20 World’s best train rides (< 1 day)

Steeped in the glamour of rail travel’s golden age, the vintage British Pullman train harks back to the roaring 1920s, with wood-panelled lounge cars, retro upholstery and liveried waiters serving Champagne and canapés. Steaming out of London, it operates a variety of themed tours, visiting bucket list British cities and attractions.

Reaching speeds of up to 320 km/h, Japan’s iconic bullet train revolutionised high-speed train travel when it first launched in 1964, only eclipsed in 2002 by new maglev trains. For locals, it’s a fast, convenient and safe means to travel between Japan’s major cities, including Kyoto and Tokyo. For everyone else, it’s a must-do.

It’s old, bumpy and slow, but the Circumetnea – built in 1867 – is still one of the great train rides of Europe. The antique narrow-gauge trains are charming and the scenery is spectacular as the train circles the volcanic slopes of Mount Etna.

This scenic narrow-gauge railway traverses the dramatic river gorges and chestnut forests of Corsica’s beautiful interior, via 32 tunnels, 51 bridges and Gustave Eiffel’s spectacular viaduct. The line links Bastia on the east coast with the west coast town of Ajaccio, birthplace of Napoleon, whose one-time home is open to visitors.

Built during the Japanese occupation of Thailand in World War II, and made famous by the eponymous 1957 movie Bridge on the River Kwai – the Burma-Siam train track saw more than 100.000 prisoners of war and civilian laborers lose their lives due to hunger and exhaustion, making it one of the deadliest construction projects in modern history (hence the name). From Bangkok.

A low-key luxury train offering a wonderful 22-hour overnight scenic journey between Windhoek and Swakopmund. Soak up panoramic views of Namibia‘s vast bushveld, wide open farmlands and golden coastal dunes near the coast – and take a safari en route.

This vintage narrow-gauge train, world-famous for its engineering, was originally constructed in 1836 to transport slate from the mountain mines to the port. Snaking past lakes, waterfalls and forests in the Snowdonia National Park, it climbs 700 feet into the mountains on its 13.5-mile journey.

Ascending 867m from the edge of a Norwegian fjord, the 1:18 gradient of this cog railway is one of the steepest train ascents in the world. The 50-minute journey from Flam to the mountain-top village of Myrdal meanders through two dozen twisting tunnels and switchbacks on its spectacular journey.

Europe’s most popular tourist train passes through an astonishing variety of landscapes: snow-covered peaks that dwarf the train, desolate moors above Andermatt, the limestone cliffs of the Rhine gorge, and the breathtaking climb to the Albula Pass.

A spectacular journey by cog railway from the ski resort of Zermatt to Gornergrat, site of a former observatory at an altitude of 3,089m. Opened in 1898, this is one of the highest cog railways in the world with fabulous views of the iconic Matterhorn peak and the Gorner Glacier.

This luxurious narrow-gauge train navigates the Peruvian rainforest to the foot of the spectacular Machu Picchu ruins. Managed by Orient-Express, the train is the epitome of luxury: learn how to make pisco sours in the lounge car to the strain of live Peruvian music before arriving at the Inca mountain citadel.

One of the world’s most spectacular rail journeys – an 84-mile round trip from Fort William to the little fishing village of Mallaig along the west coast of Scotland. Spectacular Scottish Highlands scenery all the way.

One of the great hill railways of India, this narrow-gauge line climbs 1,219m on its 96km journey to Shimla, which served as the summer capital of the British Raj. The twisting journey offers incredible views of the Himalayan foothills. As Shimla nears, the scent of pines fills the air.

The Lake Maggiore Express is a great way to drink in the beautiful scenery of the lake and surrounding Alpine valleys. The route hugs the western shore of the lake before meeting the scenic narrow-gauge line to Locarno in Switzerland. Catch the steamer back down the lake for the return journey.

First opened in 1875, this seven-mile line from Ravenglass to Dalegarth takes in some of the most dramatic and picturesque countryside in the Lake District. Four locomotives – one of which is the oldest in the world – chug along the route up to the high point at Miterdale, for spectacular views of the Scafell range.

Crossing Victoria Falls’ famous bridge, this historic steam train runs through the Zambian bush, enabling passengers to relive the glamour of colonial train travel. Along the way, the locomotive chuffs through the game-rich Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park and across the Sinde River, while a five-course dinner is served.

Portugal’s only current tourist train uses 19th-century historic vehicles of exceptional quality to transport passengers through the Douro Valley Cultural Landscape – a World Heritage Site – for a gastronomic lunch and port and wine tasting at a family-owned private estate.

Get above the French Riviera on the picturesque, human-scale, and wonderfully scenic Train des Pignes, which ascends 1,000m above Nice on its way to the lavender-growing town of Digne-les-Bains (151km away). It’s a spectacular route and a great day out: kids love it too.

A superb 5-hour (one-way) coast-to-coast train journey that takes you through New Zealand’s ‘Great Divide’, the spine of mountains running down the centre of the South Island. Glass-sided carriages showcase spectacular views of gorges and rainforests, lush plains and mountain passes.

The line from Glasgow to Fort William and on to Mallaig is rightly regarded as one of the world’s great railway journeys. From the moment the train leaves Glasgow, it is a scenic delight, taking in some of the Scottish Highlands‘ best scenery including Loch Lomond, Ben Nevis and the Glenfinnan Viaduct.