There’s a unique feeling that comes with seeing the world by train: slowly, and with time to think. The rhythm of the tracks and passing scenery, coupled with the gentle rocking motion, become unforgettable aspects of travel.” Some nations make train journeys glorious affairs, transporting you past mountains, lakes, forests, and coastlines as if through a graduated painting. Here are nine countries where train travel is simply magical.
Switzerland
There is a reason that Switzerland’s trains are renowned. Beyond panoramic windows, mountains rise, valleys plunge, and lakes shimmer. Routes such as the Glacier Express and Bernina Express travel through tunnels and over viaducts, so every second feels cinematic. The precision and comfort of Swiss trains help matters. No matter whether the mountains are cloaked in snow or the meadows are green with summer, every journey feels timeless and alive.
India
India offers colorful train journeys full of color, culture, and life. Each ride, whether aboard a Himalayan toy train in Darjeeling or along the long routes traversing Rajasthan, is an adventure in the sensory. Markets, villages, and fields slide by, and the travelers meet folks with different, if not always happy, stories. Riding the rails, the clickety clack rhythm of wheels has become a soundtrack to our discovery of India, where every train window opens upon a living postcard of one of the world’s wealthiest and grandest nations.
Japan
Japan’s trains do where speed and scenery coalesce gorgeously. Bullet trains can whisk you through rice paddies, mountains, and temples with minimal effort, while slower, scenic lines like the Hakone Tozan twist and turn through forests. Shinkansen rides are fast and beautiful, and the seasonal shifts, cherry blossoms, or intense autumn color, make each ride special. It is a perfect integration of modern and natural beauty.
Canada
Canada’s trains chew through the glory of boundless wilderness. Both the Rocky Mountaineer and Via Rail run through jagged peaks, turquoise lakes, sweeping forests, and habitual wildlife sightings, and evenings with sunset over the mountains that can feel glamorous. A train trip lets you absorb how vast Canada is in a relaxed way, a sense of awe that no hurry up flight could match, and even lets you commune with nature.
Norway
In Norway, the fjords and rugged mountains are on glorious display. Routes such as the Bergen Railway snake over high passes, with dramatic views of cliffs, waterfalls, and valleys. The soft, Nordic summer light and the here and there blanket of snow in winter make every trip seem magical. Trains weave by tiny villages and placid lakes, providing a tranquil way to take in Norway’s epic landscapes as they unspool through nature’s theater.
Scotland
Scotland provides picturesque train rides across rolling hills, lochs, and historic landscapes. Routes such as the West Highland Line snake across viaducts and through misty glens. Trains that pass castles, rivers, and open moors will ably blend history with natural beauty. The rhythm of the ride, coupled with shifting weather and light, turns even short journeys into an adventure from which travelers return with memories of charm and wild elegance.
Peru
Peru’s trains weave you through the Andes in a way roads can’t. The trip from Cusco to Machu Picchu traverses towering mountains, deep gorges, and rivers hundreds of feet below. Beautiful views of terraced hillsides and distant peaks enrich the ride. Wooden and glass panorama coaches the feeling that the traveler is part of the landscape. While traveling on any train in Peru may not be excessive, each mode of transportation offers a degree of adventure and awe, making transit an essential part of the experience.
Australia
Australia’s other long haul trains showcase sprawling deserts, dramatic coastlines, and rugged outback. The Indian Pacific spans the continent from Sydney to Perth, and the Ghan traverses the Red Center landscapes. A slow, hypnotic rhythm unfurls as the volume of red rocks, rolling plains, and endless sky paradoxically rolls by. With trains moving across the steppes, you will have a serene yet watchful perspective that makes every sunrise and sunset on this land even more iconic, becoming shared memories with a tribesperson who shares your wanderlust.
South Africa
South Africa offers some of the world’s most opulent and beautiful train journeys. The Blue Train and Rovos Rail traverse dramatic scenery, from savannas to mountains to vineyards. The game is now and then seen near the rails, which adds zest to the hour. These trips are the best of all worlds: they’re classy, scenic, and allow travelers to absorb their country’s immense beauty in comfort, making even putting miles behind you a highlight.
