10 Dreamy Train Journeys You Have to Experience Once
Some journeys aren’t about arriving.
They’re about watching landscapes unfold outside the window. About the rhythm of wheels on tracks. About slowing down enough to notice the world changing—mile by mile, moment by moment.
Train travel has a magic that airplanes can’t touch. There’s time to breathe, to look, to feel present. You move through places instead of over them. And sometimes, the journey becomes the memory you hold onto the longest.
From snow-covered mountains and coastal cliffs to vineyards, deserts, and storybook towns, these are the dreamiest train journeys in the world—the kind you experience once and remember forever.
Recommended Travel Items for Your Trip
1. The Glacier Express, Switzerland
The slowest express train in the world
This legendary route winds through the heart of the Swiss Alps, connecting Zermatt and St. Moritz. Over eight hours, the Glacier Express passes snow-capped peaks, deep gorges, charming villages, and more than 290 bridges.
Panoramic windows turn the train into a moving postcard. Every turn reveals something impossibly beautiful—alpine meadows, icy rivers, wooden chalets tucked into valleys.
It’s slow, deliberate, and breathtaking. Exactly how train travel should be.
Many travelers pair this journey with alpine stays easily booked through Booking.com or plan their Swiss route alongside flights via Expedia.
2. The Venice Simplon-Orient-Express, Europe
Old-world glamour on rails
Stepping onto the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express feels like entering another era. Polished wood panels, plush seats, crisp white linens, and candlelit dining cars define this iconic journey.
As the train glides through cities and countryside across Europe, time seems to soften. Meals are slow. Views are cinematic. Everything feels intentional.
This is not just transportation—it’s an experience built on elegance, romance, and nostalgia.
Travelers often combine this journey with boutique hotel stays booked through Booking.com in cities like Venice, Paris, or Vienna.
3. The Rocky Mountaineer, Canada
Luxury through wild landscapes
The Rocky Mountaineer travels through some of Canada’s most dramatic scenery, including towering mountains, turquoise rivers, and dense forests.
Glass-dome coaches allow uninterrupted views, while onboard service feels warm and refined. You’re not rushing. You’re absorbing.
As the scenery shifts from valleys to peaks, the journey feels expansive and grounding all at once.
Flights into Vancouver or Calgary are often found through Expedia or CheapOair, making the experience easy to plan from start to finish.
4. The Trans-Siberian Railway, Russia
The ultimate slow travel experience
Spanning nearly 6,000 miles, the Trans-Siberian Railway is one of the longest train journeys in the world. It crosses forests, mountains, lakes, and remote villages, connecting Europe to Asia.
This journey isn’t flashy—it’s profound.
Days blend together. Landscapes stretch endlessly. Conversations happen slowly. It’s a reminder of how vast the world truly is—and how small we are within it.
For travelers seeking depth over speed, this journey leaves a lasting mark.
Many plan stopovers and accommodations along the route using Booking.com to keep the experience flexible.
5. The West Highland Line, Scotland
Misty mountains and quiet lochs
Often called one of the most scenic train routes in the world, the West Highland Line takes you through the rugged heart of Scotland.
Rolling hills, dark lakes, remote stations, and moody skies define the experience. The scenery feels raw and cinematic, especially when fog drapes the landscape.
There’s a quiet romance to this journey—unhurried, atmospheric, and deeply grounding.
Visitors often extend their stay in the Highlands by booking cozy inns or countryside hotels through Booking.com.
6. The Blue Train, South Africa
Luxury across the landscape
The Blue Train redefines luxury train travel, offering spacious suites, elegant dining, and attentive service as it travels across South Africa.
Beyond the comfort, the views are captivating—changing from open plains to mountain ranges and rolling countryside.
It’s a journey that blends refinement with discovery, offering a slow and luxurious way to experience the continent.
International flights to South Africa are commonly booked via Expedia or Trip.com, with luxury stays added along the route.
7. The Flåm Railway, Norway
A short journey with epic views
Though only about an hour long, the Flåm Railway delivers some of the most dramatic scenery in the world.
Steep mountains, cascading waterfalls, deep valleys, and tiny farms cling to the landscape as the train climbs and descends.
Every moment feels intentional. Every view feels unreal.
Many travelers pair this journey with fjord-side accommodations booked through Booking.com.
8. The Darjeeling Himalayan Railway, India
A toy train through the clouds
This narrow-gauge railway winds through tea plantations, mountain villages, and misty hills in northeastern India.
The train moves slowly—sometimes so slowly you can walk beside it. But that’s part of its charm.
Windows stay open. The air is cool. The landscape feels alive.
Travelers often book nearby heritage hotels or hill-station stays using Booking.com after arriving via flights found on Trip.com.
9. The Coast Starlight, USA
Pacific views and golden light
Traveling between Los Angeles and Seattle, the Coast Starlight offers sweeping views of the Pacific Ocean, forests, and mountains.
Large windows and spacious seating invite you to linger. The journey is relaxed, scenic, and surprisingly meditative.
As the coastline fades into forests and hills, the train becomes a moving retreat—one that encourages slowing down and simply watching.
Hotels in both cities are easily reserved through Booking.com, while domestic flights are often compared on Expedia or CheapOair.
10. The Andean Explorer, Peru
Luxury above the clouds
Traveling through the Peruvian Andes, the Andean Explorer reaches some of the highest altitudes of any luxury train in the world.
The scenery is stark, expansive, and deeply moving—wide plains, distant peaks, and quiet villages dot the landscape.
Inside, the train offers warmth and comfort. Outside, the world feels endless.
Many travelers extend this journey with stays in Cusco or Arequipa, commonly booked via Booking.com, with flights handled through Expedia.
Why Train Journeys Feel So Dreamy
Train travel slows the mind.
There’s no turbulence. No rushing through security lines. No sense of disconnection.
You watch the world change gradually. You notice transitions—between cities, landscapes, cultures.
There’s time to read. To think. To daydream.
And in a fast-moving world, that kind of presence feels luxurious.
How to Experience Train Travel Fully
To make the most of a dreamy train journey:
- Choose window seats when possible
- Travel light and comfortably
- Let go of strict schedules
- Stay offline when you can
- Allow boredom—it often leads to beauty
Train journeys reward those who don’t rush them.
Final Thought
Some journeys impress you in the moment.
Others stay with you long after they’re over.
Dreamy train journeys fall into the second category.
They remind us that travel doesn’t have to be fast to be meaningful—and that sometimes, the most unforgettable experiences happen between destinations.
Once you experience travel this way, it’s hard not to crave the rails again.
