Atocha Station

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Why Atocha Station Is Worth A Visit?

Have you been traveling by railways in Madrid? If yes, you probably would have heard of Atocha Station or more known in Madrid as Estación de Atocha. It is considered to be the largest railway station in Madrid. Atocha Station is an important railway station serving commuter trains, intercity, regional and speed trains.

Atocha Station in the Past

Aside from its daily importance to daily commuters and tourists, Atocha Station has been in existence since its inauguration in 1851. It was the first railway station in Madrid.

However, the station was destroyed by fire and was later rebuilt and reopened to the public in 1892. Alberto de Palacio Elissagne designed the new Atocha Station in collaboration with Gustave Eiffel.

What to See as Tourist in Atocha Station?

The old buildings in Atocha Station were taken out of service in 1992. These are converted into a concourse with shops, cafés, a nightclub, and a 4,000 m² covered tropical garden.

Even if you are not traveling by train, Atocha Station is worth your visit with the spectacular tropical garden wherein you will experience a real tropical atmosphere. This is because of the humidifiers installed. However, be warned that you will start to sweat like you are really in a hot country.  You will also see tropical plants, turtles and fishes.

After a stroll in the garden, you might want to eat in one of the restaurants offering delicious chocolate desserts.

Atocha Station is also near from other tourist spots such as the Prado and Reina Sofia art galleries.  The former showcases the finest collections of European Art while the latter is mainly dedicated to Spanish Art.

A good suggestion is to be at the Atocha Station on a Sunday where you can visit a flea market in El Rastro. Afterwards, you can visit either Prado or Reina Sofia before their closing time at 2:30 PM.

Atocha Station as a Transport Interchange

Aside from being a tourist center, a modern terminal was added to the complex, which was designed by Rafael Moneo. It is meant to serve the new AVE trains to Seville.
As a tourist, it might also be interesting to note that there was a train bombing in March 2004. As a result, the Spanish Minister of Transport dedicated a virtual shrine. You can leave a hand silhouette and a message among special purpose consoles.
Atocha Station is a mixture of modern transportation and history. This intriguing mixture makes this place one of the places worth visiting in Madrid.

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