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Train & Rail Tours in Europe
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Eco-Comfort - Tour Of Italy By Train
Berlin to venice, mediterranean express: rivieras & railroads, italy by high-speed train, european romance, europe by rail budapest to milan, western europe group rail tour (18-35), paris to barcelona: tapas & train rides, berlin to rome, italy escape - 10 days.
“The package was truly unforgettable, marking itself as the best I've booked. Every moment exploring the famed Italian cities and their main attractions was immensely enjoyable.” Michael, traveled in May 2022
![train trips in europe Eco-Comfort - Tour Of Italy By Train](https://cdn.tourradar.com/s3/tour/360x210/143535_df994196.jpg)
- Train & Rail
- Skip lines at the Vatican and Sistine Chapel
- Admire Pisa's Leaning Tower and Siena's Duomo
- Drive through Amalfi Coast's scenic villages
“The places and the transportation organized are very well done. The flexibility of the activity enable us to still explore much of the city at our own pace.” Irene Sia, traveled in July 2024
![train trips in europe Berlin to Venice](https://cdn.tourradar.com/s3/tour/360x210/259200_66abaabda75a9.jpg)
- In-depth Cultural
- Sightseeing
- Christmas & New Year
- Hike to Bastei's sandstone pinnacles in Rathen
- Enjoy a Danube cruise with views of Budapest
- Explore Berlin's iconic landmarks and cuisine
“it was nice to have organized travel but the freedom to choose you're own activities in each location.” Rachel S, traveled in September 2018
![train trips in europe Mediterranean Express: Rivieras & Railroads](https://cdn.tourradar.com/s3/tour/360x210/83308_aa918e.jpg)
- Spend an afternoon freely in Nice
- Explore Rome's cobblestone streets at night
- Hike between Riomaggiore and Monterosso
“The daily tours were amazing and 100% worth having guided tours set up for us.” Justin Loutsch, traveled in April 2024
![train trips in europe Italy By High-Speed Train](https://cdn.tourradar.com/s3/tour/360x210/111857_d98165af.jpg)
- Find your favourite gelato flavour in Florence
- See St. Peter’s Basilica and the Sistine Chapel
- Speed through the Italian countryside by Train
![train trips in europe European Romance](https://cdn.tourradar.com/s3/tour/360x210/271807_65f05db46eafe.jpg)
- Discover Prague's Baroque architecture
- Admire Florence's Renaissance art
- Explore the historic sites of Rome
“This trip has been once in a lifetime and the best decision I have ever made! Every destination on this trip surprised me in the best way.” Holly Boylin, traveled in August 2024
![train trips in europe Europe by Rail Budapest to Milan](https://cdn.tourradar.com/s3/tour/360x210/258795_6669c2847983a.jpg)
- Party on a boat along the Danube River
- Explore Budapest's famous ruin bars
- Soak in Budapest's Szechenyi Thermal Bath
“Well organized, the group activities were super fun, and I had the opportunity to meet amazing people from all over the world.” Anna Bazangeya, traveled in May 2023
![train trips in europe Western Europe Group Rail Tour (18-35)](https://cdn.tourradar.com/s3/tour/360x210/128885_5e4e5eafbbfb4.jpg)
- Learn to cook tapas in Barcelona
- Explore Venice's canals and islands
- Scuba dive in the Mediterranean Sea
“The free time on the tour to go out and do some great sightseeing was a great experience.” Tiffany Reitsema, traveled in May 2022
![train trips in europe Paris to Barcelona: Tapas & Train Rides](https://cdn.tourradar.com/s3/tour/360x210/216620_763bdbea.jpg)
- Picnic by the Eiffel Tower
- Grab drinks at a Paris hostel bar
- Explore the Swiss Alps from Interlaken
“Great trip, many good memories and new experiences.”
![train trips in europe Berlin to Rome](https://cdn.tourradar.com/s3/tour/360x210/3964_facd59ba.jpg)
- Spend time at Prague Castle, the biggest in the Czech Republic
- Explore Bled Castle, perched atop the 100-metre cliff overlooking the lake
- A visit to the Cesky Krumlov brewery - where tours are often conducted in English
![train trips in europe Italy Escape - 10 Days](https://cdn.tourradar.com/s3/tour/360x210/129839_c9d5cf.jpg)
- Tour Vatican City's treasures at your own pace
- Explore historic Rome and dine on Italian carbonara
- Capture Lake Como's stunning villas and landscapes
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![Train,Oslo,-,Bergen,In,Mountains.,Norway. The scene route between Oslo and Bergen runs through the mountains of Norway](https://media.timeout.com/images/105913715/750/562/image.jpg)
The 14 most scenic train journeys in Europe
Pack a book, hop on board and enjoy the most scenic train journeys in Europe, from west to east and north to south
![train trips in europe John Bills](https://media.timeout.com/images/106009615/170/170/image.jpg)
From glaciers and fjords to deserts and plains, Europe ’s home to some of the world’s most mind-blowing natural landscapes. And so, logically, it makes a heck of a lot of sense that the finest scenic rail journeys in Europe – train routes which are specifically designed to show off those spectacular landscapes – are amongst the best in the entire world .
The European continent’s finest scenic rail journeys also double up as pilgrimages to sites of incredible feats of engineering. These trains scale dramatic mountains, plunge through ginormous tunnels and span vast distances. You won’t just be gob-smacked by the view: you’ll wonder how on earth you’re able to experience it from the comfort of a locomotive.
And, before you say anything, no, scenic rail routes certainly aren’t just for rail geeks. Oh no. They’re also amongst the most comfortable and supremely romantic ways of getting around. As well as being much better for the planet than cars and planes, train travel is a destination in itself – and that’s even more the case with scenic routes. So, without further ado, here are our top 14 scenic railways in Europe right now.
RECOMMENDED: 🚂 The best train journeys in the world 🚅 The best train journeys in Asia 🚉 The world’s most spectacular train stations
Been there, done that? Think again, my friend.
Best train journeys in Europe
1. oslo to bergen, norway.
![Oslo to Bergen, Norway Oslo to Bergen, Norway](https://media.timeout.com/images/105913715/750/422/image.jpg)
Connecting Oslo and Bergen is the fairytale Bergen Line. Take it in spring or autumn, and the voyage plays out like a living painting of all four seasons, as blustery flower meadows and lush valleys fade into icy forests of pine and glittering lakes. It’s a journey that’s quite possibly up there with the best in the world. It makes little difference which way you travel – views are equally OTT in both directions, on both sides of the tracks – but start in the morning to ensure you get a full day of views on the seven-hour trip. Ticket prices are generally quite affordable, but onboard food will set you back, so pack snacks.
2. Belgrade to Bar, Serbia and Montenegro
![Belgrade to Bar, Serbia and Montenegro Belgrade to Bar, Serbia and Montenegro](https://media.timeout.com/images/105869911/750/422/image.jpg)
Often referred to as ‘the Balkan Express’, the 11-hour (on a good day) jaunt from Belgrade to Bar celebrates civil engineering and natural majesty. A whopping 435 bridges are traversed as the train trundles from the Serbian capital to Montenegro’s largest port, working as a time machine through the twentieth century in these parts. That means socialist architecture in Užice, modern ski resorts in Kolašin and the rapidly developing tourism of Montenegro’s southern coast. The last stretch is particularly stunning.
3. Palma to Sóller, Majorca
![Palma to Sóller, Majorca Palma to Sóller, Majorca](https://media.timeout.com/images/105913716/750/422/image.jpg)
The electric train line that links Majorca’s capital, Palma, with the northern town of Sóller was originally built to ship oranges across the island. Its vintage wooden carriages rattle out of central Palma, through the city’s hinterlands and across the great dry plains of southern Majorca. After a stop in Bunyola, it’s a steady climb into the foothills – followed by the sudden pitch black of the Sóller tunnel. And then comes the best bit: a winding route through the lush peaks of the Serra de Tramuntana, with incredible views over Sóller’s distant church, before the final descent. The whole trip only takes an hour, leaving plenty of time to catch the heritage tram down to Port de Sóller and cool off in the sea before the return leg.
4. Blaenau Ffestiniog to Porthmadog, Wales
![Blaenau Ffestiniog to Porthmadog, Wales Blaenau Ffestiniog to Porthmadog, Wales](https://media.timeout.com/images/105869910/750/422/image.jpg)
The small mining town of Blaenau Ffestiniog has fallen on tough times with the demise of the slate mining industry, but the little steam railway that connects it with Porthmadog harbour is a gorgeous route showing Wales at its most magnificent. Most of the journey snakes through Snowdonia National Park, with plenty of stop-off options for travellers with time on their hands. The Ffestiniog Railway Company is also the oldest independent railway company on the planet, another layer of awesome to this gorgeous experience.
5. Zermatt to St. Moritz, Switzerland
![Zermatt to St. Moritz, Switzerland Zermatt to St. Moritz, Switzerland](https://media.timeout.com/images/105869898/750/422/image.jpg)
If you’ve high expectations of an experience named ‘The Glacier Express’, get ready for them to be exceeded and then some. This mountain marvel connects the resorts of Zermatt and St. Moritz, and the panoramic views make this one of the best ways to embrace all this dramatic landscape offers. The seven-and-a-half-hour journey traverses 291 bridges, 91 tunnels and a whole lot of beauty.
6. The Brocken, Germany
![The Brocken, Germany The Brocken, Germany](https://media.timeout.com/images/105869900/750/422/image.jpg)
Another gorgeous journey from base to summit, The Brocken Railway picks wide-eyed passengers up from the settlement on the edge of Harz National Park called Drei Annen-Hohne. When the ride is over, those passengers find themselves on top of the world, or at least on top of the Brocken, the highest peak in Northern Germany. The journey is all tight turns, dramatic valleys, snowy vistas and lose-yourself imagery at a maximum speed of 40km/h.
7. Barcelona to Montserrat, Spain
![Barcelona to Montserrat, Spain Barcelona to Montserrat, Spain](https://media.timeout.com/images/105869909/750/422/image.jpg)
There are plenty of ways to travel from Barcelona to the base of Montserrat mountain, but we’re putting our eggs firmly in the basket marked ‘train’. Actually, that would be ‘tren’ in Catalan, but you get the idea. There is a wide range of tickets available for the journey, though we recommend getting one that covers not just your train from Barcelona and then either the cable car or rack railway up the mountain itself, but also entry into the Montserrat Museum.
8. Fort William to Mallaig, Scotland
![Fort William to Mallaig, Scotland Fort William to Mallaig, Scotland](https://media.timeout.com/images/105869906/750/422/image.jpg)
A constant on lists of the world’s most beautiful train journeys, Scotland’s Jacobite Steam Train is an 84-mile stunner traversing the magic of Scotland from Fort William to Mallaig. Booking ahead is an absolute must but totally worth it, as the journey transports visitors across a landscape that takes the term ‘rugged’ and redefines it in that inimitable Scottish way. Some call it the Hogwarts Express after its turn in the Harry Potter films, and you can insert your own magical comment here.
9. Myrdal to Flåm, Norway
![Myrdal to Flåm, Norway Myrdal to Flåm, Norway](https://media.timeout.com/images/105869908/750/422/image.jpg)
Another frequent face on lists of the world’s best train journeys, the line between Myrdal and Flåm in Norway bridges the divide between impossibly cute and absolutely monolithic. That’s Norway in a nutshell, right? The small things are all quaint and idyllic, while the big ones bluster through stunning cliffs, jagged mountains and awe-inspiring scenery. The Flåm Railway climbs a whopping 867 metres into the sky and back, with a short shop at the Kjosfossen waterfall as the cherry on top.
10. Chur to Poschiavo, Switzerland
![Chur to Poschiavo, Switzerland Chur to Poschiavo, Switzerland](https://media.timeout.com/images/105869915/750/422/image.jpg)
Switzerland is every bit as spectacular as its reputation suggests it might be. Actually, this place is woefully undersold and the rail route between Chur and Poschiavo is further proof, a jaw-dropping run that takes lucky passengers through the heart of the Swiss Alps. The famous mountains unravel on either side of the train, scenery that tends to see passengers put their cameras down and stare at the wonders at hand. The Bernina Express continues toward Tirano in Italy for those who need even more scenery.
11. La Rhune, France
![La Rhune, France La Rhune, France](https://media.timeout.com/images/105869913/750/422/image.jpg)
What an absolute stunner of a ride. From the foot of the Pyrenees to the top via an early 1900s cog railway, the quaintest of quaint trains scaling a mighty height. It can be a little jarring, but the cobwebs are soon blown away by the stunning vistas and the majesty that awaits at the summit. The train only runs from April to September, round-trip tickets cost €20 (an absolute bargain), and it begins its journey in the town of Sare, some 10km or so from Saint-Jean-de-Luz.
12. Prague to Bratislava, Czech Republic and Slovakia
Okay, the scenery outside the window between Prague and Bratislava is nothing to write home about. Is it pretty? Sure, we’d expect nothing less from this part of the world, but the real fun of this route is found inside. A train journey spent in a Central European restaurant car is one of those most eccentric travel experiences, so make an immediate beeline for that part of the train when boarding. Line up some excellent Czech pivo and enjoy the conveyor belt of characters who will invariably make their way through the car.
![](http://triptrip.online/777/templates/cheerup/res/banner1.gif)
13. Málaga to El Chorro, Spain
![Málaga to El Chorro, Spain Málaga to El Chorro, Spain](https://media.timeout.com/images/105869914/750/422/image.jpg)
While you can’t get a train across the thrilling and terrifying Caminito del Rey walkway, you can still experience a great journey on the way. The train from Malaga to El Chorro is a stunner, a fast route that takes less than 45 minutes and will set you back less than a tenner. That gives you just under 45 minutes to enjoy the stunning scenery and dredge up the courage to traverse the famous walkway.
14. Mostar to Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bosnia and Herzegovina doesn’t have many trains, but it remains an absolute must for lovers of rail travel. Why? Well, the stretch of track between Mostar and Jablanica quickly answers that question. It offers a jaw-dropping array of twists and turns that hug the cerulean blue of the ice-cold Neretva river, as jagged cliffs hem everything in from all sides. Sure, you need to get up early to catch the train, but it is worth that sunrise alarm. The route continues to Sarajevo, passing through charming Konjic and several satellite towns along the way.
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The best train rides in Europe: 10 amazing journeys for 2024
Jan 16, 2024 • 8 min read
![train trips in europe Woman taking photo with a smartphone of Jungfrau while riding in train](https://lp-cms-production.imgix.net/2022-03/GettyImages-889055820.jpg?w=1440&h=810&fit=crop&auto=format&q=75)
Incredible scenery awaits traveling through the Bernese Alps; Jungfrau, Switzerland © Thomas Barwick / Getty
There’s something magical about a journey by train.
Sometimes the magic is inside – on a train you have room to move and meet people, dine in a restaurant car with white tablecloths, and sleep in a private compartment between crisp, clean sheets with the sound of steel wheels swishing on the rails beneath you. Sometimes the magic is outside, in the landscape the train traverses – an adventure, an experience, an insight into the heart of a nation.
Below are some of the most beautiful train rides in Europe – some well known, some less so, some luxurious and expensive, others true bargains. From countryside views and mountain villages to alpine passes and landmark bridges (with a little wildlife spotting thrown in for good measure), the continent offers up some of the most scenic train rides in the world.
The best European train trips include the fabulous Bernina Express, the most enchanting Swiss Alpine ride of all, and the spectacular railway from Belgrade to Bar through the mountains of Montenegro . The latter is one of the most scenic train rides you’ve probably never heard of, with a bargain fare of just €21. So here they are, the 10 best train journeys in Europe, extracted from Lonely Planet's Amazing Train Journeys .
![train trips in europe Train crossing the Ribblehead viaduct in Yorkshire Dales, England.](https://lp-cms-production.s3.amazonaws.com/public/2023-12/GettyImages-480634707.jpg?w=1920&auto=format&q=75)
1. Settle to Carlisle, England
Route: Settle to Carlisle Best bit? Marveling at the Ribblehead Viaduct, one of the great views of northern England , preferably as a steam train thunders over. Distance: 113km (73 miles) Duration: 1 hour 40 minutes
England’s Settle-to-Carlisle line has long been synonymous with the fight to preserve beautiful and historic stretches of railway. But this is no heritage line. Proudly part of the British rail network and served by regular mainline trains, the railway enjoys a double life as a frequent host of steam specials and, even rarer, steam-hauled mainline services.
Whether you have the whiff of steam in your nostrils or the hard-working growl of diesel-hauled regular trains in your ears, the views from the carriages are pretty much unmatched on the English railway network.
Passengers can feast their eyes on mile after mile of magnificent Yorkshire Dales and North Pennines scenery, interrupted only by stations so sweet you would expect to find them pictured on a box of biscuits.
![train trips in europe The Little Yellow Train (Le Petit Train Jaune) passing through Villefranche-de-Conflent, France](https://lp-cms-production.s3.amazonaws.com/public/2023-12/GettyImages-1371905981.jpg?w=1920&auto=format&q=75)
2. Le Petit Train Jaune, France
Route: Villefranche-de-Conflent to Latour-de-Carol Best bit? Holding your breath as you cross the gravity-defying Pont Gisclard. Distance: 63km (39 miles) Duration: 4 hours 30 minutes
Since 1910, the dinky, sunflower-yellow carriages of the Ligne de Cerdagne have been rattling and clattering their way through the rolling forests and saw-toothed mountains of the Pyrenees , and they have secured a special place in the hearts of many French travelers.
Affectionately known as the Canary, or Le Petit Train Jaune (Little Yellow Train), this mountain railway is frequently cited as the most scenic in France , but it’s definitely not a luxury service – it’s a rollercoaster ride on which you will feel the wind in your hair and the chill of the mountain breeze as you ratchet your way up to the highest train station in France. On y va!
![train trips in europe A woman is traveling on a train, leaning out of a window and looking out at the scenery](https://lp-cms-production.s3.amazonaws.com/public/2023-12/GettyImages-1225639915.jpg?w=1920&auto=format&q=75)
3. Belgrade-to-Bar Railway, Serbia and Montenegro
Route: Belgrade to Bar Best bit? Levitating atop the 499m-long (1637ft), 198m-tall (650ft) Mala Rijeka Viaduct, one of the planet’s highest railway bridges, before the train glides over the Balkans’ largest lake, Skadar. Distance: 476km (296 miles) Duration: 12 hours
Dramatic is the operative word for this route, which rumbles over an unsullied, mountainous landscape from Serbia 's capital, Belgrade , to Montenegro ’s Adriatic Coast . During the 12-hour journey, the train disappears into the Dinaric Alps, charges through canyons, teeters on stilted bridges spanning river gorges and skims atop an ancient, tectonic lake.
Like the region it serves, the railway, which chugs across the heart of the Western Balkans , eludes most tourists’ maps. The reward for treasure-hunting travelers, who are informed (or lucky) enough to know where to dig: an embarrassment of authentic culture and pristine geographic riches at every bend.
![train trips in europe Bernina Express train passing through a snow-covered mountain range.](https://lp-cms-production.s3.amazonaws.com/public/2023-12/GettyRF512995960.jpg?w=1920&auto=format&q=75)
4. The Bernina Express, Switzerland
Route: Chur to Tirano Best bit? Marveling at the astonishingly turquoise Lago Bianco from the route’s highest station, Ospizio Bernina (2253m/7392ft). Distance: 156km (96 miles) Duration: 4 hours 30 minutes
We can wax lyrical about the glacier-capped mountains, waterfall-draped ravines, jewel-colored lakes and endless spruce forests glimpsed through panoramic windows on Switzerland ’s Bernina Express – but, trust us, seeing is believing.
Rolling from Chur in Graubünden to Tirano in northern Italy in around four hours, this narrow-gauge train often tops polls of the world’s most beautiful rail journeys. It's certainly one of the most scenic train journeys in Switzerland.
Beyond the phenomenal Alpine landscape, the railway itself is a masterpiece of early 20th-century engineering, taking 55 tunnels and 196 bridges in its stride. The line is on the UNESCO World Heritage List – and with good reason.
![train trips in europe Scenic landscape with sheep grazing in front of Castell Carreg Cennen (Carreg Cennen Castle), Trapp, Llandeilo, Carmarthenshire, Wales,](https://lp-cms-production.s3.amazonaws.com/public/2023-12/GettyImages-1472502168.jpg?w=1920&auto=format&q=75)
5. The Heart of Wales Line, Wales and England
Route: Swansea to Shrewsbury Best bit? Disembarking at lonely Sugar Loaf Station for a walk or picnic around the iconic nearby knoll of the same name. Distance: 194km (121 miles) Duration: 4 hours
This is Swansea to Shrewsbury the slow and, frankly, surreal way. This one-carriage train traverses track through Wales and England that might easily have been consigned to a museum or an out-of-print book, but that has somehow defied time and logic to survive as a passenger route.
Expect a spectrum of scenery, alternating from the sand-edged estuaries of South Wales, via bucolic farming towns and tracts of forest and hill country you probably never knew existed, through to one of England’s prettiest medieval cities. This four-hour, 34-station zigzag passes almost no major sights or countryside villages, but a very high concentration of spectacularly zany ones.
![train trips in europe A regional train on the Brenner Railway cuts through in the Austrian Alps](https://lp-cms-production.s3.amazonaws.com/public/2023-12/GettyImages-1279133358.jpg?w=1920&auto=format&q=75)
6. Munich to Venice on the Brenner Railway, Germany, Austria and Italy
Route: Munich to Venice Best bit? Stretching your legs at 1371m (4498ft) Brenner Pass, the highest point on the trip. Distance: 563km (350 miles) Duration: 6 hours 30 minutes
The Brenner Railway is attractive for two key reasons: mountains and wine. There may be more technically astonishing high-altitude trains, but this was the first to cross the Alps, in the 1860s.
On a surprisingly speedy day trip, you pass through three countries – Germany , Austria and Italy – and descend from the snow line to sea level. You’re rarely far from highways, but the vineyard views are still stunning. Bonus: great European cities with historic architecture – Munich and Venice – are at either end.
![train trips in europe A Scotrail Class 158 diesel passenger train crosses the glacial delta estuary of the River Attadale as it winds along the Kyle Line railway on the coast of Loch Carron, an inlet of the Atlantic Ocean in the West Highlands of Scotland.](https://lp-cms-production.s3.amazonaws.com/public/2023-12/GettyImages-637282406.jpg?w=1920&auto=format&q=75)
7. The Kyle of Lochalsh Line, Scotland
Route: Inverness to Kyle of Lochalsh Best bit? Passing under the gentle grassy slopes of Fionn Bheinn – a munro rising high over Achnasheen. Distance: 135km (84 miles) Duration: 2 hours 30 minutes
Scotland has an abundance of windswept railways – the West Highland Line and the Far North Line to Thurso among them. Though comparatively unsung, perhaps the loneliest of all is the Kyle of Lochalsh Line – with trains rumbling doggedly from Inverness through desolate glens and past snowy munros, connecting the cold shores of the North Sea to the furious whitewater of the Atlantic.
It is a railway line full of poetry and beloved by aficionados – but it’s also a useful way for independent travelers to access remote nooks of the Highlands, and make a journey to the Isle of Skye.
![train trips in europe Colorful rowing boats line up on the shore of Lake Bled, with the surrounding trees in beautiful fall colors and Bled Island and Church of Mary the Queen in the background.](https://lp-cms-production.s3.amazonaws.com/public/2023-12/84720634.jpg?w=1920&auto=format&q=75)
8. Nova Gorica to Jesenice, Slovenia
Route: Nova Gorica to Jesenice Best bit? Catching a glimpse of picture-perfect Lake Bled’s church, castle and bright-blue water. Distance: 89km (55 miles) Duration: 2 hours
Here is a near-perfect railway adventure that most people have never heard of. Then again, you could be forgiven for missing it. The Bohinj Railway, after all, connects two places whose significance can be lost to modern travelers. Europe’s shifting borders and politics may have rather marooned the Nova Gorica–Jesenice line, but that only adds to the appeal.
An unassuming regional train rattling out of a faded-grandeur halt on the Italy– Slovenia border doesn’t even hint at what’s to come. The journey is a spectacular tour of Slovenia’s upland highlights, climbing through mountain towns and villages along the Soča River, passing through superb Alpine scenery close to Lake Bohinj , and past world-famous Lake Bled , offering photo opportunities galore.
![train trips in europe The view from Intragna on the River Melezza, as the the Centovalli Express cuts through the Hundred Valleys in Switzerland.](https://lp-cms-production.s3.amazonaws.com/public/2023-04/shutterstock_530735329.jpg?w=1920&auto=format&q=75)
9. The Centovalli Express, Switzerland and Italy
Route: Domodossola to Locarno Best bit? Taking in the Isorno viaduct, the site of Switzerland’s first bungee jump. Distance: 52km (32 miles) Duration: 2 hours
Often eclipsed by Switzerland’s more famous rail rides, this two-hour trundle from Locarno on the palm-rimmed shores of Lake Maggiore to Domodossola over the Italian border in Piedmont is something of an unsung beauty.
Brush up your Italiano to swoon in sync with fellow passengers as the dinky train clatters across 83 bridges and burrows its way through 34 tunnels. The views make for spirit-lifting stuff: waterfalls shooting past cliffside views, hillside vineyards, gracefully arched viaducts, slate-roofed hamlets, glacier-carved ravines and mile after mile of chestnut and beech forests, all set against the puckered backdrop of mountains that are snow-capped in winter.
![train trips in europe A train passes snow-capped mountains and a river from Oslo to Bergen in Norway](https://lp-cms-production.s3.amazonaws.com/public/2021-07/GettyRF_546197406.jpg?w=1920&auto=format&q=75)
10. Bergensbanen, Norway
Route: Oslo to Bergen Best bit? Gazing over the soul-stirring landscape of Hardangervidda between Geilo and Finse. Distance: 496km (308 miles) Duration: 6 hours 30 minutes
This astonishing train is one of the wonders of 19th-century railway building, and yet outside Norway hardly anyone knows about it. In just over six hours and some 490km (300 miles), it covers the spectrum of Norway ’s natural splendor: climbing canyons, crossing rivers, burrowing through mountainsides, swooping past fjords and traversing barren icescapes. All aboard for the Oslo to Bergen trainline, Bergensbanen: a mainline into Norwegian nature.
This article was first published Aug 20, 2019 and updated Jan 16, 2024.
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![train trips in europe train trips in europe](https://lp-cms-production.imgix.net/2024-05/GettyImages-481529752.jpg?w=140&h=140&fit=crop&auto=format&q=75)
May 18, 2024 • 7 min read
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Jan 2, 2024 • 11 min read
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Oct 19, 2023 • 8 min read
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Jul 5, 2023 • 5 min read
![train trips in europe Panoramic view of the center of Stockholm. The metro train moving the Slussen district. Amazing view of the Sodermalm island, The City Hall, Riddarholmen in Gamla Stan. Text on road signs "Old Town"; Shutterstock ID 1722718684; your: Brian Healy; gl: 65](https://lp-cms-production.imgix.net/2022-12/Sweden-Stockholm-GenOMart-shutterstock_1722718684-RFC.jpg?w=140&h=140&fit=crop&auto=format&q=75)
Dec 9, 2022 • 9 min read
![train trips in europe The Cathedral (Dom), TV Tower (Clonius), the Musical Dome, Kölner Philharmonie, the river Rhine, Hohenzollern Bridge, Museum Ludwig and Old Town are featured beyond a colourful sky.](https://lp-cms-production.imgix.net/2022-04/GettyRF_159337154.jpg?w=140&h=140&fit=crop&auto=format&q=75)
Apr 28, 2022 • 2 min read
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Jan 3, 2021 • 4 min read
![train trips in europe Station attendants beside Orient-Express at station.](https://lp-cms-production.imgix.net/2020-12/LPT0711_074.jpg?w=140&h=140&fit=crop&auto=format&q=75)
Dec 10, 2020 • 3 min read
![train trips in europe Rannoch, Scotland - May 11, 2016: The Caledonian Sleeper train crosses Rannoch Viaduct on the scenic West Highland Line railway in the Scottish Highlands.](https://lp-cms-production.imgix.net/2020-11/shutterstockRF_560845252.jpg?w=140&h=140&fit=crop&auto=format&q=75)
Nov 30, 2020 • 5 min read
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Scenic Europe, from a new perspective - your train window!
Europe's scenic trains will treat you to dramatic mountain scenery and sparkling lakes. Sit back and enjoy beautiful European landscapes as they pass you by from the comfort of your seat.
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Some scenic trains require a reservation in advance; however, many do not. A number of scenic trains, such as the Bernina Express , have a special panoramic car, which usually requires a reservation.
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