Have you ever been on a train chugging along around the Alps? Train rides seemed quite old-fashioned until you step off the Amtrak and visit some of the best trains in the world. You could be going around the Rockies, the Alps, or even through the Australian Outback.
While planes get you there faster, trains let you savor the journey itself, transforming transportation into an unforgettable experience. From snow-capped mountains to coastal cliffs, the world’s most scenic railways offer front-row seats to nature’s greatest spectacles, all while you relax in comfort with a drink in hand.
The Glacier Express, Switzerland
Dubbed the “slowest express train in the world,” the Glacier Express takes its time for good reason, every minute of this eight-hour journey through the Swiss Alps is pure visual poetry. The route connects Zermatt and St. Moritz, crossing 291 bridges and passing through 91 tunnels while climbing to over 6,000 feet at the Oberalp Pass. Being able to see some of the best sites of the Alps as you leave Zermatt is a sight to enjoy.
Floor-to-ceiling panoramic windows ensure you won’t miss the emerald valleys, pristine glaciers, and charming Alpine villages that define this legendary route. Book well in advance, especially for summer departures when wildflowers blanket the mountain meadows in impossible colors.
The Rocky Mountaineer, Canada
Canada’s Rocky Mountaineer redefines luxury rail travel with glass-domed coaches that put you directly beneath the soaring peaks of the Canadian Rockies. The most popular route runs between Vancouver and the mountain resort towns of Banff or Jasper, winding along cliffsides where you might spot bears, elk, and eagles in their natural habitat.
Unlike overnight trains, this journey operates only during daylight hours, ensuring you won’t sleep through a single canyon, waterfall, or turquoise glacial lake. With gourmet meals served at your seat and attentive storytelling from onboard hosts, it’s as much about indulgence as it is about the scenery.
The Bernina Express, Switzerland to Italy
This UNESCO World Heritage railway accomplishes what seems impossible: climbing from the palm trees of Italy to the glaciers of Switzerland in just four hours. The Bernina Express ascends to the highest railway crossing in the Alps without using cogs or cables, spiraling through complete circles inside mountains and crossing the famous Landwasser Viaduct that seems to emerge from solid rock.
The journey peaks at the Ospizio Bernina station at 7,391 feet before descending into the Mediterranean warmth of northern Italy. Reserve a seat on the right side of the train for the best views of the Morteratsch Glacier and the impossibly blue Lago Bianco.
The Ghan, Australia
Australia’s legendary Ghan cuts straight through the red heart of the continent on a 1,850-mile journey from Adelaide to Darwin, crossing landscapes so vast and ancient they seem to exist outside of time. Named after the Afghan cameleers who once traversed these routes, the train makes extended stops at Alice Springs and Katherine, where passengers can explore Aboriginal rock art, swim in natural gorges, or dine under the outback stars.
The three-day journey showcases Australia’s dramatic transformation from South Australia’s farmlands through the rust-colored deserts and termite mounds of the Red Centre to the tropical wetlands of the Top End. Gold Service cabins include all meals and beverages, while Platinum Service adds a private lounge car and exclusive off-train experiences.
The West Highland Line, Scotland
Scotland’s West Highland Line may not have the luxury of other famous routes, but what it offers is raw, moody beauty that looks like it was pulled straight from a fantasy novel. This 164-mile journey from Glasgow to Mallaig crosses the desolate beauty of Rannoch Moor, skirts the shores of Britain’s highest mountain Ben Nevis, and crosses the iconic Glenfinnan Viaduct made famous by the Harry Potter films.
The landscape shifts from brooding lochs to windswept highlands to coastal fishing villages, often shrouded in the kind of dramatic Scottish mist that makes everything feel mysterious. Standard ScotRail tickets are surprisingly affordable, making this one of the world’s most accessible scenic rail experiences.
The Eastern & Oriental Express, Southeast Asia
If you’ve ever fantasized about the golden age of rail travel, the Eastern & Oriental Express delivers that dream in polished wood, brass fixtures, and white-gloved service. The journey between Singapore and Bangkok (or vice versa) takes three days and two nights, moving through Malaysian rubber plantations, Thai rice paddies, and the jungle-covered mountains along the border.
Passengers dress for dinner in the elegant dining cars, sip cocktails in the open-air observation car, and sleep in cabin suites that evoke 1920s glamour. Excursions include visits to Thai temples, the Bridge on the River Kwai, and local markets where the modern world hasn’t quite arrived.
The Coastal Classic, Alaska
Alaska’s Coastal Classic might be a day train rather than a multi-day adventure, but the four-hour journey from Anchorage to Seward packs in enough dramatic scenery to rival routes twice its length. The train hugs mountainsides high above the Turnagain Arm, where you might spot beluga whales in the water below and Dall sheep on the cliffs above.
As you wind deeper into the Kenai Peninsula, glaciers appear around every bend, some tumbling right down to the tracks. Many travelers book this train as a scenic route to catch a cruise ship in Seward, but the journey itself is worth the trip regardless of what comes next.
The TranzAlpine, New Zealand
New Zealand’s TranzAlpine covers 140 miles of the South Island’s most diverse terrain, crossing from the Pacific Coast to the wild West Coast through the heart of the Southern Alps. In just under five hours, passengers transition from the Canterbury Plains’ golden farmlands through sixteen tunnels and four viaducts to the rainforests and river gorges of the western side of the island.
The open-air viewing carriage lets you feel the mountain air and hear the rushing rivers, though you’ll want layers, the weather can change dramatically as you cross Arthur’s Pass. This is one scenic journey where booking on a clear day makes all the difference, as clouds can hide the snow-capped peaks that are the route’s highlight.
The Flåm Railway, Norway
Norway’s Flåm Railway covers only twelve miles, but those miles drop 2,838 feet through some of the steepest railway gradients in the world. This engineering marvel descends from the mountain station of Myrdal to the fjord-side village of Flåm, passing twenty tunnels, roaring waterfalls (the train stops at one for photos), and farms clinging to impossibly steep mountainsides.
The one-hour journey is often combined with a cruise through nearby Nærøyfjord, one of Norway’s most dramatic UNESCO-protected waterways. Book the morning departure for the best light, when the sun illuminates the waterfalls and makes the fjord waters glow an ethereal green-blue.
The Venice Simplon-Orient-Express, Europe
The Venice Simplon-Orient-Express isn’t just a train journey, it’s time travel wrapped in Art Deco elegance and served with champagne. This legendary service runs several routes across Europe, with the classic journey connecting London to Venice via Paris and the Swiss and Italian Alps, though you can also travel to destinations like Prague, Vienna, and Istanbul.
The restored 1920s carriages feature original marquetry, polished brass, and plush upholstery that transport you to the golden age of travel, while three-course dinners and live piano music in the bar car make the journey feel like a moving grand hotel. This is rail travel as theater, where getting dressed up for dinner isn’t optional but part of the experience itself.
The Hiram Bingham, Peru
Named after the explorer who brought Machu Picchu to international attention, the Hiram Bingham offers the most luxurious way to reach Peru’s crown jewel. This elegant train departs from Cusco and follows the Urubamba River through the Sacred Valley, with the Andean peaks rising dramatically on both sides as you wind toward Machu Picchu.
The journey takes just under four hours, but with live Peruvian music, gourmet cuisine featuring local ingredients, and an observation car where pisco sours flow freely, you’ll wish it lasted longer. Upon arrival, passengers receive a guided tour of the ancient citadel before most day-trippers arrive, offering those magical early morning moments when mist still clings to the ruins.
Making It Happen
While these trains range from budget-friendly day trips to luxury adventures costing thousands, they all share one thing: they book up fast. Popular routes like the Glacier Express and Rocky Mountaineer sell out months in advance, especially for peak summer and fall foliage seasons. Many of these railways offer different service classes, so you can choose between affordable comfort and all-out luxury depending on your budget.
In an age where we’re encouraged to get everywhere as quickly as possible, these scenic rail journeys remind us that sometimes the best destination is the journey itself, and what a journey it is, framed by a train window and accompanied by the timeless song of steel wheels on rails.