São Bento Railway Station

Estação de São Bento

A railway station opened in 1916, with about 20,000 blue-and-white tiles covering the hall walls depicting Portuguese history and northern rural life. It is widely regarded as one of the most beautiful stations in the world.

São Bento station was built on the site of a 16th-century Benedictine monastery and officially opened in 1916. Its facade, in the style of the French École des Beaux-Arts, is unassuming, but stepping inside the hall is breathtaking. The four walls are covered with roughly 20,000 blue-and-white glazed tiles (azulejos) painted by artist Jorge Colaço between 1905 and 1916. Large panels depict key moments in Portuguese history: the 1140 tournament at Valdevez, the 1387 wedding of João I and the English princess Philippa of Lancaster in Porto, the 1415 conquest of Ceuta by Henry the Navigator, along with northern countryside scenes of grape harvests, water wheels and village markets. Colorful friezes above show the evolution of transportation. The station is still in operation. Regional trains to Guimarães, Braga and the Douro Valley (Pinhão, Pocinho) depart from here, and the Douro Valley line follows the river and is counted among Europe's most beautiful rail routes. Entry to the station is free. It is located in the city center on Almeida Garrett Square, right at the exit of São Bento metro station on line D. From here it is a 5-minute walk to the Cathedral (Sé) and 10 minutes to Livraria Lello and Ribeira, making it a natural starting point for exploring Porto. Tour groups are heaviest inside the hall between 11:00 and 15:00. To photograph the tile panels without crowds, arrive before 8 a.m. Rua das Flores and Rua 31 de Janeiro, in front of the station, are shopping and café streets. The nearby Majestic Café, an Art Nouveau café dating from 1921, is worth a visit on the way.

São Bento Railway Station

Opening hours

Nearby sights

Places to eat nearby