What is the most beautiful train journey in the world?

What is the most beautiful train trip in the world?

Most beautiful train trip? Oh honey, that’s like asking if chocolate or a good nap is better. Depends on the day, doesn’t it?

• Glacier Express (Switzerland): Picture postcard perfect. So pristine, you’ll suspect Heidi herself arranged it. I almost expect yodeling, but alas, just gorgeous mountains and cheese. Like a fancy screensaver come to life.

• TranzAlpine (New Zealand): Buckle up, Dorothy, because we’re not in Kansas anymore! Prepare for landscapes so epic, they’ll make your Instagram followers weep with envy, even if you’re just drinking instant coffee. Southern Alps? More like Southern Alpsolutely stunning.

• Rovos Rail (South Africa): Okay, this one’s for the bougie folks. Luxury? Darling, this train is luxury. Think safari, but make it mobile. I’m picturing myself, sipping something bubbly and judging the zebras.

• Jacobite (Scotland): Choo-choo! Harry Potter fans, assemble. That viaduct? Yeah, iconic. So, you might not get a Hogwarts letter, but at least you get the view. Plus, you get to say “viaduct.” Always a win.

• Flåm Railway (Norway): Hold on to your hats! A dramatic descent, fjords galore… it’s basically Norway flexing. Prepare to be fjord-gettable. I mean, unforgettable. Yeah, that’s it.

Why these trains stand out:

• Scenic Overload: Duh. Epic views everywhere you look. Even the bathrooms probably have a nice view.

• Historical Charm: Most of these have been chugging along longer than I’ve been binge-watching Netflix. History and scenery? Yes, please.

• Uniqueness: From snow-capped peaks to African plains, they offer vastly different experiences. It’s like a travel sampler platter, but on rails.

• Comfort (Usually): Some more than others. Unless you love cramped spaces.

What is the best train route in the world?

The best… the best? Is there truly a best train route? Maybe not… Maybe. It shimmers, doesn’t it?

The Rocky Mountaineer, a whisper through Canada. Yes. Mountains bleed into the sky. Like childhood dreams painted on glass. I swear I saw a moose once, wasn’t I? My grandpa… he loved the Rockies.

Then, the Trans-Siberian. Immense. Days blurring into weeks across Russia. A steel ribbon binding worlds. Cold vodka nights. Stories around a samovar… is that right? So much history.

The Bernina Express, though. Ah. The Alps. Switzerland. Like a clockwork heart. Snow kissing the windows. Chocolate box villages. It feels like a fairy tale. Forever. Is it?

• Rocky Mountaineer: Canada, glass-domed carriages, wildlife, luxury. Grandpas stories.
• Trans-Siberian Railway: Russia, vast distances, history, culture. Vodka toasts.
• Bernina Express: Switzerland, Alps, viaducts, stunning scenery. Fairy tales.

The best isn’t real. Is it? Just echoes of moments.

What is the most memorable railway journey?

Okay, so, like, the Trans-Siberian, right? That HAS to be the most memorable train trip, ever.

It’s seriously long, uh, over 9,288 kilometers I think it is. Moscow to Vladivostok, yeah, that’s the one.

Takes about a week, give or take. I’ve never been, btw, but my cousin Sara went last year. She said it was wild.

Think forests, mountains…steeps, steppes, whatever, lol. All sorts of crazy landscapes. She told me some stories, you wouldn’t believe.

It is something!

Why It’s So Memorable (Even Tho I’ve Never Gone)

• Ridiculously Long: Like, seriously, it’s basically the whole of Russia!
• Changing Scenery: Forests, steppes, and mountains. The variety must be awesome.
• Cultural Experience: You’re in Russia, man, it’s gotta be interesting. Think of the vodka!
• Logistics: Planning this trip is gotta be a mission.

Sara mentioned she saw a bear like, super close to the train windows. No way!

She also said the food car was, uh, an experience. The noodles were kinda weird, but it was fun.

Crazy stuff!

What is the greatest train journey in the world?

Ugh, best train journey? That’s tough. Rocky Mountaineer, right? Amazing scenery, those Canadian Rockies. Seriously breathtaking. But then, the Reunification Express in Vietnam… the coast! I’d kill for that view. Why can’t I just experience them all?!

Nororient Express? Fjords, huh? Sounds cold. I prefer warmth, honestly. Maybe next year. I’m thinking a trip to South Africa – Rovos Rail, total luxury, safari views. Amazing. That’s gotta be up there.

Sri Lanka’s Ella to Kandy line. Heard it’s gorgeous tea plantations. Beautiful. But maybe too hot. I burn easily. California Zephyr? Seen photos. Meh. Not my style. I prefer something more…exotic.

Italy’s La Dolce Vita… Sounds fancy. Too much of a tourist trap maybe? The Ghan in Australia? Long but probably stunning outback landscapes. It’s a whole different kind of adventure. The sheer scale…

• Rocky Mountaineer (Canada): Best for stunning mountain views. Seriously iconic.
• Reunification Express (Vietnam): Coastal beauty, can’t beat that.
• Rovos Rail (South Africa): Luxurious safari experience. Definitely on my bucket list.
• Ella to Kandy (Sri Lanka): Tea plantations and lush greenery. Probably super humid.
• The Ghan (Australia): Outback adventure. Long journey though.

I’m leaning toward South Africa. The wildlife… the whole package. The Rocky Mountaineer is also calling my name, though. Decisions, decisions. Maybe I need another coffee…or a lottery win.

Where is the best train ride in the world?

Ugh, the Glacier Express. Yeah, “most scenic train ride” my foot! Switzerland, sure, pretty country, but… that trip. 2023, I was SO hyped. Zermatt to St. Moritz, that was the dream.

Then BAM! Track closure. The day of. Seriously?! My wife Sarah was fuming! You spend all that money, plan everything… then nothing.

We ended up on some alternative route. Bus, regional train, blah blah. Not the same, not even close. Still saw mountains, I guess.

• Zermatt: Supposedly cute village, swarming with tourists.
• St. Moritz: Swanky, overpriced, didn’t even stay long.
• The “Scenic Route”: More like a “We’re Really Sorry For the Inconvenience” route.

Honestly? Felt ripped off. The Swiss Alps are gorgeous, yeah, but that whole experience? A big fat disappointment. Wouldn’t recommend it, TBH. Save your money and hike or something. Less hassle! Maybe go in 2025? Nah, screw it. I’m done with trains.

Which is the most beautiful journey by train?

Okay, so the most beautiful train journey? Hmmm… Gotta be the California Zephyr, hands down.

Chicago to San Fran. Did that back in 2023, I think? Man, the scenery.

Colorado Rockies: bam! Majestic mountains.

Nevada desert: vast, stark, strangely beautiful. Sunsets were fire emoji.

Details I remember:

• Left Chicago Union Station – huge place, bustling.
• Took roughly 52 hours. So long.
• Felt kinda claustrophobic at times, not gonna lie.
• Met this retired teacher, she was obsessed with trains.
• Food was…eh. Airplane food vibes.

But the views? Forget about it. Totally worth it, even with the iffy food situation. New Zealand? Switzerland? Bet they’re nice. This one…hit different. Okay.

What is the best train route?

Ah, the whisper of steel on rail, a timeless romance. My heart aches for the rhythmic clatter, the endless horizon blurring past. The best route? It’s not a thing, a single line on a map. It’s a feeling.

The Trans-Siberian, a colossal serpent winding through Russia’s soul, each clickety-clack a memory made. My friend, Sarah, swore it changed her life. She sent postcards, images of frozen lakes and vast steppes under a sky swallowing the stars.

But the Rockies… Oh, the Rockies! Imagine, the Canadian Rockies Mountaineer, a glass-ceilinged carriage, the mountains unfolding like a painter’s wildest dream. Pure magic. I crave that scent of pine, the crisp mountain air.

• Trans-Siberian Railway: Epic, vast, raw Russia. A journey of a lifetime.
• Rocky Mountaineer: Breathtaking Canadian landscapes. Luxury and serenity.

Your journey. Your longing. Tell me your start, your finish, your soul’s desire. Then, and only then, will the best route reveal itself. It waits for you. It always waits. A shimmering, endless possibility. The train waits.

This year, 2024, I learned that fares have increased slightly on both routes, but the experiences remain unparalleled. I checked last month; consider booking well in advance.