Why train travel is the next big trend in international tourism
New research from EF Go Ahead Tours finds that North American travelers have a strong interest in train tourism, with comfort, scenic views, and unique experiences as the top motivations.
There’s a particular kind of magic that happens in the first few moments of a journey by train: The platform slides out of view; the city gives way to the countryside; and, for the next several hours (or days), the only thing on the agenda is soaking in the views outside your window. There’s a sense of anticipation, too, as you look ahead to the incredible stops and experiences waiting along the way. It’s traveling with more elegance and charm—and far less stress than navigating traffic or scrambling for a rental car. You get the pleasure of steady movement and the slow unfolding of landscapes you’d otherwise fly right over.
For a long time, the romance of train travel felt like something out of an old movie—with black-and-white footage of steam bursting skyward from a locomotive against a backdrop of Alpine peaks. But new research suggests the appeal of a train journey isn’t relegated to nostalgia. In fact, it’s fueling one of today’s biggest travel trends.
What new research reveals about interest in tourism by train
The EF Go Ahead Tours Traveler Index Vol. II, a study of nearly 900 travelers in the U.S. and Canada conducted in partnership with Qualtrics Research in May 2026, found strong interest in tourism by train. On a 0-100 scale (0 indicating no interest, 100 indicating the highest level of interest), train tourism—in which the train journey itself is a central part of the experience and not merely a means of transport—scored an average of 73.06.
It’s a clear signal that the perception of train travel has shifted. Before, it was viewed as a bucket list experience, or even a utilitarian way to reach a favorite destination. Now, it’s a mainstream travel method with broad appeal for a variety of reasons.
Why are travelers interested in train travel?
When travelers were asked why train tourism appealed to them, three answers rose to the top.
Comfort is the leading appeal of train travel
Comfort came first, cited by 66% of respondents. Think: comfortable seating, sleeping cabins on overnight trains, and what researchers described as a cruise-like benefit—unpacking just once and enjoying cultural experiences, historic sites, and landscapes in a variety of destinations without living out of a suitcase in a different hotel every night or repacking the car every couple of days.
Scenic views make the journey part of the experience
Scenic views followed closely behind at 64%. Travelers pointed out something roads and runways can’t replicate: A train window offers an uninterrupted, ground-level view of a country’s landscapes, from vineyard-filled valleys to mountain passes.
Rail routes offer unique experiences
Uniqueness rounded out the top three at 63%. Travelers who cited uniqueness recognized that trains reach places cars, buses, and planes can’t. Certain valleys, historic routes, and village stations are only accessible by rail—and that exclusivity is part of the draw.
Convenience and sustainability are also factors
Convenience came in at 49%. Those respondents cited the ease of moving between cities without having to juggle flight connections or bus transfers.
Sustainability was a motivator for 29% of respondents. This group pointed to rail’s lower carbon footprint as a genuine factor in their interest, not an afterthought.
Taken together, these findings show that travelers are drawn to train journeys for comfort, scenery, unique experiences, and convenient connections between destinations—suggesting that, for many, how they reach their destination matters nearly as much as where they’re going.
How EF Go Ahead Tours is responding to traveler interest in train travel
To meet the booming interest in train travel, EF Go Ahead Tours has expanded its portfolio of Train Tours with seven brand-new itineraries. Launching in September 2026 with first departures scheduled for June and July of 2027, the collection ranges from leisurely—and wildly scenic—sweeps through Switzerland to multi-city adventures that connect timeless European destinations by high-speed rail.
Grand Train Tour of Europe: London to Venice—14 days
Running from London to Paris, Lausanne, Milan, and Venice, this itinerary follows sections of the same rail corridor traveled by the storied Orent Express. Along the way, Belle Epoque-inspired sightseeing tours and cultural experiences bring to life the comfort, glamour, and romance that made this legendary route—and the golden age of train travel—so enduringly iconic.
Alps by Train: Germany, Austria, Switzerland & Italy—12 days
The marquee tour of the launch features journeys along a handful of scenic routes—five to be exact. Highlights include the Vigezzina-Centovalli Railway that connects Switzerland and Italy and the Gotthard Panorama Express, which pairs a crossing of Lake Lucerne aboard a vintage paddle steamer with a panoramic train ride through the heart of the Alps.
Swiss & French Alps by Train: Lucerne to Chamonix—10 days
This shorter Alpine itinerary combines rides aboard the GoldenPass Express, the staggeringly beautiful route that links Interlaken and Montreux; the Mont-Blanc Express that connects Switzerland and France via one of Europe’s most scenic train journeys; and the Montenvers Railway, which has made the steep climb from Chamonix to the Mer de Glace glacier since 1908.
A Week in Switzerland by Train: St. Moritz, Zermatt & Interlaken—9 days
Built for travelers with time constraints who still want to experience Switzerland’s famous rail routes, this tour includes a trip down the UNESCO-listed Rhaetian Railway, as well as a ride aboard the Glacier Express—a panoramic train, billed as the “world’s slowest express,” that crosses 291 bridges and runs through 91 tunnels.
A Week in Italy by Train: Venice, Florence & Rome—9 days
This tour uses Italy’s rail network to help travelers experience three of the country’s best-loved cities—canal-crossed Venice, Renaissance Florence, and the Eternal City of Rome. And thanks to Italy’s flagship high-speed rail service, that itinerary is possible with just more than three-and-a-half hours of total train time over the course of nine days.
Imperial Cities by Train: Berlin, Prague & Vienna—10 days
Linking three former imperial capitals—Berlin, Prague, and Vienna—via EuroCity and Railjet service, this itinerary gives travelers a taste of local life in each, courtesy of guided sightseeing tours and optional excursions. What’s more: Travelers can visit a fourth city by signing up for the extension to Budapest.
Pacific Northwest by Train: Portland, Seattle & Vancouver—8 days
For those who want to enjoy the epic landscapes and cities of the United States and Canada, this Train Tour delivers. The newly renovated Amtrak Cascades will take travelers from Portland to Seattle and Vancouver, passing Mount St. Helens, the San Juan Islands, and other mesmerizing sights along the way. (We even offer an optional day trip to Mount Rainier.)
What the research reveals about the appeal of train travel
The research points to a clear set of motivations for train travel: comfort, scenery, unique experiences, and convenience. For these travelers, a slower journey is a feature rather than a compromise—a chance to watch a country roll by their windows and drink in every moment.
Whether retracing the historic route of the Orient Express through the Alps or riding a coastal Amtrak line from Portland to Vancouver, Train Tours offer travelers a way to combine the practical benefits of getting from place to place with the experience of the journey itself.
