The Best and Worst Train Stations Ever Visited

The Best and Worst Train Stations Ever Visited
by Jeff Lewis

Favorite Train Stations

1. Cologne, Germany—Great views of the Dom, with potato pancakes stand nearby; it's a sentimental favorite because of a trip our family took there in 1984, when we bought a giant fiberglass castle that we had to haul back home

2. Edinburgh, Scotland—Views of Edinburgh Castle after exiting tunnel are spectacular; easy walk to the Royal Mile, National Gallery and many other fine Scottish things

3. Blaenau Ffestiniog, Wales—Blaenau Ffestiniog is one of the most visually bizarre places I've visited, with giant slate slag heaps piled to the sky; the train ride there on the Ffestiniog narrow-gage railway is spectacular (plus, it's fun to say Blaenau Ffestiniog)

4. Cerbere, France—Quite fishing village on the Spanish border; very pretty

5. Augsburg, Germany—Nice train station in the old town was the beginning on numerous journeys; butter brezen stand nearby

Honorable Mentions: Grand Central Station, NY; Munich, Germany; Kyoto, Japan; Santa Barbara, CA; Virginia Water, England; Copenhagen, Denmark; Lille, France; Halstatt, Austria; Mexborough, England

Least Favorite Train Stations

1. Irun, Spain—Was stuck there for a day; a crazy man made the layover very trying when he told me that most of the people in the train station wanted to kill me

2. Gare Du Nord, Paris, France—Almost stuck there for a night; there are some shady, shady folks there at 11:30 pm

3. Del Mar, CA—Now defunct, this train station caused me nothing but grief, with long delays and poor public transportation; I have a good story about Del Mar Station, but will save it for another time

4. Florence, Italy—This station is packed with commuters and tourists, plus--at least when I was last there--there was too much cigarette smoke; great views if you get outside, though

5. Assisi, England—The station itself was fine, but it was quite a ways uphill to the town; I know from experience that is not an easy walk