There is something deeply satisfying about watching the scenery change through a train window. As red desert dunes give way to mountain valleys, rail travel gives you a front-row seat to the world in a way that flying over it never can. You get to feel the true scale of a landscape while enjoying a hot cup of coffee from the comfort of a dining car.
But planning a multi-day train vacation comes with its own set of logistics: some legendary routes turn out to be short daytime rides, while others function as rolling luxury hotels that cross entire continents. To help travelers navigate these options, we analyzed iconic rail routes across the globe.
The Holafly Express Train Index 2026 measured what truly makes a train trip worth taking: front-door access to protected national parks, operating history, booking simplicity, and the comfort of onboard accommodation. The results reveal that overnight luxury sleepers are outshining traditional daytime scenic routes.
First-class view: The world’s top 10 train journeys
- The Ghan (Australia) - Score: 70.8
- Blue Train (South Africa) - Score: 69.2
- Glacier Express (Switzerland) - Score: 58.8
- Eastern & Oriental Express (Southeast Asia) - Score: 57.8
- California Zephyr (USA) - Score: 55
- Venice Simplon-Orient-Express (Europe) - Score: 54.2
- West Highland Line (UK) - Score: 53
- Belmond Andean Explorer (Peru) - Score: 52.9
- Rocky Mountaineer (Canada) - Score: 52.5
- Danube Express (Central/Eastern Europe) - Score: 48.9
1. The Ghan (Australia)
Crossing an entire continent from Adelaide to Darwin, The Ghan earned the top spot in our global index with an overall score of 70.8. Running for nearly a century across Australia’s red center, this journey transforms what could be a harsh desert crossing into a deeply relaxing voyage. Passengers spend three days gliding past remote towns, ancient mountains, and tropical gorges, making it the highest rated train on Earth.
What sets The Ghan apart is its balance of first-class cabin comfort and immediate access to protected wilderness. The route stops directly alongside major national icons like Kakadu and Nitmiluk National Park, where passengers can step off the train for guided boat cruises and walking tours. Combined with a simple booking process, it delivers the best overall experience.
2. The Blue Train (South Africa)
Taking second place with a score of 69.2, South Africa’s Blue Train has defined African luxury travel since 1937. Moving between Pretoria and Cape Town, this legendary route acts as a five star hotel on wheels, complete with private butler service and marble-tiled suites. It offers travelers a slow, elegant way to watch the changing African landscape over two days.
The train scored high by pairing luxury with direct access to famous natural wonders, including Table Mountain National Park and nearby wildlife reserves. With straightforward booking on the official site, it provides a seamless option for travelers who want to blend classic history with coastal and mountain scenery.
3. Glacier Express (Switzerland)
Taking fourth place with a score of 58.8, Switzerland’s Glacier Express holds the title of the world’s most famous daytime train. Connecting the alpine resorts of Zermatt and St. Moritz, this eight-hour journey climbs over mountain passes, crosses hundreds of bridges, and glides through dozens of tunnels, giving passengers panoramic views of the Swiss Alps through ceiling-high glass windows.
While it lacks overnight sleeping cars, the Glacier Express scored high thanks to its exceptional accessibility and scenic density: the route travels straight through the UNESCO protected Rhaetian Railway landscape and the Swiss Alps Jungfrau-Aletsch region. It is easy to book directly online and serves as a masterclass in mountain engineering.
4. Eastern & Oriental Express (Southeast Asia)
Rounding out the top five with a score of 57.8, the Eastern & Oriental Express offers a tropical slow-travel experience between Singapore and Malaysia. Having recently returned to service with refreshed carriages, the train travels past dense rainforests, rubber plantations and historic trading ports, offering a classic retreat in the heart of Southeast Asia.
The journey performed strongly due to its full-service sleeper accommodations and strong scenery, passing near George Town in Penang and the ancient jungle of Taman Negara National Park. It gives travelers an easy way to experience multi-country Asian landscapes in total comfort.
5. California Zephyr (USA)
Stretching from Chicago to San Francisco, the California Zephyr offers one of North America’s greatest wilderness journeys. Passengers spend two days taking in the canyons of the Colorado River and the snowy peaks of the Sierra Nevada. Simple booking and an established reputation make this an accessible favorite for crossing the American West.
6. Venice Simplon-Orient-Express (Europe)
The Venice Simplon-Orient-Express captures pure vintage glamour, carrying guests in restored 1920s carriages through iconic European landscapes like the Semmering Railway pass. While its history and sleeper experience are unmatched, its lower ranking comes from its limited seasonal departure dates, which make securing a cabin far more complex.
7. West Highland Line (Scotland, UK)
Widely considered the most beautiful railway line in Britain, Scotland’s West Highland Line packs immense scenic value into a single day: the train rolls past deep lochs and over the famous Glenfinnan Viaduct. It scores high on public accessibility and heritage, making it an easy day trip to add to any UK itinerary.
8. Belmond Andean Explorer (Peru)
Gliding across the Peruvian altiplano at 14,000 feet above sea level, the Belmond Andean Explorer connects ancient Cusco to the shores of Lake Titicaca. Passengers enjoy private sleeping cabins, open-air observation cars, and direct access to high-altitude mountain scenery. Because it launched in 2017, its shorter operating history kept it outside the top five.
9. Rocky Mountaineer (Canada)
The Rocky Mountaineer is custom-designed for daylight viewing through the Canadian Rockies, passing four stunning national parks including Banff and Jasper. It earned a top score for scenic density, but because the train operates only during the day, its journey experience score was lower.
10. Danube Express (Central/Eastern Europe)
The Danube Express functions as a rolling luxury hotel right through the heart of Central and Eastern Europe. The route passes incredible UNESCO heritage sites, including the striking Semmering Pass and the historic centers of Budapest and Vienna. While it offers the high-end comfort of overnight sleeper cabins, it landed last because the service only dates back to 2008 and operates on highly limited seasonal schedules, so securing a ticket takes quite a bit more planning compared to year-round daily trains.
How to stay connected on board and in every station
Watching mountain ranges and open deserts roll past your window is peaceful until you need to message family and friends or pull up a map for the next stop. As the train moves across the map, your phone has to move with it: tracing tracks through deep mountain passes, remote wilderness and dense forests means crossing networks every few miles from one region or country into the next.
By installing a travel eSIM in advance, you ensure your phone is directly linked to local towers. As the landscape shifts outside your window, your device quietly transfers from one regional network to another in the background without requiring you to share the busy train Wi-Fi with hundreds of passengers. Taking the friction out of staying connected across changing borders allows you to just sit back and watch the world go by.
Methodology
The Holafly Express Train Index 2026 evaluated train journeys across four main areas: access to UNESCO sites and national parks, trip duration and sleeper car availability, operating history and direct booking ease. Final scores were scaled to a 0 to 100 range using official records from national park services, UNESCO, and rail operators.
