Europe's 12 Most Impressive Metro Stations (Part 1). (CNN) -- Opening in 1863, London has the world's oldest underground railway but it also has, in austerely beautiful Westminster, one of Europe's most futuristic-looking stations. The first metro might have been uncomfortable and unhealthy (toxic steam often entered the train cars due to poor ventilation) but it soon became clear that few cities of any size should be without one. best metro station Europe, beautiful metro station, best train stations in europe, coolest train stations, biggest train stations, world best railway station, best train stations world, world's greatest train stations, top train stations, travel, travel guide, traveler guide, By the mid-1920s, Paris, Madrid, Berlin and Milan had their own subterranean networks -- with cleaner, electric-powered trains and often also beating London's Tube in the aesthetic appeal of their stations. Moscow joined the party in 1935 and now boasts one of the busiest metro systems in the world -- carrying more than 6.5 million passengers a day. But as the following stations show, more than 150 years after the London Underground opened, there's a lot more to a great subway stop than getting from A to B. 1. Toledo, Naples, Italy Opened in 2012, Toledo station defies its depth -- at 50 meters, one of the deepest in Naples -- with a design based around themes of light and water. 2. Westfriedhof, Munich, Germany Inaugurated in 1998 to little fanfare, this otherwise ordinary looking station took on new life just three years later. 3. Komsomolskaya (Koltsevaya Line), Moscow Komsomolskaya station's baroque-style decor, historical mosaics and chandeliered ceilings resemble a grand ballroom. 4. Olaias, Lisbon, Portugal In 1998, Lisbon hosted a world expo, in part to celebrate 500 years of Portuguese inventions. 5. Westminster, London London Underground might be the great-great-grandparent of all the world's metro stations but Westminster, opened just days before the new millennium, has to be one of the most futuristic-looking. 6. T-Centralen, Stockholm, Sweden Above ground, Stockholm's central station looks like a pretty average part of a rapid transit system. 7. Bockenheimer Warte, Frankfurt, Germany Seeking to distinguish his design from the unobtrusive minimalism of other Frankfurt stations, architect Zbigniew Peter Pininski outdid himself with the fantastical entrance to Bockenheimer Warte. 8. "Fosteritos," Bilbao, Spain Less than 20 years old, Bilbao's metro is the third-largest in Spain. 9. Palais Royal -- Musée du Louvre, Paris In a city as beautiful as Paris, this unconventional station entrance at Place Colette still stands out. 10. Admiralteyskaya, St. Petersburg, Russia St. Petersburg's newest metro stop proves that classic and modern design can coexist harmoniously. 11. Plac Wilsona, Warsaw, Poland The Soviets built some extraordinary metro stations but this 2005 effort, named after U.S. president Woodrow Wilson, showed that a capitalist Poland could come up with some beauties, too. 12. Staromestska, Prague All the stations on Prague's A Line deserve a place in the European metro hall of fame for their distinctive dimpled metal tunnel walls, but Staromestska is the most visited and photographed. Europe's 12 Most Impressive Metro Stations (Part 1). best metro station Europe, beautiful metro station, best train stations in europe, coolest train stations, biggest train stations, world best railway station, best train stations world, world's greatest train stations, top train stations, travel, travel guide, traveler guide, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=khXxbw0x6M8

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