Highlights
- Train travel offers front-row views of landscapes while letting you explore at a relaxed pace. Trains produce significantly lower carbon emissions, making them a more eco-friendly option than cars or flights.
- Find the best countries to explore by train and what you can see on these trains. Tips for ensuring a great rail journey.
Exploring a country by train offers an immersive, scenic, and very relaxed experience. There is no need to hurry; all amenities are onboard, and you get front-row seats to stunning views of mountains, forests, and villages, sights that are invisible from planes. Not only do you avoid long security lines at the airport or the hassle of driving across towns, but trains are a much more sustainable transportation option, as they emit far lower carbon emissions than cars and planes. Here are the best destinations across the globe you need to travel slowly by train.
Our story on some of the most lavish and plush trains in Europe is sure to intrigue you.
Countries that are best explored by trains
Switzerland
Switzerland is a great country to explore by train, enjoying dramatic landscapes including snow-laden hills, flowering hills, alpine lakes, rolling meadows, and glacial waterfalls. The Swiss train network is pretty punctual and connects major cities with remote alpine villages, which makes it easier for travellers to cover a lot of the country easily.
Here’s our story on how to best explore Switzerland by train.
Popular train routes:
- Glacier Express: It offers a scenic journey through the Swiss Alps between Zermatt and St. Moritz. It is known as the slowest express train in the world, and it travels across 291 bridges and 91 tunnels, traversing the 2,033-metre-high Oberalp Pass.
- The Bernina Express: A scenic trip that takes you from Switzerland to Italy, the Bernina Express crosses 196 bridges and passes through 55 tunnels. Onboard, you’ll get to see dramatic glaciers of Morteratsch, high alpine lakes such as Lago Bianco, and the Brusio spiral viaduct.
T+L tip
Get the Swiss Travel Pass for flexible travel. It doesn’t just offer access to the country’s train network but also to buses, trams, and museums.
Japan
Japan’s train network is extensive enough to cover some of the remotest towns and villages of the country. Safe and punctual, Japan’s train network offers comfort, efficiency, and forms a key part of the travel experience in the country. Travelling on the high-speed Shinkansen (bullet train) is a must-have experience. Travellers will be able to check out scenic coastlines, snowy landscapes, and rural villages.
Popular routes:
- The Tokaido Shinkansen: This train, which travels from Tokyo to Osaka, offers iconic Mt. Fuji views.
- The Sagano Scenic Railway: This train route in Kyoto is a sightseeing train that takes travellers across the charming Hozu River valley in a vintage carriage.
- The Gonō Line in Aomori: The perfect route to take for those looking to enjoy views of Japan’s coastline vistas.
T+L tip
The Japan Rail Pass (JR Pass) is a cost-effective, unlimited travel pass for foreign tourists, valid on most JR trains (including Shinkansen), buses, and ferries.
Also read | What’s Cool in Naha—Why the Okinawan Capital Should Be on Your Radar
Italy
Italy is a country well-suited to exploring by train, thanks to its fast and extensive rail network. High-speed trains such as Italo and Trenitalia ensure that regional travel sometimes turns out to be even quicker than flying. These trains connect most major cities such as Milan, Venice, Rome, and Florence. I travelled by train from Rome to Varenna (Lake Como), and the journey left me in awe of the Italian countryside. Houses and trees covered in snow, schoolkids walking along the train lines, and steam rising from far-off villages made it seem like I was walking into a Harry Potter fever dream.
Before you go, learn more about Italy’s deepest lake, Lake Como.
T+L tip
The Eurail Italy One Country Pass is a great way to travel the country without having to buy additional tickets.
Popular routes:
- The Cinque Terre Express: The train sets off from La Spezia to Levanto, and takes passengers across five UNESCO-listed towns and the rugged Mediterranean coast.
- The Circumetnea route: The train travels from Catania to the coastal town of Riposto. The train encircles Mount Etna, one of the world’s tallest active volcanoes.
Scotland
There is no better way to explore the country’s dramatic landscapes than rail travel. Train journeys across Scotland will bring you face-to-face with the iconic Highlands and rugged coastlines. Travellers will also be able to check out remote areas still unscarred by road networks. There are a host of breathtaking scenic routes to choose from, and even city-to-city travel becomes a quiet study in natural beauty.
Check out our take on a 10-day Scotland itinerary.
Popular routes:
- The West Highland Line: The route moves from Glasgow to Mallaig and traverses the famed Glenfinnan Viaduct (from the Harry Potter movies), the vast Rannoch Moor (accessible only by train), and the stunning Loch Lomond.
- The Far North Line: The perfect route for those chasing castles and historic ruins. The train runs from Inverness to Wick and Thurso, and crosses places such as the Dunrobin Castle, Skibo Castle, the famous Glenmorangie Distillery, and a couple of salmon fishing rivers.
South Africa
Travelling across South Africa on a train will bring you closer to the gorgeous country and its diverse landscapes, including the rugged mountains, rolling vineyards, and uber-high waterfalls. Some of these trains are not just meant for completing journeys from one destination to another. Instead, you can enjoy a host of off-train adventures, such as wildlife safaris and diamond mine tours, to explore the country better. There is no separate, country-wide train pass in South Africa, so you will have to book your trips through third parties or the train operators themselves.
Popular routes:
- Rovos Rail: Often referred to as one of the most luxurious train rides in the world, Rovos Rail operates several routes with their vintage, wood-panelled carriages. Expect luxury suites, separate observation rooms, gourmet meals, and more.
- The Blue Train: Travelling from Pretoria to Cape Town, the Blue Train is sometimes considered a luxury hotel on wheels. You can check out a multitude of panoramic views of the South African landscape.
Vietnam
Exploring Vietnam by train offers travellers the chance to dive deep into an immersive cultural experience. Not only do you get intimate views of diverse landscapes, from coastal roads to lush rice fields, but you also get a closer look at rural life. I travelled from Hanoi to Sa Pa and back, and then from Nha Trang to Ho Chi Minh via train in 2025, and I can confidently say that it was one of the best train rides of my life.
I travelled with my spouse and 5-year-old daughter and had booked a private 4-seater coach for all the journeys. The carriages and amenities were well-maintained, there was a wake-up service for the early morning drops, and a compact pantry car that brought out the ordered food to you. We got to see a whole new side to the bustling country, from coconut groves and paddy fields to rural houses lighting up in the wee hours of the morning to start the day. It’s an experience I would love to repeat.
Here’s a quick peek at all the activities I enjoyed with my family in Vietnam.
Popular routes:
- Da Lat to Trai Mat line: This tourist route offers daytime, sunset, and night journeys with live music, snacks, and more, all aboard vintage carriages. The journey is short, no more than an hour long.
- Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City (Reunification Express): The longest route in the country, the Reunification Express takes passengers across several cities, including Hue, Da Nang, and Nha Trang.
Canada
Seeing the Rocky Mountains from a train carriage is sure to be an experience in itself when exploring Canada by train. Expect to ride across enormous prairies, pristine wilderness that is still inaccessible by road, and undulating coastal landscapes. You can ride alongside rivers and seashores, catch dramatic mountain scenery and rugged forested lands, and might even spot an elk or two on your journey.
Popular routes:
- The Rocky Mountaineer: The Rocky Mountaineer operates from April to October and is famed for offering stunning vistas of the Rockies. Expect double-decker coaches, viewing platforms, glass-domed carriages, gourmet meals, and even an overnight hotel stay instead of sleeping on the train.
- The Canadian (operated by VIA Rail): Operating between Toronto and Vancouver, this train route takes you across the Rocky Mountains, lush forests, the stark and rugged Canadian Shield, and never-ending prairies teeming with flora and fauna.
Also read | Toronto Vs Vancouver: The Ultimate Canadian City Showdown
Did you know?
The Canadian Shield is a massive, U-shaped geological region covering roughly half of Canada. It was shaped naturally over billions of years.
Train travel tips
- Tickets for popular routes can sell out fast, so make sure you book yours in advance.
- Carry hand sanitiser, wet wipes, and disinfectant tissues.
- Bring a power pack for your devices, a travel pillow, and other accessories for a comfortable journey.
- Pack some snacks for the journey, but remember not to litter.
- Bring along some books and download movies and music for what can be an internet-free ride.
- Use apps to track the train and confirm the platform number so that you don’t end up rushing at the last minute.
- For easy movement within the train, wear slip-on shoes and comfortable apparel.
- If you have booked a cabin for overnight travel, why not get a change of clothes to wear when lounging about in the cabin?
- Consider train travel passes for special offers.
- Try to get to the station 20 minutes early so that finding the platform, the train, and your seats is not done in a hurry.
- Trains do get delayed, although it is not very common. Do leave buffer time between your train rides and your next appointment.
- If you plan to sleep, set an alarm for when you expect to arrive at your destination station.
(Feature image credit: 96tommy, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons)
Related | This Vintage Train Is One Of The Best Ways To See Fall Foliage In The US
Note:
The information in this article is accurate as of the date of publication.
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FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)
Several countries can take the credit for having some of the best train systems in the world, including Japan, Canada, and Switzerland.
The Rocky Mountaineer in Canada, Switzerland’s Glacier Express, and The Tokaido Shinkansen in Japan are a few of the most scenic train journeys worldwide.
Depending upon your origin and destination, as well as on what class of travel you choose, train travel could be cheaper or even more expensive than flying.
Rovos Rail, The Blue Train, The Maharajah Express, and The Rocky Mountaineer are a few of the most luxurious train journeys in the world.
Find trains that cross into the countries that you want to visit and try to book them directly with the operators.
Japan has some of the world’s fastest trains.
Yes, you can travel across most of Europe entirely by train.
Pack a change of clothes, a power bank, your favourite travel accessories, and a couple of books if you like reading. Or you can download movies and music to pass the time.
Yes, train travel is much more eco-friendly as compared to flights, since the carbon emissions from trains is much lower than that of aircraft.
Train schedules are pretty reliable in most countries, although it is advisable to download related apps to keep track of the train timings and platform numbers that it might be arriving at or leaving from.
Yes, you do need to make reservations for international train travel.
Written By
Esha Dasgupta
Senior Digital Writer – Growth, Travel
Esha is a traveller at heart, with a penchant for exploring the unchartered. She has previously worked ..Read More
