Even if you spend your whole life traveling around Europe, you still cannot discover all the beauty of this continent. However, 5-star train trips will give you new experiences that you can hardly have if you travel by car or plane.
Here are 7 luxury train journeys that will take you around Europe and explore breathtaking landscapes:
7. Venice Simplon-Orient-Express (UK)
Itinerary: London – Venice, Venice – Paris, Brussels – Venice, Istanbul – Bucharest, Bucharest – Venice
Cost: 47 - 110 million VND/turn
The Venice Simplon Orient-Express is one of the most famous luxury railway trains in the world - featuring a system of classic carriages restored to the original 1920s with intact mosaics.
Excellent service and serious in neat, professional uniforms. Just sit in your cabin and press a few buttons, a few minutes later, champagne, vodka or tea will be brought by the staff.
The interior architecture is polished brass, smooth wood and has art glass designed by Lalique, a famous French designer. All dishes on board will be prepared by the hands of top French chefs with the quality of the excellent French restaurant.
6. The Glacier Express (Switzerland)
Itinerary: St. Moritz to Zermatt, Switzerland
Cost: 4.8 million VND/turn
This 7+ hour journey starts from St Moritz, Chur or Davos (summer only) and takes you to Zermatt.
At an altitude of more than 2,000m, the train will run for more than 128km through the Swiss Alps. On the trip, visitors will pass through 291 bridges and 91 tunnels, cross the Oberalp Pass at an altitude of 2,033m, and admire the beauty of the river below along with many castles and charming towns of Switzerland.
5. Belmond Royal Scotsman (UK)
Itinerary: London – Edinburgh, Edinburgh – Keith – Dundee – Edinburgh, Edinburgh – Glasgow – Keith – Perth – Scarborough – York – Cambridge – Oxford – Bath – Chester – Edinburgh.
Cost: 25 - 70 million VND/turn
This train takes you straight into the heart of the Scottish Highlands, offering a wonderful experience of the tranquillity of the countryside. Each cabin is lavishly decorated with ivory woodwork, antique paintings...
All have private bathrooms with showers, sinks, constant hot water, are immaculately clean and have fresh towels every day. Amenities include beds, dressing tables, full wardrobes suitable for all ages, high-tech heating, ceiling fans, windows that open along with room service that can be easily called via a phone in the cabin.
The observation lounge features a dome-shaped window design that allows passengers to easily admire the natural scenery outside, along with a particularly luxurious interior to help Belmond Royal Scotsman make this list.
4. Alaska Railroad (USA)
Itinerary: Anchorage/ Denali/ Fairbanks/ Girdwood/ Grandview/ Portage/ Seward, Spencer Whistle Stop, Talkeetna, Whittier.
Cost: 44 - 73 million VND/turn
Alaska Railroad is famous for its vaulted ceiling windows throughout its cars, inspired by movies like “Runaway Train" or "Into the Wild."
If you want to enjoy the beauty of Alaska, Alaska Railroad Vacations is a suitable choice. This tour also takes you to visit national parks such as Fairbanks, Denali, Kenai Fjords, Talkeetna and Alyeska.
To further introduce Alaskan life, the Alaska Railroad Vacations tour program also helps visitors experience many activities such as wildlife viewing, dog sledding, walking, ice viewing, and river exploration on a 500-mile journey.
3. Danube Express (Hungary)
Itinerary: Istanbul to Prague via Bulgaria, Transylvania, Hungary, Austria, Slovakia and Poland.
Cost: 75 - 103 million VND/trip (4 days)
Dubbed as the most luxurious sleeper train in Europe, the Danube Express hopes to give passengers the experience of staying in a grand hotel.
All the items on the train are decorated with copper, giving an ancient feel, plus full amenities such as Wifi, high-tech fireplace,... It is not surprising that Danube Express is at number 3 on the list.
So, all you need to do is sit back, relax and enjoy the scenery around you.
2. Napa Valley Wine Train (USA)
Itinerary: Napa Valley, California
Cost: 6.9 million VND/turn
True to its name, the “Napa Valley Wine” is a private train that takes visitors on a tour of the vineyards and wineries in Napa Valley, California.
This three-hour journey departs from Napa and travels to the St. Helena Wine Valley and back. Along the way, you will have the opportunity to admire the beauty of the five villages of Napa, Yountville, Oakville, Rutherford and St. Helena through a series of windows on the cars.
The dining car has been restored to the style of the 1915-1917 period, giving you the feeling of having traveled through time.
Especially when you come to the winery in Napa Valley, you will participate in a wine tasting session which is one of the highlights of this tour.
1. Flam Railway (Norway)
Journey: Flam to Myrdal, Norway
Cost: 1.4 million VND/turn
This is definitely the most budget-friendly train ride on this list. It travels through the steep mountains of Norway, the Rallar line, which climbs to around 1000m.
From above, visitors can see the fjords below with a depth of about 863m. This is considered the most unique and busiest railway line in the world as it passes through the valleys, 20 tunnels and majestic waterfalls of Norway.
