Did you know that Stockholm’s subway system is known as the world’s longest art gallery? With over 90 decorated stations, each offering unique themes, murals, interesting sculptures, and installations, your daily commute in Stockholm becomes an artistic journey. So, join me as I share my top 5 favourite subway stations for art lovers!
My Top 5 Picks:
1. Solna Centrum – A Forest in Red and Green
Solna Centrum is my absolute favourite! The station features a dramatic scarlet-red ceiling and deep green walls, creating a surreal forest-at-sunset landscape. The artwork reflects environmental and social issues, making it both visually striking and thought-provoking.
2. T-Centralen – A calming oasis in the middle of the metro chaos.
As the first station in Stockholm to feature artwork, T-Centralen sets the tone for the entire metro system. Its soothing blue and white floral patterns uniquely charm and create a peaceful atmosphere in the heart of the city’s busiest transit hub.
3. Stadion – Rainbow in the Rock
The Stadion station is famous for its vibrant rainbow arch set against a bright blue backdrop. Adorning the curved walls of the cave subway system, the essence of an arched rainbow gives an immersive feeling.The rainbow symbolises diversity and joy, and the cave-like structure makes the colours pop even more.
4. Tekniska Högskolan – Geometry Meets Philosophy
The Tekniska Högskolan station will be your most memorable station! As you can tell by it’s name, this is the station that takes you to KTH Royal Institute of Technology‘s main campus, on Valhallavägen. Adorning the platform are five captivating polyhedric sculptures, each meticulously crafted to embody Plato’s elemental concepts: fire, water, air, earth, and ether. These geometric installations stand as representations, seamlessly fusing mathematical elegance with the ancient principles of nature’s building blocks. The perfect fit for a technical university’s station.
5. Kungsträdgården – Baroque Beauty Underground
The Kungsträdgården station is easily one of the most beautiful stations. With its vivid colour palette and beautiful sculptures, it feels like an underground museum. The station takes you to Kungsträdgården (The King’s Garden), a beautiful garden in the city. An interesting fact about this station is that there is a notable population of the Lessertia dentichelis spider 🕷️🕸️ living in the station, the only location in Sweden where the species can be found (reference: “Dvärgspindel, MTR Stockholm”).
Honourable Mentions
If you’re exploring more stations, don’t miss:
- Thorildsplan – Retro 8-bit video game style
- Hallonbergen – Childlike, imaginative drawings
- Citybanan (Odenplan) – Futuristic fluorescent light installations
Let me know what’s your favourite subway station art?
Interested in more facts about Stockholm? This article might be for you! – Exploring Stockholm: 5 Fascinating Facts About the ‘Venice of the North’
