The golden age of train travel may be a thing of the past, but epic train journeys across Europe are making a remarkable comeback. Luxury train travel is becoming increasingly popular, offering more than just transportation. With fine dining, live music, premium service, and sweeping views, these journeys have become a once-in-a-lifetime indulgence or the perfect way to celebrate a special occasion. The trend shows no signs of slowing, with new and exciting routes being introduced yearly. Let’s explore the standout luxury rail trips already available and the highly anticipated launches for 2025.
Venice Simplon Orient Express (UK, Italy)
Route: London -> Venice
The closest modern reincarnation of the original Orient Express. It has a great variety of routes, including the iconic Paris -> Istanbul. The comfort level varies from historic immersion in the restored 1920s compartments to grand suites, which are no short of upscale hotel rooms. On board, the experience is elevated by live music, gourmet dining, and an ambiance straight out of an Agatha Christie novel. Out of the numerous journeys, we will pick the Venice Simplon route, which gave the name to the brand.
Transcantábrico Gran Lujo (Spain)
Route: San Sebastián -> Santiago de Compostela
Did you know that Camino de Santiago can be done in luxury mode? Since 2010 Transcantábrico has been offering an 8-day, 7-night journey between San Sebastián and Santiago de Compostela, traversing the northern coast of Spain. The stops on the route include the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao, the prehistoric Altamira Caves in Santillana del Mar (Neocave replica), and the rugged peaks of Picos de Europa National Park.
Glacier Express (Switzerland)
Route: Zermatt -> St. Moritz
Valais region and Zermatt, in particular, have been on radar the recently due to the upcoming UCI World Mountain Bike Championships. Short-listed by Lonely Planet for 2025, this region has a lot to offer, and Glacier Express is one of the top experiences. The train route covers 291 km / 181 mi of scenic alpine landscapes. It has varied pricing options from first class to excellence, which includes concierge service and gourmet meals.
Bernina Express (Switzerland, Italy)
Route: Chur -> Tirano
A UNESCO World Heritage route that crosses the Alps, this journey from Chur to Tirano offers views of glaciers, lakes, mountain peaks, and landmarks like the Landwasser Viaduct or the Brusio Circular Viaduct. It’s rather affordable than a luxury trip, with the pricing starting at CHF 73 ( €75 / $80 / £65). Even though it covers two countries (Italy and Switzerland) the route is very short for a train trip — only 4 hours. For that reason, there are no sleeping compartments or a dining car.
The Royal Scotsman (UK)
Route: Edinburgh -> Keith -> Dundee -> Edinburg
Royal Scotsman is another luxury train operated by Belmond. Since 1985 it’s been traversing the Scottish Highlands. The circular route from Edinburgh passes such landmarks as the Keith distilleries, known for Speyside whiskies, and the historic city of Dundee. The train accommodates up to 40 guests in 22 cabins, each with private bathrooms. But the highlight of this train is dining. Dishes often feature river-caught wild salmon, prime Angus beef, and seasonal game. Additionally, regional specialties such as haggis, and black pudding, are paired with a selection of over 50 whiskies.
Golden Eagle Danube Express (Central Europe)
Route: Budapest -> Venice
The Golden Eagle Danube Express, originally launched as the Danube Express in September 2008, is a private luxury train operating in Central and Eastern Europe. It provides a hotel-on-wheels experience with sleeping cars in 3 comfort categories. It’s the only luxury train serving Eastern Europe. It follows closely the standards once set by the Orient Express: 2 dining cars, a live piano bar, and gourmet dining. Furthermore, in 2025 it is set to launch the iconic Paris — Istanbul route.
Belmond Northern Belle (UK)
Route: Manchester -> Carlisle
Northern Belle runs daily trips, and there’s a great variety of available routes on its website. There are no sleeping compartments due to the short length of the trips. The focus is on fine dining and visiting special events like Royal Yacht Britannia and attractions like Chester Cathedral. Welcome champagne and caviar are the specialties of this train.
Al Andalus (Spain)
Route: Seville -> Granada
Unlike Transcantábrico, which runs in the north of Spain, Al Andalus traverses the South, Andalusia in particular, as you may guess from its name. The story of this train is very similar to VSOE. Though it was launched significantly later, in 2014, it uses the carriages from the 1920s – 1930s that used to belong to CIWL.
These carriages were initially used by the British monarchy for travel between Calais and the French Riviera. They have since been restored to their original grandeur, combining Belle Époque charm with modern amenities.
The train includes lounge, bar, and restaurant cars, where Andalusian cuisine is served. The journey spans 7 days and 6 nights, covering cities such as Seville, Córdoba, Granada, Ronda, and Cádiz, sprinkling the daily tours to explore Moorish heritage.
Le Grand Tour (France)
Route: Paris -> Avignon -> La Rochelle -> Paris
Le Grand Tour is set to begin in 2025, offering a circular route across France exclusively. It is owned by Puy du Fou, a French company known for its historical theme park in Vendée.
The 6-day, 5-night trip starts at Paris’s Gare de l’Est, where the original Orient Express route was once commencing.
The route will be covering approximately 4,000 km / 2,500 mi. Stops include the Champagne region, Burgundy, Lake Annecy, the Arcachon Basin, the Châteaux of the Loire Valley, and the Palais des Papes in Avignon. The train features 21 cabins, accommodating up to 36 passengers. Meals onboard will be prepared by a Michelin-starred chef.
Orient Express La Dolce Vita (Italy)
Route: Rome -> Venice -> Portofino -> Rome
La Dolce Vita is a new launch from Accor, alongside its hotels and the new Orient Express superyacht. Except for the name, it doesn’t share much with the Orient Express train: all its routes will be running through Italy exclusively and the interiors were inspired by a more modern 1960s Dolce Vita art style. It should bring to life the vibe of the namesake film by Fellini.
On top of luxury accommodation, fine dining, and daily tours to the landmarks of the area, the service will include some curated experiences like cooking masterclasses and art projects.
The Britannic Explorer (UK)
Route: London -> Bruton -> Moreton-in-Marsh -> London
The Britannic Explorer is the new luxury train owned by Belmond. Its inaugural journey is set for July 4, 2025. Like Royal Scotsman, it will be operating within the UK, but it will focus on Whales rather than Scotland. Similarly to Royal Scotsman, the routes will be circular.
The restaurant design is meant to convey the atmosphere of an English country garden, featuring potted herbs, botanical tapestries, and limed oak joinery. The experience focuses on slow travel, with the highlight put on the observation car to contemplate the passing scenery.
Norient Express (Norway)
Route: Bergen -> Oslo -> Trondheim
The Norient Express is scheduled to launch in autumn 2025. The journey is planned to span 6 days, with multiple stops and excursions along the way. The trip will be done one way weekly, commencing on Sunday and ending on Thursday. That means planning a round-trip, you will have 3 days to explore the endpoint (Bergen or Trondheim).
The itinerary includes stops at the UNESCO-listed Nærøyfjord and the historic mining town of Røros, as well as visits to family-run food producers and artisanal beverage makers.
In addition to sleeper compartments and dining cars, the train features an observation car and an exercise room — an uncommon feature for a luxury rail service.
How do luxury rail journeys in Europe compare to each other?
Some trains here have just 1 route, while many on the list have multiple itineraries, we will pick just 1 route for each train to be able to draw the price comparison
| Train | Route | Price | Duration | Dining | Decor | Amenities |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Venice Simplon Orient Express | London -> Venice | $ 5,670 / €4,830 / £4,200 | 1 day | Multi-course meals and a selection of wines, cocktails, and spirits. Beverages are charged separately | Art Deco interiors with Lalique glass panels and polished wood finishes | 3 restaurants, steward service, a bar car with live music, excursions |
| Transcantábrico Gran Lujo | San Sebastián -> Santiago de Compostela | $ 10,175 / €9,250 / £7,862 | 8 days | Spanish regional dishes, such as Asturian fabada and Cantabrian anchovies, paired with fine wines | 1920s-style interiors with modern comforts | restaurant, bar lounge, guided tours |
| Glacier Express | Zermatt -> St. Moritz | $ 191 / €162 / £148 | 1 day | Gourmet meals are served in the excellence class | Contemporary minimalist interior | audio guides |
| Bernina Express | Chur -> Tirano | $ 112 / €95 / £87 | 1 day | Snacks and drinks provided via a minibar service | Contemporary minimalist with large panoramic windows | snacks, audio guides |
| The Royal Scotsman | Edinburgh -> Keith -> Dundee -> Edinburg | $ 5,400 / €4,600 / £4,000 | 4 days | Scottish-inspired cuisine, highlighting ingredients like wild salmon and Aberdeen Angus beef, paired with over 50 whiskies | Classic Scottish themes with fabrics and traditional woodwork | Observation car, Dior SPA, 2 dining carriages |
| Golden Eagle Danube Express | Budapest -> Venice | $ 18,488 / €15,749 / £13,695 | 11 days | Meals crafted by an executive chef featuring Hungarian and Italian cuisines | The art nouveau design suites | restaurant, bar lounge, guided tours |
| Belmond Northern Belle | Manchester -> Carlisle | $ 803 / €684 / £595 | 1 day | Traditional British dishes are served on lunch trips and pastries on afternoon tea | Vintage British carriages | guided tours on some routes, welcome champagne and caviar |
| Al Andalus | Seville -> Granada | $ 8,100 / €6,000 / £6,900 | 7 days | Andalusian cuisine featuring local dishes such as gazpacho and Iberian pork | Belle Époque design with intricate woodwork and stained glass | 2 restaurants, a bar, a playroom |
| Le Grand Tour | Paris -> Avignon -> La Rochelle -> Paris | $ 11,408 / €8,450 / £9,718 | 6 days | French gourmet meals prepared by a Michelin-starred chef | Moulin Rouge inspired | restaurant, bar |
| Accor Orient Express | Rome -> Venice -> Portofino -> Rome | $ 10,044 / €7,440 / £8,556 | 3 days | Menus reflecting Italian culinary traditions, like truffles and Parmigiano-Reggiano. | Retro-modern design inspired by 1960s Italy, with influences from iconic designers like Carlo Scarpa | restaurant, lounge bar, concierge, guided tours, live music |
| The Britannic Explorer | London -> Bruton -> Moreton-in-Marsh -> London | $ 14,850 / €12,650 / £11,000 | 4 days | British seasonal dishes, led by Michelin-starred chef | Locally sourced materials like British marble and oak | restaurant, Wellness Suite, observation car |
| Norient Express | Bergen -> Oslo -> Trondheim | TBA | 6 days | TBA | Natural Norwegian materials such as wool and timber | Observation car, exercise room, visits to UNESCO sites like Nærøyfjord Røros |
Daily Alpine routes are the most affordable and do not fall into the ‘luxury’ category. While the Bernina Express sticks to snacks and drinks, the Glacier Express includes an upscale dining option in its Excellence Class. However, the entertainment is limited to audio guides.
In the UK, the Northern Belle and Britannic Explorer share similar routes but cater to different travel styles. The Northern Belle sticks to short journeys, serving afternoon tea or lunch on its vintage carriages. The Britannic Explorer extends the experience to four days, adding a wellness suite and curated cultural stops.
Wellness is increasingly common on luxury trains. The Royal Scotsman adds a Dior Spa, while the Britannic Explorer includes a wellness suite. Live music is almost standard in sleeper trains like the Accor Orient Express. However, not every train offers concierge services or personalized experiences, making these features a consideration for travelers who value them.
Pin this for later
