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89 Of The Most Beautiful Metro Stations In The World
Underground metro stations are associated with rats, garbage, noise and filth, not their interior design. However, there are a few subway stations in the world that go against the grain, standing out as excellent examples of the beautiful architecture and unique design that can be created in underground spaces.
The interiors achieved in some of these underground stations become all the more impressive when you consider the particular challenges to creating comfortable spaces below the surface of a city. The architects must keep track of the structural integrity of the walls, air circulation, excessive moisture, and a million other concerns. Their maintenance is another difficulty entirely – one that transit organizations often have difficulty with.
In this list, you'll not only find the most famous, elegant stations of Moscow subway and New York subway, but also some very modern ones in Madrid and Oslo metro. Vote for your favorite stations and, if there's a beautiful metro station in your city that should be on this list, we'd love to see it!
This post may include affiliate links.
#1
Toledo Metro Station, Naples, Italy
Pairote Leetavorn 7 years ago
Look like travelling into outer space with all the Stars clusters …… Beautiful with my CONGRATULATIONS ! from ' The Land of Smiles '
Maddox Cox 9 years ago
That is beautiful! What a work of art, a lot more well-kept than the "waffle" stations in DC
NancyFleming 10 years ago
Mayumi, is this the metro they had been working on for years on Toledo St? :-)
RELATED:
#2
Kievskaya, Mayakovskaya And Park Pobedy Stations, Moscow, Russia
Pairote Leetavorn 7 years ago
Magnificent & beautiful station & should be #1 with man-made settings …… my hearty CONGRATULATIONS ! from ' The Land of Smiles '
#3
Rådhuset Station, Stockholm, Sweden
DenisDupouy 11 years ago
Same as Lisa, 1st image is Rådhuset. My pics without too much postprocessing : http://mcalp.fr/post/stockholm-le-metro/
OliviaSadry 11 years ago
Welcome to hell! Looks cool, but it must be an HDR image because the colours are not that vibrant and amazing in real life. Sorry!
#4
Avtovo Metro Station, St. Petersburg, Russia
ChristinaMarinovich 10 years ago
Guys, the 1st photo here is actually a Komsomolskaya station in Moscow.
TarasKozko 11 years ago
1 picture not Avtovo. is the station Komsomolskaya Ringline in Moscow.
Ольга Малецкая 11 years ago
The first one is taken at Komsomolskaya station, in Moscow, not Saint-Petersburg
AmandaHarlow 11 years ago
Even when I saw the title of this list I thought: Russia. And I was right!
Tantethenoma 11 years ago
The top one reminds me of a dance hall and the last one of a mausoleum.
#5
Tilework In Szent Gellért Square, Budapest, Hungary
Final score:
106points
DABlumenhagenLoiselle 11 years ago
This is beautiful. One of my biggest complaints about most metro stations is that they are so dark. This one is nice and bright.
#6
Bund Sightseeing Tunnel, Shanghai, China
Pairote Leetavorn 7 years ago
Wow ! Bright colorful tunnel for everyone to appreciate …… my warm CONGRATULATIONS ! from ' The Land of Smiles '
CanalYards 11 years ago
This isn't really a subway or a station. It's more of a ride, a "sightseeing" tunnel. There are balloon figures which pop up halfway.
#7
University Of Naples Subway Station, Italy
José Valente 9 years ago
I must be getting old and stuffy. Does nobody else around here think this is a bit garish, loud, in-yer-face? Gaudy I think is the best term. It's less offensive, I suppose. Or it's a more polite way of saying "this doesn't appeal to my senses at all partly because it overwhelms vision". My sight can't cope with all the sights.
Pairote Leetavorn 7 years ago
A learning station, I would say for all the young people …… CONGRATULATIONS ! from ' The City of Angels '
Vincenzo parlato 11 years ago
What's better of the father of the lecterature in the university
Monique Westerveld 11 years ago
I love the staircase but the other views are too sweet (hard too watch) for the eyes
#8
Arts Et Métiers Station, Paris, France
#9
Formosa Boulevard Station, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
FabioNodari 11 years ago
I live just 5 minutes from this amazing station... http://www.fabionodariphoto.com/wrp/formosa-boulevard-metro-piu-spettacolare-del-mondo
Pairote Leetavorn 7 years ago
Beautiful world in the ceilings …… CONGRATULATIONS ! from ' The City of Angels '
Citychub Lee 8 years ago
i been there many times and it still in my dream ~
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Jeanne Baney 9 years ago
I received a postcard from a friend in Taiwan and had to learn more about it. How GORGEOUS!!!
#10
Kungstradgarden Metro Station, Stokholm, Sweden
Maddox Cox 9 years ago
Looks like W***y Wonkas Chocalate Factory, Just love the rock and the checkered floor.
Liane Fleury 11 years ago
This is nice but a little dark......Look at the huge crack in the rock.....scary....
Viktoria Uhlin 11 years ago
Kungsträdgården* We have three additional letters, "å" ,"ä" and "ö". They are not the same as "a" and "o".
#11
City Hall Station, New York
Capt Prosciutto 5 years ago
BS listing.... this is an abandoned station... that is why it doesnt look as disgusting as usual NYC subway station. Even so... it deserves a solid #243 ranking. It's nice but not better than all the others listed below.
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Monique Westerveld 11 years ago
Even though it is not in use anymore it is absolutely gorgeous to look at...
Xtian Gunther 4 years ago
Said by a New Yorker? Gorgeous? C'mon! Maybe if it was overhauled and restored. The bones, no doubt are great, but I've seen so much as nice and nicer and almost everywhere is cleaner. ;-)
Load More Replies... Monique Westerveld 11 years ago
I love the old architecture, it is a shame that it is going to waste...
Chants CheesePie 11 years ago
This should be removed from the list. Its not even in use and you can get arrested for staying on the train to see the station.
AmberPorter 11 years ago
Beautiful! But it's not in use, right? I think it was discontinued in the 1940s.
#12
T-Centralen Station, Stockholm, Sweden
#13
Olaias Station, Lisbon, Portugal
José Valente 9 years ago
Don't get me wrong, in combining kitsch, colour and brutalist post modernism in architecture (I'm told many people love the style and this is obviously not a purist example of it) this is by no means the worse (and it looks better than you'd guess from the pics if you haven't been there) you could have chosen but there much more beautiful (Parque), original(Campo Pequeno) and yes, even Poetic stations (Cidade Universitária). All have works of art. And if you are going to go for impressive post-modernism with better art you could always plump for Oriente as apart from some fairly awesome panels you'll just have a two (or three) level climb and you are in Gare do Oriente one of the most beautiful multimodal (but really mainly railway) station on the continent.
Tantethenoma 11 years ago
Looks like construction still happening...get rid of all but leave the colour ceiling.
#14
Stadion Station, Stockholm, Sweden
MayaAb 11 years ago
Stockholm has the most beautiful stations!! Great architecture.. Magnifique!!
Janek El 11 years ago
primitive, no taste at all. Italian are best. French too.
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John Sudmeier 11 years ago
This is the subway station closest to my office. The rest of the station is not all that exciting. In fact, I hadn't noticed that painting!
#15
Slavyansky Bulvar Station, Moscow, Russia
NikolayNovomlinskiy 10 years ago
I've been at this station a few times: in reality it's more impressive. Btw, 44 Moscow 's stations under UNESCO caring.
Maddox Cox 9 years ago
Looks like the Washington DC Metro stations but better and more well kept and beautiful!
#16
Stockholm, "the Water Lily Station" - Näckrosen
Final score:
39points
Christopher Headlam Jones 5 years ago
https://www.livemaster.com/topic/3112381-how-to-make-gypsum-flower-pot-with-wood-texture-easily
#17
Atocha, Madrid, Spain
Final score:
37points
Fernandito 10 years ago
It is both, train and metro station. http://www.adif.es/es_ES/infraestructuras/estaciones/60000/informacion_000070.shtml.
Juraj Kováč 6 years ago
There's the adjacent metro station called Atocha Renfe, which is far less impressive. The picture does NOT show a metro station, but rather the passenger hall of the Puerta de Atocha train station.
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Xtian Gunther 4 years ago
Proof this entire post is a bit of a joke! That any NYC subway station would be rated higher than this masterpiece is pure folly.
Archie Moore 11 years ago
This would be a great place just to hang out at. It would give you that tropical escape vibe.
#18
Georg-Brauchle-Ring, Marienplatz and Candidplatz U-Bahn Stations, Munich, Germany
AlfredoPagnotta 11 years ago
Some U-bahn stations in Munich are really beautiful I live in Munich since more than one year but I don't know 2 of those three!!
#19
Tunel, Istanbul Old Metro, Turkey
Final score:
31points
#20
Metro Station Wilhelminaplein (wilhelmina Square), Rotterdam, The Netherlands
Final score:
29points
#21
Oez, Munich
Final score:
26points
#22
Malostranská Station In Prague.
Final score:
22points
KristinaMi 11 years ago
that is not how it looks, it's so dirty now :D but anyway, nice photoshop
#24
São Bento Station, Porto, Portugal
Final score:
17points
#26
Hamburg Hafencity Metro
Final score:
15points
Andrius Bačianskas (Submission author) 11 years ago
Source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/pana53/12948237143/in/photostream/
#27
Namur Station Lighting, Montréal
Final score:
14points
#28
Finding It Hard To Step Up
Final score:
12points
DorindaMartin 11 years ago
Some of the top 15 and your ideas of good design seem to be in the eye of the beholder and not judged on all round merit.
#29
Kyoto Station, Japan
Final score:
12points
#30
Metro Station Plac Wilsona, Warsaw, Poland
Final score:
11points
#31
Syntagma Station, Athens, Greece
Final score:
11points
#32
Liège Guillemins, Belgium
Final score:
9points
#33
#17 U3-volkstheater, Vienna, Austria
Final score:
8points
FrankHuber 11 years ago
What about Nürnberg? I think about the one giving you a great optical Warp Drive style illusion when entering the station
Hans Ongerth 5 years ago
You probably mean Rathenauplatz: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Z7SIxgWXJw
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RaphaelWartanian 11 years ago
I have never noticed those visuals, when you are there you will not notice it because of the dus/dirt. Our stations are not that great....
#34
Bochum Rathaus, Germany
Final score:
8points
Kristina Lohe (Submission author) 11 years ago
http://www.coolibri.de/blogs/stadtschwarm/2013/08/08/katja-kulin-gedicht-fur-eine-haltestelle-oder-bochum-rathaus-sud/
#35
Parque Metro Station, Lisbon, Portugal
Final score:
8points
Pedro Cruzeiro (Submission author) 11 years ago
On the ceiling is writing the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
Pedro Cruzeiro (Submission author) 11 years ago
The theme of Portuguese maritime travels is on all the walls that are maps of these achievements.
Pedro Cruzeiro (Submission author) 11 years ago
Arguably the most beautiful subway station in Lisbon, all clad in blue tile gives the feeling of being underwater.
#36
Devyatkino, St. Petersburg, Russia
Final score:
6points
#39
Metro Station Pannenhuis - Brussels
Final score:
5points
Simon Chabrillat 4 years ago
This is a very beautiful station, in a quintessential 1970's style. It deserves a much better picture! Just lsearch on Google Image...
#43
National Stadium Station, Sofia, Bulgaria
Final score:
4points
#44
Metro Station In Dubai - Uae
Final score:
3points
#45
Caís Do Sodré Metro Station, Lisboa, Portugal
Final score:
3points
Ramón Ruedas 1 year ago
you can't really see the tile artwork from the platform, still very nice
#49
Namur Station Lighting, Montreal, Canada
Final score:
1point
Tantethenoma 11 years ago
Those balls again.. Great for advertising products...or scantily clad men..
#53
Lisbon Airport Metro Station, Portugal
Final score:
1point
#59
Metro Station Wilhelminaplein, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
Final score:
1point
#60
Hamburg, Hafencity Metro Station
Final score:
0points
Maya Ab 11 years ago
I kind of like it.. But I wouldnt dare going down there alone, doesnt look safe at all.. So dark and mysterious tho, Its cool!
Kosodesign (Submission author) 11 years ago
Actually it's a very safe station.
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#62
Bochum, U35 Haltestelle Rathaus
Final score:
0points
S wie Simone 11 years ago
You should take a picture from the coloured lights IN the station. The steps are -sorry- really quiet boring^^
#70
Garching Forchungzentrum (tum Station), Munich, Germany
Final score:
-1point
Anish K (Submission author) 11 years ago
The walls are filled with brief display of famous scientists
#75
Shibuya Station, Tokyo
Final score:
-3points
#76
Metrostation Wilhelminaplein
Final score:
-3points
#78
Rajská Zahrada Station, Prague, Czech Republic
Final score:
-4points
Add New Image
What do you think ?
André C. Mota ACM 5 years ago
Rússia, ya por isso é que o alcunha do Metropolitano de Moscovo é: "O Palácio subterrâneo."
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peri 11 years ago
If I'm not mistaken, I believe the City Hall Station in NYC is abandoned/not in use. Correct?
LisaPetillo 11 years ago
Yes! The NYC stations that are IN USE, do NOT look like that at all! What a freaking mess they are. So embarrassing compared to these!
MariaChiaraPastore 11 years ago
you posted "University" of Naples subway station twice! "university" is "università"
André C. Mota ACM 5 years ago
Eu amo Redes Metropolitanas, tenho bués replicas de Material Circulante em casa.
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André C. Mota ACM 5 years ago
Acho que São Bento é CP Comboios de Portugal, e não Metropolitano do Porto. aliás tenho a certeza. Dou-me ao luxo de ter em peluche o London Underground 1996 Stock Tube Train, em réplica o MTA New York City Subway R142, em brinquedo o BVG Berliner U-Bahn F90, em cartão o Metrô de São Paulo frota A Brasil, e em Portugal o Metropolitano do Porto frota MP001, MM9500 Mirandela, e ML7, 79, 90 de Lisboa, estou esperando o de Moskva. bem eu por mim tinha uma Unidade de Tracção de cada num terreno privado, sei lá quantos biliões de hectares.
Rick Hill 9 years ago
New York stations associated with rats, garbage, noise and filth, not architecture...just like what is above ground.
André C. Mota ACM 5 years ago
É não é, realmente já tinha reparado, mas acho que é o único sistema de Metro assim tão nojento?
Load More Replies... André C. Mota ACM 5 years ago
Rússia, ya por isso é que o alcunha do Metropolitano de Moscovo é: "O Palácio subterrâneo."
Load More Replies... peri 11 years ago
If I'm not mistaken, I believe the City Hall Station in NYC is abandoned/not in use. Correct?
LisaPetillo 11 years ago
Yes! The NYC stations that are IN USE, do NOT look like that at all! What a freaking mess they are. So embarrassing compared to these!
MariaChiaraPastore 11 years ago
you posted "University" of Naples subway station twice! "university" is "università"
André C. Mota ACM 5 years ago
Eu amo Redes Metropolitanas, tenho bués replicas de Material Circulante em casa.
Load More Replies... André C. Mota ACM 5 years ago
Acho que São Bento é CP Comboios de Portugal, e não Metropolitano do Porto. aliás tenho a certeza. Dou-me ao luxo de ter em peluche o London Underground 1996 Stock Tube Train, em réplica o MTA New York City Subway R142, em brinquedo o BVG Berliner U-Bahn F90, em cartão o Metrô de São Paulo frota A Brasil, e em Portugal o Metropolitano do Porto frota MP001, MM9500 Mirandela, e ML7, 79, 90 de Lisboa, estou esperando o de Moskva. bem eu por mim tinha uma Unidade de Tracção de cada num terreno privado, sei lá quantos biliões de hectares.
Rick Hill 9 years ago
New York stations associated with rats, garbage, noise and filth, not architecture...just like what is above ground.
André C. Mota ACM 5 years ago
É não é, realmente já tinha reparado, mas acho que é o único sistema de Metro assim tão nojento?
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