Experiences
The best train journeys in Europe: nine routes worth a whole day
Some trains are just transport. These are the reason to travel. Our pick of Europe's great rail routes, from Norway's high mountain plateau to the Douro valley and over the Alps.
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The train has just left Myrdal and the carriage goes quiet. Outside, the valley drops almost vertically towards Flåm, a waterfall roars so close to the track that spray hits the glass, and nobody reaches for a phone until it has passed.
Europe has the densest rail network on earth, and many of its finest stretches run through country you never see from a car. We have chosen nine journeys where the ride itself is the point: three in Norway, three in the Alps and three through vineyards, moorland and along the sea. For four of them we have also picked a hotel where the journey starts or ends.
Short answer: which train journeys in Europe are best?
For mountain scenery, take the Bergen Railway with the Flåm Line in Norway, or the Glacier Express and Bernina Express in Switzerland. The Douro line in Portugal is the pick for wine country, and the West Highland Line in Scotland crosses the wildest landscape in Britain.
Best in Scandinavia: the Bergen Railway and Flåm Line
Best in the Alps: the Bernina Express
Best for wine country: the Douro line
Best for wild landscape: the West Highland Line
Best arrival: the train into Venice
The Bergen Railway and Flåm Line: Norway's high plateau and a vertical valley
The Bergen Railway links Oslo and Bergen across the Hardangervidda plateau. Finse is the highest station on the line, and in winter you step off the train straight into snow. The trip takes around seven hours.
Change at Myrdal for the Flåm Line, which drops 20 kilometres to Flåm on the Aurlandsfjord and is one of the steepest standard-gauge railways in the world. Carry on by boat through the Nærøyfjord if you have time.
The catch: the Flåm Line is packed in summer, when cruise passengers arrive early. Take one of the first or last departures. Read about the Oslo to Bergen train and the Flåm Railway.
Britannia Hotel
The lobby of Britannia Hotel in Trondheim.
North through Norway: the Dovre and Nordland lines
From Oslo the Dovre line climbs through the Gudbrandsdal valley and across the Dovrefjell mountains, where musk oxen graze, to Trondheim. From there the Nordland line runs on to Bodø and crosses the Arctic Circle on the Saltfjell plateau.
Take the day train for the views or the night train to save a hotel bill. Trondheim is the natural place to break the journey.
The catch: the Nordland line takes around ten hours and catering is limited. Bring food. Read our Trondheim guide.
Britannia Hotel: a proper night between two train days
The Britannia is a short taxi ride from Trondheim Central Station and is the city's classic grand hotel. After a day on the Dovre line, dinner in the Palm Garden and a bed that does not move feel well earned. Book it if you are splitting the trip north.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at Britannia Hotel
The Glacier Express: across the Alps
The Glacier Express runs between Zermatt and St. Moritz in about eight hours. It is slow on purpose, crossing the Oberalp Pass and threading deep valleys, bridges and tunnels, with panoramic windows that curve into the roof.
Book seats well ahead in summer and during the ski season, and choose the direction that ends in the town you want to explore.
The catch: eight hours in one seat is a long day and the fare with reservation is high. Consider splitting it with a night on the way. Read our Switzerland guide.
The Bernina Express: from glaciers to palm trees
The Bernina Express runs from Chur or St. Moritz over the Bernina Pass to Tirano in Italy. The Albula and Bernina lines are listed by UNESCO, and at Brusio the train loops through a spiral stone viaduct to descend the steep valley.
It is shorter than the Glacier Express and more varied: glaciers and high peaks at the top, palms and Italian espresso in Tirano a few hours later.
The catch: the panoramic carriages sell out. Ordinary regional trains run the same line without reservations, and some have windows you can open.
Hotel Infante Sagres
The lobby of Hotel Infante Sagres in Porto.
The Douro line: along the river through port country
From São Bento station in Porto, famous for its blue tiled hall, regional trains head east to Régua, Pinhão and Pocinho. After Régua the line hugs the Douro river, with terraced vineyards on both banks and tiled station buildings.
Get off in Pinhão for a tasting at one of the quintas, the wine estates, or ride to Pocinho and back in a day. Fares are low and no reservation is needed.
The catch: carriages are basic and can be hot in summer, and the river-side seats go first. Arrive early. Read about the Douro Valley and Porto.
Hotel Infante Sagres: a short walk to São Bento
Infante Sagres stands by the Clérigos tower, a short walk from São Bento where the Douro trains leave. It is Porto's grand old hotel, with stained glass on the staircase and a bar locals use too. Stay here if you want to walk to the morning train and dine in the centre at night.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at Hotel Infante Sagres
The West Highland Line: moor, lochs and a famous viaduct
The West Highland Line runs from Glasgow to Fort William and Mallaig on Scotland's west coast. It crosses Rannoch Moor, one of the largest wild areas in Britain, and the Glenfinnan Viaduct, familiar to many from the Harry Potter films.
In summer The Jacobite steam train runs between Fort William and Mallaig. The ordinary service covers the same track all year at a fraction of the price.
The catch: the weather turns quickly and mist can settle over the moor. Allow a couple of days for a clear one. Read our Scotland guide.
The Semmering Railway: the first mountain railway
Built in the 1850s south of Vienna, the Semmering Railway is regarded as the first true mountain railway and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It runs between Gloggnitz and Mürzzuschlag over two-tier viaducts and along steep slopes.
It is an easy day trip from Vienna and fits neatly into a journey south towards Graz or Italy.
The catch: long-distance trains rush past the small stations. Take the regional train if you want to hop off and walk a stretch beside the line. Read our Vienna guide.
Sofitel Munich Bayerpost
The pool at Sofitel Bayerpost in Munich.
Munich to Innsbruck: the Alps from the window
The regional train from Munich via Garmisch-Partenkirchen to Innsbruck uses the Karwendel line, one of the loveliest stretches in the Alps, climbing along mountainsides with views down into the valley.
It takes a couple of hours and combines well with a night in Garmisch or a day in the mountains.
The catch: on winter weekends the train fills with skiers. Travel early or midweek. Read our Munich guide.
Sofitel Bayerpost: steps from the main station
Sofitel Bayerpost occupies the old post office beside Munich Hauptbahnhof, so you walk from the lobby to the platform. There is a spa and pool, and rooms are quiet despite the busy area. A practical base before an early train into the Alps.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at Sofitel Bayerpost
Ca' Sagredo Hotel
The facade of Ca' Sagredo Hotel in Venice.
Arriving in Venice: across the lagoon
No train journey ends like the one into Venice. The line crosses the long causeway from the mainland with water on both sides, and when you walk out of Santa Lucia station you are standing on the Grand Canal with the water buses in front of you.
Come from Milan, Florence or Verona and travel light. There are no cars in the city and many bridges have steps.
The catch: the station forecourt is crowded and single water bus tickets are expensive. Buy a day pass if you will use it often. Read our Venice guide.
Ca' Sagredo: a palazzo on the Grand Canal
Ca' Sagredo is a noble family palazzo on the Grand Canal in Cannaregio, beside the Ca' d'Oro water bus stop. The vaporetto from the station gets you there quickly, and the frescoed staircase is the first thing you see. Choose it if you want the grand arrival to continue.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at Ca' Sagredo
Good to know before you book
Book panoramic trains early: the Glacier Express, Bernina Express and the Flåm Line in summer sell out.
Regional trains are often just as scenic: they use the same track, cost less and usually need no reservation.
Consider an Interrail or Eurail pass: it can beat single tickets if you take several routes. Check reservation fees for express trains.
Pick your side: the view is often better on one side. Check the map before you sit down.
Train journeys in Europe: frequently asked questions
What is the most beautiful train journey in Europe?
The Bergen Railway with the Flåm Line, the Glacier Express and the Bernina Express are usually ranked highest. The Douro line and the West Highland Line are fine alternatives with fewer visitors.
How long does the Glacier Express take?
About eight hours between Zermatt and St. Moritz. Many travellers split it with an overnight stop.
Do I need seat reservations for Swiss panoramic trains?
Yes for the panoramic carriages on the Glacier Express and Bernina Express. Regional trains on the same lines run without reservations.
How do you get from Oslo to Bergen by train?
Several Bergen Railway departures run daily and take around seven hours. Change at Myrdal for the Flåm Line and a boat onward.
Is a rail pass worth it in Europe?
A pass pays off if you take many routes in a short time. For one or two journeys, single tickets bought early are usually cheaper.