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A legendary train is one you take for the journey itself: for its scenery, its history, or the incredible experience it offers on board. And Europe has dozens of legendary trains, from the viaducts of the Swiss Alps to the fjords of Norway, via the Scottish Highlands and the Pyrenees! Good news: all the trains in this selection can be reached directly by train from France.
Here we've compiled a list of 17 legendary rail lines and trains currently in service, as well as one night train that is currently on hiatus. For each one, you'll find the key details in a few lines, followed by a link to our detailed guide: route, tickets, season, and how to get there from France.
What is the most legendary train in Europe? The most famous one is still theOrient Express, founded in 1883, whose successor, the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express, still runs between Paris and Venice. But every region has its own legend: the Glacier Express in Switzerland, the Jacobite in Scotland, and the Train Jaune in the Pyrenees. See luxury and overnight trains.
Which legendary trains can you ride year-round? Most of these are regular routes: the Bergensbanen in Norway, the West Highland Line in Scotland, the Bernina Express, the Train Jaune, and the Corsican train. Others operate only seasonally, such as the Jacobite and the Retro Istria Express. See our comparison table below for details.
What are the most famous trains closest to France? The Train Jaune and the Corsican train in France itself, followed by the Canfranero on the Spanish side of the Pyrenees and the Swiss scenic trains (routes in southern Europe, discussed later in this article).
Is it possible to travel on a legendary train at a low price? Yes: many are simply regular trains, such as the Canfranero, the Train Jaune, or the Cinque Terre line. Luxury trains, such as the Orient Express or the Al Andalus, on the other hand, cost several thousand euros.
Please note: Seasons and schedules change frequently; always check with the operator before booking.
Switzerland is home to several of Europe's most famous scenic trains: the Glacier Express, the Bernina Express, and the GoldenPass Express, which can all be taken as part of a single trip.
Nicknamed “the world’s slowest express train,” the Glacier Express takes 8 hours to travel from Zermatt to St. Moritz. Along the way, it crosses 291 bridges, passes through 91 tunnels, and climbs the Oberalp Pass at an elevation of 2,033 meters. It runs year-round, except during its fall break (October 11 through December 4 in 2026).
From France: Take the TGV Lyria to Switzerland, then take a train to Zermatt.
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The Bernina Express connects Chur or St. Moritz to Tirano, Italy, crossing the Bernina Pass at 2,253 meters. In just a few hours, the journey takes you from glaciers to palm trees, culminating in the Brusio spiral viaduct. It runs year-round: the trip takes about 2 hours and 30 minutes from St. Moritz and 4 hours and 30 minutes from Chur.
From France: Take the TGV Lyria to Zurich, then a train to Chur.
In about 3 hours and 15 minutes, the GoldenPass Express connects Interlaken to Montreux, traveling from the alpine pastures of the Bernese Oberland to the vineyards of the Vaud Riviera. It runs year-round, with high demand in the summer: it’s best to book early between July and September.
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To experience it all at once, the Grand Train Tour of Switzerland takes you on a 7-day journey aboard the Glacier Express, the Bernina Express, and the GoldenPass Express, departing from Lucerne. The Classic version is available from April through October.
From France: Paris to Lucerne in about 4 hours and 35 minutes, with a connection in Basel or Zurich.
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In Northern Europe, legendary trains travel across highlands, past lochs, and through the Arctic Circle, with both day and night routes.
The Bergensbanen crosses Norway from east to west in 6½ to 7½ hours, passing through the Hardangervidda. It reaches an elevation of 1,237 meters, making it, according to the operator Vy, the highest railway line in Northern Europe. Halfway along the route, from Myrdal, the Flåmsbana descends to the fjord in one hour.
From France: About 11:30 p.m. of travel time to Oslo, including an overnight trip on the night train to Hamburg.
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This overnight train travels through Swedish Lapland and crosses the Arctic Circle, running from Stockholm to the Norwegian port of Narvik in about 19 hours. After a year of disruptions in 2026 due to construction work—which required a transfer in Boden—the daily direct service is set to resume on December 13, 2026. Its future after the current contract expires remains uncertain.
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In 2009, readers of Wanderlust magazine voted it the most beautiful train journey in the world. The West Highland Line connects Glasgow to Fort William in about 4 hours, crossing Rannoch Moor, and then continues on to the port of Mallaig.
From France: Eurostar to London, then the Caledonian Sleeper overnight train to Fort William.
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Pulled by a steam locomotive, the Jacobite makes a round trip between Fort William and Mallaig in a single day. It crosses the Glenfinnan Viaduct, which appears as the Hogwarts Express viaduct in the movies. It is a seasonal train that generally runs from April through October; when it is fully booked, the regular ScotRail train covers the same route year-round.
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In the south, these legendary trains are often just regular regional trains—affordable and running year-round—just a few hours from Paris.
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Since 1910, this small meter-gauge train has been climbing from Villefranche-de-Conflent (427 m) to Latour-de-Carol (1,231 m) in about 3 hours. It crosses the Séjourné Viaduct and the Gisclard Bridge—the only railway suspension bridge still in service in France—and offers open-air cars on sunny days.
From France: Take the TGV to Perpignan, then the liO train to Villefranche, or take the overnight train from Paris to Latour-de-Carol.
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On the Spanish side of the Pyrenees, the Canfranero connects Zaragoza to Canfranc and its monumental train station in about 3 hours and 30 minutes, with two round trips per day. It’s a basic regional train operated by Renfe, with no luxury reservations or package deals.
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The main line of the Corsican rail network crosses the island and its mountainous interior for 158 km, from Bastia to Ajaccio, in about 3 hours and 45 minutes. A second line, the Balagne line, runs to Calvi via L'Île-Rousse.
From France: by ferry, since the train stations in Bastia and Ajaccio are less than a 15-minute walk from the ports.
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Between La Spezia and Levanto, the Cinque Terre Express stops at each of the five villages perched on the cliffs, with a train every 15 minutes during peak season. It's the easiest way to visit them without a car.
From France: About ten hours' drive from Paris, with a recommended stop in Turin.
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Some trains are legendary for the experience they offer: luxury trains costing several thousand euros, or night trains with retro charm that are much more affordable.
Launched in 1883, the Orient Express turned train travel into a legend. Its successor, the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express, still runs between Paris and Venice 3 to 4 times a month from March through December, and between Paris and Istanbul once a year. For 2027, rates start at €4,510 per person in a historic cabin (according to the rates published on the Belmond website).
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This luxury hotel train operated by Renfe, featuring 24 suites, travels along Spain's Costa Verde between Bilbao and Santiago de Compostela on a 6-day, 5-night itinerary. In 2026, the full trip costs €5,000 per person in a double suite, with departures from May through October.
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Another luxury train operated by Renfe, the Al Andalus offers a 7-day, 6-night tour between Seville and Madrid. Its 2026 season runs from April through October, with weekly departures.
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Launched in 2024 by FS Treni Turistici Italiani, this vintage train traveled along the Mediterranean coast between Rome and Marseille, first at night and then during the day along the French Riviera. It will not be running in 2026: the operator has canceled the season due to a lack of operating conditions at the Ventimiglia border and hopes to resume service in 2027.
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Rome-Marseille night train: the Espresso Riviera
Every summer, the Hungarian railway company MÁV operates this retro-style overnight train between Budapest and the seaside resorts on the Istrian Peninsula, via Ljubljana. In 2026, it ran from June 26 to August 30, departing from Budapest.
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Retro Istria Express: the most vintage train in Europe?
This night train, with its Soviet-era cars, runs daily from Bucharest to Chișinău, taking between 13 hours and 30 minutes and 14 hours. At the Moldovan border, the train’s bogies are changed while you remain on board: a process that takes about an hour, which used to be common at certain European borders.
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Prietenia : the last Soviet Era night train in Europe
| Train | Country | Route | Duration | When to Go |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Orient Express (Venice Simplon-Orient-Express) | France, Italy | Paris → Venice | 1 night on board | 3 to 4 departures per month, from March through December |
| Glacier Express | Switzerland | Zermatt → St. Moritz | 8 a.m. | Open year-round, except during the fall break (closed until December 4, 2026) |
| Bernina Express | Switzerland, Italy | Chur or St. Moritz → Tirano | 2½ to 4½ hours | all year round |
| GoldenPass Express | Switzerland | Interlaken → Montreux | 3:15 | all year round |
| Grand Train Tour of Switzerland | Switzerland | tour departing from Lucerne | 7 days | April through October (Classic version) |
| Bergensbanen + Flåmsbana | Norway | Oslo → Bergen, detour via Myrdal → Flåm | 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 a.m., +1 hour | all year round |
| Arctic Circle Train | Sweden, Norway | Stockholm → Narvik | Around 7 p.m., at night | Daily, live broadcast resuming on December 13, 2026 |
| West Highland Line | Scotland | Glasgow → Fort William → Mallaig | About 4 hours to Fort William | all year round |
| Jacobite (Harry Potter train) | Scotland | Fort William ↔ Mallaig | a day trip | during the season, generally from April through October |
| Canfranero | Spain | Zaragoza → Canfranc | About 3 hours and 30 minutes | all year round |
| Yellow Train | France | Villefranche-de-Conflent → Latour-de-Carol | 3 hours | all year round, except during construction |
| Corsican Railways | France | Bastia → Ajaccio | 3:45 | all year round |
| Costa Verde Express | Spain | Bilbao ↔ Santiago de Compostela | 6-day tour | from May through October |
| Al-Andalus | Spain | Seville ↔ Madrid | 7-day tour | during the season (April through October in 2026) |
| Cinque Terre Express | Italy | La Spezia ↔ Levanto | a few minutes between two villages | all year round |
| Retro Istria Express | Hungary, Slovenia, Croatia | Budapest → Koper or Rijeka | 1 night | in the summer, from late June to late August |
| Friendship | Romania, Moldova | Bucharest → Chișinău | 1:30 p.m. to 2:00 p.m., at night | every day |
| On a break: Espresso Riviera | Italy, France | Rome → Marseille | Around 6 p.m., at night | suspended in 2026, with a hoped-for return in 2027 |
From the viaducts of the Glacier Express to the open-air cars of the Train Jaune, not to mention the steam of the Jacobite and the Soviet-style compartments of the Prietenia, Europe’s legendary trains each transport you to a different world. What do they all have in common? You can reach them all by train from France. Choose your route based on the season, your budget, and the experience you’re looking for, and enjoy the ride!
Want to take it a step further? Join the HOURRAIL Club! To plan your next train trip in just a few clicks and enjoy all the exclusive benefits:
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The HOURRAIL Club: the community for low-carbon travel and slow travel
Issue du monde de la communication et des médias, Sophie est Responsable éditoriale chez HOURRAIL ! depuis août 2024. Elle est notamment derrière le contenu éditorial du site ainsi que La Locomissive (de l'inspiration voyage bas carbone et des bons plans, un jeudi sur deux, gratuitement dans ta boîte mail !).
Convaincue que les changements d’habitude passent par la transformation de nos imaginaires, elle s’attache à montrer qu’il est possible de voyager autrement, de manière plus consciente, plus lente et plus joyeuse. Son objectif : rendre le slow travel accessible à toutes et tous, à travers des astuces, des décryptages et surtout, de nouveaux récits.
