Overview
The Kharkiv Metro is a rapid transit system serving Ukraine's second-largest city. With three lines covering approximately 38.1 km and 30 stations, it is the fastest and most convenient way to navigate the city, carrying nearly 1 million passengers daily. The system opened on 23 August 1975, making it the sixth metro in the Soviet Union and the second in Ukraine. You can travel across the city using tokens, electronic cards, or contactless bank cards, with service running from early morning until midnight daily.
The network
The Kharkiv Metro comprises three lines, each identified by both color and Ukrainian name. All three lines feature Soviet-era architectural design with chandeliers, marble columns, and murals. Some stations were built approximately 100 meters underground and were designed to serve as bomb shelters.
Metro Lines
- Red Line (M1 – Kholodnohirsko-Zavodska Line): The original line opened in 1975 and extended in 1978, running 17.4 km with 13 stations. It connects Kholodna Hora in the northwest to Industrialna in the southeast, passing through major stations including Vokzalna (linked to the central railway station), Tsentralnyi Rynok (central market), Maidan Konstytutsii, and Sportyvna.
- Blue Line (M2 – Saltivska Line): Opened in 1984–1986, this line runs 10.4 km with 8 stations, connecting Saltivska in the northeast to Istorychnyi Muzei in the city centre. A notable 988-meter covered bridge over the Kharkiv River lies between Kyivska and Akademika Barabashova stations—the only above-ground infrastructure on the system. Major stations include Barabashova (near the city's famous market) and Universytet.
- Green Line (M3 – Oleksiivska Line): The newest line, opened in 1995 with extensions through 2016, runs 11 km with 9 stations. It connects Peremoha in the north to the city center, serving stations including Derzhprom (located beneath Freedom Square) and Botanichnyi Sad.
Interchanges
Three underground interchange hubs link the lines in the city center, allowing seamless transfers between the Red, Blue, and Green lines.
Other public transport
Beyond the metro, Kharkiv offers an extensive tram network—one of the few remaining in Ukraine after the Soviet Union's collapse. The number 12 tram line is particularly useful for visiting the far northeastern part of the city. Trolleybuses and buses also serve the city. Additionally, marshrutkas (shared minibus taxis) operate throughout Kharkiv, offering an informal local transport option.
Tickets & fares
As of 2026, metro travel is free due to wartime support measures. This applies to all passengers using the metro, trams, trolleybuses, and buses. Single ride tickets in marshrutkas cost between 10–20 hryvnia.
Payment methods where fares apply include tokens, electronic cards, and contactless bank cards at selected stations. Ticket counters operate at stations, and automated ticket machines are available. When regular fares were in effect, a single metro journey cost approximately 8 UAH (roughly $0.25 USD), with student monthly passes at 120 UAH and adult monthly passes at 240 UAH. Free travel is provided to seniors and persons with disabilities.
From the airport
Kharkiv's airspace has been closed to civil aviation due to the Russia-Ukraine war, making conventional air travel to the city unavailable. Visitors must arrive by alternative means such as train, bus, or car.
Etiquette & customs
While specific escalator and seating conventions are not documented in available sources, standard courtesy applies on the metro. Photography is permitted throughout the system, though use of flash is discouraged; commercial photography requires permission from station management. The metro operates as rapid transit primarily during daytime and evening hours, with the last trains departing around midnight, so plan accordingly if traveling late.
During wartime, stations have doubled as civilian bomb shelters, and some have hosted underground classrooms. Respect these dual-use facilities and follow any instructions from staff regarding safety or operational changes.
Survival terms
- Метро / Metro – subway/metro station or system
- Квиток / Kvytok – ticket
- Лінія / Liniya – line
- Вхід / Vkhid – entrance
- Вихід / Vykhid – exit
- Перехід / Perekkhid – transfer or interchange
- Один проїзд / Odyn proyizd – single fare
- Місячний абонемент / Misyachnyi abonementy – monthly pass
Download offline maps or note station names in advance, as mobile signal is available only at major stations and the system has no system-wide free Wi-Fi.