Stockholm Metro: 10 Best Stations In Sweden’s Underground Art Gallery

14.08.2023 - 11:33 / forbes.com / Art

Public transit systems are rarely top of the list when considering attractions to include in your travel itinerary. But that’s the case in Stockholm, where stations on the city’s metro system double as an art gallery.

The vast majority of the 100+ stations feature one or more painting, mural or other art installation, contributed over the years by more than 150 artists. Painted bare rock, murals in the entrance halls, museum artefacts and modern art installations are among the highlights.

The project has gone on to become one of the top things to see in Sweden. Here are ten of the best stations to discover on your next visit to Sweden’s capital city.

T-Centralen, the central hub of the network, is home to the iconic “blue platform”, which you’ll find on the blue line.

It is believed artist Per Olof Ultvedt envisioned a serene blue and natural motifs of flowers and leaves to contrast with the busyness of T-Centralen’s bustle.

This station serves the Royal Institute of Technology so the natural theme for its makeover was the fusion of science and art. Figures located on each of the platforms represent one of the elements.

It’s not easy to find all the pieces of artwork hiding in this station, but if you do you’ll see art representing Newton’s three laws of motion and various technological advances.

Östermalmstorg station is given over to the work of Siri Derkert, the artist who led the calls for more public art in Stockholm and the metro project in particular.

Large black drawings based on her sketches adorn the white walls of the station, while there are many references to peace (including the word in multiple languages) throughout the station.

One of Stockholm’s oldest cave stations deep underground, Stadion is famous for the iconic sweeping rainbow mural in one of its blue tunnels.

The station’s artists, Åke Pallarp and Enno Hallek, wanted to bring the sky underground, to address local discomfort with the concept of cave stations back in the 1970s.

The Tensta suburb, constructed between 1966 and 1972, was developed to cater to Stockholm's increasing population and housing demands.

Three artists spent more than a year decorating the metro station with a concept designed to celebrate the district’s diversity and emit a universal sense of welcome.

Kungsträdgården (The King’s Garden) was originally the site of the grand Makalös Palace and a French garden.

The history above ground is now reflected underground, with a distinctive green, white, and red color scheme together with replica statues from the palace.

Known for its intense red imagery in photographs, Solna Centrum’s color scheme is actually red and green. It represents a forest and the setting sun, although there are some intriguing details amid