Ten European Rail Ideas: Scenic Lines, Excursions and Historical Pass Routes

A good train journey can be part of the holiday itself. Settle into your seat, put the bag away and let the landscape make the next move: a river bend, a mountain wall, a village suddenly appearing beyond the glass.

These ten rail ideas range from a single scenic line to journeys that need several bookings. Start with the four routes below, then compare the heritage, food and cross-border options that follow. Decide whether the main attraction is the view from the window, the places where you can stop or the train itself: those choices can lead to very different tickets on the same railway.

1. The Bernina route: an Alpine crossing into Italy

The Bernina line links high mountain scenery in Switzerland with Tirano in Italy. Lakes, railway engineering and the descent towards a warmer-looking valley give the journey a strong sense of transition.

The Rhaetian Railway’s Bernina Express page explains the panoramic train and its route options. Regional trains also use the line, so compare the service, stops and reservation arrangements rather than treating every Bernina journey as the same product.

The extension between Tirano and Lugano is a bus journey. Include that distinction when calculating travel time and deciding whether the combined itinerary suits you.

Check engineering notices as well: the operator lists a diversion for specific Bernina Express trains from 29 October to 13 November 2026. A train can still run while following a different route from the one in your favourite photograph.

2. The West Highland Line: choose your Scottish destination

From Glasgow, West Highland services head towards Oban or towards Fort William and Mallaig. Those branches lead to different coastal destinations, so choose the route that fits your wider plans.

If the Glenfinnan Viaduct is a priority, focus on the Fort William–Mallaig section. A regular passenger train and a separately operated steam excursion are different bookings; a railway’s film association does not mean every service is a steam train.

Use ScotRail’s journey planner and engineering updates for your date. Allow generous time before an onward ferry or another essential connection. Our Scotland travel feature offers ideas for giving the rail journey a wider setting.

3. The Rauma Railway: mountains towards the fjord

The Rauma line operated by SJ Norge runs between Dombås and Åndalsnes. It brings river and mountain scenery close to the window, with Åndalsnes providing a fjord-side destination at the end.

Check how the service connects with your arrival at Dombås and whether you want to stay in Åndalsnes. A return trip can be enjoyable, but an overnight stop gives you time to experience the place beyond the station.

Our Norway planning guide can help you compare this journey with other parts of the country. Resist adding a distant fjord simply because it appears nearby on a small map.

4. The Rhine route: a river journey with town stops

The railway along the Rhine between Koblenz and Bingen offers a different rhythm: river bends, hillside buildings and settlements that can become stops rather than passing scenery.

When using the Deutsche Bahn planner, check the route details. The fastest train between major cities may use a different line from the scenic section you want.

Choose one town stop if your ticket conditions allow it, and confirm the next departure before leaving the station. Lunch beside the river can be as much a part of the day as the train itself.

Before you book

Check daylight hours, the complete route, works, luggage arrangements and any separate reservation. A rail pass does not automatically include every supplement or guarantee a seat.

Leave enough space around the journey to enjoy it. Our Europe trip comparison helps you decide which destination deserves the days on either side of the train ride.

If you want to stay longer around the rail journey, our Swiss experience guide suggests ways to give the surrounding places time of their own.

British heritage by rail

British heritage by rail works best as a route built around a few historic places, rather than as the name of one railway. Dover, Bamburgh and Lindisfarne each need their own final approach and visiting time. Choose a castle first, establish the nearest useful station and check the connection between them. Include the return journey before adding a second site. An attraction pass and a rail ticket may cover different parts of the day, so compare what each actually includes.

Madrid to Oviedo

Madrid to Oviedo connects the Spanish capital with Asturias. Choose the train using its actual timetable and route, then allow time to experience Oviedo itself. An excursion towards the Picos de Europa is a separate travel decision; the destination's regional mountain scenery should not be confused with a promise about what the train passes through. If both city and mountains matter to you, assign each a proper part of the itinerary rather than treating arrival at the station as the end of the outing.

The Swiss Chocolate Train

The Montreux-area excursion links rail travel with visits associated with Gruyères and chocolate production. The precise combination of train, road transfer and included activities needs checking with the operator. An old photograph of a Belle Époque carriage does not establish that every leg of a present product uses that vehicle.

The Balkan Flexipass idea

The earlier list used a pass name to suggest travel through several Balkan countries. That is different from a continuous train operating across all the named borders. Before designing a trip, establish which passenger services actually run, whether the pass is currently sold and valid for them, and where a separate reservation or another mode of transport is needed.

Train des Pignes and the Nice–Digne corridor

The route through inland Provence adds valleys, villages and a different scale of railway to the list. The regular Nice–Digne service and heritage steam outings associated with the Train des Pignes name should be distinguished when booking. Decide whether your interest is a particular train experience or reaching places such as Entrevaux along the corridor.

The operator’s notice checked on 15 September 2026 states that the Saint-André–Digne section is replaced by coach during rehabilitation of the Moriez tunnel. Recheck the current notice before booking; the named corridor is not a guarantee of an uninterrupted rail journey on every date.

Venice to Munich

The Alpine journey links northeastern Italy with Bavaria through Austria. A direct service, when offered for your date, and a connection-based itinerary are different products. Read the actual route and engineering notices before expecting every landscape in an old description. The destination pair supplies the broad idea; the timetable determines the journey you will really make.