Archive: Most Scenic Train Rides
All train rides are not equal-some are worth the journey just for the view. Whether because of mountain scenery, gentle landscapes, or a Back Door look at local life, what train rides in Europe come with the best views?
Madrid - Oviedo (Spain)
This journey was unexpectedly amazing. The 'Talgo' winds quite sedately through various examples of Spanish countryside, before ascending higher than the clouds in the Picos de Europa mountains
Ed
Birmingham, UK 12/01/03
Bernina Express
Traveled the Bernina Express on 11-15-03. Contrary to what you may read, this scenic train operates in the winter. I called the US office of RailEurope and was able to obtain reservations on this train. Also, we arrived in Torino at approx. 1 p.m. and boarded a train to Milan at 3 p.m. A wonderful ride and the views were breath-taking. Next time, I'll do the round trip from Chur.
Bill
Bill
Miami, Fl USA 11/28/03
Swiss Saver Pass
Thanks to this board for invaluable help in planning my just concluded 12 day
trip across Switzerland with a first class Swiss Saver pass. Just adding a few
tips from my own experiences, some echoing previous posters:
1. The regular coaches are far more fun for 'run across the coach and stick your head out' types like me. The Panoramic coaches, get way too hot, the seats are uncomfortable, and being shut up in an airconditioned dome with tourists is rather contrary to the romance of train travel.
2. I did the Bernina ride 4 times. It was without a doubt the most romantic of the train lines with the gorgeous red Rhatische Bahn engines and carriages streaking through the whites and greens of the Engadine and val Poschiavo. A great if pricey lunch can be had at Le Prese, in the eponymous hotel right by the lake. Le Croce Bianca was a great place to stay in Poschiavo. In the early morning, the piazza and campanile in Poschiavo take on an almost surreal appearance. The hotel on Muottas Muragl was great to stay in but the food was overpriced though well cooked.
3. The stations of Rivaz and St. Saphorin are wonderful step off points off the Lausanne-Vevey line. To hike through the vineyards, the Puidox-Chexbres stop on the Lausanne Bern line is a great starting point.
4. The coaches of the Wenegeralpbahn from Lauterbrunnen to Wengen are really gorgeous. All wood interiors and a brilliant green yellow body. Well worth the trip.
5. The friends of swiss railways club has a wonderful dynamic rail model display close to the Samedan station. It features all three Rhatischebahn engines and a 1905 Interlaken Luzern BDB steam prototype. We were lucky to bump into the biweekly 'track greaser' who gave us a good overview.
6. The bus ride on the Lauterbrunnen valley floor to Stechelberg takes on a wonderful pastoral aspect in the evening.
Feel free to email me if you have any questions on a forthcoming trip and I will
be happy to try and help.
Binayak Bhattacharyya
Brooklyn, NY USA 09/11/03
RE: Warning
It sounds like you are describing AMS (Acute Mountain Syndrome), taking
dexamethasone can counter this problem. Anyone can get it, even people in
Colorado used to high altitude still have bouts of it.
Joe
Denver, CO USA 08/20/03
Warning for Jungfraujoch
Be very careful when ascending to the top of the Jungfrau. The day
I visited the Jungfraujoch, I left Murren (across the Lauterbrunnen Valley
from the Jungfrau), descended into Lauterbrunnen, then ascended back up
on the first train. When I got off the train at the peak, I felt like I
was very weak, tired, so I immediately went to the restaurant one flight
of stairs up and had a regular coke, thinking I was having low blood sugar
(although, after a week of skiing, and being a 30 year old male, I never
had any blood sugar problems).
Anyway, after resting for about 20 or 30 minutes, and feeling better, I walked back downstairs where I had left my backpack. I carried it to one of the lockers in the tunnel connecting the main arrival area with the Sphinx observatory. After putting my bag away, and half-way down the dark tunnel, I totally lost my breath in a way that is difficult to describe. It was a feeling like I was hyperventilating, but I really wasn't breathing heavily. But no matter how slowly and concentrated I breathed, I simply could not catch my breath. After a few minutes of sitting down in the dark hallway, I got up enough nerve to continue walking towards the Sphinx, but I could not shake this feeling.
I ended up ascending even higher to the Sphinx, and that is when it got really bad. I felt like I was asphyxiating and I almost passed out. Later I found out I was suffering from altitude sickness and I had no idea at the time what was wrong with me. It was absolutely terrifying.
Therefore, I recommend taking a sport oxygen
cannister with you if you ascend without acclimatizing like I did. After
speaking with many people about my experience, I have learned that there
is no way for anyone to predict when this will happen, but it is more common
if you ascend from a low altitude like I did.
Chris
Atlanta, GA USA 08/11/03
Ryanair is cheap, but you don't get views!
Barcelona to Florence was beautiful, if you can stay awake through the time
and train changes. You get "movie" views of the beach on one side, and gorgeous
mountains on the other, and you can get a kick out of going through Cannes,
etc.
Brittany
Hemet, CA USA 08/03/03
Murren More Scenic Than Jungfrau
Traveling by train from Venice to Munich (the route goes via Verona
and Innsbruck) the section between Verona and Bolzen/Bolzano has spectactular
mountain scenery. This train route is also scenic from the Italy/Austria
border north to Innsbruck.
But absolutely the best views from a train in Europe are from the little one-car train which runs from Grutschalp (the top of the funicular railway from Lauterbrunnen) to Murren, in Switzerland. On arrival at Murren station, you can picnic on one of two public park benches - which surely have the greatest views from any park bench in the world. It's a pity that so many people miss this spectacular trip because at Lauterbrunnen they stay on the train to Kleine Scheidegg in their rush to get from Interlaken to the railway up the Jungfrau.
Although many may disagree with me, I think
the train ride to Murren is more spectacular than the ride up the Jungfrau,
and certainly far, far less expensive. So if you are in Interlaken and
heading for the Jungfrau Railway, allow time to get off the train at Lauterbrunnen.
Caution: at Interlaken Ost station, don't get on a train going via Grindewald)
and at Lautebrunnen walk across the street, or use the pedestrian tunnel,
to the funicular up the side of the mountain, which connects at the top
with the little railway to Murren. The train crew will wait while you take
photographs of the spectactular view at the top of the funicular. On our
trip, we also got to see a helicopter rescue of a stray cow stranded on
the side of the mountain, but I can't guarantee that you'll get to see that!
David Flurrie
Philadelphia, PA USA 08/01/03
Swiss Tips
I just returned from a 10-day trip from Switzerland. I was glad that
I found this website before I went. The Golden Pass rail from Lucerne to
Interlaken via Brunig Pass was absolutely beautiful; especially pass Lake
Lungern. I have never seen such beautiful emerald green before in my life.
I also took the Glacier Express from Zermatt to St. Moritz. It was great,
but 8hrs is a long time to spend on the train. The best, I have to agree
with most people, is Bernina Express. I took from St. Moritz to Tirano.
Even though I took that trip the day right after I was on Glacier Express,
I still think Bernina Express is more stunning, with glaciers and waterfalls
then change into lush green forest valleys.
I had a Swiss Pass, which I
get to travel free on all these trains. I still have to pay to reserve a
seat for Glacier Express. You don't need to reserve for Bernina Express
if you're starting from St. Moritz (you do need one if you start from Chur).
But I would recommend spending 7 Swiss francs and reserve a seat (on the
right side of the train) in the paronamic car. It is worth the money. The
bus ride from Tirano to Lugano was a fun ride too.
Yuen
Philadelphia, PA USA 06/05/03
Zurich to Milan
The best train trip for me was Zurich to Milan. The beauty of the Swiss
mountains and villages was breathtaking. Then going into Italy with
Lake Como and into Milan. That trip will be remembered forever.
Tony Rios
Dallas, Texas USA 06/04/03
Sicily Train
The views from the Messina to Catania train ride in Sicily were absolutely
spectacular. We took the overnight train from Rome to Calabria. By daybreak
the train was being loaded onto the ferry to cross over to Sicily and from
then until our arrival in Catania our eyes were glued to the windows watching
the rocky Mediterranean coastline dotted with white fishing boats. Amazing
Julie
NJ USA 04/17/03
Swiss "FART" train
Our favorite train ride was on the oddly named train "FART" in beautiful
Switzerland (this really is the name!). My wife and I both took "FART" from
Locarno to Camedo and we were besides ourselves with the experience. Camedo
is situated in a beautiful Alpine canyon and the "FART" cuts right through
it. Views ALL around! I highly recommend this oddly named train. (Yes, it
has resulted in many fun stories to tell!)
Rich Bowells
Culver City, CA USA 04/10/03
Kyle of Localsh, Scotland
This was reported as the most scenic train in the UK. Boy was it ever! Stunning
landscape. Kyle of Localsh was a joy to visit before the trip to Kylekin/Isle
of Skye.
doug diehl
houston, tx USA 04/07/03
Best Train Rides
I have had some incredible train rides in Europe. Here are a few of them:
1) Glasgow to Fort William, Scotland. I can't begin to describe the beauty of the Scottish Highlands. This scenery on this train ride was more captivating than any movie or TV show I have ever seen.
2) Zurich to Innsbruck. The beauty of the Swiss/Austrian Alps is not to be missed. I have been around this area quite a bit, but I found this to be the best route of them all as far as scenery goes.
3) Bratislava to Stary Smocovic (Tatry mountians in Slovakia) The Carpathian
mountains are not to be missed. This train ride was beautiful and also
felt more like an "adventure" than those I took in western europe. Be
sure to hike the glacier into Poland, it's wonderful.
D. Scholz
Vienna, VA USA 03/27/03
Venice to Vienna
This 7 hour ride through the Italian & Austrian Alps was breathtaking beautiful.
Then when you come out of the mountains and into the Austrian farmlands,
streams and lakes ....aaaah, what a serene scene flows by your window.
Peter Gomes
Honolulu, HI USA 03/18/03
Zillertalbahn
Take "the 0831 Ars Electronica", Salzberg to Jenbach then change to narrow
guage steam to Mayerhofen. Travel through the beautiful Ziller River valley
on the Zillertalbahn.
Charles McMahon
Sydney, N.S.W. Australia 03/06/03
Florence to Assisi
Florence to Assisi was a view-seekers bargain for 9 euros.
Rachael
Peru, IL USA 02/08/03
Mallorca, Balearic Islands
The narrow gauge line from Palma, the island capital, to Sóller is pretty
magical - it goes through a big tunnel in the mountains. As an added attraction
there is an old tram down to the coast from just outside Sóller station.
If you want, you can return to Palma by a roundabout bus route through Deia
and Valdemossa giving remarkably good and unspoilt mountain and coastal
scenery.
David Cross
Todmorden, UK 12/30/02
Switzerland's Best Ride
The train ride to end end all train rides in Europe is the one at the highest
altitude - 13,000 feet. Fly to Lucern, take a beautiful train
ride to Interlaken (some grades are so steep that the engine must be changed
to a cog type to get over the mountains). After arriving at interlaken take
a short ride to Lauterbrunnen. This is a great place to stay overnight and
explare all the waterfalls, alpine incline railways, and cable cars.
Take a train from Lauterbrunnen to Kleine Scheidegg, which is just below the peaks of three huge 13-14,000 foot mountains - the Eiger, the Monch, and the Jungfrau. From here, take the cog train the Jungfraujoch, up an impossibly steep track though tunnels carved into the Eiger, the Monch, and finally arriving at the top of the Jungfrau.
There is an ice city there, with tunnels and statues carved deep inside the glacial ice. I'm 62 and it took me about a half hour to get used to the thin air at 13,000 feet so take your time or you'll get a headache. There is no tea laced with cocaine like they serve in Bolivia to help with altitude sickness. There is a snack bar type restaurant so you won't starve.
Go outside on the observation deck and look down thousands of feet at the glaciers flowing down to the valleys below making all the streams and waterfalls around Lauterbrunnen--awesome. Go to the end of the ice tunnels and climb up the stairs to the outside and throw snowballs at each other in August.
The ride up the Jungfrau is not cheap, but you will never regret spending
the money. I've done it twice and I'll probably do it again. Now that's
what I call the best, most exciting, most scenic train ride in Europe!!br>
Bill Rodgers
Mt. Pleasant, SC USA 10/10/02
Koblenz to Trier along the Mosel
In early Sept. 2002, I took a trip by train from Cologne to Trier. There
was a change at Koblenz to a slower train and I was glad it was slow because
the views out the windows (which we had open since there was no cooling)
were incredible! It was basically nothing but vertical vineyards and towns
along the Mosel. I am dying to get back my pictures. Exquisite! The train
ride back to Koblenz went along a different local track and we didn't see
as much as on the way down but it was still very nice.
Wendy Darling
Atlanta, GA USA 09/16/02
3 train rides to remember
1.) The train from London to Windsor from Paddington Station - amazing countryside
2.) The train from Paris to Milan - Goes through the alps, past castles, fields, beauty
3.) The train from Venice to Salzburg - beautiful fields, amazing farms
with flower boxes on their balconies
Barry
Edmonton, 09/14/02
2 Great Train Rides in Britain
1) Glasgow to Mallaig--Rick talks of the West Highland Line in his books
and it is great. Wildly beautiful scenery and the spectacular Glenfinnian
viaduct.
2) Another great one is from Carlisle to Leeds via Settle. If you're
travelling from Scotland or northern England to London, this is the way
to go. The scenery from Carlisle to Settle is absolutely beautiful and
the rail line a wonder of construction.
Angie Davidson
Wichita, KS USA 09/12/02
Italy to Austria
The train from Lake Garda area to Brenner and then to Salzburg was absolutely
the most beautiful trip ever! Alps, roaring rapids, farm houses, valleys,
green green green, magnificent.
nancy
glendora, ca USA 09/06/02
Norway's best: Trondheim to Bodo
I just came back from a trip to Norway. The most impressive train was from
Trondheim to Bodo. Nearly 1000km through the Norwegian mountains! Fantastic!
I saw waterfalls and a herd of reindeer. Crossed the arctic circle. Highest
level of the train was about 700m.
Sebastian
Bottrop, NRW Germany 08/27/02
Norway in a Nutshell - alternate option
We took the late afternoon train from Oslo to Voss, instead of Myrdal. There
are plenty of places to stay in there (as opposed to Myrdal and Flam). It
is a nice town with a beautiful lake. We arrived there at 9:30 pm and went
to our hotel. Then we spent the next day JUST in the Norway-in-a-Nutshell
route in the reverse direction. Bus to Ferry to Flam to Myrdal and back
to Voss for dinner and bed. It was nice to take our time and not have to
drag our luggage along. (There is one hotel in Voss that takes the Scan-pass.
Hotel Jarl).
Mary Ellen
Clifton, VA USA 07/12/02
Austria
Take a morning train from Salzburg
to Villach and returning the same day by 4 pm. You will not be sorry.
Jim
Atlanta, Ga. USA 07/02/02
Enjoyable Scenic Train Rides
The train from Reutte to Garmisch and the train from Garmisch to Innsbruck
were very beautiful. I will go out of my way to take these rides again.
Next time I will give myself time to get off the train at some of the the
very small station stops along the way. Also beautiful was Milan-Brig-Interlaken
and Interlaken to Luzern.
Jim Hynes
Phoenix, AZ USA 06/21/02
My Two Favorites
My two all-time favorite train rides in Europe are: Vienna to Salzburg
and Luzurn to Interlaken. Don't miss them!!!
Heather
Dallas, TX USA 06/18/02
Welsh Train Sites
Try these two sites for Welsh trains: www.whr.co.uk/gltw little trains for sightseeing or www.greatlittletrainsofwales.co.uk
mike
plymouth, pa USA 06/15/02
Two Great Rides
Here are a few wow-ers: Berlin to Prague (great countryside and hillside views with quaint small towns all along the
way) and Milan to Lucerne (climbing through the majestic Alps: wow!).
USA 06/12/02
Middlesborough to Whitby, England
Try the train from Middlesborough to Whitby. It is the quinsesential Yorkshire
with stone walls and fields filled with cows,sheep,Pheasants, and brown
rabbits.Some of the little villages along the way tempted us to hop off
for a while along with the hikers that were on board with us.We diffently
want to do that trip again!
Martin
Livermore, Ca USA 05/26/02
Most Scenic Trainride - Cymru!
The railway up Mt. Snowdon in Wales (Cymru) was a
A wonderland of green, mountains, lakes of sapphire, and mist... amazing!
Renee
Houston, TX USA 04/12/02
Le Pettit Train Juane
Le Petit Train Juane runs through
beautiful scenery in the Pyrenees Orientales mountains in southwest France.
I believe it goes almost from the coast to the Spanish border, but we didn't
take it to get anywhwere, just to be on it. As the name states it's a Little
Yeelow Train. Some of the cars (the best ones) are open so you get the best
views and photos. We rode from Viilefranche de Conflent to Mont-Louis and
returned the same afternoon. Both towns are pretty, there's a good restaurant
at the staion in Villefranche and Mount-Louis is large fortified town from
the XVII century with shops and restaurants inside the walls. I think it
cost about $20 round trip and was worth every penny. It's a great way to
spend an afternoon and would probably be better if you could spend more
time, but unless one of the little towns along the route is a place you
want to stay it's pretty much a round trip railroad. Get there early to
get an open car! Ther's info on the SNCF website. Brian
Brian Fee
Painesville, OH USA 03/10/02
Italy and Spain rides
Regarding Venice to Trieste; Trieste itself offers some
interesting small trains, including a streetcar that gets pulled up into
a hill suburb in a way you've got to see to believe. Another scenic ride
is the train from Granada to Seville. It's just two cars, and you ride through
olive plantations that make the hills look like pincushions. An occasional
black bull watches you go by. (Our Spanish teacher in Granada couldn't believe
we took the train to Seville; most people bus it there, probably because
the bus drops you right in town, while the train station is further out.)
Al Vaporetto
San Francisco, ca USA 01/25/02
Venice to Munich
The most scenic and enjoyable train was from venice to munich. incredible
scenery as it changed from the lagoons of venice to the vineyards and slowly
into the mountains of the italian and then austrian alps. the natural as
well as architectural transformation was stunning. also the direct train
had a fabulous bar and dining car with great service, food and drink. the
teens loved playing cards in the booth in the bar car and eating ice cream.
deb yeager
westlake, oh USA 01/08/02
Italy and Switzerland
Two very short train rides are embedded on the back of my eyelids forever.
The first was a late May evening in Italy, with the sun going down, on a
train going up the coast from La Spezia. It was so intensly beautiful, I
got off the train at Vernazza and stayed for three days.
The second
was on the train from Interlaken up the Jungfrau. Clear crisp sunny
day, with deep blue skys and white puffy clouds. Every turn of the track
was another more majestic view that the last. It was like seeing our Earth
as it was created.
Susie
Pennsylvania, PA USA 01/07/02
Norwegian Train Rides
Ted has it right for the "Back Door" Norway in a Nutshell. After 5 p.m.,
Flam is peaceful and quiet except for the sound of hundreds of waterfalls,
sheep and goats. The campground he mentioned also contains a hostel, if
you want to sleep cheap but don't have a tent. (Flam's one grocery store
closes at 6 p.m.) I left on the first cruise boat the next morning (9 a.m.),
which was not crowded. The bus to Voss was relatively uncrowded, too. Arrive
late and leave early seems to be the best way to go. For a really spectacular
Norwegian train ride, though, go from Oslo to Trondheim and then north to
the end of the rail line at Bodo. You cross several mountain ranges, follow
enormous rushing rivers and drop down to fjords with charming little towns
in between. My face was glued to the window for the whole two days!
Mary from Oregon
USA 01/04/02
Norway in a Nutshell the BackDoor way
Take the afternoon train from Olso arriving in Myrdal about 5:00 (as I recall).
Take the beautiful train ride down to Flåm (no singing at the waterfall!).
We shared this train with two other tourists and 4 locals -- very nice.
Spend the night in Flåm (there is a nice, cheap campground, or a fairly
expensive hotel). Get up early the next day, rent mountain bikes and ride
back up toward (though not all the way to) Myrdal. Beautiful waterfalls,
and a nice ride back down to Flåm.
Catch the afternoon boat into the Fjords with the (thousands) of tourists who arrive on the normal itinerary; take the bus to Voss and spend the night. There's nice hiking and watersports in the area. Head on to Bergen, or back to Oslo the next day.
With the exception of the Fjord and Bus parts, you'll have this normally
FrontDoor tour all to yourself and the locals. This itinerary is one of
my travel highlights!
Ted Krieger
Boulder, CO USA 12/29/01
Lisbon to Cascais
Cascais to Lisbon is very scenic but short 30 to 40 minutes along the Atlantic
Ocean and the Tagus River -- cost is less than $1.00 each way -- we liked
Cascais as a base -- quieter but lots of restaurants and very scenic --
stayed at Hotel Baia which we liked - we were there in November 2001
Dave
Chicago, IL USA 12/19/01
Vigo to Leon
It is a long ride from Vigo to Leon in Spain - about six and a half hours
and five of them are splendid riverside scenery. The last hour is dreadful
- but Leon is worth it.
David Cross
Todmorden, Yorkshire UK 12/03/01
West Highland Line, Scotland
The West Highland Line from Mallaig to Glasgow, Scotland, is an all-you-can-eat
buffet of scenic vistas. It starts with dramatic sea cliffs overlooking
craggy Hebridean islands in the distance, then treats you to snowcapped
mountains (including Britain's highest), waterfalls, and a jaw-droppingly
dramatic whitewater gorge that parallels the track. Next comes the bleak
Rannoch Moor, so dark and moody it could be lifted from the pages of a Bronte
novel. And before you reach Glasgow, you're treated to the sights of the
fjord-like Loch Lomond and Dumbarton Castle sitting on a rock next to the
river Clyde. It's one of those journeys where you would love to have your
face pressed to windows on both sides of the train at the same time.
Charles Buchanan
Birmingham, AL USA 11/24/01
Nice to Limone
On the ride from Nice to Genoa, really get to a back
door by taking the ride into the Italian Alps from Nice to Limone. This
is a fantastic ride, with steep drop-offs, looking into storybooK valleys,
cloudy mountain peeks with tortuous terrain, and rail switchbacks looking
behind (and below!) at your own train. In addition, you'll be treated to
the quaint, quiet scenic town of Limone to visit at the end of the ride.
Bob Southard
Harrisburg, PA USA 11/13/01
Amsterdam to Interlaken
There is a day train from Amsterdam to Interlaken,
I think it's called the "Berner Oberlander". It has the panoramic cars and
is about the quickest way to do Rick's "Hurry up and see the Rhine" tour.
Also, it's about the quickest way to get to Gimmelwald, but you better have
already made your reservation before you arrive there, since you'll be getting
in kind of late. For some reason, nobody wants to sit in the panorama cars.
Go figure.
Ashley Morris
New Orleans, LA USA 11/06/01
Salzburg to
Zell am See
The ride between Salzburg and
Zell am See in Austria is very breathtaking. Probably the most scenic ride
I ever had.
Katey
Wales, UK 10/11/01
Munich to Salzburg
Travelling on train is the thing that I enjoy most. While
backpacking in Europe in April 2001, the best scenic train travel was from
Munich, Germany to Salzburg, Austria. It was breathtaking with beautiful
mountains & countrtside along the way. The white mountain was spendid as
it had just snowed the night before. Splendid!
Adi Sufnaidi
Singapore, Singapore 09/10/01
Swiss Adventures
We took a trip to Switzerland
in the spring of 1996. Armed with a Swiss Pass, we covered a great deal
of territory. Some of the routes literally took our breath away! You can
read about our adventures to Chur, Locarno, Ascona, Bellinzona, Lugano,
Zermatt, Thun, Interlaken, Gstaad and Montreux on our non-commercial web
site, TheTravelzine.com.
Don and Linda
Canada 08/31/01
Nutshell Snafus
Just returned from Norway and loved the Nutshell tour. We did have
a problem where you switch to the bus. They were all overfilled.Our luggage
was on the first bus that drove away! Then one guy says, "Come with me" so we got ride on huge tour bus with just the four of us! On the last part
of the train up the mountain, our train was late, so when we got off and
walked around the station, the connection to Oslo had left 10 minutes before
we go there. We were stranded, so a nice girl that sold postcards told us
she lived in Voss and she would be off soon and would ride the train down
with us and find us a hotel. She said this happens every night! It all worked
out fine, even though we lost a day on our Scanpass. The views were great,
but the singing girl at the waterfall is too corny.
Melanie
Midland, Mi USA 08/29/01
Czech Trains
Last March I took a day trip on the train from Telc to Slavonice (on Czech's
Austrian border). It was a beautiful trip through the forest. You see a
lot of how the people in that area live. The trains stops include one at
a grocery store, and some stops where the bridge across the creek is little
more than a log. Slavonice is a nice town that's just starting to cater
to tourists. The people there were very nice. The trip was an hour or so
each way and cost about one dollar. An interesting thing was that on the
way back the train became basically a school bus as teenage students were
transfering from classes at one school to a school in the next town up the
line. They filled up the train and as I was speaking with my family the
kid sitting with us immediately pulled out his English homework. It was
a lot of fun.
Keith
Wenatchee, WA USA 08/10/01
Along the Riviera
I just got back from the Riviera and Switzerland. The ride from Nice
to Genoa is fantastic if you get a seat on the right side of th train. On
the left, you'll be looking at people's laundry hanging out. I took the
Glazier Express from Brig to St. Moritz. Yes, really pretty, but not that
comfortable, hardly any space for luggage, and the A/C was way too low.
It was hot! Lunch at the restaurant car was lots of fun. It's an old
wooden car, like the Orient Express. Every ride in within Switzerland was
just stunning, absolutely stunning. The ride from Milan, to Lugano and to
Zurich is breathtaking. Make sure to take the Cisalpino train, it's fast
and really nice.
Luis S
New York City, NY USA 08/09/01
Bernina Express
We just returned and have to say that the Bernina Express from Tirano,
Italy to Chur, Switzerland is a fabulous ride. Make sure to look at the
web site for schedules www.rhb.ch becuase there are local trains and more "express" trains. The D500 which leaves Tirano at 14:50 is the one with
the panoramic windows, but the A/C was blowing hard to keep it cool. We
saw beutiful little inns to stay at if we had taken the loacl and wanted
to plan a trip like that.
Bruce
NY USA 08/09/01
Andalusian Express, Spain
Several years ago we took the Andalusian
Express in Spain which is an Orient Express type of train. The package included
the AVE high speed train from Madrid to Seville and going onto the Andalusian
for 5 days through lower Spain. It was enjoyable but also expensive (and
worth it).
Lothar Herrmann
Boca Raton, FL USA 08/06/01
To Train or Not to Train?
During my 2-week trip throughout northern Europe, one of the most scenic
train rides was from Copenhagen to Helsingor, which is one hour north of
Copenhagen, and home to a very famous castle (depicted in Hamlet). The train
itself was nice and sleek, and the countryside was beautiful.
Betsey Gardstein
Cambridge, MA USA 07/21/01
Norway in a Nutshell
I just returned from Norway and I have an update on the famous Norway
in a Nutshell trip. It was a gorgeous good time but: a) don't go if you're
looking for solitude; b) the Myrdal/Flam train folks have added a singing
Hulda mystery woman to the Waterfall stop which creeped us all out and,
predictably, was the source of souvenir sales in Flam (ick); and c) check
your ticket to make sure you're not going to be staying for more than one
hour in Flam. The place has become a Norwegian Graceland (read: tourist
trap) and you'll want out, trust me. Also, prepare for a long day if you're
coming from Bergen. I was travelling with older relatives and the train/train/boat/bus/train
itinerary was really wearing, nearly cancelling out the beauty of the fjords.
Just a warning.
Dawn Munson
Littleton, CO USA 07/13/01
Scenic Mistake
The most scenic train ride we had was a mistake: we accidentally rode
overnight from Barcelona to Geneve (switz) instead of Genova (italy).
when we awoke it was 5:55 am in Geneva. We ran downstairs, grabbed a
reservation to Milan and hopped on the train at 6:05 in time to see the
sunrise over Lake Geneva.... gorgeous stuff!
krissy
USA 07/10/01
European Favorites
Luzern to Interlaken is spectacular, I should have used my railpass
to do it more than once. I did go from Interlaken to Thun and back four
times. Another favorite is Verona to Innsbruck. And Milano to Luzern.
Is there any train ride in Switzerland that is not spectacular? Then there's
Mainz to Koblenz, along the part of the Rhine with all the castles. A
surprise is the eastern half or so of the run from Geneva to Lyon. The
train is ... interesting. But I'd love to see the canyon by car. La Spezia
to Genova has more tunnels than I knew existed in the world, but the mountains
go right down to the sea and when the
train emerges into daylight, what you see makes you want to jump off the
train.
Jonathan Lawson
San Diego, CA USA 06/28/01
Douro Valley, Portugal
The line up the Douro Valley from Porto in Portugal is marvellous. A
fine trip for a day is Porto - Livraçao (change) - Amarante (lunch and
bus to Vila Real) - Porto (with a change on the way).
David Cross
Todmorden, Yorkshire UK 06/18/01
Bernina Better Than Glacier
I agree with those thinking the Bernina Express is the best train ride
anywhere. Piz Bernina was hidden mystically by clouds, with waterfalls
all the way down to our train, and the strange whitewaters of the Pass
lakes were unusual.
The Centovalli Valley train from Locarno to Ste. Maria Maggiore, Italy had an intricate route, winding precipitously through valleys and forests, but the views are not as spacious or grand as the Bernina Express.
The Brienzer-Rothorn climb on the highest steam locomotive in the world, east of Interlaken, is an exceptional short train ride with outstanding vistas.
The Glacier Express, in my opinion, is overblown. While outstanding,
it doesn't compare to the Bernina Express.
Patrick Lee
Addison, TX USA 05/20/01
Swiss Can't Miss
In Delémont (Delsberg in German), Switzerland, in the newest canton
of Jura (formerly part of Bern canton until 1978), the ride from Biel/Bienne
can't be beat. You go through Grenchen Nord, Moutiers and into a beautiful
canyon. Delémont isn't a very touristy city so it's a nice getaway from
the usual Bern and Basel.
Josh Hanz
Foster City, ca USA 05/07/01
Cisalpino to Milan
I went by the Cisalpino
train. We were about twenty minutes late getting into Milano but it was
well worth it. The eastern side of Lake Geneva as well as the Valais/Wallis
was beautiful. Once out of the Simplon tunnel, we got to stop at Domodossola
and Stresa. But once we got to Gallarate, the scenic part was about over.
Josh Hanz
Foster City, ca USA 05/07/01
Scenic Spring Snow in Switzerland
In mid-April, the cantons of Uri, Schwyz and Zug--even the valleys--were
full of snow. It was weird, taking the train from Lugano, via the Gotthard
pass, to come out at Goeschenen with near-whiteout conditions. But the
snowy scenery was beautiful. Very good skiing weather, but not good for
the Sechselaeuten festival in Zuerich (took 27 minutes for the Boogg to
lose his head). By the time I got to Zuerich there wasn't any snow in
the city.
Josh Hanz
Foster City, ca USA 05/07/01
Fart Train, Switzerland
Although the name "FART" sounds a bit silly, it's one of Switzerland's
most beautiful train rides. First you start underground in Locarno, adjacent
to the FFS (Swiss railways) station, then go two stops still underground
and come out at Santo Martin, then head towards Camedo. There is another
older train that doesn't make as many stops along this route but goes
past Camedo to Domodossola. Camedo is in a very beautiful canyon, where
the nearby mountains were still covered in snow (21 April 2001) less than
half a mile from the Swiss-Italian border. Well worth the trip.
Josh Hanz
Foster City, ca USA 05/07/01
Bernina Still Best
I just returned from another train trip to Switzerland - and it was
picture-perfect!
Per my earlier post, I still maintain that the Bernina Express is better than the Glacier Express. Took it again and took a regional train one way instead of the panoramic cars. While the panoramic cars have large windows (which, by the way, warm up the car a lot from the sun), the regionals have windows that can be moved up and down. It is a better way to go.
The Interlaken-Lucerne route, my first time on that one, was much better than I anticipated. Well worth the time.
For the Glacier Express route we rode on regionals and, again, it was worth doing that way. We kept the windows down most of the way and the trip was divine!
Weather was 5 clear, cloudless days with absolutely no rain. Highs in
the 50s and lows in the 40s.
Jack
Miccosukee, FL USA 04/12/01
Riding with the Engineer
Took the Glacier Express at the end of March, and
the car was almost empty. Took the route of the Bernina Express (but in
regular car instead of panoramic)--ditto. This train was so empty, I talked
the engineer into letting me be up in the cab with him for a number of
miles, including the loop around itself just outside of Tirano.
John Pezzano
Atlanta, GA USA 04/10/01
Lausanne to Milan
Take a ride from Lausanne, Switzerland to Milan, Italy, and you will
see the Swiss Alps at their best. You will not believe your eyes. Once
you cross the border, the Italian countryside is very picturesque as well.
Yuji
New York, NY USA 04/10/01
Lucerne to Interlaken
The most beautiful train ride I've ever experienced was from Lucerne
to Interlaken, Switzerland. The windows can be pulled down, and I just
hung my head out the window, taking in the scenery and smelling the mountain
air. From Interlaken, the train up to the Berner Oberland also had some
great views.
Heather
Dallas, TX USA 04/09/01
A few tips for the Glacier Express
(1) Go first class (get a pass).
(2) Take a Local (they call them Regionals) rather than the Express: you get windows that still open, and more room in 1st class. (The new "panoramic" cars have 4 seats/row while the older cars have 3 seats/row.) And it doesn't take much longer.
(3) If going west, sit on the right and be prepared to switch sides:
- from Andermat to Oberalppass
- In Chur, when the train reverses direction (lots of castles southbound)
- After Thusis, switch back and forth until Bergun (be on the right)
- After coming out of the tunnel in Spinas switch to the left so you can
see the En river valley open up in Bever.
I also agree with a previous poster that the Bernina line is the best ride in the world--lots of climbing without the annoying rack noise and slow-downs. Have lunch at the Hotel Swiss in Poschiavo. Yum!
In Samedan, eat right across the street from the station at the Hotel Terminus. The only dish to avoid is the fondue. Everything is "farmer" portions of reasonably priced food. Listen carefully and you'll hear Romansch spoken. (We have heard English in Samedan in a couple of our last trips. It's a bit depressing.) Please treat the locals nicely!
For the meal of a lifetime try the mountain hotel/restaurant at Muottas
Muragl. It's pricey and you also have to pay for the funicular ride. The
hotel is very rustic. When the wind howls late at night you are glad to
have 3-4' walls!
sczaja
in the woods, MA USA 03/09/01
Commuter Train in Lisbon
If you're in Lisbon, perhaps the greatest scenic cheap thrill on rails
is the Cascais commuter rail line. It runs about 20 miles from Cais do
Sodre station in Lisbon to the beach resort town of Cascais, hugging the
river (and eventually sea) coast almost the entire half-hour journey.
Having stayed two weeks in the Lisbon suburbs along the Cascais line last
year and taken the line daily, I never got over the seashore vistas I
was treated to every morning. New Yorkers can think of it as a beach version
of the Hudson line. At times it's literally (or littorally-get it?!) feet
from the water.
Mike Doyle
Brooklyn, NY USA 03/05/01
Le Train des Pignes
Le Train des Pignes provides
a very scenic 151-KM trip from Nice to Digne-les-Bains. Along the way
it stops at 14 small villages, and you can elect to stop at any one of
them for a visit. It is a very old narrow-gauge railway, using a steam
engine for part of the route. The train is well decribed at http://www.beyond.fr/sites/pignes.html.
The web site provides schedules, prices, and data on the various towns.
Emerson M. Hoyt
Beaverton, OR USA 02/19/01
Meals with a View
I found that you can have a reasonably priced meal
on a train if you do it right. Twice I had wonderful meals in which the
scenery was definitely the highlight. I did this on the train between
Lucerne and Interlaken and the train from Munich to Nuremberg. Both are
luxurious.
On each trip, I rode one direction eating my main meal (soup is inexpensive)
and then took the return trip to enjoy coffee and dessert. Of course,
I could do this for "free" because I had a Eurail pass. They were both
spontaneous decisions that turned out to be fantastic. I'll never forget
it, and the food was really tasty, too.
Dodie
USA 01/18/01
Bernina Express
Bernina Express, from Chur, Switzerland, to Tirano, Italy, equals or
exceeds the Glacier Express, in my opinion.
Jack
Miccosukee, FL USA 12/28/00
Germany & the UK
Future train travelers to the Rhine Valley should
be aware that the Mainz-Koblenz line is being relocated inland and converted
to a high-speed line. Construction delays should be expected, and in the
end, it will not be so scenic a route. I don't know if the river line
will be retained as a secondary route.
I vote for Munich-Garmisch, and the Forth Bridge in Scotland!
For museums, I enjoyed the National Railway Museum in York, the DB Museum
in Nurnberg, and the Didcot Railway Centre at Didcot Parkway, southern England.
Larry
Reading, MA USA 12/19/00
Glacier Express
I went during
the off season, in late February, from St. Moritz to Zermatt. Maybe the
gods were with me that day, because it was a spectacular day, around 50
degrees, without a cloud in the sky. For a good portion of the trip, I
had a second-class car virtually to myself, allowing me to skip from one
side of the car to the other, depending on which side's view was more
spectacular. Because it was so warm, I was able to put the window down,
stick my head out, and breathe the fresh air while I exhausted numerous
rolls of film. By all means, make it a point to take this wonderful train
ride.
Greg
Houston, TX USA 12/13/00
Norway in a Nutshell
The Norway in a Nutshell tour is by far the most scenic trip I have
been on, however beware of schedule changes. I took the trip in August
on the first day of the new schedule; unfortunately the booking agent
in Oslo the week before had failed to realize this, causing me to go to
Bergen (I was supposed to be on the return trip) and take the overnight
train back to Oslo. Thankfully they recognized the mistake and gave me
a free ride back to Oslo, as my rail pass ran out that day.
Galen
Vancouver, BC CAN 12/12/00
Switzerland & Norway
On the Glacier Express from St. Moritz to Zermatt,
even with some showers and cloudy skies, this was a very memorable trip.
I agree with others that have said that any train trip in Switzerland
is fantastic, and we have covered a good portion of the country by train
during several trips.
The "Norway in a Nutshell" trip out of Bergen was also spectaclar, even
during a day with some rain. (There are likely very few days in this area
without rain!) Even though we were there in what is somewhat off-season,
the rush for seats on the train and boat was not pleasurable. I can imagine
what it is like in the peak season. Too bad they do not take reserved
seating.
Rick Herbert
Fort Erie, Ontario, Canada, 11/07/00
Scotland & Germany
The West Highland Line from Glasgow is amazing.
Munich to Venice is fantastic too, going from the high German Alps to scenic vineyard-covered hills all in a single trip.
Another favorite is the trip between Rudesheim and Kolbenz. We took
the train to Rudesheim, along the Rhine River in the morning. Fog was
still lifting off the river, swirling past the castles. By the time we
arrived in Rudesheim, the fog lifted and we took a Rhine cruise back to
Koblenz. The train trip was as spectacular as the river trip!
Dan
Arlington, VA USA 11/03/00
Lucky Mistake
We were in Rome and missed our night train to Munich, Germany. We were
pretty mad but soon got over it as we discovered that it was really a
blessing in disguise. In daylight, Northern Italy and Austria had to be
the coolest place I had ever seen. The mountains are amazing.
Jeff
Lanett, AL USA 09/12/00
Glacier Express, etc.
1. Glacier Express from Chur to Zermatt is especially beautiful in winter.
2. Munich to Switzerland via Bodensee (Lake Constance).
Ernest
Singapore, Singapore 09/05/00
French Favorites
The trip from Paris to Chamonix (via Aix-les-Bains and Annecy, with
change in St. Gervais-Le Fayet) was incredibly beautiful - zipping through
alpine villages, the mountains looming further down the track.
And Avignon to Nice (via Marseille) was pretty amazing, too. Especially
the segment along the Med Sea coast.
Sarah
fort worth, tx USA 08/31/00
Rome to Basel
The train ride from Rome to Basel, Switzerland was definitely the most
beautiful scenery in the world. I am glad we had the video camera to document
it! Do not sleep through that one!
hillary
nashville, USA 08/18/00
Norway
Norway-in-a-Nutshell offered the most spectacular scenery of our seven
week trip in seven countries. Norway's west coast looked like an endless
series of Yosemite Valleys to our Californian eyes. There were so many
waterfalls that they became humdrum sights! The Heimly Lodge recommended
in Rick's book offered one of the most stunning views we had ever seen.
Watching the light over a 24 hour period was unforgettable.
There was, however, one significant snag in this otherwise fantasy odyssey to the land of the Vikings: the train from Myrdal to Flam is consistently overbooked. As a result, there were some extremely nasty confrontations between tour guide operators who had supposedly reserved entire train carriages for their select groups. I was personally shouted out of one when a French tour guide told me I had no right to be there. I ended up in another reserved one, thereby displacing other tour members who were forced to stand when they came on later. The train officials make no effort to inform customers where to sit, and the ensuing chaos really destroys the magic of the place. I asked the locals about this serious problem, and they replied that the train was always overbooked! It's definitely worth going, but be prepared to fight vigorously for your unreserved seat. Since there is a huge crowd waiting when the train arrives to be boarded, it's impossible to get there early: it's just a mad scramble.
On the other hand, the bus ride from Gudvangen to Voss was not at all
overcrowded: empty seats abounded. Bergen was a complete delight and well
worth the trip.The Unicorn Restaurant there was the best food we ate in
all of Scandinavia.
Jan Molen
St. Helena, CA USA 08/07/00
Trains from Chur
My vote is for the two hour ride on the RhB from Chur, Switzerland to
St. Moritz and back. It looks different in each direction. Also the Chur
to Arosa - an hour - is stunning. Eurailpass good on both.
Vic Roy
Baton Rouge, La USA 07/31/00
Norway
Another vote for the Norway in a Nut Shell, also the Rauma rail from
Dombas to Andelsnes further north in Norway, towering craggy mountains,
snow, and rivers--awesome
lorrie
auckland, new zealand 07/21/00
Swiss Miss-hap
All train rides in Switzerland are truely memorable. The routes out
of Interlaken are fantastic no matter what direction you are heading.
The trip over the Brunig Pass was one of my favorite. Some can be memorable
for other reasons. While returning from a day in Zermatt, our train derailed
while begining a climb on the route to Brig. Fortunately, we were moving
slowly and only the locomotive came off the tracks. They quickly called
in two buses to bring us to the closest station. Not exactly the memory
I hoped to have on Swiss trains.
Gary
Clearwater, FL USA 07/16/00
Genoa to Toulon
I agree with others who say Genoa to Nice. But also on to Toulon. The
square outside the Toulon train station is great. I could hardly stay
seated on the trip. Instead I stood and looked out the window.
Patrick Dennis
Amman, Jordan 06/18/00
Along the Med
I rode the train from Florence to Nice, and
then from Nice to Barcelona. The whole time you're going along the Mediterranean,
the scenery is amazing! The best parts are between Genoa and Monte Carlo,
and then southwestern France and across the border into Spain. Riding
the trains through Europe is a blast.
Jeff
Waterford, CT USA 04/09/00
European Trains
Of course, there are the famous scenic rides
(e.g. Oslo-Bergen, the Rhine, St Moritz to Zermatt, etc). Some other routes
with interesting scenery: Stuttgart-Munich (especially between Stuttgart
and Ulm), Luxembourg-Koblenz, Bern-Brig (especially between Spiez and
Kandersteg and again as you descend towards Brig), Milan-Zurich via Lugano
and the San Gottardo Pass, Munich-Innsbruck (the local trains via Garmisch-Partenkirchen,
not the long-haul trains via Kufstein), and Genoa-La Spezia.
Mark Adair
Belmont, MA USA 02/26/00
Scotland
The West Highland Railway from Glasgow to Mallaig is absolutely breathtaking--a
friend of mine who described it as 'a feast of visual ecstasy' was right
on the money! You see many places that would otherwise only be accessible
by walking. Everyone should take this trip at least once!
Lori
Toronto, Canada 02/08/00
London to Bath on the "Orient Express"
The best $200 i ever spent was taking the orient express day trip from
london to bath. for that price you receive a champagne breakfast, complete
tour of the city with time on your own, a full 5-course dinner on your
return. all in the most luxurious and comfortable train i have ever seen.
i know that sounds like a lot of money but it was worth the splurge.
tammy spigarelli
iron mountain, mi USA 02/06/00
Switzerland
Two of the best train rides you can take
are out of Interlaken, Switzerland. The ride from Interlaken to Grindelwald
to the Jungfrau, down to Wengen, then on to Lauterbrunen and back to Interlaken
is fantastic. The other is over the Brunig Pas on the way to Lucerne.
Either of these is well worth the price.
Denny
Perry, Ia USA 01/29/00
Surf Sounds
re: the train ride from nice to genoa...if you open the train compartment
window during the time the train is hugging the coast, you can hear the
surf!
a. aubert
lafayette , LA USA 01/26/00
Nice to Genoa to Lake Como
Our train ride from Nice to Genoa was breathtaking, hugging the coast
of the sparkling azure Mediterranean! The lush landscape along the Cote
d'Azure included blue plumbago, fuschia-flowering bouganvilla, graceful
palms. After a stop in Milan, we traveled on to Lake Como, and the approach
to Varenna was stunning--teasing views of deep blue-green lake amd evergreens.
Stunning!
Susan Rebillot
St. Petersburg, Fl USA 12/28/99
Glacier Express & Nutshell
My all-time favorite train ride is the Glacier
Express across Switzerland. Words can't even do it justice. Also, the
Bernina Express and Golden Pass are great rides in Switzerland. The ride
to the top of the Jungfrau, near Interlaken, is long and expensive, but
worth it once.
Norway in a Nutshell is wonderful. Mountains and incredible valley views
will stun you.
Chuck Garmany
Conyers, GA USA 12/05/99
Munich to Verona
Munich to Verona was breathtaking. From
the pretty Bavarian landscape, we eventually entered a spectacular portion
of the Alps. Dining on a wonderful pasta and delicious red wine (served
formally by a friendly Italian waiter), all was right with the world.
We hit the pink marble streets of Verona excitedly talking about the contrasts
we'd experienced that day. Another good memory is the day we awoke in
Vienna, lunched in Salzburg, and dined in Munich...aaaah.
Ingrid
New York, NY USA 10/24/99
Save money doing Glacier Express
Ditto the comments about the train from St. Moritz to Pontresina. It
is fantabulous! Re: the Glacier express--you can have the same experience
by checking if there are non-Glacier Exress trains travelling that day.
I would recommend 2nd class if you like to hang out the window and snap
pics.
Chris Blum
Rochester, MN USA 10/15/99
Any Swiss Train
Any train rides through Switzerland are magic. Try to get to Gstaad
and catch the train through the Alps--it doesn't matter where you're heading,
the ride itself is truly worth it. Buses are available but aren't as scenic.
Nik
Melbourne, AUSTRALIA 09/13/99
Norway & Scotland
Two of my favoruites: Norway in a Nutshell
and Edinburgh to Inverness. Wow!
Tanya Montebello
Bowmanville, ON Canada 09/05/99
Golden Panorama & Brenner Pass
Be sure to take the "Golden Panoramic Express" from Montreux to Speitz,
Switzerland. It's available for only a few francs reservation fee for
Eurailers. The wonderful dome cars carry you into the Alps from Lake Geneva.
Take the 9 am departure from Montreux. You change trains along the way,
after passing through some of the most beautiful country in Switzerland
in your narrow-gauge dome car (Gimmelwald IS better, though).
Another good trip: Verona, Italy through the Brenner Pass to Interlaken,
Switzerland.
Steve Dickey
Depoe Bay, OR USA 08/27/99
Along the Rhine
Take German Rail from Frankfurt to Koeln (Cologne) along the Rhine River
and sit in the restaurant car all the way. We always have breakfast on
the train (because Lufthansa from San Francisco lands in Frankfurt about
9 am) and the ride takes about 2 hours. You can see all Burgen (castles)
and river traffic. However, soon this may all end with the NEW rails from
Frankfurt to Cologne (estimated to start in 2002): 50 minutes at 150 mph.
So enjoy the ride along the romantic River Rhine now while you can.
GERD
Shingle Springs, ca USA 08/21/99
Never Open Doors in the Dark
From Rome, we hopped the train to Bern, Switzerland for one of the most
scenic trips ever. It was absolutely spectacular! We found ourselves as
excited and awestruck as children at Christmas!
But we learned a lesson: be careful when trying to open the doors between train cars when traveling thru a tunnel! I'd gone exploring, and as I passed from one car to another, it seemed there was a different mechanism to open each door. Some had a handle to pull, others had a button. I got to one door, where despite trying all the previous methods and my persistent tugging on the door, it just wouldn't open. Imagine my surprise when, as the train emerged from the tunnel, it became immediately apparaent why the door was being so stubborn--it was the last train car! Had I succeeded in opening that door, I could have fallen off the train! Lessson learned - if at first the door doesn't open, maybe it's for a good reason!
We learned our second lesson our train arrived in Strasbourg. We were ill prepared for the the crowd of folks waiting to board. We were unable to get past the oncoming travelers to exit the train. Before we knew it, the doors closed and the train began moving. There was no way for us to get off and the next posted destination was several hours away! We were shocked but had to laugh and hope the conductor who would soon make his rounds looking at tickets would have sympathy on the crazy American tourists...and luckily, he did. So, be prepared in advance of your stop to exit the train or you may find yourself getting an unexpected detour.
Bring your sense of humor. It weighs nothing and can be a lifesaver
if you find yourself confronted with the unexpected! Hope to see you somewhere
along the way!
j thompson
roanoke, va USA 08/16/99
Norway in a Nutshell & Italian Alps
I know it has been mentioned before, but the Norway in a Nutshell has
to be the most glorious day we have ever had. You take a train through
glaciers to Myrdal, another train back down to sea level at Flam, a boat
ride through fjords to Gudvangen, and a bus up to Voss to pick up another
train into Bergen. Just fantastic! Many turn around after only a couple
of hours in Bergen to take the night train back to Oslo, but we opted
to return the next night and thoroughly enjoyed a full day in Bergen.
There is some confusion at the train station in Oslo. One lady at a ticket counter said my Eurailpass took care of the whole trip. Rick's book had said differently so I double-checked at another ticket counter where I got the correct info.
Another lovely train ride was up the Val d'Aosta in the Italian Alps--lots
of beautiful scenery and castles.
Lynne
Union, WA USA 08/14/99
Schilthorn better than Jungfraujoch
The best so far for me was our trip from Interlaken to Lauterbrunnen
by train, and then the funicular and train to Murren. From Murren, we
took the cable car to the Schilthorn (Piz Gloria) and had a great view
of the Eiger, etc. - a 360-degree view in fact. I had taken the Jungfrau
trip a few times, but feel that this was even better.
Jan
USA 08/12/99
Scotland & NE England
I agree that the best train ride is from
Edinburgh to Inverness. As you get up in the Highlands in early November
the snow is like powdered sugar on the rolling green hills, and smoke
curls from the chimneys of grey stone houses. It was truly picturesque.
Approaching Durham by train was magnificent, too. I noticed the outline
of some huge building far off and as I got closer it took shape and as
the sun passed through the clouds a shadow was created to make it look
like the town was overshadowed by this amazing mass.
Katie R. Carter
Concord, CA USA 07/04/99
Scotland
My favorite scenic train ride is from Edinburgh
to Inverness, Scotland, especially the first hour or so out of Edinburgh,
once you get out of the tunnel. The Firth of Forth railway bridge is an
architectural marvel (and one of my ancestors died working on its construction);
just after the bridge, you pass right by a castle in a very picturesque
setting. For a little while you can see the North Sea, then you head inland.
It is about 4 hours' ride to Inverness and the scenery becomes more rugged
as you go up into the Highlands. The only bad part is the train moves
too fast to take pictures and they don't stop for photo ops.
Peggy
Los Angeles, CA USA 06/16/99
CD-ROM Guide
A cd-rom travel guide makes the Bernina Express seem like an exciting,
scenic train ride. It is the only train in switzerland which doesn't go
thru tunnels.
carol
ca USA 06/03/99
Glacier Express
Some of the best scenery on the Glacier Express route is on the stretch
from Thusis to St. Moritz. Rather than doing the entire Glacier Express
route, consider taking just the Rhätische Bahn from Chur to St. Moritz
- especially considering that section is all covered by the general rail
passes.
Tony Dyson
Basel, CH 06/03/99
Three Wonderful Trips
First, the trip from Munich to Oberammergau
is wonderful, especially the segment from Murnau to Oberammergau, with
wonderful bucolic scenery. The second is the short ride from St. Gallen
to Appenzell in Switzerland; the scenery looks almost fake, it is so Swiss-perfect.
Finally, the Glacier Express from St. Moritz to
Zermatt or vice versa...absolutely breathtaking
Jon Carrow
Arlington, VA USA 05/31/99
Germany
Almost any train ride through the German countryside is pretty, but
it's even prettier when it's dirt cheap. A seldom-advertised special there
is the "Schoenes Wochenende" ticket ("Have a nice weekend", roughly translated).
On either Saturday or Sunday, you can travel anywhere in the country with
up to four others (2 adults, 3 kids) for the incredible price of $20.
The only catch is that you must use the "Nahverkehrszuege" (the slower
trains designed for regional travel.) But for sightseeing, these are great.
They tend to be less crowded, and you can see out both sides of the train
better since there is no compartment. Unlike some of the newer climate-controlled
equipment, with these, you can still open the window and get the wind
in your face. These trains are still pretty fast, but they don't turn
everything outside into a blur like some do. There are also similar regional
deals offered sporadically in several states. All of this info. is available
at the German Railways website, along with timetables and trip pricing.:
www.bahn.de
Russ Staub
USA 05/22/99
Germany to Prague
The area just in Germany near the Czech border
was very scenic with green fields and rolling hills. (A money-saving tip
if you are traveling by train to Prague from another country: Buy a one-way
ticket in, and then in Prague buy the ticket back. My ticket from the
German border to Prague was $20, but the return ticket I bought in Prague
was just $8.)
Steve Zimmerman
Salt Lake City, UT USA 05/16/99
Bavaria
My favorite train ride is from Munchen to Berchtesgaden. It goes through
meadows near the Chiemsee, and the woods as it nears Berchtesgaden. Made
a trip in May on a German holiday, and there was a band playing at one
of the stations!
robbie
Manchester, , NH USA 04/13/99
London to Bath
We found the 90-minute train ride from London
to Bath much more picturesque than the EuroStar. The Great Western rail
to Bath goes right through the heart of the English countryside. You pass
lovely communities and tons of farms with sheep and horses. But of course
the best view is when the train begins its approach to Bath. All you can
see is this lovely Georgian architecture nestled in the hillside. At this
point the whole train seems to be mesmerized by the view.
Erin
Montclair, NJ USA 04/09/99
Venice to Trieste
Venice to Trieste, Italy is a beautiful
trip along the Adriatic Sea. As you approach Trieste you are high above
the sea. Trieste is an interesting and historical city on its own. This
makes a nice contrast from Venice and provides a good base for exploring
Friuli region of Italy or venturing into Slovenia
d.j.
chicago , il USA 03/23/99
Greece
Diakofto to Kalavrita (Pelopenesse - Greece). You could do this as a
day trip from Athens if you wanted to rush it but Daikofto is a nice little
town to overnight in. The rail trip is narrow gauge through a canyon -
great scenery. The train attendant offered my husband his seat by the
open door and then hung onto his shirt while he leaned out to take pictures.
You can get off and do some hiking in the hills or visit one of the little
villages. Very reasonably priced and relaxing.
Re
Abbotsford, BC Canada 03/15/99
Around Prague
The train both into and out of Prague.
I went into Bohemia from Berlin and out of it toward Munich. The beautiful
hills and the contrast between East and West is utterly amazing!!
USA 03/07/99
Kidnapped by TGV!
one night my son and i were looking for
a bathroom in the gare de lyon, a train station in paris. it was ominous,
with strange people lurking about, and armed guards patrolling with dogs.
the toilets were closed. we spotted a tgv with an open door and sneaked
aboard to use one of its toilets. suddenly we heard a "whoosh!" as the
doors closed, then the train began to move. we panicked--for all we knew
it could go all the way to belgium!
after a long time, it pulled into a train yard. some officials emerged from a track-side shack, but no one spoke english. we were led into a nondescript looking building into a suite that resembled something from N.A.S.A.! one room had rows of computers. the other had a huge glass wall with illuminated lines and blinking lights and men with headsets.
mikhail baryshnikov's spitting image came forward with a big smile and
shook our hands. he was the head guy and the only one who spoke english.
he and his cronies got a big laugh at our expense but they were all nice--showing
robbie the computers and how they tracked and controlled trains in the
system. we were given refreshments, and finally driven back to our apartment,
about 90 min. south of paris by a co-worker going that way.
CAROL
CA USA 02/16/99
Genoa to Nice
The train hugs
to coast the whole way and the views are breathtaking. Take a peak at
the multi-million dollar yachts in the marinas in Monaco.
Angela
Ft Lauderdale, FL USA 12/07/98
Brig to Locarno
One that I will always remember is the trip from Brig, Switzerland,
to Locarno, via Italy. You change from the Brig-Milan train in Domodossola
to a narrow gauge local. It winds through the steep,narrow valleys, stopping
frequently. The views are of old stone houses, small vineyards and tiny
villages perched on steep hillsides accessible only by footpath. Truly
a stunning step into the past!
Jeff Keller
Park City, UT USA 12/02/98
Three Favorites
Norway
in a Nutshell, the Brenner Pass from
Austria into Italy (Innsbruck to Verona) and suprisingly enough Bologna to Florence in the autumn...trees changing
colour and scenic hills. Lovely combination!
Kylie
Mt Vernon, IL USA 11/23/98
Panoramic Express
An all time favorite of mine is the MOB Panoramic Express from
Montreux (on Lake Geneva) to Spiez. The journey climbs steeply out of
Montreux and into the mountains, taking you past Gstaad and Zweisimmen
and dropping you back out of the mountains at Spiez where you can change
trains for Interlaken, Thun or Bern. One of my favorites!
N. Collins
Whistler, Canada 11/23/98
Chunnel
I would opt for the Chunnel ride as the most scenic because of its contrasts
between English and French countryside.
Andrew
Plover, WI USA 11/11/98
Warsaw to Tallinn
My favorite train ride was from Warsaw
to Tallinn, Estonia. The scenery was a step back into another age: ancient
steam locomotives rusting alongside the tracks; smokestacks silhouetted
against the heavy, grey sky; ugly, soot-covered, Soviet-style buildings;
miles and miles of birch trees and puddles, unkempt fields with little
farmhouses and roaming cats, foxes, and crows; small dark wooden huts
in the birch forests, with laundry hanging amidst the trees; people burning
their trash in oil-drum cans. Being born and raised in big-city America,
these were all very interesting to me.
The Warsaw-Tallinn Express took 22 hours and passed through Lithuania
and Latvia through the night and morning. Getting tickets was a challenge
because of the language barrier, but it was a cultural experience to stand
in line in the big "Warsawa Centralna" station. The ladies behind the
counter were stern and intimidating, and took no pity to my utter cluelessness.
The train was heavy as a tank (probably vintage 50's or 60's) and the
sleeper car had wood panel interiors and a vase of plastic flowers on
the table. Riga, which we passed around 6AM, had some very interesting
architecture.
yumiko
san francisco, ca USA 11/08/98
HSB in Germany
We like the Harzer Schmalspurbahnen (HSB) in Wernigerode, Germany. Most
of the trains are still steam powered-a legacy of the old communist state.
A day can be easily spent riding the train up the Brocken, one of the
highest peaks in Germany, then hiking back down on a well maintained trail.
Other trains run to the cities of Nordhausen and Gernrode through the
scenic Harz Mountains. You'll find few "Yanks" here, but it is popular
with Germans as a vacation area. You will feel very European.
Pete
Malvern, PA USA 11/07/98
Glacier Express
The Glacier Express is a wonderful ride through the Alps. However, be
forewarned: Eurorail passes do not cover the middle of the trip. We had
to pay (in cash) the extra amount on the spot on the train. We learned
later that only Swissrail passes are honored on this very scenic trip.
Ruth
Coopersburg, PA USA 11/06/98
Berner Oberland
I have to vote for almost any train ride in the Berner Oberland region
of Switzerland. Interlaken to Grindelwald, Grindelwald to Kleine Scheidegg,
and Kleine Scheidegg to Wengen were among my favorites. Everytime you
round a bend and the Jungfrau group comes into view, it is simply stunning.
However, the absolute best is the one to the top of the Jungfraujoch -
it can be crowded, sure, but it wasn't when I went early one late August
morning, and it was so wonderful that I didn't mind the $75 one bit.
dan
durham, nc USA 11/06/98
Spain
One of the most scenic train rides I have ever taken was from Madrid
to Avila. While not only getting to see the beautiful mountains and hill
valeys, you have the opportunity to see the medieval walls that surround
Avila from a from various angles.
Maria C. B.
Aventura, FL USA 11/05/98
Austria to Germany
I reserved a car in Garmisch, Germany (half the price of Austria). Took a train
from Innsbruck to Garmisch. Morning in June. Slow train, beautiful views
of the Alps.
Joe Braun
Carlsbad, , CA USA 11/05/98
Bernina Express with an orange
The Bernina Express from Zurich to Tirano Italy is wonderful around
the first of December. The snow is falling and you go through many small
mnt. passess and past the most beautiful scenery. Take a juicy orange
with you; it really tastes good for some reason on this snowy excursion
jay
atlanta, ga USA 11/04/98
Italy to Switzerland
The standard Venice to Zurich was quite stunning. The hills are alive
with the sound of music, not to mention the lakes.
Mike
Cincinnati, oh USA 11/04/98
Norway in the Fall
I just returned from a late-October "Norway
in a Nutshell" trip from Oslo to Flam and then to Bergen via boat/bus/train.
Wonderful snow storm on the top, beautiful fog and rainbow at Flam. Photos
at: http://web.cari.net/~ed1/FUN.HTM
Ed
San Diego, CA USA 11/03/98
Vienna to Graz
There's a really neat stretch of canyon/mountain scenery on the main
route from Vienna to Graz, Austria. There are great views and buildings
that make you wonder, how (why?) did they build that there?!?
Scott
Littleton, CO USA 10/26/98