The Hook: Why We Must Stop Flying Over the Best Parts of the World
I stepped off the red-and-yellow regional train in Tirano, Italy, and my heavy wool coat was instantly redundant. Just four hours earlier, I had been shivering on a windswept platform in St. Moritz, Switzerland, surrounded by towering glaciers and the sharp, clean scent of frozen larch wood. Now, the air smelled of warm espresso, diesel fumes, and blooming jasmine. I had crossed the Alps, descended 5,900 feet, and traversed the spiraling stone arches of the Brusio Viaduct—all with a glass of local Valtellina red wine in hand.
Had I flown from Zurich to Milan, I would have spent those four hours wrestling with liquid restrictions, enduring a cramped middle seat, and staring at a generic gray runway. Instead, I lived a cinematic masterpiece.
Travel has become something we try to get over with as quickly as possible. We squeeze ourselves into metal tubes, fly over spectacular landscapes, and call it efficiency. But some routes demand to be seen up close. Here is the definitive list of train journeys more scenic than flying worth considering for your next great adventure.
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1. The Alpine Odyssey: The Bernina Express (Switzerland to Italy)
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Route: Chur/St. Moritz (Switzerland) to Tirano (Italy)
Distance: 144 km (89 miles)
Duration: 4 hours
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The Route and Why It Beats Flying
Flying from Switzerland to Northern Italy means missing the dramatic transition from the high-alpine winter wonderland of the Engadin Valley to the sun-drenched vineyards of Lombardy. The Bernina Express is a masterclass in civil engineering, climbing to 7,391 feet at Ospizio Bernina without the aid of a cogwheel.
You’ll glide past the massive Morteratsch Glacier, skirt the milky-turquoise waters of Lago Bianco, and negotiate the 360-degree curve of the Brusio Viaduct. It is a UNESCO World Heritage site for a reason: it connects northern and southern Europe through sheer architectural genius.
Insider Pro-Tips
* The Window Trick: Don't book the official, red-branded "Bernina Express" panoramic trains. They require mandatory seat reservations, the windows do not open (which means terrible glare on your photos), and they are packed with tour groups. Instead, take the local regional trains running on the exact same tracks. They are cheaper, require no reservations, and have drop-down windows that let you feel the crisp mountain air and take crystal-clear photos.
* The Best Seat: Sit on the right side when traveling south from St. Moritz to Tirano for the best views of the Lago Bianco and the descent into the valley.
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2. The Fjord-Finder: The Bergen Line & Flåm Railway (Norway)
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Route: Oslo to Bergen (with the Flåm detour)
Distance: 496 km (308 miles)
Duration: 7 hours (Bergen Line) + 1 hour (Flåm Railway)
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The Route and Why It Beats Flying
A flight from Oslo to Bergen takes 50 minutes, but you’ll see nothing but gray clouds and airport terminals. The Bergen Line (Bergensbanen) climbs through the stark, wind-whipped Hardangervidda plateau—Europe’s highest mountain plateau—where wild reindeer roam across an arctic tundra.
The real magic happens when you disembark at Myrdal and board the Flåm Railway (Flåmsbana). This branch line drops 2,800 feet down to the edge of the Aurlandsfjord, clinging to near-vertical cliffs, passing roaring waterfalls, and negotiating 20 tunnels carved entirely by hand.
Insider Pro-Tips
* The Pastry Stop: During the brief transfer at Myrdal, run to the small station cafe and grab a warm kanelbolle (Norwegian cinnamon bun spiced with cardamom). Eat it on the descent to Flåm.
* The Waterfall Warning: The train makes a five-minute photo stop at the roaring Kjosfossen waterfall. Stand near the front of the train to get off first and avoid the wall of selfie sticks. Keep your camera covered; the spray is intense.
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3. The Shogun's Corridor: The Hida Wide View (Japan)
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Route: Nagoya to Takayama
Distance: 166 km (103 miles)
Duration: 2 hours 20 minutes
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The Route and Why It Beats Flying
While most travelers rush to book the Tokaido Shinkansen (bullet train) between Tokyo and Kyoto, the true connoisseur heads north into the Japanese Alps on the Hida Wide View.
This limited express train snakes along the Hida River gorge, passing through dense cedar forests, moss-covered ravines, and traditional mountain villages with thatched-roof houses (gassho-zukuri). The train features oversized windows specifically designed to maximize the view of the rushing, emerald-green river below.
Insider Pro-Tips
* The Bento Strategy: Do not board without buying an ekiben (station bento box) at Nagoya Station. Look for the local Hida Beef Bento—it features tender, soy-marinated beef over seasoned rice, packed in a box shaped like a traditional clay pot.
* The Seat Hack: Book seats in the very first car (Car 1 for Takayama-bound trains) to look through the panoramic driver’s cabin window for an unobstructed view of the tracks slicing through the mountain gorges.
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4. The Emerald Highlands: Kandy to Ella (Sri Lanka)
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Route: Kandy to Ella
Distance: 160 km (100 miles)
Duration: 7 to 8 hours
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The Route and Why It Beats Flying
There are no commercial flights between Kandy and Ella, but even if there were, choosing them would be a travel sin. This colonial-era railway was built by the British to transport tea from the hill country to the ports of Colombo.
Today, it is widely considered the most beautiful train ride in Asia. The train chugs at a leisurely 15 mph through endless manicured green tea plantations, misty pine forests, and over historic stone bridges like the Nine Arch Bridge in Ella.
Insider Pro-Tips
* Ditch First Class: First-class cars have air conditioning and sealed glass windows. To experience the magic, book 2nd or 3rd Class Reserved. Here, the windows and doors remain wide open. You can sit in the open doorway, dangle your legs safely over the edge, and smell the damp earth and blooming tea leaves.
* The Food Vendors: At every station, local vendors board the train selling vadai (spiced, fried lentil patties) and fresh mango slices seasoned with chili and salt. Keep small change (Sri Lankan Rupees) handy in your pocket.
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5. The Great American Frontier: The California Zephyr (USA)
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Route: Chicago to Emeryville (San Francisco)
Distance: 3,924 km (2,438 miles)
Duration: 51 hours (2 nights)
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The Route and Why It Beats Flying
To fly across the United States is to miss the staggering scale of the American landscape. The California Zephyr is the ultimate antidote to domestic flight fatigue.
The train cuts through the heart of the American continent, climbing the sheer granite walls of the Rocky Mountains, tracing the Colorado River through isolated red-rock canyons inaccessible by road, and crossing the salt flats of Utah before traversing the snow-capped Sierra Nevadas.
Insider Pro-Tips
* The Lounge Car Strategy: The Sightseer Lounge car features floor-to-ceiling windows and outward-facing swivel chairs. It is public space, but seats are highly coveted. The best stretch of the entire journey is between Denver and Glenwood Springs. Grab your seat in the lounge at least 30 minutes before leaving Denver.
* The Sleeper Perk: If budget allows, book a Roomette or Bedroom. Not only do you get a private cabin and a bed, but all hot meals in the Dining Car are included in your ticket price. The signature Amtrak flat iron steak is surprisingly excellent.
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6. The Glacial Wilderness: The Rocky Mountaineer (Canada)
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Route: Vancouver to Banff / Lake Louise (First Passage to the West)
Distance: 950 km (590 miles)
Duration: 2 days (with an overnight hotel stay in Kamloops)
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The Route and Why It Beats Flying
A flight from Vancouver to Calgary takes you high above the Canadian Rockies, reducing some of the world's most dramatic peaks to mere bumps on the horizon. The Rocky Mountaineer brings you face-to-face with them.
This luxury tourist train operates only during daylight hours so you don't miss a single sight. You’ll trace the raging waters of the Fraser Canyon, pass the roaring waters of Hell’s Gate, and travel through the legendary Spiral Tunnels—an engineering marvel carved inside mountain peaks to reduce the railway's grade.
Insider Pro-Tips
* GoldLeaf is Worth It: The train offers two service levels: SilverLeaf and GoldLeaf. Spring for GoldLeaf. You’ll sit in a bi-level glass-domed coach with panoramic views upstairs, and dine on gourmet, locally sourced meals (like Alberta beef tenderloin and wild Pacific salmon) in the private dining salon downstairs.
* The Outdoor Platform: GoldLeaf coaches feature an exclusive, open-air outdoor viewing platform. It is the absolute best spot for taking photos of the dramatic mountain passes without any window reflection.
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Quick Facts & Budget Comparison
| Route | Best Time to Visit | Est. Ticket Price (USD) | How to Get There | Why It Beats Flying |
| :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- |
| Bernina Express | January to March (Snow) or September (Autumn colors) | $60 - $120 | Fly to Zurich, take a direct SBB train to Chur. | Avoids airport security; takes you directly from alpine glaciers to Italian palms in 4 hours. |
| Flåm Railway | June to September | $80 (Flåm only) | Fly to Oslo, take the Bergen Line to Myrdal. | Descends 2,800 feet through vertical cliffs and waterfalls that no plane can reach. |
| Hida Wide View | October to November (Fall foliage) | $55 - $75 | Fly to Nagoya (NGO), catch the train directly from Nagoya Station. | Winds through deep river gorges and traditional mountain villages hidden from flight paths. |
| Kandy to Ella | January to April | $10 - $25 (Reserved) | Fly to Colombo (CMB), take a train or taxi to Kandy. | Open-door access to mountain breezes, fresh local street food, and endless tea estates. |
| California Zephyr | May or October | $150 (Coach) / $700+ (Sleeper) | Board at Chicago Union Station or Emeryville (SF). | Traverses the Colorado River canyons and Sierra Nevadas far from any highway or flight path. |
| Rocky Mountaineer | June to September | $1,500 - $2,200 (All-inclusive) | Fly to Vancouver (YVR) to begin the journey. | Daylight-only travel through the Rockies with glass-domed cars and five-star regional dining. |
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The Verdict: Slow Down and See the World
The next time you plan a trip, don't automatically search for flights. Consider the transition. Consider the shifting geology outside your window, the local communities you pass through, and the sheer joy of watching the world unfold at ground level.
Whether it is the engineering marvel of the Swiss Alps or the misty tea plantations of Sri Lanka, these train journeys prove that the longest way round is often the only way worth traveling.
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