The São Bento Municipal Station, opened in 1916, still serves regular rail traffic, especially suburban rail traffic. As well as being popular for its location right in the middle of the city, the station is also one of the most visited attractions in the city.

From the outside, the station has a Beaux-arts architectural style. The architect José Marques da Silva was inspired by similar buildings in France.

The building was completed in 1916. However, the most interesting part of the building is the inside.

Thousands of blue and white Azulejos

The central departure hall of the São Bento station is more like the ceremonial hall of a gallery or concert hall.

The interior walls are decorated with more than 20,000 traditional decorative Azulejos tiles, covering an area of over 550 square metres.

Azulejos are tiny glazed ceramic tiles decorated with paint, usually blue and white. They probably originated in Persia, from where they spread massively to the Iberian Peninsula, and it was in Portugal that they rose to another level.

In the lobby of São Bento station, the azulejos are a huge mosaic depicting scenes from Portuguese history and the history of the railway in Porto itself.

There is no charge to enter the station lobby.

Sao Bento Station in Porto

Sao Bento Station Platform

Station accommodation

Due to its central location and ease of orientation, the area around the station is extremely popular for accommodation.

Less than 150 metres from the entrance you will find a simple modern hostel Nice Way Porto It also offers rooms with private bathrooms. Right in the station building, you can stay in the stylish The Passenger Hostel.