Want to know the secret to seeing the best of Europe, without spending too much money, and while feeling classier than a 17th century aristocrat? Take one of these trains.
Snow-capped mountains in Switzerland. Hogwarts-like scenery in England. Shimmering lakes in the Balkans. Pastel coloured houses in Cinque Terre. What do all these things have in common? You can see them all via train. Speaking of which, here are the coolest train journeys you can take in Europe this summer - with one of them costing a mere $8.
During the summer months (from March 16 until November 3, 2024), The Cinque Terre Express runs every 20 minutes between the Cinque Terre villages, stopping in Levanto, Monterosso, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola, Riomaggiore and La Spezia.
Average journey time: depends where you get on and off
Price: Between A $8-16 (depending on what time of year you visit)
A train line as romantic as a poet in a puffy shirt, the Alberg Line Scenic Train from Innsbruck to Bludenz takes you through Austria's mountainous state of Tyrol, giving you views of the iconic 'Trisanna Bridge', the Wiesberg castle and the verdant meadows of the Paznaun valley. Even better? This route is included in a Eurail Pass. If you don't have a Eurail Pass you can book your Innsbruck to Bludenz trip at Rail Europe.
Average journey time: 1h 51 minutes.
Price: From $17 (one way)
Picture: left, Get Your Guide, right, Eurail
The Bernina Express is one of the most famous rail journeys in the world, zooming through 55 tunnels and chugging over 196 bridges on its way from Chur/St Moritz in Switzerland to Tirano, Italy (or vice versa), taking passengers on a stunning 144km journey over the alps. Highlights of the trip include stunning views over the Bernina mountains, the Morteratsch glacier, the Alp Grüm, the Brusio Circular Viaduct and the three lakes Lej Pitschen, Lej Nair and Lago Bianco. What makes it most famous though is the moment you roll over the 65-metre-high Landwasser Viaduct, the signature structure of the Rhaetian Railway and a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Average journey time: 4.5 hours
Price: If you already have a Swiss Travel Pass or Swiss Travel Pass Flex you just need to pay a reservation fee of A $60. If not, it's more like A $174 for a Saver Day Pass + reservations. For more information on pricing head to My Swiss Alps.
Take in top notch views of Austria's lake district on the Salzkammergut Railway from Stainach-Irdning to Attnang-Puchheim. Valleys, cliffs and lakes await on the 171km journey.
Average journey time: 2 hours, 11 minutes
Prices: from A $39
A heritage experience with heavy Hogwarts Express vibes, this train takes you 101km from Settle to Carlisle, crossing the Ribblehead Viaduct in the Yorkshire Dales along the way.
Average journey time: 1 hour 40 minutes
Price: From A $20
A wild feat of engineering, the Belgrade-to-Bar Railway is the legacy of Yugoslav communist revolutionary Tito, who wanted to connect Belgrade with the Montenegro coast, mountains and gorges be damned. The train dips and weaves 455 kilometres through steep hills and valleys, shooting over 435 bridges and 254 tunnels providing you with a range of spectacular scenery to feast your eyes on.
Average trip time: 11 hours
Price: From A $38 one way
Pictures:@julialobasheva
Widely acknowledged as one of Europe's most beautiful train lines, The Bergen Line was built in 1909 and runs between Norway's two largest cities, Oslo and Bergen, passing over spectacular highlands and 182 tunnels. It's Northern Europe's highest railway line, and Finse - one of the stations along the way - is Northern Europe's highest train station, sitting an impressive 1,222 metres above sea level.
Average journey time: between 6 hours 32 minutes and 7 hours 23 minutes (depending on whether you catch a day- or night train)
Price: From A $165
Picture: Visit Bergen
Railway romance personified (or should that be train-ified?), the GoldenPass Belle Epoque Train is a 5.5-hour scenic trip on various trains between Lucerne and Montreux. It's all about the luxurious interior, but the views are amazing too.
Average journey time: 5.5 hours
Price: From A $130
Pictures: @havanattan
The 'Transcantabrico' train is a lavish 8 day, 7 night adventure through the north of Spain. It's a commitment, but one well worth the effort if you want to visit Santander, Oviedo, Gijón and Bilbao, travelling across the top of Spain on a hotel on wheels.
Average journey time: 8 days
Price: From A $24,824 for a single room
Are we doomed to stay anxiously attached?
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