Best Rail Tours in Europe

Beautiful rolling green landscapes, tucked-away villages, lush vineyards, lively cities, and coastal towns all provide lovely sightseeing from aboard a train. Let's look at some of the very best rail tours in Europe:

Bernina Express, Switzerland and Italy

The Bernina Express speeds through the Swiss Alps

Journey from idyllic Lake Como to the Swiss Alps' stunning glaciers aboard the Bernina Express, the fascinating little red train that winds through the Alps.

With 55 tunnels, 196 bridges, and inclines of up to 70 degrees, the railway is truly unique. Along the way, enjoy sensational views of the Piz Palu and Morteratsch glaciers and finally reach the world-famous ski resort, St. Moritz.

Belmond Royal Scotsman, Scotland

Gorgeous views of the Scottish Highlands

This three-day tour covers a lot of ground. Board in Edinburgh and travel through the former Kingdom of Fife on your way to the dramatic scenery of the Highlands.

After an overnight in Boat of Garten, try your hand at clay pigeon shooting at a historic estate. Privately tour Culloden Battlefield and visit one of Scotland's oldest working distilleries.

You'll visit castles, quaint villages, gorgeous lakes, and much more as you head south on the return to Edinburgh.

Venice Simplon-Orient-Express, U.K., France, Italy

Belmond recently announced new Grand Tour routes across Europe aboard its legendary Venice Simplon-Orient-Express train. These routes criss-cross through Italy, Switzerland, Belgium, and The Netherlands and stop in some of Europe's most historic cities along the way.

Board in Rome, Florence, Geneva, Brussels, or Amsterdam and travel aboard the elegant art-deco 1920s carriages for a weekend or a longer journey, with options to stay at some of Belmond's luxury hotel properties along the way.

Glacier Express, Switzerland

Ride the world-famous Glacier Express with nights in elegant St. Moritz and Zermatt, a charming village at the foot of the world-famous Matterhorn.

Board in St. Moriz and set off for an 8-hour journey across 291 bridges, through 91 tunnels, and across the Oberalp Pass at 6,670 feet in altitude. The Glacier Express traverses a spectacular route. You'll take in the sights of the Graubünden holiday region, central Switzerland, the sunny Valais region with its glacier landscape, and the beautiful South.

Travel in comfort through the unspoiled natural beauty of a landscape rich in ancient, fragrant mountain forests, peaceful Alpine meadows, rushing mountain streams soaked in centuries-old culture. Arrive in Zermatt at the foot of the majestic Matterhorn to find yourself in a world without cars, as electric-cars and horse-drawn sleighs are the only transport allowed.

If you are ready for rail now, let's book your transport on this spectacular US itinerary:

Rockies to Red Rocks, Denver to Moab

Renowned for its glass-domed-train journeys through the Canadian Rockies, the Rocky Mountaineer will swing south this summer and fall with a new two-day trip between Denver and Moab, Utah. Passengers on the Rockies to the Red Rocks route thread through canyons carved by the Colorado River by day while dining on Southwestern cuisine. At the midpoint in Glenwood Springs, Colorado, passengers disembark for an overnight stay before carrying on to Moab's sandstone region, gateway to Arches National Park.

If you're interested in booking a European or US train tour, contact me for more information.