What Are the Most Scenic Rail Experiences in Europe?

Traveling around Europe by train is not just convenient, it can also be spectacularly scenic. So if you’re looking for the most scenic rail journeys in Europe, what trains should you take? A report from Rustic Pathways attempted to find out, analyzing reviews and keywords for nearly 30 options across Europe.

The survey found, out of them all, the most likely experience to be described as “beautiful” or “wonderful” was the one travelers enjoy on the luxurious Venice Simplon-Orient Express. Traveling in vintage rail cars and through cities such as Paris, Verona, Prague and Venice, the journey doesn’t come cheap. Expect to pay more than $5,000 per passenger.

In a close second, though, was The Vale of Rheidol Railway. Available at a much more affordable price point — $46 round-trip — this journey only takes you 12 miles through the Rheidol Valley in Wales.

Likewise, the scenic Kyle Line was a close third. In the Scottish Highlands, this journey is described as “stunning,” and tickets are only around $30.

Other rail experiences that made the top 10 include Flam Railway in Norway, Bernina Express in Switzerland and Italy, Settle-Carlisle Railway in England, Ffestiniog and Welsh Highland Railway in Great Britain, Gotthard Panorama Express in Switzerland, Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway in England, and Brecon Mountain Railway in South Wales.