UNDERGROUND - We had to dig deep for this story. In fact, we sent our writers underground to find out which subway systems in the world are the best, from a tourist’s point of view.

Some things we already know about subways:

•Beijing’s is the longest — it stretches over 442 kilometres.

• New York’s has the most stations — 468.

• London’s Underground is the oldest — dating back to 1863.

• Lima’s is the youngest — it opened in 2012.

• Tokyo’s is the busiest — over 3 billion passengers annually.

• Moscow’s is the most beautiful — its stations look more like museums.

• And Montreal’s Metro is among the quietest in the world — thanks to the cars’ rubber wheels.

But for tourists, who rely mostly on public transportation when visiting cities, it’s important that subways and metros deliver them close to the action. So, based on their experiences, our staff compiled this Top 10 subway list and would like to share it with you:

1- MOSCOW — The Russian capital’s Metro system is also its biggest tourist attraction. Its stations are hidden deep beneath the city and the country’s most skilled artists and architects were employed to design and decorate the stops, which have often been called mini art museums. The most beautiful of Moscow’s Metro stations, according to staffer Jane Holt, is Mayakovskaya, named after the Russian poet Vladimir Mayakovsky. Its Art Deco design and ceiling covered with 34 of painter Alexander Deyneka’s most beautiful mosaics delighted Holt. Elektrozavodskaya station up the line is a close second to Mayakovskaya, thanks to its dome roof which pays homage to the pioneers of electricity, like Benjamin Franklin. Taking photographs in the stations is frowned upon and the Moscow Metro welcomes more than 7 million riders daily, so you’ll never feel lonely.

Above: Moscow's lavish subway stations are the loveliest in the world.

2- TOKYO — “You could eat off the floor in every Tokyo subway station,” reports staffer Janice Lees. Like everything else in Japan’s capital, the subway stations are spotless and the system ranks among the most efficient in the world. What’s most important, though, is that buying a ticket and trying to understand the subway’s routing map is made easy for non-Japanese speaking users. One important thing to remember about Tokyo’s subway is that every station has multiple exits and finding the right one, advises Lees, is important when finding the tourist attraction you want to visit.

3- TAIPEI — Every major Asian subway we tested got high marks for efficiency and cleanliness but Taipei’s ranked No. 1 for friendliness. Editor-in-Chief Marc Atchison was stunned when a young female rider offered him her seat and another offered to escort him to a transfer platform. “At first, the young woman’s gesture made me feel even older than I am, but later I was told that offering one’s seat to a tourist is a sign of friendship and respect for the Taiwanese,” reports our gallant leader. Taipei’s subway is actually one of the fastest in the world, reaching speeds of almost 100km/h and it’s one of the cheapest — for the equivalent of about $2 Cdn., you can travel 50 kilometres from downtown Taipei to outlying cities on the country’s sea coast.

Above: Subway stations in Asia are without a doubt the cleanest.

4- LONDON — This year, the London Underground celebrates its 150th birthday, and while most locals grumble about its efficiency and tourists are horrified at how much it costs to ride (about $6 Cdn), the Tube is the only way to get around Britain’s capital. Every day, about 3 million people squeeze into the Tube, the world’s first subterranean transportation system. London’s most famous landmarks and attractions can all be easily reached on the Tube, among them the British Museum, Buckingham Palace, the Tower of London, the Globe Theatre, Big Ben, the London Eye, Trafalgar Square and the city’s great outdoor markets. The Tube stations are among the deepest in the world and served the city well as air raid shelters when the Luftwaffe tried to level London during World War II. There are lots of celebrations planned around the Underground’s 150th anniversary and one London hotel, the Cadogan, is offering guests a “Piccadilly Line Cocktail” (pictured above) consisting of 10 ml lemon juice, 20 ml Elderflower Cordial, 40 ml apple juice, 60 ml champagne and 10 ml Blue Curacao. A few of these and you’ll need to take the Tube to get home. Go to www.cadogan.com to find out more about this charming hotel and drink.

Above: London's Underground is the oldest subway in the world.

5- PARIS — Dog poo litters the platforms and station attendants turn their pointy noses up at the tourists asking at which stop the Louvre can be found, but for our money the Paris Metro still ranks among the best in the world. It certainly brings out the romantic in most people — it’s not unusual to come upon two people locked in a lovers’ embrace (or maybe something more daring) when riding the Metro. The “Old World” stations look like they’ve all starred in spy movies and their Art Nouveau decoration is as stylish as anything you’ll find above ground at Paris’s famed museums. The Metro delivers tourists to all the major sites and landmarks and is the best way to avoid overpriced cabs and overcrowded streets. The Paris Metro just turned 112, and is getting better with age.

6- BARCELONA — The thing our writers liked most about Barcelona’s subway is that it’s like nothing they experienced anywhere else. It’s certainly one of the biggest systems in the world but how many undergrounds can boast of having a racetrack at one of its stops? That’s right, a go-kart track is featured at one of Barcelona’s larger stations — all part of a huge sports complex — while another has a shopping mall that’s every bit as impressive as Toronto’s Eaton Centre. Word of caution, though there are lots of pickpockets lurking in the shadows so we don’t advise you ride Barcelona’s subway alone at night.

7- NEW YORK — It’s old and dingy, the rails and switches are all worn out, rats populate the tunnels and the system is constantly breaking down. Despite all that, New York’s subway remains one of the city’s biggest tourist draws and is the most popular way to get around the Big Apple. “It sucks, but it works,” says staffer Steve Hope. Taking a trip on the New York subway is like taking a trip back to the city’s glory days — that excites some and scares others. The best station on the line is the one no one ever gets to see — the abandoned City Hall Station has been used in movie shoots but, since being closed in 1945, it’s only been opened once for a public showing. There are lots of characters that look like they stepped off the set of a Seinfeld show to keep you entertained, but it can be a bit dangerous so don’t ride alone at night.

Above: Many movies have been filmed on New York subways.

8- BEIJING — Completed for the 2010 Summer Olympics, the Beijing subway is now the fourth busiest in the world and helps visitors escape the pollution and traffic chaos that dominates the capital’s streets. The Beijing subway offers 16 lines and the fare of 2 yuan — about .30 cents Cdn — makes it the cheapest subway ride in the world. On April 28, 2012, the Beijing subway set a single-day ridership record of 8.59 million and city officials are hoping more of its 15 million residents will go underground to help relieve its growing traffic pains. “You take your life in your hands when crossing a street in Beijing because the drivers there have no regard for pedestrians, so using the subway is much safer,” advises staffer Karen Wang.

9- STOCKHOLM — Bet you didn’t even know the relatively compact Swedish capital had (or needed) a subway. But, staffer Jessica Martin reports the Stockholm Subway actually rivals Moscow’s Metro for its remarkable stations. “Locals call the subway the longest art gallery in the world and it is very impressive,” says Martin, who said she jumped off at many of the line’s 100 stations just to admire the modern designs. The Blue Line stations feature exposed bedrock and many travel companies now include a subway ride as part of their daily itineraries.

10- MONTREAL — We couldn’t end this list without including a Canadian subway — even though the choices are few. We appreciate the efficiency and safety record of Toronto’s subway but the dark, dingy stations leave much to be desired. And Vancouver’s and Edmonton’s Light Rail lines don’t really make the grade. So, that leaves Montreal as the only Canadian city with a world class subway system. Montreal’s Metro has been around since 1966, a year before the city welcomed the world to their fabulous Expo. Like so many European models, the Metro stations in Montreal are full are colourful art and most are big and spacious. The Metro, which handles more than 1 million riders a day, is regarded as one of the most beautiful in the world and, as mentioned earlier, the aging cars’ rubber wheels make it a joy to ride. •