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This article was first published 12 years ago

World's 25 stunning metro stations

Last updated on: August 1, 2011 13:44 IST

Image: Stockholm Metro.
The world's first metro system, London Underground opened in 1863. Today, there are 160 metro systems in the world.

Here's a look at some of the world's most beautiful metro stations

Stockholm Metro (Sweden)

The Stockholm Metro is one of the most beautifully decorated stations.  There are 100 stations on this route with a daily ridership of 1,122,000.

It was the idea of artists Vera Nilsson and Siri Derkert to use art to beautify the metro stations.

Today, besides holding art exhibitions, the works of more than 100 artists are showcased across 90 stations in the country.

The Metro began operations in 1950.

World's 25 stunning metro stations

Image: Paris Metro.
Paris Metro, France

Paris has one of the densest metro networks in the world.

The network's sixteen lines are mostly underground and run up to a distance of 214 km. There are 300 stations on the route.

Paris has second busiest metro system in Europe. Designed by Hector Guimard, the Metro is famous for its architecture.

World's 25 stunning metro stations

Image: Berlin-Spandau station.
Berlin-Spandau, Germany

Berlin-Spandau is situated in Spandau district. It replaced the historic Spandau railway station and is a regional and long-distance station for inter-city express trains arriving from Hamburg and Hannover.

World's 25 stunning metro stations

Image: An underground train painted in a flower design enters Kievskaya station in Moscow.
Photographs: Denis Sinyakov/Reuters.
Kievskaya Metro, Russia

One of the most artistic stations in Moscow, Kievskaya station is the pride of the city's underground network.

Built in 1954, the station stands out in terms of its great design and beautiful art. The artwork is inspired from Ukrainian life and folk motifs.

World's 25 stunning metro stations

Image: Athens Metro.
Athens Metro, Greece

The Athens Metro is an underground rapid transit system owned by Attiko Metro.

The system serves 33 stations and has a daily ridership of more than one and a half million passengers daily.

World's 25 stunning metro stations

Image: Komsomolskaya station.
Komsomolskaya station, Russia

The Komsomolskaya station is one of the biggest attractions in Moscow.

Designed by Alexey Shchusev, frescoed ceilings, chandeliers and artwork gives the look of a museum.

The station is noted for its being located under the busiest Moscow transport hub, Komsomolskaya Square.

World's 25 stunning metro stations

Image: Saint Petersburg Metro.
Saint Petersburg, Russia

Opened in November 15, 1955, Saint Petersburg Metro is one of the most elegant metro stations in the world with exquisite artwork.

It is one of the deepest subway systems in the world. The system's deepest station, Admiralteyskaya, is 105 metres below ground.

Serving nearly three million passengers daily, it is also the 13th busiest subway system in the world.

World's 25 stunning metro stations

Image: Alisher Navoi Metro Station.
Photographs: Courtesy, Aga Khan Trust for Culture.
Alisher Navoi Metro Station, Tashkent

Tashkent has very elegantly designed subway stations.

Each station is unique and has rich showcase of art and replication of folklore, making it one of the most beautiful subways in the world.

World's 25 stunning metro stations

Image: Dubai Metro.
Dubai Metro

The Dubai Metro is a driverless, fully automated metro network in Dubai.

All trains and stations are air conditioned with platform edge doors.

The Dubai Metro carried 10 million passengers from its launch in September 2009 to February 2010 with 11 stations operational on the Red Line.

World's 25 stunning metro stations

Image: London Underground.
London Underground, UK

It is the world's oldest underground railway. The first section was opened in 1863. In 1890, it became the first station to operate electric trains.

The metro railway serves 270 stations and stretches across 402 kilometres making it the second largest metro system in the world in terms of route length.

World's 25 stunning metro stations

Image: Frankfurt U-Bahn.
Frankfurt U-Bahn Metro, Germany

The U-Bahn, together with the S-Bahn form the backbone of the public transport system in Frankfurt.

Opened in 1968, U-Bahn consists of 87 stations on nine lines, which have a total length of 65 km.

About 59 per cent of the total track length is underground.

World's 25 stunning metro stations

Image: Porte Dauphine station.
Photographs: Charles Platiau/Reuters.
Porte Dauphine station, France

Designed by Hector Guimard, in the 'Art Nouveau' (New Art) style, the Dauphine Metro opened in December 1990. Porte Dauphine is a part of the Paris Metro network.

World's 25 stunning metro stations

Image: New York Subway.
New York Subway, US

One of the oldest and most extensive public transportation systems in the world, the New York City Subway is a rapid transit system with 468 stations in operation.

The New York City Subway is the fourth busiest rapid transit rail system in the world in annual ridership.

World's 25 stunning metro stations

Image: Karlsplatz Stadtbahn station, Austria.
Karlsplatz Stadtbahn station, Austria

The building reflects Jugendstil architecture. It was designed by Otto Wagner, adviser to the Transport Commission in Vienna.

World's 25 stunning metro stations

Image: Bilbao Metro.
Bilbao Metro, Spain

Bilbao is famous for its grand stations designed by Sir Norman Foster. Another interesting aspect is the use of energy from renewable sources.

Metro de Bilbao has installed brake energy recovery systems that stop the trains more effectively and get energy savings of 33 per cent.

World's 25 stunning metro stations

Image: Ethniki Amyna Metro.
Ethniki Amyna, Greece

Ethniki Amyna is an Athens Metro Blue Line station. Ethniki Amyna metro station has entry-exit to Mesoggion Street.

It is close to the main entrance of the Ministry of National Defence (Pentagono).

World's 25 stunning metro stations

Image: Brussels Metro.
Brussels Metro, Belgium

A rapid transit system serving a large part of Brussels, it has four metro line services. The metro has 49.9 km of network and 59 stations.

World's 25 stunning metro stations

Image: A northbound train (R) at Farragut North Metro Station in Washington.
Photographs: Jason Reed/Reuters.
Washington Metro, US

Opened in 1976, the Metro's network has grown to include five lines, 86 stations across 171.1 kilometres.

Metro is the second-busiest rapid transit system in the United States in number of passenger trips, after the New York City Subway.

Highlighting the late-20th century modern architecture, Metro stations were designed by Chicago architect Harry Weese.

World's 25 stunning metro stations

Image: Montreal Metro.
Montreal Metro, Canada

The Montreal Metro inaugurated in October 1966. It has 26 stations on three separate lines.

The Metro has 68 stations on four lines across a distance of 69.2 kilometres.

The metro system is currently Canada's busiest subway system, serving an average of 1,111,700 daily passengers on an average weekday.

World's 25 stunning metro stations

Image: Budapest Metro.
Budapest Metro, Hungary

The Budapest Metro is the second-oldest underground metro system in the world after the London Underground.

Its iconic Line 1, dating from 1896 was declared a World Heritage site in 2002.

World's 25 stunning metro stations

Image: Kazan Metro.
Kazan Metro, Tartarstan

It is a rapid-transit system that serves the city of Kazan. Opened on 27 August 2005, it is the newest system in Tartarstan.

Kazan Metro is a single-line system that stretches nearly ten kilometres and has seven stations.

Like every other station in Russia, Kazan too has its own architectural theme.

World's 25 stunning metro stations

Image: Lisbon Metro.
Lisbon Metro, Portugal

Opened in December 1959, Lisbon Metro is the first subway system in Portugal.

There are four Lisbon subway lines across a distance of 39 kilometres with 52 stations.

World's 25 stunning metro stations

Image: Munich Metro.
Munich Metro, Germany

The Munich U-Bahn is an electric rail rapid transit network in Munich, Germany. The network has 100.3 km of active lines and 100 stations.

World's 25 stunning metro stations

Image: Rio de Janeiro Metro.
Rio de Janeiro Metro, Brazil

The Rio de Janeiro Metro is mass-transit underground railway network founded in 1979.

It has with five stations operating on one line and covers a distance of 47 km. It is the second largest metro system in Brazil.

World's 25 stunning metro stations

Image: Toulouse Metro.
Toulouse Metro, France

The Toulouse metro has two underground metro lines A and B. Line A has 18 stations on a 12.5 km route.

Line B line has 20 stations on a 15 km route. It opened on 30 June 2007.