Share The Article
2025 is the year we’ll slow it down a notch and truly take in the sights, appreciate the scenery, and savor the culture when traveling in Europe: no more embarking on crazy multi-flight trips, and cramming as many countries as possible into a 2-week itinerary.
What better way, then, to bask in the Old Continent’s cultural charm than hopping on a scenic train?
Train travel has surged back to the front of travel trends this year, be it the nostalgia frenzy, or the widespread distrust in aviation, what with the overly-strict luggage policies, delays, and recently, string of on-ground collisions.
Well, you asked, we’re obliged to deliver. Here are 3 of the most beautiful train journeys across the pond:
The Caledonian Sleeper
London to Scotland
If you’re U.K.-bound this summer, there’s 2 things you should know: first, you won’t be able to board your London flight without first applying for an Electronic Travel Authorization, so learn all the steps in getting your permit here.
Second, the Caledonian Sleeper is hitting the tracks from the British capital, all the way to the remote north of Scotland, where rows upon rows of semi-detached houses and modern developments give way to majestic munros and lochs.
That’s Scottish for mountains and lakes, if you didn’t know.
It is easily one of the most scenic journeys in the world, calling at timeless destinations like Edinburgh, the Scottish capital and a well-preserved medieval city, Inverness, straddling the banks of Loch Ness, and Fort William, a peaceful town at the foot of Ben Nevis, Britain’s highest peak.
The most breathtaking part of the journey comprises the Highlands section, so you’ll want to stay onboard the train instead of hopping off in Edinburgh.
Traveling from London to Fort William, a ‘classic’ twin bunk bed with Glencraft mattresses and a washbasin is the best-value option, and it will cost you around $330, while seats can be found for as cheap as $76.53.
However, unless you’re breaking up the journey, we wouldn’t recommend booking a seat from London to the Highlands: boarding starts at 8:30 PM, and the train usually calls at its final destination at 10:00 AM the following day, so that’s a loooong night sitting up straight.
$330 may sound like it’s a bit hard on the wallet, but in reality, it’s not that much more expensive than the alternative, which would be to fly, and on top of that, spend money on intercity trains and accommodation—in Scotland, hotels can run you up $192-a-night.
The Flåm Railway
Fjord to Mountain
One of Norway’s most popular tourist trains, the Flåmsbana (or Flåm Railway) travels slowly up 12 miles of tracks, from the small municipality of Flåm, at the innermost tip of Aurlandsfjord, to the mountaintop station of Myrdal, where it connects to the Bergen Line.
If you’re visiting from Bergen, you’ll board the modern Myrdal train at Bergen and switch to the heritage Flåmsbana, which will take you down to Flåm.
The same goes the other way round.
You might be thinking it’s just too much hassle for such a one-stop short journey, but have you seen those panoramic windows overlooking quaint mountainside villages, snow-capped peaks, and the winding waterways of Norway’s longest fjord.
If you ask us, the best way to experience the Flåmsbana is to walk down from Myrdal to Flåm on foot. There are plenty of natural wonders and hidden gems to be seen along the way, which you’ll only be whooshing past with the train.
The train does stop briefly at the Kjosfossen Waterfall, just in time for a quick selfie, but you’d be missing out on other smaller, equally stunning cascades, namely Rjoandefossen and Brekkefossen. Not to mention, you could pay Rallarrosa a visit, a dairy farm where they sell local goat cheese.
The walk down takes roughly 4 hours, and once you reach Flåm, feel free to explore this charming viking-era settlement home to floating fjord spas and family-run eateries, before boarding the Flåmsbana up to Myrdal, where you came from, starting at $50.
The Vitznau-Rigi-Goldau Cogwheel Train
From Lakes to The Swiss Alps
Switzerland isn’t exactly the most budget-friendly country in Europe, but we’d argue its train journeys, through deep valleys flanked by towering alpine peaks, and along crystal-clear lakes, are worth every penny.
And if you’re asking us, 72 Swiss franc ($85) isn’t that big of an ask to ascend up Europe’s oldest mountain railway, opened as early as 1871:
This is a cogwheel train, traveling from the quaint Swiss town of Vitznau, on the banks of Lake Lucerne, to the top of the majestic Rigi Kulm: though not exactly the tallest peak in the country, it boasts breathtaking mountaintop views nonetheless.
On one side, you get the most beautiful alpine range; on the other, the lake-dotted lowlands of Switzerland.
The mountain itself is a hiker’s paradise, offering a plethora of activities certain to appeal to outdoorsy folks, from gentle walks, like the trail from Rigi Scheidegg to Rigi Kaltbald, passing historic bridges and alpine views, to more challenging hikes, like the Känzeli lookout point.
There are over 74 miles of delineated trails in total, so the train ride up here, as idyllic as it may be, is definitely not the sole attraction.
Oh, and if we may add, Rigi Kulm Hotel is a great spot to be based as you take in all this gorgeous nature:
Serviced by the cogwheel train, it has single rooms starting from 218 Swiss franc per night (this is still Switzerland, after all), and the full-service restaurant features a beautiful Art Nouveau decoration—and you just have to try their traditional Rigi sausage.
Vinicius Costa
Vini, our senior lead writer at Travel Off Path, has over 60+ countries under his belt (and currently weaving tales from Paris!), and a knack for turning off-the-beaten-path experiences into informative stories that will have you packing your bags.
↓ Elevate Your Travel↓
Sign Up Now For Travel Off Path Premium! No ads, VIP Content, Personal Travel Concierge, Huge Savings, Daily Deals, Members Forum & More!
Sign Up To Receive Our Twice Weekly Newsletter With Free Travel Hacks: The Upgrade!
️Join Our Travel Off Path Community Forum: Where travelers unite, ask questions, share experiences and even find like-minded travel buddies!
SUBSCRIBE TO OUR LATEST POSTS
Enter your email address to subscribe to Travel Off Path’s latest breaking travel news, straight to your inbox.
This article originally appeared on TravelOffPath.com
Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post.
Please visit:
Our Sponsor
