Train Trips That Are as Good as the Destination 🚂

🌍 The Scenic Route Is the Best Route

Forget tiny airplane seats and the joyless shuffle through security. Train travel is your chance to sit back, stretch out, and actually enjoy the ride. Watch the world go by as misty mountains, stunning coastlines, and the occasional sheep roll past your window. Sip your coffee and wonder why you ever rushed to get anywhere. These scenic routes are more than just a way to travel. They’re an experience all on their own. Below are some of the world’s most unforgettable train trips that prove getting there really is half the fun.

🚞 Glacier Express — Switzerland

Route: Zermatt to St. Moritz 


Duration: Approximately 8 hours


Highlights:

• Crosses 291 bridges and passes through 91 tunnels

• The route passes through a UNESCO World Heritage site, the Albula/Bernina Landscapes

• Ascends to the Oberalp Pass at 2,033 meters (6,670 feet)

• Panoramic windows offer views of the Swiss Alps, deep valleys, and picturesque villages

🚂 Rocky Mountaineer — Canada

Route: Vancouver to Banff (First Passage to the West)


Duration: 2 days, with an overnight stop in Kamloops


Highlights:

• Daylight-only travel for optimal sightseeing. There are overnight stops at hotels along the route.

• Operates primarily during the tourist season (April to mid-October

• Traverses the Spiral Tunnels and the Continental Divide

• Offers luxury service with gourmet meals and panoramic views of the Canadian Rockies

🚃 Bergen Railway — Norway

Route: Oslo to Bergen


Duration: Approximately 7 hours


Highlights:

• One of Europe's highest mainline railways

• Passes through the Hardangervidda plateau and offers views of fjords, forests, and mountains

• Includes about 180 tunnels and 22 stops along the route

• Crosses a mountain landscape home to Arctic foxes, snow owls, and Europe's largest wild reindeer herd, which includes more than 9,000 animals roaming the area

🚉 West Highland Line — Scotland

Route: Glasgow to Mallaig


Duration: Around 5 hours


Highlights:

• Traverses remote moors, lochs, and mountains

• Crosses the iconic Glenfinnan Viaduct, featured in the Harry Potter films

• Offers views of Ben Nevis and access to the Isle of Skye via ferry from Mallaig

🚋 Coastal Pacific — New Zealand

Route: Christchurch to Picton

Duration: Approximately 5 hours


Highlights:

• Runs along the Pacific coast, offering ocean and mountain views

• Passes through the Kaikōura mountain range and near marine wildlife habitats

• Chances to spot seals, dolphins, and possibly even whales along the route

• Connects with ferry services to the North Island at Picton

🚋 Stockholm to Narvik — Sweden & Norway

Route: Stockholm to Narvik


Duration: Approximately 18–20 hours


Highlights:

• Crosses the Arctic Circle and winds through Sweden’s Lapland wilderness

• Passes snowy peaks, alpine lakes, and fjord landscapes along the Ofoten Line

• Offers chances to spot the Northern Lights in winter or experience the Midnight Sun in summer

• This route is frequently served by a sleeper train, giving travelers the chance to sleep while making the cross-border journey

🚆 The Journey Is Half the Fun

These train rides make the journey just as memorable as the destination, with front-row views of some of the world’s most stunning landscapes, all from the comfort of your seat. Whether you're in the mood for adventure, some laid-back exploring, or a bit of both, these routes offer the kind of travel memories you’ll keep coming back to. Picture yourself sipping coffee while snow-covered mountains roll past or drifting off to sleep as the northern lights shimmer outside your window. This isn’t just getting from point A to B. It’s a chance to slow down, soak it in, and enjoy the ride. So if you're ready to skip the airport chaos and try something a little different, the rails are calling.