Not every train station is much to look at - focused more on efficiency than beauty. Anyone who has battled through the drab concourse at London Euston will know it is more concrete than charm.
But elsewhere in the world, some stations are so stunning that they are worth a visit, even if you are not catching a train. In fact, some are so impressive that they have been given a prestigious award by Prix Versailles, a series of architectural competitions which also includes airports, hotels and other buildings. Now, it has released the 2025 edition of its "World's Most Beautiful Passenger Stations List". From grand old halls to modern glass landmarks, these are some of the world's prettiest train stations - many of which can be found in Europe and just a short trip from the UK.
An impressive two spaces on the list have been claimed by France, with both found just a few hours from the UK. Saint-Denis Pleyel lies in Saint-Denis, in the northern suburbs of Paris. Built as part of the Grand Paris Express project, the station was opened on June 24, 2024, as the terminus of Line 14. In the future, the station will also serve the orbital Line 15 and be the terminus of lines 16 and 17.
Built over nine levels, the station expects to accommodate a quarter of a million passengers a day - comparable to Châtelet-Les Halles, the largest underground station in the world. The station was designed by Japanese architect Kengo Kuma, who was selected following an international architectural competition.
Also located in France is the impressive Villejuif-Gustave Roussy station, which lies 40 minutes south of Paris and opened its doors on January 18, 2025. It is an underground station that serves Lines 14 and 15 (the latter of which is expected to fully open late next year) of the Paris Métro and also forms part of the Grand Paris Express Project like Saint-Denis Pleyel.
The station was designed by the architectural firm Dominique Perrault Architecture. It is an underground cylindrical station with an open-air, multi-layered roof, built in the style of an "upside-down skyscraper". It is also one of France's deepest passenger stations.
In fact, a recent visitor to Gustave Roussy described it as a "masterpiece". "Public money well spent," they said, adding, "It's absolutely stunning! A big win for Parisian transit and urban planning!"
Across the border in Belgium lies the Mons railway station, which boasts a suspended canopy that is a nod to the Galerie de la Reine shopping arcade in Brussels. The station originally opened in 1841 but underwent an impressive transformation this year. The judging panel said: "It's a streamlined style made up of steel and dazzling white to form a cathedral-like walkway".
Other stations receiving the award include Gadigal Station in Sydney, Australia. The name honours the Aboriginal people who were the original custodians of the land in the area. The inside of the station is decorated with bright tiles in colours such as yellow, purple, red and blue. Baiyun Station in Guangzhou, China, has also won the award for its recent transformation, which has added shops and even an urban park. It is dedicated to an incredible 24 high-speed train lines, six subway lines and three bus terminals.
Like France, Saudi Arabia claimed two stations on the list, both in the central city of Riyadh. One is KAFD Station, which covers an area of nearly 88,000 square foot. Designed by UK-based Zaha Hadid Architects, its inspiration was drawn from mashrabiya screens and patterns generated by desert winds in sand dunes. It opened to the public in December 2024.
The final spot on the list goes to Qasr Al Hokm Station, also in Riyadh, which has been described as resembling a "periscope" due to the glass roof that reflects light throughout the station. Designed in 2012 and covering an incredible 211,000 square foot, it even houses an indoor garden.
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