If you live in a big city, the train or metro probably has become a part of your daily routine. Maybe you’ve stopped noticing your surroundings at all after a few months of the same commute, eyes unflinchingly focused on your smartphone or newspaper.
Think about this : Your everyday underground station isn’t just a dark, noisy, crummy place full of busy people and lost pigeons! Most metro systems are filled with interesting art and architecture, some of them the work of notorious designers. Here are some of our favorites, as captured by bloggers and Instagrammers from around the globe.
The Budapest metro started operating in 1896, which makes it the world’s second oldest underground railway system after London’s. While its Line 1 is now a part of UNESCO’s list of World Heritage Sites, some parts of the network are as young as 2014, as is Szent Gellért Square Station. Here it is in all its tiled glory, as captured by talented Montreal photographer Olivier Martel Savoie (@une_olive).
© Olivier Martel Savoie
Located right beneath Komsomolskaya Square, Moscow’s busiest metro station is famous for its sumptuous main hall, yellow Baroque ceiling and intricate mosaics. Brazilian blogger Helo Gomes got to see it with her own eyes while on a trip around Europe and shared this photo on her Instagram feed for all of us to enjoy.
© Helo Gomes
Speaking of Moscow, that’s where Alex Block (@alexblock), a travel blogger and amazing photographer, was born and raised. But ever since he started traveling in 2008, his home has been everywhere else, and he definitely felt compelled to discover Stockholm’s famous metro system. Considered to be the world’s longest art gallery, every one of its tunnels has something to admire.
© Alex Block
Designed by Spanish architect Rafael Guastavino in the early 1900’s, New York’s City Hall station was officially closed in 1945 due to the installation of new, longer trains that didn’t fit its design. Fortunately, it’s still possible to visit the abandoned station on a guided tour. Intrigued by its eerie elegance, adventurous rooftopper, rock climber and photographer Max Ross (@max_ross) decided to explore the depths of the city instead of its heights for a day and came back with the perfect shot.
© Max Ross
Adriana Lage Toma (@adri.lage) is a globetrotter and travel writer who specializes in luxury travel experiences. It is little wonder that her Instagram page is so stunning! While in Germany, she posted this picture of the unusual entrance to Frankfurt’s Bockenheimer Warte Station, which was reportedly inspired by René Magritte’s surrealist paintings.
© Adriana Lage Toma
Line 1 of Naples’ underground railway network is also known as Il Metrò dell’Arte (“The Art Metro”), since 8 of its 18 stations were turned into architectural works of art by notorious designers. Reopened in September 2012, Toledo Station was described by Italian travel blogger and Instagrammer Manuela Vittuli (@manuelavitulli) as “Something special” and “The most impressive underground railway station in Europe”.
© Manuela Vitulli
