20 Most Scenic Train Journeys in the World

1. Glacier Express, Switzerland

Best months: Jul–Sep · 15–24°C days · rainy (climate data)

Zermatt → St Moritz + 8 hours + Alps + glaciers + viaducts

2. Bernina Express, Switzerland-Italy

Best months: Jul–Sep · 15–24°C days · rainy (climate data)

Chur → Tirano + UNESCO + alpine + glaciers + Italian descent

3. Trans-Siberian Railway, Russia

Moscow → Vladivostok + 6 days + 9,289 km + ultimate train trip

4. Rocky Mountaineer, Canada

Vancouver → Banff + 2 days + Canadian Rockies + glass-domed cars

5. California Zephyr, USA

Chicago → San Francisco + 2.5 days + Rockies + Sierra Nevada + desert

6. Hiram Bingham, Peru

Best months: Apr–Jun · 17–21°C days · dry (climate data)

Cusco → Machu Picchu + luxury + Andes + Pisac valley + Andean views

7. Belmond Andean Explorer, Peru

Best months: Apr–Jun · 17–21°C days · dry (climate data)

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

Best months: Jun–Aug · 14–21°C days · rainy (climate data)

Oslo → Bergen + 7 hours + Hardangervidda plateau + fjords + tunnels

10. Flåm Railway, Norway

Best months: Jun–Aug · 14–21°C days · rainy (climate data)

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

Best months: Nov–Jan · 14–22°C days · some rain (climate data)

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

Best months: Nov–Jan · 9–21°C days · dry (climate data)

Multi-route luxury + 7-day Indian Splendour + palaces + royalty

17. Toy Train Darjeeling, India

Best months: Nov–Jan · 9–21°C days · dry (climate data)

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

Best months: Jul–Sep · 7–21°C days · dry (climate data)

Rovos Rail luxury + 48 hours + winelands + Karoo + Highveld