diff --git a/examples/Cargo.toml b/examples/Cargo.toml
index 5b335fd34..8b6bb8407 100644
--- a/examples/Cargo.toml
+++ b/examples/Cargo.toml
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@ scylla = { path = "../scylla", features = [
     "num-bigint-03",
     "num-bigint-04",
     "bigdecimal-04",
+    "metrics",
 ] }
 tokio = { version = "1.34", features = ["full"] }
 tracing = { version = "0.1.25", features = ["log"] }
diff --git a/scylla/Cargo.toml b/scylla/Cargo.toml
index 92b7dfafb..6580430ad 100644
--- a/scylla/Cargo.toml
+++ b/scylla/Cargo.toml
@@ -39,6 +39,7 @@ full-serialization = [
     "num-bigint-04",
     "bigdecimal-04",
 ]
+metrics = ["dep:histogram"]
 
 [dependencies]
 scylla-macros = { version = "0.7.0", path = "../scylla-macros" }
@@ -47,7 +48,7 @@ byteorder = "1.3.4"
 bytes = "1.0.1"
 futures = "0.3.6"
 hashbrown = "0.14"
-histogram = "0.11.1"
+histogram = { version = "0.11.1", optional = true }
 tokio = { version = "1.34", features = [
     "net",
     "time",
diff --git a/scylla/src/lib.rs b/scylla/src/lib.rs
index f03edf7a9..3d46c1a81 100644
--- a/scylla/src/lib.rs
+++ b/scylla/src/lib.rs
@@ -286,4 +286,5 @@ pub use transport::load_balancing;
 pub use transport::retry_policy;
 pub use transport::speculative_execution;
 
+#[cfg(feature = "metrics")]
 pub use transport::metrics::{Metrics, MetricsError};
diff --git a/scylla/src/transport/iterator.rs b/scylla/src/transport/iterator.rs
index 8d7c07be3..cd3874b35 100644
--- a/scylla/src/transport/iterator.rs
+++ b/scylla/src/transport/iterator.rs
@@ -37,6 +37,7 @@ use crate::transport::cluster::ClusterData;
 use crate::transport::connection::{Connection, NonErrorQueryResponse, QueryResponse};
 use crate::transport::errors::{ProtocolError, QueryError, UserRequestError};
 use crate::transport::load_balancing::{self, RoutingInfo};
+#[cfg(feature = "metrics")]
 use crate::transport::metrics::Metrics;
 use crate::transport::retry_policy::{QueryInfo, RetryDecision, RetrySession};
 use crate::transport::NodeRef;
@@ -67,6 +68,7 @@ pub(crate) struct PreparedIteratorConfig {
     pub(crate) values: SerializedValues,
     pub(crate) execution_profile: Arc<ExecutionProfileInner>,
     pub(crate) cluster_data: Arc<ClusterData>,
+    #[cfg(feature = "metrics")]
     pub(crate) metrics: Arc<Metrics>,
 }
 
@@ -142,6 +144,7 @@ struct PagerWorker<'a, QueryFunc, SpanCreatorFunc> {
     query_consistency: Consistency,
     retry_session: Box<dyn RetrySession>,
     execution_profile: Arc<ExecutionProfileInner>,
+    #[cfg(feature = "metrics")]
     metrics: Arc<Metrics>,
 
     paging_state: PagingState,
@@ -236,11 +239,13 @@ where
                 self.log_attempt_error(&last_error, &retry_decision);
                 match retry_decision {
                     RetryDecision::RetrySameNode(cl) => {
+                        #[cfg(feature = "metrics")]
                         self.metrics.inc_retries_num();
                         current_consistency = cl.unwrap_or(current_consistency);
                         continue 'same_node_retries;
                     }
                     RetryDecision::RetryNextNode(cl) => {
+                        #[cfg(feature = "metrics")]
                         self.metrics.inc_retries_num();
                         current_consistency = cl.unwrap_or(current_consistency);
                         continue 'nodes_in_plan;
@@ -298,6 +303,7 @@ where
         node: NodeRef<'_>,
         request_span: &RequestSpan,
     ) -> Result<ControlFlow<PageSendAttemptedProof, ()>, QueryError> {
+        #[cfg(feature = "metrics")]
         self.metrics.inc_total_paged_queries();
         let query_start = std::time::Instant::now();
 
@@ -323,6 +329,7 @@ where
                 tracing_id,
                 ..
             }) => {
+                #[cfg(feature = "metrics")]
                 let _ = self.metrics.log_query_latency(elapsed.as_millis() as u64);
                 self.log_attempt_success();
                 self.log_query_success();
@@ -359,6 +366,7 @@ where
             }
             Err(err) => {
                 let err = err.into();
+                #[cfg(feature = "metrics")]
                 self.metrics.inc_failed_paged_queries();
                 self.execution_profile
                     .load_balancing_policy
@@ -378,6 +386,7 @@ where
                 Ok(ControlFlow::Break(proof))
             }
             Ok(response) => {
+                #[cfg(feature = "metrics")]
                 self.metrics.inc_failed_paged_queries();
                 let err =
                     ProtocolError::UnexpectedResponse(response.response.to_response_kind()).into();
@@ -680,7 +689,7 @@ impl QueryPager {
         query: Query,
         execution_profile: Arc<ExecutionProfileInner>,
         cluster_data: Arc<ClusterData>,
-        metrics: Arc<Metrics>,
+        #[cfg(feature = "metrics")] metrics: Arc<Metrics>,
     ) -> Result<Self, QueryError> {
         let (sender, receiver) = mpsc::channel(1);
 
@@ -743,6 +752,7 @@ impl QueryPager {
                 query_consistency: consistency,
                 retry_session,
                 execution_profile,
+                #[cfg(feature = "metrics")]
                 metrics,
                 paging_state: PagingState::start(),
                 history_listener: query.config.history_listener.clone(),
@@ -861,6 +871,7 @@ impl QueryPager {
                 query_consistency: consistency,
                 retry_session,
                 execution_profile: config.execution_profile,
+                #[cfg(feature = "metrics")]
                 metrics: config.metrics,
                 paging_state: PagingState::start(),
                 history_listener: config.prepared.config.history_listener.clone(),
diff --git a/scylla/src/transport/mod.rs b/scylla/src/transport/mod.rs
index 544e5644a..d62e93c10 100644
--- a/scylla/src/transport/mod.rs
+++ b/scylla/src/transport/mod.rs
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ pub mod iterator;
 pub mod legacy_query_result;
 pub mod load_balancing;
 pub mod locator;
+#[cfg(feature = "metrics")]
 pub(crate) mod metrics;
 mod node;
 pub mod partitioner;
diff --git a/scylla/src/transport/session.rs b/scylla/src/transport/session.rs
index b3efa7e07..5222f808c 100644
--- a/scylla/src/transport/session.rs
+++ b/scylla/src/transport/session.rs
@@ -68,6 +68,7 @@ use crate::transport::host_filter::HostFilter;
 #[allow(deprecated)]
 use crate::transport::iterator::{LegacyRowIterator, PreparedIteratorConfig};
 use crate::transport::load_balancing::{self, RoutingInfo};
+#[cfg(feature = "metrics")]
 use crate::transport::metrics::Metrics;
 use crate::transport::node::Node;
 use crate::transport::query_result::QueryResult;
@@ -190,6 +191,7 @@ where
     cluster: Cluster,
     default_execution_profile_handle: ExecutionProfileHandle,
     schema_agreement_interval: Duration,
+    #[cfg(feature = "metrics")]
     metrics: Arc<Metrics>,
     schema_agreement_timeout: Duration,
     schema_agreement_automatic_waiting: bool,
@@ -215,6 +217,7 @@ impl<DeserApi> std::fmt::Debug for GenericSession<DeserApi>
 where
     DeserApi: DeserializationApiKind,
 {
+    #[cfg(feature = "metrics")]
     fn fmt(&self, f: &mut std::fmt::Formatter<'_>) -> std::fmt::Result {
         f.debug_struct("Session")
             .field("cluster", &ClusterNeatDebug(&self.cluster))
@@ -230,6 +233,22 @@ where
             )
             .finish()
     }
+
+    #[cfg(not(feature = "metrics"))]
+    fn fmt(&self, f: &mut std::fmt::Formatter<'_>) -> std::fmt::Result {
+        f.debug_struct("Session")
+            .field("cluster", &ClusterNeatDebug(&self.cluster))
+            .field(
+                "default_execution_profile_handle",
+                &self.default_execution_profile_handle,
+            )
+            .field("schema_agreement_interval", &self.schema_agreement_interval)
+            .field(
+                "auto_await_schema_agreement_timeout",
+                &self.schema_agreement_timeout,
+            )
+            .finish()
+    }
 }
 
 /// Configuration options for [`Session`].
@@ -883,6 +902,7 @@ impl GenericSession<CurrentDeserializationApi> {
         LegacySession {
             cluster: self.cluster.clone(),
             default_execution_profile_handle: self.default_execution_profile_handle.clone(),
+            #[cfg(feature = "metrics")]
             metrics: self.metrics.clone(),
             refresh_metadata_on_auto_schema_agreement: self
                 .refresh_metadata_on_auto_schema_agreement,
@@ -993,6 +1013,7 @@ impl GenericSession<LegacyDeserializationApi> {
         Session {
             cluster: self.cluster.clone(),
             default_execution_profile_handle: self.default_execution_profile_handle.clone(),
+            #[cfg(feature = "metrics")]
             metrics: self.metrics.clone(),
             refresh_metadata_on_auto_schema_agreement: self
                 .refresh_metadata_on_auto_schema_agreement,
@@ -1114,6 +1135,7 @@ where
             cluster,
             default_execution_profile_handle,
             schema_agreement_interval: config.schema_agreement_interval,
+            #[cfg(feature = "metrics")]
             metrics: Arc::new(Metrics::new()),
             schema_agreement_timeout: config.schema_agreement_timeout,
             schema_agreement_automatic_waiting: config.schema_agreement_automatic_waiting,
@@ -1324,6 +1346,7 @@ where
                 query,
                 execution_profile,
                 self.cluster.get_data(),
+                #[cfg(feature = "metrics")]
                 self.metrics.clone(),
             )
             .await
@@ -1338,6 +1361,7 @@ where
                 values,
                 execution_profile,
                 cluster_data: self.cluster.get_data(),
+                #[cfg(feature = "metrics")]
                 metrics: self.metrics.clone(),
             })
             .await
@@ -1592,6 +1616,7 @@ where
             values: serialized_values,
             execution_profile,
             cluster_data: self.cluster.get_data(),
+            #[cfg(feature = "metrics")]
             metrics: self.metrics.clone(),
         })
         .await
@@ -1802,6 +1827,7 @@ where
     /// Access metrics collected by the driver\
     /// Driver collects various metrics like number of queries or query latencies.
     /// They can be read using this method
+    #[cfg(feature = "metrics")]
     pub fn get_metrics(&self) -> Arc<Metrics> {
         self.metrics.clone()
     }
@@ -2020,6 +2046,7 @@ where
                     };
 
                     let context = speculative_execution::Context {
+                        #[cfg(feature = "metrics")]
                         metrics: self.metrics.clone(),
                     };
 
@@ -2119,6 +2146,7 @@ where
                 };
                 context.request_span.record_shard_id(&connection);
 
+                #[cfg(feature = "metrics")]
                 self.metrics.inc_total_nonpaged_queries();
                 let query_start = std::time::Instant::now();
 
@@ -2138,6 +2166,7 @@ where
                 last_error = match query_result {
                     Ok(response) => {
                         trace!(parent: &span, "Query succeeded");
+                        #[cfg(feature = "metrics")]
                         let _ = self.metrics.log_query_latency(elapsed.as_millis() as u64);
                         context.log_attempt_success(&attempt_id);
                         execution_profile.load_balancing_policy.on_query_success(
@@ -2153,6 +2182,7 @@ where
                             last_error = %e,
                             "Query failed"
                         );
+                        #[cfg(feature = "metrics")]
                         self.metrics.inc_failed_nonpaged_queries();
                         execution_profile.load_balancing_policy.on_query_failure(
                             context.query_info,
@@ -2182,11 +2212,13 @@ where
                 context.log_attempt_error(&attempt_id, the_error, &retry_decision);
                 match retry_decision {
                     RetryDecision::RetrySameNode(new_cl) => {
+                        #[cfg(feature = "metrics")]
                         self.metrics.inc_retries_num();
                         current_consistency = new_cl.unwrap_or(current_consistency);
                         continue 'same_node_retries;
                     }
                     RetryDecision::RetryNextNode(new_cl) => {
+                        #[cfg(feature = "metrics")]
                         self.metrics.inc_retries_num();
                         current_consistency = new_cl.unwrap_or(current_consistency);
                         continue 'nodes_in_plan;
diff --git a/scylla/src/transport/speculative_execution.rs b/scylla/src/transport/speculative_execution.rs
index 60344d0a0..e2168c5b5 100644
--- a/scylla/src/transport/speculative_execution.rs
+++ b/scylla/src/transport/speculative_execution.rs
@@ -3,15 +3,19 @@ use futures::{
     stream::{FuturesUnordered, StreamExt},
 };
 use scylla_cql::frame::response::error::DbError;
-use std::{future::Future, sync::Arc, time::Duration};
+#[cfg(feature = "metrics")]
+use std::sync::Arc;
+use std::{future::Future, time::Duration};
 use tracing::{trace_span, warn, Instrument};
 
 use crate::transport::errors::QueryError;
 
+#[cfg(feature = "metrics")]
 use super::metrics::Metrics;
 
 /// Context is passed as an argument to `SpeculativeExecutionPolicy` methods
 pub struct Context {
+    #[cfg(feature = "metrics")]
     pub metrics: Arc<Metrics>,
 }
 
@@ -66,6 +70,7 @@ impl SpeculativeExecutionPolicy for PercentileSpeculativeExecutionPolicy {
         self.max_retry_count
     }
 
+    #[cfg(feature = "metrics")]
     fn retry_interval(&self, context: &Context) -> Duration {
         let interval = context.metrics.get_latency_percentile_ms(self.percentile);
         let ms = match interval {
@@ -80,6 +85,12 @@ impl SpeculativeExecutionPolicy for PercentileSpeculativeExecutionPolicy {
         };
         Duration::from_millis(ms)
     }
+
+    #[cfg(not(feature = "metrics"))]
+    fn retry_interval(&self, _: &Context) -> Duration {
+        warn!("PercentileSpeculativeExecutionPolicy requires the 'metrics' feature to work as intended, defaulting to 100 ms");
+        Duration::from_millis(100)
+    }
 }
 
 /// Checks if a result created in a speculative execution branch can be ignored.