Victoria Zidwick a RoamRight Blog Author

Metro, Subway or Underground?

At 15 years old, I went on a school trip to Spain. One day, the chaperones gave us permission to freely roam Barcelona by ourselves, and so a few of us set out to find the Museu Picasso. With just our high school Spanish and a guidebook, we descended into the metro, only to realize we had no idea how to get to our destination.

It took us a while to make sense of the metro map. We lived in a small town far from any major cities with train systems, and this was the first time any of us had seen such a colorful, confusing map. Since then, I’ve been fascinated by subway maps and can spend hours looking at them, imagining what each stop is like. Here are a few of my favorite metro / subway / underground maps.(Can't get enough subways? Check out our other post on the best subways in the world!)

Barcelona Metro

As my first subway map, this holds a special place in my heart. My friends and I were so proud of ourselves for finding our way!

Barcelona Metro
Image source: Transports Metropolitans de Barcelona

New York Subway

New York City has the most complex subway system in North America. My grandfather lived far out on Long Island and - after my Europe experience - my parents finally let me take the train into NYC.

New York Subway
Image source: Metropolitan Transportation Authority 

Washington, D.C. Metro

This is the closest metro system to my current home. Anytime I have to go to Washington DC, I drive to the nearest metro station and take the train in. No downtown driving for this girl!

Washington DC Metro
Image credit: Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority 

Tokyo Metro

I haven’t been to Tokyo, but this map is so colorful it makes me smile. If I stare at it long enough, I expect a picture to pop out, like the stereographic images from the 1990s.

Tokyo Metro
Image credit: Tokyo Metro 

Beijing Subway

Simple: It has rectangles!

Beijing Subway
Image credit: ExploreMetro 

Moscow Metro

I like the Beijing rectangles, but get even more excited about the Moscow circle. If I were there, I’d be tempted to just keep going round and round all day.

Moscow Metro
Image credit: Moscow Metro 

Do you have a favorite metro system? Tell us about it in the comments below.

Note: Available plans and coverages may have changed since this blog was published.

About the Author

Victoria Zidwick

Victoria Zidwick, a RoamRight Blog Author RoamRight's Marketing Communications Specialist, Victoria Zidwick, has worked in the travel insurance industry for more than five years. She has traveled extensively throughout the United States and has a handful of international travel experiences.Victoria's travel experiences have changed in recent years, as her family grows and she is learning the ins and outs of traveling with children. Connect with Victoria on LinkedIn or follow her onTwitter or Google Plus.

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