The world’s most beautiful subways

Subways operate in more than 200 cities worldwide. The largest networks are found in China’s megacities—Shanghai with roughly 800 kilometers of track and Beijing with about 660. Third place belongs to London’s «Tube,» the world’s oldest underground railway, opened in 1863. Beyond these giants, many metro systems and stations stand out not just for efficiency, but as remarkable spaces in their own right, offering far more than a simple journey underground.

Rome: Archaeological household items

After 13 years of construction, two subway stations in Rome have opened that were designed as museum stations. The stops Colosseo/Fori Imperiali and Porta Metronia, part of the extended Line C, now present passengers with archaeological finds discovered during construction. These include ancient Roman jugs and bowls, ceramics, and other everyday objects from different periods of Rome’s history.

Stockholm: Blue takes center stage

Stockholm’s «Tunnelbana» is considered the longest art gallery in the world. Around 90 of the more than 100 subway stations on the network were designed by hundreds of artists representing a wide range of styles. Visitors can see sculptures, light installations, paintings, mosaics, engravings, reliefs, as well as artificial grottos, green gardens, lily ponds, and cave-like spaces.

Many of the stations blasted deep into the rock were deliberately left in their raw natural state and later painted in vivid colors, giving them a unique character. Art is so omnipresent that one hardly feels the urge to return to the surface. A visit to the Blue Line is highly recommended: its dramatic rock walls and vivid colors make it one of the most visually impressive routes.

Vienna: Pearls of art nouveau

That things are rather unusual underground in Vienna has been well known at least since the classic film The Third Man. However, it is more the entrances than the stations themselves that earn Vienna’s subway the label «sightseeing attraction.» They are remnants of the city railway built between 1893 and 1901 by the great Art Nouveau architect Otto Wagner, which has been integrated into today’s U-Bahn and S-Bahn network. Among the most striking stations are Kettenbrückengasse, Karlsplatz, Schönbrunn, Gumpendorfer Straße, Währinger Straße, and Ottakring.

Naples: Benvenuti at Dante

Eyes open! That’s the motto for passengers of the Metropolitana di Napoli. Several stations were deliberately designed as «metro museums.» In the tunnels beneath the city, contemporary works by around two dozen Italian artists can be seen. Particularly artistically designed are the stations Dante, Museo, Materdei, Salvator Rosa, Quattro Giornate, and Rione Alto on Line 1. Together, they form a kilometer-long, freely accessible gallery of contemporary art.

Lisbon: Trees made of steel and glass

Subway riders in Lisbon also embark on a journey through modern art. The country’s artistic elite—as well as international stars such as Friedensreich Hundertwasser—have transformed the underground of the Metro Lisboa into a tourist attraction with sculptures, murals, and, typical for Portugal, tile artworks. «Trees» made of steel and glass, for example, adorn Oriente Station in the Parque das Nações district. The impressive structure was designed by star architect Santiago Calatrava.

Munich: Lighting designers at their best

Munich’s subway joins the ranks of must-see metro systems with its design-focused stations, such as Georg-Brauchle-Ring: colorful wall designs made up of hundreds of colored panels and images turn waiting for the train into an experience. At Candidplatz, sophisticated use is made of spectral lighting (both stops on Line U1).

At Hasenbergl Station (U2), a white, lens-shaped ceiling canopy is dramatically staged with lighting elements. Minimalist design, clear colors, and bold lighting effects make Westfriedhof Station a cohesive total work of art. Things turn futuristic at Münchner Freiheit Station, where lighting designer Ingo Maurer masterfully played with mirrors and the color blue.

Kaohsiung, Taiwan: A riot of color underground

The southern Taiwanese port city is one of the largest and most modern on the island. Since 2008, it has had a subway system with two lines. Five of the 37 stations were designed by international artists and are attractions in their own right. The most spectacular subway station is the colorful Formosa Boulevard Station, a transfer hub where the Orange and Red lines intersect.

Shanghai: A ride with special effects

Shanghai’s metro system, with around 800 kilometers of track, is not only the largest in the world—it is also one of the most technologically advanced. With its special effects, it turns every subway ride into an experience. As trains speed from stop to stop through illuminated tubes and spirals, some passengers feel as if they are on a ride at an amusement park.