When I am traveling in a new city, I love finding my way around the metropolis via public transportation. In my opinion, it’s the most convenient option and it’s a great place for people-watching. It’s frustrating when a city’s metro system is difficult to navigate, hard to use and complicated. 

When I studied abroad in London, the Tube was our only means of transportation. I took it daily and used it to travel to and from the airport for weekend trips. The tube is a pleasure — it’s easy to figure out, it’s clean and comfortable, and it’s convenient. Not to mention the added exercise of walking to and from the stations! While on weekend excursions, we tried the subway systems in Paris, Rome and Prague. None were as easy to use as London.

Domestically, I’ve used subways in Philadelphia, New York City, Chicago and Washington, D.C. Hands down, the cleanest, easiest to navigate and most convenient is the metro in our nation’s capital.

On my recent trip to Madrid, I was thrilled to discover how easy it was to use the city’s metro system. I landed very early in the morning at Madrid Barajas (MAD) and knew a cab would be expensive and long. I was exhausted, and I wanted an easy trip. After a quick transfer, I walked out of the subway station nearest my hotel, a bit worried about navigating to the property, to discover it standing right in front of me. I bought a five-day visitor pass and used the metro to get everywhere. The website was also convenient for giving me step-by-step metro directions.

These three cities are my top examples of A-plus metro systems and stellar public transportation. How do you prefer to navigate a new city? Which cities stand out to you as easily navigable?

— Kim Krol, managing editor