Train Trips in Europe

Our Favorite Train Trips in Europe (Plus When to Take Them)

Most travel journalists at Locals Insider agree that traveling by train is one of the best ways to see the world. With its superb rail network and relatively low fees, Europe is perfect for train travel.  

The Jacobite Steam Train – The Harry Potter Train – is one of the best in Europe. 

While many Americans visit Europe for an interrail adventure every year, we want to show you some iconic rail trips beyond the interrail pass that may not be on your radar.  

From vintage locomotives in Scotland to luxurious multi-day trips in Southern Spain, join us as we introduce you to five of the best train trips in Europe in 2025, with details on when to take them.  

1: The Jacobite Steam Train | Scotland  

  • Route: Fort William to Mallaig (84 miles). 
  • From £69 ($84) per person. 
  • The best time to take the trip is September. 
The Jacobite Steam Train in Scotland. 

All aboard the Hogwarts Express, known to Scottish people as the Jacobite Steam Train. Undoubtedly one of the world’s most iconic rail trips, this steam loco traverses the Scottish Highlands, providing Potter fans with an insight into what it would be like for Harry, Ron, and Hermione as they boarded the Hogwarts Express for the very first time. 

The train ride begins in the town of Fort William before heading to the Glenfinnan Viaduct (the site where Harry nearly falls out of Ron’s flying car). The journey continues to the small Highland towns of Arisaig and Mallaig before returning to Fort William. 

You can book a standard or first-class seat on the Jacobite, with a morning service running between April and October every year. There’s also an afternoon service between May and September each year. 

A first-class return ticket costs £105 per person, while a standard return is £69. It’s not bad for a morning or afternoon of stunning mountain scenery and a trip on Europe’s most magical train.   

2: The Bernina Express | Switzerland 

Bernina Express Switzerland
  • Route: Chur (Switzerland) to Tirano (Italy) (89 miles). 
  • From €156 ($160) return. 
  • The best time to take the trip is at the height of winter when the mountains are at their most magnificent. 

From the Scottish Highlands to the Swiss Alps, there’s something truly mesmerizing about traversing snow-capped peaks aboard a train. The Bernina Express starts in Chur, Switzerland, and makes its way to Tirano, Italy, providing unbeatable views across Europe’s highest mountain peaks. 

You will journey through 55 tunnels and across 196 bridges as you travel from Switzerland to Italy, with the train line itself protected as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. 

Undoubtedly, the best part of the trip is the short stop at Ospizio Bernina, where you can gaze down on the stunningly turquoise Lago Bianco from a height of 7,390ft. 

The cost of a ticket depends on where you buy it from. For instance, a return ticket from Chur to Tirano is €156 per person, but you can pick and choose which parts of the route you would like to cover. 

3: Belmond British Pullman | England 

Belmond British Pullman
Photo credit: www.luxurytraintickets.com
  • Route: London Victoria loop. 
  • From £540 ($658) per person. 
  • The best time to take the trip is between March and October, subject to availability. 

The Belmond British Pulman experience transports you to the Golden Age of Rail Travel. Leaving London Victoria and taking you on a loop around the English countryside, this journey lasts about six hours and is the best in historical English rail travel. 

All reservations ensure a champagne reception followed by a delicious five-course meal with fine-dining silver service and half a bottle of wine per person. The trip around the Surrey Hills provides the perfect backdrop, while the experience onboard will take you back to the days of premier rail travel. 

Though expensive at £540 per person, it’s the ultimate in luxurious British rail travel and is on the bucket list of many a traveler. Book now to avoid disappointment in 2025, as most dates sell out several months in advance. 

4: Al Andalus Train | Spain  

Al Andalus Train
Photo credit: eltrenalandalus.com/
  • Route: Cadiz to Malaga (seven days)  
  • From €10,150 ($10,465) per person  
  • The best time to travel is May or June when the weather is bright, pleasant, and not too hot as it is at the height of summer.  

Spain might not immediately spring to mind when you think of luxurious rail travel, but the Al Andalus Train is of a different class and, in our view, one of the best train journeys in the world—if you can afford it.  

Starting at just over €10,000 for an all-inclusive seven-day journey, this train ride takes in Cadiz, Jerez, Sevilla, Cordoba, Granada, Ubeda, Baeza, Ronda, and Malaga, many of the most beautiful towns and cities of Southern Spain.  

It truly is the best way to experience everything Andalusia has to offer in unashamed luxury. Choose from a Grand Class (8 sq meters) or Deluxe Suite Room (9.9 sq meters) and enjoy three sumptuous meals per day, delicious wines, coffee, and snacks throughout your trip. 

The Deluxe Suite room has a wardrobe, safe, luggage compartment, minibar, air conditioning, and a private bathroom. During the day, the bed folds away, so your space becomes a gorgeous private living room.  

You will also receive tickets for museums and various excursions and a guided tour of the countryside you’re passing through.  

So, rather than booking into an exclusive resort on Spain’s south coast, why not reserve your ticket for a seven-day sojourn through the Andalusian heartlands for Europe’s best-kept secret of rail travel? 

5:  The Bergen Line | Norway 

  • Route: Oslo to Bergen (292 miles)  
  • From $79 one way. 
  • You can take this trip at any time of the year, but we recommend a journey between May and July for the best weather and views.  

The journey between Norway’s capital, Oslo, and Bergen is perhaps Northern Europe’s most scenic rail adventure. You will cross the Hardangervidda Plateau – Europe’s largest high mountain plateau – and enjoy unspoiled scenery across the adjacent national park.  

While you can simply sit back and relax for the 6-7 hour journey time, there are also numerous stops to make along the way if you want to extend your trip. For instance, Gol, Geilo, and Voss offer some of the best skiing in Europe if you visit during the winter, while Sognefjord is home to some of Norway’s most popular biking and hiking trails, ideal for spring and summer visitors.  

When you reach Bergen, spend a few days in this ancient Nordic city, exploring the quaint streets and shops before heading to the country’s fjords, which is the reason for most visits to Bergen. 

Travel on the Bergen Line is relatively inexpensive, with standard tickets starting at around $79 one way (the time and day of travel make a big difference to the cost – early morning and late night fares are the cheapest). First-class tickets for extra comfort start at $264 per seat one way. 

A train in Lavaux, Switzerland. 

The often-overlooked Al Andalus Train is genuinely one of Europe’s most remarkable travel experiences. It offers seven days of luxury on the rails. Though it doesn’t come cheap, it’s a wonderful way to see this stunning part of the continent.  

For shorter trips, both the Bergen Line and the Bernina Express are perfect for day-trippers in North and Central Europe, while the Jacobite Steam Train is a must-book for all Harry Potter fans.  

You may also want to read about the famous Amtrak Train or explore luxury train routes.

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