The dream railway holidays to add to your 2024 bucket list
Nothing beats a train holiday in Europe, the UK or even further for outstanding views, an air of nostalgia and an utterly delightful (and typically more sustainable) way to travel.
BEST TRAIN HOLIDAYS IN EUROPE AND THE WORLD
A European rail escape can be as laid-back or adventurous as you like – not forgetting that train holidays in Europe are perfect for romantic breaks. You can sit back together and watch as the ever-changing scenery passes by, travelling through tunnels, over historic bridges, impressive viaducts, and past shimmering blue lakes.
What makes European train holidays so special is that getting there is part of the experience. Consider it a trip about the journey, not just the destination. Take the train to over breathtaking viaducts in the Scottish Highlands on a train that starred in the Harry Potter films, or enjoy the best of Switzerland's Alps after you've taken a leisurely journey there by train.
You don't need to travel overseas to enjoy a wonderful railway holiday, if you prefer to stay close to home. Heritage railways criss-cross the Yorkshire Dales, and the Jacobite, a glorious steam train, chugs through Scottish scenery.
Here are the European train holidays on our radar for 2024...
Glide from Italy to Switzerland on the Bernina Express
For Alpine scenery straight out of a postcard, look no further than a UNESCO-listed train holiday in Europe on board the Bernina Express. It takes you through some of the continent's most wonderful landscapes, departing from Tirano and travelling up to St Moritz for a fascinating train ride.
Highlights include rolling over the UNESCO-protected Landwasser Viaduct and the Montebello Curve, which offers a view of the Bernina massif, the Morteratsch glacier and the three lakes of Pitschen, Nair and Bianco.
The highest point on the railway journey is 2,253 metres above sea level, where you will find the Ospizio Bernina, a station that lies on the shores of the Lago di Bianco.
Prima has a special eight-day train holiday which includes a stay in pretty Colico, a stunning city on the shore of Lake Como, and a day trip to elegant St Moritz on the Bernina Railway.
Ride the Jacobite through the Scottish Highlands like Harry Potter
You don't have to be a wizard to experience the magic of the Scottish Highlands like Harry and his friends. This stunning part of Britain is not only more beautiful in real life, but it's right on our doorstep and you can experience it up close on one of the best train holidays Europe has to offer travellers.
Taking you from Fort William to Mallaig, the Jacobite steam train has been described as the greatest railway journey in the world. Its lucky riders enjoy an 84-mile round trip which starts in the Highlands' largest town Fort William, passes close to the deepest freshwater loch in Britain Loch Morar and crosses the 21-arch Glenfinnan Viaduct (just like the Hogwarts Express).
Being in the Scottish Highlands affords you ample opportunity to explore the region, with picturesque Oban, canal-side Corpach, the legendary Loch Ness and quaint Fort Augustus worth ticking off your list.
Prima has an exclusive four-day tip where you'll hop aboard The Jacobite to puff past rugged scenery, craggy coastlines and inland lochs. You'll be joined by TV's Kirsty Wark, who'll give an exclusive talk and Q&A.
Take a magical ride on the Glacier Express
Few winter trips are as unforgettable as Switzerland's Glacier Express, which is like riding through a winter wonderland as you pass snowy peaks, dramatic ravines and pretty villages.
You can board the iconic red train at Chur, enjoying panoramic views from the large windows and soaking up fantastical landscapes. After inching your way up into the Oberalp Pass, the highest point of the route at 2,033 metres, you'll then descend to the Rhône Valley and stop at Brig.
During the journey, you're served a three-course lunch and can take in the journey at a relaxed relaxing speed – after all, this is the slowest express train in the world.
Prima's once-in-a-lifetime ride on the Glacier Express is part of a five-day holiday in Switzerland. You'll glide past majestic peaks, dramatic ravines and beautiful villages and visit Bern, Lucerne and Interlaken.
Roll through Norfolk's countryside by steam train
Home to royal attractions, beautiful wildlife and varied natural scenes - from beaches to broads - Norfolk is a must-see destination, and you won't find a better way to explore it than on one of the UK's best train holidays.
The Bittern Line, Poppy Line, and Bure Valley Railway offer a relaxing way to take in the county as you visit villages like Wroxham and Horning, browse the Sandringham Estate in the company of historian Lucy Worsley and stop for a cruise through the Norfolk Broads.
Prima is offering a five-day Norfolk holiday with trips on the Bure Valley Railway, the Bittern Line and the North Norfolk Railway and an exclusive tour of Sandringham with historian Lucy Worsley.
Ride Yorkshire's beautiful heritage railways
Closer to home, ride the heritage railways of Yorkshire, boarding classic steam trains to explore miles of splendid scenery, then disembarking for bracing walks across the area's magnificent moors.
You can sit back in Edwardian and Victorian carriages as a vintage steam locomotive pulls you through the scenery between Skipton and Ilkley on the award-winning Embsay and Bolton Abbey Railway and ride the Keighly and Worth Valley Railway to stop at the little station at Damens, used as the charming Oakworth station in The Railway Children.
Our five-day holiday in Yorkshire includes three wonderful railway journeys from a lovely base at the Rendezvous Hotel in Skipton, which serves as the gateway to the Yorkshire Dales.
Get to know the best bits of Yorkshire on a five-day adventure with Prima on a railway and walking holiday. You'll visit the home of the Brontë sisters, ride on classic steam trains, and traverse the Pennine Bridleway on foot.
Travel further with a ride on Canada's Rocky Mountaineer
As much as we love a good European rail journey, there are of course plenty of wonderful options outside of the continent. If you're itching for a long-haul holiday and would like to take in new terrains by rail, then Canada's Rocky Mountaineer should be high on your list.
Travelling this historic line is considered one of the world's greatest train experiences, offering the perfect way to see the best of Canada's majestic Rocky Mountains, with their diverse wildlife, towering peaks, and bright blue glacial lakes.
The route has been in operation for over a century, but the train is the height of modernity, with oversized glass dome windows, a large outdoor viewing platform and a bi-level glass dome carriage. From these sleek carriages you can take in dazzling destinations including Lake Louise, Jasper, Whistler, Denver and Calgary, with several different routes available.
Join Prima's magical tour of Canada and Alaska and you'll enjoy two full days on the Rocky Mountaineer from Banff to Vancouver, with two breakfasts and two lunches on board.
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