Rail Journeys Through Europe
Europe’s great scenic railways, with every ticket booked and your seats reserved together. Travel them on your own, or with a tour leader and a small group.
Where the ride is the reason to go
On most Europe trips the train is how you get from one city to the next. On these, the train is the highlight: the Glacier Express over the Oberalp Pass, the Flåm Railway down to the edge of a fjord, a cogwheel railway up to the highest station in Europe.
Rail trips come in two shapes. Independent ones have every ticket and hotel booked in the right order, and you travel on your own dates. Escorted ones put you with a tour leader and a small group, so you never have to think about a connection.
No airports between countries, and you arrive in the middle of town.
Either way, I’ll match the route to how you like to travel and walk you through exactly what’s included before you book, so there are no surprises on the platform.
On an overnight train in Eastern Europe in 2009, my friend Vicki and I had booked a sleeper car, and that car never showed up. We spent several hours sitting on the floor of a regular car next to the bathroom with two British guys until a few seats opened up.
On another sleeper, someone knocked on our door early in the morning and collected our passports for a border crossing. We weren’t allowed to go with them, so we sat there as two terrified girls hoping our passports would come back. They did.
KatieEurope’s Great Train Rides
The Glacier Express
Switzerland · Zermatt to St Moritz
Over the Oberalp Pass at 6,669 feet, past the Rhine Gorge and the viaducts of the Albula line.
The Bernina Express
Switzerland to Italy · St Moritz to Tirano
A UNESCO-listed railway that crosses the Alps and spirals down over a viaduct into Italy.
The GoldenPass Express
Switzerland · Interlaken to Montreux
About three hours past Lake Thun and down the Simmen Valley to Lake Geneva.
The Jungfrau Railway
Switzerland · up to the Jungfraujoch
Built between 1896 and 1912, climbing to Europe’s highest railway station at 11,300 feet, with views over the Aletsch Glacier.
The Bergen Railway
Norway · Oslo to Bergen
Across the Hardangervidda mountain plateau, with the connection at Myrdal for the Flåm line.
The Flåm Railway
Norway · Myrdal to Flåm
Twenty tunnels on the way down from the mountains to the village of Flåm on an arm of the Sognefjord.
Find Your Rail Trip
8 daysAlpine Railways & the Jungfraujoch
Four nights in Interlaken and three mountain railways, including the one to the top of Europe.
See the day by day
8 daysSouth Norway by Train & Boat
The Bergen and Flåm railways, then fjord cruises and a coastal ferry with a small group.
See the day by day
12 daysAlpine Adventure with the Bernina & Glacier Express
Both of Switzerland’s panoramic trains on one escorted trip, plus the Dolomites.
See the day by day
Katie’s Pick10 daysBest of Switzerland by Train
The Glacier Express and Bernina Express in one loop, with Zermatt, Lake Geneva and a day into Italy.
See the full itinerary
Katie’s Pickfor repeat visitors21 daysPanoramic Train Journey across Europe
Five countries by train, from the Swiss panoramic lines to Vienna, Prague and Berlin.
See the full itinerary
Katie’s Pickfor 1st timers10 daysFour Nordic Capitals by Train & Cruise
Helsinki, Stockholm, Copenhagen and Oslo, linked by train and two overnight ferries.
See the full itinerary
10 daysRomance in Rome & Tuscany
A Tuscan villa, a spa for two, and a candlelit dinner in the Chianti vineyards.
See it on the Mediterranean page
8 daysHighlights of Spain’s Splendor
Madrid with a food walk and a day in Ávila and Segovia, then Seville’s cathedral, Alcázar and tapas, with a day trip to Córdoba.
See it on the Mediterranean page
9 daysPortugal for Foodies
Pastéis de nata in Lisbon, cheese-making in the Alentejo, port in Porto and a day in the Douro.
See it on the Mediterranean page
7 daysLondon & Edinburgh for Foodies
Food tours in London and Greenwich, a Thames dinner cruise, then whisky and a food walk in Edinburgh.
See it on the Western Europe page
7 daysAmsterdam & Brussels: A Dynamic Duo
The Van Gogh Museum and Rijksmuseum, windmills at Zaanse Schans, then Brussels and a day in Antwerp.
See it on the Western Europe page
10 daysBest of the Christmas Markets by Car & Train
Munich, Innsbruck, Salzburg, Vienna and Prague in market season.
See it on the Central & Eastern Europe page
10 daysEssential Germany: Berlin, Nuremberg & Munich
Three cities by train: a Berlin food tour and the Wall, Potsdam, Nuremberg and Munich.
See it on the Central & Eastern Europe page
8 daysSwiss Train Escape
The Voralpen Express to Lucerne, Bern’s old city and the Lavaux vineyard terraces above Lake Geneva.
See it on the Central & Eastern Europe page
8 daysA Holiday Journey Through Budapest, Vienna & Prague
The three capitals in Christmas-market season, with a guide in each.
See it on the Central & Eastern Europe page
“For my part, I travel not to go anywhere, but to go. I travel for travel’s sake. The great affair is to move.”
Robert Louis Stevenson
The Itineraries, Day by Day
Alpine Railways & the Jungfraujoch
Switzerland
- The Jungfrau Railway to 11,300 feet
- A cogwheel train up to Schynige Platte
- The gondola from Grindelwald to First
Four nights based in Interlaken, so the mountain days aren’t spent packing. Three different railways climb from there: the Jungfrau Railway to the top of Europe, the cogwheel line to Schynige Platte, and the train to Grindelwald for the gondola up to First.
See the day by day
- Day 1Zurich to LucerneMet at Zurich Airport. A walk through the Old Town, including the Grossmünster and the Fraumünster with its five Marc Chagall windows. On to Lucerne for a raclette dinner.
- Day 2Lucerne to InterlakenThe Chapel Bridge, the Lion Monument and the Old Town on foot, then the Swiss Museum of Transport. Afternoon to Interlaken, between Lake Thun and Lake Brienz.
- Day 3InterlakenA walking tour of town (by horse carriage if you like) and a visit to a local chocolatier. Free afternoon, with Thun and its castle as an option.
- Day 4The JungfraujochCogwheel train up the Lauterbrunnen Valley to Kleine Scheidegg, then the Jungfrau Railway to the station at 11,300 feet. The Ice Palace, the Sphinx observation deck and the Aletsch Glacier, and down by way of Grindelwald.
- Day 5Schynige PlatteA century-old cogwheel railway from Wilderswil up to the alpine botanical garden, facing the Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau. Swiss folklore dinner in the evening.
- Day 6Grindelwald to BernTrain to Grindelwald and a gondola up to First. The First Flyer zip line is optional, with an easy walk to Bort and a scooter ride back down. On to Bern for a group dinner.
- Day 7Bern to ZurichBern’s Old Town: the cathedral, the Zytglogge clock tower and the Federal Palace. Back to Zurich for a farewell dinner.
- Day 8DepartureHome from Zurich.
What’s included
- Seven nights, with breakfast daily and the lunches and dinners listed
- A private coach and English-speaking guides throughout
- All the mountain railways, the gondola and the admissions on the itinerary
This is a sample route, so the length, hotels and pace can all change. The zip line has weight limits, and the gondola is there for anyone who would rather skip it.
South Norway by Train & Boat
Norway
- The Bergen and Flåm railways in one day
- A Sognefjord cruise into Bergen
- The Lysefjord beneath Pulpit Rock
The Bergen Railway and the Flåm Railway in one day, then the rest of the trip by water: a Sognefjord cruise into Bergen, a coastal ferry down to Stavanger, and a Lysefjord cruise beneath Pulpit Rock.
See the stop by stop
- 2 nightsOsloA city tour taking in Vigeland Park, the Opera House and Akershus Fortress.
- 1 nightFlåmThe Bergen Railway over the mountains to Myrdal, then down the Flåm Railway to the fjord.
- 2 nightsBergenA cruise along the Sognefjord and past the UNESCO-listed Nærøyfjord into Bergen. A walk through the old wharf at Bryggen, and the Fløyen funicular if you want the view.
- 2 nightsStavangerAbout five and a half hours down the coast by ferry. The old town, and a three-hour Lysefjord cruise to see Pulpit Rock from the water.
What’s included
- Seven nights, with a tour leader for the whole trip
- The Bergen and Flåm railways, the Sognefjord and Lysefjord cruises and the coastal ferry
- A city tour of Oslo and one dinner
Pulpit Rock is seen from the boat, not hiked. The tour runs on a handful of set dates each season, so it is worth booking early.
Alpine Adventure with the Bernina & Glacier Express
Germany, Austria, Italy & Switzerland
- The Bernina Express over the Alps to Italy
- The Glacier Express
- The Dolomites and car-free Zermatt
Both of Switzerland’s famous panoramic trains on one escorted trip, plus the Dolomites, which most Swiss rail itineraries never reach. A good choice if you want the big train rides without arranging anything yourself.
See the route
- OvernightsEight basesMunich, the Innsbruck area, Cortina d’Ampezzo in the Dolomites, Trento, St Moritz, Täsch for Zermatt, the Lucerne area and Zurich.
- RailTwo panoramic trainsThe Bernina Express from St Moritz over the Alps to Tirano, and the Glacier Express.
- Along the wayHighlightsLinderhof Castle, Novacella Abbey in South Tyrol, Lake Carezza, the Engadine valley, and car-free Zermatt beneath the Matterhorn.
When These Trips Run
Spring
The independent Swiss and Nordic rail trips start running in May.
Summer
South Norway departures run from May to September, with long days on the Bergen Railway.
Fall
The independent Swiss rail trips keep running through October.
Winter
The Swiss Train Escape has winter departures, and the Norway Fjords & Winter trip rides the Bergen and Flåm railways from December.
“Katie was the best travel agent we could have asked for! My husband and I last minute decided to take a one year anniversary/honeymoon trip to Switzerland and wanted to find a local travel agent in Fargo, ND. We gave Katie about 2.5 months to plan it which was not a lot of time at all. She was so easy to work with and even with the short notice, planned us the trip of a lifetime!! She was quick to respond to all of our questions, had everything planned, gave us so much information and tips/tricks, and had our itinerary all planned out and set for us. We plan to use her for all of our travel plans in the future!! She was AMAZING.”
Questions About Rail Travel in Europe
Do I need a Eurail pass?
Not for the itineraries on this page. The train tickets are part of the package, booked point to point with seats reserved, so there is nothing extra to buy. A pass can make sense for a long, loose trip with no set route, and I can price it both ways if you’re unsure.
Is first class worth it?
On the scenic routes it often is. The independent Swiss itineraries already include first class where it’s available, and the Nordic capitals trip has a first-class upgrade. You get more space for yourself and your bags, which helps on a long travel day.
How do I manage luggage on the train?
On an independent rail trip you carry your own bags on and off, so packing light makes a real difference. One medium suitcase each is far easier than two large ones. On escorted trips more of the logistics are handled for you, and I’ll tell you exactly what that covers on the trip you’re considering.
Can I mix trains with a car or a cruise?
Yes, and many trips do. Some self-drive itineraries start with a high-speed train before you collect the car, the Nordic capitals trip uses two overnight ferries, and the Norway trip above adds fjord cruises and a coastal ferry.
Should I travel independently or with a group?
Independent suits people who want their own pace and their own dates. Escorted suits people who would rather not think about connections at all and enjoy traveling with a small group. If you like an escorted route but not the group, it can usually be rebuilt privately.
What does it cost to work with you?
For custom trips, my planning fee starts at $50 per person for a single city, and starts at $100 per person per city for a multi-city trip. Other trips vary, and I’ll tell you the exact fee before we start. My How It Works guide walks you through exactly how I plan your trip, step by step.
Let’s Plan Your Rail Journey
Tell me where you’re dreaming of going and when. I’ll take it from there.
