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There are one hundred and eighty metro systems around the world which run on over ten thousand kilometers of track and have over nine thousand stations between them.
As with all modes of transport metro systems have their enthusiasts and because of this, several metro systems around the world offer museums and guided tours for those wishing to know or see more of these systems.
There are several metro systems around the world that can be considered as landmarks of innovation systems which have become iconic places of historical, engineering importance, architectural significance or even modern day art galleries, rendering several station buildings or even whole metro systems into veritable tourist meccas of cultural importance for thousands of people around the world.
Below is a list of the world's Top Ten must see metro systems followed by a list of the world's Top Ten must see metro stations. Below that are listed the cities around the world which offer guided walks of their systems, followed by a list of cities with metro system museums or transport museums that contain large metro system sections.
TOP TEN MUST SEE METRO SYSTEMS
THE BILBAO METRO, SPAIN.
The Basque region of Spain's capital city, Bilbao, has an interesting system which was designed by British architect Norman Foster, where the entrances to the stations, both for passengers at street level and trains approaching on the tracks, have been encased in glass tubes, giving the system a most unusual and elegant feature.
THE BUDAPEST METRO, HUNGARY
Hungary's Budapest Metro, whose map is shown above, was the second metro system to be built in the world when it was completed in 1896, rendering the system's Line 1 of such cultural and engineering importance that it was designated as an UNESCO World Heritage site in 2002.
THE GLASGOW SUBWAY, SCOTLAND.
Scotland's Glasgow Subway was the third metro system in the world to be built and the system has changed little since it's opening in 1896 making this 10 km, circular system which travels under the city's majestic River Clyde, a must see when visiting Scotland's largest city.
THE LONDON UNDERGROUND, ENGLAND.
The world's first metro system situated in London, England remains one of the city's most visited landmarks, not just as a form of transportation, but for the historical, engineering masterpiece that it is, particularly the first four miles of the system which were built between Paddington Station and Farringdon Street on the Hammersmith and City Line in 1863.
THE MOSCOW METRO, RUSSIA.
Referred to by Moscovites as the underground palaces of Moscow, the Moscow Metro in Russia's capital city has to be seen to be believed with it's stations and platforms considered to be the most elegant and opulently decorated in the world.
THE NEW YORK CITY SUBWAY, U.S.A.
The New York City Subway, much loved by it's city inhabitants and a way of life for thousands of the city's workers, is not only home to the world's subway with the most number of stations (422), but also one of the world's few 24 hour systems, making the system a mecca for subway enthusiasts wishing to take a ride on a metro system during the night, something few people can do on their own local systems.
THE PARIS METRO, FRANCE
Considered as much a Parisienne landmark as the Eiffel Tower, the Paris Metro in France is the world's densest city metro system and Europe's busiest in passenger number. But this is not what makes this particular metro system unique. The system has become distinctive for it's classic Art Nouveau architecture, it's unique street level entrances and it's 1920's iconic signage known as totems, all of which results in thousands of visitors using the system every year in order to see these iconic landmarks.
THE PYONGYANG METRO, NORTH KOREA.
Unfortunately few of us reading this will ever get the chance to visit this beautiful system in North Korea's capital city, Pyongyang, due to the country's strict policy of allowing few to visit, and those that are allowed to visit must be accompanied by a government guide. All this means few of us will ever be able to see the system's opulent stations adorned with large, hand painted frescoes, marble pillars, crystal chandeliers and piped music, all of which have been built into the world's deepest metro system, which was originally built to be a nuclear shelter by the country's former leader, Kim Il Sung.
THE SHANGHAI METRO, CHINA.
Shanghai is home to the world's largest metro system, although this is generally not the reason why most people visit the system. The system's high volume of tourists is generally attributed to the system's other two treats that it has to offer, in the form of the Bund Sightseeing Tunnel, situated on the city's metro Line 2, which offers the rider a light show extravaganza whilst travelling under the city's Huangpu River, and the Maglev Train, used on the city's Airport Express, the world's fastest metro train, which can travel at speeds of up to 501 kilometres an hour (311 miles an hour).
THE STOCKHOLM TUNNELBANA, SWEDEN.
When Stockholm's Tunnelbana metro system, whose image is shown above, was constructed in the 1950's, it's engineers decided to never let their future passengers forget that they were travelling several meters below the earth's crust. So they designed their station platforms with the solid rock exposed, many of which went on to be adorned with modern day cave paintings by local artists. This gives many of the system's stations an unusual and unique look that consists of the subterranean mixed with modern day fixtures, fittings and artwork.
TOP TEN MUST SEE METRO STATIONS
ARSENALNA STATION, KIEV, UKRAINE.
Like most Russian built metro stations, the station at Arsenalna, situated on the Kiev Metro's, Line One, is opulently decorated with exquisite marble flooring, crystal chandeliers and elegant marble pillars, but what sets this particular station apart is it's depth. At 107 metres deep the station is the world's deepest, which means it is also home to the world's longest metro system escalators.
ATOCHA STATION, MADRID, SPAIN.
Unfortunately Madrid's Old Atocha Station located on the Madrid metro's Line One, whose image is shown above, is better known for the tragedy of March the eleventh 2004 when 191 people were killed and 1,800 people were injured during a terrorist bombing campaign.This large inter - city station, which is annexed to the metro station of the same name by way of a central plaza, is also known worldwide for something far less harrowing however, in the form of a vast, indoor garden, which boasts a myriad of lush flora and fauna and soothing water features, complete with baby terrapins.
BOCKENHEIMER WARTE STATION, FRANKFURT, GERMANY.
Brockenheimer Station, located on the city's, U6 Line, is the largest interchange station on the Frankfurt Metro, but better than that, this station can boast an even grander feature, it's street level entrance, which resembles the carriage of a train bursting through the city's street from the station below. The innovative entrance was the creation of local architect Zbiginiew Peter Pininski.
CAMPO PEQUENO STATION, LISBON, PORTUGAL.
The Lisbon Metro is renowned for it's artwork and the station at Campo Pequeno on the city's Yellow Line, is particularly renowned for it's display of life size female sculptures, erected in memory of Portugal's most prolific urban poet, Cesario Verde, which brings visitors from all over the world in order to view both the statues and to pay homage to Verde.
CITY HALL STATION, NEW YORK, U.S.A.
Designed by architect Raphael Gustavino to be built as the New York City Subway's showpiece station in 1904, City Hall Station on the city's Lexington Avenue or Green Line, boasts a wealth of elegant Romanesque revival architecture complete with coloured glass tilework, brass chandeliers and leaded skylights.The station is unique amongst this particular subway system's stations and remains to this day, the system's most opulent station, despite having been closed as a working station back in 1945.
DAHLEM - DORF STATION, BERLIN, GERMANY.
Dahlem - Dorf station situated on the Berlin Metro's U3 Line, which runs through Berlin's most affluent suburbs, is much the same as any other metro station inside, but what makes it unique is it's street level building. The station house resembles a beautiful black and white, Tudor style cottage, complete with thatched roof.
FORMOSA BOULEVARD STATION, KAOSHIUNG, TAIWAN
Taiwan's Kaohsiung Station, situated on the city's, Red Line, houses a unique roof made from hundreds of pieces of coloured glass, which depict the story of human life in four chronologically arranged themes, created by local artist Narcissus Quagliata. The vast dome which measures 660 square metres in size, was made from glass specially manufactured in Germany and creates a riot of colour throughout the station's concourse during the hours of daylight.
NIZAMI STATION, BAKU, AZERBAIJAN.
Yet another opulent Russian built metro station, Nizami Station, situated on the city's, Green Line, comes complete with the obligatory marble floors and pillars, vaulted ceilings and crystal chandeliers. This particular station, situated in the Azerbaijani capital city of Baku, is one of many such metro stations located around the city.
OLAIAS STATION, LISBON, PORTUGAL
Designed by Portugese architect Tomas Taveira in readiness for the city's Expo 98 Exhibition, the Linha Vermelha or Red Line's Olaias Station boasts a wealth of contemporary artwork from it's brightly coloured and intricately placed ceiling tiles, held aloft by striking metal pillars, to it's decorous marbled floors, making the entire station one large public art gallery.
WHEATON STREET STATION, WASHINGTON D.C, U.S.A.
As stations go, Washington D.C's Wheaton Street Station, located on the city's Red Line, is much like any other, but what makes this particular station unique is it's escalator, which consists of two 70 metre long stairwells, situated one above the other, resulting in the world's longest escalator ride, which takes around three minutes to travel, making this escalator ride longer than some of the metro system's train journeys.
METRO SYSTEMS WITH GUIDED TOURS
The award winning, Plac Wilsona Station, Warsaw, Poland.
(With grateful thanks to Tomo, wikimedia commons)
Cities which provide guided tours of their metro systems
Beijing, China.
Berlin, Germany.
Chicago, Illinois, U.S.A.
Los Angeles, California, U.S.A.
Mexico City, Mexico.
Moscow, Russia.
New York City, New York, U.S.A.
Paris, France.
Sao Paulo, Brazil.
Stockholm, Sweden.
Toronto, Canada.
METRO SYSTEM MUSEUMS
The Staten Island Ferry, New York.
(With grateful thanks to Daniel Schwen, wikimedia commons)
Cities which offer metro system / transport museums
Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.A
Southeastern Railway Museum, 3595 Buford Highway, Duluth, Georgia, 30096.
Berlin, Germany.
U - Bahn Museum, Olympia - Stadion Station, Westend, Berlin
Brussels, Belgium.
Musee du Transport Urbain Bruxellois, Woluwe Tram Depot, Avenue de Tervueren, Bruxelles.
Budapest, Hungary.
Millenium Underground Museum, Deak Ferenc ter Metro Station, Budapest.
Delhi, India.
Delhi Metro Museum, Patel Chowk Metro Station, Delhi.
Glasgow, Scotland.
Glasgow Museum of Transport, 1, Bunhouse Road, G3 8DP.
Kiev, Ukraine.
Kiev Metro Museum, peremohy Prospekt, 35,Kiev.
London, England.
London Transport Museum, Covent Garden Piazza, WC2E 7BB.
Madrid, Spain.
Anden O Chamberi, Chamberi Station, Calle de Luchana, Madrid.
Moscow, Russia.
Moscow Metro Museum, Ulitsa Khamovnichesky Val, 36, Moscow 119048.
Munich, Germany.
M.V.G Museum, StandlerStrasse, 20, Munchen.
Nagoya, Japan.
Nagoya City Train and Subway Museum, Route 153, Nagoya.
New York City, New York, U.S.A.
New York Transit Museum, Court Street Station, Schermerhorn Street, Brooklyn Heights, New York.
Oslo, Norway.
The Oslo Tramway Museum, Majorstuen Station, Feltestunnelen.
Paris, France.
Musee de Transport Urbains,Boulevard 163 Charles De Gaulle, 92 - 700 Colombes, Paris.
Rotterdam, Netherlands.
Openbaar Vervoer Museum, Oostplein 165, 3011 KZ, Rotterdam.
Saint Louis, Missouri, U.S.A.
Museum of Transportation, 3015 Barrett Station Road, St Louis, Missouri 63122.
Saint Petersburg, Russia.
Metro Museum, Primorskaya, Odoevskogo 29, St Petersburg.
Shanghai, China.
The Maglev Museum, Longyang Station, Longyang Road, Shanghai.
Tokyo, Japan.
Chikatetsu Hakabutsukan Edogana, 6 - 3 - 1 Higashi - Kasai - Ku, Tokyo 134 - 0084.
Yokohama, Japan.
3 - 1 - 53 Takigashira, Isogo - Ku, Yokohama - Shi 235 - 0012.
The Bund Sightseeing Tunnel, Shanghai, China.
(With grateful thanks to Alex Needham, wikimedia commons)
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