Have you ever considered what the best train journeys in the world are? Have you ever thought about taking a train instead of a plane? When you think of traveling, planes and airports are probably the first things that come to mind. While flying can be fast, it can also be incredibly tiring. You deal with jet lag, cramped seats, strange food, and long hours in airports. But there’s another option—trains. Traveling by train offers more space, no jet lag, and beautiful scenery outside the window. These are just a few reasons why train travel is worth considering. If you need ideas for your next train trip, check out these amazing journeys.
Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
The North-South Railway is one of the best train journeys in the world and a must-do in Vietnam. This 1726 km long route connects the capital Hanoi in the north to Ho Chi Minh City in the south. It passes through rice fields, lush mountains, beach towns, fishing villages, and busy city neighborhoods. Often called the Reunification Express, it commemorates the reunification of Vietnam when North Vietnamese forces captured Saigon on April 30, 1975. The journey takes 31-36 hours, but you can break it up to explore different places along the way. There are four classes of tickets: hard seat, soft seat, hard sleeper, and soft sleeper.
The Maharajas’ Express
This luxury tourist train in India offers several itineraries of varying lengths. It’s often compared to the Orient Express of Europe and has been voted “The World’s Leading Luxury Train” multiple times. The Maharajas’ Express features accommodation, dining, bar, lounge, and store cars, with four cabin classes to choose from: Deluxe Cabins, Junior Suites, Suites, and a Presidential Suite. Enjoy amenities like Wi-Fi, attached bathrooms, electricity, hot water, lounges, dining cars, a bar, a souvenir shop, porters, guides, and butlers. Larger cabins even have baths and spacious sitting rooms. You’ll also get a range of guided off-train excursions included in your ticket price.
Adelaide to Darwin
The Ghan is a passenger train that crosses the vast Australian outback, traveling between Adelaide, Alice Springs, and Darwin. It’s considered one of the world’s great passenger trains, covering a distance of 2979 kilometers in around 53 hours, including stops for off-train tours. The Ghan offers two classes of tickets: Gold Service sleeper and Platinum Service sleeper.
Christchurch to Greymouth
The TranzAlpine in New Zealand is one of the most scenic train journeys in the world. It travels from coast to coast on the South Island, passing through Christchurch, Arthur’s Pass, and Greymouth. This 223 km journey takes about 5 hours. The TranzAlpine offers two seating options: Scenic and Scenic Plus Class, both featuring panoramic windows, an open-air viewing carriage, and a Scenic Café. Scenic Plus offers at-seat service, dining options, and inclusive drinks. The train goes through Arthur’s Pass National Park, offering stunning views of mountains and natural wilderness. Arthur’s Pass National Park is a beautiful place to stop and explore, with multiple walking trails. Upon reaching Greymouth, spend some time exploring the West Coast’s rugged, stunning landscapes, mountains, and glaciers.
Moscow to Beijing
The Trans-Mongolian connects Moscow and Beijing via Ulaanbaatar, making it one of the longest train journeys in the world. Initially, the Trans-Mongolian line follows the Trans-Siberian route between Moscow and Ulan Ude. It then takes an ancient tea-caravan route through Ulaanbaatar in Mongolia, reaching Jining in China. This journey spans three countries—Russia, Mongolia, and China—and offers diverse landscapes and cultural experiences. The entire trip takes almost six days, which you can split into parts to explore different stops along the way.
Chicago to San Francisco
The California Zephyr is Amtrak’s longest daily route and one of the longest train journeys in the world. Running between Chicago and San Francisco, this 3924 km journey takes 51 hours to complete. It offers breathtaking views of the upper Colorado River valley, the Rocky Mountains, and the Sierra Nevada, making it one of the most scenic train rides in the U.S. The journey also includes crossing the Mississippi River, the desolate landscapes of Utah, the Nevada desert, and the Bay Area in northern California. If you start your trip in New York with The Lake Shore Limited and continue on the California Zephyr, you’ll travel coast to coast, from the Atlantic to the Pacific.
London to Venice
The Venice Simplon-Orient-Express is a luxury train service from London to Venice, typically via Paris and Milan. This once-in-a-lifetime journey allows you to explore Europe’s most beautiful cities from the window of a 1920s luxury train. The train offers several types of luxury cabins: Single Cabin, Twin Cabin, Cabin Suite, and Grand Suite. Featuring beautifully restored carriages from the 1920s and 1930s, this luxury service includes accommodation carriages and several dining cars. While most cabins don’t have en-suite bathrooms (except for the Grand Suites), each has a vanity unit with a sink, and there are toilets at the end of each carriage. The Venice Simplon-Orient-Express lets you experience train travel from the 1920s in utmost luxury.