Europe’s Remarkable Railways

While you can go on a great train trip in many places around the world (including right here at home), the romance of the rails is at its most alluring in Europe.

I’ve been taking European rail journeys for 15 years now—often using a Eurail pass—and the magic of stepping into a grand train station, scanning the departures sign full of enthralling names and hopping aboard followed by gazing out the window at astounding scenery has never waned.

What follows is just a small sample of Europe’s most exciting rail adventures to talk about with your travel advisor. Some of these trips are short-but-scenic services; some are longer treks between two big cities that offer a dramatic change in landscape or culture; some sit somewhere in between. All of these journeys will add a touch of enchantment to any European trip and may end up leaving as much of a lasting memory as the destinations themselves. And since Europe is re-opening to travel more and more each day, they are once again within reach.




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The Eurostar From London To Paris

It’s short, relatively devoid of dramatic scenery and you spend 25 minutes inside a tunnel under the sea, but that doesn’t take away any of the excitement of bouncing between two of the continent’s most captivating cities in just over two hours on the Eurostar. Feast on a Full English for breakfast, then a few hours later dip your croissant into a cafe au lait while you make eyes at the Eiffel Tower—all thanks to the feat of engineering that is the Eurotunnel.




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Paris To the French Riviera

Gare de Lyon is Paris’ most charming station and was historically the spot where trains set off for the South of France. So it’s time to follow in the footsteps of all those Parisians of the past and head for the sun. After time well spent in the City of Light, head to the station, admiring the clock tower on the exterior and dining at the opulent Le Train Bleu restaurant located within before you board the train. Then, sit back and relax as the city gives way to rural scenery and a few hours later you are taking in the views of the blue Mediterranean Sea.




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Marseille To Nice

After being delightfully dizzied by the sights and sounds of France’s famous port city Marseille, make for the station to hug the Cote d’Azur’s coastal curves for a trip you won’t forget. The grittiness of the city soon gives way to sweeping views of the sea, palatial summer houses, ports full of yachts and all the other sparkle you associate with the South of France.




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Nice To Moscow

A throwback to the days when Russian tsars used to spend their winters basking in the sunshine and mild temperatures of the French Riviera, this line runs weekly and traverses eight countries. At over 2000 miles, it’s one of the longest scheduled services on the continent and provides a true sense of adventure. This line can also be used to travel from the South of France to destinations in Central Europe and Poland.




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Berlin To Prague

After some quality time in the awesome German capital, you’ll begin this rail adventure at one of Europe’s shiniest and newest stations: Berlin Hauptbahnhof. Sit on the left for the best views, which will include those of fairytale forests that eventually give way to the skyline of Dresden (well worth a stop) and then the gorgeous Elbe River Gorge as you approach Prague, one of Europe’s prettiest capitals.




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The Flam Railway

It may be short, but boy is it ever spectacular. Hop aboard this train that runs from the small village of Flam up to the Myrdal mountain station and back in Norway. Along the way, you’ll be treated to downright stunning vistas featuring fjords, rushing rivers, waterfalls and mountains. Basically, all you came to Norway to experience in the first place is there on this rail trip. You can connect in Myrdal to trains bound for Bergen or the capital Oslo.




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London To Edinburgh

After being swept away by the buzz of London, head to King’s Cross station for the trip north—and be sure to sit on the right side of the train for a sensational mix of views that includes medieval cathedrals, castles and dramatic coastlines. A couple of hours later, you’ll be in York—a fine place to stop off for a couple of days—before sailing past Durham and Newcastle and crossing into Scotland in order to make your approach to fascinating Edinburgh. After you arrive, walking out the front door of Waverly Station brings you face-to-face with imposing Edinburgh Castle and the winding streets of the city’s Old Town.




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San Sebastian To Santiago de Compostela

There’s no doubt that the most awe-inspiring way of making an entry into Santiago de Compostela is by walking the Camino de Santiago pilgrimage trail, but taking the train is a close second. You’ll be treated to gorgeous scenery along the way as you traverse the rugged, lush terrain of northern Spain after time spent in San Sebastian, one of Europe’s great foodie cities. This adventure takes a couple of days, providing the perfect opportunity to explore the enchanting town of Oviedo along the way, which is famous for its cathedral and local cider. Then, you’ll arrive in historic Santiago de Compostela and if you so desire, can walk to the coast as a grand finale like many of the trail walkers do.




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Amsterdam To Cologne

Fall head over heels for the canals, masterful artwork and breezy, bike-centric lifestyle of the ‘Dam before making tracks south to quirky-cool Brussels. You’ll spot quintessentially Dutch scenes out of the window like windmills and if it’s the right season, maybe even some fields of tulips. After stuffing yourself with frites, waffles and some of the best beer in the world, it’s time to set off to Liege—where you should definitely pause to appreciate the stunning train station—before making for Cologne. Oft-overlooked, Cologne is home to one of the finest cathedrals in all of Europe and excellent Kolsch beer and makes for a fitting end to the journey.




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The Rhine Valley Railway

This scenic line traces the banks of the Rhine River as it meanders between Cologne and Mainz. Along the way, you’ll see castles, vineyards, chocolate-box towns and even the famous Lorelei Rock, which was said to be home to a siren that lured ships to certain doom.




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The Bernina Express

Linking Chur, Switzerland and Tirano, Italy, this route shows off the exquisite contrasts of this special part of Europe. At the right time of year, you’ll see snow-covered peaks and palms swaying beside sun-dappled lakes on the same day. During this four-hour trip, you’ll see Lake Poschiavo, the Bernina Pass itself, the grand Landwasser Viaduct and windowpane after windowpane full of wonderful mountain scenery.




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Munich To Florence

Explore the palaces, museums, parks and beer gardens of Bavaria’s biggest city before heading south over the Alps towards the birthplace of the Renaissance: romantic Florence. As you make your way south through the historic Brenner Pass, you’ll be treated to striking scenery and have the chance to stop off at great cities like Innsbruck, Verona and Bologna—arguably Italy’s gastronomic capital. Retreat to beautiful Boboli Gardens for some rest after a long travel day before starting your Florentine fun the next day.




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Rome To Sicily

After being blown away by the history and romance of Rome, it’s time to take the train south, skirting the azure waters of the Mediterranean for a large portion of the journey. Potential stop-offs along the way include Naples—where you can visit the ancient city of Pompeii—the Amalfi Coast and a series of lesser-known coastal spots. Then, watch in amazement as the train is shuttled onto a ferry and taken across the Strait of Messina before being put back onto the tracks for the rest of your journey. Sicily presents a fiery finale to this journey as a unique history has led to one of Europe’s most spirited cultures.




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The Mittenwald Railway

This mountainous rail line connects the alpine resort town of Garmisch-Partenkirchen in Germany with Innsbruck, Austria via the charming small town of Mittenwald. This railway is best used as an easy-going and picturesque alternative to faster trains that speed between Munich and points south. Expect plenty of onion domes, peaks and rushing rivers out the train windows.




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Vienna To Venice

After exploring the historical yet incredibly hip Austrian capital of Vienna, it’s time to head over the Alps via the UNESCO-listed Semmering Railway south to Venice. This journey features jaw-dropping scenery at nearly every turn and ends with a grand finale that is one of the finest experiences in European rail travel: dashing across a lagoon—with water on both sides—to arrive at Venice’s Santa Lucia Station, which is literally located on the Grand Canal.




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Venice To Zagreb

No matter how popular Venice gets, you can still find secluded alleyways and lonely bridges to call your own—especially after dark. Fall head over heels for this island city before taking the train along the coast to Trieste, which sits on the border of Italy and Slovenia and offers an utterly unique feel. From there, it’s on to Ljubljana—one of Europe’s cutest little cities—where you could spend a couple of days sipping coffee beside the river and taking day trips to the Julian Alps. This trip finishes up in the grand Croatian capital of Zagreb, which is often overlooked by those rushing to the coast but is home to many cultural treasures.




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Paris To Switzerland

After time spent falling for Paris, hop on a high-speed train for Switzerland. These trains are typically double-deckers, so make sure to sit upstairs for the best views of the countryside as you dart between destinations. Cities like Geneva, Lausanne, Basel or Bern will immediately shake any impression you had of Switzerland as a land exclusively made up of chalets and yodelers and all serve as fine places to visit or use as a base to explore the alpine uplands.




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Switzerland To Barcelona

Spend time in the cosmopolitan cities and alpine valleys across Switzerland, before making your way to Geneva, where you’ll set off southwest to Barcelona. Along the way, you’ll take in views of the idyllic body of water Lac du Bourget, sweeping valleys, meandering rivers and the coast plus the chance to stop off at places like Avignon and Montpellier. Arriving in Barcelona is akin to awaking into a kaleidoscope, as the city is the epitome of vibrant and whose architecture, food and sights will keep you entertained for days on end.




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The Brocken Railway

The Harz Mountains are a bewitching region of Germany, shrouded in legend and rich in culture, having served as the inspiration for many of the Brothers Grimm’s fairytales. This railway is actually part of a larger network of steam trains that ply the tracks of the region, but this stretch is the highlight of the entire line. Take the Brocken Railway through hills of spruce trees to reach to the Brocken, the highest peak in the region and a supposed haunt of witches and other spirits.




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Belgrade To Bar

By making it to Belgrade, you’ve already gone off the beaten track and discovered the most electric city in the Balkans, but the Serbian capital has even more surprises in store as you say goodbye. This line crosses over hundreds of bridges as its works its way through dramatic canyons and limestone formations to reach Bar, Montenegro, which can be used as a jumping-off point for destinations along the region’s idyllic coast.




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The Glacier Express

Take in some of Switzerland’s most jaw-dropping natural scenery on this jaunt between Zermatt—located in the shadow of the Matterhorn—and St. Mortiz. During the seven-hour trip, plush panoramic train carriages provide passengers with sweeping views of alpine villages, mountain peaks, grand viaducts and gorges. Regardless of the season, the Glacier Express provides one of the best thrills in European rail travel.




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The West Highland Line

Departing Glasgow and heading for the wild west coast of Scotland, this journey will leave you breathless. The star of the show is the famed Glenfinnan Viaduct, which has gained international fame after being featured in the Harry Potter films, but that’s just the tip of the iceberg of the wonder on display out of the train windows. For starters, you’ll see the splendor of Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park and scores of heather-clad moors.




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Stockholm To the Arctic Circle

You’ll start this adventure in the capital of Sweden, which is spread out over wooded islands and is the epitome of Swedish style, and you’ll finish it 18 hours later in Jarvik, Norway. Lulea and its timbered old town make for a nice stopover before you reach the Arctic Circle and the land of fjords and the midnight sun.




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Budapest to Berlin

Start your day in the capital of Hungary—refreshed from days spent at the city’s thermal baths and nights at Budapest’s lively bars—and finish it in arguably Europe’s hippest city: Berlin. Or you could stretch this journey out by spending a couple of days in some of the fascinating places it passes through along the way: Prague, Bratislava, the so-called “Saxon Switzerland” and Dresden.




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London to Cornwall

You can’t come to England without spending a little time by the sea and the stunning county of Cornwall is the perfect place to get a taste of the coast. Cornwall may sit at the far southwest tip of England, but trains leave London Paddington bound for the Cornish town of Penzance multiple times a day—and even once overnight. From Penzance, it’s a short train trip across the hills to St. Ives, an idyllic seaside town full of hidden alleys, historic sailor’s pubs and world-class art.




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