Opening Times
Travelling can sometimes feel uncomfortable. Between stiff plane seats and cramped bus journeys, a bad beginning to your trip can put a real damper on the destination. But there’s a more comfortable, and more sustainable, way to see the world: by train.
Train journeys not only let you take in your surroundings at a calmer pace and give you enough room to stretch your legs, but they make travelling itself part of the trip too. With so many options to choose from, and often a price tag to match, which ones are most worth it? Which ones deliver the once-in-a-lifetime views you can’t get anywhere else?
With that in mind, we put some of the world’s best known train journeys to the test, and the results might inspire your next adventure. Before you book, make sure you’re covered with travel insurance, so the only thing you need to worry about is which seat to pick.
How did we find the most eye-catching train journeys in the world?
Using eye-tracking technology, we showed participants multiple images of iconic views from train routes across the globe. We then tracked how long they spent looking at the scenery and how quickly their eyes were drawn to it. These were combined into a weighted ‘Eye-Catching’ Score, giving each route a rating out of 100.
Japan’s Sagano Romantic Train takes the crown but its Europe that dominates the top of the rankings, with four of the top ten routes located on the continent.
Australia comes as the study’s surprise entry. For a country with relatively small rail tourism compared to Europe, two routes make the global top 15: the Kuranda Scenic Railway (12th) and The Ghan (15th), offering visitors views from ancient tropical rainforest to the red outback desert.
The world’s top 15 most eye-catching train journeys
| Rank | Train Journey | Country | Average Time Spent Looking (seconds) | Average Time to First Fixation (seconds) | ‘Eye-Catching’ Score / 100 |
| 1 | Sagano Romantic Train | Japan | 2.03 | 1.85 | 91.9 |
| 2 | Bernina Express | Switzerland / Italy | 2.28 | 2.79 | 91.5 |
| 3 | Glacier Express | Switzerland | 2.20 | 2.85 | 88.5 |
| 4 | West Highland Line | Scotland (UK) | 2.09 | 2.67 | 86.0 |
| 5 | Alishan Forest Railway | Taiwan | 1.89 | 2.03 | 84.8 |
| 6 | Serra Verde Express | Brazil | 1.94 | 2.24 | 84.4 |
| 7 | Rocky Mountaineer | Canada | 2.05 | 2.91 | 83.2 |
| 8 | Semmering Railway | Austria | 1.80 | 2.34 | 78.7 |
| 9 | Coast Starlight | USA | 1.86 | 2.80 | 77.8 |
| 10 | White Pass & Yukon Route | USA / Canada | 1.88 | 3.09 | 76.9 |
| 11 | Central Andean Railway | Peru | 1.80 | 2.61 | 76.8 |
| 12 | Kuranda Scenic Railway | Australia | 1.71 | 2.29 | 76.5 |
| 13 | TranzAlpine | New Zealand | 1.69 | 2.30 | 75.6 |
| 14 | Blue Train | South Africa | 1.58 | 1.95 | 75.5 |
| 15 | The Ghan | Australia | 1.54 | 2.03 | 73.3 |
1. Sagano Romantic Train, Japan
‘Eye-Catching’ Score: 91.9/100
Taking the top spot is Japan’s Sagano Romantic Train, which passes by the Arashiyama bamboo forest in Kyoto. This is a short 25-minute ride along the Hozu River, but it packs some of the most eye-catching scenery in Asia, with riverside cliffs and mountainside scenes.
The route runs between Saga-Arashiyama and Kameoka, and with open-sided carriages offering clear views, it’s hard look away. If you’re planning a trip to Japan, book well in advance because this one sells out fast, particularly during cherry blossom season, and autumn when the maples change and leave the nature around you in shades of red and gold.
2. Bernina Express, Switzerland and Italy
‘Eye-Catching’ Score: 91.5/100
Just behind the top spot, the Bernina Express is a UNESCO World Heritage railway and arguably one of Europe’s most iconic rail experiences. The route crosses the Alps between Chur in Switzerland and Tirano in Italy, climbing up to the Ospizio Bernina, the highest point of any non-rack railway in the Alps.
From glaciers to frozen lakes and snow-topped mountains, you get a bit of everything without ever needing to leave your seat. The full trip takes around four hours, so settle in and enjoy the view.
3. Glacier Express, Switzerland
‘Eye-Catching’ Score: 88.5/100
Switzerland takes two of the top spots, with the Glacier Express rounding out the top three. Its nickname of “the world’s slowest express train” makes sense considering the eight-hour journey between Zermatt and St. Moritz. However, the trip is slow on purpose, giving you as much time as possible to soak in the scenery as the train moves through views of the Matterhorn and the Rhine Gorge, also known as ‘the Swiss Grand Canyon’.
4. West Highland Line, Scotland (UK)
‘Eye-Catching’ Score: 86.0/100
The only UK entry in our top 15 is the West Highland Line in Scotland. Travelling between Glasgow and Mallaig, here you’ll gaze out the window at pristine Highland scenery, including the beautiful banks of Loch Lomond. Harry Potter fans will instantly recognise the Glenfinnan Viaduct, the bridge that the Hogwarts Express crosses in the films.
Unlike many of the other eye-catching train journeys, the West Highland Line is a regularly scheduled service; you don’t need a special tourist pass to experience it. That said, the Jacobite Steam Train runs seasonally along a portion of the route for a more nostalgic experience.
5. Alishan Forest Railway, Taiwan
‘Eye-Catching’ Score: 84.8/100
A fantastic rail journey that doesn’t always get the international recognition it deserves, Taiwan’s Alishan Forest Railway is a mountain railway that takes you from forest to tea plantations. The landscape literally transforms around you, crossing through five different vegetation zones, as the train climbs higher and higher, up to an altitude of over 2,000 metres.
This red train is especially popular at sunrise, so avoid that time if you want to escape the crowds. However, if you’re willing to mingle with the masses, the reward is watching the sun rise above the clouds from your position in the mountain peaks.
6. Serra Verde Express, Brazil
‘Eye-Catching’ Score: 84.4/100
The only South American entry in the top 10, Brazil‘s Serra Verde Express goes from the city of Curitiba down to the coastal town of Morretes. The 110km route passes through one of the world’s largest remaining stretches of Atlantic Forest and is home to jaguars and toucans. Get your cameras ready, you never know what you might spot.
7. Rocky Mountaineer, Canada
‘Eye-Catching’ Score: 83.2/100
The first North American route in the top 10, Canada‘s Rocky Mountaineer is one of the most famous luxury rail experiences in the world. Travelling through British Columbia and Alberta, the scene is cinematic: prepare for views of glaciers, lakes, eagles and the occasional bear or elk in the valleys below.
Don’t worry about booking the right seat, the carriages have floor-to-ceiling windows so you don’t miss a single moment. Plus, it only runs during the day, so you can catch the Rocky Mountain scenery in all its glory.
8. Semmering Railway, Austria
‘Eye-Catching’ Score: 78.7/100
The world’s first mountain railway built with a steam locomotive, Austria‘s Semmering Railway has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1998. Crossing the Semmering Pass in the Eastern Alps, charming villages are dotted around the trail, making for a truly unique and eye-catching experience for all those aboard.
9. Coast Starlight, United States
‘Eye-Catching’ Score: 77.8/100
The first of the United States train journeys that made the ranking is the Coast Starlight, which runs between Los Angeles and Seattle. Moving along the Pacific coast, this journey offers stunning ocean views before heading inland through Oregon’s Cascades and Washington State’s forests.
It’s nearly 35 hours end-to-end, so booking a sleeper carriage might be the ideal choice, especially if you want to go to sleep with sea views, and wake up to a completely different, but equally beautiful landscape.
10. White Pass & Yukon Route, USA and Canada
‘Eye-Catching’ Score: 76.9/100
Built during the Klondike Gold Rush of 1898, the White Pass & Yukon Route is a historic railway connecting Skagway, Alaska to Whitehorse, Yukon. Take a seat, you’re going to want to experience this one in full. The journey feels like stepping back in time, since much of the wilderness remains untouched.
Whether you’re planning to wake up to the Swiss Alps outside your window or hoping to spot a Canadian deer in the wild, beautiful rail adventures are waiting for you. Make sure you’re covered with travel insurance before you set off, so the only thing on your mind is which incredible view comes next.
Methodology
We analysed 24 train journeys from around the world, each known for offering stunning views for passengers travelling on them.
A group of 100 participants from around the world took part in the research. Each participant was presented with a series of images along each train route, and their visual engagement was measured using eye-tracking technology. We recorded two key metrics:
- Time to First Fixation (TTFF): The speed at which participants first focused on an image, indicating immediate visual appeal.
- Total Viewing Duration: The average length of time participants spent looking at each image, reflecting sustained interest.
To determine the final ranking, these metrics were combined in a weighted formula: 25% based on TTFF (how quickly an image captures attention) and 75% based on total viewing duration (how long it holds attention).
The results revealed the train journeys that are the most visually captivating, earning them the title of the world’s most beautiful train journeys.
Data correct as of March 2026.
