The Best Train Journeys in the World Right Now
The carriage sways, an engine groans, and slowly but surely, the train pulls away from the station. Curling up in a window seat, you watch a new destination start to float by. There is something irreplaceable about a train journey, and that enforced downtime can be incredibly rewarding. That is, if you know which routes to book — nobody wants to board expecting alpine scenery and leave with suburban pollution, mostly obscured by trees.
From Europe’s darling, the Orient Express, to the Ghan, with its dusty passage across the Australian outback, these are the best train journeys in the world right now.
1. Orient Express
The Orient Express is famous for its ties to Agatha Christie's 1934 novel,
London or Paris to Venice
Immortalized by its role in Poirot’s murder mysteries, the Orient Express is the flagship of luxury European rail travel. Launched in 1883, the original route connected Paris to Istanbul. Today, Venice Simplon-Orient-Express operates services from London to Venice or from Paris to Venice, combining restored 1920s carriages with gourmet dining. As a special twist, it follows the original Paris-to-Istanbul route once a year as a celebration of the route's heritage.
Traveling from Paris to Venice, rates start at approximately $5,500 per twin cabin. For anyone tempted by that Paris to Istanbul route, the price quadruples: $23,400 for five nights in a standard cabin.
2. Rocky Mountaineer
Canada
Some scenery is too beautiful to justify closing your eyes, and the Rocky Mountains feel like one of them. The Rocky Mountaineer runs throughout the Canadian Rockies, operating on a strict daytime schedule with glass-covered carriages to maximize views. The train stops at hotels overnight, allowing passengers to concentrate on dining and admiring the mountains onboard.
The train runs between April and October, with spring and fall offering the biggest savings. The most sought-after route is The First Passage to the West, a journey from Vancouver to Banff that includes two days on board and nine nights in hotels, featuring Lake Louise and the Fraser Canyon. Rates start at $1800 for a two-day rail experience between Vancouver and Jasper.
3. Bernina Express
The Bernina Express passes from Switzerland to Italy, with stunning views of the Swiss Alps.
Switzerland to Italy
Snaking through 144km of alpine terrain, passing 55 tunnels and 196 bridges and viaducts, it's no surprise that the Bernina Express is UNESCO-listed. The entire route takes four hours, starting in Chur, Switzerland's oldest city, and finishing in Tirano. The glacial views from Ospizio Bernina, the railway’s highest point, are the star of the show. From the right-hand side, watch to see the train curve across the Landwasser Viaduct, though.
Single tickets cost an average of $80 for second class and $140 for first class. Travelers either stay overnight, combining two destinations in one trip, or complete the route as a same-day return. For anyone with an affinity for hiking, it’s worth stopping overnight in the glamorous St. Moritz. Admire pastel-blue lakes from the summit of Piz Corvatsch, or walk the waterfront of Lake Silvaplana.
4. Caledonian Sleeper
Scotland
Nothing channels your inner wizard like catching a train to Scotland from London. While the Caledonian Sleeper departs from London Euston, rather than 9 ¾ from King's Cross, the magic is all the same. Gliding through the desolate scenery of the Scottish Highlands by rail is a “pinch yourself” moment, and it’s possible to disembark at Edinburgh, Fort William, or Inverness. Perhaps you'll even continue to Glenfinnan Viaduct on the West Highland Line.
As an overnight experience, some passengers choose to spend the night in the seated carriage. Otherwise, there are classic berths for $200-400, ensuite club rooms for $300-500, or double rooms for $500-700. Breakfast is included for Club Room or Caledonian Double Room reservations.
5. The Ghan
The Ghan cuts across some of the most dramatic Australian terrain, from the ridges of the Flinders Ranges to the dust-red plains of Australia's "red center."
Australia
Cutting through the dust-red heart of the Australian outback, the Ghan splits the country in two. Traveling 2,979km between the southern and northern coastline, it starts in Adelaide and finishes in Darwin, passing Alice Springs and offering excursions to Uluru. The route is a lesson in the diversity of Australian terrain. Expect bleached-yellow fields on the South Australian Plains, jagged terrain in the Flinders Ranges, and classic “red center” scenes before eventually arriving in the Northern Territory rainforests.
The entire journey takes three or four days — itinerary dependent, as some packages allow an extra day at Coober Pedy. Its name is a beautiful connection to a 19th-century community of Afghan cameleers, who were instrumental in establishing desert infrastructure and supplies. Rates start at $2,000 to $3,000, depending on your chosen route.
Feeling Inspired?
Some countries feel designed for rail, and these routes are just the tip of the iceberg. From Amtrak in the US to Sri Lanka, its doors flung open to reveal jungle views, and the efficient bullet trains of Japan, there’s a long list of destinations to traverse in a train carriage. Start with these five, and who knows? Perhaps you’ll start a lifelong adventure.
