Railway stations are increasingly being judged not only as transport infrastructure but also as public spaces shaping the start and end of many journeys.

A new international ranking has now placed Prague Main Station among the world’s most luxurious.

The study was carried out by the British travel insurance company Allclear and published by the Daily Mail. It assessed 20 major stations worldwide based on waiting room quality, availability of shops and restaurants, nearby hotel options, and passenger reviews.

Prague Main Station shared 12th to 14th place with London St Pancras International and Antwerp Central, scoring 61 out of 100 points.

Passengers highlighted the contrast between the historic exterior and the modern interior. One visitor described it as “an old-style exterior with a modern interior worth seeing when in Prague.”

European and global leaders

The ranking was topped by Zurich Hauptbahnhof, which scored 83 points. The station is one of Switzerland’s busiest transport hubs and dates back to 1847. It was praised for its wide range of services, high number of shops, quality lounges, and strong user ratings. Its central location with direct tram and bus connections was also highlighted.

Other Swiss and Japanese stations followed closely in the upper ranks, confirming the dominance of these two countries in global rail infrastructure.

Japan took several top positions. Osaka Station City came second with 77 points, supported by its large shopping complex and dining options spread across multiple levels. The building also includes an observation deck on the 14th floor.

Kyoto Station placed third with 74 points. Designed by architect Hiroshi Hara, it is known for its scale, hotel connections, and glass viewing corridor overlooking the city.

Tokyo Station, housed in a restored neo-Renaissance building opened in 1914, also ranked highly. It remains one of the country’s main hubs for the Shinkansen network and handles up to one million passengers on busy days.

Other stations in the top ten

Toronto Union Station and Florence Santa Maria Novella shared fifth place. Both were recognised for accessibility, cleanliness, and the range of services available to travellers.

Amsterdam Centraal and New York’s Grand Central Terminal ranked jointly in seventh place. Grand Central is often cited as one of the most architecturally significant stations in the world.

London Paddington followed in ninth place, while Rome Termini completed the top ten as Italy’s busiest rail hub.

Prague’s railway history

Prague Main Station is the largest railway hub in the Czech Republic. It opened in 1871 and has undergone several major transformations since then.

The original neo-Renaissance structure remains part of the complex, while the Art Nouveau Fantova Building was added in the early 20th century. A modern underground departure hall was completed in 1977, linking older parts of the station with newer infrastructure.

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