TripMemo2026 Rail Guide

window-seat wonders worth crossing countries for

10 Best Train Journeys in the World

A ranked 2026 shortlist of the world's best scenic passenger rail journeys, chosen for landscape, route identity, onboard experience, logistics and the kind of slow-travel memory TripMemo was made to preserve.

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Red alpine train crossing a stone bridge in the Swiss Alps — Glacier Express
Zermatt to St. Moritz · about 8 hours

Journeys ranked

10 named routes

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Scenic rail only

Planning details

Route, time, season

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ranked for the journey itself

The world's best scenic train journeys

Luxury train dining carriage with tables set for a heritage rail journey

Paris to Venice and seasonal routes

Venice Simplon-Orient-Express

Romance, design and old-world rail theatre

The Venice Simplon-Orient-Express is not the most democratic pick, but it is the most theatrical. Restored carriages, dining cars, evening dress and the mythology of European sleeper travel make it a journey people remember as a scene, not a transfer.

Duration

1 to 5 nights

Distance

Varies by itinerary

Best time

March to November

Countries

France / Italy and beyond

Art deco cabinsDining carsAlpine approachesVenice arrival

Booking note: This is a high-budget experience; choose it for atmosphere more than mileage.

Oslo to Bergen

Bergen Railway

High plateaus and an easy Norway rail itinerary

The Bergen Railway is practical and beautiful at the same time. It links two major cities while crossing high mountain country, forests, lakes, snowfields and the Hardangervidda plateau.

Duration

About 7 hours

Distance

308 mi / 496 km

Best time

June to September, December to March

Countries

Norway

HardangerviddaFinseMountain lakesBergen arrival

Booking note: Reserve early for summer and winter weekends; pair with Flam for a fjord detour.

Australian long-distance train on tracks in South Australia

Sydney to Perth

Indian Pacific

A continent-crossing rail holiday

The Indian Pacific is less about one postcard view and more about scale: city to outback to ocean, Blue Mountains to Nullarbor Plain, long straight track, remote stops and the slow realization of how large Australia really is.

Duration

4 days / 3 nights

Distance

2,704 mi / 4,352 km

Best time

March to November

Countries

Australia

Blue MountainsBroken HillNullarbor PlainKalgoorlie

Booking note: The westbound and eastbound itineraries differ, so compare stops before booking.

Myrdal to Flam

Flam Railway

A compact fjord-and-waterfall railway

The Flam Railway is short, steep and memorable. It drops from Myrdal to the fjord through a narrow valley of waterfalls, farms, tunnels and mountain walls, making it one of the easiest spectacular rail add-ons in Europe.

Duration

About 1 hour

Distance

12 mi / 20 km

Best time

May to September, December to March

Countries

Norway

Kjosfossen waterfallFlam valleyMyrdal connectionAurlandsfjord

Booking note: Pair it with the Bergen Railway or a fjord boat for a fuller trip.

Long-distance train beside the Colorado River and mountain scenery

Chicago to Emeryville / San Francisco

California Zephyr

The most cinematic Amtrak crossing

The California Zephyr is the American long-distance train people romanticize for good reason. It leaves the Midwest, crosses the Rockies and Sierra Nevada, and gives you canyons, desert, snow sheds and big western skies from one seat.

Duration

About 52 hours

Distance

2,438 mi / 3,924 km

Best time

May to October, or winter for snow

Countries

United States

Colorado RockiesGlenwood CanyonDonner LakeSierra Nevada

Booking note: Book a roomette or bedroom early if you want privacy over two nights.

Train travelling through green New Zealand countryside toward the mountains

Christchurch to Greymouth

TranzAlpine

Southern Alps in one rail day

The TranzAlpine turns a South Island crossing into a window-seat event: Canterbury Plains, braided rivers, Arthur's Pass, beech forest, tunnels and the wild West Coast finish at Greymouth.

Duration

Just under 5 hours

Distance

139 mi / 223 km

Best time

October to April, plus winter weekends

Countries

New Zealand

Waimakariri RiverArthur's PassSouthern AlpsWest Coast arrival

Booking note: Book ahead and check current operating days before fixing flights.

Glasgow to Fort William and Mallaig

West Highland Line

Lochs, moorland and cinematic Highland scenery

The West Highland Line is not polished luxury, and that is part of its charm. It moves from Glasgow into lochs, empty moorland, mountain weather, Fort William and the famous sweep over Glenfinnan toward the sea.

Duration

5 to 6 hours

Distance

164 mi / 264 km

Best time

May to October

Countries

Scotland

Loch LomondRannoch MoorGlenfinnan ViaductMallaig coast

Booking note: Choose daylight departures and sit on the left toward Mallaig for many coastal views.

Rocky Mountaineer train passing through forest in the Canadian Rockies

Vancouver to Banff or Lake Louise

Rocky Mountaineer: First Passage to the West

Canadian Rockies without overnight train sleep

Rocky Mountaineer wins on comfort and drama. The train runs by day only, so you do not sleep through the best parts: Fraser Canyon, Kamloops, mountain rivers, forest, glaciers and the slow arrival into the Canadian Rockies.

Duration

2 days

Distance

594 mi / 956 km

Best time

April to October

Countries

Canada

Fraser ValleyHell's GateKamloopsBanff approach

Booking note: This is a premium rail holiday, not a standard public train.

Chur or St. Moritz to Tirano

Bernina Express

Glaciers, palms and railway engineering

The Bernina Express feels almost impossible: an Alpine railway that climbs toward glaciers, drops toward Italian palms, and packs famous engineering into a route that is short enough to fit into one spectacular day.

Duration

2 hr 15 min to 4 hours

Distance

90 mi / 145 km

Best time

May to October, December to March

Countries

Switzerland / Italy

Landwasser ViaductBernina PassBrusio spiral viaductTirano arrival

Booking note: Book the panoramic carriage seat reservation early in peak months.

Zermatt to St. Moritz

Glacier Express

The classic Alps-in-a-day rail journey

The Glacier Express is the cleanest answer to the phrase scenic train journey: Matterhorn country, deep valleys, high passes, viaducts, mountain villages and a slow, glass-roofed crossing between two of Switzerland's most famous resorts.

Duration

About 8 hours

Distance

181 mi / 291 km

Best time

June to October, December to March

Countries

Switzerland

Matterhorn viewsOberalp PassRhine GorgeLandwasser Viaduct

Booking note: Seat reservations are essential on the named panoramic service.

quick planning view

Compare the train journeys

Journey	Route	Duration	Best time	Best for
1. Glacier Express Switzerland	Zermatt to St. Moritz	About 8 hours	June to October, December to March	The classic Alps-in-a-day rail journey
2. Bernina Express Switzerland / Italy	Chur or St. Moritz to Tirano	2 hr 15 min to 4 hours	May to October, December to March	Glaciers, palms and railway engineering
3. Rocky Mountaineer: First Passage to the West Canada	Vancouver to Banff or Lake Louise	2 days	April to October	Canadian Rockies without overnight train sleep
4. West Highland Line Scotland	Glasgow to Fort William and Mallaig	5 to 6 hours	May to October	Lochs, moorland and cinematic Highland scenery
5. TranzAlpine New Zealand	Christchurch to Greymouth	Just under 5 hours	October to April, plus winter weekends	Southern Alps in one rail day
6. California Zephyr United States	Chicago to Emeryville / San Francisco	About 52 hours	May to October, or winter for snow	The most cinematic Amtrak crossing
7. Flam Railway Norway	Myrdal to Flam	About 1 hour	May to September, December to March	A compact fjord-and-waterfall railway
8. Indian Pacific Australia	Sydney to Perth	4 days / 3 nights	March to November	A continent-crossing rail holiday
9. Bergen Railway Norway	Oslo to Bergen	About 7 hours	June to September, December to March	High plateaus and an easy Norway rail itinerary
10. Venice Simplon-Orient-Express France / Italy and beyond	Paris to Venice and seasonal routes	1 to 5 nights	March to November	Romance, design and old-world rail theatre

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Ranking methodology

Last reviewed on 11 May 2026. This page is intentionally scoped to named passenger rail journeys, so it does not compete with TripMemo's road trip, hiking trail or seasonal destination guides. Journeys were ranked for scenery, route identity, engineering interest, onboard experience, logistics, global recognition and how strongly the trip works as a travel memory in itself. Always confirm current timetables, reservations, route works and visa rules before booking.

Related TripMemo guides

Separate ideas, separate search intent.

World road trips

Driving routes and self-guided overland trips, not rail journeys.

World hiking trails

Named trekking routes and multi-day walking trips.

Bucket list destinations

Iconic places and wonders, broader than the journey itself.

Train Journey FAQ

What is the best train journey in the world?

The Glacier Express is the best overall scenic train journey for most travellers because it combines dramatic Alpine scenery, famous Swiss resorts, viaducts, high passes and a manageable one-day itinerary. The Bernina Express and Rocky Mountaineer are close alternatives depending on budget and route style.

What is the most scenic train journey in Europe?

The Bernina Express is the strongest Europe pick for pure scenery because it crosses the UNESCO-listed Rhaetian Railway route from glaciers toward Italian palms. The Glacier Express, West Highland Line, Flam Railway and Bergen Railway are also top-tier European scenic rail journeys.

Which scenic train journey is best for a first rail trip?

The Glacier Express, Bernina Express, TranzAlpine and Flam Railway are easiest for first-timers because they are scenic, well-known and can fit into a larger trip without committing to several nights on a train.

Which train journey is best for luxury travel?

Rocky Mountaineer, Indian Pacific and the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express are the strongest luxury choices. They are not just transport; they are packaged rail holidays with dining, service and a slower travel rhythm built into the experience.

Is this page competing with TripMemo's road trip or hiking trail guides?

No. This guide is intentionally scoped to rail journeys and named train routes. The road trip page covers driving routes, the hiking page covers named trekking routes, and this page covers scenic passenger rail journeys.

Official route references

Glacier Express official routeGlacier Express Rhaetian Railway Bernina ExpressBernina Express Rocky Mountaineer First Passage to the WestRocky Mountaineer: First Passage to the West ScotRail West Highland LineWest Highland Line Great Journeys New Zealand TranzAlpineTranzAlpine Amtrak California ZephyrCalifornia Zephyr Norway's Best Flam RailwayFlam Railway Journey Beyond Indian PacificIndian Pacific Vy Oslo to Bergen trainBergen Railway Venice Simplon-Orient-ExpressVenice Simplon-Orient-Express

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