These ten beautiful train rides span five continents and pair big-screen scenery with easy routes, smart seats, and photo-friendly stops.
Chasing scenery by rail beats bus windows and rushed road trips. You sit back, sip something warm, and watch mountains, fjords, and deserts glide past. This guide picks ten routes that reward a window seat with nonstop views and smooth logistics. Each pick includes why it shines, the best side to sit, timing tips, and booking notes. Maps and links appear below for clarity too.
Most Beautiful Train Rides Worldwide: How We Chose
Selection rests on four things: scenic density per hour, seasonal reliability, seat experience, and access to short stops or easy connections. Official route info and national operators shaped the details, and links appear where useful.
Routes At A Glance
| Route | Signature Views | What To Expect |
|---|---|---|
| Glacier Express (Zermatt–St. Moritz), Switzerland | Alpine peaks, Rhine Gorge, Oberalp Pass | About 8 hours; panoramic windows; 91 tunnels and 291 bridges |
| Bernina Express (Chur/St. Moritz–Tirano), Switzerland & Italy | Albula/Bernina UNESCO section, Brusio spiral | 4 hours; year-round; dramatic gradients |
| West Highland Line (Glasgow–Mallaig), Scotland | Lochs, moorland, Glenfinnan Viaduct | 5–6 hours; split branches to Oban/Mallaig |
| TranzAlpine (Christchurch–Greymouth), New Zealand | Canterbury Plains, Waimakariri Gorge, Southern Alps | About 5 hours; open-air viewing car |
| Bergen Line & Flåm Railway, Norway | Hardangervidda plateau, Aurlandsfjord descent | 6.5 hours Oslo–Myrdal; 1 hour Myrdal–Flåm |
| Rocky Mountaineer, Canada | Fraser Canyon, Canadian Rockies | 2 days; daylight-only; glass-dome cars |
| Denali Star, Alaska, USA | Mt. Denali views, Talkeetna, river valleys | 12 hours Anchorage–Fairbanks; summer season |
| The Ghan (Adelaide–Darwin), Australia | Red Centre, Katherine Gorge, Top End | 3–4 days with off-train tours |
| Andean Explorer (Cusco–Puno–Arequipa), Peru | Altiplano, Lake Titicaca, high passes | 1–2 nights; sleeper luxury |
| California Zephyr (Chicago–Emeryville), USA | Rockies, Sierra Nevada, canyons | About 52 hours; Superliner sightseeing lounge |
Glacier Express, Switzerland
Why It Stands Out
High peaks, a river canyon locals dub the Swiss Grand Canyon, and the high point at Oberalp make this alpine chain a crowd-pleaser. The pace is unhurried, giving time to take in viaducts and valleys.
Best Seats And Season
Book early for panoramic cars. On sunlit days a seat away from direct glare helps; bring a lens cloth for reflections. Winter brings powder scenes; spring reveals slate-blue rivers.
Trip Basics
Runs year-round between Zermatt and St. Moritz. Meals at your seat keep time free for the view. Reserve seats with the operator.
Bernina Express, Switzerland To Italy
Why It Stands Out
This cross-border run climbs past glaciers, loops down the Brusio spiral, and passes through the Albula and Bernina corridors, a feat honored on the UNESCO list.
Best Seats And Season
Midday light shows glacier texture. Sit on the right leaving St. Moritz or left leaving Tirano to line up the best arcs and lagoons.
Trip Basics
Direct service links St. Moritz or Chur with Tirano. Regional trains connect onward to Milan the same day. Seats in standard regional cars can be combined with stopovers at Ospizio Bernina or Alp Grüm on clear days.
West Highland Line, Scotland
Why It Stands Out
Moors, lochs, and sea views deliver new scenes every few minutes. The sweep over Glenfinnan Viaduct feels cinematic even if you skip the themed steam run.
Best Seats And Season
From Glasgow toward Mallaig, sit on the left for loch views; swap sides after Fort William for coastal stretches. Summer evenings glow; winter brings frosty drama.
Trip Basics
Multiple daily services; branch options to Oban or Mallaig. Advance fares are friendly, and seat reservations help secure the view. Trains link with ferries to the Small Isles, so you can stitch rail and sea into one coastal day.
TranzAlpine, New Zealand
Why It Stands Out
A coast-to-coast crossing through river gorges, tussock plains, and the Southern Alps. An open-air car lets you shoot without window glare.
Best Seats And Season
Weather shifts fast on the pass. Shoulder months bring crisp air and fewer crowds. Sit on the left leaving Christchurch for the Waimakariri Gorge.
Trip Basics
Five hours one way between Christchurch and Greymouth. Coach links make it easy to loop back via the West Coast. Greymouth cafes sit a short stroll from the station, handy for a relaxed lunch before your return leg.
Bergen Line And Flåm Railway, Norway
Why It Stands Out
Across the Hardangervidda plateau, then a steep branch drops from Myrdal to a fjord arm. The contrast—high tundra to gleaming water—packs a lot into a day.
Best Seats And Season
On the plateau any seat works; near Myrdal, sit on the right for lakes and old stonework. On the Flåm branch, sit left heading down toward the fjord.
Trip Basics
Oslo–Bergen takes about 6.5 hours. The branch to Flåm adds an hour each way with easy timed connections. Myrdal transfers are cross-platform in many timetables, so the swap feels easy even with luggage.
Rocky Mountaineer, Canada
Why It Stands Out
Daylight-only legs preserve every canyon and glacier view. Glass-dome cars and open vestibules make it a photographer’s train.
Best Seats And Season
On Rainforest to Gold Rush and First Passage to the West, seats are assigned by car. Ask staff for short vestibule time near canyons and bridges.
Trip Basics
Two days with an overnight in a hotel at the midpoint. Several route options link Vancouver with the Rockies.
Denali Star, Alaska
Why It Stands Out
Wide river valleys, a famous peak on clear days, and a laid-back vibe. Long summer light turns the ride into an all-day show.
Best Seats And Season
Sit on the left leaving Anchorage for mountain angles. Clouds move fast, so keep an eye on gaps for peak sightings.
Trip Basics
Seasonal daily departures between Anchorage and Fairbanks with stops at Talkeetna and the national park. Tour companies meet the train at the park, making it simple to pair rail seats with a shuttle into the valley.
The Ghan, Australia
Why It Stands Out
From red desert to tropical gorge country, this long run shows a whole continent’s spine. Off-train tours add slot canyons and river cruises.
Best Seats And Season
Cabin classes vary; sleep facing the window if you can. Shoulder season avoids peak heat while keeping clear skies.
Trip Basics
Three to four days between Adelaide and Darwin. Packages include meals and guided outings. Off-train choices include a gorge cruise at Katherine and outback walks with guides who know the tracks.
Andean Explorer, Peru
Why It Stands Out
High-altitude plains glow at dawn, with alpacas outside and a lounge car inside. Lake views and big skies steal the show.
Best Seats And Season
Clear nights bring starry corridors. Bring layers; cabins are snug but platforms are brisk at altitude.
Trip Basics
One- or two-night itineraries connect Cusco, Lake Titicaca, and Arequipa on a sleeper with dining and spa spaces. Meals spotlight high-Andes produce, and oxygen is available on board for comfort at altitude.
California Zephyr, United States
Why It Stands Out
A trans-continental classic that threads canyons, the Rockies, and the Sierra Nevada. The sightseer lounge is a free-form postcard.
Best Seats And Season
Leaving Denver, sit on the right to face the Colorado River; crossing Nevada, swap sides when the sun shifts.
Trip Basics
About two nights between Chicago and the Bay Area with sleeper and coach choices. Connections link to San Francisco via bus from Emeryville.
Planning Tips For Scenic Rail Trips
Pick daylight spans and shoulder months to catch stable weather and softer light. When a route crosses protected terrain, check official advisories and booking rules before you commit. For alpine heritage lines, the UNESCO Albula–Bernina listing explains why the engineering and landscapes are special. For a long North American run, Amtrak’s California Zephyr page outlines stops and timing so you can plan daylight through the mountains.
Best Seats And Booking Windows
| Train | Seat/Side | Booking Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Glacier Express | Panoramic cars; avoid strong glare side in midsummer | Book seats months ahead for peak dates |
| Bernina Express | Right from St. Moritz; left from Tirano | Reserve windows; regional back-up exists |
| West Highland Line | Left from Glasgow; switch after Fort William | Advance fares on ScotRail sell fast |
| TranzAlpine | Left from Christchurch for the gorge | Reserve early in summer; open-air car is shared |
| Bergen + Flåm | Any on plateau; left toward the fjord | Vy and Flåm tickets open early; sync connections |
| Rocky Mountaineer | Dome cars; ask for vestibule time | Book seasons ahead for domes |
| Denali Star | Left from Anchorage | Summer dates fill up by spring |
| The Ghan | Window-facing bed if possible | Secure months ahead; packages have tiers |
| Andean Explorer | Any lounge window; platforms are breezy | Altitude prep; limited cabins |
| California Zephyr | Right from Denver; swap later | Choose a roomette for comfort on two nights |
Packing And Photo Tips
Bring a light lens cloth, a snug neck pillow, and soft-soled shoes if you plan to move between cars. Polarizing filters help cut reflections at an angle, but avoid pressing gear on the glass. A phone with night mode shines in tunnels and twilight. Pack layers even in summer; cabins are climate-controlled, but platforms and open cars can feel chilly.
Final Take
Pick one route that pairs with your trip goals, lock seats early, and favor daylight through the prime scenery. Whether you crave snow peaks, high desert, or fjords, these ten lines deliver easy logistics and big views without guesswork.