The 7 Best Train Journeys in Europe for Scenic Views

Europe is a continent filled with incredible scenery, from glorious coasts to magnificent mountainous landscapes, and one of the best ways to explore it is by train. You don’t need to worry about having to concentrate on the traffic as you swap trucks for trees and cars for coastlines. These train journeys offer unparalleled scenery, fantastic views and memories that will last a lifetime. If you’re ready to experience some of the best scenery in Europe, then this is the article for you.

Europe’s 7 Most Breathtaking Train Journeys

1. The Black Forest Railway – Germany

Known as Schwarzwaldbahn in German, the Black Forest Railway does exactly what it says on the tin – it takes you through Germany’s famous Black Forest and is one of the most scenic train journeys in Europe.

As a passenger, you will head through the Kinzig Valley, known for its traditional German villages and the famous town of Triberg, which is known for its gorgeous waterfalls.

Other destinations that you will pass en route include Donaueschingen, which is where the source of the Danube River can be found. This particular journey takes you approximately two hours and runs south from Offenburg, eventually terminating in Singen.

Singen is very near to the Swiss border and also close to Lake Constance, which is where Germany, Switzerland and Austria all meet – so there is lots to do once you arrive at your destination.

2. Cinque Terre – Italy

The Cinque Terre in Italy translates as “Five Towns”, and this train journey unsusprisingly fits in all five. These five towns – Monterosso, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola and Riomaggiore – were once ancient fishing villages near Genoa in northwest Italy, and they are now all available to see in the space of one short train journey.

What makes this journey so mesmerising, though, is how close the train is to the edge of the cliff that it travels along.

These villages were practically built into the cliffside, so when you’re on the train, you can see the villages next to you and below you, and there seems to be hardly anything between your train carriage and the blue waters of the Ligurian Sea hundreds of metres below.

This is a train journey that certainly is a must for thrill-seekers, but it also makes for some of the finest views in Europe – traditional Italian fishing villages which have remained largely unchanged for centuries alongside the azure waters of the sea below – a truly unforgettable experience.

The train journey runs from Levanto to La Spezia, and takes just half an hour. The trains run every 20 minutes during the summer months, and even the most expensive tickets for adults are only €10, making this a budget-friendly activity, too!

3. The Semmering Railway – Austria

Built over 41km of Alpine peaks in Austria in the 19th century, this is not just one of the most scenic train journeys in Europe, but also one of the greatest achievements of civil engineering in history.

Starting in Gloggnitz, which has an altitude of 436m above sea level, the train journey reaches its peak at 895m above sea level almost 30km into the journey, before eventually terminating in the village of Mürzzschlag after a total journey distance of 41km.

This is not the longest journey in the world by any stretch, but it certainly offers the very best of the Austrian Alps, as you pass deep green forests and snow-capped mountain peaks.

Alpine villages dot the landscape below, while the tunnels along the journey take you through the heart of the Alps mountains themselves, making this journey one of the most scenic train journeys in Europe without a shadow of a doubt.

4. West Highland Line – Scotland

Perhaps most famously known for featuring in the Harry Potter films, this train journey across the West Highland Line is iconic. And if travelling across the world-famous Glenfinnan Viaduct was good enough for school-age wizards, then it’d be good enough for everyone else!

The magical charm of this route aside, the train journey shows you some of the most spectacular scenery in Scotland. Rolling hills and mountains, simply brimming with wildlife – including deer, foxes, badgers and the elusive Scottish wildcat can all be seen from your carriage.

Experience the wonderful hospitality on board as you tuck into haggis, neeps and tatties or enjoy a wee dram along the way, while the snow-dusted hills of the Highlands accompany you on each side.

This is a slightly longer journey, and you can choose whether you want to head to Oban or Mallaig – either way, you’ll definitely want to do this journey again, so you can always do the other one the next time you board the train.

The journey takes around five and a half hours, and covers some 263km. An unforgettable, magical experience.

5. Flåm Railway – Norway

From a 263km route to a 20km route, the next scenic train journey in this article is the Flåm Railway in Norway.

This journey travels from the small village of Myrdal, which is around 180km from Bergen, the nearest major city, to the equally small village of Flåm, 20km away from Myrdal.

This short journey is nevertheless one of the most spectacular in the country, known for its descent of 865m, with a 1 in 18 gradient, which is an experience in itself.

Aside from the steep descent, the journey also showcases some of Norway’s most unique beauty – the gorgeous fjords, with steep rocky outcrops on one side and glacial waters rushing through the middle, creating some of the most incredible landscape views from a train window from anywhere in the world.

The train also stops around halfway through the journey (the total journey time is just under an hour), so that guests can get off and take some photographs of Kjosfossen Waterfall, which we highly recommend taking the opportunity to do.

6. The Belgrade-Bar Railway – Serbia, Montenegro

This 476km journey traverses two countries, Serbia and Montenegro, starting in the capital of the former, and ending in the coastal town of Bar in neighbouring Montenegro.

The journey traverses through stunning Balkan scenery, from the endless fields in Serbia, even going briefly over the Bosnian border, to the incredible mountainous landscape of Montenegro, including travelling on the highest railway viaduct in Europe.

It is the final stretch of this journey which offers the most spectacular scenery, though: expect snow-capped mountains one minute, endless forests the next and finally shimmering blue waters off the rugged coastline of Montenegro as you pull into Bar.

This is a unique route in the sense that you cover two countries (technically three, with the small diversion into Bosnia), and tickets cost under €25 for adults. If you want to experience one of the finest train journeys in Europe and visit three countries for less than it costs to fill up half a tank of petrol, then you’ve simply got to experience the Belgrade-Bar Railway.

7. The Glacier Express – Switzerland

It will come as little surprise that Switzerland is home to one of the most – if not the most – scenic train journeys in Europe.

Be prepared to spend a whole day on the journey, though, as it takes 8 hours and goes between Zermatt and St. Moritz. This journey is regarded as one of the most spectacular in the world, and it takes a scenic route to a whole other level.

Gliding through the Swiss Alps, you’ll be surrounded by snow-capped mountain peaks and dark green forests, as well as small Alpine villages nearby. You’ll also have lake views, bypass larger towns and cities, and maybe even see some local wildlife if you’re lucky.

The train’s windows are specially designed to be large, meaning that passengers can take advantage of the panoramic views offered from their seats – don’t blame us when you finish the journey with an extra 2,000 photos in your smartphone’s camera roll!

Finally, the train also stops at several key locations where passengers can get out to take photos, including the Landwasser Viaduct (a UNESCO World Heritage Site), the Oberalp Pass, and the Rhine Gorge.

This is a truly unforgettable train journey with some of the most spectacular views in the world – a must-experience for any travel enthusiast.