Ten Scenic Journeys: Railways, Coastal Roads and a Woodland Walk

A good journey can be the main event: a red train crossing a viaduct, a road curving between sea-washed islands or a railway disappearing into green hills. You do not always need another attraction waiting at the other end.

These three routes reward a little advance planning and enough time to enjoy the view. They also show why the name of a famous journey is only the beginning of choosing the right ticket or route.

Rhaetian Railway: an Alpine journey with different options

The Rhaetian Railway’s Albula and Bernina lines connect remarkable mountain scenery with ambitious railway engineering. The selected photographs show the Landwasser Viaduct and the curved Brusio spiral viaduct in different seasons.

The railway’s official website distinguishes its panoramic experiences from other services. Decide which section you want to travel, then check the exact train, departure station and reservation arrangements.

A Bernina-line journey towards Tirano crosses from Switzerland into Italy. Allow for the onward journey and the travel documents relevant to you, rather than assuming a return connection will fit automatically.

For photography, reduce reflections by keeping bright clothing and screens away from the window. Take a few pictures, then give yourself a stretch of the ride simply to look outside.

Atlantic Road, Norway: plan the pauses

The famous bridges form part of the wider Scenic Route Atlanterhavsvegen, which runs for 36 kilometres between Kårvåg and Bud. That is longer than the short bridge section often shown in photographs.

Use the route’s designated rest areas and viewpoints to enjoy the coast. Planning those stops lets the driver see the setting too, without trying to appreciate every angle while watching the road.

The official route guidance draws attention to strong winds and traffic for cyclists. Check road and weather conditions close to your journey; storm waves reaching the road are a reason to reconsider plans, not an attraction to pursue.

Our Norwegian fjord ideas can help you decide how this coastal drive fits into a wider regional trip without rushing across the country.

Serra Verde Express, Brazil: understand the full outing

Serra Verde Express sells train journeys between Curitiba and Morretes in Paraná, along with packages combining rail travel and road transfers.

Read the product carefully. A train ticket in one direction and a complete excursion with a return van are different purchases. Confirm the carriage category, boarding location, meals and return arrangements before comparing prices.

Leave time in Morretes if the itinerary allows. A meal or an unhurried walk gives the destination its own place in the day, instead of treating it only as the point where the train stops.

Match the journey to your preferred pace

For trains, choose between a continuous scenic ride and a route with useful stops. For driving, estimate the day using breaks as well as distance. A short scenic road can happily occupy longer than its mileage suggests.

Old “best drive” lists also need checking before reuse: Northern Ireland’s Dark Hedges, for example, is described by the tourism authority as a pedestrian visit, rather than a drive beneath the trees.

Our road-trip planning guide helps with the practical side. Give the journey enough space, and the view through the window becomes a part of the holiday you can actually remember.

1. Rhaetian Railway, Switzerland

The Albula and Bernina landscapes combine bridges, tunnels and changing mountain elevations. The complete original group includes several views rather than one representative red train. A route choice should distinguish the actual line and service, with the panorama journey explained above.

2. Atlantic Road, Norway

The bridge section makes the road appear to leap between low islands. The surrounding coast is as important as the engineering. The restored photographs include changing conditions, but wave-filled images are a record of weather rather than a reason to seek a storm crossing.

3. The Jacobite, Scottish Highlands

The Fort William-to-Mallaig journey is associated with the Glenfinnan Viaduct and Highland scenery. The original’s precise 2014 operating dates are historical and have been removed as booking advice. A visit should begin with the operator’s actual service information, followed by enough time at either end to enjoy the place as well as the train.

4. Lake Shore Drive, Chicago

Chicago’s lakefront route places the city skyline beside Lake Michigan. That juxtaposition is its central scenic feature: urban buildings and a broad water horizon share the same journey. Passengers can enjoy the changing view while the driver concentrates on an active city road; a separate stop is needed for relaxed photography.

5. Seven Mile Bridge, Florida

The Florida Keys crossing connects low islands across open water, with long lines and a relatively uncluttered horizon giving the photographs their character. The bridge is a transport link rather than an unrestricted place to stop. The old annual closure claim should not be used to predict an event schedule for another year.

6. Serra Verde Express, Paraná

The Brazilian railway’s mountain and forest setting creates an enclosed view that contrasts with the open sea bridges. The corrected Curitiba–Morretes visitor product is described above. The older claim of a fixed three-hour daily journey to Paranaguá is not carried forward as a current timetable.

7. Bixby Bridge, Big Sur

The arch and the coastal terrain make Bixby Bridge both an engineering subject and part of a larger landscape. A view from an authorised stopping place shows its form more clearly than a hurried photograph while crossing. The original linked it with the route south of Carmel; road access needs to be checked for the actual journey.

8. Maeklong Railway Market, Thailand

The market photographs show the close relationship between a working railway and surrounding stalls. That setting requires attention to staff, barriers and train movement. A widely repeated count of daily passages is not a reliable current schedule, and the tracks should never be used as a place to wait for a dramatic photograph.

9. The Dark Hedges, Northern Ireland

The avenue along Bregagh Road was associated with the approach to Gracehill House. Its interlacing branches create the tunnel-like view. This entry is now a woodland walk within the collection rather than advice to drive beneath the trees, as the pedestrian-access distinction above explains.

10. Sylvenstein Bridge, Bavaria

The bridge crosses the lake setting in the Isar valley, with mountain slopes framing the water. The photographs show how the road belongs within that larger view. Enjoy it from an appropriate stopping place and distinguish looking at the lake from choosing a separate, permitted walking or water activity.