Travel More for Less
Special prices on carefully curated trips around the world.
Prix Versailles 2026: The World’s Most Beautiful Stations (And More…)
Founded in 2015, the Prix Versailles are a prestigious international architecture and design awards ceremony held every year at the UNESCO headquarters.
The awards spotlight unique, bold and striking design in both public and private spaces, with eight categories included. They are: Airports, Campuses, Passenger Stations, Sports, Museums, Emporiums, Hotels and Restaurants. The ceremony will take place on 10 December.
The focus is very much on contemporary architectural projects that combine innovation and creativity with ecological efficiency, local heritage and social value. The nominees, or Laureates, for all categories but sport (coming in October) have now been announced.
We're particularly fond of the stations category, so let's start there. Keep scrolling to find out the full list of Laureates for 2026.
The World’s Most Beautiful Stations
Eight spectacular transport hubs that make the commute that little bit less painful.
Town Hall Station, Melbourne, Australia
One of the busiest stops on Melbourne's underground train network, notable for its cathedral-like pillars and grand (and enormous) modern concourse, situated right in the heart of town, beneath City Square.
Lyon Part-Dieu Station, Lyon, France
The train station has regional, national and international connections, and locals in Lyon even pass through the station on foot, making the walk to work a little more scenic. Wide-open, light and airy, with a focus on community – this is modern urban design at its finest.
Colosseo - Fori Imperiali Station, Rome, Italy
Beyond the fact that arriving at this underground station places you within strolling distance of Italy's most iconic landmark, the forward-thinking design of this place beautiful contrast the ancient history on its doorstep, while also spotlighting the remarkable archeological finds discovered during the excavation of the space.
Monte Sant’Angelo Station, Naples, Italy
Staying in Italy, this monumental underground project by artist Anish Kapoor is sculptural and evocative, as passengers descend into a subterranean world simultaneously alien and yet nodding to this history and geography surrounding this storied old city.
National Museum Station, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
The contrast is thrilling, as you enter the striking cream structure of the National Museum Station and descend into a shimmering and cavernous blue interior, like diving into the heart of a crystal. The station acts as a gateway to the Saudi capital's capital, and it makes quite the impression.
Western Station, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
In the same city, Western Station is built on the foundations of an old open-air market, and the design has accommodated a continuation of that community function, with space for shops, pedestrian areas and a mosque. From outside, the design evokes the image of desert dunes shifting on the horizon.
LAX/Metro Transit Center, Los Angeles, United States
Thought LA was all about cars? Not anymore. This dynamic station connects travellers to the airport and is covered by sweeping canopies and glass ceilings, with half of the site's energy requirements covered by solar panels.
The World’s Most Beautiful Airports
Here are the 2026 Prix Versailles Laureates for the airports that make a delayed flight seem a little less stressful.
Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport (Terminal 3), Guangzhou, China
Frankfurt Airport (Terminal 3), Frankfurt am Main, Germany
Lokapriya Gopinath Bardoloi International Airport (Terminal 2), Guwahati, India
Navi Mumbai International Airport (Terminal 1), Navi Mumbai, India
Techo International Airport, Phnom Penh, Cambodia
Pittsburgh International Airport, Pittsburgh, United States
San Diego International Airport (Terminal 1), San Diego, United States
The World’s Most Beautiful Museums
These cultural institutions are mesmerising even if you remove the artefacts at their core.
Zayed National Museum, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
Science & Technology Museum, Shenzhen, China
Xuelei Fragrance Museum, Guangzhou, China
MoN Takanawa: The Museum of Narratives, Tokyo, Japan
Lost Shtetl Museum, Šeduva, Lithuania
National Medal of Honor Museum, Arlington, United States
Islamic Civilization Center, Tashkent, Uzbekistan
The World’s Most Beautiful Restaurants
Top chefs often say the atmosphere of a restaurant is as important as the food. Here are 16 that fit that bill perfectly.
Nobu One Za’abeel, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Le Fou, Vienna, Austria
Monti, Gstaad, Switzerland
Akira Back, Hong Kong, China
Hana no Kumo, Hong Kong, China
Monsieur Dior by Anne-Sophie Pic, Beijing, China
Peridot, Hong Kong, China
Escā Playa, Ras El Hekma, Egypt
Finlandia Bistro, Helsinki, Finland
Carbone, London, United Kingdom
Rosso, Hinganigada, India
Marlow, Monaco, Monaco
Lucia, Los Angeles, United States
Monsieur Dior by Dominique Crenn, Beverly Hills, United States
Mottai, Coral Gables, United States
Amura by Ángel León, Cape Town, South Africa
The World’s Most Beautiful Hotels
Make yourself at home at one of these 16 especially striking places to stay, all around the world.
The ArcadiaPlace, Lugu Lake, Yanyuan, China
The Silk Lakehouse, Shangri-La Hangzhou, Hangzhou, China
Sir Prague. Prague, Czech Republic
Chiemgauhof Lakeside Retreat. Übersee, Germany
La Fondation, Paris, France
Les Roches, Le Lavandou, France
The Telegraph Hotel, Tbilisi, Georgia
Villa Dubrovnik, Dubrovnik, Croatia
The Oberoi Rajgarh Palace, Khajuraho, India
Orient Express La Minerva, Rome, Italy
Splendido, A Belmond Hotel, Portofino, Italy
Kasbah d’If, Marrakesh, Morocco
Naboa, Tulum, Mexico
Soori Penang, George Town, Malaysia
Desert Rock, Ḩanak, Saudi Arabia
Maison Mystique, Khao Yai, Thailand
The World’s Most Beautiful Emporiums
Do beautiful surrounds like these convince you to spend your money?
House of Dior, Beijing, China
RH Champs-Élysées, Paris, France
Saint Laurent Montaigne, Paris, France
Tiffany & Co. Ginza, Tokyo, Japan
Cartier, Miami, United States
House of Dior, Beverly Hills, United States
Issey Miyake, New York, United States
The World’s Most Beautiful Campuses
These educational institutions clearly take inspiring the next generation very seriously.
UNSW Sydney, Health Translation Hub, Randwick, Australia
University of Cambridge, Ray Dolby Centre, Cambridge, United Kingdom
University of Oxford, Stephen A. Schwarzman Centre, Oxford, United Kingdom
University of Amsterdam, University Library, Amsterdam, Netherlands
University of Arkansas, Anthony Timberlands Center, Fayetteville, United States
Claremont McKenna College, Robert Day Sciences Center, Claremont, United States
Harvard University, David Rubenstein Treehouse, Boston, United States
Johns Hopkins University, Bloomberg Student Center, Baltimore, United States
Read Next
Design
Prix Versailles 2026: The World’s Most Beautiful Stations (And More…)
Guides & Tips
25 Must-See Places in Mediterranean Europe
See & Do
23 Places in Eastern Europe You Must See at Least Once in Your Life
See & Do
The Best Christmas Markets in Europe
See & Do
The Best European Cities to Visit in June
Art
The 10 Best European Museums for Contemporary Art
See & Do
The 13 Oldest Castles in the World That You Can Still Visit
Guides & Tips
The Best European Cities to Visit in August
Guides & Tips
15 Beautiful Lakeside Towns and Villages in Europe
See & Do
25 New UNESCO World Heritage Sites Join the Club
Guides & Tips
Best Places to Visit in July this Year
See & Do