10 Visually Stunning Train stations to visit in Europe /// ///

‘Baroque-medieval eclecticism’ is how Antwerpen-Centraal’s station designer, Louis Delacenserie, described his masterpiece. Built between 1899 and 1905, it’s been dubbed the ‘Railway Cathedral’ for its grand ecclesiastical appearance. The vast steel-and-glass platform canopy soars 141 feet (43m) high and has been crafted to accommodate steam train smoke. Elsewhere, the vaulted ceiling, which is topped with a dome that reaches a high point of 246 feet (75m), was modeled on the Pantheon in Rome.

Another creation from architect Sanitago Calatrava, Lisbon’s Oriente Station sits just north of the city, near Lisbon International Airport. This contemporary design is inspired by Gothic architecture. Dozens of white steel ‘trees’ connect to create a canopy over the platforms. The main entrance has Calatrava’s signature fan design. Look out for the brightly-colored tile murals on the station platforms by international artists like Yayoi Kusama and Antonio Segui.

Flam railway station looks like any other Norwegian station from the 1940s. The setting, however, is phenomenally beautiful. Views of snow-dusted mountains, lush forests and icy waterfalls abound. It’s easy to see why the incredibly steep two-hour return train journey from Flam to Myrdal is considered one of the most beautiful in the world. Look out for Myrdal mountain, with its summit 2,841 feet (866m) above sea level.

The Flåm Railway has been described as one of the most beautiful train journeys in the world and is one of the leading tourist attractions in Norway. The train runs from the end of Aurlandsfjord, a tributary of the Sognefjord, up to the high mountains at Myrdal station.