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Metro systems are essential to the circulation and functioning of many cities throughout the world. In cities where efficient public transit systems exist, many citizens would admit to being dependent on it for transportation. While many urban dwellers may be used to entering the dark and dingy spaces that we know as subway stations (read: New Yorkers), those living in some cities have higher expectations. Be pleasantly surprised with The 25 Most Beautiful Metro Stations in the World and consider demanding a renovation for your local station.
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25. Slavyansky Bulvar Station
25. Slavyansky Bulvar Station
Location: Moscow
Having just opened in 2008, the station is a modern addition to Moscow's metro stations described as the city's "underground palaces."
24. University of Naples Subway Station
24. University of Naples Subway Station
Location: Naples, Italy
With its new design by Karim Rashid, the station boasts elaborate patterns and colors on its walls and ceilings. The renovation brought the station closer to the diverse academic community that travels through the space every day.
23. Bund Sightseeing Tunnel
23. Bund Sightseeing Tunnel
Location: Shanghai, China
This visual installation extends beyond its station to fill an entire tunnel. As passengers ride in small, glass-encased cars, they are taken through a psychedelic journey of colors and lights under the Huangpu River.
22. Dubai Metro Station
22. Dubai Metro Station
Location: Dubai, UAE
From a distance, this metro station may seem like it belongs to an airport. As part of the development of Dubai's new subway system that opened in 2009, the station, along with others, marks a step forward for the nation's architecture.
21. Station Hyllie
21. Station Hyllie
Location: Copenhagen, Denmark
Through its main circular concrete roof, round skylights allow for natural lighting to illuminate this aboveground metro station.
20. Museum Station
20. Museum Station
Location: Toronto
Located below and connected to the Royal Ontario Museum, the station includes remodeled columns resembling artifacts taken from its aboveground collections. Amidst totem poles and statues, viewers will also find hieroglyphic patterns on the walls.
19. Arts et Métiers Station
19. Arts et Métiers Station
Location: Paris
Located across the street from Le Musée des Arts et Métiers, the station's platforms serving line 11 reflect the museum's steampunk theme.
18. Bockenheimer Warte Station
18. Bockenheimer Warte Station
Location: Frankfurt, Germany
Though most known for the design of its entrance, which its architect has claimed to be inspired by the work of Magritte, the interior of this station is also impressive.
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17. Central Park Station
17. Central Park Station
Location: Kaohsiung, Taiwan
The station is not an extension of the park, but comes close with its grassy courtyard areas filled with flower decorations. Designed by British architect Richard Rogers, the rest of the station features a purple color scheme.
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16. Expo MRT Station
16. Expo MRT Station
Location: Singapore
The Expo MRT station includes a UFO-like dome designed to reflect and keep out the heat of the Singapore sun.
15. Drassanes Station
15. Drassanes Station
Location: Barcelona, Spain
Blending the design of subway cars to that of its stopping stations, Drassanes Station was built with the same materials used for its passing trains. White walls are contrasted with a black ceiling, while corridors are lined with large mosaics of colorful tiles.
14. O'Hare Station
14. O'Hare Station
Location: Chicago
With red-tiled walls and impressive paintings, the station serves as a gateway to the city from its major international airport.
13. Iidabashi Station
13. Iidabashi Station
Location: Tokyo
With its exterior composed of a massive steel and glass facade, and its interior including light green accents, Iidabashi Station serves the newest line of Tokyo's extensive metro system.
12. Formosa Boulevard Station
12. Formosa Boulevard Station
Location: Kaohsiung, Taiwan
One of the busiest stations in the city, Formosa Boulevard is known for its installation of The Dome of Light. Created by artist Narcissus Quagliata using individual pieces of stained glass, the colorful piece is the largest installation of its kind and takes spectators through a circular journey of human life.
11. Line A Stations
11. Line A Stations
Location: Prague, Czech Republic
Metro stations throughout Prague feature a design reminiscent of colorful building blocks. Each stop features a different color palette and a common look: repeated rows of tiles with circular indents and bulges.
10. U-Bahn Stations
10. U-Bahn Stations
Location: Munich, Germany
Munich's metro system, which opened in 1972, has been known for its colorful and spacious stations. Many of them feature minimalist designs, while others include more elaborate visual characteristics.
9. Champ-de-Mars Station
9. Champ-de-Mars Station
Location: Montreal
Champ-de-Mars Station features beautiful stained glass windows of works by the artist Marcelle Ferron. Some of these pieces have been regarded as the artist's most famous pieces.
8. Olaias Station
8. Olaias Station
Location: Lisbon, Portugal
With colored tiles in a variety of geometric shapes covering its surfaces, Olaias Station is nowhere near being like the dark and grungy spaces of traditional train stations.
7. Zoloti Vorota Station
7. Zoloti Vorota Station
Location: Kiev, Ukraine
One of the city's most well-known stations, Zoloti Vorota is the product of a series of contributions from a number of artists. Its detailed decor includes chandeliers with candle-shaped lighting and mosaics on its columns and surfaces.
6. Komsomolskaya Station
6. Komsomolskaya Station
Location: Moscow
Located in Komsomolskaya Square and serving three railway terminals, this station is as busy as it is beautiful. Its location and interior design give it a true Russian identity reflective of the surrounding culture.
5. City Hall Station
5. City Hall Station
Location: New York
Closed since 1945, the abandoned station is still unavailable for visits from the public, but can be viewed by passengers passing through on an uptown train.
4. St. Quirin Platz Station
4. St. Quirin Platz Station
Location: Munich, Germany
Part of the U-Bahn metro system, the station is encased by a full glass roof that transforms the normally dark spaces of a subway station into a large, bright, and open area.
3. Kirovsky Zavod Station
3. Kirovsky Zavod Station
Location: St. Petersburg, Russia
The station, named after the nearby Kirov factory, houses a statue of Lenin and includes a checkered floor. The St. Petersburg metro system is also known for being the deepest in the world.
2. T-Centralen Station
2. T-Centralen Station
Location: Stockholm, Sweden
Serving all three lines of the Stockholm Metro system, the "tunnelbana" underground station is decorated with works resembling old cave paintings. The section of the station hosting the Blue Line featuresblue and white artwork dating back to the '70s.
1. Toledo Metro Station
1. Toledo Metro Station
Location: Naples, Italy
The new design of the Toledo metro station features a full range of shades of blue Bisazza mosaics on its ceiling, walls, and other surfaces.