Train Routes in Europe with Better Views Than the Destination.

You want the truth? The journey is way better than the arrival. That’s right. There are train routes in Europe with better views than the destination, and they don’t just offer scenery—they deliver goosebumps, jaw-drops, and stories you’ll never stop telling. If you’re traveling just to get somewhere, you’re doing it all wrong. You should ride these trains because the ride itself is the real adventure.

Get ready to plan your trip around the train, not the town. These aren’t just train rides. They’re rolling postcards, live-motion paintings, and quiet escapes where every turn of the track brings something unforgettable. This is your ultimate guide to train routes in Europe with better views than the destination—and how to ride them like a pro.

Glacier Express: Zermatt to St. Moritz, Switzerland

What to Expect

Let’s start big. The Glacier Express is famous for being slow, but when you’re riding through the heart of the Swiss Alps, why rush? This 8-hour ride from Zermatt to St. Moritz feels like riding through a snow globe.

Zermatt and St. Moritz are charming, sure—but the real star is the ride: 291 bridges, 91 tunnels, and a constant stream of snow-draped peaks, wild rivers, and deep valleys.

Budget Tip

Skip first class. Second class still has panoramic windows. Bring snacks—train food is overpriced. Book a seat by the window early, especially in summer.

How to Ride

Book directly from the Glacier Express site, and check the weather before choosing your day—sunlight makes all the difference.

Bergen Railway: Oslo to Bergen, Norway

This is Norway’s Magic Carpet

You leave Oslo thinking it’s cute and modern. But once the train pulls into the mountains, you’ll forget Oslo even exists. The Bergen Railway takes you up into snowy wilderness, across icy lakes, through remote villages and past reindeer-dotted plains.

Train routes in Europe with better views than the destination? This is one of the best.

Must-See Onboard Moments

• Hardangervidda Plateau: Europe’s highest mountain plateau.
• Finse Station: At 1,222 meters, it’s the highest station in Norway.

Travel Hack

Bring a thermos of hot chocolate and a charged phone. You’ll take dozens of pictures and still feel like none do it justice.

Cinque Terre Local Line: La Spezia to Levanto, Italy

Cliffs, Sea, and Colorful Villages

This short but dazzling route hugs the Italian Riviera, slicing through tunnels and popping out onto cliffs above the Ligurian Sea. You’ll pass five postcard-perfect villages—Monterosso, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola, and Riomaggiore.

The villages are lovely. But the ride? It’s like a movie.

Things to Do

• Sit on the left side heading north.
• Keep your camera ready—the views come fast and vanish in seconds.

Budget Trick

Buy a Cinque Terre Train Card. It gives you unlimited rides and lets you hop off, explore, then jump back on for the next cinematic segment.

Bernina Express: Chur to Tirano, Switzerland to Italy

You Literally Cross the Alps

This train doesn’t just move—you feel it climb. It spirals, climbs, and even runs across a mountaintop curve with no tunnel—just pure exposure to glacier-capped peaks. When it drops into Italy, you’ll suddenly see palm trees. One ride, two worlds.

Train routes in Europe with better views than the destination? This one hits both.

What’s Special

• The Landwasser Viaduct: Straight out of a fantasy film.
• The Brusio Circular Viaduct: A wild spiral descent into Italy.

Smart Travel Tip

You don’t need a reservation. Regular Swiss Rail passes work. Sit on the right side leaving Chur for the best views.

West Highland Line: Glasgow to Mallaig, Scotland

Highlands + Harry Potter = Unreal

Let’s be honest—Glasgow’s cool, but you’re not riding for Glasgow. The real magic starts when the train hits the Scottish Highlands. Fog rolls over green mountains. Sheep dot the fields. And then—the Glenfinnan Viaduct, just like in the Harry Potter films.

No need to love wizards. This route is all about dramatic wilderness.

Don’t Miss

• Loch Lomond views early in the ride.
• Glenfinnan Station Museum—jump off and back on.

Local Tip

Stay a night in Mallaig and take the ferry to Isle of Skye. Then loop back—double the views.

Rauma Railway: Dombås to Åndalsnes, Norway

A Short but Stunning Ride

This one’s a secret. Norway’s Rauma Railway is under two hours but delivers cinematic views of fjords, waterfalls, cliffs, and even a drive-by of the iconic Trollveggen, Europe’s tallest vertical rock wall.

Åndalsnes is cozy but sleepy. The real adventure is the ride.

Best Seats

Left side facing forward. Bring binoculars—the eagles come out on sunny days.

Pro Tip

Pair this with the Bergen Railway and make a scenic Norway loop. Every leg beats the destination.

Centovalli Railway: Locarno to Domodossola, Switzerland/Italy

100 Valleys, One Epic Ride

You’ve probably never heard of this one. But the Centovalli (“100 Valleys”) train slices through wild canyons, tiny stone villages, waterfalls, and forested hills between Italy and Switzerland.

Locarno’s chill, Domodossola is sleepy—but the views? They’ll wake your soul.

When to Go

Fall. The forests explode in orange and gold. Every curve is autumn magic.

Cheap Seat Trick

This one’s regional—no luxury prices. Buy a day pass and ride it both ways.

Inlandsbanan: Kristinehamn to Gällivare, Sweden

Deep North, Deep Silence

This is a train into the silence of the north. You’ll roll past endless pine forests, glassy lakes, and traditional red houses as you head into Lapland.

Gällivare is quiet. But on this route, silence is the point.

Wildlife Watch

Moose. Reindeer. Bears (if you’re lucky). This is wilderness on rails.

Local Secret

Ride in midsummer and you’ll catch the midnight sun. It never gets dark—just golden.

Zillertalbahn: Jenbach to Mayrhofen, Austria

Tiny Train, Big Drama

This narrow-gauge train is short and adorable—but don’t underestimate it. As it rolls into the Zillertal Valley, every window becomes a postcard.

Mayrhofen is a ski town. But honestly? Just take the train back. Twice.

Fun Stuff

• Windows open in summer.
• The train puffs steam in winter—classic vibe.

Budget Tip

Ride with a Tirol pass. It covers regional trains and gives you options for cable cars in Mayrhofen too.

Flam Railway: Myrdal to Flam, Norway

This Is Europe’s Steepest Train Ride

Built to connect the tiny town of Flam to the Bergen Line, this ride is a steep thrill through waterfalls, cliffs, and remote valleys.

The ride is just an hour long—but it’s so packed with beauty, it feels like a full-day tour.

Cool Moments

• Kjosfossen Waterfall stop: You can step out and get misted.
• Myrdal Station’s dramatic location.

Insider Hack

Combine this with the Bergen Railway and a ferry through the fjords. It becomes an epic loop of nature, all better than any city.

Montserrat Rack Railway: Barcelona to Montserrat Monastery, Spain

Mountains, Caves, and Cliffside Monasteries

You’ll leave Barcelona behind and suddenly climb into rugged peaks. The rack railway climbs sharp slopes with views of deep valleys and jagged rocks.

The monastery is nice. But that rising track into the sky? That’s the unforgettable part.

Don’t Miss

• Early morning trains: Less crowded, better light.
• Buy a combined pass: Metro, train, and rack railway in one.

The GoldenPass Line: Lucerne to Lake Geneva, Switzerland

From Lakes to Peaks

You go from calm lake towns to towering peaks and back again, all while crossing Swiss chalets and meadows so pretty they look fake.

Geneva’s cool. Lucerne’s prettier. But the line in between? That’s what you’ll remember.

Travel Smart

Book panoramic cars from Lucerne. Bring a picnic. And don’t nap—you’ll miss it all.

Rhodope Narrow Gauge: Septemvri to Dobrinishte, Bulgaria

A True Hidden Gem

No crowds. No hype. Just 125 km of raw beauty, dense forests, and sharp ridges. The Rhodope line is a secret slice of Bulgaria that deserves a place among train routes in Europe with better views than the destination.

Dobrinishte? Quiet and local. But the train? Pure surprise.

Tips

• Cheap tickets—this is regional transport.
• Chat with locals. You’ll be the only tourist.

Why These Rides Matter

There are train routes in Europe with better views than the destination for a reason: Europe wasn’t built for highways and flights. Its bones are rails, winding through places cars can’t go and planes fly over too fast.

Every ride listed here offers something cities can’t—a reminder that the journey is the soul of travel.

How to Plan a Train-First Trip

• Pick the route, not the city. Start with one of these scenic lines and plan stops around it.
• Travel light. Many scenic trains don’t have storage.
• Avoid night trains. You miss the views.
• Use rail passes. Interrail or Eurail can save money if you’re hopping multiple scenic rides.
• Bring binoculars and snacks. Always.

Final Thought

Don’t let travel become a race to check off destinations. The secret isn’t where you’re going—it’s what you see on the way. Choose one of these train routes in Europe with better views than the destination, and you’ll come home with something deeper than souvenirs: stories of the in-between, moments in motion, and a love for the tracks less taken.

This is how you travel Europe the right way—through its windows.