Europe’s Most Stunning Train Rides (and Totally Bucket-List Worthy)
Europe has a way of making even the simplest train ride feel like something out of a storybook. With rail lines that stretch across mountains, slip through valleys, and hug coastlines, it’s easy to see why so many travelers choose to explore the continent by train. Here are 15 of the most stunning train rides across Europe that are well worth adding to your list.
Centovalli Express – Switzerland to Italy
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From Locarno to Domodossola, the Centovalli (“Hundred Valleys”) route crosses deep gorges and quiet villages. It rattles over 83 bridges and cuts through 34 tunnels, hugging forested cliffs and vineyard slopes.
The Jacobite – Scotland
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The Jacobite steam train, famous for crossing the Glenfinnan Viaduct, travels through the Highland wilderness between Fort William and Mallaig. The 84-mile round trip passes Ben Nevis and remote lochs. While known from film, the route stands on its own, rugged, quiet, and steeped in West Coast history.
Nova Gorica to Jesenice – Slovenia
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It’s not widely advertised, but this Slovenian ride surprises with views of Lake Bled, the Soča River, and Alpine peaks. Bohinj Railway dates back to Austro-Hungarian times, and it still carries regional trains across mountain passes, forest ridges, and stone bridges.
Munich to Venice via Brenner Pass – Germany, Austria, Italy
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This route links Munich and Venice through the historic Brenner Pass at an elevation of 4,498 feet. Expect snowy ridges, valley farms, and vineyards, all visible from standard train windows. It’s a fast trip with old roots, first completed in the 19th century.
Bernina Express – Switzerland to Italy
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This alpine route stretches 96 miles from Chur to Tirano and reaches 7,392 feet at its highest point. This is part of a UNESCO-listed railway and crosses 196 bridges. What’s more, it rolls through 55 tunnels. The standout feature is the Brusio spiral viaduct, a circular descent built entirely from stone.
Flåm Railway – Norway
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Norway’s Flåm Railway may be short—just 12.6 miles—but it climbs nearly 3,000 feet through wild mountain terrain. The route passes waterfalls, cuts through 20 tunnels, and stops at Kjosfossen for a brief show starring Huldra, a mythical forest spirit. It runs year-round and feels like a fairytale in motion.
Le Petit Train Jaune – France
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Le Petit Train Jaune travels through the French Pyrenees between Villefranche-de-Conflent and Latour-de-Carol. It stops at 22 stations, reaches 5,250 feet in elevation, and includes open-air cars in warmer months. The Pont Gisclard suspension bridge offers an especially thrilling moment on this historic, narrow-gauge line.
Kyle of Lochalsh Line – Scotland
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The route runs from Inverness to the edge of the sea, crossing 84 miles of Highland landscape. Trains pass through wide glens, pine forests, and stretches of open water. There are only a handful of stops, and most of the trip feels quiet and untouched. On a good day, you’ll catch views of distant islands before the line ends at Kyle of Lochalsh. It’s still a working route, but it rarely feels busy.
The Heart of Wales Line – Wales and England
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This slow-moving service connects travelers through the lesser-known countryside and Swansea with Shrewsbury. It crosses estuaries and grazes wooded hills. It also serves tiny stations like Sugar Loaf, rarely more than a platform.
Stockholm to Narvik – Sweden to Norway
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This 18-hour journey departs in the evening, slips through snowy Swedish forests, and climbs into Norway by dawn. It travels 140 miles into the Arctic Circle before reaching Narvik. Travelers can bring pets, sleep in bunk cabins, and watch the landscape shift from lowland pine to coastal fjord.
Glacier Express – Switzerland
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You don’t take this train to save time. It moves slowly across the Alps, cutting through deep valleys and climbing high passes. The ride includes 91 tunnels and 291 bridges, with sharp turns and long views in every direction. Wide windows and steady pacing make it feel more like a moving postcard than a commute. Lunch service doesn’t hurt either.
Belgrade to Bar – Serbia and Montenegro
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This 12-hour route links Serbia’s capital to Montenegro’s Adriatic coast. The highlight is crossing the Mala Rijeka Viaduct, one of the highest rail bridges in the world, at 650 feet tall. Riders also skim the edge of Lake Skadar and explore more than 250 tunnels through the rugged Dinaric Alps.
Settle to Carlisle – England
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The Settle to Carlisle line stretches 73 miles through some of northern England’s most scenic countryside. It’s a working railway, not a tourist route, but heritage steam trains still make appearances. The Ribblehead Viaduct, which is 24 arches long and was built in the 1870s. It offers one of Britain’s most iconic railway views.
Venice Simplon-Orient-Express – Multiple Countries
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The Venice Simplon-Orient-Express brings back 1920s rail travel with restored carriages and polished interiors. Routes vary, connecting cities like London, Venice, and sometimes Istanbul. Passengers dine in formal evening wear, unwind in a piano bar, and sleep in private cabins. It’s a slow, stylish way to cross Europe by train.
The Bergen Line – Norway
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Oslo to Bergen takes about six and a half hours and covers nearly 500 kilometers. One of the most memorable parts of the trip is crossing over Hardangervidda, Europe’s largest mountain plateau. Snow and empty wilderness dominate the view. Between Geilo and Finse, you might even spot a wild reindeer.