European Story · rail planning
Scenic European train journey planner
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Bernina route
Chur or St. Moritz to Tirano
Alpine passes and the descent into northern Italy.
Choose the Bernina Express or a regional train first: they have different reservation arrangements. Check the departure and its reservation rules before paying.
Open Rhaetian Railway's route information ↗ Operator seat-reservation rules ↗Ten scenic routes, with the right starting point
These are ten routes to consider, rather than a ranking. The endpoints help you search the operator's timetable. Use the booking note to check that you have chosen the train and route you want.
| Route and country | Stations and scenery | Before booking |
|---|---|---|
| Bernina routeSwitzerland / ItalyRhaetian Railway ↗ | Chur or St. Moritz to Tirano Alpine passes and the descent into northern Italy. | Choose the Bernina Express or a regional train first: they have different reservation arrangements. Check the departure and its reservation rules before paying. |
| Glacier ExpressSwitzerlandGlacier Express ↗ | Zermatt to St. Moritz Swiss mountain valleys. | The Glacier Express needs both a valid ticket or accepted pass and a compulsory seat reservation. Check the operating dates for the section you want. |
| GoldenPass ExpressSwitzerlandMOB / GoldenPass Express ↗ | Montreux to Interlaken Ost Lake Geneva, the Pays-d'Enhaut and the Bernese Oberland. | Select the GoldenPass Express when checking this direct route. Other GoldenPass-branded services have different endpoints. Check the class and seat rules for your departure. |
| Treno GottardoSwitzerlandSOB ↗ | Lucerne, Zurich or Basel to Locarno The historic Gotthard mountain railway and Ticino. | Look for Treno Gottardo via the panoramic mountain line. A faster journey using the base tunnel is a different route. Check which starting city your chosen train serves. |
| Flåm RailwayNorwayNorway's best / Flåm Railway ↗ | Flåm to Myrdal The Flåm valley between fjord and mountain station. | Decide between a return ride and a connection at Myrdal. Check both train times on your travel date before booking onward travel. |
| Bergen LineNorwayVy ↗ | Oslo to Bergen The mountain plateau between eastern and western Norway. | Check the exact stations and any replacement transport on your date. Vy requires a seat reservation for rail-pass journeys on this line. |
| Rauma LineNorwaySJ Norge ↗ | Dombås to Åndalsnes The Rauma valley, mountains and rivers. | Plan the Dombås connection as well as the scenic leg. Use SJ Norge or Entur for the current timetable and notices. |
| West Highland LineUnited KingdomScotRail ↗ | Glasgow Queen Street to Fort William and Mallaig Scottish moorland, lochs and the Glenfinnan Viaduct. | Select the Fort William / Mallaig branch rather than the Oban branch. Check engineering notices and your return or onward connection. |
| Cinque Terre coastItalyTrenitalia ↗ | La Spezia to Levanto via the Cinque Terre villages Ligurian coastal villages with views between tunnels. | Check the seasonal 5 Terre Express service and ticket rules for your date. Decide whether you need a single trip or several village stops. |
| Douro LinePortugalCP - Comboios de Portugal ↗ | Porto São Bento to Régua and Pocinho The Douro river valley and vineyard slopes. | Enter your chosen endpoint in CP's current journey planner and check the full trip and return train for your date before booking. |
Turn a scenic ride into a workable trip
Start with the stations at each end. Then check the operator's timetable for your date, including any work on the line. Leave room for the next train, a late arrival or a walk between stations. Choose a daylight departure if seeing the landscape is the main reason for the ride.
Check the fare and the seat as two separate items. A rail pass can cover travel while a seat still needs a separate booking. For example, the Glacier Express requires a ticket and a seat reservation, and Vy requires pass holders to reserve on the Bergen Line. Use the rules for your actual train, class and pass.
Keep the bag check practical: use the operator's luggage rules, measure the bag you will carry, and think about steps and transfers. Our Europe packing checklist can help with the packing stage. If a rail term is unfamiliar, look it up in the Europe travel glossary.
Questions before you book
Does a rail pass include a seat reservation?
Check the train's rules. A ticket or accepted pass and a reserved seat can be separate requirements. Do not count a selected checklist box as a reservation: it records a check you have made, not a booking.
Can I use this as a live timetable?
Open the official route link and enter your date there. This planner helps you choose and prepare a route. The operator owns current departures, engineering work, availability, fares and ticket conditions.
What should I do about luggage?
Check the allowance for the operator and train you choose, then measure your packed bag. Keep tickets and items you need during the ride easy to reach. A train connection may involve steps or a walk, so plan for carrying the bag as well as storing it.
Can I take my plan offline?
Download CSV saves the chosen route, date, note and six checks in a file you can open in a spreadsheet. The saved plan stays in this browser on this device, so download a copy before changing devices or clearing browser data.
How this planner was made
We selected ten scenic routes across Switzerland, Norway, the United Kingdom, Italy and Portugal. Each row links to the operator's route information or timetable used for the endpoint and booking notes. The Bernina route also crosses into Italy. The selection is our own, not another publisher's list or an award claim.
Route information reviewed October 2026. No prices, departure times or seat availability are calculated here. The six checks are a planning aid; your dates, saved notes and ticks are stored locally when browser storage is available. Recheck the official sources before buying or traveling.