Trains have been around for centuries and are still a quick and easy way to get from A to B; locomotives come in many forms, freight, passenger, express and luxury. Take Europe as an example, there is a network of railways that run through the continent and luxury trains cover all regions and there is no better way to see a country than a train.
Here are a few of the most popular train tours in Europe.
Austria
This small landlocked country in the southern regions of Central Europe has much to offer in terms of scenic mountain passes mixed with lush green forests. The luxury train leaves Vienna and heads for Semmering Pass, which has been used for centuries and offers breath-taking views of the Alps. The next stop is Salzburg, a city steeped in history; you would spend a couple of days touring (with an English-speaking guide) and there is much to see. Lake Achen, with drinkable, clear water, is an alpine lake and being at altitude, the water temperature remains low. This is a perfect place for watersports and there are hikes all around the shores of the lake; there are even a couple of well-maintained golf courses if you fancy playing a round at altitude.
Venice To Istanbul
Board the Golden Eagle Danube Express in Venice and enjoy the spectacular views as the train meanders, stopping at Trieste. Then it is onwards to Lake Bled, one of the most beautiful alpine lakes which lead to Ljubljana, the vibrant capital city of Slovenia; board a river cruise with an English-speaking guide who relays the long history of this part of Europe. Follow the River Sava to Zagreb, the capital of Croatia.
The next frontier is Bosnia Herzegovina and the main city of Sarajevo, a place of blended cultures between the East and West. The luxury train arrives in Belgrade, where the rivers Danube and Sava meet; spend a day touring the Serbian capital, which has some impressive architecture. The night is spent on the train and when you wake up, you are in northern Macedonia and Greece; Skopje has Ottoman influence and you can explore the narrow streets and take in the ambience.
The next stop is the northern Greek town of Thessaloniki, where you spend an enchanting evening. Back on the train, you head for Turkey, passing through Bulgaria, with stops at Sofia and Plovdiv. The following day, you arrive in Istanbul, where you spend 2 days exploring this unique metropolis. This 11-night journey can be booked with an online luxury European train tours operator. Book early, as this is one of the favourites for UK tourists.
Budapest Loop
Board the Golden Danube Express in Budapest and head towards Vienna, stopping off at Keszthely and Graz. This 8-night adventure includes two days exploring Vienna, then Prague awaits, where you can marvel at the stunning architecture and see one of the shows and sample the local cuisine. After visiting Kosice, the luxury train returns to Budapest to end an amazing tour of this part of Europe.
Grand Alpine Express
Perfect for the mountain-lover, this tour starts at Budapest and stops at Vienna, Lake Achen, Innsbruck, Zurich, and Lake Como and arrives in Milan the following morning. Enjoy 10 nights of pure luxury aboard a train that was built for royalty, visiting Verona, Trieste, Lake Bled and Ljubljana before arriving in Venice.
If you would like to learn more about luxury train tours in Europe. Google is your best friend and can take you to the website of a leading UK luxury train tour operator, where you can download PDF files on each tour to give you a detailed account of the package.