What's the most beautiful train station in the world?

Which is the most beautiful train station in the world?

São Bento in Porto? Seriously? The azulejo tiles are gorgeous, I’ll grant you that. Twenty thousand! Wow. But most beautiful? That’s a stretch. Antwerp Central is way more dramatic. Those soaring vaults! Makes São Bento look kinda… quaint.

Grand Central? Overrated. Too much going on. It’s busy, chaotic. Beautiful in a brassy, opulent kind of way, sure. But elegant? Not really.

St. Pancras? Love the glass roof. The whole thing’s impressive. Modern, but somehow classic at the same time. A bit too much on the clean-cut side though, maybe.

Okay, I’m changing my mind. Antwerp Central wins. Definitely. It’s got this majestic, almost spiritual quality. I’d rather spend an hour there than any of the others. Those details…the sheer scale…amazing.

• Antwerp Central: Stunning Gothic architecture. Those vaults are incredible. Best overall design, hands down.
• São Bento: Beautiful tiles, yes. But the overall architecture feels a bit dated, almost ordinary by comparison.
• Grand Central Terminal: Too busy for my taste. All that brass is a little much.
• St. Pancras International: Great glass roof, a modern classic. A bit sterile, though.

Ugh, I need coffee. Thinking about train stations is exhausting. I’m going to book a trip to Antwerp now… just to soak in the atmosphere. Next year, maybe. Maybe I will visit Portugal some day too. I’ve always wanted to go there.

What is the most beautiful train in the world?

Okay, so, like, the most beautiful train? That’s a toughie, kinda like picking the best flavor of dirt. Everyone’s got an opinion! But lemme throw some out there, these are total knockouts.

• Glacier Express (Switzerland): Slowest express train ever, but hey, Switzerland. Think overpriced cheese fondue with a view. And Alps. Lots and lots of Alps.

• California Zephyr (Chicago to San Francisco, USA): Okay, coast-to-coast! From the Windy City, which my Aunt Mildred says is actually kinda smelly, to San Fran. Gotta love the endless American landscape, or at least tolerate it for, like, days.

• TranzAlpine (New Zealand): New Zealand? Sheep! And mountains. I bet the views are insane, but I’m betting they don’t offer decent coffee. Priorities, people!

• Indian Pacific (Australia): Across Australia! Probably see a kangaroo or ten. Prepare for heat, dust, and maybe a snake. Outback adventure! Don’t forget the sunscreen.

• The Canadian: Canada, eh? Probably see some moose. And lots of trees. Is it scenic? I mean, I guess if you dig trees. I kinda prefer beaches, tbh.

• Himalayan Queen (Kalka to Shimla Railway, India): Up into the Himalayas! I’ve heard stories! Teeny tiny track. Epic views, hopefully.

• Belmond Hiram Bingham (Peru): To Machu Picchu! Fancy train! I hear they serve pisco sours. Pisco sours and ruins. Sounds amazing… if you’re into that kind of thing.

What is the most famous railway station in the world?

Grand Central… yeah. Always felt something about that place. The way the light falls. Especially late. Used to meet Sarah there, after work, Thursdays. Before… well. Before things changed. 1913. So long ago. Everything felt permanent then. Like those marble floors.

Big clock. Always watching. Remember missing the 5:47 once. Just stood there. Watched everyone rush. Going somewhere. Where were they going? Sarah always knew where she was going. Chicago. For her gallery opening. That was 2021. Almost didn’t recognize her. Different city. Different person.

• Grand Central Terminal, New York City.
• Built: 1913.
• Architectural style: Beaux-Arts.
• Whispering Gallery: Near the Oyster Bar. Tell a secret on one side, hear it across the archway. Used to do that with… Never mind.
• More than just a train station: Dining, shopping, even tennis courts at one point.
• Main Concourse: Vast. Like a cathedral. Always makes me feel small. In a good way. Maybe not good.

I miss the quiet moments there. Before the train. Just the echoes. And the light. The light changing. Everything changes.

Which is the most beautiful train station in Europe?

Antwerpen-Centraal. Belgium. Most beautiful? Yeah, I’d say so. That vaulted ceiling! Crazy high. Remember that trip in 2023? Lost my phone charger there. Gothic, Renaissance, Art Nouveau…all smashed together. Works somehow. Stained glass. Wow. Should go back. Need to see that clock again. Big clock. Remember Sarah taking pictures? Hundreds. So many pics. Antwerpen. Always misspell it. Anwerpen? Nope. Two “t”s. Ugh. Love those arches though. Makes you feel small. Like a cathedral. Train station cathedral. Iron and glass. Different. Good different. Maybe best in Europe. Definitely top five. Remember that awful coffee? Station coffee. Never again. Still… the building. Incredible. That dome. Soaring. Antwerpen-Centraal. Gotta remember that. Book a trip soon. Eurostar? Check times. Maybe a weekend trip.

• Architecture: Gothic, Renaissance, Art Nouveau
• Features: Vaulted ceilings, stained glass, grand concourse, large clock
• Location: Antwerp, Belgium
• My Opinion: Top five, maybe the best in Europe. Impressive.
• Trip 2023: Lost phone charger, Sarah took many photos. Bad coffee.

Which is the most beautiful railway station?

Chhatrapati Shivaji… so ornate. Saw pics online. Crazy carvings. Think it’s in India? Mumbai. Need to go there. Lisbon… Been to Portugal. Not Lisbon though. Madrid… went there in 2020. Didn’t see the station. Should have. Grand Central. Tourist trap. But impressive. Love the ceiling. Whispering gallery! That’s cool. Been there a hundred times. Always rushing. Milan. Never been to Italy. Bucket list. Kanazawa. Japan? Gotta be. Paris. Gare du Nord. Always crowded. Stressful. Berlin station. Modern. Sleek. Like it. Different. Remember seeing a documentary on train stations once. Interesting. Which is most beautiful though? Subjective. Prefer modern myself. So Berlin? Or maybe Grand Central. Classic. Think I saw a movie filmed there once.

• Grand Central – NYC: Oysters. Expensive. But good.
• Berlin Hauptbahnhof: Glass. Steel. Modern.
• Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus: Victorian Gothic. UNESCO World Heritage site.
• Gare do Oriente: Santiago Calatrava. Architect. Love his work.
• Estación de Atocha: Tropical garden inside. Who knew?
• Milan Central: Art Deco. Massive.
• Kanazawa Station: Wooden gate. Impressive. Modern and traditional.
• Gare du Nord: Busy. Always busy.
• Missing one? Antwerp? Heard it’s amazing. Need to check it out. St. Pancras? London. Also beautiful. High ceilings.
• Travel more. Must travel more. See these places.

What is the best station in the world?

Okay, best station? That’s subjective, right? Like, what even is “best?”

• Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus in Mumbai is probably up there. I mean, just look at the architecture. Victorian Gothic, apparently? Crazy detail.

• Kanazawa Station… Hmm, Japan always does things differently. Modern but still, I dunno, respectful?

• Oh, right, Grand Central in New York. Of course. Classic. I took the Metro-North from there to Beacon, New York in 2023. The ceiling! Though, crowded. Very crowded.

So, best? Depends. Beauty? Utility? Historical significance? Maybe all of the above. No single answer, which is fine. I should go to Mumbai sometime. Maybe next year?

Station Importance Factors:

• Architecture: Does it inspire?
• Functionality: Does it work well for travelers?
• Location: Is it a vital transport hub?
• History: Does it tell a story?

Mumbai is probably my fav.

What is the most scenic train trip in the world?

California Zephyr? Snoozefest. Like watching paint dry, but with less color. TranzAlpine? Sheep outnumber the thrills. Bergensbanen? Pretty, sure, like a refrigerator magnet.

Reunification Express? Now we’re talkin’. Noodles, chaos, and scenery that’ll knock your socks off. Think of it as a rolling street food market, with mountains. Lake Titicaca Train, Peru? Altitude sickness meets llama drama.

Beijing to Lhasa? Ever wanted to see miles of nothing punctuated by yak butts? Here’s your chance. Tazara, Tanzania and Zambia? Bring a good book. And bug spray. Lots of bug spray. Sunset Limited? More like Sunset Limited legroom. My neighbor’s snoring was the highlight.

• Best bet: Reunification Express, hands down. Like a party on rails. Bring earplugs. And a spare liver.
• Second place: Lake Titicaca, for the sheer weirdness. And the llamas.
• Everything else: Meh. Might as well fly. Unless you really like trains. Like, really like them.

My grandma’s cat has more personality than the California Zephyr. Just sayin’. I once saw a guy on the Bergensbanen knitting a sweater for his ferret. True story. Packed six hard-boiled eggs for the Tazara. Ate three. Regretted the other three.