Europe is a stunning continent, not only with its impressive structures that continue to remind us of its grand history but also its astounding natural wonders. One of the best ways to appreciate the beauties of this colourful region is by luxury train.
There are many reasons to explore the continent through train travel, and among them is that train tours in Europe offer uninterrupted views. Well connected through railways, almost every country in this continent offers this service, and there are a lot of luxury train vacation packages to choose from, and they include night journeys. As you would imagine, there are stunning European train stations and with that in mind, here is our list of the top train stations in Europe in terms of beauty.
Antwerp Cental Railway Station
This majestic structure would be on everyone’s list; built in the late 19th century to replace an older building, stone is used in a fine old European style, with arches and arched windows and a stunning 75m high dome over the main waiting area. Trains from this station takes you through Belgium and into France, the gateway of Europe.
St. Pancras, London
The Victorian era saw this amazing structure come to being; a large iron roof is the centre-piece, which was delivered by train over 150 years ago when the Industrial Revolution was in full swing. You really do appreciate the majesty of this amazing structure as you walk under the central roof and realise how big it actually is!
Milano Centrale, Italy
This is Italy’s second largest train station, which was built in 1935 to replace an older station, is the closest to Art Deco, which was big at the time. There are more than 10,000 sqm of marble tiles within the structure, which takes some cleaning! Stunning statues can be found in every corner and the facade is 200m long, which makes for impressive Instagram images. As you walk under the huge clock suspended from the ceiling by four iron bars, you can appreciate the level of skill that went into inlaying the glass into the roof, with two glorious Roman pillars at the far end of the central area.
Leipzig Central Station, Germany
Built in 1915, this is one of the biggest stations in Europe. Its huge facade is more than 300m on length, looking very impressive. Behind the front are 12 iron train sheds that house the locomotives, each with two walkways to access both sides of the carriages. The 1990s saw a make-over that included a level of modernisation that made it the biggest train station in Europe.
Luzern Train Station, Switzerland
Construction finished in 1895 and glass is featured prominently in this classic style, with a huge triple arch and a central clock; a fire all but destroyed the station in 1971 and it was rebuilt with improvements. The front arch is the only part of the original building that still stands – there are stunning murals on the walls with a transparent waiting hall.
Of course, your list might be very different to ours and if you would like to learn more about luxury train travel in Europe, start with an online search to find a leading luxury train tour operator and check out the many routes that pass through all parts of the European continent.
