Gone are the days when trains were a mere mode of transportation from one place to another. These days, trains can be one of the best ways to explore a new country or even several countries at once! Inching through lush rainforests, stunning bridges, mountainsides, and even national parks -- train rides can be an exhilarating experience at the very least and an entire holiday in itself at best. As winter makes already picturesque views become even more magical under the sparkle of snow, certain train routes become even more phenomenal in colder temperatures. Get ready for a ride of a lifetime because it's not every day that you get to glide comfortably through snowy forests and icy mountains.
10 Glacier Express, Switzerland
Few places make for a better winter vacation spot than the powdered alps of Switzerland, and the scenic Glacier Express connects the two most popular alpine resort towns of St. Moritz and Zermatt on the mountains. The train takes eight hours to get through 291 odd kilometers, weaving through 91 tunnels, 290 bridges, and the famous Oberalp Pass. Travelers can enjoy the white landscape over three-course meals in glass-covered carriages that offer panoramic views of the Swiss Alps.
9 Semmering Railway, Austria
In 1998, Austria's Semmeringbahn became the first railway route to be granted World Heritage status by UNESCO for its engineering and route connection that runs through breathtaking areas of the Alpine mountain range. While the route that goes between Gloggnitz and Murzzuschlag is only 42-kilometer long, the Semmering Railway packs much in its 90-minute journey: the train passes through many valleys and gorges, climbs and drops to dramatic heights, and goes through several bridges, tunnels, and viaducts.
8 Bernina Express, Switzerland & Italy
That's the thing about Europe: You could be hopping onto a train in one country and only a couple of hours later, getting off at an entirely different one. The Bernina Express zips between the Swiss town of Chur and Tirano in Italy in a little over four hours, passing through several viaducts, narrow bridges, and the Albula Line -- a UNESCO World Heritage Site in between. While the train journey can be made in one go, it's best experienced slowly, with lazy excursions at each stop as the Swiss landscape slowly fades away to make way for the warmth of Northern Italy.
7 Trans-Siberian Railway, Russia
The legendary Trans-Siberian Railway runs from one end of Russia (Moscow) to the other (Vladivostok), passing through more than 9,200 kilometers and eight different time zones in between. While the exact number of days that it takes to travel through the Trans-Siberian Railway depends on the train, itineraries generally take seven days for a one-way journey through the entire route. Winters in Russia are cold, no doubt, but it's also when the Siberian wilderness is at its prettiest and when the warm trains are extra snug and cozy.
6 Nordland Line, Norway
The Nordland Line, where The Arctic Circle Sleeper Train passes through, is by far one of the best ways to soak in the exceptional beauty of Norway's icy wilderness in the far north. While summer trips have 24 hours of sunlight thanks to the midnight sun, winter trips on the Nordland Line pass through over 290 bridges and 150 tunnels to cross to the Arctic Circle, where the Northern Lights dance in the sky. In fact, the Nordland Line is the only rail route to cross over to the Arctic Circle from Norway!
5 West Highland Line, Scotlands
The Scottish Highlands is a mountainous region famous worldwide for its exquisite natural beauty, and one of the best ways to explore it is through the West Highland Line. In fact, this is also the route that goes through the notable Glenfinnan Viaduct -- the iconic bridge where the Hogwarts Express was filmed in the Harry Potter movies. Over winter, the rolling green hills of the highlands are washed with heavy dustings of white snow, making the entire rail route an enchanting journey to experience.
4 The Snow Train, Canadian Rockies
Canada is glorious during winters, but British Columbia and Alberta -- home to the great Canadian Rockies -- are particularly stunning sights of snow-covered natural beauty. The Snow Train, operated by VIA Rail, gives passengers a chance to explore the best of these sights as it wheezes by mountains and frozen lakes to stop for overnight stays at some of the best winter towns in Canada: Jasper, Lake Louise, and Banff. Passengers not only get to see the magical land from the train, but they also get to hop off for excursions like ice walks and dog sledding.
3 Bergin Line, Norway
The Bergin Line, which shuttles between Oslo and Bergen, is widely regarded as one of the most beautiful train journeys in the world. Not only is the route one of the oldest in Europe, but the line also covers some of the world's highest stretches of railway tracks as it goes through the largest mountain plateau on the continent: the Hardangervidda plateau. The 496-kilometer route between the two cities offers the best of the Scandinavian landscape as tracks pass through narrow fjords, mountain ridges, and national parks with wild reindeer, deep valleys, and waterfalls.
2 Tadami Line, Japan
Few have heard of the Tadami Line despite its beauty, mainly because the railway route connecting Fukushima to Niigata was shut for over a decade since heavy rainfall caused damages in 2011. Thanks to its stellar reputation and local pressure, the line reopened in October 2022. There are several fascinating sights along the route during winter when snow covers Japan and gives it a pinkish-purple hue. Narrow bridges pass over rivers surrounded by snow-covered pine trees, and the line goes through several mountain valleys with about 36 stops in between for passengers to hop on and off.
1 Aurora Winter Train, Alaska
The Northern Lights are a spectacular sight that thousands over the world flock to see each year. While most go on treks, find campsites, or book remote glass igloo resorts to see the dazzling lights, few consider booking a trip onto Alaska's Aurora Winter Train. Rolling through the same 12-hour route that the Denali Star Train takes in the summer, the Aurora Winter Train only runs from September through May. Passengers can admire the famous snowy landscape of Alaska's backcountry from plush seats and large windows of the warm train, spot moose running in the wild, and if lucky, see the aurora borealis dancing in the night sky.