Travel vaccination advice

If you're planning to travel outside the UK, you may need to be vaccinated against some of the serious diseases found in other parts of the world.

Vaccinations are available to protect you against infections such as yellow fever , typhoid and hepatitis A .

In the UK, the  NHS routine immunisation (vaccination) schedule protects you against a number of diseases, but does not cover all of the infectious diseases found overseas.

When should I start thinking about the vaccines I need?

If possible, see the GP or a private travel clinic at least 6 to 8 weeks before you're due to travel.

Some vaccines need to be given well in advance to allow your body to develop immunity.

And some vaccines involve a number of doses spread over several weeks or months.

You may be more at risk of some diseases, for example, if you're:

  • travelling in rural areas
  • backpacking
  • staying in hostels or camping
  • on a long trip rather than a package holiday

If you have a pre-existing health problem, this may make you more at risk of infection or complications from a travel-related illness.

Which travel vaccines do I need?

You can find out which vaccinations are necessary or recommended for the areas you'll be visiting on these websites:

  • Travel Health Pro
  • NHS Fit for Travel

Some countries require proof of vaccination (for example, for polio or yellow fever vaccination), which must be documented on an International Certificate of Vaccination or Prophylaxis (ICVP) before you enter or when you leave a country.

Saudi Arabia requires proof of vaccination against certain types of meningitis for visitors arriving for the Hajj and Umrah pilgrimages.

Even if an ICVP is not required, it's still a good idea to take a record of the vaccinations you have had with you.

Find out more about the vaccines available for travellers abroad

Where do I get my travel vaccines?

First, phone or visit the GP practice or practice nurse to find out whether your existing UK vaccinations are up-to-date.

If you have any records of your vaccinations, let the GP know what you have had previously.

The GP or practice nurse may be able to give you general advice about travel vaccinations and travel health, such as protecting yourself from malaria.

They can give you any missing doses of your UK vaccines if you need them.

Not all travel vaccinations are available free on the NHS, even if they're recommended for travel to a certain area.

If the GP practice can give you the travel vaccines you need but they are not available on the NHS, ask for:

  • written information on what vaccines are needed
  • the cost of each dose or course
  • any other charges you may have to pay, such as for some certificates of vaccination

You can also get travel vaccines from:

  • private travel vaccination clinics
  • pharmacies offering travel healthcare services

Which travel vaccines are free?

The following travel vaccines are available free on the NHS from your GP surgery:

  • polio (given as a combined diphtheria/tetanus/polio jab )
  • hepatitis A

These vaccines are free because they protect against diseases thought to represent the greatest risk to public health if they were brought into the country.

Which travel vaccines will I have to pay for?

You'll have to pay for travel vaccinations against:

  • hepatitis B
  • Japanese encephalitis
  • tick-borne encephalitis
  • tuberculosis (TB)
  • yellow fever

Yellow fever vaccines are only available from designated centres .

The cost of travel vaccines that are not available on the NHS will vary, depending on the vaccine and number of doses you need.

It's worth considering this when budgeting for your trip.

Other things to consider

There are other things to consider when planning your travel vaccinations, including:

  • your age and health – you may be more vulnerable to infection than others; some vaccines cannot be given to people with certain medical conditions
  • working as an aid worker – you may come into contact with more diseases in a refugee camp or helping after a natural disaster
  • working in a medical setting – a doctor, nurse or another healthcare worker may require additional vaccinations
  • contact with animals – you may be more at risk of getting diseases spread by animals, such as rabies

If you're only travelling to countries in northern and central Europe, North America or Australia, you're unlikely to need any vaccinations.

But it's important to check that you're up-to-date with routine vaccinations available on the NHS.

Pregnancy and breastfeeding

Speak to a GP before having any vaccinations if:

  • you're pregnant
  • you think you might be pregnant
  • you're breastfeeding

In many cases, it's unlikely a vaccine given while you're pregnant or breastfeeding will cause problems for the baby.

But the GP will be able to give you further advice about this.

People with immune deficiencies

For some people travelling overseas, vaccination against certain diseases may not be advised.

This may be the case if:

  • you have a condition that affects your body's immune system, such as HIV or AIDS
  • you're receiving treatment that affects your immune system, such as chemotherapy
  • you have recently had a bone marrow or organ transplant

A GP can give you further advice about this.

Non-travel vaccines

As well as getting any travel vaccinations you need, it's also a good opportunity to make sure your other vaccinations are up-to-date and have booster vaccines if necessary.

Although many routine NHS vaccinations are given during childhood, you can have some of them (such as the MMR vaccine ) as an adult if you missed getting vaccinated as a child.

There are also some extra NHS vaccinations for people at higher risk of certain illnesses, such as the flu vaccine , the hepatitis B vaccine and the BCG vaccine for tuberculosis (TB) .

Your GP can advise you about any NHS vaccinations you might need.

Find out about NHS vaccinations and when to have them

Page last reviewed: 16 March 2023 Next review due: 16 March 2026

Peng Travel

All the latest news from the travel industry!

Travel Vaccinations at Boots Guide

Sometimes when planning a trip, it is easy to overlook things like travel vaccinations. However, getting the appropriate vaccinations before your travel is vitally important. Some travel vaccinations are free on the NHS , but some have to be paid for. You can book travel vaccinations and have them administered safely at pharmacies such as Boots in the UK.

Are travel vaccinations necessary?

YES. There are serious infectious diseases in other parts of the world which you could be exposed to when travelling outside of the UK. These can have severe effects on your health, even causing death. You can prevent catching and spreading these diseases by being vaccinated against them before you leave the UK. Some vaccinations will require several weeks to work, or the administration of multiple doses. This is why it is important to consult with your GP or a pharmacist at least 6-8 weeks in advance. Check which vaccinations are required for entry to your destination country before making arrangements. The information is available on gov.uk , or you can use the helpful quick check tool on the Boots website. It is necessary to get the appropriate vaccinations within the required time frame. If you do not, then not only are you increasing your risk of serious illness and spreading it to others, but you may not be allowed to travel.

Which travel vaccinations are available at Boots?

Boots offers a consultation service to allow you to figure out a vaccination plan. The vaccinations that each person in your party needs will depend on which countries you are visiting, which activities you will be doing, and information such as age, health, and medical history. Vaccinations are available to adults and children over 5 years old from Boots. The Boots pharmacists can help you to determine which vaccinations are necessary, how much they are going to cost, and how many appointments it will take to complete the full course. These are the vaccinations you can get at Boots:

  • Hepatitis A
  • Hepatitis B
  • Japanese encephalitis
  • Tick-borne encephalitis
  • Meningitis ACWY
  • Yellow fever

Boots will also advise you to check with your GP that your MMR (measles, mumps, and rubella) and DTP (diphtheria, tetanus, and polio) vaccinations are up to date. If they are not, then your GP should be able to arrange these for free.

How much do travel vaccinations cost at Boots?

Unfortunately, the vaccinations listed above are not free at Boots. Depending on your circumstances, you may be able to get Hepatitis A, cholera, or typhoid vaccinations for free on the NHS. Otherwise, when you book them or any of the others at Boots, you will have to pay for the course of vaccinations. These are the current vaccination prices at Boots:

Please note that this table does not include prices for malaria prevention tablets. You may need these depending on your destination and planned activities. Malaria prevention medications range from 23p per tablet to £4.28 per tablet. The number of tablets and dosage regime required depends on the specific medication type and the trip’s duration.

How to Book Travel Vaccinations at Boots

The Boots Travel Health Advice Service is available in 300 locations. Find the closest Boots store which offers this service and you should be able to book an appointment online. Yellow fever vaccinations are only available at select Boots locations, which are listed here . The service is convenient because it allows you to choose the most suitable appointment time. You can even collect Boots Advantage Card points on travel vaccination purchases. When you attend a consultation, this is likely to take around 40 minutes. You will need to know your vaccination history, your medical history, and details about your trip. The consultant will discuss the necessary vaccines and their prices with you, and schedule appointments for them. They can also give you advice on anti-malarial medication if appropriate.

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

  • Travel Clinic
  • Health Checks & Blood Tests
  • Family Health
  • Sexual Health
  • Aesthetic Clinics
  • Occupational Health
  • Pricing List
  • Login / Register
  • Online Booking

Health Clinic Trustpilot

Find a Clinic

Travel vaccinations

Our expert nurses and pharmacists will check which vaccines you need to help you prepare for your trip. Find Out More

Search for your destination

Popular destinations.

book travel jabs boots

Popular Travel Vaccination

Hepatitis b, yellow fever, polio, tetanus & diphtheria, hepatitis a & typhoid, japanese encephalitis, meningitis acwy, hepatitis a, hepatitis a and b, tick-borne encephalitis, malaria tablets, mumps, measles & rubella, all destinations.

Algeria Angola Benin Botswana Burkina Faso Burundi Cameroon Cape Verde Central African Republic Chad Comoros Congo Cote d’Ivoire Democratic Republic of Congo Djibouti Equatorial Guinea Eritrea Ethiopia Gabon Gambia Ghana Guinea Guinea-Bissau Kenya Lesotho Liberia Libya Madagascar Malawi Mali Mauritania Mauritius Mayotte Mozambique Namibia Niger Nigeria Saint Helena Senegal Seychelles Sierra Leone Somalia South Africa South Sudan Sudan Swaziland Togo Uganda United Republic of Tanzania Zambia Zimbabwe

Asia (Central)

Afghanistan Kazakhstan Kyrgyzstan Pakistan Tajikistan Turkmenistan Uzbekistan

Asia (East)

Bangladesh Bhutan Borneo Brunei Darussalam Cambodia China Democratic People’s Republic of Korea East Timor Hong Kong India Indonesia Japan Macao Malaysia Maldives Mongolia Myanmar Nepal Philippines Republic of Korea Singapore Sri Lanka Taiwan Thailand Vietnam

Australasia & Pacific

American Samoa Australia Christmas Island Cook Islands Federated States of Micronesia Fiji French Polynesia Guam Kiribati Marshall Islands Nauru New Caledonia New Zealand Niue Northern Mariana Islands Palau Papua New Guinea Pitcairn Samoa Solomon Islands Tokelau Tonga Tuvalu Vanuatu

Anguilla Antigua and Barbuda Aruba Bahamas Barbados Bonaire British Virgin Islands Cayman Islands Cuba Curaçao Dominica Dominican Republic Grenada Guadeloupe Haiti Jamaica Martinique Montserrat Netherlands Antilles Puerto Rico Saba Saint Barthelemy Saint Kitts and Nevis Saint Lucia Saint Martin Saint Pierre and Miquelon Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Sint Eustatius Sint Maarten Trinidad and Tobago Turks and Caicos US Virgin Islands Virgin Islands

Belize Costa Rica El Salvador Guatemala Honduras Panama

Europe & Russia

Albania Andorra Armenia Austria Azerbaijan Belarus Belgium Bosnia Herzegovina Bulgaria Croatia Cyprus Czech Republic Denmark Estonia Faroe Islands Finland France Georgia Germany Gibraltar Greece Hungary Iceland Ireland Italy Kosovo Latvia Liechtenstein Lithuania Luxembourg Malta Monaco Montenegro Netherlands Norway Poland Portugal Republic of Macedonia Republic of Moldova Romania Russian Federation San Marino Serbia Slovakia Slovenia Spain Sweden Switzerland Turkey Ukraine United Kingdom

Middle East

Bahrain Egypt Iran Iraq Israel and Occupied Palestinian Territories Jordan Kuwait Lebanon Morocco Oman Qatar Syria Tunisia United Arab Emirates Yemen

North America

Bermuda Canada Greenland Mexico United States of America

South America & Antarctica

Antarctica Argentina Bolivia Brazil Chile Colombia Ecuador Falkland Islands French Guiana Guyana Paraguay Peru Suriname Uruguay Venezuela

How it Works

Book an appointment online, attend your consultation, get your treatment, further reading.

book travel jabs boots

Travel Health For Children – What You Need To Know

Your holidays should be the happiest time of the year. However, when you travel with children, things can’t always go

book travel jabs boots

Returning Home – Travel Risks For Expats

It’s hard to remember that you’re not at home when you’ve travelled abroad to see family or friends and are

book travel jabs boots

Insect Bites On Holiday – Risks and Prevention

Avoid insect bites Apart from carrying a variety of diseases, insect bites are itchy, unpleasant and can cause serious skin

book travel jabs boots

How To Stay Healthy In Heat And Humidity

So you’ve had enough of this drizzly UK weather forecast for one year and have booked a fortnight away for

Popular destinations

South africa.

Travel vaccinations and travel injection advice

It’s easy to find travel vaccinations and travel clinics near you, especially if you already know which vaccinations you need for your trip. Simply explore your booking options with our tailored travel service LloydsPharmacy Online Doctor . We’ll help you to get the right protection for your trip.

Online Doctor

Order malaria tablets or jet lag treatment online with a free online consultation. Our Online Doctor service is perfect for those aged 18 years or over. Through a confidential online assessment, you can receive malaria tablets or jet lag treatment if our clinical team confirm they’re suitable for you, without seeing a GP face-to-face. Our travel service is also ideal if you’re in need of treatment quickly – simply complete an online consultation and select next-day delivery.

Online Doctor travel health services

Jet lag tablets, antimalarial treatments, period delay, travel advice.

  • Patient Login

book travel jabs boots

  • Occupational Health
  • Specialty Vaccinations
  • Destinations

Need Vaccinations?

Search, compare and book vaccinations at clinics near you.

  • Hepatitis A
  • Hepatitis A (Paediatric)
  • Hepatitis A + B
  • Hepatitis A + B (Paediatric)
  • Hepatitis B
  • Hepatitis B (Paediatric)
  • Human Papilloma Virus
  • Japanese Encephalitis
  • Meningitis ACWY
  • Meningitis B
  • MMR (Measles, Mumps and Rubella)
  • Pneumococcal Pneumonia (Conjugated)
  • Pneumococcal Pneumonia (Polysaccharide)
  • Polio/ Tetanus/ Diphtheria
  • Tick-Borne-Encephalitis
  • Tick-Borne-Encephalitis (Paediatric)
  • Tuberculosis BCG vaccine
  • Typhoid (Oral Capsules)
  • Typhoid + Hepatitis A
  • Yellow Fever
  • Flu (Adjuvanted Quadrivalent Over 65yrs)
  • Flu (Quadrivalent Cell Based All Adults)
  • Flu (Quadrivalent Egg Cultured Under 65yrs)
  • Flu (Recombinant Quadrivalent All Adults)
  • Atovaquone/ Proguanil (250mg/100mg) Tablets
  • Atovaquone/ Proguanil (62.5mg/25mg) Tablets
  • Chloroquine 250mg tablets
  • Chloroquine and Proguanil (250mg/100mg) tablets
  • Doxcycline 100mg capsules
  • Maloff Protect Tablets (24 pack)
  • Maloff Protect Tablets (36 pack)
  • Mefloquine 250mg tablets
  • Proguanil 100mg tablets
  • NHS 111 Referral Community Pharmacy Consultation Service
  • NHS Appliance Use Review
  • NHS Contraception Service
  • NHS Digital Weight Management Service
  • NHS Discharge Medicines Service
  • NHS GP Referral Community Pharmacy Consultation Service
  • NHS Hepatitis C Antibody Testing Service
  • NHS Hypertension Case Finding Advanced Service
  • NHS New Medicine Service
  • NHS Stop Smoking Service

Why Vaccinate?

Occupational health vaccinations, popular destinations.

book travel jabs boots

  • South Africa

book travel jabs boots

  • Dominican Republic

book travel jabs boots

Additional Destinations

Popular vaccinations.

  • Measles, Mumps and Rubella (MMR)
  • Tick-Borne Encephalitis
  • Pneumococcal Pneumonia
  • Tuberculosis
  • Atovaquone/ Proguanil
  • Chloroquine
  • Chloroquine and Proguanil
  • Doxycycline
  • Maloff Protect

Internet explorer is no longer supported

We have detected that you are using Internet Explorer to visit this website. Internet Explorer is now being phased out by Microsoft. As a result, NHS Digital no longer supports any version of Internet Explorer for our web-based products, as it involves considerable extra effort and expense, which cannot be justified from public funds. Some features on this site will not work. You should use a modern browser such as Edge, Chrome, Firefox, or Safari. If you have difficulty installing or accessing a different browser, contact your IT support team.

Vaccinations National Booking Service

We're providing systems that enable people to book appointments at sites across England.

If you have received a letter inviting you to book an appointment, go to the Book a coronavirus vaccination service

About this service

We're providing systems that enable people to book appointments across England.

The Vaccinations National Booking Service is made up of:

  • an online booking service available to the public on the NHS website to book a coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccination appointment
  • an online booking service available to the public on the NHS website to book or manage a free NHS flu vaccination at a pharmacy
  • an appointment management system for staff working at vaccination centres and community pharmacies offering coronavirus and flu vaccinations - Q-Flow
  • an app for checking people into their appointments when they arrive at vaccination sites - the Check a vaccination appointment service (Check-In App)
  • a training tool for 119 agents to familiarise themselves with the various booking journeys so they can support the public

NHS App users can also book or manage a coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccination appointment.

There is also a telephone service, 119, for people who cannot or do not want to use the online booking service. NHS England runs this. The phoneline operators use the Book a coronavirus vaccination service on behalf of callers.

Other local solutions are in place, in addition to the Vaccinations National Booking Service, to enable hospital hubs and primary care networks to offer appointments to patients. 

Primary care networks can choose from an assured selection of appointment management systems through the Digital Care Services Framework (GP IT Futures).

Online booking service to book a coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccination appointment

The coronavirus vaccination booking service will accept appointment bookings from people who have received a notification from the NHS, through the national service by text or letter, asking them to book. People who have not received a notification may also be eligible to book using the service.

The service accepts bookings from eligible people registered with a GP in England. 

Users provide their NHS number which is used to check they are eligible, and helps ensure that information about their vaccination is saved to their medical records. Those without an NHS number can be vaccinated at walk-in sites .

Users can book first, second doses, and booster appointments, as recommended by the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation  (JCVI).

The service sends users a booking confirmation, by text message or email, which they take to the vaccination centre when they go to their appointment.

The service also allows people to cancel and re-book their appointments if they need to.

Online booking service to book a free NHS flu vaccination at a pharmacy

The flu vaccination booking service will accept appointment bookings from people who have received a notification from the NHS, through the national service by text or letter, asking them to book. People who have not received a notification may also be eligible to book using the service.

The service accepts bookings from eligible people that are registered with a GP in England. 

Users provide their NHS number, which is used to check they are eligible, and helps ensure that information about their vaccination is saved to their medical records.

Users can book an appointment for the current season of flu vaccination.

Q-Flow appointment management system

Q-Flow is used by staff working at the sites offering vaccinations. It is linked to the online booking service. Users are assigned to a user group within Q-Flow, which determines their permissions and the tasks they can perform. 

Following assurance and confirmation of completion of readiness assessments, NHS Digital will create the site in the Vaccinations National Booking Service and create a Q-Flow user account for the lead IT admin (site manager user). Site manager users will then be able to set up site attributes and schedule appointments in Q-Flow, to allow patients to book via the National Booking Service. 

Staff can also use Q-Flow to edit appointment availability, and view and manage booked appointments.

Q-Flow guidance

How to use Q-Flow, the appointment management system that interacts with the National Booking Service, enabling people to book vaccinations at vaccination centres.

Check a vaccination appointment service (Check-In app)

Check a vaccination appointment service (Check-In app) is a separate app to Q-Flow and allows sites to check patients in. 

When someone arrives at a vaccination centre for their booked appointment, staff who have been authorised to use the Check-In app will:

  • Search for the appointment on the system using the booking reference or name and date of birth.
  • Confirm whether the person attending the appointment is eligible to be vaccinated.
  • Check the citizen into the appointment if appropriate

Guidance for arrival stewards and assessment clinicians

Arrival stewards and assessment clinicians use this app to view details of a patient’s appointment and check them in to the site.

119 training tool

A training tool for 119 call agents working on the NHS COVID-19 vaccine booking service, to familiarise themselves with the various booking journeys so they can support the public.

More information and guidance on the service . 

NHS App users

People who use the NHS App can also book or manage a coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccination appointment. A menu option displayed within the app provides the same online coronavirus (COVID-19) booking service but uses the login credentials already given when logging into the NHS App.

You must be logged in to the NHS App to use this feature.

Related pages

National Booking Service - training and onboarding

Training and onboarding information for the National Booking Service (NBS).

Last edited: 17 January 2024 2:28 pm

  • International edition
  • Australia edition
  • Europe edition

An NHS worker prepares a Covid vaccine at a Boots pharmacy in London

Boots to offer Covid vaccines in England for nearly £100 a jab

Pharmacy to offer Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine to those not eligible for NHS booster shot from next week

Boots is to offer Covid vaccinations for almost £100 a shot, making it the latest provider to sell the jabs to those not eligible for a booster through the NHS.

The company has confirmed it will offer the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine to healthy customers in England aged 12 and over from next week, at a cost of £98.95 a jab.

Boots is the latest company to capitalise on the decision by manufacturers to sell the vaccinations privately: last month, Pharmadoctor announced it would be offering Covid jabs to eligible customers through partner pharmacies in the UK.

While Pharmadoctor notes each pharmacy sets its own prices, it suggests the Pfizer/BioNTech jab will set customers back £75-£85, while the latest Novavax jab will cost about £45-£55.

According to Graham Thoms, the chief executive of Pharmadoctor, more than 1,000 patients have already been privately vaccinated using the Pfizer/BioNTech jab, with Novavax jabs expected to begin from 22 April.

The announcement by Boots comes as vaccination services gear up for the spring booster campaign , in which people aged 75 years and older, residents in care homes for older people, and people aged six months and over with a weakened immune system will be offered another Covid jab free on the NHS.

However, with eligibility for this and previous campaigns limited, most healthy people have not had a booster jab since late 2021, and experts warn their protection will have waned over time.

A spokesperson at Boots said: “We are launching a private Covid-19 vaccination service for people who are not eligible for an NHS vaccination but still want the option to protect themselves from the virus.

“Our private service builds on our existing delivery of Covid-19 vaccinations for the NHS and we are pleased we can now offer Covid-19 vaccinations both on behalf of the NHS and privately, as we have done with flu vaccinations for many years.”

Boots said it was working hard to make sure the jabs were as affordable as possible, stating that the near-£100 price tag allowed the company to cover the cost of the vaccine and other operational costs involved in delivering the service.

However, the price is several times higher than the cost of a private flu vaccination, which cost £19.95 at Boots last winter.

While experts have previously welcomed the move to make Covid jabs available to those not eligible for a booster through the NHS, they have warned high prices could limit their accessibility.

Dr Simon Williams, a behavioural scientist at Swansea University, said the cost of the Boots service was likely to be prohibitive for many people.

“The price of the Covid vaccines at £99 is regressive in that it will mean only those wealthy enough to afford it will be able to. Moreover, it is unlikely that even many of those who can afford it will do so at that price point,” he said.

Williams noted that expensive vaccines were also a concern given Covid tended to have worse outcomes among lower-income populations.

“Apart from government subsidisation, one potential way to make [Covid jabs] more affordable is for organisations and employers [to] think about offering boosters, like flu vaccines, to help employees protect their health – it could ultimately also prove cost-effective if it means less of the workforce lost to sickness, including via long Covid,” he said.

Prof Adam Finn of the University of Bristol said the high prices were not a surprise given businesses tended to charge what they thought people would pay, adding that in general costs tended to be held down by competition, which at present may be limited.

  • Vaccines and immunisation
  • Retail industry
  • Coronavirus
  • Infectious diseases

More on this story

book travel jabs boots

Cheaper private Covid jabs may end up as costly as pricier ones, say experts

book travel jabs boots

‘Hypervaccinated’ man reportedly received 217 Covid jabs without side effects

book travel jabs boots

UK health officials bring forward autumn flu and Covid vaccinations

book travel jabs boots

Former Covid medical officer Van-Tam takes role at vaccine maker Moderna

book travel jabs boots

Covid booster jabs could go on sale privately in UK in 2024

book travel jabs boots

Steve Barclay ‘frustrated health officials by delaying vaccine programme signoff’

book travel jabs boots

Doctor died from rare reaction to AstraZeneca Covid jab, UK coroner rules

book travel jabs boots

Former vaccines chief sounds warning about UK pandemic readiness

Most viewed.

Typhoid vaccine

Treatment in 3 easy steps, choose an appointment, consultation, do you need a typhoid vaccination, planning a trip worried about typhoid book a consultation now., register now for quick and easy online access to your local gp services..

  • Articles   >

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.

book travel jabs boots

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

book travel jabs boots

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

book travel jabs boots

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

book travel jabs boots

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

book travel jabs boots

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 .

book travel jabs boots

Photo credits:   SergeyRod , all others courtesy of the author and may not be used without permission

IMAGES

  1. 15 Best Travel Boots for Men: Hiking, Europe, Winter, and More

    book travel jabs boots

  2. Boots opens flu jab bookings for both NHS and private patients as it

    book travel jabs boots

  3. Hunter ORIGINAL WOMENS TRAVEL EXPLORER BOOT

    book travel jabs boots

  4. Best Womens Leather Boots for Travel

    book travel jabs boots

  5. Best Waterproof Boots for Travel

    book travel jabs boots

  6. Rhinegold Elite Half Length Travel Boots.Set of four Sports & Outdoors

    book travel jabs boots

VIDEO

  1. ALASKAN BARROWS!

COMMENTS

  1. Travel Vaccinations & Health Advice Service

    1. Book an appointment. Six to eight weeks before you travel you will need to have your travel health appointment to assess what vaccinations you need. 2. Attend a personalised risk assessment 23. During the 40 minute travel health appointment our specially-trained pharmacist will advise on any vaccinations and antimalarials you need for your ...

  2. Vaccinations & travel

    Explore our vaccination & travel services at Boots. Chickenpox vaccination. Malaria prevention service. Meningitis B vaccination. Northern Ireland Covid Vaccination Service. Pneumonia Vaccination Service. Travel quick check tool. Travel vaccinations & health advice service. Shingles Vaccination Service.

  3. Appointment booking

    Hearing care services. If you have noticed a change in your hearing, need help with hearing aids or have any concerns about your hearing or ear health, we're here to help. Book an appointment online or call us on 0345 270 0999.

  4. Travel vaccination service

    To get your travel vaccinations, you'll need to complete a Travel Health Consultation with your doctor and then book an appointment at a selected Boots store**. You can complete this online* at Health Hero ^† (if aged 16 years plus) or at Webdoctor.ie ^† (if aged 17 years plus. Excludes rabies vaccine).

  5. Travel vaccination advice

    You can also get travel vaccines from: private travel vaccination clinics; pharmacies offering travel healthcare services; Which travel vaccines are free? The following travel vaccines are available free on the NHS from your GP surgery: polio (given as a combined diphtheria/tetanus/polio jab) typhoid; hepatitis A; cholera

  6. Boots

    Boots

  7. Prepopulation

    Thank you for booking an appointment at Boots for a travel health consultation. To save time in store, please provide us with some details about yourself, your health and your trip. These details will help us to offer you the most accurate advice we can. Use the "skip" option at the bottom of the page if you feel unsure about a section.

  8. Travel Vaccinations at Boots Guide

    How to Book Travel Vaccinations at Boots. The Boots Travel Health Advice Service is available in 300 locations. Find the closest Boots store which offers this service and you should be able to book an appointment online. Yellow fever vaccinations are only available at select Boots locations, which are listed here. The service is convenient ...

  9. Travel vaccinations

    Travel vaccinations. When you travel abroad, you often need additional vaccinations to protect yourself from infections which pose a threat in other parts of the world. Book Now. Our expert nurses and pharmacists will check which vaccines you need to help you prepare for your trip. Find Out More.

  10. Travel Vaccinations: Travel Injection Advice

    Travel vaccinations and travel injection advice. It's easy to find travel vaccinations and travel clinics near you, especially if you already know which vaccinations you need for your trip. Simply explore your booking options with our tailored travel service LloydsPharmacy Online Doctor. We'll help you to get the right protection for your trip.

  11. Travel Jab

    Travel Jab is the UK's leading vaccination price comparison website. Travel Jab compares prices from 1,000's of vaccination clinics across the UK so you don't have to. Whether you're looking for a clinic near your home, your place of work or simply need to stick to budget, Travel Jab can help you find your preferred clinic and book an appointment. Just SEARCH. COMPARE and BOOK.

  12. Vaccinations National Booking Service

    The Vaccinations National Booking Service is made up of: NHS App users can also book or manage a coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccination appointment. There is also a telephone service, 119, for people who cannot or do not want to use the online booking service. NHS England runs this. The phoneline operators use the Book a coronavirus vaccination ...

  13. COVID-19 vaccinations

    Boots opened its first COVID-19 vaccination site in Halifax on 14 January 2021. Today, we offer COVID-19 vaccinations at over 50 pharmacies across England. Patients will be invited directly by the NHS to book their COVID-19 vaccination appointment at a range of locations across the country, including many Boots Pharmacies.

  14. Tetanus, diphtheria and polio (TDP)

    Book now to find out more about the DTP vaccine. "Most people receive vaccination against tetanus, polio and diphtheria as part of their childhood vaccinations. However, some people may have been vaccinated over 5 years ago, are going travelling or have an injury so want to top up their protection. This vaccination is extremely effective and ...

  15. Boots to offer Covid vaccines in England for nearly £100 a jab

    Boots is the latest company to capitalise on the decision by manufacturers to sell the vaccinations privately: last month, Pharmadoctor announced it would be offering Covid jabs to eligible ...

  16. Private covid vaccination

    The Boots private service offers one brand of the COVID-19 vaccination and this may be different to that used in the NHS Service. • Are aged 75 years old or over. • Live in a care home for older adults. Some of our stores in England offer the NHS Service as well as the private service. Other parts of the UK may also offer a free NHS (or ...

  17. NHS spring Covid booster jab booking service to open

    NHS spring Covid booster jab booking service to open. From Monday, the NHS will take bookings from people in England wanting a free spring Covid booster vaccine. Those eligible, including everyone ...

  18. Book an Appointment, Boots

    travel health advice; visit travel health advice. childrens health. childrens health; ... Winter Flu Jab Service. opticians. opticians; visit opticians. book an eye test. Complete Satisfaction Guarantee. ... the Boots guide to the best Galentine's Day gift ideas.

  19. Typhoid vaccine

    The typhoid vaccination comes in two forms: a single injection or a course of capsules to be take every other day for three doses. It is a private (paid for) service available to non-pregnant adults and children over 2 (injection) or 5 years old (capsules). You may be eligible for a free vaccine on the NHS through your GP practice.

  20. The Moscow Metro Museum of Art: 10 Must-See Stations

    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 ...

  21. Elektrostal Map

    Elektrostal is a city in Moscow Oblast, Russia, located 58 kilometers east of Moscow. Elektrostal has about 158,000 residents. Mapcarta, the open map.

  22. Moscow to Elektrostal

    Find the travel option that best suits you. The cheapest way to get from Moscow to Elektrostal costs only RUB 119, and the quickest way takes just 50 mins. Find the travel option that best suits you. ... Book at blablacar.co.uk. Taxi from Moscow Central Bus Station to Elektrostal Ave. Duration 50 min Estimated price RUB 800 - RUB 950 Yandex Taxi

  23. Lyon to Elektrostal

    From the famed TGVs to no-frills Ouigo, we explain which SNCF train to choose and how to book. Read the travel guide. Elektrostal, Russia. Elektrostal is a city in Moscow Oblast, Russia, located 58 km east of Moscow. Population: 135,000 (1977); 123,000 (1970); 97,000 (1959); 43,000 (1939). It was previously known as Zatishye (until 1928).

  24. NHS England COVID-19 Seasonal Vaccination Service

    COVID-19 is a respiratory tract disease, mainly spread through respiratory droplets, aerosols and direct contact with other people. There are multiple symptoms of COVID-19. These can include: •a high temperature or shivering. •a new, continuous cough (coughing a lot for more than one hour or having three or more episodes of coughing in 24 ...