120 Remarkable Luxury & Scenic Trains

How the collection was chosen

This is an editorial collection, not a mathematical ranking. We required current operating relevance, distinctive onboard experience, meaningful itinerary design and sufficient first-party information for responsible planning.

Exclusivity takes different forms

Some trains are intimate cruise trains with application periods. Others offer rare heritage carriages, unusually spacious suites, remote expedition routes or access-led touring.

Why price alone is not enough

A fair price comparison would need the same duration, cabin type, occupancy, currency, date and included services. The website therefore avoids simplistic most-expensive rankings.

Use the collection as a starting point

Compare the route, privacy, bathroom design, touring pace, season and practical requirements before deciding which train is most exclusive for you.

Explore all 120 train guides

This is a curated collection, not a scored ranking. Heritage sleepers, Japanese cruise trains and daylight sightseeing journeys serve different travelers. Start with the region and the way you want to spend your time.

1. Venice Simplon-Orient-ExpressEurope · Art Deco legend
2. Seven Stars in KyushuJapan · Japanese craft immersion
3. Maharajas’ ExpressIndia · Contemporary royal India
4. TRAIN SUITE SHIKI-SHIMAJapan · Modern Japanese cruise train
5. Royal ScotsmanGreat Britain · Highland country house
6. Rovos Rail — Pride of AfricaAfrica · Classic African rail safari
7. Andean ExplorerSouth America · Contemporary Andean sleeper
8. Eastern & Oriental ExpressSoutheast Asia · Tropical glamour
9. The Blue TrainAfrica · South African grand hotel
10. The GhanAustralia · Australian outback expedition
11. Golden Eagle Danube ExpressEurope · Private European rail cruise
12. Britannic ExplorerGreat Britain · Contemporary British sleeper
13. Palace on WheelsIndia · Rajasthan heritage circuit
14. Deccan OdysseyIndia · Wide-ranging Indian expedition
15. TWILIGHT EXPRESS MIZUKAZEJapan · West Japan rolling hotel
16. El Transcantábrico Gran LujoSpain · Belle Époque northern Spain
17. Tren Al ÁndalusSpain · Belle Époque Iberian palace
18. The Vietage by AnantaraSoutheast Asia · Intimate coastal day train
19. Indian PacificAustralia · Australian transcontinental
20. Rocky MountaineerNorth America · Daylight glass-dome scenery
21. La Dolce Vita Orient ExpressEurope · Contemporary Italian luxury sleeper; selected daytime experiences
22. British Pullman, A Belmond TrainGreat Britain · Luxury daytime dining train; no sleeping accommodation
23. Northern BelleGreat Britain · Pullman-style luxury daytime dining train; no sleeping cabins
24. Costa Verde ExpressSpain · Escorted northern-Spain sleeper journey with coach excursions
25. Glacier ExpressSwitzerland · Panoramic daytime train with optional luxury Excellence Class
26. GoldenPass ExpressSwitzerland · Panoramic daytime rail with elevated Prestige seating
27. Great SouthernAustralia · Australian luxury sleeper with escorted off-train experiences
28. Hiram BinghamPeru · Luxury daytime dining train
29. Golden Eagle Silk Road ExpressChina · Luxury private touring sleeper
30. SJourneySoutheast Asia · Luxury Vietnamese touring sleeper
31. Haerang Rail CruiseSouth Korea · Premium short touring sleeper
32. Royal Livingstone ExpressSouthern Africa · Historic steam dinner excursion; no sleeper accommodation
33. Bushtracks ExpressSouthern Africa · Historic steam dinner excursion; no sleeper accommodation
34. African ExplorerSouthern Africa · Escorted safari sleeper with lodge stays
35. The CanadianCanada · Transcontinental sleeper with a premium Prestige option
36. Canyon SpiritUnited States · Hosted scenic daytime train with hotel nights
37. Denali StarUnited States · Scenic daytime service with premium GoldStar seating
38. TranzAlpineNew Zealand · Southern Alps daytime crossing with Scenic Plus dining
39. Coastal PacificNew Zealand · South Island coastal train with Scenic Plus dining
40. Bernina ExpressSwitzerland · Panoramic Alpine daytime train, not a luxury sleeper
41. The JacobiteGreat Britain · Heritage daytime rail travel; highland steam
42. Midland PullmanGreat Britain · Premium daytime rail travel; classic dining
43. Dartmouth Steam RailwayGreat Britain · Heritage daytime rail travel; coast and river
44. North Yorkshire Moors RailwayGreat Britain · Heritage daytime rail travel; moors and coast
45. Welsh Highland RailwayGreat Britain · Heritage daytime rail travel; eryri landscapes
46. Ffestiniog RailwayGreat Britain · Heritage daytime rail travel; slate country
47. Snowdon Mountain RailwayGreat Britain · Heritage daytime rail travel; mountain ascent
48. Ravenglass & Eskdale RailwayGreat Britain · Heritage daytime rail travel; lake district heritage
49. Bluebell RailwayGreat Britain · Heritage daytime rail travel; sussex steam
50. Severn Valley RailwayGreat Britain · Heritage daytime rail travel; river valley heritage
51. West Somerset RailwayGreat Britain · Heritage daytime rail travel; somerset coast
52. Ceres Rail Steam TrainAfrica · Heritage daytime rail travel; cape countryside
53. Jungfrau RailwayEurope · Scenic daytime rail travel; high alpine railway
54. Gornergrat RailwayEurope · Scenic daytime rail travel; matterhorn views
55. Pilatus Cogwheel RailwayEurope · Scenic daytime rail travel; mountain engineering
56. Brienz Rothorn RailwayEurope · Heritage daytime rail travel; steam above the lake
57. Rigi RailwaysEurope · Scenic daytime rail travel; lake and mountain
58. Gotthard Panorama ExpressEurope · Scenic daytime rail travel; historic alpine crossing
59. Voralpen-ExpressEurope · Scenic daytime rail travel; alpine foothills
60. Luzern–Interlaken ExpressEurope · Scenic daytime rail travel; lakes and alpine passes
61. Mont-Blanc ExpressEurope · Scenic daytime rail travel; cross-border alps
62. Flåm RailwayEurope · Scenic daytime rail travel; fjord to mountain
63. Rauma RailwayEurope · Scenic daytime rail travel; romsdal landscapes
64. Bergen RailwayEurope · Scenic daytime rail travel; norwegian mountain crossing
65. Arctic TrainEurope · Scenic daytime rail travel; arctic fjords and mountains
66. The StatesmanGreat Britain · Premium daytime rail travel; classic rail dining
67. Saphos TrainsGreat Britain · Premium daytime rail travel; mainline steam and dining
68. Train des Pignes HistoriqueEurope · Heritage daytime rail travel; provence railway heritage
69. Douro Historical TrainEurope · Heritage daytime rail travel; douro valley heritage
70. Vigezzina–Centovalli RailwayEurope · Scenic daytime rail travel; cross-border valleys
71. Napa Valley Wine TrainNorth America · Luxury daytime dining train
72. Grand Canyon RailwayNorth America · Heritage daytime railway to the South Rim
73. Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge RailroadNorth America · Historic Colorado mountain railway
74. Cumbres & Toltec Scenic RailroadNorth America · Steam-era narrow-gauge mountain excursion
75. White Pass & Yukon RouteNorth America · Mountain heritage railway from Skagway
76. Verde Canyon RailroadNorth America · Premium daytime canyon excursion
77. Royal Gorge Route RailroadNorth America · Scenic canyon train with dining options
78. The Broadmoor Manitou & Pikes Peak Cog RailwayNorth America · High-altitude cog railway day excursion
79. Mount Washington Cog RailwayNorth America · New Hampshire mountain cog railway
80. Cass Scenic RailroadNorth America · West Virginia logging-railway heritage excursion
81. Strasburg Rail RoadNorth America · Pennsylvania heritage steam excursion
82. Great Smoky Mountains RailroadNorth America · North Carolina scenic river-gorge excursion
83. Skunk TrainNorth America · Northern California redwood heritage excursion
84. Conway Scenic MountaineerNorth America · White Mountains heritage scenic train
85. Amtrak California ZephyrNorth America · Conventional long-distance sleeper with private-room options
86. Amtrak Coast StarlightNorth America · West Coast intercity sleeper with private-room options
87. Amtrak Empire BuilderNorth America · Northern United States sleeper with optional private rooms
88. Amtrak Southwest ChiefNorth America · Southwestern United States sleeper with private-room options
89. Amtrak City of New OrleansNorth America · Overnight intercity train with optional private sleeping rooms
90. Alaska Railroad Coastal ClassicNorth America · Scenic daytime train with optional GoldStar service
91. Alaska Railroad Glacier DiscoveryNorth America · Daytime rail access to coastal and glacier country
92. VIA Rail OceanNorth America · Canadian intercity sleeper with Sleeper Plus accommodation
93. Train de CharlevoixNorth America · Daytime St. Lawrence riverside rail journey
94. Chepe ExpressNorth America · Daytime Copper Canyon railway with three service classes
95. Tren a las NubesSouth America · High-altitude scenic excursion with optional road approach
96. Tren del Fin del MundoSouth America · Tierra del Fuego heritage railway excursion
97. Serra Verde ExpressSouth America · Serra do Mar scenic train with varied carriage categories
98. Puffing Billy RailwayAustralia · Dandenong Ranges heritage steam railway
99. Kuranda Scenic RailwayAustralia · Rainforest daytime railway with optional Gold Class
100. Northern ExplorerNew Zealand · North Island scenic day train with Scenic Plus option
101. The Golden ChariotIndia · South Indian sleeper touring with guided excursions
102. Darjeeling Himalayan RailwayIndia · Himalayan narrow-gauge heritage day excursion
103. Nilgiri Mountain RailwayIndia · Rack-and-adhesion mountain railway day travel
104. Kalka–Shimla RailwayIndia · Narrow-gauge Himalayan foothill day journey
105. Aru ResshaJapan · Reserved restaurant-train experience in ornate day carriages
106. 36+3Japan · Green Car sightseeing with optional lunch-plan compartments
107. A-TrainJapan · Short jazz-themed coastal day train
108. Ibusuki no TamatebakoJapan · Story-themed seaside day railcar
109. Yufuin no MoriJapan · Wood-lined resort-style daytime limited express
110. Saphir OdorikoJapan · All-Green-Car daytime limited express to the Izu Peninsula
111. Spacia XJapan · Design-led daytime limited express with varied seating
112. Iyonada MonogatariJapan · Coastal day sightseeing with reserved meal options
113. Shikoku Mannaka Sennen MonogatariJapan · Mountain day sightseeing with pre-reserved regional cuisine
114. Kyoto Tango Kuro-MatsuJapan · Regional restaurant train with reserved daytime table seating
115. Resort ShirakamiJapan · Reserved-seat daytime coastal sightseeing train
116. Koshino Shu*KuraJapan · Niigata sake-themed daytime sightseeing train
117. Sagano Romantic TrainJapan · Short river-gorge sightseeing excursion
118. Two Stars 4047Japan · Two-route coastal daytime sightseeing train
119. RokumonJapan · Shinshu daytime sightseeing and restaurant train
120. Alishan Forest RailwayAsia · Mountain forest railway with daytime seated travel

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