Rail · SCENIC RAILWAYS

The World’s 15 Most Scenic Railways

67 tours  ·  from $16 a head

A scenic railway is one where the point is the window, not the arrival. These 15 cross passes, gorges and coastlines that no road reaches as well, with prices, running seasons and which side of the carriage to sit on.

From Milan: Lake Como Cruise, St. Moritz & Bernina Red Train - Lake Como by private boat after sunrise
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From Milan: Lake Como Cruise, St. Moritz & Bernina Red Train

1.Lake Como Cruise, St. Moritz & Bernina Red Train

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 5,648 reviews · 13 hours · from $159Our pick

Leave Milan by comfortable coach for a private Lake Como cruise, a drive over the Maloja Pass, free time in St. Moritz, and a 2-hour Bernina Red Train ride through the Swiss Alps. English and Spanish guides, including experienced hosts such as Lina, Sabrina, and Carolina, lead the day. Bring your passport, warm layers, and lunch money.

“The day was very well organised. Our guide Lina was amazing, she was very friendly, very knowledgeable and kept everyone to schedule. The day itself was brilliant from the boat trip around Lake Como, to time spent in St Moritz with the high light being the train ride through the alps on the bernina red train. The views were spectacular. it was worth every penny.”

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From Milan: Bernina Train and St. Moritz Day Trip - Starting at Milano Centrale
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From Milan: Bernina Train and St. Moritz Day Trip

2.Bernina Train and St. Moritz Day Trip

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 4,495 reviews · 12 hours · from $122

Spend 12 hours traveling from Milan into the Swiss Alps by air-conditioned bus and 2nd-class Bernina Red Train. You’ll pass Tirano, Val Poschiavo, Diavolezza, and Morteratsch Glacier, then explore St. Moritz before returning through the Maloja Pass. English and Spanish guides, such as Lina, Carolina, and Simona, lead the day.

“The trip was great from start to finish, with unforgettable scenery throughout, this is a must trip for all to appreciate the beauty of the Swiss Alps and the route up the side of lake Como. Mr. B. Lambert”

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From Cairns: Self-Guided Kuranda Trip with Train and Skyrail - Pickup from Cairns and the morning start
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From Cairns: Self-Guided Kuranda Trip with Train and Skyrail

3.Self-Guided Kuranda Trip with Train and Skyrail

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 3,392 reviews · 7 hours · from $127

Travel from central Cairns to Kuranda by historic railway, then return above the rainforest canopy on the 7.5-kilometre Skyrail. You get roughly 2.5 to 3 hours in the village for markets, cafés, walking trails, and optional wildlife parks. Drivers such as Victor and Dean add useful local context, but this remains a self-guided day.

“trainride was amazing. kuranda is quite touristic. Highlight is the way to go there and way back with cable car”

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Bernina Red Train, Swiss Alps & St Moritz From Milan - Meeting the coach beside Milano Centrale
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Bernina Red Train, Swiss Alps & St Moritz From Milan

4.Bernina Red Train, Swiss Alps & St Moritz From Milan

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 2,954 reviews · 12 hours (approx.) · from $168Top rated

Leave central Milan early for Lake Como, St. Moritz, and a second-class Bernina Red Train ride to Tirano. An English-speaking guide such as Sabrina, Monica, or Maria Cristina handles the day, while you enjoy alpine views, free time, and a long but memorable return by coach.

“Very good tour with Sabrina. Highly recommend and will likely book again in summer for a completely different experience!”

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From Malaga: Ronda and Setenil Tour with Scenic Train - Ronda: Bridge, Gorge, and Old Stone Streets
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From Malaga: Ronda and Setenil Tour with Scenic Train

5.Ronda and Setenil Tour with Scenic Train

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 2,895 reviews · from $28

Spend nine hours from Málaga visiting cliff-top Ronda and rock-carved Setenil de las Bodegas. Choose a two-hour English walking tour in Ronda or four hours on your own. Guides such as Mercedes, JJ, and Ramon add useful local context, while the included shuttle train makes Setenil easy to reach.

“This day trip was a nice experiance, really well organized with helpful guides, everything was done on time, I stongly reccomend visiting Ronda and Setenil with these friendly guys The QR code provided for touristic attraction, restaurants, bars, etc was a great idea, howevere having the list as a link to be opend in google map would be even better”

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Swiss Alps Bernina Red Train and St.Moritz Tour from Milan - Arriving in St. Moritz
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Swiss Alps Bernina Red Train and St.Moritz Tour from Milan

6.Swiss Alps Bernina Red Train and St.Moritz Tour from Milan

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 2,369 reviews · 12 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $179

Spend about 12.5 hours traveling from Milan to St. Moritz by coach, then across the Bernina Pass by second-class red train to Tirano. You get Alpine views, free time in St. Moritz, an English-speaking guide, and opening train windows for photos. Expect an early start, shared seating, long bus rides, and no hotel drop-off.

“What an awesome experience. This was my wife and I first time in Italy and Switzerland…. What a great way to see it. The tour guide and bus driver were amazing, friendly, knowledgeable and professional. It was well worth our time and money. I definitely recommend this tour.”

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Milan to St. Moritz: Scenic Bernina Train Tour with Guide - The coach from Milan and the climb over Maloja Pass
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Milan to St. Moritz: Scenic Bernina Train Tour with Guide

7.Milan to St. Moritz: Scenic Bernina Train Tour with Guide

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 1,840 reviews · 12.5 hours · from $123

Travel from Milan to St. Moritz by air-conditioned coach, with an English- or Spanish-speaking guide and a scenic Bernina rail journey. Depending on train availability, you may board in Tirano, St. Moritz, or Thusis. Expect mountain passes, Morteratsch Glacier, openable train windows, and about two hours of free time in St. Moritz.

“It was a great experience, better than expected! We’ve been there in 9th of November and we had a beautiful sunny day. Scenic was amazing, the guide provided us lot of inside informations. We loved it so much that we’ll do it again for sure!”

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From Milan: Bernina Train, Swiss Alps & St. Moritz Day Trip - St. Moritz in 105 minutes
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From Milan: Bernina Train, Swiss Alps & St. Moritz Day Trip

8.Bernina Train, Swiss Alps & St. Moritz Day Trip

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 1,120 reviews · from $120

Travel from Milan by air-conditioned coach to St. Moritz, then ride the Bernina Red Train through high Alpine scenery to Tirano. Your English-speaking guide, who may be Alejandro, Maria Cristina, Chiara, or another TAOTRAVEL leader, handles the day while you enjoy open-window views, free time, and a chocolate stop.

“Alejandro our guide was great. Funny, explainable and punctual.”

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Kuranda Scenic Railway Day Trip from Cairns - The historic railway through Barron Gorge
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Kuranda Scenic Railway Day Trip from Cairns

9.Kuranda Scenic Railway Day Trip from Cairns

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 1,075 reviews · from $150

Travel from Cairns to Kuranda by the historic Scenic Railway, then return above the rainforest on the Skyrail Cableway. You get hotel pickup, free time in Kuranda, and optional visits to Birdworld, Koala Gardens, the Butterfly Sanctuary, or Rainforestation Nature Park. This is a mostly self-guided day, not a guided tour.

“This trip is a must-do for any holiday in Cairns. Fab views from both the Sky Rail and scenic railway. Interesting history, too.”

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Bergen: Viking Village, Nærøyfjord Cruise & Flåm Railway - Njardarheimr, a practical look at Viking life
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Bergen: Viking Village, Nærøyfjord Cruise & Flåm Railway

10.Viking Village, Nærøyfjord Cruise & Flåm Railway

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 1,047 reviews · 10h 30m · from $418

Spend about 10.5 hours traveling from Bergen by coach, electric ferry and train. Visit Njardarheimr Viking village, cruise the UNESCO-listed Nærøyfjord aboard Future of the Fjords, and ride the Flåm Railway. Guides such as Michael, Maria, Tracy and Ivan are praised for clear commentary and good humor. Food is not included, so bring snacks.

“A really enjoyable day. I loved the Viking village, the fjord cruise was really spectacular and the Flåm railway was great too! I would have appreciated a little bit more time in Flåm but I know it’s hard to pack so much into a day.”

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From Milan: Bernina Train Guided Tour to St. Moritz - Tirano gives you a short taste of Italy
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From Milan: Bernina Train Guided Tour to St. Moritz

11.Bernina Train Guided Tour to St. Moritz

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 948 reviews · from $127

Spend 11 hours traveling from Milan through Tirano and the Bernina Range to St. Moritz. Your English-speaking guide leads the train journey, points out the Palü Glacier from Alp Grüm, and gives you free time in St. Moritz. Guides such as Patrizia, Luigi, and Monica have been praised for their warmth and organization. Meals are not included.

“It was a great experience and guide was very knowledgeable and experienced.”

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From Milan: St Moritz & Alps Day Trip with Bernina Red Train - The Bernina Red Train to Tirano
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From Milan: St Moritz & Alps Day Trip with Bernina Red Train

12.St Moritz & Alps Day Trip with Bernina Red Train

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 851 reviews · from $104

Travel from Milan to St. Moritz by coach, then ride the Bernina Red Train with opening windows through the Alps to Tirano. An English-speaking guide stays with you all day. Expect grand scenery, limited free time, plenty of walking, and a long return ride.

“Jo and Luca provided a wonderful trip. Breath taking scenery and great knowledge shared.”

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Naples: Panoramic Walking Tour with Funicular - Walking the Petraio stairways downhill
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Naples: Panoramic Walking Tour with Funicular

13.Panoramic Walking Tour with Funicular

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 828 reviews · 2 hours · from $24

Ride the Funicolare Centrale from Augusteo to Vomero, then walk downhill through Via Palizzi, the Petraio stairways, Corso Vittorio Emanuele, and the Spanish Quarters. Guides such as Virginia, Roberta, Miri, and Barbara add local stories and practical context. You finish at Pignasecca Market after two hours and about 24 dollars per person.

“Simoni was a very knowledgeable and likeable guide and we learned so much about both present day Naples and its history. He was not at all phased by conducting the tour in both English and French. A great tour and would highly recommend 👍”

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Nice: A gentle ride on a small electric train with panoramic views - The uphill ride to Castle Hill
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Nice: A gentle ride on a small electric train with panoramic views

14.A gentle ride on a small electric train with panoramic views

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 806 reviews · 50 min · from $16Best value

Take a 50-minute electric mini-train tour from the Promenade des Anglais through Nice and up Castle Hill. You’ll hear commentary in French, English, German, Italian, Spanish, Chinese, Japanese, or Russian, then stop for about 10 minutes at the summit for views over the city and Baie des Anges. The train is wheelchair accessible.

“Great way to see the city and get to the overlook of Nice. Fun little train ride!”

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Intimate Small-Group Bernina UNESCO Scenic Train on Swiss Alps - The 8 a.m. start at Milan Central Station
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Intimate Small-Group Bernina UNESCO Scenic Train on Swiss Alps

15.Intimate Small-Group Bernina UNESCO Scenic Train on Swiss Alps

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 619 reviews · 12 hours 45 minutes (approx.) · from $211

Start at Milan Central Station for a long but rewarding day through Lake Como, Valtellina, Tirano, and the Swiss Alps. Your English-speaking guide, often Luca, Silvia, Paola, or another member of the team, manages the trains, minibus, and mountain stops. The Bernina railway is the main event, with time in St. Moritz before returning to Milan.

“10/10 experience. I would 100% recommend Luca was a phenomenal tour guide. He took great care of our group and had the itinerary accurate to the exact minute. Our group learned a ton and he was even nice enough to take us to his family’s winery to try a glass of authentic Italian wine. I did this trip solo and felt like I really bonded with the other 5 ppl in my group.”

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New in Scenic Railways

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