Train line: The Arlberg Railway
This train route connects the Austrian cities of Innsbruck and Bludenz and is 136 kilometres long, with direct trains completing the journey in around one hour and 45 minutes. During this time, you will speed through charming Alpine villages, rivers and steep-sided valleys framed by mountain peaks. If you are travelling from Innsbruck, this is only one of the many stunning train routes you can take around Austria, to Switzerland or through South Tyrol all the way to Italy, but it’s an ideal option if you want maximum scenery without committing to a full day on the rails.
The cityscape of Mainz
querbeetTrain line: West Rhine Railway
If you are looking for a train journey that will immerse you in nature but want a less obvious alternative to the Alpine railways of Switzerland and Italy, consider Germany’s West Rhine Railway. The route stretches for 185 km, starting from Cologne and arriving at Mainz via Bonn, Koblenz, and Bingen. Cologne makes an excellent starting point, with its Gothic cathedral and lively riverside neighbourhoods worth exploring before you board. The two-hour journey is stunning from beginning to end, but the highlight is the Rhine Gorge, a UNESCO World Heritage Site visible from the train.
Train line: Rhodope Narrow Gauge Railway
This train from Septemvri to Dobrinishte runs four times a day year-round, takes about five hours for the one-way trip, and costs only a few euros. This route is the closest thing in the Balkans to an Alpine train ride, winding through the valleys and gorges of the Rila, Pirin and Rhodope mountains and stopping at Avramovo, the highest railway station in the Balkans. If you want to stop anywhere during your trip, make it the town of Velingrad, the country’s most popular thermal spa destination.