4 hidden-gem train routes most travelers miss

World-renowned train rides like the Glacier Express and Bernina Express have earned their reputations for out-of-this-world scenery—they really are spectacular! But they’re far from the only scenic rail routes that’ll sweep you off your feet. Look a little beyond these usual suspects, and you’ll find underrated train routes that offer just as much unforgettable scenery, plus distinctive engineering, rich history, and memorable onboard experiences.

That’s what makes the four routes and rides we’re highlighting in this article worth a closer look. They’re the less-marketed ones that our experts obsess over. Same world-class views out the window, minus the crowds that often accompany the hype.

This scenic rail journey is a major highlight of our Alps by Train: Germany, Austria, Switzerland & Italy tour. You’ll cruise across Lake Lucerne aboard a restored Belle Epoque paddle steamer, enjoying views of Rigi and Pilatus and a toasty two-course lunch along the way, before transferring to the Gotthard Panorama Express. As the train winds toward Lugano, you’ll pass the Baroque Wassen Church, the Castles of Bellinzona, and the original Gotthard Tunnel. It’s a full day of Swiss scenery and history, and a little old-world glamour—all before dinner in Lugano.

Note: On this tour, the paddle steamer and Gotthard Panorama Express operate from early May to mid-October. Outside that period, a high-speed train through the Gotthard Base Tunnel replaces the boat-and-train journey.

On our Swiss & French Alps by Train: Lucerne to Chamonix tour, you’ll board the GoldenPass Express in Interlaken and settle in for a few hours of seriously scenic rail travel. Watch the Bernese Oberland roll by through panoramic windows as the train winds past villages, valleys, and towering Alpine peaks. Then, just when you think the views can’t get better, the route descends toward Lake Geneva and the elegant lakeside town of Montreux. Once you arrive, step off the train and join your Tour Director for a leisurely waterfront walk, where palm-lined promenades, Belle Epoque hotels, and stop-you-in-your-tracks views of the French Alps await.

On our A Week in Switzerland by Train: St. Moritz, Zermatt & Interlaken tour, you’ll spend the morning exploring Chur, Switzerland’s oldest city, before boarding a regional train on the Albula line from Chur to St. Moritz. As you wind through the Alps, you’ll see some of Switzerland’s most impressive railway engineering—and some seriously spectacular scenery. Arriving in St. Moritz at nearly 6,000 feet, you’ll have a crisp Alpine backdrop for an evening in one of Switzerland’s most glamorous mountain towns.

Psst! Looking to see even more? Discover the best places to visit in Switzerland on one trip.

On our Pacific Northwest by Train: Portland, Seattle & Vancouver tour, you’ll ride the Amtrak Cascades twice, first from Portland to Seattle and later from Seattle across the Canadian border to Vancouver. Between train rides, the itinerary gives you plenty of time to explore the cities and landscapes—from Portland’s International Rose Test Garden and Seattle’s Pike Place Market to a full day among the old-growth forests and wildflower meadows of Mount Rainier National Park. Then, as you roll into Vancouver, you’ll head straight into historic and atmospheric Gastown to get the lay of the land with your Tour Director.