The Most Beautiful Train Journeys in the World

Enjoy the gentle rocking and passing landscapes as your train glides past lush forests, wild waters, vast steppes, and gigantic mountains, through picturesque nature.

Sitting in cozy cars and discovering breathtaking landscapes through the window: train journeys give us the chance to see the world from a completely different perspective and explore the most beautiful corners of the globe. Despite often covering large distances in a short time and experiencing many highlights, train travel is among the slower forms of traveling, allowing you to get to know countries and their locals much better. Whether you choose a luxurious tourist train or an adventurous ride on a public train - I will show you the most amazing routes for train travel!

A classic and one of the most popular train journeys is, of course, the Trans-Siberian Railway. Not only is it world-famous, but it is also the longest railway line in the world! In six days, you zoom 9,300 kilometers from Russia's capital Moscow to Vladivostok, located by the Sea of Japan in the Pacific. Along the way, you pass through Yekaterinburg, Omsk, Novosibirsk, and Irkutsk, and can enjoy beautiful rural expanses. Alternative routes, such as the Trans-Mongolian route, take you through Mongolia to Beijing or various other locations in Asia.

During your journey, you have the choice between three different classes: the slightly more comfortable first class with a private double room and a private shower, a four-person compartment in second class, or a bunk in a shared car where you share with over 50 other guests.

While the third class sacrifices privacy and comfort, you will enjoy Russian hospitality, as people gather to eat and drink together. If you don't want to buy food on board, you can stock up at station stops where local babushkas often wait with fruit and pastries.

If you are vacationing in Sri Lanka, train journeys are perfect for mingling with the locals and experiencing the country authentically. Admittedly, the trains aren't the most modern, but that might be what makes it so special. You can take an adventurous day trip by train. The Sri Lanka Railway Line leads approximately 300 kilometers through picturesque tea plantations, tropical forests, and hilly landscapes. A special highlight is the Nine Arches Bridge in Ella, and the route from there to Kandy is simply beautiful.

Guru Tip: Depending on the season and time, trains can get quite crowded. If you dislike standing for long periods, it might be worth reserving a seat.

Now, Harry Potter fans among you can rejoice, as on the Jacobite Steam Train, you travel on the real Hogwarts Express! This train was actually used for the filming of Harry Potter and still invites passengers aboard. While the Hogwarts Express in the film brings young wizards from the Muggle world to Hogwarts, in reality, it travels from Fort William to Mallaig. Along the way, you will see Loch Shiel, cross the Glenfinnan Viaduct, and gaze upon the dreamlike landscapes of Scotland. Simply magical!

As the only cog railway in India, the Nilgiri Mountain Railway travels just 46 kilometers from Mettupalayam to the mountain station of Udagamandalam. As the name suggests, you traverse the enchanting mountain landscape of the Nilgiri Mountains. Since the train rolls along comfortably at 13 km/h, you have plenty of time to enjoy this beautiful scenery. The railway, with its historic steam locomotive, is now a UNESCO World Heritage site, which is why all modernization plans have been rejected.

Canada is a dream destination with its wild national parks, majestic mountains, idyllic lakes, and fairy-tale forests. You can experience this natural beauty yourself on five different routes as a guest of Rocky Mountaineer traveling through British Columbia and Alberta. Glass-roofed cars and large windows ensure that you miss nothing of the passing landscapes. You can enjoy the excellent onboard service.

These routes are available starting from Vancouver:

Depending on the route and duration of the train journeys, prices vary significantly and start at around $1,000. Not exactly a bargain, but it promises an unforgettable ride with incredible views.

Another high-class journey awaits you on the Pride of Africa from Rovos Rail, which is allegedly the most luxurious train in the world.

The vintage train cars have been carefully restored to maintain the Victorian style, enchanting you with a particularly nostalgic ambiance. Moreover, the landscapes of Africa are simply unique: vast national parks with endless savannas and natural wonders like Victoria Falls will leave you in awe. The entire route stretches 6,000 kilometers, traversing parts of South Africa, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Tanzania, and Namibia.

Norway is also among the countries that enchant us with incredibly impressive nature and picture-book landscapes. The Flåmsbana winds its way 20 kilometers through rugged rocks, breathtaking mountains and valleys, alongside crystal-clear rivers, bringing its guests from the Sognefjord at sea level to the mountain station in Myrdal - all in just one hour. For this reason, National Geographic Traveler Magazine ranks the Flåmsbana among the best train journeys in Europe.

Guru Tip: Make sure you don't take the Flåmsbana just as a load of cruise tourists arrives. It can get quite crowded then!

Peru - its historic villages and unique nature are simply magical and attract numerous tourists from all over the world. Peru Rail offers various routes, such as Vistadome from Cusco to Machu Picchu, where not only do you enjoy great panoramic views, but you are also entertained on the train with traditional dances, a fashion show, and musical performances. Some may find that a bit too wild, but it's simply part of the vibrant Peruvian culture. Visiting Machu Picchu itself is the absolute highlight for many and deserves a spot on numerous bucket lists.

To experience the beauty and vastness of Australia in a relaxed manner, train journeys are perfect, as you often need to cover long distances.

With the Kuranda Scenic Railway, you can comfortably travel through the Australian jungle from Cairns, offering magnificent views of waterfalls and, with a bit of luck, even all the way to the Great Barrier Reef. The landscape traversed by The Ghan from Great Southern Railways is entirely different: here you travel from Adelaide through Alice Springs to Darwin on one of the longest train routes in the world - right through the Outback and vast, red deserts.

Of course, most of you know the mystery novel 'Murder on the Orient Express' by Agatha Christie and may have seen the film adaptation in the cinema. The lovingly decorated cars, the noble lounge and dining cars with cozy chairs, neatly set tables, and stylish decorations seem to belong to another era. But the Orient Express is not a fictional creation - it actually exists!

Today, it is known as the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express, and it still runs partly on the original route between the most beautiful cities in Europe, remaining a luxury train of the highest class. Accordingly, ticket prices for two days start at nearly $1,000 depending on the route, with the historic journey from Paris to Istanbul costing around $8,500. In return, you enjoy a unique, nostalgic atmosphere, exquisite dishes in one of the elegant onboard restaurants, and attentive butler service, as wealthy personalities experienced back in the Golden Twenties. Sounds tempting, doesn't it?

Crystal-clear mountain lakes, impressive alpine landscapes, and quaint villages - Switzerland is truly known for its picturesque regions. Conveniently, you can take the train directly from Germany to get there and explore even more breathtaking routes on-site. The tracks here wind their way through the gigantic mountains over numerous tunnels and bridges, crossing valleys at dizzying heights. The spectacular Landwasser Viaduct is particularly famous.

So, what do you think? The best train journeys in the world are really diverse, aren't they? Whether it's an adventurous ride on a simple train or a relaxing journey aboard a luxurious train, train travel is simply always a wonderful way to travel and discover destinations. Beyond traffic jams and car horns, you glide through dreamlike landscapes, meet nice fellow travelers, and can stroll leisurely through the train or simply look out the window and dream ahead. Whether it's to the other side of the world or an impromptu city trip by train from Germany, it's entirely up to you. Have a great journey!