17 most magical metro stations from around the world
If you live in a big city where there is a metro, then you have at least once been in this underground labyrinth, because this is one of the fastest ways to get to your destination without tedious traffic jams. Sometimes, on our way to work or hurrying home, we don't notice that some metro stations are simply magical and worthy of being called works of architectural art. See for yourself.
Moscow, Russia.
The Slavyansky Bulvar station on the Arbatsko-Pokrovskaya Line has served the Fili-Davydkovo area since 2008.
In addition to chandeliers, Moscow's Komsomolskaya metro station is adorned with incredible mosaics depicting key moments in Russian history since the 13th century.
On the Zamoskvoretskaya line, the Mayakovskaya metro station was built in 1929 and is decorated with 34 mosaics depicting Alexander Deineka's Day of the Soviet Sky.
Dubai, UAE.
Under the Burjuman mall is a subway station that only opened in 2009, but more than 15 million people have already passed through it.
Naples, Italy.
Recently redesigned as part of the Art of Stations project, the University of Naples metro station owes its bright and fashionable image to the artist Karim Rashid.
One of the most beautiful metro stations in the world, Toledo on line 1 perfectly fulfills all the requirements of the Art of Stations project: beautiful, functional and able to inspire the renewal and development of urban neighborhoods.
Materdey metro station will literally surround you with art (there are works of art by artists such as Saul Levitt).
Washington DC, USA.
Gallery Place Station in Washington DC is the confluence of three busy Red, Green and Yellow lines.
About 32 million people a year pass through Union Station. It has been a national transit hub since 1907.
Metro Center Station lies at the heart of Washington's fast-paced transit system.
Shanghai, China.
This tunnel in Shanghai looks more like a ride to Charlie's chocolate factory than a subway tunnel.
Kyiv, Ukraine.
The station "Zoloti Vorota" is considered by the Kyiv department of cultural heritage as a "new object of cultural heritage".
The Lybidska metro station served as the end of the Kurenevsko-Krasnoarmeyskaya line for almost 30 years, but 4 years ago it was extended further south.
The metro station "Palace Ukraine" has been operating since 1984. It was the last station built on the Kurenevsko-Krasnoarmeiskaya line before the turn of the century.
Paris, France.
The Arts et Métiers (Arts and Crafts) station got its steampunk aura during a 1994 renovation led by skilled comics artist François Chouyten.
Pyongyang, North Korea.
Although there are many beautiful stations in Pyongyang, this one - called Yonggwang - is probably the most noticeable. On it, the columns look like torches flashing in the night sky.
Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
Central Park Station got its name (surprisingly) from its proximity to Kaohsiung Central Park.
Opened during the 2008 urban renewal ahead of the World Games, Formosa Boulevard Station is best known for its Dome of Light, "the world's largest glass mosaic".
Tokyo, Japan.
Tokyo Iidabashi Station has been operating since 1928 and is considered a must-see landmark of Japanese architecture.
Prague, Czech Republic.
The Flora station in Prague opened in 1980 and cost about $11.5 million to build.
Hradcanska metro station is named after the Prague Castle and is part of the city's oldest line A.
To get to the Station of the World, the deepest both in Prague and in the entire European Union, you will have to go down the longest escalator in Europe (up to 52 m vertically down from street level).
Barcelona, Spain.
In 2007, the Drassanes station in Barcelona underwent a major renovation and now resembles a sci-fi movie set. This is one of the closest stations to the Mediterranean Sea.
Munich, Germany.
On the U1 line of the Munich Underground, these 3-meter lamps hanging from the ceiling of the Westfriedhof station are the most photographed interior items of the subway stations in the country.
The Candidplatz station on the U1 line opened in 1997 and is probably the most colorful in the entire German subway.
The Marienplatz station is located at the intersection of the U-Bahn and S-Bhan, it was renovated in 2003-2006, after the traffic in the area increased.
Saint-Petersburg, Russia.
One of the oldest stations in Sanki-Petersburg, Kirovsky Zavod, is located on the Kirovsko-Vyborgskaya line.
The neoclassical marble and bronze of Narva Station has been providing an incredible atmosphere to passengers since 1955 (especially incredible considering the station is serving more passengers than intended).
The end of the oldest line of the St. Petersburg metro - Avtovo station - is striking in its beauty.
Montreal, Canada.
On the green line of the Montreal metro is the Papineau station - the 13th deepest in the country (almost 21 m below street level).
One of the first metro stations, which opened in 1966, is the Champ-de-Mars station on the orange line. You will not pass by it if you are going to the Montreal City Hall.
Namur Station opened in 1984 after Montreal renamed the street it was built on to retain the name of the station. The main local attraction is a huge geometric sculpture by Pierre Granchet from Quebec.
Lisbon, Portugal.
Olaias station opened in 1998 on the red line of the Lisbon Metro.
Stockholm, Sweden.
The Solna station in Stockholm is one of the most famous in the world, thanks in large part to the jokers on the internet who have dubbed it "Hell".
Station "Kungstredgården" marks the end of lines 10 and 11 of the Stockholm metro. Artifacts and remains of Swedish architecture, destroyed in the 50s and 60s, are stored here.
The T-Centralen station is the main hub of the entire Stockholm metro.
Special Place: Old City Hall (New York, USA).
Museum Station (Toronto, Canada).
Alisher (Tashkent, Uzbekistan).
Bockenheimer (Frankfurt, Germany).
Wilson's Platz (Warsaw, Poland).
Heidelberger Platz (Berlin, Germany).
O'Hare (Chicago, USA).
Hyllie Station (Malmö, Sweden).
Canary Wharf (London, UK).
University of Chile Station (Santiago, Chile).
Expo MRT station (Singapore).