Europe's Most Beautiful Train Routes: Travel and Leisure's Top 5 Train Trips

Europe’s rail routes have long gone beyond being mere transportation links and have become tourist destinations in their own right. Travel and Leisure magazine has compiled a list of the five most spectacular train journeys across the continent—from Provence in France to the Balkan Mountains and the Italian coast. Learn more about Europe’s picturesque train routes, their unique features, and key scenic highlights

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Traveling by train remains one of the most popular ways to experience Europe from the inside. Rail routes wind through mountains, along coastlines, through historic cities, and past picturesque villages, and the journey itself becomes part of the travel experience. The scenery outside the window changes gradually, allowing passengers to see countries, regions, and natural areas in their natural sequence. Travel and Leisure has compiled a selection of the continent’s most spectacular train routes. We’ll tell you about five of them in this article.

Are you planning a train trip along one of Europe’s scenic routes?

Travel insurance from the Visit World portal provides financial protection while traveling through European countries and is valid for the entire duration of your trip.

Train des Pignes: a route through Provence from Digne-les-Bains to Nice

One of the most famous scenic train routes in France is unofficially known as the “Train des Pignes.” The Train des Pignes runs between Digne-les-Bains and Nice, connecting the inland regions of Provence with the Mediterranean coast. The total travel time is about three and a half hours.

Along the way, passengers see typical Provençal landscapes: mountains, forests, rivers, and small French villages. During the right season, lavender fields can also be seen from the windows, adding a special atmosphere to the route. Travel advisor Sarah Pardi notes that the train is famous precisely for its scenery, and the cars have been specially renovated—they now feature larger windows for a comfortable view of the countryside from any seat.

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Zurich–Milan: A Train Journey Through Switzerland and Italy

The route between Zurich and Milan connects two countries and passes through some of the most famous Alpine regions. What would normally be a routine trip between major cities turns into a full-fledged tourist journey here, thanks to the scenery unfolding outside the window.

Passengers can see the Swiss Alps, lakes, green hills, and picturesque towns.

Among the route’s main visual highlights are Lake Lugano and the scenery around Lake Como, closer to the Italian border. The train travels part of the way through the Gotthard Base Tunnel, but this does not detract from the overall spectacle of the journey.

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Budapest–Transylvania Night Train: A Rail Adventure to Romania

For travelers who appreciate less obvious destinations, the night train from Budapest to Transylvania is a great choice. The route runs from Hungary to one of the most atmospheric regions of Romania and can take about 17 hours to reach Bucharest. This kind of trip goes beyond a simple journey and turns into a full-fledged rail adventure.

For many passengers, the highlight is waking up in the Carpathians. Fearless Abroad founder Leah Marie Young recalled waking up in a sleeper car and seeing the sunrise over the mountains through the window: a misty orange sky, a cross atop a mountain, and a man in a horse-drawn cart amid the fields. The region of Transylvania has long been associated with castles, legends, and the mystical image of Eastern Europe, so the journey here sets the right mood all on its own.

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Belgrade–Bar: A Train Route Through the Balkans

The railway route between the Serbian capital of Belgrade and the Montenegrin port of Bar is often called one of the most spectacular in the Balkan region. The route winds through mountains, canyons, valleys, bridges, and lesser-known towns that rarely make it into mainstream travel guides.

The Montenegrin section of the route is considered particularly spectacular. The train winds through the mountains, passing through gorges and sections where the railroad tracks follow the natural contours of the terrain. The scenery here changes constantly, so the journey never feels monotonous, even over long stretches.

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Cinque Terre Express: A Short Route Along the Italian Coast

The Cinque Terre Express is one of the shortest routes in this selection and, at the same time, ranks among the most beautiful train journeys in Italy. The train connects the cities of Levanto and La Spezia with the five famous villages of the Cinque Terre region. The route includes the following villages:

• Monterosso;
• Vernazza;
• Corniglia;
• Manarola;
• Riomaggiore.

The practical value of this route lies in the ease of traveling between the villages without complicated logistics. The train itself travels through very picturesque scenery: the tracks run along the coast, through tunnels, and along cliffs. Outside the window, passengers see colorful houses, marinas, and the open sea, making even short trips part of the travel experience.

Travel Insurance for Trips Through Europe

Planning a train trip through Europe involves more than just choosing a route and booking tickets. Since such trips often cross several countries—France, Italy, Switzerland, Hungary, Romania, Serbia, or Montenegro—it’s important to arrange travel insurance with appropriate geographic coverage in advance.

The Visit World portal offers travel insurance with coverage for European countries that is valid along the entire route and provides financial protection during your trip.

Purchase an insurance policy online on the Visit World portal to prepare for your train trip through Europe in advance!

Reminder! In our previous article, we discussed where to go on vacation in August 2026.

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