The 10 Most Beautiful Train Stations in Europe

The railway is by far the most popular way to explore Europe, and the system is very well-developed. Since it has been so popular for so many years, there are numerous stations in Europe, most of them extremely beautiful, so if you have a deep appreciation for gorgeous architecture in urban cityscape, consider seeing some of them!

To help you out, we have prepared a list of the top 10 most beautiful train stations in Europe.

London St. Pancras Station, England, UK

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London St. Pancras Station is a central London railway terminus on Euston Road and one of the most beautiful train stations in Europe.

Initially, in the 1960s, there were plans to demolish the station and give its services to King’s Cross and Euston, but then the terminal underwent £800 million reconstruction and improvements and later on, was opened by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II herself. Now St. Pancras has 15 platforms, a shopping center, and a coaching facility.

It has a wide variety of routes you can take from here. For example, you can board a train and reach Belgium, London to Paris train to see France, or even travel to the Netherlands.

You could easily mistake the station for any historical building in London since its appearance is nothing short of extraordinary. Built in Victorian Gothic architecture style, the terminal is considered the most impressive one in England.

Amsterdam Central Station, the Netherlands

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The largest terminal in European Union, Amsterdam Central Station, serves over 260.000 passengers every day, not to mention the mightiness it stands with overlooking the city.

The Gothic, Renaissance Revival masterpiece was built in 1889 and designed by Dutch architect Pierre Cuypers, who made the impressive decision to cover the roof in 40 meters cast iron platform. As a result, when you observe Amsterdam from a further or higher point of view, the roof really stands out in the general cityscape, and just like St. Pancras in London, it looks more like a historical building than a train station.

Both the facade and interior are lavishly decorated, so you will definitely have something to look at while you wait for a train.

Antwerp Central Railway Station, Belgium

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Also known as the Middle station or even the Railroad Cathedral, Antwerp was first used in 1905 and built with a steel platform covering and the stone station building. It is just as massive and impressive as you might think the most beautiful station in Belgium would be, and the whole design is quite eclectic.

Discover the perfectly-matching vast dome above the waiting room, the viaduct, and the stone walls. It has been said that Antwerp Central Station is the perfect example of Railway Architecture in Belgium, even though the intricate designs of the station are hard to copy and apply to other ones. By the way, in 2009, the station was voted the fourth most-beautiful train station in the world, according to Newsweek magazine!

Madrid Atocha Railway Station, Spain

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Many people declare Madrid Atocha Railway Station the most beautiful station in the world, and it is a stunning, inseparable part of the city and an architectural wonder. Even though it overcame many dramatic changes since its first construction in 1851, it remains a solid, signature site to all of the Spaniards, and tourists, as well!

The highlight of Atocha is the tropical garden growing in the middle of the station, mindblowing with the way it goes against the grim ironworks and the whole urban look.

The trains here can get you anywhere you want in Spain, and a bit further. You can easily reach La Rioja or board the train to Seville, as well as see Alicante, or visit Catalonia via the Madrid to Barcelona train. The world of Spain is your oyster!

Rotterdam Central Station, the Netherlands

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Another one for the Netherlands! Seems like the country is successful in designing train stations, huh? You will have to see for yourself, but we can tell you a bit about it.

The station is very modern and displays many features of contemporary art. It was officially opened in 2014, making it a very young station compared to others on our list. The fact that it managed to receive such praise among these old-fashioned terminals is quite amazing!

A window wall and transparent roof allow a lot of light to get in, so it is not grim or scary as other train stations tend to be generally. Rotterdam Central Station also has the largest rooftop solar projectors in Europe!

Milano Centrale, Italy

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If you know anything about Milan, its aesthetic is quite clear, and the Milano Centrale station fits right into it. It is a mix of Liberty style and Art-Deco, working perfectly together to create an impressive light facade and cozy, despite its size, interior.

The terminal features almost 11.000 square meters of marble footing, powerful stone sculptures, and five train sheds. From some angles, the inside of Milano Centrale looks like the inside of an art gallery. Which, honestly, goes quite well with the whole Italian vibe.

Lisbon Rossio Station, Portugal

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The iconic Neo-Manueline building is often mistaken for a theater or at least a national landmark of some sort. That is how you know the station is really impressive! And it absolutely is!

While the Portuguese say that Lisbon Rossio lost a lot of its charm since undergoing major changes and improvements, we cannot agree, for it is still magnificent. However, it does apply when people call it a bit strange, though it has nothing to do with it being in some way weird. On the contrary, the strange part is how different the architecture is, compared to other stations.

Pinhao Train Station, Portugal

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Well, we did not go far, did we? Pinhao is a small, quaint, and lovely city with traditional Portuguese wineries and views of the Douro River and Valley. It also has this very cute train station that, while not an architectural masterpiece, still applies to be one of the most beautiful ones in Europe.

The whole station gives off a strong nostalgic vibe, with old-school pictures and mosaics on the walls, a bit grimy, and a lot vintagey waiting rooms and platforms. However, the colors and flower motives make it very Meditteranean and somehow very authentic.

Luzern Train Station, Switzerland

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Like everything else in Switzerland, the Luzern Train Station is a lavish establishment, which was just as much of Switzerland’s signature landmarks in 1896 as it is now.

It serves both domestic and international routes, so it is frequented every day by the Swiss and by tourists. The bold and spacious concourse featuring glass and concrete makes it into a grandiose building, perfectly matching Switzerland’s landscapes and general aesthetic. No doubt - Luzern Train Station to the Swiss is a part of their history!

Leipzig Central Station, Germany

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Opened at the beginning of the 20th century, Leipzig Central Station is, in terms of area, the largest terminal in Europe.

The station has 19 overground platforms with frequent trains that take you to a wide range of different cities. However, it is not only the efficiency that is impressive here, and, well, it is not really what this list is about, right? While relatively unimpressive from the outside, the inside of Leipzig Central Station stuns you with the multi-level concourse, towering stone arches, a 300 meters-long facade, and spacious, glorious waiting rooms.

Build your itinerary in a way that you can see at least some of the mentioned railway stations! Even if you do not end up traveling via them, most can be visited as literal museums. So, pack your bags, dot the i’s, and cross the t’s - time to go. All aboard, and good luck!

Written by: Tim Smith Tags: Belgium, Europe, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Switzerland, United Kingdom