The top 5 most scenic train rides with the best views
Train travel is unique because it’s both the adventure and the destination. Chug through our list of the most beautiful railways you can ride on tour.
There’s no travel like train travel. While cars and planes can get you from point A to point B, trains are an integral part of any trip. You can sit back and watch the landscape go by as experts tell you about the history of the route, the wildlife to look for, and the feats of engineering that went into every tunnel and bridge you come across. On our guided tours, you’ll get panoramic views of stunning expanses in the American Southwest, dramatic mountain passes in the Alps, and the glistening lakes of the Pacific Northwest—without any of the planning. Ready to board? Here are the five most scenic train vacations you can take with us, the routes they follow, and the storied trains that you’ll get to settle into on tour.
A Week in Switzerland by Train: St. Moritz, Zermatt & Interlaken
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This new Europe train tour is a curated week of rail‑forward exploration across Switzerland’s most photogenic regions. It features a multi‑rail journey through dramatic Alpine corridors, where you’ll cruise through glacier valleys, across viaducts and high‑altitude passes, admiring iconic mountain towns like St. Moritz and Bern as you go. Peer out the panoramic windows of the Glacier Express to see the Landwasser Viaduct’s sweeping curve and Matterhorn views.
The Rhaetian Railway & Albula Line
The Albula Line, owned and operated by the Rhaetian Railway, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site that runs about 80 miles. While the entire route is stunning, the Landwasser Viaduct is the legendary route’s undisputed showstopper. Completed in 1902, the viaduct is a curved, six-arch stone bridge soaring 213 feet above the gorge below, which vanishes—almost impossibly—straight into the mouth of a tunnel carved into the cliff face.
Regional Train
Traveling the UNESCO World Heritage Albula Line, this train climbs through the lush Domleschg valley and into the heart of the Albula Alps as the scenery builds with every mile. What makes the Regional Train special? Unlike many others in the Alps, it operates not by cogwheel or any other external mechanisms but by adhesion rails, which means it uses the frictional grip between smooth steel driving wheels and rails to climb these astounding heights.
The Lotschberg Panorama Railway
This historic train route through the Alps connects Bern and the Bernese Oberland. Watch for the legendary trio of mountains—Jungfrau, Monch, and Eiger—as they rise into view, making up a wall of ice and rock that seems almost too dramatic to be real. As your train trip approaches its destination, you’ll descend through the Kander Valley and watch the landscape soften. Arrive at Spiez on the shore of Lake Thun and take in the postcard-perfect scene of the turreted Spiez Castle, its vineyard terraces tumbling down to the glittering water below.
The Glacier Express
Cruise from St. Moritz to Brig aboard the Glacier Express via the Albula Line. The route runs 181 miles through verdant valleys, over rocky ravines, and among the sky-scraping peaks of the Swiss Alps—and thanks to the train’s famous seat-to-ceiling windows, you won’t miss a single jaw-dropping moment.
Pacific Northwest by Train: Portland, Seattle & Vancouver
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This new scenic train tour takes you on a coast‑to‑mountain rail line linking Portland, Seattle, and Vancouver through evergreen forests, the Puget Sound shoreline, and Cascade Range peaks. Get ready to look for stunning water views, dramatic bridges, and moody Pacific Northwest landscapes on this relaxed, cross-border North American itinerary that’s perfect for fall foliage and year‑round photography.
Amtrak Cascades
Board the Amtrak Cascades train at Portland Union Station and settle in next to the train’s large, panoramic windows as the Pacific Northwest unfolds before you. The route traces the mighty Columbia River north into Washington State, rolling through Centralia and Olympia before hugging the southern shores of Puget Sound, where the snow-dusted peaks of the Olympic Mountains shimmer across the water on a clear day. Grab a bite from the cafe car (which features local specialties) as the miles roll by on your way to Seattle.
Canadian Rockies by Train: Banff, Lake Louise & Vancouver
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Looking for a luxurious way to experience Canada’s national parks by train? Look no further than this Canadian Rockies Train Tour! Turquoise lakes, towering peaks, wildlife corridors, and glacier‑fed rivers are just the start. You’ll see Banff, Lake Louise, spiral tunnels, and dramatic canyon passes through the glass‑domed train car of the storied Rocky Mountaineer.
The Rocky Mountaineer
The Rocky Mountaineer is a refurbished vintage train, famous for its glass-domed ceilings, which give a true panoramic viewing experience. Board in Banff and cruise through the untamed beauty of the Rockies to the city of Kamloops in British Columbia. You’ll traverse some of Canada’s wildest scenery as you go, never missing a moment through the coach’s enormous windows. Admire glacial lakes, towering mountains, and raging rivers on your daylong journey, with the train’s gentle sway as your companion. Listen as the Rocky Mountaineer’s hosts regale you with stories about the natural wonders that surround you.
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Alps by Train: Germany, Austria, Switzerland & Italy
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Join us on a cross‑Alps Europe Train Tour spanning four countries. You’ll chug through Alpine gorges, high‑altitude tunnels, and around lakeside curves, enjoying the dramatic mountain pass views as you go. Look for Bavarian peaks, Austrian valleys, Swiss engineering marvels, and Italian hillside villages. In short, this new multi‑country itinerary is built around Europe’s most photogenic rail lines—so get your cameras ready!
The Mittenwaldbahn
Named for the Mittenwald Railway it rides, the Mittenwaldbahn is unique in that it was built as a fully electric train. On this train trip from Bavaria to the Austrian state of Tyrol, you’ll climb 3,885 feet above sea level up the Northern Limestone Alps before descending into the Karwendel Nature Park—the country’s largest nature park.
The OBB Railjet
Known for its high speeds (up to 143 mph!) and efficient use of energy, the OBB Railjet is a flagship train vacation experience in that it combines luxury, speed, and even special coaches—think designated quiet areas, zones for children, and more. Aboard this train, you’ll ride the Arlberg Railway, one of the highest railways in Europe. After navigating rugged Alpine terrain and crossing through the six-mile-long Arlberg Tunnel, your conductor will open the throttle, reaching speeds of more than 140 mph as you skirt the border with Liechtenstein and pull into Zurich.
Gotthard Panorama Express
Linking Lucerne, Switzerland’s Germanic heartland, and Lugano—the Italian-speaking canton of Ticino—this scenic train route starts with a boat ride around Lake Lucerne in a restored Belle Epoque vessel. Next, settle into a panoramic train as you pass some of the country’s most famous landmarks: the Baroque Wassen Church, the UNESCO-listed Castles of Bellinzona, and the original Gotthard Tunnel.
The Centovalli Railway
As you traverse 32 miles of wild landscapes and roll over stone arch bridges, along rock-cut ledges, and through chestnut forests, you’ll see why the name of this train route translates to “hundred valleys.” You’ll cross into Italy and weave through the Valle Vigezzo—also known as the Valley of Painters because its scenery has inspired countless artists like Enrico Cavalli and Carlo Fornara.
America’s National Parks by Train: Rocky Mountains, Arches & Zion
Check out this 9-day itinerary →
Sit back and enjoy a scenic train tour through the red‑rock landscapes of the American Southwest. Think: canyon walls, desert plateaus, sandstone arches, and wide‑open sky above. You’ll see layered rock formations, dramatic color shifts, and sweeping desert panoramas as the staff tells you what to look for and how the landscape was formed by time and wind. This is the ideal tour for those looking for a national parks by train experience that pairs rail travel with iconic hikes and viewpoints.
The Canyon Spirit
Formerly the Rocky Mountaineer, the Canyon Spirit launched its first-ever U.S. route in 2021 on 20-plus miles of underutilized rail tracks linking Denver to Moab. Just like its Canadian cousin—the Rocky Mountaineer—the sightseeing train trips on the Canyon Spirit do not disappoint. You’ll wiggle through rugged peaks alongside the rushing rapids of the Colorado River as you go from Denver to Glenwood Springs. En route to Utah, you’ll encounter desert canyons and magnificent mesas—keep an eye out for bald eagles and bighorn sheep!
Why scenic train journeys are trending
Train travel offers unmatched access to sights you simply can’t get from flying or driving. Rather than circling around or soaring above stunning landscapes like the Alps, the American Southwest, and the Rocky Mountains, you get to pass through them, fully immersing yourself in nature and astounding feats of engineering. Good news for you: These five trips deliver the best views travelers can book right now—and when you choose to go guided with us, we’ll do all the planning for you. Ready to go full steam ahead?
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Thea fell in love with travel as soon as she arrived in Venice, Italy on a family trip as a child. Since then, she has made having adventures around the world a priority, with trips like retracing her grandfather’s steps through WWII, climbing glaciers in Alaska, and horseback riding in Iceland. Thea is a nomad at heart, always planning the next trip. In her off-time she is working on a novel inspired by the woman she was named after, mixing cocktails, and watching any procedural crime show she can find.
