Most Scenic Train Journeys in the World
The world's greatest train journeys, from the Trans-Siberian and the Rocky Mountaineer to the Bernina Express.
The great railway journeys of the world offer something no plane can: the slow, unfolding pleasure of watching a landscape transform through the window, mile by mile. To travel by train is to trade speed for immersion, to feel the shape of a country as it rises into mountains, crosses plains and threads through gorges. Whether aboard a gleaming luxury sleeper or a rattling local service, the journey becomes the destination.
The world’s classic rail trips span every register. Some are legendary luxury expeditions, all polished wood, white linen and fine dining, that recreate the golden age of travel. Others are ordinary scheduled services that happen to traverse extraordinary scenery, offering the same views at a fraction of the price. A few are epic transcontinental odysseys that cross entire landmasses over many days and time zones.
Choosing a rail journey means weighing scenery against comfort, and duration against depth. Some routes are best in a single spectacular day; others reward a week or more of onward travel, hopping on and off to explore towns along the line. The journeys below span every continent that rails reach, from alpine passes and Andean altiplano to Siberian taiga and Australian outback, chosen for the beauty of the ride itself.
The World's Greatest Rail Journeys#
The Trans-Siberian Railway, Russia The longest railway journey on earth runs nearly 9,300 kilometres from Moscow to Vladivostok, crossing eight time zones, the Ural Mountains and the vast Siberian taiga. It is a slow, immersive odyssey of a week or more, best broken with stops at Lake Baikal and Mongolia via the Trans-Mongolian branch. Summer brings the mildest weather, though winter offers a stark, snow-blanketed grandeur.
The Glacier Express, Switzerland Billed as the slowest express train in the world, this iconic Swiss route links Zermatt and St Moritz over eight hours, crossing 291 bridges and the dramatic Oberalp Pass. Panoramic carriages frame a constant parade of alpine peaks, gorges and villages. It runs year-round, with winter’s snow-clad scenery and summer’s green valleys each spectacular in their own way.
The Rocky Mountaineer, Canada This luxury daytime train winds through the Canadian Rockies between Vancouver and Banff or Jasper, past glacier-fed rivers, canyons and towering peaks from glass-domed carriages. Trips pause overnight in hotels so no scenery is missed in the dark. The season runs April to October, with autumn adding golden larches to the mountain panoramas.
The Bernina Express, Switzerland and Italy A UNESCO-listed marvel of engineering, this route corkscrews over the Bernina Pass from Swiss glaciers down to Italian palm-lined Tirano, crossing the graceful Landwasser Viaduct along the way. The dramatic altitude change packs astonishing variety into four hours. It runs all year, with winter’s snowscapes and summer’s flower meadows both memorable.
The Ghan, Australia Named for the Afghan cameleers of the outback, the Ghan crosses the entire Australian continent from Adelaide to Darwin over three days, traversing the red heart of the desert. Off-train excursions at Alice Springs and Katherine break the journey through the vast, empty interior. The cooler months from May to September make the outback most comfortable.
The Reunification Express, Vietnam Running the length of Vietnam from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City, this line hugs the coast through the spectacular Hai Van Pass, past rice paddies, fishing villages and the South China Sea. It is an affordable, atmospheric ride best broken into stages to explore cities along the way. The dry months vary by region, but spring and autumn suit the whole route.
The Jacobite Steam Train, Scotland This West Highland steam service, famous for crossing the curving Glenfinnan Viaduct, puffs between Fort William and Mallaig past lochs, moors and the sea. The short journey distils Highland romance into a few unforgettable hours behind a working steam locomotive. It runs from spring to autumn, with heather-purple late summer particularly lovely.
The Tren a las Nubes, Argentina The Train to the Clouds climbs into the Andes above Salta, switchbacking and spiralling to over 4,000 metres across dizzying viaducts through the altiplano. It is a feat of engineering as much as a scenic ride, crossing high desert and the vertiginous La Polvorilla viaduct. The dry season from April to November offers the clearest high-altitude views.
The Flam Railway, Norway One of the world’s steepest standard-gauge lines, the Flam Railway plunges from mountain plateau to fjord in under an hour, past thundering waterfalls and near-vertical valley walls. It packs jaw-dropping fjord scenery into a short, accessible ride, often combined into a wider fjord tour. It runs year-round, with the waterfalls at their fullest in late spring.
The Konkan Railway, India Slicing down India’s lush west coast between Mumbai and Goa and beyond, the Konkan Railway crosses hundreds of bridges and tunnels through the Western Ghats, jungle and paddy fields. It is an affordable, atmospheric ride, especially vivid during the dramatic monsoon greenery. The post-monsoon months from October to March bring the most comfortable travelling weather.
The West Highland Line, Scotland Regularly voted among the world’s most scenic rail routes, this ordinary scheduled service runs from Glasgow to Mallaig across the empty expanse of Rannoch Moor and along sea lochs. It offers the same Highland grandeur as the steam trains at a fraction of the cost. Spring and autumn bring long light and dramatic weather over the moors.
The Belmond Andean Explorer, Peru South America’s first luxury sleeper train glides across the Andean altiplano between Cusco, Lake Titicaca and Arequipa, at some of the highest railway elevations in the world. Elegant cabins and observation cars frame llamas, snow peaks and high plains. The dry season from May to September gives the clearest skies over the altiplano.
The Venice Simplon-Orient-Express, Europe The most storied luxury train in the world recreates the golden age of travel in restored 1920s carriages, running the classic route between Paris and Venice and beyond. Fine dining, marquetry cabins and a dress-for-dinner glamour make the journey a destination in itself. It operates from spring to autumn across a range of European routes.
The TranzAlpine, New Zealand Crossing the spine of the South Island between Christchurch and Greymouth, the TranzAlpine climbs through the beech forests and gorges of Arthur’s Pass amid the Southern Alps. Open-air viewing carriages let passengers drink in the alpine scenery in one spectacular day. It runs year-round, with winter’s snow-dusted peaks especially striking.