Few ways of seeing the world match the romance of a luxury train. Aboard the finest railway journeys, the landscape unfolds slowly past your window while attentive stewards, fine dining, and beautifully restored carriages make the miles a pleasure rather than a means to an end. At Luxury Train Vacations, we specialize in booking these journeys for American travelers, from the vineyards of Andalusia to the plains of Rajasthan. This guide introduces the world’s most iconic luxury trains, grouped by region, to help you find the one that suits you best. Browse them all on our all-trains page, or read on.
Spain: Belle Epoque elegance across the north and south
Spain offers three of the most rewarding rail journeys in Europe, each with its own character. The Al Andalus travels seven days between Seville and Madrid (in either direction), threading through Andalusia, Extremadura, and Castile-La Mancha with stops in Cordoba, Cadiz, Jerez, Caceres, Merida, Toledo, and Aranjuez. Its restored 1929 Belle Epoque carriages are among the most elegant on any railway. Fares start from EUR 7,552 per person, double occupancy.
In the lush north, the El Transcantabrico Gran Lujo runs eight days from San Sebastian to Santiago de Compostela across “Green Spain,” calling at Bilbao and the Guggenheim, Santander, the Picos de Europa, Oviedo, Gijon, and Ribadeo. With a maximum of 28 guests and fares from EUR 11,328 per person, it is the most intimate and inclusive of the trio. The Costa Verde Express covers similar coastal terrain over six days from Bilbao to Santiago, with stops at Santander, Santillana del Mar, Covadonga, Oviedo, and Ribadeo, from EUR 5,821 per person, making it the most accessible way to sample luxury rail in Spain. Explore all three on our Spain hub.
Scotland and the UK: Highlands, castles, and vintage day journeys
The Belmond Royal Scotsman departs round-trip from Edinburgh on journeys of two to seven nights through the Scottish Highlands, with visits to castles and distilleries and a maximum of 40 guests. Fares start from GBP 8,696 per person. For a shorter indulgence, the Belmond British Pullman offers vintage day journeys from London Victoria through southern England aboard the same storied carriages that inspired its sibling, the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express. Discover more on our Scotland and UK hubs.
France and Italy: Art Deco glamour across the Continent
Perhaps the most storied name in rail, the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express carries guests on Art Deco overnight journeys from Paris and London to Venice, as well as the legendary Paris-to-Istanbul run, with fares from GBP 5,571 per person. In Italy, the Orient Express La Dolce Vita offers design-led journeys of two to three nights, round-trip from Rome, reaching across 14 Italian regions. See our France hub for the classic Continental routes.
Central Europe: castles and the Balkans by rail
The Golden Eagle Danube Express carries just 50 guests on journeys through Central Europe and the Balkans, including itineraries such as the Castles of Transylvania and the Balkan Explorer. It is an ideal choice for travelers drawn to lesser-visited corners of Europe. Learn more on our Central Europe hub.
Peru: the Andes and Machu Picchu
The Belmond Hiram Bingham is a luxurious day train from Cusco to Machu Picchu, winding through the Sacred Valley with fine dining and live music aboard. It is one of the most memorable ways to reach the great Inca citadel. Read more on our Peru hub.
India: the palaces and forts of the north
The multi-award-winning Maharajas’ Express runs journeys of four to seven nights across Rajasthan and North India, taking in the Taj Mahal, Jaipur, Jodhpur, Udaipur, Bikaner, and Varanasi. Its season runs from October to April. For palatial travel through a land of forts and maharajas, few journeys compare. Explore our India hub for details.
Africa: safari by rail
Rovos Rail’s Pride of Africa offers some of the most ambitious journeys in the world, departing from Pretoria and Cape Town on routes that include the Cape Town Journey, Victoria Falls, the Durban Safari, Namibia, the Southern Cross, the African Trilogy, the epic Cape Town-to-Dar es Salaam run, and the Copper Trail. Wood-paneled suites and observation cars make the vast African landscape unforgettable. See our South Africa hub to learn more.
Which journey is right for you?
Whether you are drawn to the vineyards of Spain, the Highlands of Scotland, the Art Deco glamour of the Continent, the temples of Peru, the palaces of India, or the wilds of Africa, there is a luxury train to match. For current departures, rates, and availability across any of these journeys, contact our specialists and we will help you plan every detail.
Ready to begin? Explore our booking page or contact us at (855) 720-2539 or bookings@luxurytrainvacations.com to plan your journey.