From sweeping fjords to majestic mountains: European train routes with the most unforgettable views
Train journeys have long been the eco-friendly alternative to carbon-spewing plane flights. But far from being the boring cousin of the travel world, trains are enjoyable in their own right - efficient and affordable, with the journey as much part of the experience as the destination.
And with the launch of a single European booking system for train tickets on the horizon in the next couple of years, the rail resurgence will truly take hold.
You can book many of these journeys with train travel company Byway which is celebrating 2025 marking the 200th anniversary of modern rail travel.
Take a look through the train window at some of the most spectacular views and journeys across Europe.
For the perfect Instagram shot, take the Le Petit Train Jaune in France
Running along the 63km between Villefranche-de-Conflent and Latour-de-Carol in the Catalan region, France’s Le Petit Train Jaune - the little yellow train - offers a Wes Anderson slice of whimsy.
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Along its beautifully scenic route, which dates back to the 1900s, the bright yellow train climbs to Bolquère, the highest station in the country. The journey offers viewpoints from both a viaduct and a bridge that crosses an 80m-high precipice.
For a magical experience, hop aboard the West Highland Line in Scotland
Also known as ‘the Harry Potter train’, owing to the Hogwarts Express being modelled on the vast Glenfinnan Viaduct in Inverness-shire. The Victorian concrete structure was built for £18,000 in old money and now attracts thousands of muggle visitors a year.
The West Highland Line links Glasgow to Mallaig in the Scottish Highlands, gateway to the Isle of Skye. With views of lochs, mountains and wildlife such as red deer, the route frequently makes it onto ‘most scenic travel’ lists.
For the steepest ascents, all a-fjord Norway’s Bergensbanen
The Bergen Line is Scandinavia's highest railway, connecting Norway’s two largest cities, Oslo and Bergen. The six- to seven-hour journey will take you up to the remote Hardangervidda plateau, offering views at over 1,200 metres.
Built between 1875 and 1909, the line involves more than 180 tunnels carved out of the country’s impenetrable-looking gneiss rock. But it’s not all tunnels - visitors love the Bergen Line for its spectacular views of fjords and waterfalls, and the remote stations reachable only by train.
It also gives you access to the Flåm railway, one of the steepest railway lines in the world.
For the ideal day trip, take the ‘road to nowhere’ of Portugal’s Douro Line
Winding alongside the Douro River for more than 160km from Porto in the west to Pocinho in the east, Portugal’s Douro Line is a favourite for those who like to meander.
This one is definitely all about the journey, not the destination (just don’t be disheartened by the first hour of nondescript towns - things pick up once you reach the river).
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The route winds through the heart of wine country, offering plenty of opportunities to stop off at vineyards and traditional ‘quintas’, or wine estates. Taking three hours and twenty minutes one-way, it’s the perfect itinerary for a day trip.
For picture postcard stations, choose England’s historic Settle to Carlisle line
This 117km route in the north of England gives you a lot of bang for your buck: taking in both the Yorkshire Dales and the North Pennines, going almost all the way up to the Scottish border.
The remote, rural route is a gateway to England’s tiny towns and villages, while the railway itself crosses multiple viaducts - including the historic Ribblehead.
Walkers and ramblers may want to stop off at many of the tiny, historic stations along the way - many have been restored to look as they would have done in the golden age of rail travel.
For jaw-dropping views of the Alps, take a trip on the Semmering Line, Austria
Often called the world's first true mountain railway, Austria’s Semmering Line was also the first railway to make it onto UNESCO’s World Heritage List. Famed for its marvels of 19th-century engineering, the route navigates treacherous Alpine terrain with loops, tunnels and viaducts.
Encompassing 16 viaducts, 15 tunnels and 100 bridges on the mere 42 km journey between Gloggnitz and Murzzuschlag, it’s the slow travel alternative to a rollercoaster.
For the highest heights, head to Switzerland’s record-breaking Bernina Line
Switzerland’s Bernina Line, another UNESCO number, isn’t far behind in beauty: the Alpine route features one of the highest tracks in Europe and the steepest in the world.
You won’t want to snooze on the journey. The Bernina Express takes in nearly 200 bridges, Switzerland’s oldest town, natural phenomena such as gorges, manmade structures such as viaducts, icy glaciers and palm trees in the Italian town of Tirano.
For €5 train tickets, it has to be the Cinque Terre Line in the Italian Riviera
Strung like fairy lights along the Italian Riviera coastline known as Cinque Terre are five pretty towns: Monterosso, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola and Riomaggiore.
Linking these scenic destinations is the Cinque Terre Line, running from La Spezia Centrale to Stazione Ferroviaria di Levanto. It’s the perfect hop-on, hop-off journey to take in swimming spots and small plates.
For a city-to-seaside combination, it has to be Serbia and Montenegro’s Belgrade to Bar
Starting out in the Serbian capital of Belgrade, the 1970s-built line winds up on the Adriatic coast in Bar, Montenegro - passing through Bosnia-Herzegovina en route.
Along the way, the 11-hour journey, rated one of the Top 10 in Europe by CNN, takes passengers through Montenegro’s Black Mountains, with monasteries almost impossibly balanced in the summits; national parks, lakes, brutalist architecture and rambling streets of Bar’s old town.
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If you and your travelling companions can’t decide on a view, with something for everyone, this is the route to pick.
For pure nostalgia, enjoy the Bohinj Railway from Slovenia to Italy
Another 1900s wonder, the beautiful Bohinj Railway connects Jesenice in Slovenia with Trieste in Italy. Along the way, passengers will pass through a 6,327-metre tunnel beneath Mount Kobla and pass over the Solkan Bridge - the longest stone railway arch in the world.
On the waiting list to be a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Bohinj traverses Slovenia’s ‘Garden of Eden’ landscape of Nova Gorica. You might want to stop at Lake Bled for the region’s famed cream pastries or stay onboard to take in views of Vintgar Gorve.
