When in need of a luxurious and classic holiday, all heads turn to Europe. Europe boasts of the best and the grandest of everything. So, while planning your itinerary to this place that offers so much to its visitors, it is helpful to have some musts. Here we list five train journeys that you must take to explore the luxury and beauty Europe prides itself on.
Florence to Paris on the Venice Simplon Orient Express
Dress your finest for this opulent occasion as you take the journey from the city of Florence to Paris in the classic Venice Simplon-Orient-Express. It is a luxurious train from the 1920s made up of 17 exquisitely preserved original cars. Every carriage has a different design and has a different history and set of tales to tell. Utilize your time aboard the train to look about and see the luxurious fabrics, metal hardware, and elaborate woodwork.
Glacier Express, Switzerland
To get the most gorgeous views of the Swiss Alps, the Glacier Express is a delight. Travellers may cross the Alps in about eight hours on what has been branded the world's slowest express train, going through 91 tunnels and crossing 291 bridges. From Engadine to the Matterhorn, the Glacier Express provides a sensory-rich adventure. The Glacier Express transports passengers in comfort from opulent St. Moritz to equally opulent Zermatt, enticing them with beautiful sights and cutting-edge technological accomplishments. The Glacier Express offers unrestricted views of distinctive landscapes through its exceptionally high panoramic windows. It also passes through two of the most glamorous ski resorts in Switzerland.
Centovalli Railway, Switzerland and Italy
'Centovalli', meaning a hundred valleys in Italian, is an experience worth having. It gives an insight into the side of Switzerland that most tourists miss- rugged gorges, beautiful stone towns, and numerous waterfalls. The Vigezzina-Centovalli Railway travels from Locarno to Domodossola via 83 magnificent bridges and viaducts. The "hundred valleys" were uninhabited before this panoramic path was constructed. A journey on the Vigezzina - Centovalli Railway is an adventure in and of itself, whether it be in the spring while passing roaring waterfalls or during a brilliant summer.
Rhine Valley Line Scenic Train
Rhine Valley Line Scenic Train offers a laid-back, relaxing, alluring cruise through the German wine country. The West Rhine Railway departs from the lovely city of Mainz and glides into the allure and magnetism of the wine-producing region. It flows alongside the west bank of the Rhine, displaying the tranquil river and vineyard-covered valley slopes as it goes. Only a few tunnels obstruct the view to Koblenz, where the Moselle River meets the Rhine.
Settle & Carlisle Steam Special
One of the most well-known and picturesque train routes in the UK is the 72-mile Settle-Carlisle line, which features 20 viaducts, 14 tunnels and numerous breathtaking vistas. If you travel before June, you'll have some free time to visit Appleby-in-Westmorland; if you travel after June, you'll have more time to appreciate Carlisle. This rail is the perfect day trip to experience the early 1900s, the age of train travel, and the opulence enjoyed by the privileged of that time. Popular destinations covered by this are Ribblehead Viaduct and Horton-in-Ribblesdale, which gives access to the Three Peaks.
