The 7 Most Beautiful Train Stations in the World in 2026

The Prix Versailles International Architecture Award has named the seven most beautiful passenger stations in the world for 2026. The list includes transportation facilities in Australia, France, Italy, Saudi Arabia, and the United States, which were recognized for their architecture, innovative solutions, and connection to local culture. Among them are the metro station near the Colosseum in Rome, an underground art installation in Naples, the futuristic stations in Riyadh, and the new transit hub near Los Angeles International Airport.

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Town Hall Station in Melbourne, Australia

Town Hall Station opened in downtown Melbourne in late 2025 as part of the new Metro Tunnel. The station is located beneath Swanston Street and is connected by an underground passage to the main Flinders Street Station. Nearby are Federation Square, St. Paul’s Cathedral, Melbourne Town Hall, theaters, and the National Gallery of Victoria.

The main feature of Town Hall is its expansive underground space. The central hall is supported by eight large columns shaped like tree branches, and the vaulted ceiling creates a cathedral-like effect. The platforms are located more than 25 meters underground and are approximately 18 meters wide, making them among the widest of any underground metro stations in the world. Above the platforms is a 10-meter-high arched ceiling featuring decorative light fixtures designed and manufactured in Melbourne.

For travelers, Town Hall is significant for more than just its design. The station provides quick access to Melbourne’s central tourist districts and has become one of the key hubs of the city’s new transit network.

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Lyon Part-Dieu in Lyon, France

Lyon Part-Dieu is one of France’s major transportation hubs and a major transfer station in the European rail network. Following a large-scale modernization completed in 2025, the station gained more space for passengers, new entrances, galleries, and more convenient walkways between platforms. The station serves approximately 120,000 people daily.

The architects emphasized openness and natural lighting. Large glass facades visually integrate the station with the Part-Dieu district, and a new pedestrian gallery runs through the station, providing direct access to the platforms. The project also incorporated durable materials and greenery to make the space more comfortable and better integrate it into the urban environment.

Prix Versailles included Lyon Part-Dieu on its list of the world’s most beautiful passenger stations for 2026. The station was recognized not only for its appearance but also for how the renovation improved transfers, passenger flow, and the station’s interaction with the surrounding neighborhood.

Learn more about the 4 most beautiful train routes in 2026 by following the link.

Colosseo–Fori Imperiali in Rome, Italy

Colosseo–Fori Imperiali has become one of Rome’s most striking new metro stations.

It is located next to the Colosseum and the Roman Forum, so during construction, the designers had to work in an area of exceptional archaeological significance. Some of the artifacts discovered were integrated directly into the station’s interior, transforming it into a unique underground museum.

The design is built on the contrast between modern infrastructure and ancient heritage. Spacious passageways, understated materials, and museum-like elements do not distract from the historical context but, on the contrary, emphasize it. For passengers, this means that their encounter with ancient Rome begins even before they emerge above ground.

Prix Versailles included Colosseo–Fori Imperiali on its list of the world’s most beautiful passenger stations of 2026 precisely because of its successful blend of transportation, architecture, and archaeology. This is a rare example where a modern metro station is not merely located near a landmark but actually becomes part of its cultural environment.

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Monte Sant’Angelo in Naples, Italy

Monte Sant’Angelo stands out not for its scale, but for its form. It was designed by British-Indian artist Anish Kapoor, known for his large-scale sculptural installations. The station’s entrance is designed as a massive metal structure with flowing, almost organic lines.

The interior continues this concept: dark surfaces, curved walkways, and unconventional geometry make the space resemble not a typical subway station, but an underground sculpture. The architecture functions as part of the route, rather than merely as a shell for transportation.

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National Museum Station in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

National Museum Station made the Prix Versailles 2026 shortlist thanks to its architecture, which references the natural landscape of Saudi Arabia. The station’s silhouette is defined by smooth lines reminiscent of sand dunes, and large canopies shield passenger areas from the sun. The Prix Versailles specifically highlighted the project’s connection to the local environment and culture.

The station is part of the Riyadh Metro—one of the largest new urban metro systems in the world. The entire network is designed to handle millions of trips daily and was created as an alternative to car travel in a city where private cars have long been the primary mode of transportation. This is particularly important for Riyadh due to its rapidly growing population and the great distances between neighborhoods.

National Museum Station also holds significance for tourism. It serves an area connected to the National Museum of Saudi Arabia and the capital’s historic center. As a result, the station effectively functions as a transportation gateway to one of Riyadh’s major cultural districts. In the 2026 ranking, Saudi Arabia is represented by two stations: National Museum Station and Western Station.

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Western Station in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Western Station is one of the main transfer stations on the Riyadh Metro. It is located in the Suwaidi district, near the central vegetable market, at the point where the metro line intersects with bus routes on Mohammed Bin Abdullatif Street. The complex covers an area of approximately 12,500 m², and the project was developed by the Saudi architectural firm Omrania.

The station was designed not only for metro passengers. It integrates the metro, bus routes, and road infrastructure, and the parking lot can accommodate approximately 1,000 cars. This setup allows passengers to leave their cars on the outskirts of the district and continue their journey by public transportation.

Western Station is part of the Riyadh Metro—a network of six fully automated, driverless lines. It is part of a large-scale public transportation project in the capital, which also includes express and feeder bus routes.

LAX/Metro Transit Center in Los Angeles, USA

The LAX/Metro Transit Center opened in 2025 and became a key transfer hub between the metro, buses, and Los Angeles International Airport. The station serves Lines C and K of the LA Metro system and was built as part of a large-scale redevelopment of the transportation infrastructure around LAX.

The complex spans more than 9 acres and includes rail platforms, a bus terminal, bicycle parking, and passenger drop-off and pick-up areas. One of the station’s main functions will be to provide a transfer to the LAX Automated People Mover, which is designed to directly connect public transportation with the airport terminals.

The architecture of the LAX/Metro Transit Center is built around large open spaces and natural lighting. A massive roof shields passengers from the sun, and wide walkways are designed to accommodate large flows of people with luggage. The project also includes public art installations integrated directly into the station’s space.

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We remind you! Popular European tourist destinations are becoming increasingly crowded, so travelers are looking for alternatives without the crowds. In 2026, attention is turning to countries that remain off the beaten path but offer unique experiences, affordable prices, and an authentic atmosphere. Read more about 5 European countries that are rarely visited by tourists.

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