The ten most beautiful train rides in the world in 2025 are about to take you on an exciting trip that will leave you speechless. On your trip, imagine being able to see beautiful scenery like the snow-capped peaks of the Swiss Alps or the rough, rocky glory of the Canadian Rockies. These train trips are more than just vacations; they give you a front-row seat to some of nature’s most amazing shows. Imagine looking out the window of the Rocky Mountaineer or the Glacier Express as they travel through the Rocky Mountains’ mountains and rivers for a moment. You might be daydreaming about the Trans-Siberian Railway’s endless woods or the Shinkansen, Japan’s bullet train that goes through Cherry Blossom Season.
As you ride, you’ll be surrounded by beautiful scenery, learn about history, and hear the warm sound of the rails clicking together. You can find everything you could want on these routes, whether you want an exciting journey, are interested in photography, or just want to get away from it all. From the Ghan in Australia that goes through red deserts to the Jacobite Steam Train in Scotland that goes through foggy mountains, these trips are pure magic. You can use these train rides to plan your next big trip because they will give you stories to tell and views you will never forget. In 2025, these are the most beautiful train rides in the world. Take a ride and find out why.
The Top Ten Most Scenic Train Rides In The World
10. Grand Canyon Railway, United States
From Williams, Arizona, to the Grand Canyon South Rim on the Grand Canyon Railway is a famous and interesting trip that most people take in one day. This rail adventure gives you entry to the remote beauty of Grand Canyon National Park, which is a national treasure. When people travel on board, they feel like they’ve taken a real step back in time, to a time when trains were the main way people got around. The railway was built in the late 1800s to move ore, but soon realised it could also be used for tourists. On September 17, 1901, the first passengers arrived.
Its restoration now makes a big difference in protecting parks by cutting down on vehicle traffic. Each year, about 50,000 cars stay out of the national park. This makes it a great example of sustainable tourism, and eco-friendly tourists who want to see natural sights while leaving as little of an impact on the environment as possible will be drawn to it.
9. The Bergen Line (Bergensbanen), Norway
The famous Bergen Line, or Bergensbanen, runs from Oslo, Norway, to Bergen, Norway, and is 500 kilometres (310 miles) long. The trip takes about 7 hours. People think it’s one of the most beautiful train rides in Europe. It shows off Norway’s stunning natural beauty, with its deep fjords, majestic glaciers, and Hardangervidda, Europe’s highest mountain range. As the route heads towards Bergen, it opens up views of rough mountains, tumbling waterfalls, and cute towns.
The views near Finse station are especially beautiful, as are the Osterfjorden and Byfjorden fjords. A big plus is that you can link to the famous Flåm Railway in Myrdal, which lets you go on a longer rail adventure into Norway’s famous fjords. It was a huge technical feat to build, with many bridges, tunnels, and viaducts, including the 7-kilometer Finse Tunnel, which is Europe’s highest railway tunnel. It was finished in 1909.
8. The UK’s Jacobite (West Highland Line)
The Jacobite runs on Scotland’s West Highland Line and goes from Fort William to Mallaig, a distance of 84 miles round trip. The trip takes you through the beautiful Scottish Highlands. This trip takes you past Britain’s tallest mountain, Ben Nevis, and the famous 21-arched Glenfinnan Viaduct. It offers stunning views of remote moorlands, calm lochs, and dramatic glens. Internationally known as the ‘Harry Potter Bridge’, the Jacobite has been used to show the Hogwarts Express in several hit films. Visitors can ride a real steam train and feel like they are in a movie. By 1901, the railway had been built. It was a big job that required more than 5,000 navvies and creative engineering, like floating the track over Rannoch Moor. Along the route are also very important historical places, such as the Glenfinnan Memorial.
7. The Bernina Express, Switzerland to Italy
From Chur, Switzerland, to Tirano, Italy, the Bernina Express takes you on a beautiful train ride along the UNESCO World Heritage Rhaetian Railway in the Albula Bernina Landscapes. Through 55 tunnels and over 196 bridges, including the famous Landwasser Viaduct, the train goes from “eternal ice of the glaciers” to “palm trees in the Italian town of Tirano.
” This thrilling crossing of the Alps is the only one of its kind and shows how the scenery changes so dramatically. Modern panoramic cars offer first-class comfort and views that aren’t blocked. It is also the steepest adhesion railway in the world and runs on Europe’s highest train tracks. A very important part, the Albula line, opened in 1904. It was an example of how railways could connect towns in the Central Alps that were previously cut off from each other.
6. Glacier Express, Switzerland
The Glacier Express is known as the “slowest express train in the world,” and it takes 8 hours to get from Zermatt to St. Moritz, stopping at Brig, Andermatt, and Chur along the way. This trip shows off Switzerland’s amazing natural beauty and building feats, with stops at the wild Kipfen Gorge, the dramatic Rhine Gorge (also known as the “Swiss Grand Canyon”), and the stunning Oberalp Pass. The famous 65-meter-high Landwasser Viaduct is one of the most photographed places in the area. With the addition of panoramic windows in the 1980s, the Glacier Express has gone from being a simple way to get around to a top-notch luxury travel experience. The Furka Base Tunnel opened in 1982 and made it possible for the train to run all year. This means that customers can enjoy the beautiful winter scenery.
5. California Zephyr, United States
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The California Zephyr, operated by Amtrak, goes from Chicago to Emeryville, which is near San Francisco. The trip is 2438 miles long and takes 52 hours, with two nights of travel. Many people think it’s one of the most beautiful train rides in North America. It takes riders through the Midwest prairies, Utah and Nevada’s lunar-like salt flats, and the majestic Rocky Mountains and Sierra Nevada. Some of the best parts are going through tight gorges on the Colorado River and seeing the Gore, Byers, and Glenwood Canyons in Colorado. A special lounge on the train is just for sight-seers, and it has big windows that let in lots of natural light. There are different types of accommodations, from coach seats to Superliner roomettes, so everyone can find something they like.
4. The Ghan, Australia
From Adelaide to Darwin, the Ghan goes through the middle of Australia and is one of the best train trips in the world. It’s 2,979 kilometres (1,851 miles) long. The regular trip lasts for three days and two nights, but from April to October, you can take The Ghan Expedition from Darwin to Adelaide, which lasts for four days and three nights. People see how Australia’s vast landscapes change from the hills of South Australia to the rusty Red Centre and the green, tropical Top End.
It tells a strong cultural and historical story and is named after Afghan cameleers who built the first infrastructure in the outback. The train offers Platinum and Gold luxury services with cosy bed quarters, gourmet meals, and drinks that are included in the price. “Off Train Experiences” in Alice Springs and Katherine, such as trips to Desert Park or boats through Katherine Gorge, are important parts.
3. Rocky Mountaineer, Canada
Rocky Mountaineer runs the most luxurious trains in Western Canada and the American Southwest. They focus on daytime travel to make the most of the views. With this high-end service, you can take trips like First Passage to the West (from Vancouver to Banff/Lake Louise) and Journey Through the Clouds (from Vancouver to Jasper). These trips usually take two to three days and include overnight stays at hotels. Journeys take you to stunning natural beauty, such as coastal rainforests, canyons that look like deserts, and the majestic Canadian Rockies, with their famous peaks and building feats like the Spiral Tunnels. The specially made glass dome cars have panoramic views, and they come with gourmet food and interesting hosts who talk about history. The “no nighttime travel” rule makes sure that people can fully enjoy the views.
2. Coast Starlight, United States
The 1377-mile trip between Seattle and Los Angeles on Amtrak’s Coast Starlight is a big West Coast train adventure that usually takes about 35 hours. Many people think it’s one of the most beautiful train routes. It connects big towns on the West Coast and shows off the dramatic natural diversity of the area. The views are breathtaking, with snow-covered Cascade Range peaks, lush woods, fertile valleys, and long stretches of Pacific Ocean coastline, with the views south of Santa Barbara being the most beautiful. There are a variety of comfortable places to stay on the train, from coach seats to private Superliner roomettes and beds, some of which have sinks and showers inside the rooms. It also has an eating car and a Sightseer Lounge with a view of the whole city.
1. Venice Simplon Orient Express, Europe
The Venice Simplon Orient Express is a high-class train service that carefully recreates the glitz and style of the original Orient Express, which was famous for being the most luxurious way to travel. This famous train goes through some of Europe’s most beautiful scenery and connects famous places like London, Paris, and Venice. The classic route from London to Venice takes two days and includes a night on board. The carriages’ real polished woods, plush upholstery, and old-fashioned features take people back to the 1920s, when real luxury could be found on the tracks. When you eat on board, you’re taking a sensory journey. In the elegant restaurant cars, world-class cooks make gourmet meals with fresh, locally grown ingredients. Guests dressed in their best clothes add to the timeless elegance, making the atmosphere feel like a scene from an old movie
