The Most Scenic Railway Journeys in the World

All aboard a more elegant way to travel. As luxury rail travel enjoys a refined renaissance - think the revived Orient Express and Belmond’s artfully curated itineraries - a quieter movement is building around scenic railway journeys that offer more than just transportation.

They offer slow, spectacular travel: a front-row seat to some of the world’s most extraordinary landscapes.

From the snow-dusted Alps of Switzerland to the vast red outback of central Australia, these seven routes combine engineering marvels with moments of pure visual poetry.

Whether you're a devoted rail aficionado or a curious newcomer to the world of grand train journeys, these routes redefine the meaning of the journey being the destination.

The 7 Most Scenic Train Rides Around the Globe

Bernina Express - Switzerland to Italy

Chur, Switzerland to Tirano, Italy

Winding its way across the Alps, the Bernina Express is a visual symphony of glaciers, lakes, and dramatic stone viaducts.

Running on the historic Rhaetian Railway, this UNESCO World Heritage route connects northern and southern Europe, passing through 55 tunnels and over 196 bridges.

Don’t expect speed - this is slow travel in its most refined form. As you ascend through snowy passes and descend into Italian valleys, it becomes clear: this isn’t just a railway, it’s a work of art carved through nature.

Find out more about The Bernina Express here

The Ghan - Australia

Darwin to Adelaide

Named after Afghan cameleers who once traversed the continent, The Ghan is Australia’s answer to the transcontinental adventure.

Over three days, passengers witness the country's dramatic shift from tropical savannahs to arid desert, slicing through the legendary Red Centre and into remote opal-mining towns like Coober Pedy.

With luxurious cabins and curated off-train excursions, this journey offers a unique perspective on Australia's vast and often impenetrable interior.

Find out more about The Ghan here

Rocky Mountaineer - Canada

Vancouver to Banff / Jasper

A journey on the Rocky Mountaineer is all about perspective. With glass-domed ceilings and panoramic windows, this luxury train offers unobstructed views of British Columbia’s wild beauty: towering peaks, glacial rivers, and bear-dotted forests.

Founded in 1990, it’s one of the world’s most celebrated privately owned trains - and for good reason.

Onboard hosts weave indigenous history and local legends into the journey, enriching what is already a deeply visual experience.

Find out more about The Rocky Mountaineer here

Glacier Express - Switzerland

Zermatt to St. Moritz

Dubbed the "slowest express train in the world", the Glacier Express offers a leisurely journey through the Swiss Alps, covering 180 miles in around eight hours.

The route includes the breathtaking Rhine Gorge, Switzerland’s own “Grand Canyon”, and the striking Landwasser Viaduct, a stone bridge that appears to defy gravity.

This is the kind of train ride where staring out the window becomes an art form.

Find out more about The Glacier Express here

Bergen Railway - Norway

Oslo to Bergen

The Bergen Railway is more than a scenic trip - it’s a masterclass in Nordic design, both in terms of engineering and nature.

This route passes through Hardangervidda Plateau, one of northern Europe’s highest, at 1,222 metres above sea level, where endless skies meet frozen lakes and rugged peaks.

The journey features 22 stops, including Finse, a remote mountain village only accessible by rail - and once a training ground for arctic explorers.

Find out more about The Bergen Railway here

California Zephyr - USA

Chicago to San Francisco

At over 2,438 miles, the California Zephyr is the longest daily route operated by Amtrak, but it’s far more than a long-distance commute.

This coast-to-coast voyage traverses 33 stops and an extraordinary range of American geography: from the plains of Nebraska to the Rocky Mountains, the Sierra Nevada, desert expanses, and finally the Pacific Coast.

A favourite of rail purists and casual travellers alike, the Zephyr is often cited as one of the most beautiful train rides in North America.

Find out more about The California Zephyr here

Beijing to Lhasa - China

Beijing to Lhasa, Tibet Autonomous Region

Touted as the world’s highest railway, the Qinghai - Tibet Railway to Lhasa is not for the faint-hearted - or the poorly acclimatised.

This 40-hour journey climbs to altitudes above 5,000 metres, with oxygen pumped into cabins as you ascend into the Tibetan Plateau.

But the reward is immense: panoramic views of snow-dusted peaks, vast plains, and a glimpse into the mystical heart of Tibet. It’s one of the most ambitious and romantic rail journeys on the planet.

Find out more about The Qinghai - Tibet Railway here

Why Scenic Train Travel Is Having a Moment

The resurgence of elegant rail travel owes much to the allure of slow travel - the luxury of time and attention in a world that increasingly values speed.

From the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express to Belmond’s Eastern & Oriental, these experiences cater not only to nostalgia but to the new luxury: disconnection, immersion, and narrative-rich journeys.

As these seven scenic rail routes show, there’s no need for gilded carriages or jazz-age bar cars to create something magical. Sometimes, all it takes is a window seat.

Planning Your Own Scenic Railway Adventure?

Before booking, consider the best season (autumnal foliage vs summer alpine greens), how much time you’re comfortable spending on a train, and whether you want full-service luxury or unfiltered immersion. Whichever you choose, bring a camera, a notebook, and a healthy sense of wonder (and on the question of long journey travel, why not take a look at the road trip we took through British Columbia here).