Porto São Bento

Despite ongoing reconstruction, it is possible to see unique interiors of still functioning train station, does not look impressive from outside but great to come in and enjoy walls full of art. Located on busy crossroad of Porto’s downtown

If you enjoy hustle and bustle, but also artistic craftsmanship, you should definitely visit the São Bento train station. The Estação de São Bento is one of the most important terminus stations in the center of Porto. The railway line between Campanhã and São Bento stations opened on November 7, 1896, initially with a temporary wooden station building. In 1904, plans for a permanent station building were approved, which finally opened in 1916. The station is named after the São Bento de Ave-Maria Monastery, which previously stood on this site. The station is particularly famous for its concourse, clad in approximately 20,000 azulejos. These depict well-known scenes from Northern Portugal and wars, and they attract quite a crowd. Nevertheless, I would definitely recommend taking a look!

Such an impressive building inside, at the moment (October 2025) the front and access is undergoing works, so the side access must by used. Inside there is a long queue for tickets, but you can walk past this and still see the blue tiled main entrance in its entirety. Then if you need a ticket, ignore the queues and go towards the platforms - there are plenty of multilingual ticket machines there.

It is a 20th-century railway terminal in the municipality of Porto. The large panels of around twenty thousand azulejo tiles were designed and painted by Jorge Colaço. The murals represent moments in the country's history and the multicolored panels depict rural scenes showing the people of various regions. Restoration work is in progress to restore the tile colours. It's popular place with tourists. Lovely architecture and frescos. Area is level and easy to walk. Station is a hub and locals use to travel to regional areas.

The São Bento train station in Porto is not only a historic transportation hub but also one of the most beautiful railway stations in the world. Its Beaux-Arts granite façade sets an elegant tone, but the true marvel lies inside: around 20,000 exquisite blue and white azulejo tiles by Jorge Colaço vividly depict Portugal’s history and everyday life, enveloping visitors in a stunning artistic narrative. The spacious hall radiates a luminous, timeless beauty that enchants all who enter, making São Bento a cultural gem of architectural and artistic splendour .

The station is a Beaux-Arts–style building constructed on the site of a former 16th-century monastery. After a temporary opening in 1896, full construction began in 1904, and the station was officially inaugurated in 1916. It features a symmetrical U-shaped layout, with a central entrance flanked by two towers. The station’s main atrium is renowned for its interior walls, which are fully covered in over 20,000 azulejos designed by Jorge Colaço between 1905 and 1916. The murals vividly depict scenes from Portuguese history and daily life, including royal ceremonies, rural traditions, and battles from the 12th to 15th centuries.

This railway terminal with beautiful blue tilework is a living piece of history -- painted and designed over 2 years by one insanely talented artist according to my guide.

Used this station today , it’s the closest station to Porto old town area coming in from multiple directions , the architecture of the station is outstanding , it is a very busy but also a very efficient station, it was easy to navigate and get the correct train , there is a lot of construction work going on outside the main entrance making it a bit awkward to get directly into the town .