These are the best train stations in Italy according to

We have already talked about the best European stations, now it’s the turn of our local ones. The 2024 ranking ofEuropean Railway Station Index which we will see shortly, written by Consumer Choice Center of Washington, takes into account aspects such as efficiency, design and attention to the traveller, a detailed evaluation that provides a complete picture of the situation of the railway system: the stations included are 54 for 50 positions (some are tied)

Here are the best Italian stations:

Rome Termini – (8th place at European level)

Roma Termini stands out among the top ten positions in the ranking, with a score of 87.5. A result that represents a significant leap forward compared to last year’s sixteenth position. Frequented by over 150 million passengers every year and equipped with 32 platforms (it is the largest station in Italy), Rome Termini is a crucial hub for both commuters and tourists, where we can find strategic connections with the main cities Italian and international.
The travel experience in Termini has been improved in recent years thanks to infrastructural interventions and the expansion of services. The commercial area and new spaces dedicated to catering offer diversified options, while accessibility has been optimized to ensure easy transit for everyone. Some challenges remain, including managing flows during peak hours and the safety issue.

Napoli Centrale – (20th place at European level)

Rationalist architectural style and strategic position, Napoli Centrale ranks 20th in the European ranking with a score of 73 tied with London Liverpool Street station.
Excluded from the top 10, Napoli Centrale has nevertheless managed to stand out for the quality of its regional and national connections, such as the high speed that connects the city to the rest of Italy in just a few hours.
In recent years the station has undergone several redevelopment interventions which have allowed an overall improvement of the structure (new systems, modern lighting, new commercial spaces, increased signage and safety) and today, with 23 platforms and an annual flow of around 50 million of people, can count on renewed prestige.

Bologna Centrale – (34th place at European level)

In 34th place we find Bologna Centrale (with a score of 65.5), one of the hubs of Italian rail transport thanks to its geographical position. The “Dotta” hub is a meeting point for high-speed trains and regional routes, with connections that also reach international destinations.
Bologna station, which can count on 26 platforms and an annual flow of around 58 million people, has recently undergone an important modernization work, with the creation of new spaces dedicated to sustainable mobility and improving accessibility.

Milano Centrale – (35th place at European level)

In 35th place (with a score of 63.5) we find Milano Centrale, one of the most famous stations in Italy. The majestic Art Nouveau architecture, built in the fascist era, combines with cutting-edge technologies to offer travelers a high-level experience.
An important national and international hub, Milano Centrale has 24 platforms and can count on an annual flow of over 120 million people, making it the second busiest station in Italy after Rome Termini.

Turin Porta Nuova – (38th place at European level)

The Turin Porta Nuova station is positioned in 38th place on a par with the Nuremberg station, with a score of 60.5.

The station is one of the most important railway hubs in Italy, as well as a historical symbol of the city. Located in the heart of Turin, not far from Piazza San Carlo and the elegant streets of the centre, it represents much more than a passing point for travellers: it is a place steeped in history and modernity. There are 20 tracks dedicated to passenger trains and it represents a crucial hub for railway traffic, guaranteeing a wide management capacity and efficient connections with numerous national and international destinations.

Roma Tiburtina – (44th place at European level)

In 44th place with a score of 52 we find Roma Tiburtina, one of the main railway stations in Rome and an important transport hub for Italy. The station was renovated and modernized in 2011 to become a hub for i high-speed trains (Frecciarossa, Frecciargento, Italo). The building is characterized by a modern architectural structure, with a large elevated walkway that connects the various platforms.

Florence Santa Maria Novella – (47th place at European level)

Firenze Santa Maria Novella is back in the top 50, but barely achieved a 47th place. The station located in the heart of Florence, is one of the main railway stations in Italy, as well as an iconic example of modern architecture. Designed in the 1930s, it represents a fusion of functionality and avant-garde, signed by the Gruppo Toscano, a collective of architects led by Giovanni Michelucci. It is a head station where the tracks arrive perpendicular to the facade and stop there, it has 19 tracks and welcomes beyond 400 trains a day, approximately 59 million passengers a year.

The entire complete ranking

Position	Station	City	Village	Score
1	Zurich HB	Zurich	Swiss	101
2	Bern Railway Station	Bern	Swiss	94
3	Utrecht Central	Utrecht	Netherlands	93.5
4	Gare du Nord	Paris	France	91
5	Gare de Lyon	Paris	France	90
5	Gare Montparnasse	Paris	France	90
7	Wien Hauptbahnhof	Vienna	Austria	89.5
8	Rome Termini	Rome	Italy	87.5
9	Gare Saint-Lazare	Paris	France	85
10	London Bridge	London	United Kingdom	85
10	Leipzig HBF	Leipzig	Germany	85
12	Amsterdam Central	Amsterdam	Netherlands	84
13	Oslo Sentralstasjon	Oslo	Norway	81.5
14	Berlin Hbf	Berlin	Germany	78
15	Berlin Alexanderplatz	Berlin	Germany	77.5
16	Cologne Hbf	Colony	Germany	76.5
17	St. Pancras International	London	United Kingdom	76
18	Berlin Friedrichstraße	Berlin	Germany	74
19	Madrid Puerta de Atocha-Almudena Grandes	Madrid	Spain	73.5
20	London Liverpool Street	London	United Kingdom	73
20	Central Naples	Naples	Italy	73
22	LondonVictoria	London	United Kingdom	72.5
23	Hamburg Hbf	Hamburg	Germany	71.5
23	London Paddington	London	United Kingdom	71.5
23	London Euston	London	United Kingdom	71.5
26	Frankfurt Main Hbf	Frankfurt	Germany	71
26	Munich Hbf	Munich	Germany	71
28	Hannover Hbf	Hanover	Germany	70.5
29	Essen Hbf	Essen	Germany	70
30	London Waterloo	London	United Kingdom	69
31	Stuttgart Hbf	Stuttgart	Germany	66
31	Düsseldorf Hbf	Dusseldorf	Germany	66
33	Helsinki Central Station	Helsinki	Finland	65.5
34	Central Bologna	Bologna	Italy	65.5
35	Central Milan	Milan	Italy	63.5
35	Munich East Station	Munich	Germany	63.5
37	Berlin-Gesundbrunnen	Berlin	Germany	62
38	Nürnberg Hbf	Nuremberg	Germany	60.5
38	Turin Porta Nuova	Turin	Italy	60.5
40	Hamburg-Altona	Hamburg	Germany	58.5
41	Berlin Südkreuz	Berlin	Germany	58
42	Vienna Meidling	Vienna	Austria	54.5
43	Munich-Pasing	Munich	Germany	52.5
44	Rome Tiburtina	Rome	Italy	52
44	Haussmann–Saint-Lazare	Paris	France	52
46	Châtelet–Les Halles	Paris	France	51
47	Florence Santa Maria Novella	Florence	Italy	49.5
48	Zoologischer Garten	Berlin	Germany	47
49	Bremen Hbf	Bremen	Germany	45
50	Ostkreuz	Berlin	Germany	41

The challenges of the future

While on the one hand some Italian stations, such as Roma Tiburtina and Firenze Santa Maria Novella, fall into the top 50, it is clear that there is room for improvement. The main critical issues concern the management of flows during peak hours and the modernization of infrastructure in some secondary nodes.
We must underline how much the recognition obtained by Roma Termini concretely demonstrates the potential of our railway system (just judged as the best in Europe), which with targeted interventions will be able to confirm itself as a great Italian excellence in the years to come.