Russia has Europe’s longest metro system by route length: the Moscow Metro. As of January 2026, it spans about 535.3 kilometres and has 304 stations, making it Europe’s largest metro network by this measure.
The Moscow Metro opened on 15 May 1935 with a single 11-kilometre line and 13 stations. It expanded into a radial network centred on Moscow, later adding major orbital routes such as the Moscow Central Circle and the Big Circle Line. Many stations are famous for elaborate marble halls, mosaics, chandeliers and sculptures, earning the system the nickname “the underground palace.”
A common mix-up is London: the London Underground is older, opening in 1863, but its network is shorter. Madrid, Paris and other European systems are also extensive, yet none exceeds Moscow’s current route length. “Track length” can vary slightly by whether sources count duplicate tracks or associated rail services, but Russia remains the clear answer for the standard metro-network comparison.