Last year marked the 200th anniversary of passenger rail, and though transport has evolved dramatically since then, significantly cutting travel times by sending travelers into the skies, the railroad revival shows no signs of stopping.
If anything, the train’s anti-efficiency nostalgia is proving remarkably durable.
Part of the appeal is the pace. Slow travel is increasingly popular with luxury travelers, from walking safaris and multi-day hikes to extended sailing voyages. Then there are the trains themselves, which can be much of a draw as the dramatic landscape. Here’s the best luxury train rides for sightseeing around the world.
Related article: The Most Spectacular Luxury Train Rides in the Americas
The best luxury train rides to book now
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The Eastern and Oriental Express, Malaysia
While it would be much quicker to take a short flight from the Malay Peninsula to the border of Thailand, a four-day trip through some of the country’s most beautiful landscapes in gilded luxury sounds a lot more memorable.
The Eastern and Oriental Express mostly runs through Malaysia, with a range of different itineraries – each three nights long and seasonally adjusted. In the summertime, the train offers the Essence of Malaysia, which connects Kuala Lumpur, Langkawi, and Penang, with activities including snorkelling, boat rides, and picnics.
The winter option, Wild Malaysia, runs March through October, taking passengers north, along the quieter eastern coast to the ancient rainforests of Taman Negara before looping westward toward the island of Penang and returning to Singapore.
Inside, the Eastern and Oriental Express has a Dior Spa, a piano bar – a vintage entertainment carriage with lounge singers – and an observation car, where travelers can enjoy the passing countryside or smoke a cigar. Dinners are curated by chef André Chiang, with on-train sommeliers ensuring keen oenophiles are duly catered for.
The train offers three categories across 15 carriages, with 32 sleeper cabins for up to 64 passengers. The two Presidential Suites sit at the top, measuring at 125 sq ft, with two twin beds and a large en-suite bathroom – still a rarity, even on the most luxurious trains.
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The Ghan, Australia
The Ghan is an Australian classic, a modern locomotive that transports curious travelers into the country’s spectacular desert scenery. The train has historic origins, first introduced in 1929, and goes between Adelaide and Darwin, traveling 1,864 miles into the Red Center, with itineraries between two and four days.
The recognizable train is painted in a fiery red, echoing the dusty surrounding scenery. Interiors are earthy, too, inspired by Indigenous art. And once off the train, excursions include dining under the stars at the Historic Telegraph Station in Alice Springs, exploring Nitmiluk Gorge, and visiting an opal mine in Coober Pedy.
Back onboard, the gastronomy offering is a highlight, immersing travelers in Australian cuisine with dishes spanning barramundi, beef, kangaroo steak, and local cheeses, paired with Australian wines.
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Rovos Rail, South Africa
Rovos Rail, the ‘Pride of Africa,’ is a restored mid-20th century train which ventures to Cape Town, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Zambia, and Tanzania.
The dark green and cream carriages have a vintage, nostalgic feel, inspired by the Edwardian era, with wood paneling and leather armchairs, as well as 36 spacious suites and an open-air balcony to enjoy the views. Dining is locally inspired, with springbok loin, lamb, and karoo crumble, paired with South African wines.
The train safaris can last from 48 hours to 16 nights, with a variety of itineraries ranging from trips to Victoria Falls to traversing the Copper Trail and wildlife spotting. One of the train’s most popular journeys is the three-night, four-day sleeper train journey from Pretoria to Cape Town, which, after winding through grasslands, desert, valleys, villages, and Cape winelands, culminates at the iconic Table Mountain.
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Venice Simplon-Orient-Express, Europe
The Agatha Christie-famed original Orient Express was discontinued in 1977, but its legacy lives on in the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express, a sleeper train operated by Belmond.
The navy and white train features Art Deco carriages built between 1926 and 1949, many of which operated on the original Orient Express. Three dining carriages, Côte d’Azur, Étoile du Nord, and L’Oriental, serve European cuisine, and, for further relaxing, there’s also a live piano bar car.
Cabins are mostly on the smaller side – armchairs by day that transform into bedrooms at night. Though the L’Observatoire Suite, which launched in 2025, is a definite exception. Designed by the artist JR, the private suite occupies an entire carriage with a bedroom, lounge, marble bathroom, and library. Details include a record player and vinyl collection, a tearoom and fireplace, and skylights for stargazing.
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La Dolce Vita Express, Italy
The rail revival is well and truly alive in Italy, where train enthusiasts can enjoy not one but two luxury rail trips. The La Dolce Vita Express comes from French hospitality company Accor, accommodating 62 passengers across 12 deluxe cabins and 18 suites.
Interiors take inspiration from Italian design of the ‘70s and ‘80s, and the food, overseen by chef Heinz Beck of three-Michelin-starred La Pergola, draws on local cuisine. Two of the train’s itineraries, Italian Swing and Northern Greens, are specifically designed for golfers, looping between courses in Lazio, Puglia, and Tuscany.
The train has recently expanded its journeys to Istanbul, taking guests from Rome, through Venice, Budapest, and Transylvania, over a five-day, four-night journey. For the reverse journey, wind through the road less traveled – Plovdiv, Sofia, Timisoara – on the route back to Venice and Rome.
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Belmond Britannic Explorer, UK
Belmond’s Britannic Explorer counts itself as England and Wales’ first-ever luxury sleeper train. The train is a refurbished version of the Belmond Grand Hibernian, a short-lived sleeper service in Ireland that ceased operations in 2019. The Explorer alternates between three destinations: Cornwall, Wales, and the Lake District, with itineraries ranging from three to six nights.
And the cuisine on board is just as delightful and charming as the views of the rolling English countryside. The culinary experience is orchestrated by Michelin-starred chef Simon Rogan, who serves up a range of sustainable British gastronomy, celebrating the country’s seasonal ingredients.
The train also has a wellbeing suite by Wildsmith, which offers facials, massages, and a signature treatment, the Signature Circadian Rhythm Reset.
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The Andrean Explorer, a Belmond Train, Peru
Introduced in 2017, the Andean Explorer is South America’s first luxury sleeper train. One of the world’s finest examples of Golden Age Revival, the train is operated by Belmond and built specifically for high altitude.
Painted in Belmond’s signature navy and white, carriages run a variety of routes, taking 35 guests throughout Peru. Destinations include Cusco; Lake Titicaca, the largest freshwater lake in South America; and Arequipa, as well as the vast range of Peruvian landscapes. Onboard experiences include sunrise and swimming opportunities at Lake Titicaca, visits to ancient Inca sites, and a tour of floating islands, woven from local reeds.
For dining, there are two cars, Llama and Muña, where Andean dishes are served. A piano lounge and open-air observation deck give guests space to enjoy the scenery.
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Hiram Bingham, a Belmond Train, Peru
If you’re looking for the most luxurious and relaxed way to experience Machu Picchu, this is it. The Belmond train takes travelers from Cusco to the historic site, keeping them entertained with cocktails, brunch, and lively traditional Peruvian performances.
The 1920s Pullman-style train is decorated in polished wooden marquetry and beautiful antique fittings, with 84 seats and an observatory carriage. Guests can reserve a private carriage or charter the entire train.
