Europe’s Top 5 Scenic Rail Journeys

Railbookers, custom made rail vacation specialists, share their top recommendations for scenic rail journeys in Europe. For more information call 1-888-829-3040, or visit www.railbookers.com. Railbookers are also offering a 5% discount on 2016 vacations when booked before August 31 2015.* Swiss Lakes and Mountains Switzerland is a treasure trove of scenic railway journeys. In the summer months the verdant pastures roll lusciously from the edge of the tracks into the horizon, in the winter the country unfolds like a veritable Narnia. Travel from Montreux to Interlaken on the Golden Pass Line. Rise up over Lake Geneva, gaze in wonder at the Swiss Riviera, travel through a mountain tunnel and coast through resorts like Gstaad and Châteaux d’Oex. Hit the high point (over 4.000 feet) before Zweisimmen and snake through the Simme Valley. Perhaps layover in Interlaken and take a route to Europe’s highest railroad station at the summit of Jungfraujoch. Norway in a Nutshell This is a route with no ‘off season’: snow-dusted in winter, set ablaze by autumn hues, sleepy in the spring and sparkling in the summer. Norway in a nutshell combines the Bergen Railroad, the Flam railroad, the Aurlandsfjord, the Nærøyfjord and the Stalheimskleiva road. Hard to pronounce, easier to enjoy, the route is possible in a day but turning it into a vacation with a night or two in Oslo is well worthwhile. From Oslo it is full steam ahead over the Flam railroad, descending deep into the fjord along the world’s steepest regular-track railroad. You drop over 2,000 feet in an hour as the panorama shifts from grand mountains to sparkling waterfalls – it’s a short journey, but there will not be a second to take your eyes off the window! London to Fort William Arrive at London's Euston station after a days sight-seeing, doze off after a “wee dram” of whiskey and wake up the next morning across the border. It is civilized, time-effective and harks back to a different, more romantic era. And then there is the scenery. Fall asleep traversing London’s suburbia and wake up seemingly in the middle of nowhere, the sun glinting through the blinds and deer bounding past the window. After exploring Fort William, the real treat begins. Often voted one of the world’s most picturesque rail journey, you will catch glimpses of crofter’s cottages, tiny churches, the pristine coastline and deep green mountain panoramas, before crossing the Glenfinnan Viaduct famous for its starring role in the Harry Potter movies. Germany’s Rhineland Catch the train from London to Brussels and change onto a high speed train to Cologne before crossing into Germany. Board a train winding down the Rhine Valley through luscious greenery to Koblenz, abundant with palaces, churches, fountains and a real ‘old world’ charm. Cruise down the river or take a daytrip to historic Rudesheim, before heading up the Moselle. The tracks are paved through the heart of the Rhineland-Palatinate and trace the river banks along the Moselle Stretch from Koblenz to Trier – Germany’s oldest city – which boasts a UNESCO-listed Cathedral and a picture perfect market square. After you have explored, continue on to the fairytale landscapes of Luxembourg to complete your vacation. Munich to Verona via the Brenner Pass Combine some of Europe’s most stunning cities with rail travel as scenic as any of Europe has to offer. The Bavarian capital of Munich plays host to every charming Alpine cliché imaginable, which of course means you will find the finest surrounding mountain passes. There are fast trains that will take you from here to the Austrian skiing capital of Innsbruck, but why sacrifice scenery in favor of time when you are on vacation? Skirt around the bases of the Alps, meander past glittering lakes and glide through the resort town of Garmsich-Partenkirchen on the regional train instead. Lap up the snow dusted, mountainous views before taking to the tracks once more, this time past the vineyards and mountains of the Brenner pass to Verona.

Everything You Need To Know About The New Eurail Pass

Seeing Europe's famed countryside just got a lot easier.

Anyone who has spent time traversing Europe knows: The continent's countryside is the kind of charming that feels like it was plucked from a storybook. Since 1959, the Eurail Pass has treated travelers between Europe's biggest urban destinations to this scenic landscape via railway. But, in the last two decades, it’s faced some stiff competition from budget airlines like RyanAir and EasyJet—no sprawling vistas, but when you're spending half the time in transit at a comparable rate to Eurail, staring at the clouds becomes a lot easier. Then last month, Netherlands-based Eurail enhanced its famed pass, adding smart perks and new countries (bringing the total to 28) in a move that should have you considering traveling Europe's gorgeous terrain by train once again. Here's the why and how.

Wanna Explore Europe in a Week or Two? This Pass is For You.

Chances are, you don’t have much more than two weeks of vacation to go see Europe. Rather than stressing out about tickets while criss-crossing borders, just get the 5 in 10 Global Pass. It lets you travel to any five of the 28 different countries on the Eurail pass, in 10 days. So you could start in Munich to see the epic landscape that is Bavaria (and flights to Munich from the U.S. are generally cheaper), then hop over to Bordeaux to sip some of France’s best vino, head down for a day of R&R at one of Southern Spain’s famed beach towns, and finish up in Portugal—flights to the U.S from Lisbon are quick and on the less pricey side.

Greece—Easier than Ever!

If you’re finally planning that Greek getaway, check out the Attica Pass. Greek rail stations are few and far between, so the pass offers six ferry crossings, two international (between Italy and Greece), and four domestic, between Greek Islands like Santorini, Rhodes and Mykonos. You have one month to choose between any of the main Greek islands (there are over 6,000, so check that yours is serviced) for your four domestic trips. It even takes care of a rail or bus transfer from Patras, the international port, to Piraeus, the domestic port. The Greek Islands and Italian port cities are all known for sea kayaking, sailing, diving, cycling, and hiking, not to mention the lazy, whitewashed villages.

Explore a New Side of Europe

Four new off-the-beaten-path countries worth seeing have been added to the Eurail system: Bosnia-Herzegovina, Montenegro, Poland, and Serbia.

In Bosnia you’ll find the only remaining primeval forest in Europe, class IV rapids, waterfalls, and if you venture to Mount Trebevic, some great singletrack mountain biking. It is also home to part of a new megatrail—the Via Dinaric—that winds through the rugged Dinaric Alps. In Serbia, explore Djerdap National Park and marvel at Iron Gates gorge stretching into bordering Romania. Or hop on two wheels and pedal the Danube Bike Trail, a 2,857 km favorite for distance freaks. In Poland, head to the Tatra Mountains for hundreds of miles of hiking trails, beginning from the resort town Zakopane. More experienced mountaineers can even climb into neighboring Slovakia. Finally, find out if Montenegro deserves its nickname, “the pearl of the Mediterranean.” Cycle along the Bay of Kotor’s steep limestone cliffs and enjoy a stunning view of Our Lady of the Rocks Church in the only “fjord” in the Mediterranean. It’s a great spot for kayaking, too. Or take a guided trip to the Blue Grotto, where sunlight reflects off the white bottom and turns the water a neon blue.

The Kids Are Alright

Parents with young children don’t need anything to make traveling even more difficult. The Children Travel Passwill make it easier and cheaper to bring the munchkins. If your kids are between ages four and 11, they can come along for free, two per adult. Did your parents always make you travel in coach? Not anymore. The First Class Youth Pass makes the coveted cabin more affordable for travelers aged 15 to 25, at a 20 percent discount from the adult price. If you’re a parent, you can now upgrade your teenager for a little less. And for the under 25 set, they still offer a 35 percent discount on a number of passes. 

Contributed by Ben Yeager

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