«It's not the destination that counts, it's the journey», wrote Jack London. In the age of responsible tourism and ‘sensible’ travel, train travel is an ideal solution. Ecological, practical and offering a multitude of combinations! We've selected some of Europe's most beautiful rail routes for you. Try them out just for the fun of it.
Switzerland - Bernina Express - From glaciers to palm trees
The Swiss canton of Graubünden as you've never seen it before! Crossing the Alps on the Bernina Express is undoubtedly one of the most spectacular rail routes. From Chur to Tirano, this train travels on 144 km no less than 55 tunnels and spans 196 bridges. Travellers discover extraordinary sights such as the Montebello bend, which offers a view of the Bernina chain. Or the Morteratsch glacier, the three lakes Lej Pitschen, Lej Nair and Lago Bianco, the alpe de Grüm and, as you approach the Italian border, the Brusio spiral viaduct, which rotates 360° through nine arches. Another must-see is the 65-metre-high Landwasser viaduct, the landmark of the Bernina Express. The line is so incredible that it has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. In just a few hours, you'll travel past high mountains and glaciers to reach the palm trees and sunshine of Italy.
Link: Chur-Tirano.
Duration: 4 hours.
Infos : www.rhb.ch.
Our tip: book a seat in a panoramic carriage with huge picture windows.
Norway - Flåmsbana - The rails of vertigo
If you're passing through the fjord region, don't miss this short train journey. It's a short journey, but it's guaranteed to take in some of Scandinavia's most extraordinary scenery. Just imagine: the train departs from Flåm, at sea level, but quickly climbs to an altitude of almost 1,000 meters. Green meadows and old wooden farmhouses soon give way to a wilder landscape. This route, Europe's steepest, is punctuated by some truly scenic passages, with plunging, vertiginous views. At Kjosfossen, the caterpillar stops for a close-up view of this 93 m-high waterfall, which roars just a few metres from the tracks. The train is equipped with mobile panoramic windows to take photos and capture the sounds of nature and waterfalls. End at the hamlet of Myrdal. From here, some return to Flåm on the same train, or by hiking or cycling, while others take another train to Oslo or Bergen.
Link: Flåm-Myrdal.
Duration: 2h return.
Infos : www.norwaysbest.com.
Our tip: in winter, the Flåmsbana also serves as a ski lift!
Photo: Visit Norway
Portugal - Douro Railway - A river... and a train
For a change from the classic river cruise, board the Douro Railway in Porto. This 203 km was opened in 1887 after gigantic construction work, including the boring of the 26 tunnels and the construction of 30 bridges. The steep relief of this valley gives an idea of the scale of the project. The first hour of the journey is fairly conventional, but from Peso da Régua onwards, the railroad approaches the river, offering some vertiginous passages. The journey continues through the terraced vineyards, skirting the Douro a few dozen meters below, to the Pinhão station, one of the most beautiful in the country, decorated with azulejo panels depicting the work of the vine and the landscapes of the region. The final stretch, to Pocinho, is often considered one of the most beautiful in Europe.
Link: Porto-Pocinho.
Duration: 3h30.
Infos : www.cp.pt.
Our tip: from Tua station, you can make another trip to Mirandela via the Tua Line, another famous work of civil engineering.
Corse - U Trinichellu - The trembling train
It's known as the «trinichellu» or «trembling little train». Like a gondola mounted on rails, this motley collection of small wagons used to criss-cross the railroad line between Bastia and Ajaccio (close to 160 km in total) like a disjointed puppet. Today's new cars offer panoramic windows and a high level of comfort. The train's rugged route winds its way between rock faces, crosses several mountains, goes underground, stops on the route of the mythical GR20 and in the historic town of Corte, crosses torrents, encounters the «bride's veil», a magnificent waterfall overlooking the line, and finally follows the river to the tropical atmosphere of the Gulf of Ajaccio, which it skirts on its final stretch. Corsica by train is guaranteed to thrill!
Connection: Bastia-Ajaccio.
Duration: 4 hours.
Infos : www.train-corse.com.
Our tip: at Ponte Leccia, you can get off and take the other line, which goes to Calvi and stops at several beaches.
Italy - Frecciarossa Rome-Palermo - A train on the sea
This fast train is a wonderful alternative for linking the Italian capital with Sicily's main city. An island that can be reached by rail without leaving your seat! Instead of the night train, opt for a 7:30 a.m. departure from Rome to take advantage of daylight and admire the magnificent scenery that the south of the boot has to offer. The line frequently skirts the coast, offering otherwise impossible views of this often steep coastline. Sometimes nonchalant, sometimes nervous, it peaks at over 400 km/h on certain sections. Once we reach Sicily, the most surprising thing happens: the train embarks on... a ferry to cross the strait to Messina.
Connection: Rome-Palermo.
Duration: 9h50 minimum.
Infos : www.trenitalia.com.
Our tip: extend your rail journey on the extensive Sicilian network, with its often very vintage carriages...
Serbia/Montenegro - The Belgrade-Bar line - The most beautiful line in the Balkans
The historic Belgrade-Bar line linking Serbia and Montenegro is one of the most spectacular in Europe. Put into service in 1976, it winds through the Serbian mountains, crosses a small part of Bosnia-Herzegovina and passes over the border between Serbia and Montenegro. 435 bridges and in 254 tunnels to the Adriatic coast. If you're a fan of comfortable, punctual, air-conditioned travel, you may be missing out, but you're probably missing out on one of the most spectacular ways to travel to Montenegro. One of the highlights of this route, which winds its way through mountains and canyons, is the Mala Rijeka Viaduct, which has long been the world's most famous viaduct. highest railway bridge in the world.
Connection: Belgrade-Bar.
Duration: 11 hours.
Info: www.zpcg.me.
Our tip: take some drinks and provisions on board, but also... some toilet paper.
Scotland - West Highland Line - The Hogwarts Line
Is it the rugged beauty of the Highland landscape or the shifting light of Scotland? Whatever the case, many refer to this line of 264 km as one of the most beautiful on the planet. Leaving Glasgow, its route heads north, skirting the River Clyde before reaching Loch Lomond, the island's largest lake. The West Highland Line then crosses the 130 km moorland of Rannoch Moor. As you approach Fort William, the silhouette of Ben Nevis, the highest peak in the UK, rises into view. But the highlight of the trip is the Glenfinnan viaduct, The 21 30-metre-high arches span the river in a circular arc. The train then skirts Loch Morar, the deepest loch in Scotland, and the river of the same name, the shortest in the country, before reaching the terminus station: Mallaig, port of embarkation for the Hebrides.
Link: Glasgow-Mallaig.
Duration: 5 hours.
Infos : www.scotrail.co.uk.
Our tip: whether you're a Harry Potter fan or not, take the famous steam train (the «Hogwarts Express» of the saga) in summer (June to October), which runs on the section of line between Fort William and Mallaig.
Austria - Semmering - Historical feat
Opened in 1854, it is the first line built in the mountains on the European continent, and the first to be listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The number of engineering structures it has required is immeasurable: 16 viaducts, more than a hundred bridges, 15 tunnels... so well designed and built that they are still in use today. These 41 km of railroad lines are full of surprises! Its harmonious design is also considered to embrace and even magnify the landscape of the region through which it passes, which has attracted travellers from the outset and led to the construction of hotels and second homes.
Vienna-Mürzzuschlag connection.
Running time: 1h15.
Infos : www.oebb.at.
Our tip: complete your discovery by following the 17 km hiking trail along the track.
The Orient-Express, king of trains
A legend. For almost a century, the Orient-Express has carried the greatest fortunes and crowned heads, smugglers and spies, and inspired the greatest writers. Adorned with finest materials, In 1977, the last historic Orient-Express entered the Istanbul station. Rehabilitated in 1982 under the name Venice-Simplon-Orient-Express, it still runs Pullman cars of the thirties and a high-flying service that now links some of the continent's most beautiful cities. Paris, London, Venice, Vienna, Berlin... all destinations that can be reached in the most romantic way.
Infos : www.belmond.com/venice-simplon-orient-express.
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