ADVERTISEMENT

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!

#2

Kievskaya, Mayakovskaya And Park Pobedy Stations, Moscow, Russia

Kievskaya, Mayakovskaya And Park Pobedy Stations, Moscow, Russia

Shares stats Kievskaya, Mayakovskaya And Park Pobedy Stations, Moscow, Russia

imgur Report

#3

Rådhuset Station, Stockholm, Sweden

Rådhuset Station, Stockholm, Sweden

Alexander Dragunov Report

#4

Avtovo Metro Station, St. Petersburg, Russia

Avtovo Metro Station, St. Petersburg, Russia

Shares stats Avtovo Metro Station, St. Petersburg, Russia Shares stats Avtovo Metro Station, St. Petersburg, Russia

asergeev.com Report

ADVERTISEMENT
#5

Tilework In Szent Gellért Square, Budapest, Hungary

Tilework In Szent Gellért Square, Budapest, Hungary

acdn.architizer.com Report

Add photo comments
POST
DABlumenhagenLoiselle
Community Member
10 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is beautiful. One of my biggest complaints about most metro stations is that they are so dark. This one is nice and bright.

View more commentsArrow down menu
#6

Bund Sightseeing Tunnel, Shanghai, China

Bund Sightseeing Tunnel, Shanghai, China

Shares stats Bund Sightseeing Tunnel, Shanghai, China Shares stats Bund Sightseeing Tunnel, Shanghai, China

mic-ro.com Report

#7

University Of Naples Subway Station, Italy

University Of Naples Subway Station, Italy

Shares stats University Of Naples Subway Station, Italy Shares stats University Of Naples Subway Station, Italy

dezeen.com Report

#8

Arts Et Métiers Station, Paris, France

Arts Et Métiers Station, Paris, France

Shares stats Arts Et Métiers Station, Paris, France

RG1033 Report

Add photo comments
POST
HipChick
Community Member
10 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I have been in this station and the picture doesn't do it justice. Gorgeous.

View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
#9

Formosa Boulevard Station, Kaohsiung, Taiwan

Formosa Boulevard Station, Kaohsiung, Taiwan

Shares stats Formosa Boulevard Station, Kaohsiung, Taiwan Shares stats Formosa Boulevard Station, Kaohsiung, Taiwan

getintravel.com Report

Add photo comments
POST
FabioNodari
Community Member
9 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I live just 5 minutes from this amazing station... http://www.fabionodariphoto.com/wrp/formosa-boulevard-metro-piu-spettacolare-del-mondo

View more commentsArrow down menu
#10

Kungstradgarden Metro Station, Stokholm, Sweden

Kungstradgarden Metro Station, Stokholm, Sweden

Shares stats Kungstradgarden Metro Station, Stokholm, Sweden

A. Dragunov Report

#11

City Hall Station, New York

City Hall Station, New York

Shares stats City Hall Station, New York

nycsubway.org Report

#12

T-Centralen Station, Stockholm, Sweden

T-Centralen Station, Stockholm, Sweden

Shares stats T-Centralen Station, Stockholm, Sweden

A. Dragunov Report

#13

Olaias Station, Lisbon, Portugal

Olaias Station, Lisbon, Portugal

Shares stats Olaias Station, Lisbon, Portugal

Miguel Riopa Report

Add photo comments
POST
José Valente
Community Member
8 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

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.

View more commentsArrow down menu
#14

Stadion Station, Stockholm, Sweden

Stadion Station, Stockholm, Sweden

Shares stats Stadion Station, Stockholm, Sweden

Jonathan Nackstrand Report

Add photo comments
POST
MayaAb
Community Member
10 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Stockholm has the most beautiful stations!! Great architecture.. Magnifique!!

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#15

Slavyansky Bulvar Station, Moscow, Russia

Slavyansky Bulvar Station, Moscow, Russia

Shares stats Slavyansky Bulvar Station, Moscow, Russia

fotogaleri.com Report

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
#17

Atocha, Madrid, Spain

Atocha, Madrid, Spain

Report

Add photo comments
POST
Fernandito
Community Member
9 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It is both, train and metro station. http://www.adif.es/es_ES/infraestructuras/estaciones/60000/informacion_000070.shtml.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#18

Georg-Brauchle-Ring, Marienplatz and Candidplatz U-Bahn Stations, Munich, Germany

Georg-Brauchle-Ring, Marienplatz and Candidplatz U-Bahn Stations, Munich, Germany

Shares stats Georg-Brauchle-Ring, Marienplatz and Candidplatz U-Bahn Stations, Munich, Germany Shares stats Georg-Brauchle-Ring, Marienplatz and Candidplatz U-Bahn Stations, Munich, Germany

Christian Beirle González Report

Add photo comments
POST
AlfredoPagnotta
Community Member
10 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

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!!

View more commentsArrow down menu
#20

Metro Station Wilhelminaplein (wilhelmina Square), Rotterdam, The Netherlands

Metro Station Wilhelminaplein (wilhelmina Square), Rotterdam, The Netherlands

Report

#23

Budapest Metro 4

Budapest Metro 4

Report

Add photo comments
POST
#24

São Bento Station, Porto, Portugal

São Bento Station, Porto, Portugal

Report

ADVERTISEMENT
#25

"zoloti Vorota" Station, Kiev, Ukraine

"zoloti Vorota" Station, Kiev, Ukraine

Report

Add photo comments
POST
ADVERTISEMENT
#26

Hamburg Hafencity Metro

Hamburg Hafencity Metro

Report

Add photo comments
POST
#27

Namur Station Lighting, Montréal

Namur Station Lighting, Montréal

Stm Report

#28

Finding It Hard To Step Up

Finding It Hard To Step Up

Report

Add photo comments
POST
DorindaMartin
Community Member
10 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

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.

View more commentsArrow down menu
#29

Kyoto Station, Japan

Kyoto Station, Japan

Report

Add photo comments
POST
Hans Ongerth
Community Member
4 years ago

This comment has been deleted.

#30

Metro Station Plac Wilsona, Warsaw, Poland

Metro Station Plac Wilsona, Warsaw, Poland

Report

Add photo comments
POST
#32

Liège Guillemins, Belgium

Liège Guillemins, Belgium

www.e-architect.co.uk Report

Add photo comments
POST
ADVERTISEMENT
#33

#17 U3-volkstheater, Vienna, Austria

#17 U3-volkstheater, Vienna, Austria

Report

Add photo comments
POST
FrankHuber
Community Member
10 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

What about Nürnberg? I think about the one giving you a great optical Warp Drive style illusion when entering the station

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#34

Bochum Rathaus, Germany

Bochum Rathaus, Germany

view.stern.de Report

Add photo comments
POST
Community Member
10 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

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

Parque Metro Station, Lisbon, Portugal

Report

#36

Devyatkino, St. Petersburg, Russia

Devyatkino, St. Petersburg, Russia

Report

Add photo comments
POST
#37

Arbatskaya Station, Moscow, Russia

Arbatskaya Station, Moscow, Russia

sormabulmadunyasi.blogspot.com Report

Add photo comments
POST
#38

U-bahn Station Westfriedhof, Munich, Germany

U-bahn Station Westfriedhof, Munich, Germany

view.stern.de Report

Add photo comments
POST
#39

Metro Station Pannenhuis - Brussels

Metro Station Pannenhuis - Brussels

Report

Add photo comments
POST
Simon Chabrillat
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is a very beautiful station, in a quintessential 1970's style. It deserves a much better picture! Just lsearch on Google Image...

#40

Lavov Most Station, Sofia, Bulgaria

Lavov Most Station, Sofia, Bulgaria

Report

Add photo comments
POST
ADVERTISEMENT
#41

Kremlevskaya Metro Station, Kazan, Russia

Kremlevskaya Metro Station, Kazan, Russia

k-metro.ruz.net Report

Add photo comments
POST
#42

Almaty, Kazakhstan - Metro Station "baikonyr"

Almaty, Kazakhstan - Metro Station "baikonyr"

Report

Add photo comments
POST
#43

National Stadium Station, Sofia, Bulgaria

National Stadium Station, Sofia, Bulgaria

Report

#44

Metro Station In Dubai - Uae

Metro Station In Dubai - Uae

Report

#45

Caís Do Sodré Metro Station, Lisboa, Portugal

Caís Do Sodré Metro Station, Lisboa, Portugal

Report

Add photo comments
POST
Ramón Ruedas
Community Member
9 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

you can't really see the tile artwork from the platform, still very nice

#46

Rákóczi Square, Budapest, Hungary

Rákóczi Square, Budapest, Hungary

Report

Add photo comments
POST
#47

Belgica Station - Brussels

Belgica Station - Brussels

Report

Add photo comments
POST
#48

Estación De Metro Arganzuela-planetario (madrid, España)

Estación De Metro Arganzuela-planetario (madrid, España)

www.metromadrid.es Report

Add photo comments
POST
ADVERTISEMENT
See Also on Bored Panda
#49

Namur Station Lighting, Montreal, Canada

Namur Station Lighting, Montreal, Canada

STM Report

Add photo comments
POST
Tantethenoma
Community Member
10 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Those balls again.. Great for advertising products...or scantily clad men..

#50

Duvbo Subwaystation, Stockholm

Duvbo Subwaystation, Stockholm

Report

Add photo comments
POST
#51

Nydalen Metro Stastion, Oslo, Norway. Kristin Jarmund Arkitekter

Nydalen Metro Stastion, Oslo, Norway. Kristin Jarmund Arkitekter

Report

Add photo comments
POST
#52

Terreiro Do Paço Metro Station, Lisboa, Portugal

Terreiro Do Paço Metro Station, Lisboa, Portugal

Report

Add photo comments
POST
#53

Lisbon Airport Metro Station, Portugal

Lisbon Airport Metro Station, Portugal

upload.wikimedia.org Report

Add photo comments
POST
#54

Emirates Towers Metro Station, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Emirates Towers Metro Station, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Report

Add photo comments
POST
#55

Mladost 3 Station, Sofia, Bulgaria

Mladost 3 Station, Sofia, Bulgaria

Report

Add photo comments
POST
#56

Joliot Curie Station, Sofia, Bulgaria

Joliot Curie Station, Sofia, Bulgaria

Report

Add photo comments
POST
ADVERTISEMENT
See Also on Bored Panda
#57

European Union Station, Sofia, Bulgaria

European Union Station, Sofia, Bulgaria

Report

Add photo comments
POST
#58

Musagenitsa Station, Sofia, Bulgaria

Musagenitsa Station, Sofia, Bulgaria

Report

Add photo comments
POST
#59

Metro Station Wilhelminaplein, Rotterdam, The Netherlands

Metro Station Wilhelminaplein, Rotterdam, The Netherlands

Report

Add photo comments
POST
#60

Hamburg, Hafencity Metro Station

Hamburg, Hafencity Metro Station

Report

Add photo comments
POST
Maya Ab
Community Member
10 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

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!

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#61

Metro Copilco Station (mexico City) . Mexico.

Metro Copilco Station (mexico City) . Mexico.

Report

Add photo comments
POST
#63

Almaty, Kazakhstan - Metro Station "alatau"

Almaty, Kazakhstan - Metro Station "alatau"

Report

Add photo comments
POST
#64

Metrostation Wilhelminaplein

Metrostation Wilhelminaplein

Report

Add photo comments
POST
ADVERTISEMENT
See Also on Bored Panda
#65

Hafencity University, Hamburg, Germany

Hafencity University, Hamburg, Germany

Report

Add photo comments
POST
#66

Marienplatz, Munich, Germany

Marienplatz, Munich, Germany

Report

Add photo comments
POST
#67

Rathaus Spandau U-bahn Station, Berlin

Rathaus Spandau U-bahn Station, Berlin

upload.wikimedia.org Report

Add photo comments
POST
#68

Titan Station, Bucharest, Romania

Titan Station, Bucharest, Romania

Report

Add photo comments
POST
#69

Střížkov Station, Prague, Czech Republic

Střížkov Station, Prague, Czech Republic

Report

Add photo comments
POST
#70

Garching Forchungzentrum (tum Station), Munich, Germany

Garching Forchungzentrum (tum Station), Munich, Germany

upload.wikimedia.org Report

Add photo comments
POST
#71

Syntagma Station, Athens, Greece

Syntagma Station, Athens, Greece

history-pages.blogspot.com Report

Add photo comments
POST
#72

Station Champ-de-mars, Montréal

Station Champ-de-mars, Montréal

Report

Add photo comments
POST
ADVERTISEMENT
See Also on Bored Panda
#73

Letňany, Prague, Czech Republic

Letňany, Prague, Czech Republic

Report

Add photo comments
POST
#74

Westminster Station, London

Westminster Station, London

Report

Add photo comments
POST
#75

Shibuya Station, Tokyo

Shibuya Station, Tokyo

Report

#76

Metrostation Wilhelminaplein

Metrostation Wilhelminaplein

Report

Add photo comments
POST
Freddy Lubin
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Am I the only one who notices that this station appears four times?

#77

Steglitz Station, Berlin, Germany

Steglitz Station, Berlin, Germany

Report

Add photo comments
POST
#78

Rajská Zahrada Station, Prague, Czech Republic

Rajská Zahrada Station, Prague, Czech Republic

Report

Add photo comments
POST
#79

Union Station, Los Angeles, California

Union Station, Los Angeles, California

Report

Add photo comments
POST
#80

This submission is hidden. Click here to view.

ADVERTISEMENT
See Also on Bored Panda
#81

This submission is hidden. Click here to view.

#82

This submission is hidden. Click here to view.

#83

This submission is hidden. Click here to view.

#84

This submission is hidden. Click here to view.