Explore The World
The Ultimate Guide to the Top 10 Train Routes
There’s a kind of travel that only a train window offers — long, unbroken views without the hassle of driving or the limits of a plane’s tiny window. From Siberian taiga to Swiss alpine passes, here are ten of the most memorable train routes in the world.
Browse the routesThe Trans-Siberian Railway
Russia · Moscow to Vladivostok, ~9,289 km
The world’s longest railway line crosses eight time zones and connects European Russia to the Pacific coast, offering a slow, immersive look at Siberian taiga, steppe, and small towns most travelers never otherwise see.
Key Stops
- 01Moscow — Red Square, the Kremlin, and the ornate stations of the Moscow Metro before departure.
- 02Yekaterinburg — The unofficial border between Europe and Asia, marked by an obelisk just outside the city.
- 03Lake Baikal (Irkutsk) — The world’s deepest freshwater lake, worth a multi-day stopover.
- 04Vladivostok — The Pacific terminus, with naval history and views across the bay.
Travel Tips
- Break the journey into stopovers rather than riding straight through — a week or more without stops gets monotonous.
- Bring cash and snacks; dining car options and onboard wifi are limited.
- Book a higher class cabin (kupe or above) for a private compartment on the longer legs.
The Rocky Mountaineer
Canada · Vancouver to Banff or Jasper
A daytime-only scenic train through the Canadian Rockies, with glass-domed coaches built specifically for sightseeing and overnight hotel stops instead of sleeper cars.
Key Stops
- 01Vancouver — The departure point, with mountains visible from the city itself.
- 02Kamloops — An overnight stop roughly halfway through most itineraries.
- 03Banff — Turquoise lakes and the classic scenery of Banff National Park.
- 04Jasper — A quieter, dark-sky-designated alternative endpoint with abundant wildlife.
Travel Tips
- Book early — the glass-dome service sells out months ahead in peak summer.
- Sit on the side facing the mountains where possible; staff can sometimes advise which side is best on a given day.
- The train doesn’t run overnight, so factor hotel costs into your budget alongside the rail fare.
The Glacier Express
Switzerland · Zermatt to St. Moritz
Billed as the slowest express train in the world, the Glacier Express takes about eight hours to cross the Swiss Alps, climbing over 291 bridges and through 91 tunnels at a pace built entirely around the view.
Key Stops
- 01Zermatt — The starting point, in the shadow of the Matterhorn.
- 02Andermatt — A small Alpine town near the route’s high point at the Oberalp Pass.
- 03Disentis — Home to a centuries-old Benedictine monastery visible from the train.
- 04St. Moritz — A glamorous alpine resort town and the route’s eastern terminus.
Travel Tips
- Book a window seat on the panoramic coaches; they’re assigned, so reserve ahead in summer and ski season.
- The Oberalp Pass section is the scenic highlight — don’t let a nap take it from you.
- A Swiss Travel Pass can cover most of the fare and is worth pricing out if visiting other parts of Switzerland too.
The Venice Simplon-Orient-Express
Europe · London or Paris to Venice
A restored 1920s-and-30s carriage service that recreates the golden age of rail travel, with formal dining, wood-paneled cabins, and a route through the Alps into Venice.
Key Stops
- 01London or Paris — The departure point, typically with a vintage Pullman segment to the Channel crossing.
- 02The Swiss Alps — A daylight crossing through Innsbruck and the Arlberg, one of the most scenic stretches.
- 03Verona — A brief stop before the final approach into Venice.
- 04Venice — The journey’s end, arriving directly at Santa Lucia station.
Travel Tips
- This is a genuine luxury splurge — book well in advance and pack for formal dinner dress codes.
- Cabins are compact; pack light, since luggage space is limited compared to a hotel room.
- The journey is the experience here — build in time on either end rather than treating it as a connection.
The Ghan
Australia · Adelaide to Darwin, ~2,979 km
Named after the Afghan camel drivers who once worked this route, the Ghan crosses the entire width of the Australian continent, from temperate Adelaide through the red center to tropical Darwin.
Key Stops
- 01Adelaide — The southern terminus, with the Adelaide Hills and wine country nearby.
- 02Alice Springs — A stopover in the heart of the outback, with excursions to the MacDonnell Ranges.
- 03Katherine — Boat tours through Katherine Gorge (Nitmiluk National Park).
- 04Darwin — The tropical northern terminus, with a very different climate from where the journey began.
Travel Tips
- Book an off-train excursion at each stopover — they’re usually included in higher fare classes and worth prioritizing.
- The temperature swing between the southern and northern ends is significant; pack for both.
- This route runs only a few times a week, so plan dates around the timetable well in advance.
The California Zephyr
United States · Chicago to San Francisco (Emeryville), ~3,924 km
Amtrak’s flagship long-distance route crosses the Great Plains, climbs through the Rocky Mountains, and descends the Sierra Nevada, all visible from a dedicated glass-roofed observation car.
Key Stops
- 01Chicago — The eastern terminus and a major rail hub in its own right.
- 02Denver — The gateway to the Rockies, where the most dramatic mountain scenery begins.
- 03Glenwood Canyon — A particularly scenic stretch along the Colorado River.
- 04Truckee (Lake Tahoe area) — A stop in the Sierra Nevada before the final descent into California.
Travel Tips
- Book a sleeper car for the roughly two-night journey if budget allows; coach seats recline but aren’t built for two nights straight.
- Spend daylight hours in the observation car through Colorado — the most scenic segment of the route.
- The schedule can run late through shared freight track sections; build buffer time around connections.
The Blue Train
South Africa · Pretoria to Cape Town
A genuinely five-star hotel on rails, the Blue Train has run since the 1930s and crosses South Africa’s high plateau and wine country in roughly 27 hours of formal, old-world luxury.
Key Stops
- 01Pretoria — The usual departure point, South Africa’s administrative capital.
- 02Kimberley — A brief stop tied to the region’s diamond-mining history.
- 03Matjiesfontein — A small Karoo town with a Victorian-era hotel, occasionally visited on a stretch-your-legs stop.
- 04Cape Town — The terminus, arriving with Table Mountain in view.
Travel Tips
- Dress codes apply at dinner — pack at least one smart outfit even for an otherwise casual trip.
- Suites are limited and book out well ahead, especially around the Southern Hemisphere summer.
- The fare includes all meals and drinks, so factor that into any cost comparison with flying instead.
The Maharajas’ Express
India · Delhi and Rajasthan circuit
A luxury train styled after India’s royal heritage, running multi-day circuits through Rajasthan’s palaces, forts, and desert cities, with the train itself doubling as a hotel between stops.
Key Stops
- 01Delhi — The usual starting point, with Old and New Delhi both worth a pre- or post-trip day.
- 02Jaipur — The “Pink City,” home to the Amber Fort and City Palace.
- 03Ranthambore — Jeep safaris in one of India’s best tiger reserves.
- 04Udaipur — The “City of Lakes,” with palaces that seem to float on the water.
Travel Tips
- Itineraries vary by season and route — check exactly which stops are included before booking.
- Pack layers; Rajasthan’s desert climate swings hard between hot days and cool nights.
- Off-train excursions involve a fair amount of walking on uneven historic ground — comfortable shoes matter more than they look like they would.
The Bergen Line
Norway · Oslo to Bergen, ~496 km
One of the highest mainline railways in Northern Europe, the Bergen Line crosses the Hardangervidda plateau above the tree line before descending through fjord-side forest into Bergen.
Key Stops
- 01Oslo — The eastern terminus, Norway’s capital.
- 02Finse — The route’s highest point, a remote station above the snow line for much of the year.
- 03Voss — A small town at the edge of fjord country, popular for outdoor sports.
- 04Bergen — The western terminus, a colorful harbor city and gateway to the fjords.
Travel Tips
- Sit on the right-hand side heading west for the best views over the Hardangervidda plateau.
- This line runs year-round, including through winter snow — dress for the platform stops even if the carriage is warm.
- Combine it with the Flåm Railway as a side trip if you have an extra half-day.
The Tokaido Shinkansen
Japan · Tokyo to Osaka (via Kyoto), ~515 km
The original bullet train line, running since 1964, connects Japan’s three largest urban centers at up to 285 km/h, with Mount Fuji visible from the right-hand side on a clear day.
Key Stops
- 01Tokyo — The eastern terminus and the world’s busiest train station system.
- 02Mount Fuji views (near Shin-Fuji) — No stop here, but the best window seat moment on the entire line.
- 03Kyoto — Temples, gardens, and the historic Gion district, a popular stopover.
- 04Osaka — The western terminus, known for street food and a livelier, less formal pace.
Travel Tips
- Buy a Japan Rail Pass before arriving if taking multiple Shinkansen trips — it isn’t sold once you’re already in the country in most cases.
- Reserve seats on the right-hand side heading west for the best chance at a clear Mount Fuji view.
- Trains depart on the minute and rarely run late — arrive on the platform with a few minutes to spare, not just before departure.
Conclusion
Sometimes the slowest way there is the best part of the trip.
Trains offer something buses and ships can’t quite match — a fixed, unhurried rhythm and a window that never stops moving. From the eight time zones of the Trans-Siberian to a single clear-day glimpse of Mount Fuji, these ten routes turn the journey itself into the destination. Wherever you’re headed next, there’s probably a train that gets you there the long way, and the long way is usually worth it.