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On the Right Track: The 7 Most Scenic Train Journeys in Europe
Written by Madeleine Keck
Discover Europe’s best by train – it will be a journey unlike any other.
Europe was meant to be seen by train. What other mode of transportation is as versatile, trustworthy and exquisite? There’s no better way to discover Europe’s breathtaking landscapes: bluster along dramatic clifftops, serene lakesides and jagged mountains to reach Europe’s cosmopolitan cities or puff past idyllic meadows and shimmering streams in the heart of the French countryside.
Danube Express, Central Europe
There’s luxury trail travel, and then there’s the Golden Eagle Danube Express. The antithesis of an a-to-b voyage, this all-inclusive hotel-on-wheels has three distinct compartments: Art Deco luxury sleeping cabins, a Bar Lounge Car (the social heart of the train) and the elegant Restaurant Car, where passengers can enjoy meals prepared by an onboard chef.
Multiple journeys are on offer each year, including an eight-day Istanbul to Paris route, 11-day Budapest to Venice passage and 12-day Eastern Europe discovery through Krakow and Vienna. The best part? Views of baroque elegance and dazzling cities are enjoyed both on and off the train, with each journey offering multiple excursions and activities.
Le Petit Train Jaune, France
Can you call yourself a Francophile if you haven’t ridden the Yellow Train? Lovingly referred to as the ‘pride of the Pyrenees,’ this three-hour journey through France’s southernmost mountain range spans the fortified village of Villefranche-de-Conflent to Latour-de-Carol, near the border with Spain. In the warmer months, when the sky is clear, a ride in the small touristic train’s open-air wagon is exquisite. The little train that could heads through Bolquère, the highest station in France, and past rolling green hills, meadows of yellow flowers, historic fortresses and rocky mountain gorges – bring a camera and let the magic hum past.
Flåm Railway, Norway
Don’t let the short travel time fool you – the historic Flåm Railway undeniably deserves a spot on the list. This 20-kilometre, one-hour journey – one of Norway’s top tourist attractions – whisks passengers from the southwestern village of Flåm up 900 metres to the wild mountains of Myrdal. The train chugs along one of the steepest standard gauge lines in the world, past snow-capped mountain peaks, splashing waterfalls, green pastures, snow-drenched hamlets and rapid rivers.
The Black Forest Railway, Germany
If Hansel and Gretel had gone into the woods by train and not foot, they’d have taken the Black Forest Railway. The real-life setting for one of the world’s most loved fairytales is the southwest Baden-Württemberg region in Germany, where, since the late 19th century, the line has whisked passengers past dense conifer forests (so dark green they appear black) and misty meadows.
The Black Forest Railway connects the city of Offenburg with quaint Donaueschingen, before meeting the Höllentalbahn, which officially translates to Hell’s Valley Railway. Fear not: a more apt description for the route would be enchanted forestry meets gothic grandeur. Over the course of an afternoon, glimpse glacial lake Titisee, elegant Höllental valley and charming medieval villages with half-timbered taverns.
Bernina Express, Switzerland and Italy
Slow and scenic, the Bernina Express is a moving love letter to the Alps. Across five hours, passengers traverse icy Chur, the oldest town in Switzerland, to palm-tree-lined Tirano on the Swiss-Italian border. Carriages feature arched glass windows, allowing an almost panoramic view of the passing Morteratsch Glacier and lakes Lej Pitschen, Lej Nair and Lago Bianco.
Not to be overshadowed by the scenery, the track is equally impressive. The Bernina Expresses runs atop a nine-arched stone spiral bridge and the magical, 65-metre-high, UNESCO-protected Landwasser Viaduct (picture the majestic bridge across which the Hogwarts Express travels in Harry Potter and you’ll be halfway there).
Venice-Simplon-Orient-Express, Central Europe
Like the Golden Eagle Danube Express, the Venice-Simplon-Orient-Express is the perfect blend of opulent carriages, each more splendid and legendary than the last, and remarkable landscapes. Extravagant cuisine and live entertainment occur in the dining car, while cocktails and conversation abound in the Bar Car. Crisp linens and handcrafted furniture await in the suites and cabins, where passengers can savour free-flowing champagne and breakfast in bed.
A small sample of the routes on offer include Bourg-Saint-Maurice (the heart of French ski country) to Paris, Florence to London (past Austria’s alpine meadows) and Verona to Amsterdam (through the majestic Italian Dolomites).
Glacier Express, Switzerland
Is it any wonder that Switzerland makes the list? The Glacier Express traverses a UNESCO World Heritage trail between St Moritz and Zermatt, through spiral tunnels and atop almost 300 bridges. Express by name but not nature, passengers have plenty of time (around eight hours) to kick back and look out at lakes, mountain peaks and gorges. Those in the first- and second-class carriages may enjoy a three-course meal, while those in the Excellence Class will be served champagne, aperitifs and a five-course menu paired with wine from a guaranteed window seat.
Discover Europe
Looking for more inspiration? Check out Luxury Escapes’ Top Bucket-List Destinations for 2025.
Feature image: The Black Forest Railway, Germany.
