Venice Simplon-Orient-Express
Vintage cabins, formal evenings, and the romance of crossing Europe make the train itself the destination.
Quick Picks
VIA Rail’s The Canadian
Four nights between Toronto and Vancouver combine genuine sleeper-train life with huge changes in landscape.
Rocky Mountaineer
Daylight-only travel protects the views while hotel nights make the experience easier for travelers who do not want to sleep on a train.
Glacier Express
A full day links Zermatt and St. Moritz through Swiss mountain scenery in a panoramic carriage.
Grand Canyon Railway
A playful day trip from Williams pairs vintage-rail atmosphere with meaningful time at the South Rim.
Amtrak California Zephyr
Coach seats and private rooms make a dramatic Rockies-and-Sierra crossing accessible at several comfort levels.
Luxury Sleeper Trains
Venice Simplon-Orient-Express
Restored 1920s and 1930s carriages, polished service, and formal dining turn routes such as Paris–Venice into an occasion. Historic cabins are compact and some share bathrooms; suites add space and privacy. Choose this for atmosphere and celebration, not simply the fastest way between cities.
Royal Scotsman
An intimate sleeper train leaves Edinburgh for the Highlands, combining scenic rail days with castles, whisky, country houses, and guided outings. En-suite cabins simplify overnight travel, but the small train and fixed excursions make this closer to an escorted luxury journey than independent transportation.
Andean Explorer
This luxury sleeper crosses Peru’s high plateau between Cusco, Lake Titicaca, and Arequipa. Cabins, dining cars, and an observation lounge make the journey comfortable, but altitude is a real planning factor—acclimatize before boarding and check which direction fits the rest of the itinerary.
Eastern & Oriental Express
Seasonal round trips from Singapore combine lush Malaysian scenery with guided cultural and nature stops. The experience emphasizes glamorous cabins, dining, and service as much as rail mileage. It works especially well as a short centerpiece within a longer Singapore or Southeast Asia trip.
Epic Multi-Day Rail Crossings
The Canadian — Toronto to Vancouver
VIA Rail’s 4,406-kilometer crossing moves from northern Ontario lakes and prairie skies to the Rockies. Sleeper Plus and Prestige include beds and meal service; Economy means sleeping in a reclining seat. Delays can happen on the freight-owned route, so avoid a tight flight or cruise connection at the end.
The Ghan — Adelaide to Darwin
The Ghan crosses Australia’s red center with off-train experiences around places such as Alice Springs and Katherine. It is a packaged rail vacation with cabins, meals, drinks, and scheduled excursions—not a hop-on, hop-off train. Route length and inclusions vary by direction and departure.
Indian Pacific — Sydney to Perth
One of the world’s great east–west crossings links the Blue Mountains, outback towns, the Nullarbor Plain, and Western Australia. Long stretches are deliberately about scale and remoteness. Compare eastbound and westbound itineraries because duration and off-train stops are not identical.
Rovos Rail
Rovos operates elegant journeys from short Pretoria–Cape Town trips to major expeditions reaching Victoria Falls or Dar es Salaam. The unhurried pace, dressier dining, and small number of guests create an old-world house-party feeling. Study the exact route: some longer itineraries include flights, lodges, or substantial touring away from the train.
Scenic Mountain & Wilderness Routes
Rocky Mountaineer
Panoramic daytime trains connect Vancouver with mountain gateways such as Banff or Jasper, using hotel stays instead of sleeper cars so no scenery is missed after dark. The journey is polished and expensive; it makes the most sense when paired with several independent days in the Rockies rather than treated as the entire vacation.
Glacier Express — Zermatt to St. Moritz
This slow full-day journey links two mountain resorts through deep valleys, high passes, and dramatic bridges. It is not a sleeper and the panoramic train requires reservations in addition to a valid rail ticket. Consider traveling only part of the route if a full day seated feels too long.
Bernina Express — Chur or St. Moritz to Tirano
The UNESCO-listed Albula and Bernina lines climb past glaciers before descending toward palms and northern Italy. Panoramic cars require reservations, while regular regional trains cover much of the same railway with more flexibility. The route is easy to combine with an overnight in St. Moritz or onward travel in Italy.
Alaska Railroad Coastal Classic
The Anchorage–Seward route follows Turnagain Arm and reaches roadless mountain scenery before arriving at Resurrection Bay. Adventure Class works for value; GoldStar adds a glass dome, outdoor viewing platform, and meals. Take it one way with a Seward stay, or accept that a same-day round trip is long.
Family-Friendly & Historic Rail Adventures
Grand Canyon Railway
The daily train from Williams reaches the South Rim with several hours to explore before returning, and onboard Western entertainment gives children more than scenery to watch. It removes the drive and parking, but a rail day allows less canyon time than staying overnight inside or near the park.
Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad
Historic steam and diesel trains follow the Animas River through rugged San Juan Mountain country. The full Durango–Silverton round trip is memorable but very long for young children; a one-way train paired with a motorcoach, or a shorter seasonal route, can be the smarter family choice.
Great Smoky Mountains Railroad
Round trips from Bryson City cross trestles and follow rivers, forest, and Fontana Lake toward the Nantahala Gorge or Tuckasegee River. It is an approachable add-on to a Smokies vacation, with seasonal themed trips for children. Choose the route and car class carefully because scenery, duration, meals, and open-air access differ.
Amtrak California Zephyr
The public long-distance train links Chicago and the San Francisco Bay Area through the Rockies and Sierra Nevada. Coach is the budget adventure; roomettes and bedrooms provide beds and include dining. Bring flexibility for delays, and consider boarding in Denver if the mountain scenery matters more than completing the entire crossing.
How to Choose a Railroad Trip
Know where you will sleep
A sleeper train keeps you onboard overnight; a scenic rail package may put you in a hotel. Check whether your fare buys a reclining seat, roomette, private cabin, or en-suite bedroom.
Compare a train ticket with a rail vacation
Public trains sell transportation and optional sleeping space. Luxury trains often bundle meals, drinks, hotels, transfers, and guided excursions, which changes both the price and the amount of independence.
Protect the arrival day
Long-distance passenger trains can be delayed, especially where freight traffic has priority. Leave a buffer before a cruise, international flight, wedding, or other fixed event.
Match the route to the traveler
A nine-hour heritage railway can be magical for an enthusiast and exhausting for a small child. Consider motion, stairs, corridor width, shared bathrooms, and how often passengers can get off the train.
Check the season in both directions
Snow, wildfire smoke, monsoon weather, daylight hours, and seasonal schedules change the view. The same named train may also include different excursions depending on direction or departure date.
Price the entire journey
Add hotels before and after, luggage rules, transfers, reserved seats, meals, gratuities, and one-way flights. A premium rail package may include far more than its headline fare suggests—but not always.
Keep Planning
Bucket-List Trips
Compare memorable landscapes, wildlife encounters, and once-in-a-lifetime itineraries beyond the rails.
U.S. Road Trips
Choose flexible driving routes when stops, luggage, and an independent schedule matter more than the train itself.