Estação Do Rossio
Sign up free — See who's going and message them.
About
More photos 11
1 / 11
Why go
- The Neo-Manueline façade recalls early 16th-century Portuguese architecture, with intertwined horseshoe portals, a turret clock and abundant sculpture.
- An iron-and-glass canopy spans the train hall, measuring 130 metres long and 21 metres high.
- The 2,613-metre Rossio Tunnel connects the station with Campolide; it was considered a major Portuguese engineering project of the 19th century.
Don't miss
- Estação Central letteringThe station’s former name remains on its façade.Façade
- West-wall azulejosReligious subjects share the train shed’s western wall with views of modern Lisbon. Azulejos inside the station were designed by Lima de Freitas.Western wall of the train shed and station interior
- King Sebastião I statueA statue of King Sebastião I, designed by Edmond Bartissol, is in the entrance hall.Entrance hall
- Marble interiorsRemodeling added marble to the floors, walls and iron columns.Public areas
Interesting facts4
-
Ramps connect the platforms to façade level.
Rossio railway station - Wikipedia -
A Belgian firm made the cast-iron roof structure.
Rossio railway station - Wikipedia -
The passenger building stands at the end of the tracks because Rossio was designed as a terminus.
Estação Ferroviária do Rossio - Wikipedia -
Rossio is Portugal’s principal example of a rare elevated station type.
Estação Ferroviária do Rossio - Wikipedia
Shorts
History
The first train crossed the tunnel in April 1889, and the station opened in 1890. The station later handled the Sud Expresso and the Lusitânia Expresso. Its role changed as rail and metro services developed. The original King Sebastião statue was destroyed in 2016 and restored in 2020.
- 1886–1887José Luís Monteiro designed the station for the Portuguese Royal Railway Company.
- 8 April 1889The first train crossed the Rossio Tunnel. From 1889 to 1895, trains on the Linha de Cascais also served the station.
- 1890The station opened, and its façade was completed in September.
- 14 December 1918President Sidónio Pais was assassinated at the station.
- 1930The Sud Expresso began using the station as a terminus after previously departing from Santa Apolónia.
Show all
- 1934Architect Cottinelli Telmo won a competition to redesign the station’s appearance.
- 1943The Lusitânia Expresso began its inaugural journey at the station.
- 1955The Sintra line and station infrastructure were electrified.
- 1957The station ceased to be Lisbon’s main passenger terminus.
- 1959Passengers gained a direct interchange with Restauradores Metro station on the blue line.
- 1971The building received public-interest protection.
- October 2004–February 2008Cracks in the tunnel ceiling led to major renovation works, during which the station and tunnel closed.
- May 2016A man knocked over and destroyed the original King Sebastião statue while attempting a selfie.
- August 2020The restored original statue was moved into a protective glass case.
Tips for your visit
- Escalators connect street level with the lower platforms.
How to get there
- 15 minTrainSuburban services between Rossio and Sintra normally run every 15 minutes.
- TrainRestauradores station on the blue line connects underground with the station complex.
- On footEntrances are on Rua 1.º de Dezembro, Praça D. João da Câmara and, higher up, Calçada do Carmo.
Sources: Rossio railway station - Wikipedia · Estação Ferroviária do Rossio - Wikipedia · Bahnhof Lisboa Rossio - Wikipedia · Gare du Rossio - Wikipedia · checked 1 Oct 2026
Questions and answers
What prompted the major tunnel renovation at Estação do Rossio?
Serious cracks in the tunnel ceiling.
What was proposed for Estação do Rossio in 1934?
Architect Cottinelli Telmo won a competition to redesign its appearance.
- See who's going — faces, not ticket counts.
- Write to someone who shares your interests — no swipes, no matches, no paywall.
- Pick the event or the place to meet at — and go together.