Rail traveling in Europe has an undeniable, unequivocal characteristic charm that you cannot find anywhere else. Not only does this mode of transportation find its roots in Europe, adding a historical dimension to the experience, but it also features some of the most breathtaking sceneries that are beyond your imaginings. Highly quintessential of Europe, these scenic rail journeys are mesmerizing, other-worldly, and fulfilling. And although almost all train rides here have their unique charm, some just outweigh others. If you are wondering which ones those might be, find the list below, which identifies the most scenic train rides in Europe.
Related Posts
1. Flam Railway, Norway
Photo credit: Visit Flam
If Norway is famous for some natural landscape, it is its fjords. These long and narrow water bodies surrounded by steep mountains are a spectacular sight to behold. These dramatic expressions of nature have been cited as one of UNESCO’s World Heritage Sites and are the primary reason people flock to Norway each year. And there is no better way to enjoy their breathtaking beauty than to take the Flam Railway, which arguably is the best scenic rail journey in Europe. The rail takes you on a short roundtrip from Flam to Myrdal, but one must not doubt this journey’s potential based on its length. The ride packs in a spectacular elevation change, ascending 863 m in just 20 km, making it one of the steepest railway ascents.
Along the route, you will notice a plethora of manmade and natural marvels. The former includes various long, hand-carved tunnels speaking on the Norwegians’ ingenious, while the latter features marvelous waterfalls, farmlands, rivers, and mountains! You can also plan additional activities, like hiking and biking along the fjord, to take in the destination’s beauty from close. This scenic rail journey is as aesthetic as it can get and one you must take at least once in your lifetime.
Related Resources for Flam Railway, One of Scenic Train Rides in Europe:
Eurail Pass holders get a 30% discount on normal one-way fares of the Flam Railway scenic train ride. Reservations are only needed for groups of 10 or more travelers. You can get your Eurail Pass here.
2. Glacier Express, Switzerland
Photo credit: Inspire To Travel
If you enjoy sightseeing peacefully, without any rushing through the experience, you will enjoy the journey offered by the Glacier Express. It takes you on the slowest pace, starting from Zermatt and ending in St. Mortiz, allowing you the complete opportunity to absorb the beauty of the surroundings over a stretch of 300km in 8hrs. If the duration sounds a lot to you, worry not, for the views outside your windows will be so dramatic and breathtaking that you will not realize where the time went.
Speaking of windows, the Glacier Express features windows specifically designed to allow its passengers to enjoy extreme panoramic sights outside. During the ride, the Glacier Express will take you on an exciting journey through 91 tunnels, 291 bridges, stunning high-rise mountains covered with the most pristine greenery, and deep ravines that will make your heart jump to your mouth. And the best part is that the Express runs in seasons that are bright and clear, so you can enjoy fantastic weather at the stops and comfortably venture out on your mini excursions!
Related Resources for Glacier Express, One of Scenic Train Rides in Europe:
Your Glacier Express scenic train ride is fully included in your Eurail Pass. You can purchase Eurail Pass here.
3. Rome to Palermo, Italy
Photo credit: Wolfgang Achtner
The Rome to Palermo journey is not your average train ride. How often is it that your rail trip features a side of a sea voyage? Very rarely! Therefore, this scenic rail journey is a must for everyone. You may or may not be a sucker for aesthetics, but you will surely fall for this one and find yourself keep coming back. The trip takes under 12hrs in total and instills in you a sense of serenity and calmness.
Close your eyes and imagine sitting back in a comfortable train and looking outside the window where you find the mesmerizing Tyrrhenian Sea coastline featuring calm, bright blue waters, stunning Mount Vesuvius, fascinating Bay of Naples, and Calabria’s mesmerizing countryside. This scenic train ride in Europe lets you enjoy the best of all worlds, introducing you to a variety of spectacular setups, each with its unique charm and mesmerizing capabilities. With its fulfilling and enriching experience, the train ride from Rome to Palermo will imprint itself on your mind as a fond memory that lets you explore the versatile offerings of Europe and Italy.
Related Resources for Rome to Palermo, One of Scenic Train Rides in Europe:
Find your train ticket from Rome to Palermo here. Once you are in Palermo, check out some ” target=”_blank” rel=”noreferrer noopener nofollow”>here.
4. Mariazell Railway, Austria
Photo credit: Niederösterreich Bahnen
The Mariazell Railway in Austria enjoys a long history of popularity with both the locals and the international visitors, and for a very good reason. Inaugurated in 1907, the train snakes through a track 78kms long, running through Austria’s longest narrow-gauge line. The Express begins its journey in the scenic and historical Austrian town St Polten and weaves through picturesque settings that offer jaw-droppingly beautiful setups of mountains, forests, and the amazing Pielach valley.
While on the train, you can also appreciate the manmade marvels that present themselves as remarkable tunnels and viaducts. They will leave you in awe of the human caliber! Experiencing the wonderful landscapes seen in this scenic train ride in Europe is one pleasant experience that you cannot afford to miss.
5. Centovalli Railway, Switzerland & Italy
Photo credit: Hostelworld
A list of the most scenic rail rides in Europe cannot be made without a notable mention of the Centovalli Railway that powers between Locarno and Domodossola, which are in Switzerland and Italy, respectively. The train goes through hundreds of heavenly valleys and hills, offering an other-worldly experience. The landscape can be regarded as extremely romantic and something you could imagine as a human’s conception of paradise. The train ride takes only about two hours but shows you a lifetime worth of gorgeous natural phenomena and human efforts.
Be prepared to spot chestnut grooves, vast expanses of vineyards, traditional villages, waterfalls, and the mesmerizing Lake Maggiore. If you decide to take the trip in the summer months, you will be rewarded further with excellent weather conditions and consequently bright and clear days, which add to the charm of the localities Contovalli covers. The Express also covers some 83 bridges and 31 tunnels that would convince you of the Europeans’ architectural superiority. So, climb on board on the Centovalli Railway, sit back in the comfort of your train, and let it take you through one stunning location after another. Does that not sound like a treat?
Related Resources for Centovalli Railway, One of Scenic Train Rides in Europe:
Your Centovalli scenic train ride is fully included in your Eurail Pass. You can purchase Eurail Pass here.
Related Posts
Travel Resources for Planning Scenic Train Trip in Europe
To make planning your scenic train trip in Europe easier, we included some of our recommended travel resources below. You can search and find the best flights, transportation options, hotels to stay in, tours/activities, and things you can do in each destination during your trip in addition to enjoying the scenic train rides in Europe.
Flights:
Agoda: Search thousands of destinations around the world & quickly compare prices to find amazing deals on the best flights.
CheapOAir: You can find airline tickets, hotel rooms, rental cars, and vacation packages all on one site!
Kiwi.com: What we like about Kiwi is the fact that they are able to create combinations of flight, train, and bus tickets and offer them in a single itinerary. Also, Kiwi has what they called “Nomad” which helps you find the best way of visiting multiple destinations, saving you time and money.
JetRadar: You can search and compare airfares from 726 airlines and dozens of travel agencies and systems.
Hotels:
Agoda: Agoda is one of the world’s largest online travel accommodation platforms with a network of over 2,000,000 vacation rentals and hotels worldwide.
Hotellook: They have more than 250,000 hotels in 205 countries, working with data from more than 10 online booking systems, such as Booking.com, Agoda.com, Hotels.com, Expedia, and others.
Transportations:
Airport Transfers: KiwiTaxi, Viator
Train: EuRail, Trainline or RailEurope
Bus: Flixbus: Very affordable (as low as $6) and convenient way to transfer between cities in Europe.
Car Rentals: AutoEurope, EconomyBookings, or GetTransfer (transfers & car rentals with a personal driver)
Bike Rental: BikesBooking (Bikes & scooter rentals)
Transportation Comparison: Omio (search, compare, and book tickets for buses, trains, and flights all in one site)
Tours & Activities:
TakeWalks (WalkofItaly): This is our favorite site for walking tours & day trips.
Tiqets: Great site for entrance tickets. It offers directly bookable, instantly available, and completely mobile tickets for museums, shows, and attractions all over the world.
Musement: They have good activities and tours in Italy and Spain, also many great day trips you can choose from.
GetYourGuide: A large number of tours, excursions, and other travel activities
Viator: The largest one. It has everything from tours, attractions, shore excursions, and private guides in over 2,700 destinations worldwide. It also has many transportations and transfers options and some unique experiences we didn’t find anywhere else.
Need help planning a scenic train trip in Europe?
Want to plan a train trip to one of the best scenic train rides in Europe but don’t know where to begin? If you find this type of trip planning to be too complicated to plan on your own, we’re here to help!
At MultiCityTrips, multi-destination travel and complicated itineraries such as a train trip to one of the scenic train rides in Europe are our specialties. Contact us today to learn more about how one of our experienced travel experts/destination specialists can personalize your multi-city vacations at the best price.
Don’t want to start from scratch and need some trip inspiration? Check out our marketplace for customizable pre-designed packages available right now for many amazing destinations.
To learn more about how our process of trip planning works in detail, please see our “How It Works” page or check out our video on “How to Plan a Multi-City Trip to Europe in 5 Easy Steps” here.
Have questions for us? Schedule a FREE Call with us here or contact one of the travel experts/destination specialists at [email protected], call/text us at (888)223-2316 today.
