Before cars and planes, people got around by train — but don’t write trains off as antiquated. Train use is widespread globally, and guess what: There are some really good reasons to consider train travel over other modes of transportation as you’re planning the itinerary for your next trip.
Train travel is back, and it’s better than ever. (Photo Credit: Tom Barrett)
Where in the world will you go? (Photo Credit: Filip Mroz)
To start, traveling by train offers some of the most beautiful and interesting views in the world. In contrast to driving, you and your travel companions can actually gaze at the beautiful vistas while you sit back, relax, and enjoy the (sometimes over-the-top-luxurious) amenities. Caviar service, anyone?
No matter what train travel vibe you’re going for — from luxurious to adventurous — there’s a route you’ll love. Here are some great ones to consider.
Europe
Route #1 — Glasgow to Edinburgh, Scotland: Board the exquisitely-appointed and fancy-by-design Northern Belle, and you’ll enjoy round trip service paired with full afternoon tea service from Glasgow to Edinburgh. You can expect a vintage luxury train feel with lush seats, welcome champagne, a chef-driven gastronomic experience, and beautiful panoramas of Northern England during the 5 hour journey.
A train ride through Scotland is one of the most magnificent in the world. (Photo Credit: Jamie Street)
This trip is just as much about the culinary and tea experience as it is the destination, so plan to treat yourself and let the outstanding dining experience be one of the highlights of your travel journey.
Where to stay: Kimpton Blythswood Square in Glasgow and Kimpton Charlotte Square Hotel in Edinburgh
Route #2 — Switzerland to Italy: If you’re going to take a train ride in Europe, this might just be the best one. The Bernina Express begins in Graudunden, Switzerland and crosses over a 2,200-meter high Swiss Alpine pass before making its way down to Tirano, Italy in about four hours.
Say hello to the beauty of Switzerland. (Photo Credit: Chris Henry)
The train and railway themselves are such masterpieces that you’ll find them on the UNESCO World Heritage List, and the epic journey winds through 55 tunnels and crosses over 196 bridges. At the end, just about every single passenger is so glad to have had this majestic experience.
Route #3 — Budapest to Vienna: Beautiful views of Austria and Hungary are a large part of this three hour Austrian Railways train ride, which connects you between two stunning European cities.
The train ride between Budapest and Vienna is almost as stunning as the cities themselves. (Photo Credit: Alexander Bagno)
Business Class and Economy (which has tables for reading materials, space for carry-on luggage, and snacks, but less privacy) are both good options. The train stations in both Budapest and Vienna are gorgeous — sights to be seen on their own, regardless of your train travel plans.
Where to stay: Kimpton Bem Budapest
United States and Canada
Route #1 — San Diego to The Bay Area: Explore the sparkling California coast by train on the Pacific Surfliner, and you’ll stop in some of the most beautiful and charming locations in the entire state.
Follow the sparkling California coastline on the Surfliner. (Photo Credit: Courtney Smith )
Start in sunny San Diego and make your way north, stopping in places like San Juan Capistrano, Los Angeles, Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, and Paso Robles. This train makes its way north and southbound beginning in San Diego and ending in Oakland, in the heart of NorCal’s Bay Area.
Where to stay: Kimpton Alma Hotel in San Diego, Kimpton Canary Hotel in Santa Barbara, and Kimpton Alton Hotel or Kimpton Hotel Enso in San Francisco
Route #2 — New York to Vermont: Relish a ride from NYC’s Penn Station through picturesque New England, ending in Vermont’s Green Mountains on Amtrak’s Ethan Allen Express. While it is a passenger train (as opposed to a sleeper train), it does come with comforts — Business Class is spacious and quiet, it has a cute eatery (the Vermonter Café) and you can get out and stretch your legs and grab a bite in some pretty picturesque parts of the Northeast.
Start your journey at Penn Station in New York City, and end it in idyllic Vermont. (Photo Credit: Jeffrey Blum)
The ride from NYC to the second-to-last stop in Rutland, Vermont is about 6.5 hours, but the views are breathtaking and the escape to nature (and fresh mountain air) is well worth it. Idyllic Vermont towns like Manchester are an easy drive from the train station. (Pro tip: Take this trip in the fall for epic leaf-peeping.)
Where to stay: Kimpton Hotel Theta or Kimpton Hotel Eventi in New York City and Kimpton Taconic Hotel in Manchester, Vermont
Route #3 — Toronto to Montréal: For a cool Canadian adventure that spans two iconic cities, take the VIA Rail Canada from bustling Toronto to charming Montréal. On this ~5 hour train ride, you’ll stop in Ottawa on your way north and east.
Bonjour à Montréal. (Photo Credit: JP Valery)
On board, you can expect complimentary Wi-Fi and power outlets at your seat, spacious seating, and food & beverage options — a full meal and Canadian wine selection for Business Class, and sandwich and lunchbox options in Economy Class. All tickets have access to a selection of wines, beers, coffee, and pastries.
Where to stay: Kimpton Saint George Hotel in Toronto
Route #4 — Chicago to the Colorado Rockies and San Francisco: The California Zephyr is long-considered one of the most scenic routes in the US, taking you from Chicago all the way to San Francisco by way of both the Rockies and the Sierras.
Imagine waking up to the site of the Rocky Mountains. (Photo Credit: Lucas Zhao)
Leaving Chicago just before dinner, you’ll wake up on this sleeper train journey to a magnificent view of the Rockies on the horizon. You’ll wind your way through canyons and then through the Sierra Nevada Mountains, arriving in San Francisco after two memorable nights aboard this iconic locomotive.
Where to stay: Kimpton Gray Hotel in Chicago and Kimpton Alton Hotel or Kimpton Hotel Enso in San Francisco
Asia
Route #1 — Tokyo to Kyoto: Just two hours and twenty minutes of bullet train travel will get you from buzzing Tokyo to stunning Kyoto, but the ride is super-scenic. Make sure to sit on the left side of the train, because on clear days, you can see Mount Fuji’s snowy peak in the distance — it’s such a cool sight that passengers often scramble to pull out their phones and snap photos of the summit.
A trip out to Kyoto is well worth it — the city is stunning. (Photo Credit: David Emrich)
Seats on these trains are spacious, and modern comforts like fast Wi-Fi are standard. A long-honored tradition in Japan is eating a bento box lunch during longer train journeys — these are called ekiben. You’ll find ekiben shops at both Kyoto and Tokyo’s bullet train stations to help you partake. If you’re considering several train rides during your time in Japan, a Japan Rail Pass may give you the best value.
Where to stay: Kimpton Shinjuku Hotel in Tokyo
Route #2 — Delhi to Jaipur: The Maharajas’ Express is a newer luxury train that explores many of the most attractive and interesting places in northern India on a round trip tour. You’ll spend three nights aboard, and the majority of the chef-cooked meals are eaten on board as part of the experience.
The Taj Mahal just so happens to be one of the stops on the The Maharajas’ Express. (Photo Credit: Cassie Matias)
You’ll stop in Agra (location of the Taj Mahal), Ranthambhore National Park, and Jaipur, returning overnight to awake in Delhi and disembark after one more substantial breakfast. This train ticket comes with excursions, so it’s more of a railway tour experience than simply a mode of transportation — certainly one passengers will remember forever.
Train travel appears to be on the rise — Amtrak reported a 24% increase in ridership from 2022 to 2023, as more travelers begin to understand the multi-faceted appeal of sitting back, relaxing, and enjoying a unique travel experience. Are you up for it? As you can see, you’ve got a lot of exceptional routes and journeys to choose from.
