1. Glacier Express - Zermatt to St Moritz, Switzerland
The Glacier Express takes 7.5 hours to cover 291 km from Zermatt to St Moritz, crossing 291 bridges and 91 tunnels while climbing to the Oberalp Pass at 2,033m. Operated jointly by Matterhorn Gotthard Bahn and Rhaetian Railway, the train runs year-round with panoramic windows across all carriages. A compulsory seat reservation costs approximately CHF 33 in addition to your rail ticket. Booking is available at sbb.ch or glacierexpress.ch. The summer peak (June to August) sells out weeks or months ahead.
2. Bernina Express - Chur to Tirano, Switzerland to Italy
The Bernina Express is a 144 km journey from Chur in Switzerland to Tirano in Italy, crossing the 2,253m Bernina Pass in approximately 4 hours. UNESCO designated this route a World Heritage Site - the only World Heritage railway to cross the Alps without using a tunnel. Rhaetian Railway operates panoramic coaches with large panoramic windows. The Brusio circular viaduct, a 360-degree stone loop viaduct, is one of the most photographed railway structures in Europe. Trains run daily throughout the year; compulsory seat reservations cost approximately CHF 14 per journey.
3. Bergen Railway and Flam Railway, Norway
The Bergen Railway (Oslo to Bergen, 496 km, approximately 6.5 hours) is one of Europe's highest main-line railways, crossing the Hardangervidda plateau at 1,301m with views of fjords and snow fields. At Myrdal midpoint, the Flam Railway branches off and descends 866 metres over just 20 km in about 1 hour to the Sognefjord at Flam. It is one of the steepest non-rack-and-pinion railways in the world and passes the Kjosfossen waterfall, where the train pauses briefly for photographs. The Flam Railway operates year-round and tickets cost approximately NOK 420 (around EUR 38) each way.
4. Darjeeling Himalayan Railway, India
The Darjeeling Himalayan Railway, known as the Toy Train, is a UNESCO World Heritage railway built in 1881 on 610mm narrow gauge track in West Bengal. The steam-hauled joyriders depart from Darjeeling station through tea gardens and Himalayan foothills with views of Kanchenjunga (8,586m) on clear October and November days. Diesel services cover the full 88 km route from New Jalpaiguri to Darjeeling in approximately 7 hours. The 2-hour steam joyrider from Darjeeling costs approximately INR 1,500 per person and runs twice daily. Booking is available at Indian Railways (irctc.co.in).
5. Hiram Bingham and Vistadome to Machu Picchu, Peru
Both PeruRail and Inca Rail run services from Ollantaytambo (90 minutes from Cusco by road) to Aguas Calientes, the gateway to Machu Picchu, in approximately 1.5 to 2 hours. The route passes through the Sacred Valley, rising cloud forest, and the Urubamba River gorge. PeruRail's Hiram Bingham luxury train includes a four-course dinner, cocktails, and a guided Machu Picchu excursion. The Vistadome coach on PeruRail's Expedition service has large panoramic windows and starts at approximately USD 75 each way. Advance booking is essential year-round as this is among the world's highest-demand rail routes. Book at perurail.com.
6. Yufuin no Mori and Seven Stars, Japan
The Yufuin no Mori (Forest of Yufuin) limited express runs between Hakata (Fukuoka) and Yufuin in Oita Prefecture in approximately 2 hours through bamboo groves and wooded hillsides. It uses a distinctive retro-green livery train with reserved seating. Tickets are bookable through JR Kyushu's smart phone app or at JR stations. For ultra-luxury, Japan's Seven Stars in Kyushu is a 3-day, 2-night cruise train circling Kyushu island with seven suites, dining cars, and curated shore excursions. Entry is by lottery only; applications open 3 months before each departure via the JR Kyushu website. A 2-person suite on the Seven Stars costs from approximately JPY 340,000 (around USD 2,200) per person.
7. Rocky Mountaineer - Vancouver to Banff, Canada
The Rocky Mountaineer is a private luxury glass-dome train operating from April through October between Vancouver and Banff or Jasper through the Canadian Rockies. The 2-day journey covers the Fraser Canyon, the Spiral Tunnels near Field, and the approach to the Columbia Icefield. GoldLeaf service features a glass-domed upper deck and gourmet meals served in a separate lower dining area. SilverLeaf service offers a single-level glass-topped coach. The train travels only in daylight hours so passengers see every kilometre of mountain scenery. Prices start at approximately CAD 1,500 per person for the 2-day journey including meals. Booking at rockymountaineer.com is recommended at least 6 months ahead for July and August dates.
8. California Zephyr - Chicago to San Francisco, USA
Amtrak's California Zephyr travels 3,924 km from Chicago Union Station to Emeryville (San Francisco Bay Area) in approximately 51 hours. The route crosses the Colorado Rocky Mountains through the Moffat Tunnel (3,023m), descends the Colorado River Canyon, crosses Nevada desert, and climbs the Sierra Nevada before descending to the California coast. The Sightseer Lounge car has floor-to-ceiling windows on two levels. Superliner sleeper cabins include all meals in the dining car. Coach tickets start at approximately USD 150; a bedroom sleeper cabin costs from USD 500 to USD 900 depending on season. No special reservation beyond a standard Amtrak booking is needed.
9. The Jacobite - Fort William to Mallaig, Scotland
The Jacobite steam train covers the 67 km West Highland Line between Fort William and Mallaig in approximately 2 hours, crossing the 21-arch Glenfinnan Viaduct over Loch Shiel - one of the most photographed railway structures in the world and used in the Harry Potter film series. Operated seasonally from May to October by West Coast Railways, the train uses vintage steam locomotives and restored heritage coaches. The route passes Loch Eil, Ben Nevis, and several sea lochs before reaching the fishing village of Mallaig on the Atlantic coast. Return tickets cost approximately GBP 43 per adult in 2026 and should be booked weeks ahead in July and August. Book at westcoastrailways.co.uk.
10. The Ghan - Adelaide to Darwin, Australia
The Ghan covers 2,979 km from Adelaide in South Australia to Darwin in the Northern Territory in approximately 54 hours. Journey Beyond operates this iconic train named after the Afghan cameleers who pioneered overland routes through the Australian interior in the 19th century. The train crosses the Flinders Ranges, South Australian plains, and the Red Centre desert before reaching the tropical Top End near Darwin. The Gold service includes a private en-suite sleeper cabin and all meals. Off-train excursions at Alice Springs and Katherine Gorge are included in Platinum class. Prices start at approximately AUD 1,599 per person one-way in Gold class. Book at journeybeyondrail.com.au.
11. Trans-Siberian Railway - Moscow to Vladivostok, Russia
The Trans-Siberian Railway is the world's longest railway at 9,289 km, connecting Moscow's Yaroslavsky Station to Vladivostok on the Pacific coast in approximately 6 days and 2 hours on the direct Train 2 service. The route crosses the Ural Mountains, 7,000 km of Siberian taiga, the southern shore of Lake Baikal (the world's deepest lake at 1,642m), and the Russian Far East. Platzkart (3rd class open-plan sleepers) are the most affordable and social option; 2nd class kupé (4-berth closed compartments) offer more privacy. Summer (June to August) provides the most comfortable travel conditions. Most nationalities require a Russian visa; train tickets are bookable through rzd.ru or via an agent.
12. Qinghai-Tibet Railway - Xining to Lhasa, China
The Qinghai-Tibet Railway is the world's highest standard-gauge railway, reaching a maximum altitude of 5,072m at Tangula Pass between Golmud and Lhasa. The full journey from Xining to Lhasa covers 1,956 km in approximately 22 hours. All passenger carriages are pressurised and individual oxygen outlets are fitted at every seat, as much of the route runs above 4,500m where altitude sickness is a risk. The train crosses the Qinghai Plateau, the Kekexili National Nature Reserve (home to Tibetan antelope), and the Tibetan Plateau before descending into Lhasa. Foreign visitors require a Chinese visa and a separate Tibet Travel Permit, which must be arranged through a licensed Chinese tour operator before departure.
13. Kandy to Ella Hill Country Train, Sri Lanka
The Kandy to Ella route in Sri Lanka's central highlands is widely described as one of the most scenic train journeys in Asia. The approximately 7-hour journey covers 156 km through tea estates, cloud forest, and past the famous Nine Arch Bridge at Demodara, a colonial-era stone viaduct built in 1921. Second-class Observation Saloon seats have open windows and outward-facing benches; these sell out days ahead online through 12go.asia or at Kandy station. Third-class carriages are unreserved. The Kandy-to-Badulla Express uses this route; the Kandy to Ella segment covers the most scenic section. Fares in second class cost approximately LKR 230 (around USD 0.70) - one of the world's most affordable scenic rail journeys.
14. TranzAlpine - Christchurch to Greymouth, New Zealand
KiwiRail's TranzAlpine crosses New Zealand's South Island from Christchurch on the Pacific coast to Greymouth on the Tasman Sea in approximately 4 hours and 30 minutes, covering 233 km through the Southern Alps via Arthur's Pass at 920m altitude. Open-air observation carriages allow passengers to photograph the Waimakariri River gorge, beech forests, and mountain viaducts without glass in the way. The train operates year-round with one return service daily. Standard tickets start at approximately NZD 129 each way and are bookable at kiwirail.co.nz. The service runs as a dedicated scenic experience rather than a regular passenger service and includes audio commentary about the landscape.
15. Ffestiniog and Welsh Highland Railways, Wales
The Ffestiniog Railway (Porthmadog to Blaenau Ffestiniog, 21 km, approximately 1 hour each way) is a 597mm narrow gauge steam railway through Snowdonia National Park in north Wales, opened in 1836 to carry slate from the quarries at Blaenau Ffestiniog to the coast. The connected Welsh Highland Railway (Caernarfon to Porthmadog, 40 km, approximately 2 hours) passes beneath Mount Snowdon and through the Aberglaslyn Pass. Together they form the longest heritage narrow-gauge network in Wales. Both are operated by the Ffestiniog and Welsh Highland Railways Trust. Trains run from late March through October with limited winter services. Combined day rover tickets allow unlimited travel on both lines; book at festrail.co.uk. Standard return tickets cost approximately GBP 25 to GBP 40 depending on the route.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the world's most scenic train route?
Switzerland's Glacier Express, Norway's Flam Railway, and Scotland's Jacobite steam train consistently appear at the top of global scenic rail rankings. UNESCO has designated the Bernina Express and Darjeeling Himalayan Railway as World Heritage railways. The best route depends on your preferred landscape: alpine, fjord, highland, desert, or jungle.
Do I need to book scenic trains in advance?
Yes for most of these routes. The Glacier Express and Bernina Express require compulsory seat reservations bookable via sbb.ch and sell out in July and August. The Jacobite to Mallaig should be booked weeks ahead in peak summer. The Rocky Mountaineer and Hiram Bingham to Machu Picchu require booking 3 to 12 months ahead for summer and holiday travel.
What is the best scenic train in Europe?
The Glacier Express (Switzerland, CHF 150 or more), the Bernina Express (Switzerland to Italy, UNESCO listed), and the Flam Railway (Norway, approximately EUR 38) are Europe's three most celebrated scenic trains. The Jacobite in Scotland (GBP 43 return), the Ffestiniog Railway in Wales, and the Semmering Railway in Austria are also consistently highly rated.
Are scenic trains expensive?
Prices range enormously. The Kandy to Ella train in Sri Lanka costs around USD 0.70 in third class. The Flam Railway in Norway costs approximately EUR 38. The Rocky Mountaineer starts at CAD 1,500 per person all-inclusive for 2 days. Most mid-range scenic trains cost between EUR 30 and EUR 150 for a half-day journey. Japan's Seven Stars cruise train is one of the world's most expensive regular rail services.