I found the metro a cinch to use and curiously enough I found the tube more complicated. I may go to Madrid and Lisbon next spring. How is the transportation there?
I have often wondered which European city has the most user friendly city?

One's opinion of user-friendliness comes generally from long experience.

In my case, I've found Paris and London to have excellent subway systems. Easy to grasp, rationally located stops, but not necessarily the cleanest.

On the other hand, I've never been able to grasp the New York subway system -- the map has always thrown me for a loop -- and I've been using it off and on since 1937. Maybe I am just a clutz.

Dear USNR

NO NO - I agree - having had the pleasure of travelling on lots of metro systems - Paris and London yes - ease of use! NYC - map is ok - but there seems to be a lot of information that you somehow have to gather! rather than it being clear!

Anyhow London - Paris get my vote as well -

John

Madrid and Barcelona both have good Metro systems although the one in Barcelona is less extensive than the one in Madrid but given that Madrid is larger that makes sense.

The other Metro systems ARE a piece of cake when compared to the U-Bahn/S-Bahn combo in Berlin...when you look at THAT map your vision can definitely go out of focus.

All of these systems are "user-friendly" IMO once you learn how to use them. Some people allow themselves to BE "overwhelmed" by Metro systems which is really sad.

I have had no trouble understanding the metro in Paris or London(tube). I found people to be very helpful if I had a question.

Not Europe, but I thought Montreal
s public transportation system was amazingly good.

I would actually put in a vote for Oslo's system of subways, Trams, trains and Buses as extensive and pretty good considering the city is only 500k people. I especially like that fact that the Subways, trains and trams all use the same track-width so that they can be used interchangably which they are taking advantage of...
But if you truly want a best of comparison you might want to include dependant on city size otherwise London would get my vote right away...

Sindre

I vote for Paris. The buses and metro are more likely to be running on time.

A toss between London and Paris.

I thought Montreal's trains were SUPER fast! Great city, too.

I had a little trouble on the Paris Metro a few years ago. I exited one of the stations by mistake and couldn't for the life of me find my way back into it! It was near the Louvre, that's all I remember. I ended up just walking down the Champs'de lese (sp?) until I found the next station, which was not really a bad thing, except it was pretty late at night and I was unsure what time the last train ran!

Was in NYC last summer for the first time. My first look at the Subway map scared me, but after a very nice local person helped me deciper my route and how to read the map, how to tell an express from a local, it was no problem from there.

Which European city has the best transportation?

Venice, of course!

Byrd

No doubt, Berlin. One ticket covers all modes, night and day, everyhting is clearly marked & modern.

My vote goes to Paris with London as a close second. Others that I can think of definitely do not compare in ease of use and efficiency.