Your daily commute probably involves a quick trip down some stairs or a brief elevator ride. But what if getting to your train meant descending deeper than most skyscrapers reach skyward? Some metro stations around the world drop so far underground that stepping onto the platform feels like arriving at the earth’s core. These aren’t accidents of poor planning.
Hongyancun Station
You’ll find yourself descending for almost four minutes on the escalator at Hongyancun Station in Chongqing—that’s how deep this subway stop goes. At 116 meters underground, it’s officially the world’s deepest. The station opened in 2022 and grabbed the record from Arsenalna Station, Ukraine’s previous champion, all because Chongqing’s mountainous terrain demanded that engineers dig this far down.
Arsenalna Station
Arsenalna Station in Kyiv is a whopping 105.5 meters below ground—deep enough to fit the Statue of Liberty, and still have space. You’re dropping way down since this spot perches high above the Dnipro River. The escalator journey lasts about five minutes, and you’ll sense yourself gliding right into the heart of the city. It’s weirdly peaceful—this slow drop where your thoughts can roam free while the world above fades away.
Admiralteyskaya Station
You’ll love Admiralteyskaya Station in Saint Petersburg—it’s buried 86 meters deep and feels like discovering a secret palace. You’re looking at some seriously long escalators here—we’re talking 125 meters, which puts them up there with the world’s longest. The baroque details are absolutely gorgeous, and here’s the best part: since it takes nearly four minutes to ride down, you get plenty of time to soak in every stunning architectural element at this relaxed pace.
Pyongyang Metro
Pyongyang Metro stations average 100 meters deep, with some reaching even greater depths throughout this mysterious network. Your escalator descent takes up to five minutes on some of the world’s longest moving staircases. The system doubles as a massive bomb shelter, explaining why Kim Il-sung ordered such extreme depths during the Cold War era when protection mattered more than convenience.
Washington Park Station
Washington Park Station in Portland plunges 79 meters below ground, making it North America’s deepest transit station. The MAX Light Rail zooms through the West Hills tunnel, going deeper than many of Portland’s tallest buildings. It ties into the Oregon Zoo and Forest Park, making it a cool underground route to some of the city’s best outdoor spots.
Holmestrand Station
When you roll into Holmestrand Station, you’re diving 60 meters below ground into solid Norwegian rock. Your train glides through a mountain tunnel that opens up to one of Europe’s coolest underground stations. This spot connects Oslo to other big Norwegian cities, so getting around this beautiful but rugged country just got a whole lot simpler. Pretty amazing what they carved out of that mountain.
Kungsträdgården Station
Hit up Kungsträdgården station and get ready for an underground treat. During the ’50s and ’60s demolition frenzy, somebody had the genius idea to rescue the coolest bits from old buildings and plaster them all over this place. Now you’ve got raw rock walls, colorful mosaics, and historic fragments creating this wild underground museum. You’re waiting for trains under “King’s Garden” in what’s probably Stockholm’s most jaw-dropping station.
Doai Station
Doai Station is Japan’s deepest station and also one of the scariest, operating completely unmanned with no staff present. You’ll have to use automated machines to get your boarding pass since there aren’t any card readers here. You’ll find yourself at a station that only sees five trains daily, leaving it feeling deserted and downright spooky. Ghost hunters and thrill-seekers flock here for good reason.
Villejuif Gustave Roussy
You’re going way down when you hit Villejuif Gustave Roussy Station—we’re talking 58 meters underground on Metro Line 14. You’re looking at one of France’s deepest subway stations here, sitting at the lowest spot on what’s basically one of the most high-tech train networks anywhere. It links that well-known Gustave Roussy cancer research center straight to downtown Paris, so patients and researchers get a direct shot right into the city center.
Hampstead Station
You’re looking at nearly two minutes in the elevator when you leave Hampstead Station. That’s because you’re 58.5 meters underground at the deepest point in London’s entire tube system. The engineers didn’t have much choice here—they had to burrow way down under one of the city’s massive hills just to get the connections right.
When you’re standing on that platform waiting, look down for a second. Way below you—we’re talking hundreds of feet down—there’s a whole other world of trains flying through tunnels you can’t even see. Engineers somehow figured out how to dig that deep and keep everything running smoothly. The logistics alone are incredible. If you love travel, technology, or just watching humans solve impossible problems, these underground transportation systems will absolutely blow your mind.
