Some trips are about the destination, but the best ones are about the journey itself. Train travel has a way of slowing things down and letting you actually see the world passing by outside your window.
From the snowy peaks of the Swiss Alps to the vast red deserts of Australia, these rail routes cover some of the most breathtaking landscapes on the planet. Whether you are dreaming of a luxury sleeper cabin or a scenic daylight crossing through mountain passes, this list covers 14 train journeys that genuinely deserve a spot on your travel bucket list.
Bernina Express, Chur or St. Moritz to Tirano, Switzerland and Italy
Not many train journeys take you from a glacier to a Mediterranean town in a single day, but the Bernina Express manages exactly that. Departing from either Chur or St. Moritz in Switzerland, the route descends toward Tirano in northern Italy through UNESCO-listed railway lines that represent some of the finest mountain railway engineering ever built.
Along the way, passengers pass glaciers, high alpine passes, mountain lakes, and spectacular stone viaducts. The landscape shifts gradually from snowy Alpine terrain to sunny, palm-lined streets by the time Tirano comes into view.
The Albula and Bernina railway lines earned their UNESCO World Heritage status in 2008, recognizing both their scenic value and their technical achievement. Rhaetian Railway includes Bernina Express services in its 2026 summer and winter timetables.
Reservations are recommended, especially during peak summer months when demand for the route runs high.
Rocky Mountaineer First Passage to the West, Vancouver to Banff or Lake Louise, Canada
Canada’s Rocky Mountains are impressive from any angle, but seeing them from a glass-domed rail car is a different experience entirely. The Rocky Mountaineer’s First Passage to the West route connects Vancouver with Banff or Lake Louise over two days, with an overnight stop in Kamloops rather than sleeping aboard the train.
The scenery builds steadily as the route moves through the Fraser Canyon, follows the Thompson River, crosses Rogers Pass, and winds through Kicking Horse Canyon before reaching the Spiral Tunnels and the snow-covered peaks of the Canadian Rockies.
Rocky Mountaineer operates entirely in daylight hours, meaning passengers never miss a single view by sleeping through a stretch of track. All meals and beverages are served onboard, and the service is split between SilverLeaf and GoldLeaf classes.
The First Passage to the West is part of Rocky Mountaineer’s confirmed 2026 program.
Venice Simplon-Orient-Express, Paris to Venice, France and Italy
Few trains carry as much history and glamour as the Rocky Mountaineer. The restored vintage carriages, elaborate marquetry interiors, white-tablecloth dining cars, and overnight cabin service recreate a style of long-distance European travel that most of the world moved away from decades ago.
The Paris to Venice route remains the train’s classic journey, passing through the Alps and into northern Italy while passengers settle into a rhythm of formal dinners, cocktail hours, and watching the European countryside pass through polished windows.
Belmond, which operates the train, has scheduled multiple European itineraries for 2026 including the Paris to Venice service. Cabins range from classic compartments to grand suites, with pricing reflecting the level of restoration and service involved.
Booking well in advance is strongly advised because departures fill quickly. For travelers who have always associated train travel with romance and adventure, this route delivers on both.
The Ghan, Adelaide to Darwin, Australia
Australia is a continent that resists easy crossings, and The Ghan makes no attempt to rush through it. Running from Adelaide in the south to Darwin in the north, this legendary train covers roughly 2,979 kilometers through the Red Centre, passing through landscapes that most Australians have never seen in person.
The journey takes approximately 54 hours and includes off-train experiences at stops including Alice Springs and Katherine. Watching the scenery shift from southern farmland to ochre desert to the tropical greenery of the Northern Territory is one of the more quietly dramatic things a train can do.
The train is named after the Afghan cameleers who helped open up Australia’s interior in the 19th century. Journey Beyond confirms that Adelaide to Darwin services operate during the 2026 season from March through November.
Gold and Platinum service classes are available, with meals, accommodation, and excursions included.
Glacier Express, Zermatt to St. Moritz, Switzerland
Crossing the Swiss Alps at a leisurely pace is exactly what the Glacier Express was built to do. Linking Zermatt and St. Moritz, this iconic route takes passengers through mountain valleys, dramatic gorges, and across the famous Landwasser Viaduct, all framed by panoramic windows that were designed specifically to keep the scenery front and center.
The journey covers nearly 300 kilometers and passes through 91 tunnels and over 291 bridges. That number alone gives you a sense of how seriously the Swiss took the engineering challenge of threading a railway through the heart of the Alps.
Seat reservations are mandatory, so planning ahead is essential. The 2026 timetable runs regular services through October 10 before a seasonal break, with winter operations resuming afterward.
First-class dining and special panoramic cars are available for travelers who want to upgrade the experience beyond the already stunning standard service.
Indian Pacific, Sydney to Perth, Australia
The name says it all. The Indian Pacific travels between two oceans, connecting Sydney on the Pacific coast with Perth on the Indian Ocean across one of the longest and most remote rail routes in the world.
The full journey covers approximately 4,352 kilometers and takes four days to complete.
Westbound passengers move through the Blue Mountains, stop in Broken Hill and Adelaide, and then face the Nullarbor Plain, a vast, flat stretch of near-treeless landscape that contains one of the longest straight sections of railway track on earth at roughly 478 kilometers.
Journey Beyond operates the service with Gold and Platinum service classes that include meals, accommodation, and off-train experiences. The 2026 timetable lists Sydney to Perth departures throughout the year.
For travelers who want to understand the true scale of Australia, crossing it by train over four days is genuinely one of the clearest ways to do it.
The Canadian, Toronto to Vancouver, Canada
Covering roughly 4,466 kilometers between Toronto and Vancouver, The Canadian ranks among North America’s most celebrated long-distance rail journeys. VIA Rail operates the service across four nights, giving passengers enough time to actually settle into the rhythm of train travel rather than just enduring it.
The scenery evolves in distinct chapters. Ontario’s forests and lake country give way to the wide-open Canadian Prairies, and then the Rocky Mountains rise up in the final stretch before Vancouver.
Panoramic dome cars sit at the top of select carriages, offering unobstructed views in every direction.
Passengers can choose between economy class seats, Sleeper Plus cabins, or Prestige class accommodations. Dining is included with sleeper bookings.
The route passes through Winnipeg, Saskatoon, Edmonton, and Jasper before descending into British Columbia. For a journey that genuinely shows you how large Canada is, The Canadian does it better than any highway ever could.
California Zephyr, Chicago to the San Francisco Bay Area, USA
The California Zephyr covers about 3,924 kilometers between Chicago and the San Francisco Bay Area, and the scenery along the way reads like a highlight reel of the American West. Amtrak operates the service daily, passing through Denver, the Colorado Rockies, Salt Lake City, the Nevada desert, and finally the Sierra Nevada before reaching California.
The most celebrated stretch is the climb through the Rockies in Colorado, where the train threads through narrow canyons and high mountain terrain that road travelers rarely get to experience at this angle. The Sierra Nevada section near the California border is equally dramatic.
The full trip takes approximately 51 hours. Amtrak offers coach seating and sleeper accommodations, with dining car service available.
The California Zephyr has been running since 1949 in various forms and remains one of Amtrak’s most popular long-distance routes. Booking a sleeper car for the overnight portions makes the experience considerably more comfortable.
Coast Starlight, Los Angeles to Seattle, USA
Running the length of the West Coast from Los Angeles to Seattle, the Coast Starlight covers about 2,235 kilometers through three states and some genuinely varied American scenery. Amtrak lists it as a daily service, with the complete trip lasting roughly 34 to 35 hours depending on direction.
The California portion of the journey includes stretches where the train runs close to the Pacific coastline, passing through areas near Santa Barbara and along the agricultural valleys of central California. North of that, the route moves through Oregon’s mountains and forests before entering Washington state.
Stops along the way include Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, Oakland, Sacramento, Portland, and Tacoma. The train offers coach seating, sleeper rooms, and a dining car.
A parlor car with lounge seating is available to sleeping car passengers. For a journey that covers beach, forest, valley, and mountain scenery without leaving the United States, the Coast Starlight earns its place on this list.
TranzAlpine, Christchurch to Greymouth, New Zealand
New Zealand’s South Island is full of dramatic scenery, and the TranzAlpine gives passengers a front-row seat to some of its best. The journey between Christchurch and Greymouth covers roughly 223 kilometers and takes about five hours, making it a comfortable day trip or a one-way leg of a longer South Island itinerary.
Starting from Christchurch, the train crosses the flat Canterbury Plains before the terrain rises into the Southern Alps. Braided rivers, mountain valleys, and the engineering marvel of the Otira Tunnel mark the crossing before the landscape opens up into the greener, rainier West Coast.
Arthur’s Pass sits near the midpoint of the journey and is the highest point on the route at 920 meters above sea level. Open-air viewing carriages allow passengers to step outside and feel the mountain air directly.
Great Journeys New Zealand confirms the TranzAlpine remains an active daily passenger service in 2026.
Eastern and Oriental Express, Singapore and Malaysia
Southeast Asia has its own version of classic rail luxury, and the Eastern and Oriental Express delivers it with considerable style. Departing from Singapore, the train travels through Malaysia on multi-day itineraries that combine onboard dining and accommodation with off-train cultural excursions into the surrounding region.
The train itself features observation cars, a piano bar, restaurant cars, and cabin accommodations ranging from Pullman to Presidential. Itineraries are designed to blend the experience of being aboard a beautifully restored train with visits to temples, markets, and natural landscapes along the route.
Belmond’s current departure information lists multiple Eastern and Oriental Express journeys from Singapore in September, October, November, and December 2026. The route passes through the Malay Peninsula, which means passengers experience tropical scenery, rubber plantations, and river crossings rather than the mountain landscapes typical of European luxury trains.
It is a genuinely different kind of rail journey.
Royal Scotsman, Scottish Highlands, United Kingdom
Scotland’s Highlands are the kind of landscape that rewards slow travel, and the Royal Scotsman was built around exactly that idea. Rather than connecting two cities on a fixed schedule, this Belmond train departs Edinburgh and meanders through the Highlands on itineraries ranging from two to seven nights.
Depending on the chosen journey, travelers move through scenery that includes lochs, mountain ranges, historic castles, rural estates, and small Highland villages. Some itineraries include visits to whisky distilleries and private estates that are not accessible to standard tourists.
The train carries a limited number of passengers, which keeps the experience intimate. Cabins are fitted with wood paneling, plush fabrics, and en suite facilities.
Dining is a central part of every journey, with Scottish produce featured throughout the menu. Belmond confirms Royal Scotsman journeys are available throughout 2026.
For travelers who want Scotland to feel unhurried and personal, this train genuinely delivers that kind of experience.
Seven Stars in Kyushu, Kyushu, Japan
Japan is known for precision rail travel, but Seven Stars in Kyushu takes a completely different approach. Rather than moving passengers quickly between cities, this JR Kyushu cruise train runs multi-day itineraries around Japan’s southern island, combining exceptional craftsmanship, regional cuisine, and cultural excursions into a single experience.
The train was designed by renowned industrial designer Eiji Mitooka, whose work also includes the famous Aru Ressha and other JR Kyushu trains. Interior materials include Japanese cedar, lacquerware, and textiles that reflect the island’s regional heritage.
Dining menus feature seasonal Kyushu ingredients prepared to a high standard.
After a temporary disruption following the 2026 Kumamoto earthquake, JR Kyushu confirmed that Seven Stars resumed service beginning August 4, 2026, with additional journeys scheduled into 2027. Demand for berths is consistently high, and the booking process involves a lottery system for certain departure dates.
Kyushu’s volcanic landscapes, hot spring towns, and coastal scenery make for an extraordinary backdrop.
Rovos Rail, Pretoria to Cape Town, South Africa
Africa has its own version of grand rail travel, and Rovos Rail has been delivering it since 1989. The Pretoria to Cape Town journey is one of the operator’s signature routes, covering roughly 1,600 kilometers through landscapes that shift from the Highveld plateau to the winelands and mountain ranges surrounding Cape Town.
The train runs on restored vintage carriages that have been modernized to include private en suite suites, a dining car, a lounge car, and an open-air observation car at the rear. Meals are included, and the food quality draws consistent attention from travelers who report it as a highlight of the journey.
Rovos Rail limits the number of passengers per departure to maintain an intimate atmosphere. Published schedules show multiple Pretoria to Cape Town and Cape Town to Pretoria departures throughout late 2026 and 2027.
For a journey that combines African scenery with a genuine sense of old-world rail hospitality, this route stands on its own.
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