25 of the greatest rail journeys around the world

The wonderful Jacobite steam train takes rail holidaymakers from Fort William to Mallaig on an 84-mile steam-hauled journey through spectacular Scottish Highland scenery.

You’ll encounter craggy coastlines and sparkling loch waters on a route that’s packed with superlatives.

One highlight is passing over the amazing 21-arch Glenfinnan Viaduct, just like Harry Potter did in the films.

Experience the Jacobite, along with a Loch Katrine cruise and a ride on the Falkirk Wheel during a four-day Scottish steam adventure, which includes the chance to meet presenter Carol Kirkwood.

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The iconic Rocky Mountaineer train takes passengers across the dramatic wilderness of Canada’s epic mountain range the Rockies, weaving through tunnels across glacial rivers and verdant woods.

It offers a chance to spot grizzly bears, golden eagles and other alpine wildlife from its panoramic windows for a world-class rail holiday.

There are routes through Jasper, Banff, Lake Louise, Kamloops, Whistler and Vancouver, and because the train only ever travels during daylight hours, you'll be able to enjoy astonishing views of Canada's scenery as you travel.

Ride the Rocky Mountaineer through Canada's stunning scenery on an unforgettable 13-day tour of Canada and Alaska.

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An excellent rail line for anyone wanting to take in the beauty of the Italian and Swiss Alps is the breathtaking Bernina Express, which offers scenic European train travel at its finest.

This world-famous alpine train route takes passengers from Tirana in Italy to St Moritz in Switzerland, passing stunning mountain tops and pristine lakes along the way.

The spacious, panoramic carriages provide a unique viewpoint for you to admire the best of Switzerland’s scenery on a rail holiday you'll never forget.

Travel on the Bernina Express to St Moritz on Good Housekeeping's eight-day trip to Italy and Switzerland.

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One of Britain's best heritage railways is the North Norfolk Railway, or the Poppy Line as it is also known.

The relaxed train journey takes passengers from Sheringham along the coast to Weybourne and through beautiful heathland to Holt.

Its steam trains are run by volunteers and offer a slow-paced holiday in Norfolk. You'll want to check out the 1950s waiting room and restored signal box at Sheringham Station.

Ride the Poppy Line with Lucy Worsley on a tour of Norfolk and Sandringham by rail with celebrated historian Lucy Worsley.

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The Centovalli Railway is one of the lesser-known routes between the lakeside Swiss town of Locarno and the northern Italian city of Domodossola.

The enchanting route will take you past romantic villages, lush green hills, sweeping valleys, and glistening waterfalls. You'll also cross an incredible 83 bridges and viaducts on the 50-kilometre route, including the impressive viaduct at Intragna.

Take a ride on the Centovalli Railway as part of Good Housekeeping's eight-day tour of northern Italy and the Swiss Alps.

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Clean, punctual and speedy, the Shinkansen, or Japan's bullet train, is the fastest and most comfortable route between Tokyo and Osaka, arriving in a record time of just 2 hours and 30 minutes.

Thanks to the incredible feats of engineering, your surroundings will mostly whizz past so quickly that you’ll be lucky to catch a glimpse! Riding the Tokaido Shinkansen is a fascinating cultural experience that makes for a long-haul rail holiday to remember.

Experience the thrill of the bullet train on our 13-day trip to Japan. You'll ride the iconic train from Tokyo to to Odawara, where you'll a boat trip on tranquil Lake Ashi before ascending over 2,000 metres up Mount Fuji.

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This opulent train is steeped in history. Its elegant carriages have starred in Hollywood films, formed part of Winston Churchill’s funeral train, and transported several members of the Royal Family.

A ride on the British Pullman, A Belmond Train will have you feeling like a royal yourself. You'll be welcomed aboard this beautifully restored 1920s train with a chilled Bellini cocktail before sitting back in a decadent art deco carriage at a table set with crisp white linens.

Board the British Pullman, A Belmond Train, on a day trip to Bath, including brunch, dinner, and sommelier-selected wines.

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Savour a three-course brunch en route to Blenheim Palace aboard the luxurious British Pullman, and enjoy a decadent dinner with wine on the return journey to London.

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Perhaps the world's most famous and decadent train, the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express, A Belmond Train, is a truly magnificent way to travel. Life onboard is an elegant affair of fine dining and fine wines, where conversation and music continue into the night in the fabled Bar Car 3674, and midnight brunch is served.

There are several routes to choose from that travel between some of Europe's most beautiful cities - the likes of Cannes, Rome, Florence, and Venice, with a route that takes skiers from Paris to the snowy slopes of the French Alps, too.

Lucky passengers can gaze out of the window of their cabin and watch incredible scenery roll by from the carriages of one of the most splendid trains of all time.

Take an iconic journey from Venice to Paris aboard the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express. You'll spend three nights in Venice first and join railway enthusiast and broadcaster Michael Portillo on his first trip aboard this sensational locomotive.

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Reviving the glamour of train travel in the 1930s, the Northern Belle is a British train comprising seven elegant carriages. It's not a sleeper train - instead, you can take day trips to some of the UK's best events and locations, travelling in style and enjoying the fine dining served onboard. It's ideal if you're looking to celebrate a special birthday or anniversary.

Set off from York on the Northern Belle luxury train to visit the late Queen’s Royal Yacht Britannia with her former press secretary, Dickie Arbiter LVO. Your day includes a three-course brunch and a six-course dinner aboard the train.

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New for 2025 is La Dolce Vita Orient Express. This decadent sleeper train will follow eight magnificent Italian itineraries from spring 2025, taking lucky guests in luxurious style across the beautiful countryside.

Onboard, the gastronomic experience is curated by renowned three-Michelin-starred chef Heinz Beck, who developed comprehensive menus from decadent breakfast to midnight snacks. There's a real sense of occasion on board, with handwritten notes inviting guests to the restaurant. Between courses, a storyteller wanders from table to table, regaling tales of the Orient Express, and the festivities continue in the Bar Car with cocktails and a pianist.

Be among the first to travel aboard this brand-new train with Good Housekeeping Holidays. It's a five-day trip, including one night aboard the train as it explores Tuscany.

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In 2025, a brand-new luxury train will make its much-anticipated debut. Britannic Explorer, A Belmond Train, is the sister locomotive of the iconic British Pullman, A Belmond Train. Except this time, pampered passengers will get to sleep onboard in exquisite cabins after a day journeying through the UK countryside and following jovial evenings of elegant entertainment.

Everything from the meals to the itineraries promises to be the best of the best aboard Britannic Explorer, and the journeys will reveal a new side to glorious parts of Great Britain through the windows of the opulent carriages, including Cornwall, Wales, and the Lake District.

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Take a trip on the narrow-gauge Renon Railway in South Tyrol in northern Italy, a small, hundred-year-old train that transports passengers across the Ritten plateau on an 18-minute journey to Collalbo, a pretty town that's a real magnet for walkers.

Some original cars are still operational, whereas others have been replaced with modern counterparts. Either way, you'll get simply superb views of the mountainous scenery.

One of Britain’s most picturesque regions, Norfolk is full of beautiful sights, from the famous Broads to its magnificent stately homes. It's also a great spot for a foodie break, with its rich agricultural heritage and long coastline. As if that wasn’t tempting enough, you can travel by train through Norfolk on a number of historic railways.

The Bure Valley Railway is one of the best. Hop on board a steam train for a nostalgic trip along Norfolk’s longest narrow-gauge railway. The 18-mile round trip runs from the quaint market town of Aylsham and bustling Wroxham, taking you through the delightful Bure Valley.

You can enjoy a ride on the Bure Valley Railway during a five-day trip to Norfolk - where you'll also tour Sandringham with Lucy Worsley.

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Lovers of lakes and mountain scenery will want to add Norway’s Rauma Railway to their travel plans for 2025.

Stretching 114km, the route takes you from the pretty winter sports resort of Dombas all the way to the mouth of the River Rauma at Andalsnes, passing over 32 bridges and through six different tunnels.

During your journey, you’ll glide past rocky peaks, deep valleys, iconic fjords and thick forests, all of the countryside making Norway a special destination for nature lovers. The granite Kylling Bridge is a highlight, with the Rauma River tumbling over the rocks 200 feet below and the dramatic Vermafossen waterfall nearby.

Crisscrossing Corsica are the little trinichellu, small trains mounted onto narrow tracks, which make their way across the island and up and down the coast between Calvi and Ile-Rousse. They're mostly used as a shuttle service for the beaches, providing passengers with glorious views as they're transported to Corsica's lovely coastline, lapped with clear water.

Board the trinichellu in Corté, and the train crosses the Eiffel Bridge - or the Vecchio Viaduct to give it its official name - and it seems to zig-zag around the bends all the way to the beach at Ajaccio.

Glide through the beautiful French Alps all the way to the foot of their tallest mountain, Mont Blanc, on this magical journey that’s straight out of a postcard.

Comfortable carriages with large picture windows will let you take in all of the beautiful views as you travel from Martigny in Switzerland to the French village of Saint-Gervais-Les-Bains – with mighty Mont Blanc views along the way.

You’ll pass over arched bridges, across leafy valleys, through tunnels and by pretty pine forests, and you can connect to the Brevent cable car in Chamonix. This will take you 2,525 metres above sea level for truly spectacular panoramic views of the Chamonix Valley.

One of the world’s most iconic rail journeys, The Ghan offers probably the best and certainly the most civilised way to discover some of Australia’s vast and breathtaking interior. There are off-train experiences available en route, including the Cutta Cutta Caves and Standley Chasm as well as the likes of guided camel tours and scenic helicopter rides.

The Adelaide–Darwin trip, available in both directions, takes three days and two nights, or you can also do The Red Explorer from Adelaide or Darwin to Alice Springs (or vice versa) over two days and one night.

To admire some of Norway’s most memorable mountain views without a difficult hike, simply hop onboard the Flamsbana 'Corkscrew Railway' – one of the world’s steepest standard gauge railways.

The spectacular one-hour route takes you from the village of Myrdal – 866 metres above sea level – down to Flam, on the shores of Aurlandsfjord, along tracks that spiral down the hillside.

You’ll glide past cascading waterfalls like the Kjosfossen as you head into the thickly forested valley – usually coated with glistening snow in winter – and come away with brilliant photos of your unforgettable train journey.

Enjoy all the magic of the Scottish Highlands in total luxury on Belmond’s opulent Royal Scotsman train, whose ten Edwardian carriages include an elegant dining room, ensuite cabins with sumptuous beds and picture windows, and even Britain’s first spa on a train – so you can relax with an indulgent beauty treatment as you chug past sky-high peaks and dramatic valleys.

You'll see the highlights of the Highlands on your journey, including Loch Lomond, Ben Nevis, the Isle of Bute and Mount Stuart, all the while savouring exquisite dishes inspired by the Scottish countryside, as well as fine wines and luxurious malt whiskies.