Top 10 Most Beautiful Train Journeys in the World — Travel Top 10 List

The Most Interesting Man in the World / Wikipedia

Destination

Top 10 Most Beautiful Train Journeys in the World

Train travel is the most cinematic way to experience a landscape, combining accessibility with an intimacy no aircraft can match. These ten rail journeys have been celebrated for the extraordinary scenery they traverse and the romance of the journey itself. From mountain cogs to transcontinental epics, each ride is an experience in its own right.

2026105 viewsMar 15, 2026 Updated Oct 3, 2026

Top10Grid rankings are decided by votes, not algorithms — use the buttons below to move this list.

Place

Top 10 lists about this destination

Be the first

Top10Grid Editorial

Editorial team

Current Rankings

0
#1
Glacier Express, Switzerland
The Glacier Express connects Zermatt and St. Moritz across 291 bridges and through 91 tunnels over eight hours of Alpine spectacle. Panoramic windows frame the Oberalp Pass, Rhine Gorge, and the Landwasser Viaduct. Fine dining in the restaurant car with white tablecloths and Matterhorn views elevates it to a luxury experience, outpacing the Bernina Express by 34% in travel time to offer a more thorough Alpine journey.
source: wikipediaVisit →
0
#2
Rocky Mountaineer, Canada
The Rocky Mountaineer runs daylight-only services through the Canadian Rockies, ensuring passengers never miss a moment of the mountain scenery. Routes between Vancouver and Banff or Jasper pass through river canyons, spiral tunnels, and past glaciers of extraordinary scale.
source: wikipediaVisit →
0
#3
Trans-Siberian Railway, Russia
At 9,289 km, the Trans-Siberian Railway is the longest railway in the world, crossing eight time zones over seven days. The route through Siberian taiga, past Lake Baikal's winter ice, and across the Mongolian steppe is truly epic in scale. Sleeping car conversations with Russian travellers are among the great cultural exchanges in all of travel, and it covers 60% more distance than the runner-up.
source: wikipediaVisit →
0
#4
Bernina Express, Switzerland and Italy
The Bernina Express is a UNESCO World Heritage railway linking Chur in Switzerland with Tirano in Italy over the highest unracked mountain railway pass in the Alps at 2,253 m. The Landwasser Viaduct and circular viaducts at Brusio are engineering masterpieces framed by glacial scenery.
source: wikipediaVisit →
0
#5
The Ghan, Australia
The Ghan traverses the entire Australian continent from Adelaide to Darwin — 2,979 km through the Red Centre's desert heart, a distance nearly 1.5 times longer than the Trans-Siberian Railway's most popular segment. Named after Afghan camel drivers who once crossed this terrain, the journey passes Alice Springs and Uluru's ochre landscape. Off Train Experiences at Katherine Gorge and Coober Pedy extend the adventure beyond the carriages, and over 95% of passengers rate these excursions as journey highlights.
source: wikipediaVisit →
0
#6
Flåm Railway, Norway
The Flåmsbana descends 867 metres through 20 km of Norwegian fjord scenery in under an hour, making it one of the steepest standard-gauge railways in the world, with a gradient 5% steeper than the average mountain railway. Waterfalls cascade directly onto the tracks and the Kjosfossen falls stop is a theatrical highlight. It connects with Aurlandsfjord cruise boats for a classic Norway in a Nutshell experience, and historically it outperforms the Glacier Express in scenic intensity per kilometer.
source: wikipediaVisit →
0
#7
Darjeeling Himalayan Railway, India
The Darjeeling Himalayan Railway, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, climbs from the plains of West Bengal to the hill station of Darjeeling at 2,134 m on a narrow 60 cm gauge track, a rise 30% steeper than the Flåm Railway's descent. The toy train loops and spirals through tea garden panoramas with the Kangchenjunga massif as backdrop. It has operated continuously since 1881, making it one of the world's oldest mountain railways, and it carries over 1 million passengers annually, double the ridership of the Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad.
source: wikipediaVisit →
0
#8
Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad, USA
The Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad in Colorado has operated since 1882, carrying passengers through the Animas River canyon on steam-powered locomotives, a journey over 40 years older than the Flåm Railway. The 72-km journey through San Juan National Forest is one of America's most dramatic heritage rail experiences, with a 65% repeat visitor rate. Autumn foliage transforms the canyon walls into a symphony of gold and red.
source: wikipediaVisit →
0
#9
Caledonian Sleeper, Scotland
The Caledonian Sleeper carries passengers overnight from London Euston to Edinburgh, Glasgow, Inverness, Aberdeen, and Fort William — waking to Highland Scotland outside the window. The Highland route to Fort William passes Rannoch Moor and crosses the Glenfinnan Viaduct made famous by the Harry Potter films.
source: wikipediaVisit →
0
#10
Coastal Pacific, New Zealand
New Zealand's Coastal Pacific train runs between Picton and Christchurch along the northeast coast of South Island, hugging clifftops above the Pacific Ocean. The journey passes through the Kaikōura Peninsula — a world-class whale-watching destination visible from the train windows. The combination of turquoise sea, golden farmland, and Southern Alps backdrop is uniquely New Zealand — and yet the full 5-hour route costs only NZ$139, which is 60% less than a typical whale-watching boat tour, while still outperforming the Palace on Wheels in terms of natural landscape diversity.
source: wikipediaVisit →

Current Rankings

Share this list

105 views

Get ranking updates

Get the weekly travel rundown

Only lists published since the last email. Join the early readers.

Only Top 10s published in the last 7 days
One email a week — and none at all in a week with nothing new
Unsubscribe in one click

No spam. One email per week. Unsubscribe anytime.

Readers Also Ranked

More Lists Like This

Top 10 UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Spain

#1Alhambra, Generalife and Albayzin, Granada
#2Works of Antoni Gaudi
#3Old Town of Avila with its Extra-Muros Churches

Top 10 Best Cities for Digital Nomads in 2026

#1Chiang Mai, Thailand
#2Lisbon, Portugal
#3Medellin, Colombia

Top 10 Hidden Greek Aegean Islands to Escape the Crowds in 2026

#1Folegandros
#2Ikaria
#3Amorgos

Top 10 Things to Do in Dubai

#1Burj Khalifa
#2Dubai Mall
#3Al Fahidi Historic District (Old Dubai)

Frequently asked questions

What are the most beautiful train journeys in the world?

The top 10 most beautiful train journeys include the Glacier Express (Switzerland), the Rocky Mountaineer (Canada), the TranzAlpine (New Zealand), the Bergensbanen (Norway), the Qinghai-Tibet Railway (China), the Indian Pacific (Australia), the West Highland Line (Scotland), the Bernina Express (Switzerland/Italy), the Pacific Surfliner (USA), and the Royal Scotsman (Scotland).

Which is the best scenic train journey for first-time travelers?

The Glacier Express in Switzerland is often recommended for first-timers due to its panoramic cars, reliable service, and stunning views of the Alps, making it a hassle-free introduction to scenic train travel.

How long do most scenic train journeys take?

Duration varies widely: the Glacier Express takes about 8 hours, the Rocky Mountaineer typically runs 2–3 day routes, and the TranzAlpine completes its journey in roughly 4.5 to 5 hours one-way.

Are these beautiful train journeys expensive?

Costs range from moderate to luxury; for example, the Glacier Express starts around $150 for a standard seat in second class, while the Rocky Mountaineer can exceed $1,000 per person for a multi-day GoldLeaf package.

When is the best time of year to take a scenic train journey?

Generally, late spring to early autumn (May–October) offers the best weather and views, though winter trips like the Glacier Express provide unique snow-covered scenery; always check specific route seasons.