The world’s 20 most spectacular railway stations

Antwerp’s ‘Railway Cathedral’, crowned by a Pantheon-inspired dome, remains one of Europe’s most beautiful stations - iStockphoto

There’s nothing like a grand railway station to fire the imagination and stoke the spirit of adventure. And don’t we have some great ones!

From St Pancras in London to Union Station in LA there are some truly magnificent buildings that reflect the age when the railways ruled supreme and the stations that served them were almost temple-like in their devotion and their design.

The list that follows is a selection of 20 of the greatest stations on the planet: most fall into the grand dame category, but several offer dazzling modern takes on the theme. All are well worth a visit – whether or not you’ve got a train to catch.

1. London St Pancras International, UK

St Pancras’s soaring red-brick Gothic façade and its 21st-century revival make it one of London’s greatest rail landmarks - Getty

Let’s start with a masterpiece: the magnificent, gothic, red-brick construction that epitomised the splendour (and deep pockets) of rail companies in the Victorian era.

Originally completed in 1868, the station was given an extensive revamp at the beginning of this century to enable it to become the terminus for the Channel Tunnel Rail Link. The adjoining George Gilbert Scott-designed Midland Grand Hotel was given a similar five-star makeover and is now the splendid St Pancras Renaissance.

Don’t miss: “The Kiss” statue underneath the station clock on the upper level of the station.

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2. London Paddington, UK

Designed by Isambard Kingdom Brunel, Paddington’s Victorian architecture still stands as a testament to Britain’s golden age of engineering - Getty

The handiwork of another stellar British designer – Isambard Kingdom Brunel – is still very much in evidence at Paddington, which, with its grand, wrought-iron and glass barrel-vaulted roof, is one of the world’s most atmospheric. Originally opened in 1838, the station serves great swathes of west and south-west England, and is forever associated with the adventures of a particularly endearing bear.

Don’t miss: The Royal Waiting Room, used by Queen Victoria (and now accessible to passengers travelling First Class with GWR).

Now boarding: If Brunel floats your boat, take the train to Bristol Temple Meads, another station bearing his imprint (from £25; gwr.com).

3. Paris Gare de Lyon, France

Le Train Bleu is a historic and opulent establishment known for its lavish Belle Époque decor - Jan Kranendonk

Although originally opened in 1849, the building that is today’s Gare de Lyon was significantly expanded to coincide with the holding of the World Exposition in Paris in 1900. With its distinctive clock tower, ornate interiors and grand staircases, it reflects the grandeur of the age. It also contains what must be the finest station restaurant in the world: Le Train Bleu.

Don’t miss: The oil painting murals that adorn the Le Train Bleu restaurant. Magnifique!

Now boarding: Race to the sun by taking a TGV to arrive in Nice in just under six hours (from £30; sncf-connect.com).

4. Antwerpen-Centraal, Antwerp, Belgium

With its grand dome, intricate façade and lavish mix of marble and stone, Antwerpen-Centraal fully earns its nickname: the Railway Cathedral - Edwin Remsberg/VWPics/Universal Images Group via Getty Images

With a dome inspired by the Pantheon in Rome and a breathtakingly luxurious interior, Antwerp’s central station is often hailed as the “Railway Cathedral”. Designed by Bruges architect Louis Delacenserie, it was opened in 1905 and immediately declared a masterpiece of Beaux-Arts and Art Nouveau architecture. In addition to intricate sculptures and ornate details on its grand façade, it boasts several towers and more than 20 kinds of marble and stone.

5. Amsterdam Centraal, Netherlands

With its grand Gothic–Renaissance Revival exterior, Amsterdam Centraal still feels more like a palace than a station - iStockphoto

The Dutch, too, injected style and swagger into the construction of the main station serving Amsterdam, which opened in 1884. Designed by Pierre Cuypers, who also masterminded the Rijksmuseum, it is adorned with turrets and stone reliefs depicting the city’s one-time industrial and commercial prowess. It features a Gothic/Renaissance Revival façade and has also been likened to a palace or cathedral.

Don’t miss: The Cuyperspassage tunnel, underneath the station, which is decorated with 80,000 glazed Delft Blue tiles.

6. São Bento Railway Station, Porto, Portugal

São Bento train station in Porto is a historic landmark, famous for its main hall decorated with over 20,000 blue-and-white azulejo tiles - Ventura Carmona

Talking of tiles, the entrance hall of the main station serving Porto is a marvel to behold – whether or not you have a train to catch. A total of 20,000 azulejo ceramic tiles depict in blue and white scenes from Portuguese history and bucolic settings from the nearby vineyards of the Douro Valley.

The station – Saint Benedict in English – takes its name from the 16th-century monastery that was previously on the site. It is built in the Beaux-Arts style and opened in 1916.

Don’t miss: Without doubt, the tiles.

Now boarding: Hop on a train for a spectacularly scenic journey along the Douro; alight at Pinhão for more tiled treasures (from £11; cp.pt).

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7. Helsinki Central Railway Station, Finland

With its Art Nouveau detailing and iconic lantern bearers, Helsinki’s century-old station stands as one of the city’s most celebrated architectural feats - Jon Hicks

Grandeur takes many forms – as evinced by the monumental structure that has served as Helsinki’s main railway station since 1919. Designed by Eliel Saarinen, it draws on elements of the Art Nouveau style so fashionable at the time but gives them a distinctively Finnish feel. Its vast clock tower, lantern bearers and asymmetrical design has made it a site of pilgrimage for architecture fans down the decades.

Don’t miss: Nearby Senate Square is home to a statue of Tsar Alexander II who in the 1860s issued the decree for the construction of the first railway line to Helsinki.

Now boarding: The “Santa Claus Express” sleeper train that runs from Helsinki to Kemijärvi, home to a certain white-bearded gentleman (sleeper cabin for two from £220; vr.fi).

8. Madrid Atocha, Spain

Spain’s busiest rail hub, Madrid Atocha connects the capital to the country via Renfe’s extensive AVE high-speed network - The Image Bank RF

Rail supremo Mark Smith, alias the Man in Seat 61, hails Madrid Atocha as one of his all-time favourite stations – or rather, the combination of its two stations: the original iron-and-glass structure from 1892, now transformed into a tropical garden with palm trees and ponds, and the modern terminal from which high-speed services whisk passengers to Bilbao, Barcelona and Seville.

Don’t miss: The nearby Parque del Retiro and the Reina Sofia Museum containing works by Picasso and Dali.

9. Villejuif-Gustave Roussy, Paris, France

With daylight pouring 150ft down through its open concrete cylinder, Paris’s Villejuif–Gustave Roussy station is already winning global design praise - Alamy

This dazzling new Metro station in the suburbs of Paris totally transforms the experience of travelling underground by incorporating an open concrete cylinder which allows natural daylight to reach platforms more than 150ft below. Inside the cylinder is a series of galleries and balconies connected by footbridges and escalators. There’s lots of glass and stainless steel; admirers include the judges of the 2025 Prix Versailles, who declared it one of the most beautiful stations in the world.

Don’t miss: The artistic use of neon lights and mirrors on the platforms that evoke a starry sky.

Now boarding: The station is planned as a key interchange in the Grand Paris Express Metro network which will link the suburbs without crossing the city.

10. Hungerburgbahn, Innsbruck, Austria

Zaha Hadid’s flowing, ice-like designs make the Hungerburgbahn one of Europe’s most distinctive funicular journeys

A less obvious location for stations with a futuristic tint comes just outside Innsbruck where the Hungerburgbahn funicular whisks passengers from the city centre to the base of the Nordkette mountain range. All four stops have stations designed by British architect Zaha Hadid who, inspired by the local ice and glacial formations, came up with double-curved glass roofs that give the impression of having melted.

Don’t miss: Get out at Alpenzoo for, as the name suggests, sightings of bearded vultures, Alpine ibex and possibly a bear or two.

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11. Kuala Lumpur Railway Station, Malaysia

Kuala Lumpur’s century-old station blends Mughal and Western styles in a sweep of arches, chhatris and minarets - iStockphoto

Pioneering railway adventurer/writer/influencer Paul Theroux declared Kuala Lumpur station to be “the grandest in south-east Asia”, and who could disagree? With its striking mix of Western and Mughal styles, flamboyant arches and chhatris (dome-shaped pavilions), ornate facades and minarets, it is irresistible. Built between 1910 and 1917, it was the city’s main hub for nearly a century before most traffic was moved to KL Sentral.

Don’t miss: The Malayan Railway Administration Building, another impressive structure close to the station.

Now boarding: Some of the Malaysian itineraries of Belmond’s luxurious Eastern & Oriental Express make a stop at the original Kuala Lumpur station (three-night journeys from £3,560; belmond.com).

12. Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus, Mumbai, India

A fusion of Victorian Gothic and Indian architecture, Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus dazzles with domes, turrets and gargoyles - Mint Images

Another dramatic architectural blend – in this case of Victorian Gothic and traditional Indian – has elevated Mumbai’s main station to Unesco-listed status. Here again there is a wild flourish, of domes, turrets, gargoyles, columns, statues and sculptures. And historic pedigree: the station was completed in 1887, the year of Queen Victoria’s Golden Jubilee. Unlike some of its grandest stations, this remains one of India’s busiest.

Don’t miss: The statue of a female figure representing “progress” on top of the station’s octagonal dome.

13. Bangkok Railway Station (Hua Lamphong), Thailand

Hua Lamphong’s neo-Renaissance grandeur and vintage locomotives make it Bangkok’s most characterful railway station - iStockphoto

Although no longer the main train hub for Bangkok, Hua Lamphong, as it is commonly termed, is considerably more impressive than the modern Krung Thep Aphiwat on the outskirts of the city. Opened in 1916 and built in Italianate-neo-Renaissance fashion with decorated wooden roofs and stained glass windows, the old station still has a majestic feel (aided by portraits of members of the Thai royal family) and remains a terminus for some services. It also has steam and diesel locomotives on permanent display, making it a veritable living museum.

Don’t miss: the three-headed elephant statue outside the station.

Now boarding: Hua Lamphong is the starting point for a newly launched eight-night tour of northern Thailand on the heritage Blue Jasmine train (from £5,780).

14. Kanazawa Station, Japan

Kanazawa’s striking Tsuzumi-mon Gate gives the station a shrine-like grandeur - Alamy

A truly great railway station is always something of a shrine, nowhere more so than Kanazawa in Japan’s Horuriku region, which is defined by the Tsuzumi-mon Gate, a huge wooden entrance resembling a cross between a traditional wooden hand drum and a sacred torii. Add to that the hugely impressive Motenashi Dome glass structure that houses the station and you have something worthy of adoration.

Don’t miss: The nighttime illuminations of the gate.

Now boarding: Toyama, gateway to the Northern Japanese Alps, is reached in 20 minutes by Shinkansen bullet train (from £16; baolau.com).

15. Grand Central Terminal, New York, United States

With 44 platforms and its famed Beaux-Arts design, Grand Central remains New York’s most iconic station - Tomm L

The biggest and the best? Certainly there is no station in the world with more platforms – 44 – than Grand Central, a New York landmark which opened in 1919 when the US railroad was at its zenith.

It’s famous for its Beaux-Arts architecture, blue barrel-vaulted ceiling mural, whispering gallery, the world’s largest Tiffany clock – oh, and a tennis court. Add to that some 60 shops and 35 restaurants and you’ve got plenty of reasons to visit.

Now boarding: Take the Hudson Line from Grand Central to Poughkeepsie for great views of the river along the way (from £30; mta.info or at station).

16. Union Station, Los Angeles, United States

Often called the last of the great US rail stations, LA’s Union Station mixes Art Deco elegance with Spanish Colonial style - S. Greg Panosian

Opening in 1939 at the tail end of the golden age of train travel in the US, Union Station is often referred to as “the last of the great railway stations”. And, boy, what a way to bow out. Conceived on a grand scale, this is another station with an almost monastic feel, a fusion of Art Deco and Spanish Colonial Revival style architecture with a distinctive clock tower, grand colonnades and halls, and a tropical feel to the manicured courtyard outside.

Don’t miss: The waiting room, with its vaulted ceilings, stenciled tiles and chandeliers.

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17. Flinders Street Station, Melbourne, Australia

Flinders Street Station’s yellow façade and green dome make it Melbourne’s most recognisable landmark - Moment RF

With its rich yellow facade, green dome and cupolas, Australia’s oldest station is arguably Melbourne’s most distinctive building and to this day, a very active train hub, albeit for shorter journeys. Trains first ran from here in 1854 but the current structure dates from the early 20th century, after which, for a while, it was the busiest station in the world. In its heyday the upper floors hosted a gym, library and a lecture hall, which was later used as a ballroom.

Don’t miss: The Yarra River, visible from the station’s southern entrances and platforms.

Now boarding: There’s a 13-minute tram ride to the beachside suburb of St Kilda (about £3; transport.vic.gov.au).

18. Dunedin Railway Station, New Zealand

With its mosaic of 750,000 porcelain tiles, Dunedin’s storybook station is one of New Zealand’s most distinctive landmarks - David C Tomlinson

It may be on the other side of the world, but Dunedin station on New Zealand’s South Island bears all the hallmarks of its European heritage. The architectural style – Flemish Renaissance-meets-Edwardian Baroque – incorporates a clock tower, an impressive limestone and basalt facade and an ornate interior containing a mosaic floor made of almost 750,000 Royal Doulton porcelain tiles. Its fairy-tale look has earned it the moniker “Gingerbread House”.

Don’t miss: The New Zealand Sports Hall of Fame, housed inside the station.

19. Maputo Central Railway Station, Mozambique

Maputo’s century-old station reflects Mozambique’s colonial-era rail ambitions - iStockphoto

Another glimpse of Europe in far-flung corners, the Central Railway Station in Mozambique’s capital city dates back over 100 years to the time when the country’s Portuguese rulers dreamt of a rail link to its other big African colony, Angola. It never came to fruition but the station’s gorgeous copper dome and grandiose Beaux-Arts facade make it to this day one of Maputo’s top attractions.

Don’t miss: A museum in the station contains old locomotives and historical displays.

Now boarding: International services linking Maputo to Johannesburg and Bulawayo by train remain uncertain; for local train routes, see www.cfm.co.mz.

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20. Qasr Al-Hokm Station, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Riyadh’s Qasr Al-Hokm station pairs a vast stainless-steel cone with Najdi design influences - Maya Anwar

With its vast, conical, stainless-steel canopy, this extraordinary building in the Arabian Desert shows just how much station design has evolved. The reflective canopy, which holds a mirror up to the surrounding Al Doho district, exemplifies a unique blend of traditional Najdi architecture with cutting-edge modernity, making this another worthy winner of an award for outstanding architecture at the Prix Versailles 2025.

Don’t miss: The enclosed oasis-like underground garden.

Now boarding: The station is a major interchange, linking the Orange and Blue lines of the Riyadh Metro; for details of services, see my.gov.sa

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