US Trends

best scenic train rides

Best scenic train rides today blend dramatic landscapes with a sense of slow, immersive travel, from Alpine crossings to jungle-clinging railways and desert epics. Many are also trending in recent years as travelers look for low- stress, lower-emission alternatives to short flights.

Global bucket-list routes

  • Glacier Express, Switzerland – An 8-hour “slow express” between Zermatt and St. Moritz with 291 bridges, 91 tunnels, and constant Alpine panoramas through huge windows. It is often described as one of the most beautiful and most photographed mountain rail journeys in the world.
  • Bernina / Bernina Express, Italy–Switzerland – A UNESCO-listed route climbing dramatically over viaducts and glaciers between northern Italy and the Swiss Alps, with some of the steepest adhesion railway gradients anywhere. Travelers frequently call it their single favorite train ride after sampling dozens across Europe and Asia.
  • Rocky Mountaineer, Canada – Luxury daylight trains through the Canadian Rockies, with glass-domed cars, overnights in hotels, and routes like Vancouver–Banff framed by lakes, peaks, and canyons. It is a classic “once in a lifetime” ride for rail and landscape photography fans.
  • Trans-Siberian Railway, Russia – Around 9300 km from Moscow to Vladivostok across eight time zones, offering a slow-motion cross-section of forests, villages, and steppe rather than constant drama. It is more of a legendary long-haul odyssey than a single scenic “highlight reel,” which many travelers still find incredibly rewarding.
  • The Ghan, Australia – A north–south traverse of the Australian continent through the Red Centre, combining vast desert vistas with off-train excursions to gorges and outback towns. Many riders emphasize how the sense of remoteness and changing light becomes part of the appeal.

Shorter “wow” rides

  • Kandy–Ella, Sri Lanka – A 6-hour ride past tea plantations, cloud forests, and waterfalls, widely regarded as one of the most beautiful rail journeys in South Asia. Photos of passengers sitting in open doorways over emerald valleys have helped make this route viral in recent years.
  • TranzAlpine, New Zealand (South Island) – Crosses the Southern Alps between Christchurch and Greymouth, passing river gorges, rainforests, and high plateaus. Many lists consider it the must-do New Zealand train for visitors with limited time.
  • Bergen Railway & Flåm line, Norway – The Bergen line crosses mountain plateaus and unspoiled Norwegian wilderness, while the short, steep Flåm branch drops to a fjord with waterfalls and cliffside scenery. Together, they form one of Europe’s most popular scenic train combinations.
  • Serra Verde Express, Brazil – Runs from Curitiba through rainforest-covered mountains and deep canyons to Morretes, crossing numerous bridges and tunnels. Travelers praise its half-day mix of Atlantic forest, rocky peaks, and colonial town at the end.
  • Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad, USA – A historic steam train along the Animas River through Colorado canyons, now ranking high in “best scenic train” polls. Fans on forums often rate it above other US routes for pure scenery and atmosphere.

Luxury and heritage experiences

  • Royal Scotsman, UK – Multi-day, all-inclusive luxury trips around the Scottish Highlands in vintage-style coaches with fine dining and off-train excursions. Passengers enjoy lochs, moors, and castles with a strong “rolling country house” feel.
  • Rovos Rail & Blue Train, South Africa – Rovos’s “Pride of Africa” and the Blue Train offer 5‑star service with views of savannah, vineyards, and sometimes Victoria Falls on longer itineraries. They are frequently marketed as among the most luxurious scenic trains in the world.
  • Hiram Bingham (Machu Picchu), Peru – A high-end train through the Sacred Valley toward Machu Picchu, surrounded by Andean peaks and river gorges. The journey is as much about atmosphere and service as about the dramatic mountain scenery.
  • Trans-Harz Railway, Germany – A narrow-gauge, often steam-hauled line through the Harz Mountains, especially magical in winter snow. Its nostalgic locomotives and forested vistas appeal strongly to railfans and families alike.

What forums and recent articles say

Travel forums and blog discussions often highlight a gap between hype and reality, with some “famous” trains rated as overrated for price versus scenery. Posts commonly praise under-the-radar rural lines and national park routes, where fewer tourists and simpler trains still deliver powerful window views.

Recent trend pieces also spotlight seasonal rides, like fall foliage trains in New England, Canada, and parts of Europe, where timing your trip by a week or two can transform otherwise ordinary landscapes. Many modern guides now pair scenic rail advice with practical tips on layering clothes, bringing snacks, and choosing seats or sides of the train for the best views.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.