12 Best Rail Routes Europe Has to Offer in 2026
A cheap flight can get you to Europe, but it cannot give you breakfast beside a Norwegian fjord, a slow climb through Swiss glaciers or an unplanned stop in a wine town on the Rhine. The best rail routes Europe offers turn the journey into part of the holiday – and, with a little planning, they are often less stressful than airports, baggage rules and 5am alarms.
This is not a list of trains with polished brochure views and eye-watering prices. These are routes worth taking because they connect places you genuinely want to visit, make sense for independent travellers and deliver scenery that is still good when the weather is imperfect. A few are expensive, a few need early booking, and some work best as part of a bigger itinerary rather than a one-off day trip.
The best rail routes Europe offers for real holidays
1. London to Amsterdam by Eurostar
This is the obvious place to start for UK travellers, largely because it removes the usual airport faff. Board in London, clear passport control before departure, and arrive in central Amsterdam a few hours later. It is not the most dramatic railway in Europe, but it is one of the most useful.
Book early if you want it to compete with budget flights, particularly for Friday departures and school holidays. Amsterdam is expensive, so consider using it as a first stop before continuing by train to Utrecht, Rotterdam, Antwerp or Brussels.
2. Oslo to Bergen, Norway
The Bergen Line is the rare scenic train journey that is genuinely worth giving a full day to. It crosses high mountain plateaux, runs past snow well into spring and drops towards the fjords around Bergen. Even regular services feel like an experience rather than transport.
The trade-off is cost. Norway is not a bargain destination, and popular summer departures can rise quickly. Travelling in late May, early June or September can mean lower prices, fewer crowds and still-excellent views. Pack snacks before boarding if you are keeping spending under control.
3. Chur to Tirano on the Bernina Line, Switzerland to Italy
The Bernina Line is the Alpine route for travellers who want spectacular scenery without committing to a luxury-only train. It climbs from Swiss valleys over the Bernina Pass, crosses the famous Landwasser Viaduct and descends through lakes and vineyards into northern Italy.
You can pay for the panoramic Bernina Express, but ordinary regional trains use the same track and are often better for budget travellers because you can stop en route. Sit on the right leaving Chur and the left on the way down towards Tirano where possible. From Tirano, Lake Como is an easy onward move.
4. Zermatt to St Moritz on the Glacier Express, Switzerland
The Glacier Express is slow, panoramic and unapologetically pricey. It takes most of a day to travel between Zermatt and St Moritz, threading through deep valleys, mountain villages and high passes. If this is a once-in-a-lifetime rail splurge, it earns its reputation.
But be honest about what you are buying: this is a sightseeing experience, not an efficient way to cross Switzerland. Reservation fees are compulsory on top of your ticket or pass. If the cost makes you wince, replicate much of the route on scheduled trains, travel in shorter sections and keep your flexibility.
5. Cologne to Mainz through Germany’s Rhine Valley
For a route that is both scenic and easy to build into a city break, take the slower line along the Rhine between Cologne and Mainz. Vineyards, castles and small riverside towns appear one after another, with no need to pay for a special tourist train.
The key is choosing the correct railway line. The fast route is useful but largely misses the point; the west bank line offers the classic river views. Break the journey in Bacharach, Boppard or Koblenz if you have time. This is especially good in autumn, when the hills turn gold and the summer crowds thin out.
6. Munich to Verona via the Brenner Pass
This route is a practical answer to the question of how to combine Bavaria, the Austrian Alps and northern Italy without losing a day to flying. The train heads south from Munich through Innsbruck, climbs towards the Brenner Pass and then rolls into Italy towards Verona.
It is less theatrical than the Swiss scenic railways but more useful for a multi-stop holiday. Reserve early during summer weekends and ski season, when trains can fill with holidaymakers and bulky luggage. Verona makes a far more relaxed base than Venice, and Lake Garda is close by.
7. Vienna to Venice via the Semmering Railway
The direct train from Vienna to Venice is one of Europe’s most satisfying city-to-city journeys. It starts with grand Habsburg architecture and coffee-house energy, crosses the wooded Semmering section of the Austrian Alps, then arrives at Venice Santa Lucia with the Grand Canal outside the station.
That arrival matters. Venice is one of the few places where rail beats driving so completely that there is no argument. Book ahead for a good fare, and avoid treating Venice as a rushed overnight stop. Two nights gives you time to see the city early and late, when day-trippers have gone.
8. Paris to Nice, France
The fast train from Paris to Nice is not sold as a scenic railway, but it is an exceptionally smart way to start a south-of-France trip. You swap Parisian rooftops for Mediterranean light in a single day, without the cost, queues and awkward airport transfers of flying.
For the best value, travel midweek and be flexible on departure times. Nice is a strong base, but do not stop there: local trains make it easy to visit Antibes, Menton and Villefranche-sur-Mer. In peak summer, reserve every longer leg well ahead.
9. Marseille to Ventimiglia, France to Italy
This is the Riviera at local-train pace. From Marseille, the route passes through Toulon, Cannes, Nice, Monaco and Menton before crossing into Italy at Ventimiglia. You will not get a single grand reveal; instead, there are repeated flashes of beaches, marinas, tiled towns and coastal hills.
It works best when you resist trying to do it all in one day. Spend a night in Nice or Menton, then continue into Liguria. The train can be busy in summer and views are sometimes blocked by tunnels, but it is still far less draining than driving the same coast.
10. Porto to Pocinho on Portugal’s Douro Line
The Douro Line follows the river east from Porto into one of Portugal’s great wine regions. The final stretch towards Pocinho is the star, with terraced vineyards rising straight from the water and a landscape that feels properly remote once Porto is behind you.
This is a brilliant low-cost alternative to a Douro cruise, although the train does not replace every river view. Sit on the right heading east for the strongest scenery. Go in spring or early autumn if you can, when the heat is manageable and the vineyards are at their best.
11. Levanto to La Spezia through Cinque Terre, Italy
The Cinque Terre railway is not a peaceful sightseeing train. In summer it can be crowded, hot and full of walkers with bags. Yet it remains the most sensible way to reach the five villages, where roads are limited and parking is a headache you do not need.
Base yourself in Levanto or La Spezia for better prices and more space, then use the train to hop between villages. Early morning and late afternoon are calmer than midday. If you want the postcard views, combine short rail hops with a coastal walk rather than trying to photograph everything from the carriage.
12. Stockholm to Narvik, Sweden to Arctic Norway
For proper scale, take the train north from Stockholm towards Narvik. The journey is long, but that is the point: forests give way to open tundra, lakes and mountains as you head above the Arctic Circle. In summer, the near-endless daylight makes the landscape feel even stranger.
Check timetables carefully, as engineering works and seasonal changes can affect services on northern routes. A sleeper can save a night of accommodation, but book a berth rather than relying on a seat if you value arriving functional. Narvik is a gateway for fjords, hiking and the Lofoten Islands.
How to choose the right route, not just the prettiest one
Start with the shape of your holiday. A short break needs a route that gets you directly from one useful city to another, such as London to Amsterdam or Vienna to Venice. For a two-week adventure, scenic sections like the Bernina or Douro lines become the spine of a wider itinerary.
Rail passes can be worthwhile if you are covering several countries and want flexibility, but they are not automatically cheaper. Reservation-heavy trains, particularly in France, Italy and Switzerland, can add unexpected costs. Price individual tickets first, then compare. Booking early is normally best for fixed plans; a pass is better when you want room to change your mind.
Do not pack every day with long train rides just because the views look good online. One headline scenic journey, a couple of useful intercity legs and time to actually explore each stop is usually the sweet spot. The best trip is not the one with the most pins on a map – it is the one where you still have the energy to get off the train and see where you have arrived.
