The most amazing train journeys from all around the world
Travelling by train is perhaps one of the best ways to see a country.
Not only do you get to avoid airports and traffic, but you also get a chance to get out of the city and really get a feel for the place.
Most train journeys across the globe are absolutely stunning, winding through sparsely-populated countryside and offering once-in-a-lifetime views.
Lonely Planet has rounded up the absolute best train journeys across the globe, in the new book Amazing Train Journeys of the World.
Read through to discover our top picks.
The Ghan, Australia
This 54-hour journey cuts vertically through the heart of Australia, from Adelaide to Darwin.
On this trip, prepare to get rid of the misconception is that Central Australia is a whole lotta nothing.
Luxurious and legendary, The Ghan is Australia's high-class version of the Orient Express, with breathtaking views at every turn.
The TranzAlpine, New Zealand
Taking a scenic train ride in Aotearoa was rated by the New York Times as one of their top things to do in 2024 - and one look at the scenery explains exactly why.
The TranzAlpine runs daily between Christchurch and Greymouth, climbing through the snow-capped mountains of the Southern Alps and descending into the west coast of the South Island and its many fields and streams.
The Bernina Express, Switzerland
Of course one of the most beautiful train journeys is going to be in Switzerland. It runs on the highest railway tracks in Europe and the steepest in the world.
This route crosses into northern Italy and though it lasts less than four hours, you'll spend the whole time glued to the windows.
The Bernina Express winds through bright green meadows, past ice-blue lakes and snow-capped mountains as far as the eye can see.
The Reunification Express, Vietnam
This train journey runs alongside the South China Sea as it travels between Hue and Hoi An. Spanning nearly the length of the country, the train line took nearly 40 years to complete.
The two-day journey is one of the most epic overnight trains in the world, rattling through cities, plains, and alongside the sparkling ocean.
California Zephyr, USA
The California Zephyr is a stunning 52-hour train journey that winds across the US, from Chicago to San Francisco.
