There’s something magical about train travel that no airplane can replicate. While first-class flights get you there fast, these extraordinary rail journeys transform the trip itself into the main event. You’ll glide through landscapes that planes fly over in minutes, savor gourmet meals without turbulence, and fall asleep soundly as miles of scenery roll past your window.
These spectacular train routes offer luxury that makes even first-class cabins feel cramped and rushed. Here is a list of 20 train rides that deliver experiences no flight can match.
Orient Express, Europe
The legendary Orient Express remains the gold standard of luxury rail travel, weaving through Europe’s most romantic cities. Passengers dine on crystal and china while crossing borders that once divided empires.
The vintage carriages transport you back to an era when the journey mattered more than the destination, and every mile feels like stepping into a classic film.
Rocky Mountaineer, Canada
This Canadian marvel turns the trip from Vancouver to the Rockies into a two-day feast for the eyes. The glass-domed cars offer panoramic views of snow-capped peaks, rushing rivers, and forests that stretch to the horizon.
You’ll spot wildlife from your comfortable seat while servers bring gourmet meals that would cost a fortune in any mountain resort.
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Glacier Express, Switzerland
Switzerland’s ‘slowest express train’ takes eight hours to cover 180 miles, and passengers celebrate every leisurely minute. The route connects alpine resorts through 291 bridges and 91 tunnels, including the famous Landwasser Viaduct that curves dramatically over a valley.
The panoramic windows frame views that make Swiss postcards look understated.
Trans-Siberian Railway, Russia
Stretching 5,772 miles across two continents, this epic journey spans seven time zones and takes a full week. The train crosses the vast Siberian wilderness, where endless forests give way to steppes that seem to stretch forever.
It’s like having your private viewing booth for the world’s largest country, complete with a dining car that serves hearty Russian cuisine.
Blue Train, South Africa
South Africa’s premier luxury train runs between Cape Town and Pretoria like a five-star hotel on wheels. The suites feature marble bathrooms and picture windows that showcase the dramatic landscape of the Karoo region.
Passengers enjoy world-class wines from local vineyards while watching the African sunset paint the sky in impossible colors.
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Maharajas’ Express, India
This opulent Indian train recreates the golden age of maharajas with carriages that rival palace rooms. The week-long journey visits iconic destinations like the Taj Mahal and Rajasthan’s pink cities, with each stop carefully timed for optimal sightseeing.
The onboard spa and fine dining restaurants ensure you arrive at each destination refreshed rather than exhausted.
Ghan, Australia
Australia’s Ghan crosses the red center of the continent on a 1,850-mile journey from Adelaide to Darwin. The train cuts through the heart of the Outback, where the landscape shifts from green hills to rust-colored desert that stretches beyond imagination.
Off-train excursions include helicopter rides over ancient gorges and visits to Aboriginal communities that share stories dating back thousands of years.
California Zephyr, USA
Amtrak’s most scenic route runs 2,438 miles from Chicago to San Francisco, crossing the Colorado Rockies and Sierra Nevada mountains. The journey includes a passage through the Moffat Tunnel and around the famous Horseshoe Curve, offering views that highway travelers never see.
The observation car becomes a social hub, where strangers become friends as they watch America’s most beautiful landscapes unfold.
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Coast Starlight, USA
This West Coast gem travels 1,377 miles from Los Angeles to Seattle, hugging the Pacific coastline for hours of ocean views. The train passes through everything from Southern California beaches to towering Pacific Northwest forests, with snow-capped Mount Shasta providing a dramatic centerpiece.
The onboard wine tasting features local vintages from regions the train passes through.
Bernina Express, Switzerland and Italy
The UNESCO World Heritage Bernina line climbs to 7,391 feet without the use of cogwheels, making it both an engineering marvel and a scenic wonder. The route includes the famous spiral viaduct at Brusio and spans 196 bridges, connecting the Alpine cultures of Switzerland and Italy.
The red trains look like they belong in a Swiss tourism poster, and the reality lives up to every expectation.
Palace on Wheels, India
Rajasthan’s Palace on Wheels transforms a week-long circuit of India’s desert state into a royal experience. Each carriage is named after a former Rajput state and decorated with traditional crafts and fabrics.
The train visits magnificent forts and palaces, offering modern luxury that includes personal attendants and gourmet cuisine featuring authentic Rajasthani dishes.
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Royal Scotsman, Scotland
Scotland’s most luxurious train carries just 40 passengers through the Highlands in carriages that feel like a Scottish castle library. The route includes famous whisky regions where passengers can sample single malts while watching lochs and mountains slide past the windows.
Evening entertainment features traditional Scottish music and storytelling that brings Highland culture to life.
Eastern & Oriental Express, Southeast Asia
This exotic journey connects Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, and Singapore through three countries and cultures in ultimate comfort. The train features an observation car with an open-air deck perfect for photographing tropical landscapes and colonial architecture.
The dining car serves both Asian and Western cuisine while the countryside transforms from Thai rice paddies to Malaysian plantations.
Al Andalus, Spain
Spain’s luxury train recreates the elegance of the 1920s while touring Andalusia’s most treasured cities. The Belle Époque carriages visit Seville, Córdoba, and Granada, with guided tours of the Alhambra and other UNESCO World Heritage sites included in the experience.
The train’s route follows the path of ancient trade routes that connected Christian and Moorish cultures.
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Hiram Bingham, Peru
Named after the explorer who rediscovered Machu Picchu, this luxury train makes the journey to the ancient citadel feel as special as the destination. The three-hour trip from Cusco follows the Urubamba River through the Sacred Valley, with massive peaks towering overhead.
The 1920s Pullman-style cars serve pisco sours and gourmet Peruvian cuisine while musicians provide traditional entertainment.
Indian Pacific, Australia
This transcontinental giant covers 2,704 miles from Sydney to Perth, crossing the entire Australian continent in three days. The route includes the longest straight stretch of railway track in the world—297 miles across the Nullarbor Plain without a single curve.
The dining car features regional specialties from areas the train passes through, including fresh seafood from the coast and lamb from inland stations.
Rovos Rail, South Africa
Often called the most luxurious train in the world, Rovos Rail operates various routes throughout Southern Africa in restored carriages from the 1920s and 1930s. The suites feature period furnishings and en-suite bathrooms that would be impressive in a luxury hotel.
The observation car’s open-air deck offers sweeping views of African wildlife and landscapes unchanged for millenia.
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Golden Eagle Trans-Siberian, Russia, and Mongolia
This ultra-luxury version of the Trans-Siberian Railway includes Mongolia and China in a journey that spans three countries and covers 6,000 miles. The train features a bar car with a resident pianist and suites with private bathrooms, elevating the classic route to five-star standards.
Stops include off-train excursions to the Mongolian steppes and the Gobi Desert.
Canadian, Canada
VIA Rail’s flagship service runs 2,775 miles from Toronto to Vancouver through the Canadian Shield, prairies, and Rocky Mountains. The journey takes four days and includes passage through the spiral tunnels in the Rockies, where the train circles inside mountains.
The glass-domed observation car provides 360-degree views that make the Canadian wilderness feel both vast and intimate.
Pride of Africa, Southern Africa
This luxury safari train combines game viewing with five-star rail travel on routes throughout southern and eastern Africa. The train visits famous game reserves and Victoria Falls, with expert guides providing wildlife expertise and cultural insights.
The elegant dining car serves cuisine inspired by the regions visited, while the observation car doubles as a panoramic safari lounge on wheels.
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Where Rails Lead Us Next
These magnificent train journeys prove that the golden age of rail travel never really ended—it just got more comfortable and accessible. While airlines focus on speed and efficiency, these routes celebrate the lost art of taking time to see the world truly.
The next time you’re planning a trip, consider trading that cramped airline seat for a window table in a dining car, where the scenery changes with every course, and the journey becomes just as memorable as the destination.
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