Unearth The Voyage
Train travel offers something special that flying never can: the chance to watch scenery unfold slowly right outside your window. Coastal train routes take this magic even further, combining the romance of rail travel with stunning ocean views, dramatic cliffs, and charming seaside towns. From California’s sun-kissed Pacific shores to Italy’s colorful villages perched above the Mediterranean, these 14 train journeys prove that sometimes the journey really is just as wonderful as the destination.
1. Pacific Surfliner, California, USA
Rolling alongside the sparkling Pacific Ocean for over 350 miles, this route connects San Diego with San Luis Obispo through some of California’s most beautiful beach territory. Passengers watch surfers catch waves, spot dolphins playing in the water, and pass through charming coastal communities like Santa Barbara and Ventura.
The train hugs the shoreline so closely in some spots that you feel like you could reach out and touch the water. Second-floor seats in the double-decker cars offer the best views. Many travelers use this route to explore multiple beach towns in one trip, hopping on and off at different stops along the way.
2. Coaster, California, USA
San Diego’s commuter line doubles as a scenic coastal adventure between Oceanside and downtown. Locals use it for their daily work trips, but visitors quickly discover it’s one of the best ways to experience Southern California’s laid-back beach culture without dealing with traffic.
The route passes right through beach communities where you can see volleyball games, beach bonfires, and colorful beach houses. Del Mar’s famous racetrack and the cliffs of Torrey Pines create memorable backdrops. Weekend riders often bring bikes aboard to explore different beach towns.
Morning departures catch the soft light reflecting off the ocean, making it popular with photographers.
3. Amtrak Cascades, Pacific Northwest, USA
Connecting Seattle and Portland through the evergreen beauty of the Pacific Northwest, this route showcases why this region is famous for its natural splendor. While much of the journey winds through forests and farmland, stretches near Puget Sound reveal stunning water views with the Olympic Mountains rising in the distance.
The train passes through historic towns like Olympia and Tacoma, where the coastline meets urban life. Large windows frame Mount Rainier on clear days, creating postcard-perfect moments. The onboard cafe serves local coffee, keeping with the region’s coffee culture.
Fall colors and spring blooms make seasonal trips especially beautiful.
4. Amtrak Coast Starlight, West Coast, USA
Considered one of America’s most spectacular train rides, this legendary route stretches from Los Angeles all the way to Seattle over 35 hours. The section between San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara ranks among the most breathtaking, where tracks run right along the edge of the Pacific with waves practically lapping at the rails.
Passengers watch the landscape transform from Southern California beaches to redwood forests to Cascade mountain peaks. The dining car serves meals while ocean sunsets paint the sky in brilliant colors. Many riders book sleeper cars to fully experience the multi-day journey.
Reserve seats on the left side heading north for best ocean views.
5. Cinque Terre Train, Liguria, Italy
Five impossibly colorful villages cling to rocky cliffs along the Italian Riviera, connected by one of Europe’s most scenic short train rides. Each village appears like a jewel box as the train emerges from tunnels: Monterosso, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola, and Riomaggiore burst into view with their rainbow buildings stacked above the turquoise Mediterranean.
The journey between villages takes just minutes, but those minutes deliver constant wow moments. Vineyards cascade down hillsides, fishing boats bob in tiny harbors, and locals wave from their windows. Travelers can hop off at each stop to explore, then catch the next train.
Spring and fall offer fewer crowds but equally stunning views.
6. Amalfi Coast Train (Circumvesuviana), Campania, Italy
Starting in bustling Naples, this local line carries passengers toward the legendary Amalfi Coast through a landscape where history and beauty collide. Mount Vesuvius looms dramatically as the train rattles through towns that have existed since Roman times, eventually reaching Sorrento perched high above the Bay of Naples.
While not luxurious, this commuter train offers authentic Italian travel experiences alongside locals going about their daily lives. Windows frame lemon groves, ancient ruins, and glimpses of the glittering sea. From Sorrento, buses continue to famous Amalfi Coast towns like Positano.
Summer brings packed cars but also the best weather for coastal exploring.
7. Bernina Express, Switzerland to Italy
UNESCO recognized this alpine railway as a World Heritage site for good reason: its engineering marvels and stunning scenery make it unforgettable. Starting high in the Swiss Alps, the train climbs to glacier territory before descending dramatically toward Italy, where mountain lakes shimmer in Mediterranean light.
Panoramic windows curve up into the ceiling, ensuring no view gets missed. The route crosses 196 bridges and passes through 55 tunnels, including spirals built inside mountains. As elevation drops, palm trees begin appearing alongside the tracks, signaling the approach to Italy’s warmer climate.
The dramatic landscape shift from snow to sunshine happens in just hours.
8. West Highland Line, Scotland, UK
Scotland’s wild beauty unfolds like an epic poem on this journey from Glasgow to the fishing port of Mallaig. Passengers travel through desolate moorlands, past mirror-like lochs, and along the rugged Atlantic coast where mountains plunge into the sea.
The Glenfinnan Viaduct, made famous by Harry Potter films, curves gracefully across a Highland valley. Further north, the train hugs the coastline with views of islands scattered across the water. Mallaig itself offers ferry connections to the Isle of Skye.
Weather changes constantly here, with mist and sunshine creating dramatic lighting effects. Spring brings purple heather blooming across the hillsides.
9. The Ghan, Australia
Named after Afghan camel drivers who once traversed Australia’s interior, this legendary train crosses the entire continent from south to north. The journey begins in Adelaide and travels through 1,850 miles of red desert, ancient rock formations, and vast empty spaces that define the Australian outback.
While most of the route cuts through arid interior lands, the northern terminus at Darwin brings passengers to tropical coastal territory. The Top End’s beaches and warm waters feel worlds away from the desert crossed just hours before. Luxury cabins and fine dining make the multi-day journey comfortable.
Off-train excursions let passengers explore outback landmarks up close.
10. Rocky Mountaineer, Canada
Canada’s most famous train experience combines mountain grandeur with touches of coastal beauty on routes connecting Vancouver with the Rockies. Glass-domed cars provide 360-degree views as the train winds along rivers that eventually flow to the Pacific Ocean.
The route from Vancouver climbs from sea level through coastal rainforests before entering mountain territory. Fraser River canyons create dramatic scenery, with water churning far below the tracks. Gourmet meals served at your seat and storytelling hosts enhance the luxury experience.
The train operates only during daylight hours, ensuring passengers miss nothing. Spring brings waterfalls cascading from snowmelt, while fall offers golden foliage against evergreen forests.
11. TranzAlpine, New Zealand
Crossing New Zealand’s South Island from Christchurch to Greymouth, this journey packs incredible variety into just five hours. The train climbs from the flat Canterbury Plains into the Southern Alps, then descends through river gorges to reach the wild west coast.
Open-air viewing cars let passengers feel the mountain air and hear rushing rivers. The landscape shifts from farmland to beech forests to rugged coastline where the Tasman Sea meets dramatic beaches. Greymouth itself is a historic gold rush town worth exploring.
The route includes 16 tunnels and five viaducts built to navigate challenging terrain. Clear days reveal snow-capped peaks reflected in turquoise rivers.
12. The Bergen Line, Norway
Norway’s most scenic railway connects Oslo and Bergen across a landscape of fjords, mountains, and coastal drama. The seven-hour journey climbs to Europe’s highest mainline railway point before descending to Bergen, a historic port city surrounded by seven mountains and the North Sea.
Passengers watch waterfalls tumble from impossible heights and fjords cut deep into the coastline. The Hardangervidda mountain plateau presents stark, treeless beauty before forests reappear near the coast. Bergen’s colorful Bryggen wharf awaits at journey’s end.
Winter transforms the route into a snowy wonderland, while summer brings midnight sun and green hillsides dotted with sheep.
13. Cannes to Menton Train, French Riviera, France
Perhaps no train ride captures European glamour quite like this short stretch of the French Riviera. The local train hugs the Mediterranean coastline between Cannes and Menton, passing through some of the world’s most expensive real estate and famous destinations.
Windows frame yacht-filled harbors, palm-lined promenades, and Belle Époque villas painted in pastel colors. The train stops at Antibes, Nice, Monaco, and other legendary spots where celebrities and artists have long gathered. Azure waters sparkle constantly on one side.
The entire journey takes less than an hour, but many travelers spend days exploring each glamorous stop along the way.
14. The Coastal Classic, Alaska, USA
Alaska’s raw beauty takes center stage on this journey from Anchorage south to the port town of Seward. The four-hour route follows the Turnagain Arm, where beluga whales sometimes surface, before climbing into the Chugach Mountains and descending to Resurrection Bay.
Massive glaciers cling to mountain peaks, their blue ice glowing in the northern light. The train passes through tunnels carved from solid rock and crosses bridges over glacial rivers. Seward offers access to Kenai Fjords National Park, where coastal wildlife thrives.
Open-air platforms let passengers photograph eagles, mountain goats, and occasionally bears. Summer’s long daylight hours mean extended viewing time for all this wilderness splendor.
