Oriente

Oriente, also called Gare do Oriente, is a major train, bus and metro interchange in Lisbon’s Parque das Nações. Santiago Calatrava’s design gives the station a striking profile: look up at the glass-and-metal canopy, where white supports branch above the train platforms. The station is also a practical place to change transport, with connections to the airport and city buses. Shops and places to eat are close by, including at the Vasco da Gama Shopping Centre. Allow time to check departure information and find your platform.

A station shaped by its canopy

Designed by Santiago Calatrava, Oriente opened as a train, bus and metro interchange in the 1990s. Concrete, glass and metal give it a modern appearance, with Gothic influences in the arches and latticework. Its design also reflects the maritime theme of Expo ’98, held in Parque das Nações.

The canopy above the train platforms is the station’s defining feature. Slender white supports rise into a branching framework of glass and metal. From below, the repeated forms create an open, airy roof; look across the platform level to take in how the structure spans the trains.

Finding your train

The station brings several forms of transport together, but the different levels can make a journey less straightforward than the architecture suggests. Train tickets are sold on the first floor. Departure information is displayed on another level, and the train platforms are above. Check the signs and screens as you go, and leave time to confirm your platform before boarding.

For a long-distance train, check the carriage and seat details on your ticket. Carriage numbers may be shown on small digital displays on the train, and the signs can be hard to read from a distance. The CP app is another place to check ticket availability and journey options. Station staff at the ticket office can assist with ticket questions.