The top 10 most beautiful train stations

As a Londoner, I’m no stranger to train stations. Amidst commutes or a weekend jaunt to greener suburbs, I remind myself to take a moment to appreciate the Victorian features of my beloved Denmark Hill, or look up to see the Thames cityscape through the glass of Blackfriars station. 

But the most exciting journeys to Europe begin in one of the world’s most elegant Victorian Gothic stations: St Pancras. It’s one of the few places that I’ll happily arrive early (a rarity for me) just to people-watch from the top floor Espresso Bar - a homage to the old train station waiting room. The lofty train shed of glass and iron pillars houses the “The Meeting Place Statue” (or ‘the lover's statue’) that greets visitors from across the continent as they disembark the Eurostar, and in more recent years, the pink neon glow of Tracy Emin’s text piece reads beautiful and simple: “I want my time with you”. 

Train stations were once a symbol of power and prestige. A way to stand out on the world stage. Thanks to the legacy left behind by the golden age of railway, in train stations today you’ll still find some of the most striking spaces in the world, showcasing the work of up-and-coming architects or preserving historical railway landmarks of yesteryear. There are botanical gardens to explore (more on that later), facades to admire, and Art Nouveau coffee houses for whiling away a few hours before boarding. So here's the shortlist: 10 stations that are too beautiful to simply pass through. So take a look around. For now, the train can wait. 

Madrid station 

Train station or greenhouse? Take both. In a bid to enhance the station after it was reopened to house the high-speed AVE services, Madrid Atocha station also became home to a lush greenhouse that now houses over 100 different species of tropical plants, koi ponds, and 15 manicured flower beds.

Antwerp

Frequently ranked as one of the most beautiful stations in the world, the rail entrance to Belgium’s diamond capital is not short on glamour. With a huge stone-clad facade, towering dome, marble floors and gold accents, Antwerp Central looks straight out of the pages of a Hollywood film. Oh, and you’ll walk straight out from the station into the city’s glitzy diamond district.

Gare du Nord

Opened in 1846 and designed by architect Jacques Hittorff, Eurostar terminus Gare du Nord is one of Europe's busiest and most architecturally significant railway stations. Its Beaux-Arts facade features 23 statues, each representing a different region served by the station. Head inside through the Corinthian columns and an arched portico, and the vast concourse is illuminated by an airy glass roof. Extend your stopover in the Brasserie Terminus Nord that’s been serving up travellers fine French fare since 1925.

Jack Cousin

York

When it opened in 1877, York railway station was said to be the largest railway station in the world, and quickly declared as ‘one of the great cathedrals of the Railway Age’. It was first built by the North Eastern Railway, including 13 platforms, a train shed, station buildings and a hotel, that was originally managed by the railway, and was the first hotel to be incorporated into a railway station. Today, the Grade II listed building still retains its character despite being heavily bombed in World War II.

São Bento

Porto’s São Bento station takes its name from the Benedictine monastery on which it was originally built in 1916. The main hall of the station houses over 20000 traditional azulejos tiles, created by artist Jorge Colaço in the early 20th century, depicting significant moments from Portuguese history, including the Battle of Valdevez and the Conquest of Ceuta. The traditional tiling and French Beaux-Arts influence have made the station a tourist attraction in its own right, even for those who’ve not arrived by train.

Neil Steventon

Marrakech train station

Marrakech Train Station was inaugurated in 2008, and blends contemporary design with traditional Moroccan architecture. The station’s exterior is a mix of glass, intricate mosaics, and traditional Moroccan arches. Located at the western end of Avenue Hassan II, Marrakech Station connects the city to Casablanca, Rabat, and Fes, and serves as the final stop on Morocco’s main north-south train line.

_tiffany/Flickr

Innsbruck Hungerburgbahn

Innsbruck's Hungerburgbahn station was designed by Iraqi-British architect, Zaha Hadid, and completed in 2007. Against the backdrop of the Nordkette mountains, the station features four lightweight structures made from curved glass and steel that float on concrete plinths, inspired by glacier formations. The striking choice of shapes and materials contrasts with traditional Alpine architecture, making it a key landmark for visitors. As part of the Hungerburg funicular, the station connects the city of Innsbruck to the Nordkette mountain range, enhancing its significance as a gateway to nature.

Milano Centrale Railway Station

One of Europe’s busiest stations has all the architectural grandeur to match. Its monumental design, marked by towering stone arches and Fascist-era architectural elements, reflects Italy’s early 20th-century political climate under Mussolini. Initially designed in 1912 by architect Ulisse Stacchini, the original plan was far simpler. When Mussolini rose to power, he envisioned the station as a symbol of Italy's prestige, leading to the grander, more imposing designs of Milano Centrale station as it is today.

James Hill

Prague Railway station

Brutalism and Art Nouveau might seem like an unlikely combination, but Prague Railway Station uniquely blends the two. Many travellers pass through the 1970s Brutalist concrete entrance without realising that the original Art Nouveau station still sits above the main concourse. Once home to the station's ticket counters, the historic hall now sits mostly empty. However, those in the know can head upstairs to the café to sip on melta, surrounded by the stained glass windows and ornamental decor—a gem hidden within the station's modern functionality.

Wrocław Główny

Think less train station, more palace. The honey-hued Tudor revival facade might not be quintessentially Polish, but Wrocław Główny is one of the few 19th-century railway buildings in Poland to have survived in such immaculate condition. The royal architect Wilhelm Grapow was the brains behind the building, who envisaged a station that was remarkable for both style and sheer scale, complete with a 200-metre-long central hall and grand exterior.