The Best Train Journeys in Europe and Beyond
The Best Train Journeys in Europe and Beyond
There’s something timeless about discovering the world by rail.
The best train journeys in Europe and beyond combine unhurried travel with the simple pleasure of watching landscapes unfold, from vine-covered hills to glittering coastlines and storybook towns. Each route captures a sense of place that can’t be experienced from the sky or the motorway, turning travel itself into part of the adventure.
At Regent, we’ve hand-picked scenic rail routes that reveal Europe’s heartlands and extend beyond, tracing legendary paths through Central Asia and the Far East.
Whether you dream of gliding through Alpine passes, following the Silk Road, or circling Taiwan’s misty mountains, these journeys celebrate slow, sustainable travel, where every view, stop, and connection becomes part of the story.
Why Travel Europe by Train?
Train tracks in Stockholm
A train journey offers a perspective on Europe that feels as captivating as it is unhurried.
Travelling by rail lets you watch landscapes unfold - rolling vineyards, misty mountains, and hidden villages rarely seen by car - while giving you time to connect with local culture along the way.
Whether crossing a short stretch between cities or winding through the countryside on a longer route, trains move you with comfort and ease. Arrive in the heart of a city, free from traffic and parking worries, and step directly into your destination. Long journeys are made relaxing, with spacious seats, panoramic windows, and the gentle lull of the rails, letting you read, rest, or watch the scenery shift from forests to coastlines.
You can even enjoy overnight sleeper trains, where you cross countries while you sleep, waking to cinematic vistas, like Alpine peaks at sunrise or a medieval town emerging from morning mist.
With the extensive European network, each route is an invitation to follow panoramic vistas, curve through valleys, and trace the contours of history and culture at a pace that suits you.
1. Hapsburg Cities by Train From the UK
Ljubljanam Slovenia
Tracing the routes of emperors and artists, this nine-day journey carries you from London to Italy, Slovenia, and Croatia, through the very heart of Europe’s Habsburg legacy.
Glide from the elegant piazzas of Turin, where the Royal Palace and café culture recall royal grandeur, to Trieste’s Adriatic edge, where Miramare Castle perches over the sea and Austrian fuses with Italian style.
From here, the train winds through limestone hills into Slovenia’s leafy capital, Ljubljana, with its riverside charm and striking architecture.
The final stretch leads to Zagreb, where daily life unfolds along grand boulevards, Art Nouveau theatres, and open-air markets. With scenic routes, hand-picked hotels near the stations, and each city brimming with imperial history, this is a journey through Europe’s opulent past, told one track, one palace, and one grand square at a time.
2. Four Capitals by Train From the UK
Prague, Czech Republic
Travel across Central Europe by rail, connecting four captivating capitals: Cologne, Berlin, Prague, and Budapest, four capitals that capture the continent’s creative spirit and cultural evolution.
Travelling through Germany, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Hungary, this route showcases striking Gothic cathedrals, picturesque riverside skylines, and historic landmarks that have shaped Central Europe for centuries.
Begin in Cologne, where the twin spires of its cathedral dominate the skyline and the Rhine flows past age-old breweries. Continue east to Berlin, a city of reinvention where art, architecture, and memory converge. When you're in Prague, be sure to wander through cobbled lanes and cross the Charles Bridge beneath its watchful statues, before the journey concludes in Budapest, where the Danube glitters, and thermal baths promise a moment of pause.
With scenic train routes, top hotels near the stations, and time built in to explore at your own pace, this is a journey that connects more than just destinations; it links the layers of Europe’s past and present, one capital at a time.
3. Baltic Cities by train from the UK
Riga, Latvia
Linking land and sea, this thirteen-day rail and ferry journey traces a captivating route from London to the Baltic capitals of Stockholm, Helsinki, Tallinn, and Riga.
Along the way, discover a region where medieval skylines, Nordic design, and maritime heritage meet in perfect balance.
Travel first through continental Europe, pausing in Brussels to explore its grand squares and café-lined streets, before continuing to Hamburg, where old red-brick warehouses meet cutting-edge architecture along the Elbe. From here, you'll board the ferry that carries you across the Baltic Sea to Scandinavia.
In Stockholm, wander through Gamla Stan’s cobbled lanes and elegant waterfronts before sailing onward to Helsinki, a city of striking contrasts, from neoclassical squares to bold contemporary design. Continue south to Tallinn, whose storybook Old Town and creative quarters reveal both charm and character, before arriving in Riga, where Art Nouveau facades line leafy boulevards and the scent of fresh pastries drifts from the markets.
4. Scandinavian Cities by Train From the UK
The fjords of Oslo, Norway
Follow a route where history, design, and natural beauty converge, connecting four remarkable cities from London to Copenhagen, Gothenburg, Oslo, and Bergen.
Rolling landscapes, serene lakes, and dramatic coastlines unfold outside your window, while inside, comfortable trains carry you smoothly between urban energy and quiet countryside.
From the colourful canals and historic harbours of Copenhagen, where 17th-century townhouses line Nyhavn, to Gothenburg’s oldest neighbourhood, the Haga district, with its well-preserved wooden houses and homely cafés, each stop offers a glimpse into Scandinavian culture and lifestyle.
Oslo’s waterfront buzzes with contemporary art and Viking history, but beyond the shoreline, the Oslo–Bergen line winds through a fjord-strewn landscape, where mountains, rivers, and waterfalls unfold in a panorama of natural drama.
Along the way, carefully chosen hotels near stations provide convenience and comfort, while opportunities for optional excursions, from cycling islands off Gothenburg to silent cruises along the Oslo fjord - let you engage with the landscape and local life.
Scenic rail routes and overnight travel allow you to move at a considered pace, following panoramic vistas, coastal horizons, and striking fjord valleys from city to city.
5. Bothnian Coastal Route by Train
Stockholm, Sweden
Glide along the northern edge of the Baltic Sea on the Bothnian Coastal Route, where Sweden and Finland reveal a quieter, contemplative side of Europe.
From Stockholm’s lively streets to Umeå’s cultural pulse, the journey unfolds through forested landscapes, historic harbours, and fertile plains, each vista framed by your train window.
Step off in Luleå to explore the UNESCO-listed Gammelstad Church Town or choose the unique Treehotel for a night among the treetops. Cross into Finland and discover Oulu, set to shine as European Capital of Culture 2026, before arriving in Vaasa, where cobbled streets, bustling markets, and coastal panoramas offer the perfect finale.
Travel by comfortable sleeper and regional trains, letting the landscapes evolve from birch forests to sparkling coastline, while carefully selected hotels provide restful stays at every stop.
6. Arctic Circle by Rail
Kiruna, Sweden
Seven days of Arctic adventure await as you travel through the snowy landscapes of Swedish Lapland and northern Norway, where the northern lights dance across the sky.
Begin in Kiruna at the cosy Camp Ripan, where spa rituals and warming hot tubs offer the perfect introduction to life above the Arctic Circle.
From here, ride along the Arctic Circle Railway to Abisko National Park, keeping a keen eye out for passing moose, reindeer, and frozen lakes along the way.
Spend two nights in Abisko, where you'll spend time taking serene walks, snowshoeing, or enjoying the thrill of ice climbing, before an evening ascent to the Aurora Sky Station reveals the northern lights in all their glory over the quiet winter wilderness.
The journey continues across the border into Norway, with Narvik set against a backdrop of fjords and towering mountains. Adventure retakes the lead with dog sledding through forest trails, followed by a traditional Sami ceremony under the glowing aurora.
7. Essential Norway
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Norway rail journey
Six days capture the heart of Norway, from Oslo’s vibrant streets to Bergen’s historic harbour, with the country’s legendary fjords as your backdrop.
Start in Oslo, where a stroll along the waterfront reveals the striking Opera House, Vigeland Park’s sculptural wonders, and a mix of modern museums and cultural hubs, all easily explored on foot.
Nature takes centre stage as you board the Bergen Railway, winding through dramatic mountains to Myrdal before switching to the iconic Flåm Railway, one of the world’s steepest train lines. Arriving in Flåm, the village at the heart of the Sognefjord invites you to pause and breathe in the serenity before a fjord cruise through the UNESCO-listed Nærøyfjord, flanked by peaks rising 1,700 metres above the narrow waters.
Your journey concludes in Bergen, where colourful wooden houses of Bryggen line the harbour and the funicular to Mount Fløyen offers sweeping panoramas of the surrounding fjord landscape.
Rail Tracks Beyond Europe
Tran in Taiwan
Long-haul train journeys open up a world beyond Europe, turning travel itself into part of the adventure.
Whether crossing continents or tracing iconic routes through Asia, Africa, or the Americas, trains let you sit back in comfort as towering mountains, sweeping deserts, and endless plains roll gently past your window.
There’s no rush, no airport queues, and no cramped cabin aisles, just spacious seats, panoramic views, and the gentle lull of the rails. Along the way, stations become gateways to local culture, offering chances to explore towns, sample regional cuisine, and meet fellow travellers. For those who value both comfort and discovery, long-haul rail travel transforms what might otherwise be a transit day into a fully immersive experience.
8. Legendary Silk Road (Tashkent to Almaty)
Issyk-Kul Lake
From the intricate mosaics of Tashkent to the cosmopolitan streets of Almaty, this 15-day rail journey follows the legendary Silk Road, where history, culture, and scenery unfold with every mile.
Step aboard the Orient Silk Road Express and watch the landscapes of Central Asia drift by, from sun-baked deserts and fertile river valleys to the towering peaks of the Tien Shan mountains. Khiva’s 2,500-year-old inner town rises like a living museum, with minarets, madrassahs, and palaces narrating the tales of ancient traders.
In Bukhara, the Old Town’s labyrinthine streets, fortified minarets, and folklore performances immerse you in a world where time seems to stand still. Continue your journey through Tajikistan to Dushanbe, then across the mountains of Kyrgyzstan, where Ala Archa National Park and Issyk-Kul Lake showcase the region’s raw, untamed beauty.
Each stop offers a unique way of life, from the bustling bazaars of Samarkand to tranquil boat rides across Issyk-Kul. The train itself serves as your moving vantage point, allowing you to observe the evolving Silk Road landscapes in comfort.
By the time you arrive in Almaty, the final cosmopolitan city on this iconic route, you will have crossed four countries, experienced countless cultures, and uncovered the stories woven into one of the world’s most famous trade routes.
You can also choose to do our Legendary Silk Road tour from Almaty to Tashkent, too!
9. Tour Taiwan by Train
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Alishan Forest Railway
Taiwan reveals itself slowly, mile by mile, along its scenic railways.
From the vibrant streets and temples of Taipei to misty mountain railways, lush tea terraces, and tranquil lakes, this 13-day journey captures the island’s many faces. Board local trains along the Pingxi Line and the Alishan Forest Railway to witness cascading waterfalls, quiet villages, and rural life, all from the comfort of your carriage.
In Yilan, meet a local tea grower and learn the delicate art of tea-making. In Chihpen, unwind in mineral-rich hot springs surrounded by forested hills. Sun Moon Lake offers moments of calm as you explore its temples, trails, and lakeside culture, taking in the changing light across the water.
Each journey on Taiwan’s rails reveals a new layer of the island’s story, from tropical coasts to mist-covered mountains, making travel here as much about the ride as the destination itself.
Plan Your Perfect Train Journey
Discover Europe and beyond your way with a bespoke itinerary crafted around your interests, pace, and travel style. Whether you want to glide through iconic cities, unwind in serene countryside, cruise along legendary trade routes, or explore hidden cultural gems, Regent can design a personalised rail adventure that brings the world’s most scenic train routes to life.
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