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You ride trains to watch the world unfold at a human pace. Windows turn into moving postcards, dining cars become small stories, and stations teach you more about a country than an airport ever will. The routes below mix engineering feats with everyday lines locals love, so you can pair big scenery with simple meals and real conversations. Travel light, book seats on the side with the views, and linger between legs. If you end each day unhurried and full, you chose the right track.
Switzerland
Switzerland rewards rail travelers with precision and drama. The Glacier Express threads Oberalp passes and deep valleys, while the Bernina line climbs to glacier views before dropping into palm trees at Tirano. Local lake steamers sync with timed trains, so a day can flow from cog railways to ferries without a scramble. Sit on the right toward Chur, carry a picnic, and watch viaducts stack like sculpture as villages slide by in perfect order. In winter the timetables keep faith, and in summer wildflowers paint every slope.
Japan
Japan balances speed with ritual. Shinkansen trains hum between cities with to-the-minute grace, then branch to local lines like the Gono or Sanriku where coasts and fishing towns unfold in long, quiet arcs. Buy an ekiben at the platform, bow to the attendant who checks your ticket, and let the scenery slip past in measured beats. On Hokkaido, winter adds powder and silence; on Kyushu, steam lines and hot spring towns turn a timetable into a gentle itinerary.
India
India gives you grandeur and grit in the same carriage. The Darjeeling Himalayan Railway winds past tea gardens on tiny tracks, while the Konkan route hangs above surf and red earth between tunnels and bridges. Long distance classics like the Rajdhani teach the rhythm of chai vendors and berth chats as stations roll by like chapters. Book an upper berth for sleep, carry spare rupees for snacks, and watch the countryside change flavor every hundred miles without leaving your seat.
Canada
Canada stretches the map under your window. The train from the Prairies to the Rockies climbs into peaks that catch late light, while the Rocky Mountaineer and VIA Rail coast routes serve glacier valleys, rivers, and long blue lakes. Sleepers turn travel into a soft ritual of dining bells and corridor talks. Pack layers, step off at Jasper or Kamloops for fresh air, and watch dawn pull pink across ranges that feel endless until the next bend proves they are not.
Norway
Norway builds tracks that belong to the landscape. The Flåm Railway drops from alpine snow to a fjord in a single album of waterfalls and dark tunnels, while the Nordland line crosses the Arctic Circle with wide sky and reindeer country. In winter, snow smooths the curves; in summer, light lingers into night so views refuse to end. Bring snacks, ride both directions if you can, and let ferry links and local buses turn rails into a graceful coastal loop.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom hides romance in its regular timetables. Scotland’s West Highland Line rolls past lochs and moorland, crossing the Glenfinnan Viaduct with the sea winking beyond. Further south, the Settle to Carlisle route cuts through Pennine fells on noble stone arches, and Cornwall’s branches dive for small harbors. Buy tea, sit on the left toward Mallaig, and leave time to wander station bookshops where railway history still smells like ink and coal.
Italy
Italy blends high speed with village hops. Frecciarossa links Milan, Florence, and Rome in a blur, but the Cinque Terre local line is where you slow down to watch terraces and coves appear between tunnels. In South Tyrol, narrow gauge trains meet cable cars so you can step from platform to meadow in minutes. Sit near a window that opens, order espresso at the bar instead of your seat, and let stations whisper local names that you will want to learn by heart.
Spain
Spain serves contrasts on steel rails. AVE trains fold the map between Madrid, Seville, and Barcelona, then narrow gauge lines along the north coast drift through fishing towns and green mountains at a gentler tempo. The Costa Verde Express and Al Andalus revive old world comfort, but a simple Cercanías can be just as sweet at sunset. Reserve a window, bring olives and turrón, and watch Roman bridges, castles, and orchards pass like a travel essay you can read out loud.
Austria
Austria rides cleanly through deep valleys. The Semmering Railway, a pioneer of mountain engineering, threads viaducts and tunnels with easy grace, while the Arlberg line opens to glacier peaks and carved timber villages. Trains connect with lakeside steamers and alpine buses, so day trips feel seamless without a car. Sit in the panorama coach if offered, taste a bakery pretzel in the station, and time a stop in Innsbruck where the river makes the mountains feel close enough to touch.
New Zealand
New Zealand turns rail into a moving lookout. The TranzAlpine crosses the Southern Alps from plains to braided rivers and tussock, with open air vestibules that make photographers giddy. The Coastal Pacific slides between vineyards and a cliff hung shore where seals nap within sight of the tracks. Bring a light jacket even in summer, order a pie in the cafe car, and watch peaks and surf trade places as if the island cannot decide which view to keep for you.
South Africa
South Africa gives you distance and style. The Blue Train and Rovos Rail polish the experience with crystal and calm, while regular services turn the Karoo and Highveld into wide screen. Routes near the Cape bring vineyards, mountains, and the ocean in quick rotation. Dress smart at dinner on the luxury lines, or keep it simple on regional trains and watch towns slide into scrub and back again. Either way, windows frame a country that rewards slow travel and open eyes.
Peru
Peru pairs Andean drama with careful hospitality. The trains to Machu Picchu follow the Urubamba River under cliffs where orchids cling, while the route across the altiplano to Puno lays out high plains, llamas, and sky that feels endless. Carriages serve coca tea, musicians pass through with soft songs, and windows bow out for better views. Acclimate in Cusco, pack layers even in sun, and watch the light change the same mountain six times between breakfast and tea.
United States
The United States rewards patience with scale. The California Zephyr climbs the Rockies and carves along the Colorado River, the Coast Starlight tracks surf and forests, and the Empire Builder crosses plains into a skyline of peaks. Sleeper rooms turn long miles into a rolling retreat with coffee at sunrise. Expect delays, bring snacks, and lean into conversation in the diner where maps come out and strangers become guides. The country makes sense at rail speed.
Germany
Germany’s rails run like a promise. ICE trains stitch major cities at a clean clip, while regional routes along the Rhine and Moselle wrap castles and vineyards into one steady panorama. The Black Forest Railway threads loops and tunnels that feel like a magic trick from the cab. Bring a day pass, hop off for a village bakery, and reboard the next service without stress. It is orderly, scenic, and easy to love from a second class window with a pretzel and a plan.
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka gives you color at walking speed. The hill country train from Kandy to Ella slides past tea gardens, waterfalls, and small stations where vendors sell snacks through open doors. On the coast, tracks keep the sea in view for long, bright miles. Buy a reserved seat, then take turns by the open doorway for photos and wind. The journey is social and gentle, and every bend delivers another green valley or a line of palms that seems to wave you onward.