The world’s best train journeys for 2025

Editor's pick

With new routes, tours and destinations, there has never been a better time to book a trip on the tracks

Tristan Rutherford

Forget India, Sri Lanka is the ultimate destination for rail lovers

island tracks
The ultimate 10-day Japanese rail holiday

bullet train zen
I was on board European Sleeper’s first train to Venice. It didn’t even reach Italy

Overnight revival
The European rail passes that put Britain to shame

Train envy
The luxury winter train that whisked wealthy 1920s New Yorkers to Florida

golden age of rail

The best countries for rail travel

Europe’s greatest country for rail lovers? There’s no contest

Switzerland

The 10 best train journeys in Germany – where unlimited travel costs just £1.40 a day

Germany

Inspiration

More on rail holidays

On board Europe’s most luxurious new train, with tickets from £2,600

Anthony Lambert 15 Apr 2025, 5:00pm
A slow train journey in search of France’s greatest small town

Anthony Peregrine 13 Apr 2025, 6:00am
An epic rail journey is the perfect way to experience Canada’s autumn glory

Anna Selby 12 Apr 2025, 2:00pm
The relaunched Paris to Milan train is a game-changer for travel. I was on the first service

Damien Gabet 10 Apr 2025, 12:39pm
A new rail journey is helping to heal the wounds of Sri Lanka’s civil war

Adrian Bridge 5 Apr 2025, 9:00am
New Zealand’s greatest rail journey deserves a spot on your bucket list

Anna Selby 28 Mar 2025, 2:14pm
Five glorious ways to explore Italy by train

Tim Jepson 16 Mar 2025, 4:00pm
The new cross-Channel rail routes – and the chances of them actually happening

Greg Dickinson 26 Feb 2025, 6:00am
The ultimate guide to exploring Turkey by train

Terry Richardson 12 Feb 2025, 4:00pm
Philip Larkin really should have burnt everything

Jane Shilling 9 Feb 2025, 1:34pm
Forget India, Sri Lanka is the ultimate destination for rail lovers

Sophie Dickinson 29 Jan 2025, 5:00pm
The ultimate 10-day Japanese rail holiday

Alice Peacock 15 Jan 2025, 12:23pm

Rail journeys

The Telegraph’s rail travel guide features expert advice on planning a journey by train in destinations including Britain, Europe and North America, plus tips on interrailing and saving money. Our holiday guides and inspiring features will help you have the perfect trip.