The entire first floor was transformed into a 17,000-square-foot flagship store.

It’s a place where fans can connect in person and attend special events.

What Types of Products Does Funko Sell?

Funko sells a wide variety of pop culture-related merchandise, including:

Pop! Vinyl Figures

These are the company’s most popular product, featuring stylized figures of popular characters from movies, TV shows, video games, and more.

These are smaller vinyl figures with a rounded, chibi-style design.

Action Figures

Funko produces traditional action figures based on popular characters, often with highly detailed sculpting and articulation.

Funko produces a variety of plush toys featuring characters from movies, TV shows, and video games.

Mystery Minis

These are blind-boxed figures that come in a variety of different themes, including Disney, Marvel, DC Comics, and more.

Funko Pops! Pez

Funko produces collectible Pez dispensers featuring popular characters from movies, TV shows, and video games.

Loungefly Products

Funko’s sister brand produces backpacks, purses, wallets, and other accessories featuring pop culture designs.

Funko Games

Funko produces board games based on popular franchises, including Disney, Harry Potter, and Rick and Morty.

Funko produces T-shirts, hats, socks, and other clothing featuring pop culture designs.

Funko produces a variety of homeware products, including mugs, salt and pepper shakers, and other kitchen accessories featuring pop culture designs.

Here’s What You’ll Find Inside this Funko Museum and Store:

Funko pop disney.

Of course, I have to start out with Disney. They have a whole Disney castle that features characters from an array of Disney movies including Beauty and the Beast , Frozen , and The Princess Frog .

And on the backside of the castle, Disney villain Maleficent peers over shoppers from above. Guests can walk on the castle’s drawbridge or walk around and notice all the Disney details.

The whole area near the castle is pretty incredible. I’d suggest taking your time when walking around. I did it quickly but my husband noticed a lot more than I did.

Plus, they have some really fun Disney items that would be great for a trip to Disneyland or Disney’s Aulani Resort in Hawaii .

FUNKO POP STAR WARS

While I was in awe of the Disney stuff, my preschooler made a beeline for the Star Wars area. It’s easy to see why.

For one thing, the entire area is lit up in white, so it kind of feels like you are being transported somewhere outside of Everett, WA. I think it’s supposed to be the ice planet Hoth.

We are in the process of transitioning my son’s room into a Star Wars theme. Part of the reason we drove up to the Funko Headquarters was to find a special Star Wars item to decorate his room.

It was pretty cool that my 4-year-old could reach just about everything. He had fun looking at all the different Star Wars Pop Vinyl collectibles.

Insider Tip: The adult t-shirts run a little small and there are no kid sizes available.

The Funko Pop Star Wars area has so many photo ops, like Darth Vader, a wampa , tauntaun , stormtroopers, and a wookie.

But, my preschooler was much more interested in searching for the perfect Star Wars item to buy. So, I snapped a few and then we shopped together.

And for those who are wondering: After going back to the Funko Pop Star Wars area over and over again, my son decided to get a little surprise bag with a mystery Star Wars character inside.

It wasn’t what we set out to buy, but he was pretty stoked to get it!

GOTHAM CITY WITH FUNKO DC COMICS

Want to visit Gotham City and enter the world of Batman and The Joker ? Apparently, you can also hear The Joker laugh if you listen closely. We were there on a busy Saturday, so I couldn’t hear much.

Insider Tip: This area does have some items displayed at kid level that might scare children.

And keep your eyes out for nearly life-sized Wonder Woman , Bat Girl , and Harley Quinn . Plus you can shop for items featuring lots of other DC superheroes and villains.

Ok, where else can you sit in the 1960’s style Batmobile in a Bat Cave? This is the first opportunity I’ve had and it was pretty amazing! You can also walk around the Bat Cave and see all the different areas.

Plus, spot Robin making his entrance!

Insider Tip: Have someone take photos of you in the Batmobile from the above angle and then have them walk to their right to get a completely different view of the Bat Cave. You’re welcome 🙂

FUNKO MARVEL

If you want to feel like you are on the streets of New York City, welcome to the Funko Marvel exhibit area! It’s set up to feel like you are walking around an NYC neighborhood, complete with sidewalks and fire hydrants.

Yes, below is the Hulk crashing through a building.

This Funko Marvel area was my favorite! I think this would be a cool place for someone to really take a moment and enter the Marvel universe.

On a less crowded day, I would have happily sat on the sidewalk and just soaked it all in.

And yep, that’s the food truck from Deadpool . For fans of Deadpool , this may be your only opportunity to see an exhibit area dedicated to him.

And if you look closely, you can even see pigeon poop under the billboard. This detail will be hilarious to your kids!

And a Marvel exhibit wouldn’t be complete without Ironman . To the left of this is a comic book stand where Stan Lee himself (well, a Funko replica) is selling comics!

And Captain America guards the city from on top of the comic book stand. And don’t forget to look up or Thor might get you with his hammer!

HARRY POTTER FUNKO

Want to travel to a mini version of Hogsmeade? Hagrid hangs out near the gate to enter the Harry Potter section of the Funko headquarters.

The lighting is a bit dimmer, which adds to the ambiance. It reminded me a bit of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Studios in Hollywood .

This was my second favorite area to explore. I admit I was borderline star-struck when I saw Harry , Hermoine , and Ron .

My husband and I binge-watched all the Harry Potter movies before our big Universal Studios trip a few months ago. It was the first time I’d seen them and Hogsmeade sucked me in!

This is yet another area to pay attention to all the details. I took a couple of laps before my kids were ready to move on.

But, if you have kids who have either read the books or seen the movies, they will probably geek out. It’s the closest you’ll come to experiencing Hogsmeade and the world of Harry Potter in Washington State.

So, if you really wanted to do something amazing this summer, read the Harry Potter series to your kids every night. Or, have them read it to you. Then, bring them here to pick out a special Harry Potter collectible.

Doesn’t that sound like a fun summer reading program for families?

ANIME CORNER

If you are an anime fan, you’ll definitely want to check this area out! It has all types of Funko merchandise representing lots of movies, TV shows, and comics.

There’s even a giant Godzilla in the back that makes for fun selfies!

WETMORE FOREST

By now, you might be asking yourself “Are there any exclusive Funko Pop! figures that are only available at the Funko headquarters in Everett?” The answer is YES!

Now, if you have paid close attention to the address of the new Funko HQ, you’d remember it’s located on Wetmore Avenue in downtown Everett.

While it’s not really a forest these days, this product line reminds us that the area used to be full of trees. Everett was actually a logging town when it was first settled.

These imaginary friends are named for the street in Everett, WA where the Funko HQ currently stands. Photo credit: Marcie Cheung

Wetmore Forest  is an original line designed by Funko. They even created a  desktop game  featuring these lovable creatures.

It’s quite a large section filled with plush creatures, vinyl figures, clothing, and more exclusives.

There’s a sign in this area that explains that  Wetmore Forest  is a world long ago where a tribe of colorful creatures lived and played in the Pacific Northwest.

They had their own village of homes built into stumps and logs and the adventures were limitless.

CUSTOM FUNKO POP AT POP! FACTORY

Ok, if you STILL aren’t convinced that you need to visit the Funko HQ in Everett, WA, here’s what will seal the deal. You can create your own custom Funko Pop at the Pop! Factory.

Yes, you can make one to represent yourself or a loved one. Or you can let your imagination run wild!

7 Tips for Visiting the Funko Headquarters

1. best days to visit.

I overheard an employee say that Saturdays are their busiest days because that’s when families take a trip to visit their store.

The store is open every day 11 am-6 pm. So weekdays are the best days to visit.

2. DON’T TAKE A LARGE BAG

There are lockers available as soon as you enter the store. If you don’t want to deal with that, leave your big purse or backpack at home. Otherwise, you’ll need to use the locker.

3. DO BRING YOUR CAMERA

There are SO many fun photo ops! I took photos on both my cell and my nicer camera and I’m really glad I had my big camera with me. I’d suggest having both because it’s such a unique place!

I also brought my new Osmo Pocket to take videos.

4. DON’T MISS THE EXTERIOR

There’s a cool pedestrian overpass that connects the building to the parking garage. You’ll see giant Funko characters on this and outside the building.

Plus, they have some window displays. Make sure to give yourself a few minutes to soak it all in.

I mean, where else are you going to see a humongous Spiderman above the streets in Everett or anywhere else?!?

5. ONE ADULT TO ONE KID

The Funko HQ can be a bit overwhelming. There’s so much to see that it can be hard to keep track of more than one kid. So, if you are going with younger kids, I’d suggest one adult to one child.

My 4-year-old just wanted to explore the Star Wars area and my toddler wanted to explore the entire store as quickly as possible! It was nice that my husband and I were able to divide and conquer!

6. CHANGING TABLES

I always check the restrooms to see if they are baby-friendly. My husband often changes our toddler while I’m taking photos and he’s had to get creative in some places.

I’m glad to report that BOTH the Men and Women’s restrooms have changing tables.

7. MAKE A DAY OF THE FUNKO POP HQ

You may get inspired by all the superhero stuff to get into comic books. That’s why it’s cool that there’s a comic book store conveniently located across the street. And there’s a bakery right next door.

And if you are still looking for kid-friendly things to do in Everett besides the Funko HQ store, check out the Imagine Children’s Museum . It’s seriously one of the coolest local children’s museums.

Visiting the Funko Pop Headquarters FAQs

The point of Funko is to offer fans of various movies, TV shows, video games, and other pop culture phenomena the opportunity to own a physical representation of their favorite characters. Funko’s products are highly collectible and often feature a distinctive “cute” or “chibi” style that has become very popular with fans. The company produces figurines featuring a wide range of characters, from superheroes and villains to characters from classic films and TV shows, and even famous musicians and athletes.

Some Funko Pop figures can be worth money, especially if they are rare or have become collector’s items. However, not all Funko Pop figures are worth a significant amount of money, and the value of a particular figure can vary depending on a number of factors. Some factors that can affect the value of a Funko Pop figure include its rarity, the condition it is in, whether or not it is a limited edition, and whether or not it is part of a popular series or collection.

Some of the rarest and most sought-after Funko Pops that collectors may be interested in: Glow-in-the-Dark Alex DeLarge – Clockwork Orange Metallic Genie – Aladdin Metallic Boo – Monsters Inc. Planet Arlia Vegeta – Dragon Ball Z Freddy Funko Metallic Blue and Red (tie) Dumbo Clown – Dumbo Headless Ned Stark – Game of Thrones Metallic Pink Harley Quinn – Batman Metallic Darth Maul – Star Wars Glow-in-the-Dark White Ranger – Power Rangers It is important to note that the rarity of Funko Pops can vary and is subject to change. The value of Funko Pops is also influenced by many factors such as condition, age, and demand.

The first Funko Pop was released in 2011 and it was a figurine of the character “Ad Icon” called Big Boy, which is the mascot for the restaurant chain Bob’s Big Boy. The Big Boy Funko Pop was designed by Funko’s co-founder, Mike Becker, and it was intended to be a fun and nostalgic collectible for fans of pop culture and advertising.

Pre-pandemic, there were lots of cool events at the Funko headquarters. These are slowly coming back and you’ll want to check out their official website or social channels to see what’s coming up next.

Visiting the Funko Headquarters Wrap Up

I hope this post has encouraged you to drive to Everett to check out all the Funko products and photo opportunities! No matter what franchise you’re interested in, chances are they have something special for you!

Looking for more fun things to do in Seattle? Check out our review of the Burke Museum , Seattle date night ideas , and how to visit the Amazon Spheres !

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Sunday 28th of July 2019

I was wondering what it cost? And can you make your own Pop now? I would be driving from Vancouver so I was wondering how much time can you actually spend in there? My daughter and I are big funko fans. Thank you

marciecheung

Tuesday 30th of July 2019

It's free to visit! It's a store. Yes, you can make your own Pop. If you are big Funko fans, you might plan on 2 full hours to explore and look at everything. There are a lot of things packed into the store.

Friday 19th of July 2019

Traveling in Seattle with kids this summer. Thanks for sharing this cool place. I'm planning a day trip, how long you would suggest to stay here? thanks

You'll probably want at least an hour. It kind of depends on how passionate you are and if your kids are into it. I have friends that spend 2-3 hours there just looking at everything.

Tuesday 9th of July 2019

This sounds like a lot of fun! I hadn’t heard of this before, but it looks like a great place to take kids!

It's such a fascinating place! My kids already have asked to go back!

So interesting! I had absolutely never heard of this before...and I have 3 boys ages 8, 10, and 12! :)

It's an awesome stop on the drive from Seattle to Vancouver, BC! Road trip up here!

Jody Robbins

This looks like a super fun thing to do with my daughter. Do you think it would good for teens to experience, too?

Oh for sure! I always see a LOT of teens and college students there.

Visiting Funko HQ in Everett, WA: Funko Everett

Posted on Published: 12/13/2023

My son has been an avid collector of Funko Pops for a while, so when we visited Seattle, Washington, we knew we’d have to make the drive up to Funko HQ, the headquarters of Funko. In the Funko Everett Headquarters, you’ll find a large shop that is a Funko-lovers paradise.

If you aren’t a Funko lover, you may be wondering what the fascination is with these pop culture collectibles. Funko Pops, Vinyls, Dorbz, and other products from the company celebrate various characters from television, comics, music, movies, companies, games, sports, and other aspects of pop culture.

These items range from widely available to extremely rare, and there are so many that it’s nearly impossible for any regular store to carry all of them. The Funko HQ store is the closest you’ll come to seeing everything available.

There are two stores – the original Funko HQ in Everett Washington, and a newer location in Hollywood, CA.

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. A purchase/click through one of these links may result in a commission paid to us at no additional cost to you.  All opinions are our own.

Where is Funko HQ?

Funko HQ is located in Everett, Washington, on the Puget Sound. Most out-of-towners will likely be staying in Seattle, which is about 40 minutes south of Everett. It’s an easy drive, and there are some stops you can make either on the way there or back. Everett itself isn’t much of a tourist destination.

The store is typically closed on Mondays, and hours can vary. You’ll want to check the website before leaving to see what the times are for your visit. The hours may change during the holidays, so it’s best to call. We visited over the Fourth of July weekend and called in advance to make sure it would be open for our visit.

What You’ll Find at Funko HQ

Depending on which way you arrive in Everett, you’ll probably pass by Funko Field. This minor league field is named for the company but isn’t the location that you’ll want to visit for shopping. Drive a little further and you’ll arrive at Funko HQ.

As you reach the building, there’s no mistaking where you are. Huge, life-size Funko Pops will greet you from the front of the store, above the store, and on the pedestrian bridge leading to the next building. Parking is available on the street, and we had no issue finding a spot.

We arrived right before it opened, and there was a small line. However, if you are visiting on a day when a limited edition Pop is offered, you are likely to encounter a longer line. There are signs informing visitors that camping overnight is not permitted.

Lockers are available by the front entrance if you are bringing in large bags or other prohibited items. There’s a small security desk that you’ll pass by, and you can get a price list and map there. None of the items have prices on them – so you’ll need the list.

Funko HQ is a collector’s paradise. There are several different rooms within the building. These include a room dedicated to their brand, Wetmore Forest (named for the street Funko Everett is located on). There are also separate rooms for DC, Marvel and Star Wars Pops, Harry Potter, and Anime.

Within the rooms, you’ll find Funko products for purchase, in addition to life-size displays with Funkos. Even if you aren’t planning on purchasing anything, it’s still fun to look at and pose with the displays.

In addition to the Funko products, you’ll find a small supply of t-shirts, sweatshirts, and non-Funko products. The majority of the store, however, is the Funko merchandise, including a few exclusive items that can only be purchased at the store.

There’s also a “build your own Funko Pop” area called the Pop Factory. Here, you’ll be able to choose from among dozens of parts to create either a Freddie Funko (Funko’s mascot) or a monster. For a collector, this is an exclusive opportunity to create something unique.

Overall, we spent about 45 minutes at Funko HQ. My son quickly spent the allotted amount of money he had and easily would have spent more. There is so much there.

Note that the store doesn’t offer shipping. So you’ll either need to pack everything in your suitcase or visit a separate shipping store to send things home.

Beyond the store, there isn’t much else at Funko HQ for consumers. The actual store has restrooms, but there’s no food right at the location. If you are hungry, however, there are plenty of options in Everett that you can visit during your stay there.

Hotels in Everett

I’d recommend staying in Seattle for your visit to Funko HQ because there are so many things to do in Seattle with kids. The drive isn’t too far, and you can either use a rental car or get a ZipCar if you haven’t rented a car.

If you do want to stay in Everett, however, there are a few options. We stayed in Seattle, so I don’t have first-hand knowledge of these hotels. However, these have good reviews:

• Hampton Inn Seattle/Everett
• Best Western Plus Navigator Inn & Suites
• Inn At Port Gardner an Ascend Hotel Collection Member

On the Way Back to Seattle

If you are staying in Seattle, and want to make the journey to Funko HQ, there are some stops you may consider along the way.

In Mukilteo, Washington, which is right on the drive, you’ll find the Boeing Future of Flight Museum and Boeing Factory Tour. We didn’t plan, and the tickets were all sold out when we arrived. So, I’d recommend ordering them in advance. Wear comfortable shoes as the tour does have quite a bit of walking. It looks like such a great museum and seems worth visiting.

Also in Mukilteo, you’ll find the Mukilteo Lighthouse Park . We decided to visit there on our way back and took advantage of the beautiful weather by sitting outside for a while. Metered parking is available at the park.

There’s also an Ivar’s seafood restaurant location, called Ivar’s Mukilteo Landing. You can either eat in the sit-down restaurant, which does offer outdoor seating. Or, there are windows where you can order food to go and take it to the park to enjoy while watching the ferry boats take off.

We decided to eat in the restaurant. It was delicious, and I’d recommend making a stop there for lunch before or after your visit to

To learn more about Funko HQ, visit the Funko website .

More resources: Planning a Seattle vacation? Read our Seattle travel tips and reviews, including itineraries, road trips, and more.

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• Preplanned tours
• Daytrips out of Moscow
• 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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