Top 6 Scenic Train Travels You Must Not Miss In Europe

The experience of traveling by train has a certain enchantment.

Whether you’re sleeping in a private compartment, dining in a restaurant car, or chatting with other passengers while the steel wheels swish on the rails below, sometimes the magic is within. The magic can occasionally be found outside, in the scenery the train passes through—an experience, an adventure, a window into a country’s soul.

Some of the most stunning train trips in Europe are included below; some are well-known, some are not, some are opulent and pricey, and some are real steals. The continent has some of the most picturesque rail journeys in the world, with views of the countryside, mountain communities, alpine passes, and famous bridges. 

If our selection of Europe’s top six has made you yearn for leisurely travel in other places, visit Trainline.com to see the greatest experiences around the world. 

1. Settle in Carlisle, England

Route: Settle to Carlisle
Best bit: Marveling at the Ribblehead Viaduct, one of the great views of northern England, preferably as a steam train thunders over
Distance: 73 miles
Duration: 1 hour 40 minutes

The battle to save scenic and historic railroad segments has long been associated with England’s Settle-to-Carlisle route. This isn’t a heritage line, though. The railway is a proud member of the British rail system and is frequented by daily mainline trains. It also occasionally hosts steam specials and, less frequently, steam-hauled mainline services.

The views from the carriages are essentially unrivaled on the English railway network, whether you’re listening to the hard-working growl of diesel-hauled regular trains or the fragrance of steam in your nose.

Mile after mile of breathtaking Yorkshire Dales and North Pennines countryside awaits passengers, broken only by stations so picturesque you’d think they’d be featured on pamphlets.

2. Le Petit Train Jaune, France

Route: Villefranche-de-Conflent to Latour-de-Carol
Best bit: Holding your breath as you cross the gravity-defying Pont Gisclard
Distance: 63km (39 miles)
Duration: 4 hours 30 minutes

Known affectionately as the Canary or Le Petit Train Jaune (Little Yellow Train), this mountain railway is often cited as the most scenic in France. However, it is not a luxury service; rather, it is a rollercoaster ride that will make you feel the wind in your hair and the chill of the mountain breeze as you rattle and clatter your way up to the highest train station in France. Since 1910, the dinky, sunflower-yellow carriages of the Ligne de Cerdagne have been rattling and clattering their way through the rolling forests and sawtoothed mountains of the Pyrenees, and they have earned a special place in the hearts of many French tourists.

3. Belgrade-to-Bar Railway, Serbia and Montenegro

Route: Belgrade to Bar
Best bit: Levitating atop the 499 m-long (1637ft), 198 m-tall (650ft) Mala Rijeka Viaduct, one of the planet’s highest railway bridges, before the train glides over the Balkans’ largest lake, Skadar
Distance: 476km (296 miles)
Duration: 12 hours

This route, which roars over an untainted, mountainous scenery from Belgrade, the capital of Serbia, to the Adriatic Coast of Montenegro, is simply dramatic. Throughout the 12-hour trip, the train skims across an old, tectonic lake, races through canyons, teeters on stilted bridges crossing river gorges, and vanishes into the Dinaric Alps.

The railway, which runs across the center of the Western Balkans, is not visible on most tourists’ maps, just like the area it serves. Travelers who are knowledgeable (or fortunate enough) enough to know where to look will find an embarrassment of genuine culture and unspoiled natural resources around every corner.

4. The Bernina Express, Switzerland

Route: Chur to Tirano
Best bit: Marveling at the astonishingly turquoise Lago Bianco from the route’s highest station, Ospizio Bernina (2253 m/7392 ft.)
Distance: 156km (96 miles)
Duration: 4 hours 30 minutes

The glacier-capped mountains, waterfall-draped ravines, jewel-colored lakes, and unending spruce woods that can be seen via panoramic windows on Switzerland’s Bernina Express are enough to make us swoon, but believe us when we say that seeing is believing.

This narrow-gauge train, which takes around four hours to travel from Chur in Graubünden to Tirano in northern Italy, frequently ranks first in surveys of the most picturesque rail trips in the world. It’s undoubtedly one of Switzerland’s most picturesque train rides.

The railway itself, which spans 196 bridges and 55 tunnels, is a marvel of early 20th-century engineering that goes beyond the breathtaking Alpine scenery. With good reason, the line is listed on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

5. The Heart of Wales Line, Wales and England

Route: Swansea to Shrewsbury
Best bit: Disembarking at lonely Sugar Loaf Station for a walk or picnic around the iconic nearby knoll of the same name
Distance: 194km (121 miles)
Duration: 4 hours

This is the slow and, to be honest, weird route from Swansea to Shrewsbury. Though it could have easily been relegated to a museum or an out-of-print book, this one-carriage train manages to defy time and logic and continue operating as a passenger route between Wales and England.

A variety of landscapes can be expected, ranging from South Wales’ sand-edged coastlines to charming farming communities, vast stretches of forest, and hill regions you may not have known existed, and finally, one of England’s most beautiful medieval cities. 

6. Munich to Venice on the Brenner Railway, Germany, Austria, and Italy

Route: Munich to Venice
Best bit: Stretching your legs at the 1371m (4498ft) Brenner Pass, the highest point on the trip
Distance: 563km (350 miles)
Duration: 6 hours 30 minutes

Wine and mountains are the two main draws of the Brenner Railway. This was the first high-altitude train to cross the Alps in the 1860s; however, there are undoubtedly more technically impressive ones.

You go through three countries—Italy, Austria, and Germany—and drop from the snow line to sea level in a surprisingly quick day trip. Even though you are rarely far from a roadway, the vistas of the vineyards are breathtaking. Bonus: Munich and Venice, two magnificent European cities with historic architecture, are located at each end.

Conclusion

Trainline is a technology firm that was founded in 1997 with the goals of expanding its reach, making it easier to book train and bus tickets, and encouraging a more environmentally friendly travel industry.

They provide real-time travel information and cost-effective solutions, showing the routes, costs, and schedules of over 270 train and bus companies across 45 countries.

No unstated expenses. Not a surprise. Never! Choose the best option for you by comparing costs from more than 270 businesses. Purchase your tickets in US dollars and use PayPal, Apple Pay, and other safe payment methods. Inquiries? Reach out to their customer service representatives in English via phone or email.

FAQs