Amazing Train Trips You Must Experience in Europe
All aboard for an unforgettable rail adventure across Europe! We showcase seven stunning train journeys that take you through dramatic coastlines, glacier-covered mountains, emerald valleys, and iconic cultural landscapes. Often, the journey by train itself becomes a highlight. These seven routes perfectly illustrate why!
00:00 Intro
00:41 Venice Simplon-Orient-Express, France – Turkey
01:52 Glacier Express, Switzerland
03:00 Middle Rhine Railway, Germany
04:12 The Jacobite Steam Train, Scotland
05:20 Ferrocarril de Sóller, Spain
06:24 Flåm Railway, Norway
07:33 Cinque Terre Express, Italy
#europe #europetravel #traintravel
Fantastic views, exciting destinations and no traffic jams.
Trains connect almost every major city in Europe through a 250,000-kilometre rail network.
When travelling by train, the journey itself is often the highlight.
On these routes you'll have sweeping views and meaningful control stops.
And occasionally some luxury.
Let's explore seven of the most beautiful train routes in Europe.
All aboard!
We start with the longest and perhaps most legendary train journey, the Orient Express,
which stretches over 3,000 kilometres from Paris to Istanbul.
After visiting the sights of the French capital, you have a train to catch at Gare de l'Est station.
From there the journey sets off in luxury and style, just as it did on its first trip in 1883.
The train consists of dining and sleeping cars, and guests can expect to be pampered.
First stop, Budapest.
The Orient Express pulls in long enough to see some of the Hungarian capital's main sights.
The original Orient Express was the setting for numerous books and movies,
especially during its heyday in the 1920s.
Nowadays the luxury train only makes this route across Europe twice a year, for a steep price.
The six-day trip to Istanbul costs around 22,000 euros per person.
Our second recommendation is the Glacier Express in Switzerland.
The eight-hour journey through the Swiss Alps begins in St. Moritz and ends in Zermatt.
Two ski resort towns popular with the rich and famous.
The Glacier Express describes itself as the slowest express train in the world,
with an average speed of only 38 kilometers per hour.
It passes through 91 tunnels and across 291 bridges,
the most famous of which is the Landwasser Viaduct, part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
After a few hours you reach the highest point of the route, the Oberalp Pass, at 2,033 meters.
It's one of the most stunning mountain passes in Switzerland.
After seven hours of travel the sun sinks behind the mountains,
and nearly 300 kilometers later the Glacier Express reaches its destination, Zermatt.
If the weather is on your side, you might even catch a glimpse of the famous Matterhorn before the journey ends.
Our next European train tip is Germany's Middle Rhine Railway,
which runs 180 kilometers from Cologne to Mainz.
The route winds along the Rhine River, past ancient castles, vineyards and impressive rock formations.
Tourists have been visiting this section of the river for centuries thanks to its beautiful landscape.
We recommend stopping in Sankt Goa to visit the Loreley.
This rock is the subject of a famous legend about a siren who lures men to their death.
The next stop is Bingen, where you can marvel at the famous Maus Tower.
And in three hours you've reached your destination.
Be sure to explore Mainz. It's one of the oldest cities in Germany and has plenty of beautiful half-timbered houses.
And the Mainz Cathedral, which is over 1,000 years old.
Now we're off to Scotland to ride the Jacobite steam train from Fort William to Malik.
This journey is often hailed as one of the most beautiful in the world,
and it gained extra fame as the model for the Hogwarts Express in the Harry Potter movies.
The train travels 135 kilometers along the west coast of the Scottish Highlands.
The route's most iconic highlight is the ride across the Glenfinnan Viaduct.
This bridge was built in the late 19th century and is considered the longest concrete railway viaduct in Scotland.
Your first stop is Glenfinnan, home to a small museum that covers everything about the train's history.
Once you reach Malik, there's time for a snack.
Fish and chips are very popular here.
Most travelers then return to where they started.
Our next train journey takes you across the Spanish island of Mallorca from Palma to Soya.
The Ferrocarril de Soya, as it's called, even has its own station.
Time seems to have stood still on this journey, with the line operating since 1912 and many carriages with restored original parts.
Although trains aren't a common way to get around Mallorca, this ride is a must.
The line passes through 13 tunnels and winds around tight curves as it climbs about 200 meters in altitude over a relatively short distance.
After roughly an hour, the train reaches Soya, where picturesque streets and squares bear the mark of the town's prosperity from orange cultivation.
And don't miss the tram, a charming little sibling of the Tren de Soya, which takes you the 5 kilometers to Port de Soya.
This small harbor town is the perfect place to end the day by the sea.
And now we're off to Norway. The Fløm railway line from Myrdal to Fløm is only 20 kilometers long, but it's still breathtaking.
The route descends around 800 meters to the shore of the Ørlandfjord.
The first stop is the Husfossen waterfall, which also feeds a small hydroelectric station.
Norway's abundant hydropower provides the electricity that powers the Fløm railway.
And it's not just the landscape that's impressive, but also the route itself.
18 of the 20 tunnels were painstakingly carved into the rock around 100 years ago, using dynamite and pickaxes.
Your next stop is Berek Farm, a special station on the otherwise single track line.
This is the only place where trains from both directions can pass each other.
The deeper we go, the more the valley opens, and the first houses of Fløm appear.
After less than an hour's journey, the ride comes to an end.
Our last and shortest route recommendation is the Cinque Terre Express from La Spezia to Levanto.
Cinque Terre, or Five Lands, refers to the five coastal villages nestled in the hilly landscape of the Italian Riviera.
The train route winds its way along the coast for around 15 kilometers.
When it was built, its construction was hailed as a technical masterpiece.
First stop Venazza. This picturesque village has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1997.
The Cinque Terre region is known for its more than 120 kilometers of hiking trails,
giving you plenty of opportunities to explore the landscape on foot.
But it's undeniably more comfortable taking the train.
There are lots of tunnels along the route, and plenty of stunning sea views.
Be sure to spend some time in the town of Monte Rosso al Mare, to taste wine and cuisine from the region.
With our trip through Cinque Terre, we wrap up our recommendations for Europe's most scenic train journeys.
Which route is your favorite? Share your thoughts in the comments.