A Slow, Art-Filled Afternoon Underground: Touring Stockholm’s Subway Stations
Why the city’s underground might be one of its most unexpectedly beautiful experiences
When my sister Heather and I flew to Stockholm one chilly February, I expected a beautiful city; clean lines, calm water, soft colours, and that effortless Scandinavian aesthetic people rave about. What I didn’t expect was that one of our favourite experiences would happen underground, deep inside the city’s metro system.
Stockholm is rich with museums, galleries, and design-led spaces, and many of them have entrance fees to match. But the city has also invested heavily in public art, and nowhere is that more obvious than in the subway. A single ticket – around £2 – gives you access to miles of tunnels transformed into an enormous, ever-changing gallery carved straight into the rock. It’s the kind of experience that feels both accessible and surprisingly luxurious: culture, design, architecture, and colour, all for less than the price of a coffee.
We gave ourselves an afternoon to ride from station to station with no real plan other than curiosity. It ended up being one of the most memorable parts of the trip; peaceful, inspiring, and a welcome break from the cold. If you’re someone who appreciates interiors, thoughtful design, or a city’s quieter creative moments, this is the kind of travel experience that stays with you long after you’ve come home. If you’re planning a wider trip around the continent, Stockholm is also an easy addition to any itinerary exploring the best places to travel in Europe.
Why Stockholm’s Subway Art Feels So Special
There’s something grounding about placing art in everyday spaces. You’re not stepping into a gallery with labels and expectations. You’re just moving through a city, and suddenly the ceiling lifts higher than you expect, or the walls shift from bare rock to a painted forest. It surprises you.
Stockholm took the idea of public art and made it immersive. Instead of framed pieces, you get entire environments: colour-washed caverns, sculpted pillars, murals that wrap around you, lighting installations, tiled illusions, and whimsical details tucked into corners.
Travelling through these stations feels less like hopping on public transport and more like slowly wandering through a curated creative journey. Some stations are dramatic and heavy with colour; others are understated and delicate. Together, they create this fascinating rhythm beneath the city.
Heather and I challenged ourselves to hop off every time something caught our eye, which, admittedly, turned a “quick tour” into hours. But this is the beauty of it: the experience is entirely self-paced. You can see three stations in twenty minutes, or spend half a day lost underground with zero regrets.
Mörby Centrum
A quiet station with a moment of joy tucked at the back
At first glance, Mörby Centrum doesn’t look like much. White, cloud-like cave walls stretch through the platform, pretty, but not particularly memorable. But there’s a moment waiting if you wander a bit further. At the back of the station, a wall of rainbow-coloured tiles bursts through the white like sunshine pushing through clouds.
It’s simple, but uplifting. And it sets the tone for what these stations do best: they reward people who pay attention.
Rådhuset (Blue Line)
A cavern of warm earth tones and sculptural drama
Rådhuset immediately feels different. Instead of bright colours or delicate brushwork, the station is carved out of warm brown-orange rock with large sculptural pillars anchoring the space. It’s moody, a little mysterious, and unexpectedly beautiful. If a natural cave and a minimalist art museum had a baby, this would be it.
What struck me most was how calming it felt. Despite the size and the movement of people coming and going, the soft, earthy tones make the space feel grounded and quiet. It’s a reminder that design doesn’t have to shout to be powerful.
Solna Centrum
A bold and cinematic station that wraps you in colour
If Rådhuset whispered, Solna Centrum absolutely sings. This is one of the most photographed stations in Stockholm, and it’s easy to see why. The entire space is wrapped in a dramatic mural: deep green forest below, bright red sky above. The contrast is sharp, almost theatrical.
It feels like stepping inside a graphic novel, or wandering through someone’s dreamscape. The scale of it is impressive, it’s not a small section of wall, it’s the entire station. Even if bold colour isn’t your thing, it’s impossible not to appreciate the creativity and commitment behind it.
T-Centralen (Blue Line)
The calm heart of the city’s busiest station
T-Centralen is the main hub of Stockholm’s subway system, and it sees an enormous amount of daily traffic. But the section along the Blue Line tells a different story: delicate blue florals, leafy motifs, and gentle patterns painted across the rock walls and ceiling.
It’s surprisingly serene for a place where thousands of people cross paths. The blue tones soften the space and create this lovely quietness, even when it’s busy. Of all the stations we saw, this one is probably the most universally loved, it’s simple, timeless, and incredibly photogenic.
Kungsträdgården
Playful, surreal, and a little bit chaotic
Kungsträdgården is the wild card, part art installation, part funhouse. The station mixes chequered floors, bright green walls, racing-flag patterns, vivid lighting, botanical details, and even anatomical drawings painted across the ceiling. There’s a built-in fireplace carved into the stone, which only adds to the “what exactly is happening here?” feeling.
It’s whimsical, strange, and completely unforgettable. If you enjoy spaces that lean into creativity with no hesitation, this might be your favourite stop of the whole tour.
Stadion
A soft sky-blue cavern with a rainbow at its centre
Stadion was one of Stockholm’s first “cave stations,” created in the early 1970s, and it holds onto that legacy beautifully. The station is painted in a clear, calming sky blue, with a rainbow arch stretching across the platform. It’s gentle, happy, and almost childlike, in the very best way.
Near the entrance, there’s also a painted floral bench that’s easy to overlook if you’re rushing by. It’s one of those subtle touches that adds charm without demanding attention. We lingered here longer than planned simply because the space feels uplifting.
Hallonbergen
Colourful, quirky, and full of details if you slow down
Hallonbergen is known for its rainbow escalator, a vibrant incline that connects the lines within the station, but there’s more to see if you pause and look around. The station has little doodles, playful sketches, and unexpected pops of colour tucked into corners and along walkways.
It feels less polished than some of the other stations, but intentionally so. It’s imaginative, almost childlike, and full of personality. If you're travelling with kids, this is a fun one to stop at.
Hötorget
Pastel tiles, vintage energy, and neon curves overhead
Hötorget feels like stepping into a time capsule, pastel mint tiles wrap the walls, and swirling neon lights curve across the ceiling. It’s very 1950s in the best way: nostalgic, light, and a little quirky. There's something charming about a station that owns its retro personality so confidently.
Even on a quick pass through, it makes you smile.
What This Underground Tour Taught Me About Travel
This little adventure reminded me that the best parts of travel aren’t always the big-ticket attractions or the places everyone recommends. Sometimes the magic lives in the quieter moments, the unplanned detours, the simple decisions that end up creating memories you talk about for years.
Wandering the Stockholm subway was slow travel at its best. No schedule. No rush. Just following colour, texture, and curiosity from one stop to the next.
It also made me appreciate the value of art in everyday life. These stations aren’t tucked away in museums; they’re part of the daily commute for thousands of people. Art becomes routine, accessible, and integrated into the ordinary. There’s something special about that.
If You’re Planning Your Own Tour
A few things we learned:
- Give yourself more time than you think. The stations are close together, but it’s very easy to get sucked into details.
- Go off-peak if you can. It’s calmer, easier to photograph, and nicer to take in slowly.
- Buy a single ticket and wander freely. The system is simple to navigate, and the cost is incredibly low for the experience you get.
- Bring a warm layer. Even underground, the February chill seemed to find us.
But most importantly: take it at your own pace. There’s no right way to do this.
Final Thoughts
Stockholm’s subway art is one of those rare travel experiences that feels both humble and extraordinary at the same time. It doesn’t demand anything from you. It doesn’t require perfect planning or an expensive ticket. All it asks is that you look up, slow down, and let yourself enjoy the creativity built into the bones of the city.
For us, it was the perfect way to spend a winter afternoon; warm, colourful, inspiring, and surprisingly grounding. If you’re someone who appreciates thoughtful design or loves discovering beauty in unexpected places, this is an experience you shouldn’t skip.
