All Aboard! Hop on Europe’s Most Photogenic Train Routes for an Instagram-Worthy Adventure

All Aboard! Hop on Europe's Most Photogenic Train Routes for an Instagram-Worthy Adventure - Platforms of Picturesque Panoramas

One of the greatest joys of traveling by train through Europe is reveling in the ever-changing, breathtaking landscapes that unfold outside your window. From soaring snow-capped peaks to undulating vineyards and everything in between, rail routes throughout the continent offer countless platforms boasting picturesque panoramas.

When boarding the train in Zermatt, Switzerland, be sure to snag a window seat on the left side for optimal views of the towering Matterhorn. As the train winds its way through the valleys of the Swiss Alps, the mighty mountain dominates the landscape, its iconic pyramidal peak reflected in shimmering alpine lakes. Gaze in awe as the top of the Matterhorn disappears into passing clouds before emerging even more majestic than before.

Further north, make your way to Oslo for a front-row seat to Norway's natural splendor aboard the Bergen Railway.Connecting Norway's capital to its stunning west coast, this train journey is billed as one of the world's most beautiful. Rightfully so, as the tracks cut through the rugged landscape, treats include cascading waterfalls, deep emerald fjords, and snow-dusted mountaintops hovering above verdant valleys.

Venture east to Prague, where a ride aboard the Czech Railways takes you past sprawling fields dotted with hay bales and grazing cattle. As the train approaches Cesky Krumlov, behold the medieval castle perched high above the meandering Vltava River, flanked by rolling forested hills. The postcard-perfect scene is quintessential central Europe.
Further southwest, absorb pastoral vineyards and olive groves dancing across Tuscany's undulating hills when traveling between Florence and Siena. Soak up the golden light bathing cypress trees and charming farmhouses in this iconic region.

What else is in this post?

1. All Aboard! Hop on Europe's Most Photogenic Train Routes for an Instagram-Worthy Adventure - Platforms of Picturesque Panoramas
2. All Aboard! Hop on Europe's Most Photogenic Train Routes for an Instagram-Worthy Adventure - Bridging Beauty on Rails
3. All Aboard! Hop on Europe's Most Photogenic Train Routes for an Instagram-Worthy Adventure - Tunnels of Tree-lined Tranquility
4. All Aboard! Hop on Europe's Most Photogenic Train Routes for an Instagram-Worthy Adventure - Viaducts of Vibrant Vistas
5. All Aboard! Hop on Europe's Most Photogenic Train Routes for an Instagram-Worthy Adventure - Traversing Towering Mountain Terrain
6. All Aboard! Hop on Europe's Most Photogenic Train Routes for an Instagram-Worthy Adventure - Crossing Quaint Cobblestone Villages
7. All Aboard! Hop on Europe's Most Photogenic Train Routes for an Instagram-Worthy Adventure - Chugging Past Castles and Châteaux
8. All Aboard! Hop on Europe's Most Photogenic Train Routes for an Instagram-Worthy Adventure - CoastingAlongside Crystalline Coastlines

All Aboard! Hop on Europe's Most Photogenic Train Routes for an Instagram-Worthy Adventure - Bridging Beauty on Rails

Spanning ravines, fjords, and rivers, Europe's bridges offer some of the most striking scenery from the rails. As your train slowly crosses these engineering marvels, take a moment to appreciate the masterful design that allows travelers to safely traverse such perilous terrain.

When embarking on Norway's famous Bergen Railway, prepare for miles of magnificent bridges that provide a front-row view of the land's untamed wilderness. Of particular note is the 300-foot high Kylling Bridge, its red steel frame boldly contrasting with the lush greenery thriving below. Passing over Norway's second longest bridge creates a dizzying sensation, with the crystalline waters of the Frudal River lying far below. The Måbødalen Bridge also rewards travelers with magical vistas, arching nearly 500 feet over a yawning canyon blanketed in fir trees.
Further south in Switzerland, the Landwasser Viaduct awes with its sheer elegance and staggering surroundings. Part of the famous Glacier Express line through the Swiss Alps, this stone bridge comprises six arches towering over 160 feet above the Landwasser River. Frame up photos capturing the viaduct's perfect symmetry against the jagged, snow-capped peaks engulfing it. Alpine chalets nestled along the riverbank complete this quintessential Swiss scene.

Venture to Wales aboard the Conwy Valley Line for rugged coastal views courtesy of the 19th century Conwy Railway Bridge. Stretching nearly 1,000 feet across the River Conwy's estuary, this wrought iron tube design epitomizes the Industrial Revolution era. Gaze through its arched windows at crashing waves and seabirds swirling around the bridge's supporting pillars.

Crossing Lake Oeschinen in Switzerland's Bernese Oberland, the Kander Viaduct combines engineering prowess with stupefying natural beauty. Spanning almost 1,500 feet across the vibrant turquoise waters, Europe's highest bridge reaches dizzying heights. Peer straight down the 354-foot drop for thrills. Panoramic mountain vistas compete for your attention, with frosty summits and flower-speckled meadows encircling the lake. This breath-taking scene epitomizes alpine splendor.

All Aboard! Hop on Europe's Most Photogenic Train Routes for an Instagram-Worthy Adventure - Tunnels of Tree-lined Tranquility

Traversing through dark tunnels may seem like a downside of train travel, but throughout Europe, many rail routes feature sun-dappled tree tunnels bursting with bucolic charm. Gliding through verdant canopies illuminated by shafts of golden light allows travelers to momentarily escape the bustle of cities. Tunnels lined with leafy branches also provide cooling shade from the summer sun.

When embarking on the Bergen Railway in Norway, prepare for miles of blissful immersion into magical forests. From Finse to Myrdal, the tracks are enveloped by lush Sitka spruce and spreading birch trees. Sunlight filters through the canopy, dappling the train cars with dancing spots of light. Crisp mountain air fills your lungs during this rejuvenating ride through untamed wilderness.

Further south in Germany, a journey on the Black Forest Railway from Offenburg to Singen carries you through dramatic tunnels cloaked in dark evergreens. Nestled between the Rhine River and the Black Forest, this route slithers through one of Germany's most enchanting natural regions. Gaze out in wonder as thickets of pine trees flash by your window in a blur of emerald green.
Venture to the sun-drenched Côte d'Azur aboard the Train des Pignes, which chugs west from Nice through exotic landscapes characterized by palm trees and purple lavender fields. Seek respite from the Mediterranean heat while riding through densely wooded tunnels, especially along the spectacular section between Entrevaux and Annot. Dappled light dances through leafy canopies as you curl around tight bends revealing stunning vistas of aquamarine coves tucked between craggy cliffs.

Further east in Slovenia, the route connecting Ljubljana to the Adriatic Coast features the spectacular Bohinj Tunnel. At over 4 miles long, it's one of the country's most impressive engineering feats. Midway through the unlit tunnel, the train makes a brief stop that allows travelers to hop off and experience total darkness. Listen to the soothing trickle of underground mountain springs in this rare and meditative environment.

Even rail journeys through predominantly urban landscapes can feature enchanting snippets of treescapes. When traveling between Switzerland's two largest cities aboard the Swiss Federal Railways, keep watch for the brief but beautiful Sihlwald Forest portion near Zurich. Sunlight streaming through the train window illuminates towering trees with white birch peeling off mossy trunks, creating an ethereal atmosphere.

All Aboard! Hop on Europe's Most Photogenic Train Routes for an Instagram-Worthy Adventure - Viaducts of Vibrant Vistas

Spanning gorges, valleys, and rivers, Europe's viaducts showcase spellbinding views that will leave you grasping for your camera. As your train gently glides across these massive structures, take a moment to appreciate the ingenious engineering allowing for safe passage over perilous terrain. Viaducts act as viewing platforms from on high, granting a unique vantage point to admire vibrant vistas in all their glory.

Crossing the Swiss Alps, the Landwasser Viaduct never fails to impress with its symmetry and staggering surroundings. This iconic landmark of the Glacier Express line comprises six towering stone arches over 160 feet above the glittering Landwasser River. Frame up the perfect photo capturing the viaduct's graceful arches juxtaposed against the jagged snow-capped peaks engulfing it. Scattered Alpine chalets nestled along the riverbank complete this quintessential Swiss scene.
Further west in France, the Garabit Viaduct allows travelers to soak up the wild beauty of the Truyère Valley from on high. Stretching over 1,200 feet across a gorge in the Massif Central region, this feat of 19th century engineering provides breathtaking valley views. Gaze down at the trickling river winding through evergreen forests and undulating pastureland dotted with grazing cattle.

Venturing north to the United Kingdom, the Royal Border Bridge offers a unique perspective on England's Northumberland National Park. Opened in 1850, this sandstone viaduct comprising 28 arches carries trains 126 feet above the River Tweed. Photograph the medieval Norham Castle ruins perched along the river's banks, dwarfed by the impressive Victorian structure soaring overhead.
The Dujisu Viaduct in Azerbaijan conjures up dizzying heights at 1,050 feet above ground. Forming part of the new Baku–Tbilisi–Kars railway, its soaring concrete arches connect the capital Baku with regions to the west. Brave travelers can look straight down the abyss to the wide Kur River flowing through the lush Murovdag mountain range thousands of feet below.

All Aboard! Hop on Europe's Most Photogenic Train Routes for an Instagram-Worthy Adventure - Traversing Towering Mountain Terrain

When it comes to traversing Europe’s mighty mountains, scenic train rides often provide the most thrilling views. There’s nothing quite like witnessing snow-capped peaks, plunging valleys and frothing rivers while ensconced in your comfortable train seat. Glaciers sparkle, waterfalls plunge, and clouds swirl around you as locomotives wind their way through the Alps.

One of the most famous Alpine train journeys is the Glacier Express, linking St. Moritz and Zermatt in the Swiss Alps. Rightly named, this bright red train passes massive glaciers like the towering Gorner Glacier near Zermatt. Gaze in awe as its bluish ice tumbles slowly down the valley. Further along, the train skirts past the mighty Matterhorn. At 14,690 feet, its sheer pyramidal peak scraped the sky. Peer upwards as striated rock faces covered in shimmering snow flash by your window. The Glacier Express also squeezes through narrow valleys overawed by forested slopes, quaint villages, and frothy mountain streams.

In Austria’s Tirol region, the Innsbruck to Brenner Pass route rewards travelers with phenomenal vistas as it winds through the heart of the Alps. After leaving Innsbruck, the railroad hugs cliffsides overlooking the Sill River churning hundreds of feet below. Approaching Seefeld, the tracks cut through a bucolic valley surrounded by the region’s highest summits, including the 9,563-foot Wilder Kaiser. Further along, the Brenner Pass section traverses bridges and viaducts soaring over yawning ravines blanketed in evergreens.

Even further east in Slovenia, railways provide a front-row seat to the Julian Alps’ beauty. The route from Ljubljana to Nova Gorica slices through mountains and valleys capped in snow much of the year. Just before Bohinjska Bistrica, the tracks pass over a viaduct with staggering views of the Vintgar Gorge. Carved by the Radovna River, its vertical limestone cliffs plunge over 300 feet to the water below. Bristlecone pines cling precariously to the rocks, which glow emerald green from river foam and encroaching moss. It's a sight unique to mountainous Slovenia.

All Aboard! Hop on Europe's Most Photogenic Train Routes for an Instagram-Worthy Adventure - Crossing Quaint Cobblestone Villages

From crumbling medieval fortresses to elegant Renaissance palaces, Europe’s stately castles and châteaux create dreamy scenes when glimpsed from the train window. As locomotives wind through the countryside, historic architecture flashes by, providing glimpses into noble eras past.

In Scotland, the West Highland railway delights with views of Eilean Donan Castle, one of the most photographed castles in the world. Set on a tiny island at the meeting point of three lochs, its romantic silhouette reflects in the surrounding waters. Gaze in awe at the medieval fortress connected to the mainland by a stone footbridge, its towers and turrets beautifully framed through your train window.

Further south in England, Leeds Castle enchants passengers aboard Southeastern trains traversing the county of Kent. This stately structure appears to float serenely on lake waters, surrounded by sprawling gardens first landscaped in the 17th century. Snap photos of the quintessential moat shimmering in the sunlight as your train speeds past.

Venturing to the European continent, France dazzles with châteaux glimpsed from the window of high-speed TGV trains. In the Loire Valley, Chambord’s unmistakable spires, turrets, and chimneys rise into view above the flat valley floor. One of the most recognizable Renaissance structures in Europe, its magnificence strikes awe into all who behold it.

Meanwhile in Burgundy, the train route from Dijon to Lyon provides the perfect vantage point to admire the Château de Commarin. Perched atop a wooded hillside, its creamy limestone facade stands out brightly, flanked by circular corner towers. Like spotting hidden treasure, viewings of this medieval fortress are fleeting, only visible for a moment as the train speeds past.

Venturing east, the Bergen Railway carries visitors along Norway’s rugged west coast. Between Bergen and Voss, the tracks hug the sapphire Aurlandsfjord shoreline, providing glimpses of the Steindalsfossen waterfall plunging over 1,000 feet to the sea. Its delicate wispy tendrils resemble bridal veils swishing in the wind. Further on, regal Tvindefossen waterfall tumbles down in tiered horseshoe shapes with tremendous force. However, the true showstopper of this route is majestic Vøringsfossen, Norway’s most famous and photographed falls. At 722 feet, its waters freefall with fury, billowing out sideways as fine mist. Together these cascades compose Norway’s “Bridal Veil Tour” when witnessed from the train.
When traveling by rail from Interlaken to Montreux in Switzerland, thrill at the chance to see Europe's largest waterfall, the thundering Rhine Falls. As the train crosses the Rhine River just upstream from Schaffhausen, witness the fury with which the Rhine plunges 75 feet off a massive cliff, churning violent whirlpools below. Gushing at 15,000 liters per second, the sheer volume generates giant clouds of mist that drench onlookers. Glimpses of vibrant rainbows dancing in the spray make this a magical sight.

Further south, the Circumetnea railway on Sicily provides staggering views of Europe's tallest volcano, Mount Etna. Curling around the volcano's base, the tracks skirt past blackened lava fields and scattered craters, while Etna's snowy peak towers overhead, occasionally puffing out ominous smoke. Peer upwards hoping for sightings of molten lava oozing down the volcano's flanks in fiery red rivers of destruction - a humbling reminder of Mother Nature's power.

All Aboard! Hop on Europe's Most Photogenic Train Routes for an Instagram-Worthy Adventure - Chugging Past Castles and Châteaux

From crumbling medieval fortresses to elegant Renaissance palaces, Europe’s stately castles and châteaux create dreamy scenes when glimpsed from the train window. As locomotives wind through the countryside, historic architecture flashes by, providing glimpses into noble eras past.

In Scotland, the West Highland railway delights with views of Eilean Donan Castle, one of the most photographed castles in the world. Set on a tiny island at the meeting point of three lochs, its romantic silhouette reflects in the surrounding waters. Gaze in awe at the medieval fortress connected to the mainland by a stone footbridge, its towers and turrets beautifully framed through your train window.
Further south in England, Leeds Castle enchants passengers aboard Southeastern trains traversing the county of Kent. This stately structure appears to float serenely on lake waters, surrounded by sprawling gardens first landscaped in the 17th century. Snap photos of the quintessential moat shimmering in the sunlight as your train speeds past.
Venturing to the European continent, France dazzles with châteaux glimpsed from the window of high-speed TGV trains. In the Loire Valley, Chambord’s unmistakable spires, turrets, and chimneys rise into view above the flat valley floor. One of the most recognizable Renaissance structures in Europe, its magnificence strikes awe into all who behold it.

Meanwhile in Burgundy, the train route from Dijon to Lyon provides the perfect vantage point to admire the Château de Commarin. Perched atop a wooded hillside, its creamy limestone facade stands out brightly, flanked by circular corner towers. Like spotting hidden treasure, viewings of this medieval fortress are fleeting, only visible for a moment as the train speeds past.
As an avid train traveler, I'm endlessly enchanted when historic castles and châteaux briefly materialize outside my window. Their imposing forms dominate the landscape, conjuring up images of past royal inhabitants and courtly life centuries ago. Witnessing the ever-changing scenes chugging through the countryside brings history alive before your eyes.
One memorable journey was aboard a regional train traveling from Annecy to Lyon in southeastern France. Winding through the foothills of the Alps, an enormous turreted château suddenly came into view, its pale stone glowed in the warm afternoon light. My fellow passengers and I were transfixed, phones flashing to capture the fairytale sight. Just minutes later it was gone.

All Aboard! Hop on Europe's Most Photogenic Train Routes for an Instagram-Worthy Adventure - CoastingAlongside Crystalline Coastlines

Gliding alongside Europe’s picturesque coastlines allows train travelers to revel in the continent’s natural beauty. As locomotives trace routes hugging craggy cliffs and dipping into sheltered coves, sea vistas unfold outside your window in dazzling hues. Admire crystalline waters rolling onto pristine beaches backed by vivid green hills. Inhale the refreshing ocean breeze as you trundle past historic lighthouses and cozy harbors dotted with rainbow-hued homes.

One of the most stunning seaside train journeys is the ride along the Amalfi Coast connecting Italy’s Sorrento to Salerno. This section of tracks clings precariously to seaside cliffs, delivering staggering vistas of the Tyrrhenian Sea swishing hundreds of feet below. Gaze down upon secluded pebble beaches tucked between rocky outcroppings and admire whitewashed villages overflowing with flowers. Further along, the train passes through a series of dark tunnels punctuated by brief dazzling glimpses of Positano’s pastel-hued houses cascading towards the sea. Offshore, the Li Galli islands rise from the waves, their rugged forms resembling mythological sea monsters.
Heading north to Ireland’s Wild Atlantic Way, the Belfast to Dublin Enterprise chugs along the island's eastern shores. After departing Belfast, sublime sea views dominate with the Irish Sea's steely blue waters and undulating headlands stretching as far as the eye can see. Near Clogherhead, sweeping panoramas open up with trains running parallel to the golden crescent of County Louth's beaches. Offshore, cranes and container ships stream out of Dublin Port destined for faraway lands.

Over in Norway, the Raumabanen Railway from Dombås to Åndalsnes is billed as the country’s most beautiful train ride, thanks largely to its fjord-side route. After rolling past the tallest peak in northern Europe, Galdhøpiggen, the tracks follow the emerald River Rauma. The river’s path transforms into the stunning Romsdalen Valley flanked by towering cliffs and mountains. Near Åndalsnes, the valley's walls plunge straight into the 1,300-foot deep Romsdalfjord. This flooded glacial valley paints the perfect picture of Norway’s rugged topography.