20 Most Scenic Train Journeys in the World
Train travel is the most romantic way to see a country. Here are 20 of the most scenic train journeys worth planning a trip around.
1. Glacier Express, Switzerland
Zermatt → St Moritz + 8 hours + Alps + glaciers + viaducts
2. Bernina Express, Switzerland-Italy
Chur → Tirano + UNESCO + alpine + glaciers + Italian descent
3. Trans-Siberian Railway, Russia
Moscow → Vladivostok + 6 days + 9,289 km + ultimate train trip
5. California Zephyr, USA
Chicago → San Francisco + 2.5 days + Rockies + Sierra Nevada + desert
6. Hiram Bingham, Peru
Cusco → Machu Picchu + luxury + Andes + Pisac valley + Andean views
7. Belmond Andean Explorer, Peru
Cusco → Puno → Arequipa + luxury sleeper + Lake Titicaca + Andes
8. Royal Scotsman, UK
Luxury Scotland highland tours + sleeper trains + boutique cars + lochs
9. Bergen Railway, Norway
Oslo → Bergen + 7 hours + Hardangervidda plateau + fjords + tunnels
10. Flåm Railway, Norway
Norway's most scenic + Aurland Valley + waterfalls + 12% gradient
11. Eastern + Oriental Express, SE Asia
Singapore → Bangkok + 4 days + luxury Belmond + jungle + history
12. Reunification Express, Vietnam
Hanoi → Saigon + 34 hours + entire country + Hue + Da Nang
13. Tibet Railway, China
Xining → Lhasa + highest railway + 5,072m pass + Yangtze + Tibetan plateau
14. Indian Pacific, Australia
Sydney → Perth + 4 days + Nullarbor Plain + Outback + ocean to ocean
15. Ghan, Australia
Adelaide → Darwin + 3 days + Red Centre + Uluru day trip option
16. Maharajas Express, India
Multi-route luxury + 7-day Indian Splendour + palaces + royalty
17. Toy Train Darjeeling, India
Siliguri → Darjeeling + UNESCO + tea country + miniature steam
18. West Highland Line, Scotland
Glasgow → Mallaig + Harry Potter Hogwarts viaduct + Loch Lomond
19. Coast Starlight, USA
Seattle → Los Angeles + 35 hours + Pacific coast + parlor car
20. Cape Town to Pretoria, South Africa
Rovos Rail luxury + 48 hours + winelands + Karoo + Highveld