Travelling by train is better than travelling by plane for so many reasons, but one of them is the opportunity to absorb some proper gorgeous scenery while you’re getting from A to B.
But the most gorgeous routes? There’s a lot of them – but a new ranking by Titan Travel has picked the absolute best. The company has analysed TripAdvisor reviews, ticket prices and rail route stops to compile this list of the world’s most breathtaking, and the results are in.
Topping the ranks as the world’s most ‘breathtaking’ rail journey is the Himalayan Queen, which garnered a picturesque journey score of 7.35 out of 10 – and it does sound pretty dreamy. The route meanders through the valley-filled landscape of north India from Kalka to Shimla, and it’s been UNESCO-protected since 2008.
In second place was The Bernina Express (7.10), which starts in Chur, Switzerland and ends in Tirano, Italy, journeying through the Alps and past sights such as the Morteratsch Glacier and lakes Lej Pitschen, Lej Nair, and Lago Bianco.
Third place went to the Kuranda Scenic Railway (the clue is in the name, eh?) which runs along the Cairns-to-Kuranda line in Australia past the Barron Gorge National Park and Barron Falls. Read on for a roundup of the full top 10.
These are the world’s 10 most ‘breathtaking’ railway journeys
- The Himalayan Queen, India
- The Bernina Express, Switzerland and Italy
- Kuranda Scenic Railway, Australia
- Sagano Railway, Japan
- Alaska Railroad Aurora Winter Train, USA
- The Darjeeling Toy Train, India
- The Bergensbanen, Norway
- TranzAlpine, New Zealand
- The Jacobite Steam Train, Scotland
- Tokaido Shinkansen, Japan
All aboard
At Time Out, we’ve compiled roundups on everything from the most exciting new sleeper trains launching this year to the most beautiful railway journeys you need to try in Europe and the world. There’s even a list of the best ones to take from London – have a look at them all and more on our travel site.
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