There is something about watching a landscape unfold from a train window that no highway or airplane can match. Trains move slowly enough to let mountains, glaciers, deserts, and coastlines sink in, yet fast enough to cover ground that would take days on foot. From narrow Alpine passes to the vast Australian outback, these twelve routes represent the very best of scenic rail travel, chosen for their combination of engineering, natural beauty, and the sheer emotional pull of the journey itself.
Ranking scenic trains is inherently subjective, but this list leans on route length, terrain variety, historical significance, and how consistently travelers and rail experts single out each journey as unforgettable. Some of these routes are quick half-day excursions, while others take the better part of a week. All of them are worth the trip.
1. Glacier Express, Switzerland
Often called the world’s slowest express train, the Glacier Express links Zermatt at the foot of the Matterhorn with St. Moritz in the Engadin region. The narrow-gauge train links St Moritz in the Engadin skiing area and Zermatt at the foot of the Matterhorn, taking 7½ hours to cover just over 290 km at an average speed of 24 mph. The eight-hour panoramic journey takes travelers over 291 bridges and through 91 tunnels into the Engadin lakeland near St. Moritz.
The route climbs to its highest point at the Oberalp Pass, offering sweeping views of glaciers, alpine meadows, and remote mountain villages along the way. Passengers pass through Alpine landscapes at the foot of the Matterhorn in the Valais region, go up to the Oberalp Pass, the route’s highest point at 2,345 metres above sea level, and get a glimpse of the Rhine Gorge, Switzerland’s Grand Canyon. Fresh Swiss cuisine served at your seat and oversized panoramic windows make this one of the most complete scenic rail experiences anywhere in the world.
2. Bernina Express, Switzerland and Italy
Where the Glacier Express is famous for its length, the Bernina Express is famous for its drama, climbing higher into the Alps than almost any other railway on the continent. The Bernina Express runs between St. Moritz in Switzerland and Tirano in northern Italy, crossing the Bernina Pass at 2,253 metres, the highest railway crossing in the Alps that operates year-round without entering a tunnel. The entire Rhaetian Railway line it runs on is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, awarded that status in 2008 for its extraordinary engineering achievements including spiralling loops and dramatic viaducts.
In roughly four hours, passengers travel from snow-covered peaks to palm-lined Italian streets, crossing a 144 km journey through 55 tunnels and 196 bridges, with Alpine gradients as steep as 1 in 14. The train climbs past the white sweep of Lago Bianco and the Palü Glacier, then slips over the famous Brusio Circular Viaduct before descending into Tirano. Few railways anywhere pack this much scenery into such a short ride.
3. Rocky Mountaineer, Canada
Canada’s Rocky Mountaineer has built its reputation on a simple idea: never travel through spectacular scenery in the dark. The Rocky Mountaineer is North America’s flagship luxury scenic train, offering daytime travel through the Canadian Rockies and the American Southwest, with overnight hotel stops rather than onboard cabins. Three routes connect Vancouver to Banff, Lake Louise, or Jasper, known as First Passage to the West, Journey Through the Clouds, and Rainforest to Gold Rush.
The First Passage to the West route in particular passes through a highway corridor ranked among the most scenic in the world, a 232 km stretch that traverses ancient glaciers, pristine lakes, and unforgettable mountain views. Glass-domed coaches in both GoldLeaf and SilverLeaf service classes give passengers unobstructed views of towering peaks, turquoise lakes, and deep river canyons that define the Canadian Rockies.
4. Flåm Railway, Norway
The Flåm Railway, or Flåmsbana, is a short but astonishingly steep line connecting Myrdal on Norway’s high plateau with the fjord village of Flåm below. It is one of the steepest standard-gauge railways in the world, descending sharply through a series of hairpin turns, waterfalls, and narrow mountain valleys in barely an hour. The train slows almost to a stop near the thundering Kjosfossen waterfall so passengers can step out and take photographs.
What makes the Flåm Railway remarkable is how much dramatic terrain it covers in such a compact journey. Snow-capped peaks give way to green valley floors and eventually the still waters of the Aurlandsfjord, a branch of the wider Sognefjord. Many travelers combine the train with a fjord cruise, creating one of Norway’s most popular and efficient scenic circuits.
5. The Ghan, Australia
Named after the Afghan camel drivers who once helped open up the Australian interior, The Ghan crosses the entire continent from south to north. Operated by Journey Beyond, its scheduled travelling time, including extended stops for passengers to do off-train tours, is 53 hours 15 minutes to travel 2,979 kilometres. The route connects Adelaide, Alice Springs, and Darwin, passing through some of the most remote and starkly beautiful desert landscapes on Earth.
Unlike the alpine drama of European trains, The Ghan’s beauty lies in its sheer emptiness: red desert plains, ancient rock formations, and horizons that stretch further than seems possible. The Ghan has been described as one of the world’s greatest passenger trains. Off-train excursions to places like Katherine Gorge and Alice Springs add depth to what is otherwise a meditative, wide-open journey.
6. Venice Simplon-Orient-Express, Europe
Few trains carry the romance of the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express, a restored 1920s and 1930s luxury service that runs seasonally between London, Paris, Venice, and other European cities. Polished wood-paneled carriages, vintage dining cars, and formal evening dress recreate the golden age of rail travel almost exactly as it was a century ago. The scenery shifts constantly, from the English countryside through the French Alps and into the lake-dotted landscapes of northern Italy.
What sets this train apart from purely modern scenic services is its sense of theater. Passengers are not just watching a landscape, they are stepping into a piece of living history aboard carefully restored carriages. The approach into Venice across the causeway, with the lagoon opening up on both sides, remains one of the most cinematic arrivals in all of rail travel.
7. West Highland Line, Scotland
Stretching from Glasgow to the fishing port of Mallaig, the West Highland Line is frequently cited by rail enthusiasts as one of the most beautiful railway journeys in Britain. The route crosses the Rannoch Moor wilderness, skirts the shores of Loch Lomond and Loch Eil, and passes over the Glenfinnan Viaduct, a curved concrete structure made famous by its appearances in the Harry Potter films. Steam-powered heritage services still run seasonally along parts of the line, adding an extra layer of nostalgia.
The final stretch toward Mallaig offers views across to the Isle of Skye and the Small Isles, with heather-covered hills tumbling down to the sea. Because the line remains a working passenger railway rather than a purely tourist attraction, it offers an unusually authentic way to experience the Scottish Highlands without a car.
8. Trans-Siberian Railway, Russia
No list of scenic train journeys would be complete without the Trans-Siberian, the longest railway line in the world. The Trans-Siberian Railway covers 9,289 kilometers and takes about seven days to complete, crossing eight time zones from Moscow in European Russia to Vladivostok on the Pacific coast. The scenery changes gradually but constantly, from the birch forests around Moscow to the vast expanse of Siberian taiga and the shores of Lake Baikal.
Travelers can also branch off onto connecting routes through Mongolia and China, which add the Gobi Desert and the Great Wall region to the itinerary. Alternative routes via Mongolia and China are available, covering similar distances with different cultural experiences. The sheer duration of the trip is part of its appeal, forcing a slower, more reflective pace than almost any other journey on this list.
9. Andean Explorer and the Route to Machu Picchu, Peru
Rail travel in Peru offers some of the most dramatic high-altitude scenery in South America, and the routes connecting Cusco, the Sacred Valley, and Machu Picchu are a highlight for travelers exploring the region. Trains climb through terraced Andean farmland, hug narrow river gorges, and eventually descend into the cloud forest surrounding the base of Machu Picchu itself. Luxury services on the Cusco to Puno stretch of the Andean Explorer add sleeper cabins and observation cars overlooking Lake Titicaca and the high plateau known as the Altiplano.
The approach to Machu Picchu along the Urubamba River is particularly striking, with steep green mountainsides rising directly from the tracks. Because road access to the ruins is limited, the train is not just scenic but genuinely essential, making it one of the few routes in the world where rail travel and cultural heritage are inseparably linked.
10. Darjeeling Himalayan Railway, India
Known affectionately as the Toy Train, the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway is a narrow-gauge line winding up into the foothills of the eastern Himalayas. Built between 1879 and 1881, it is about 88 kilometres long and climbs from roughly 100 metres above sea level at New Jalpaiguri to about 2,200 metres at Darjeeling, using six zig zags and five loops to gain altitude. The line was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage list at the 23rd session held in Marrakesh in 1999.
The slow climb through tea plantations, pine forests, and small mountain villages gives passengers time to take in views of the surrounding hills and, on clear days, distant Himalayan peaks. The train’s famous Batasia Loop, where the track spirals around itself to manage the steep gradient, remains one of the most photographed stretches of railway in India.
11. California Zephyr, United States
Amtrak’s California Zephyr runs from Chicago to San Francisco’s Bay Area, crossing roughly half the width of the United States and passing through some of its most varied terrain. The train climbs through the Rocky Mountains in Colorado, following the Colorado River through steep canyons before crossing the high desert of Utah and Nevada and finally descending through the Sierra Nevada into California. Observation cars with floor-to-ceiling windows make the mountain sections especially rewarding.
The route’s appeal lies in its contrasts, from the flat farmland of the Midwest to snow-dusted Rocky Mountain passes and the granite cliffs of the Sierra Nevada. Because much of the most scenic terrain, particularly through the Colorado Rockies, is difficult or impossible to see comfortably by car, the California Zephyr offers a rare rail-only perspective on the American West.
12. Rovos Rail and the Blue Train, South Africa
South Africa’s luxury rail heritage is anchored by two services, the historic Blue Train and the more recently established Rovos Rail, both running primarily between Pretoria and Cape Town. The route crosses the vast, open landscapes of the South African interior, including the semi-arid Karoo region, before descending toward the dramatic coastal scenery around Cape Town and Table Mountain. Vintage carriages, some dating back decades, add a sense of old-world elegance to the journey.
Longer Rovos Rail itineraries extend north toward Victoria Falls and into neighboring countries, adding game-rich savanna and river landscapes to the experience. Rovos Rail also offers luxury journeys to Victoria Falls beyond its South African routes. The combination of colonial-era rail nostalgia and genuinely wild African scenery makes this one of the most distinctive train experiences on the planet.
Ranking scenic train routes will always involve a degree of personal taste, since a desert crossing and an alpine climb offer entirely different kinds of beauty. Still, these twelve journeys share a common thread: each one turns travel itself into the destination, rewarding patience with views that a plane or car simply cannot deliver. Whether it’s the engineered precision of the Swiss Alps or the empty vastness of the Australian outback, these are the routes where the journey truly is the point.
