Top 10 Train Routes in the World: Switzerland’s “Bernina Express” Offers Glacial Views and Fairy-Tale Villages Along the Way

▲ Switzerland has the most dense railway network in all of Europe. (Photo / Provided by Golden Tour Travel Agency, the same below)

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In addition to buses and airplanes, traveling by luxurious and elegant trains has become increasingly popular among travelers in Europe and America in recent years. This travel trend has gradually spread to Taiwan, with more and more travel agencies offering or organizing self-guided or group overseas train tours. Nowadays, a growing number of travelers are embracing this new style of travel.

In Europe, some trains still retain original wooden carriages and classic century-old windows, evoking a sense of nostalgia, while others feature fine dining cars with meals prepared by renowned chefs, or even private bathrooms and round-the-clock butler service. Traveling by train allows you to enjoy a variety of spectacular scenery through the windows as you go.

Especially since trains are an ideal mode of transport for reaching mountainous areas — for instance, Switzerland is very mountainous with year-round snow, and roads can sometimes be closed due to heavy snowfall even in summer. As a result, Switzerland boasts the most dense railway network in Europe, enabling travelers to easily cross mountain ranges and ascend to high altitudes of 2,000 or even 3,000 meters to admire diverse landscapes. Therefore, Switzerland is an excellent destination for experiencing train travel.



▲% Trains that Combine Scenery and Nature



In Switzerland, the Bernina Express, Glacier Express, and GoldenPass Line are among the most beloved scenic trains for tourists. National Geographic Magazine once ranked the Bernina Express as one of the world’s top ten most worthwhile train routes. It takes just 30 minutes to reach the mountaintop, and along the way, you can enjoy lush green mountains and grasslands, azure lakeside views, glacial snowfalls and waterfalls, mountain streams, and fairy-tale villages. There is also a large circular loop railway, and the breathtaking scenery will leave you in awe.

The Glacier Express is famous for its “slowness,” being the slowest scenic train in the world, allowing passengers to savor the beautiful scenery along the way at a leisurely pace. Onboard, not only can you slowly admire the ever-changing landscapes outside the window, but you can also enjoy a variety of freshly prepared gourmet dishes, satisfying both your visual and taste senses.


▲ Interior view of a scenic train carriage.

Transport Information: There are no direct flights from Taiwan to Switzerland. You can take flights with airlines such as EVA Air, China Airlines, Swiss International Air Lines, Thai Airways, Cathay Pacific, or Singapore Airlines to transfer in other countries en route to Switzerland.