10 most spectacular railway stations to see, even if you're not taking a train

Designed by architect Jose Marques da Silva, the station was built on the site of a former Benedictine monastery - but don't let its quiet history fool you. The unassuming exterior gives way to one of Europe's most spectacular entrance halls, lined with about 20,000 blue-and-white azulejo tiles depicting Portugal's history, royal events and rural life.

MAKE TIME TO: Spend time "reading" the tile murals painted by artist Jorge Colaco, before wandering into Porto's historic centre for a coffee and one (or two) of Portugal's famous pasteis de nata.

This iconic station is not just a transport hub but one of the world's great public spaces. The famous celestial ceiling features a zodiac painted in reverse, and the Beaux-Arts architecture makes arriving and departing from here feel almost cinematic.

MAKE TIME TO: Stand in the Whispering Gallery outside the Oyster Bar and test its acoustic magic - whisper into one corner and your companion will hear you perfectly from the opposite side. Afterwards, eat fresh oysters or a classic New York seafood lunch.

Frequently ranked among the world's most beautiful railway stations, this elegant green-domed landmark combines Beaux-Arts grandeur with neoclassical elegance. While many believed it was designed by Gustave Eiffel, it wasn't - it was in fact designed by Portuguese architects. Today it's as much a cultural venue as a transport hub.

MAKE TIME TO: Check what's happening inside - concerts, exhibitions and cultural performances are often held beneath its magnificent dome, giving visitors another reason to linger.

Often called the "Railway Cathedral", Antwerpen-Centraal was designed by architect Louis Delacenserie and is a soaring masterpiece of marble, glass and iron. Even people with no train to catch come to admire its dome (based on the Pantheon in Rome) and its grand staircases. A major 21st-century redevelopment transformed it into a four-level station, blending all that historic grandeur with cutting-edge engineering.

MAKE TIME TO: Head up to the upper walkways overlooking the platforms for the station's best views, then step outside into Antwerp's famous Diamond District, where about 80 per cent of the world's rough diamonds are traded.

A World Heritage-listed station where Victorian Gothic revival meets traditional Indian architecture? Prepare to be dazzled. Designed by British architect F.W. Stevens and completed in 1887, this station's soaring central dome, pointed arches, stained-glass windows, elaborate stone carvings and turrets took 10 years to build.

MAKE TIME TO: Look for the stone lion and tiger guarding the main entrance - symbols of Britain and India - then join a heritage tour to discover magnificent interiors rarely seen by commuters, including the Star Chamber with its painted vaulted ceiling and details that earned it its UNESCO status.

There's no missing this station entrance. Pass beneath the monumental wooden Tsuzumi Gate, inspired by the hand drums used in Noh theatre, before entering the vast glass Motenashi Dome, built to symbolise Kanazawa's spirit of hospitality while sheltering commuters from the city's frequent rain and snow.

MAKE TIME TO: Visit after sunset when the station is beautifully illuminated, then browse the food hall for Kanazawa specialities, including the city's famous gold-leaf ice-cream.

Surprise! Beneath its soaring iron-and-glass roof sits a lush indoor tropical garden with more than 4000 plants from hundreds of species, transforming a busy railway station into a tranquil urban oasis. Originally opened in 1851, it was Madrid's first railway station and was rebuilt to a design by Alberto de Palacio, a protege of Gustave Eiffel, after a fire destroyed the original building.

MAKE TIME TO: Grab a coffee and take a seat overlooking the garden, where towering palms, banana plants and exotic greenery create the most unusual waiting rooms.

MAKE TIME TO: Explore the station's free Railway Museum, filled with fascinating Orient Express memorabilia, before enjoying a traditional Turkish tea in the historic station cafe.

Victorian Gothic at its most extravagant. The red-brick exterior, spectacular Barlow train shed and lavish Renaissance hotel make it one of the UK's greatest buildings, while Eurostar departures add an unmistakably international buzz. Saved from demolition in the 1960s, the station has since become one of Britain's greatest architectural conservation success stories.

MAKE TIME TO: Enjoy a glass of bubbles at Europe's longest champagne bar before admiring The Meeting Place - a nine-metre-high bronze sculpture beneath the station clock.

10. Proof that great station architecture didn't end in the 19th century, Gadigal is an impressive example of contemporary station architecture right here at home. Designed by Foster + Partners, Its cathedral-like spaces deep under the CBD, striking public art and sustainable design make it a worthy new addition to the list. MAKE TIME TO: Admire the huge porcelain enamel tiled artwork called The Underneath by artist Callum Morton, located at both the north and south entrances.