When you are visiting Valencia you should definitely take a look inside the beautiful train station Estación del Norte. It is one of the highlights in the city centre! This station is located next to Plaza de Toros (bullfight stadium) and nearby Calle Colon, the shopping street in Valencia. Estación del Norte is located in one of the most impressive buildings in Valencia!
Estación, Estació: which one is it?
The Valencian people speak two languages: Spanish and Valencian. That is why you see both ‘Estación del Norte’ (Spanish) and ‘Estació del Nord’ (Valencian). So don’t get confused! The direct translation of Estación del Norte is ‘station of the north’, but actually the station is located in the southern part of the city.
A lot of details
Both inside and outside of the building are worth a look. On the facades you will see a lot of details, such as oranges, flowers and orange blossom. These figures symbolize the Valencian agriculture. At the top of the train station you can see an eagle, this animal symbolizes ‘speed’
Impressive building
In 1907 the building of the train station started. Ten years later, in 1917, Estación del Norte was finally ready. The designer of the building is Demetrio Ribes, one of the best architects in Valencia. The building has a lot of art styles. Once you have seen the amazing outside of the building, you should take a look inside. In the entrance hall you’ll find mosaic, ceramics, wood, marble and glass. Fun fact: the authentic wooden counters where you can buy your tickets are still in use! Are you curious how to say ‘pleasant journey’ in other languages? Check out the beautiful mosaic next to the entrance doors.
The building is divided in two parts: the entrance hall with the wooden counters and the arrival and departure hall. Several restaurants and shops are located in that part.
Tip: if you enter the building and go to the right, you will find the old waiting room where the rich Valencians used to wait for their train. Here you can admire beautiful trencadís, a kind of mosaic where tiles are broken in smaller parts.
Future
In the future Estación del Norte will become a complete central station, where also the AVE (the high-speed train) arrives and departs. In 2010 the Joaquín Sorolla station was opened, as a temporary station. Currently, the AVE trains arrive and depart from this station. You’ll find Joaquín Sorolla only 800 metres from Estación del Norte, next to metro station Jesús.
Practical information
From Estación del Norte you can take the train to several Spanish destinations. For close destinations in the Comunidad Valenciana you take the ‘Cercanías’ train. If you go further, for example to Barcelona, you take the ‘Media Distancia’. But remember: the high-speed train (AVE) departs from the Joaquin Sorolla train station! With this high-speed you can go for example to Madrid in 1.5 hour.
Address
Calle Xátiva 24
46007 Valencia
TIP!
Do you plan to take the train in Valencia? For more specific information about travelling by train and the two train stations, take a look at this page.
