See photos of 11 scenic train trips around the world

Hannah ToweyAug 21, 2023, 19:03 IST

Switzerland's Glacier Express train.Giovanni Mereghetti/Education Images/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)

Train travel is trendy again thanks to its low carbon footprint and romantic aesthetic.
One of the best parts of traveling long distances by train are the scenic views.

"Tagskryt," a Scandanavian word that means bragging about train travel (guilty), is all the rage nowadays as younger generations rediscover the sustainable and aesthetic means of transportation.

While it's not the quickest way to get from point A to point B, long-distance trains are definitely one of the most scenic ways to explore a new country.

Below, in no particular order, we rounded up some of the most stunning train rides that are definitely worth bragging about.

The list includes train rides around the world, from Canada to India, and itineraries that range from a couple of hours to multiple days. All the costs are estimates — international train fares are dependent on many factors like exchange rates, the company, and selected travel dates and itineraries.

1. The Belgrade to Bar Railway

On Belgrade to Bar, riders experience 254 tunnels and 435 bridges on a 296-mile trip from Serbia's capital to the shores of the Adriatic, at a bargain price.Nick Cottman/Alamy Stock Photo

2. The California Zephyr

Rolling from the Windy City to San Francisco, the California Zephyr climbs both the Rockies and the Sierra Nevada before descending to the Pacific coast on its 2,447-mile traverse across the heartland of America.Marc Glucksman/Amtrak

3. The Canadian

Take The Canadian, where passengers can spend three days watching the countryside scenery from Toronto to Vancouver via dome cars.Via Rail Canada

4. Palace on Wheels

A mobile palace complete with onboard spa, Royal Rajasthan on Wheels highlights India's temples, forts, and Taj Mahal on a seven-night passage.Vijay Mathur/Reuters

5. The Glacier Express

The Glacier Express distills the Alpine experience into eight hours of snowy peaks, mountain meadows, and storybook villages between Zermatt and St. Moritz, Switzerland.Olaf Protze/Getty

6. The Train to the Clouds

The Train to the Clouds climbs to 13,800 feet in the rugged Andes on its way from Salta, Argentina, to the Chilean border on one of the highest train journeys in the world.Marco Guoli

7. The Shongololo Express

The Shongololo Express pairs a safari with deluxe rail travel in Namibia, South Africa, and Zimbabwe.Rovos Rail

8. The Trans-Siberian Railway

National Geographic Expeditions offers a 16-day excursion through Russia, from Vladivostok to Moscow, aboard the Golden Eagle Trans-Siberian, which rolls by Lake Baikal, the deepest lake on Earth.Golden Eagle Trans-Siberian

9. The Ghan

Pack hiking boots and binoculars to explore Alice Springs on The Ghan, which runs north to south in the "Red Centre" of Australia from Darwin to Adelaide.The Ghan

10. Venice Simplon-Orient Express

Black-tie glamour still rules on the century-old Orient Express from London to Venice, which passes through Paris while you’re having dinner and brings aboard fresh-baked croissants when the train stops in Switzerland.Hubert Fanthomme/Paris Match/Getty

11. The TranzAlpine

In New Zealand, the TranzAlpine runs between Christchurch and Greymouth, racing alongside the Waimakariri River and through the Southern Alps on a nine-hour round-trip route.Age Fotostock/Alamy Stock Photo

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