The best train routes to take in Europe this winter
Rachel Schnalzer and Hugo van Vondelen
20 November 2024
On a winter morning a few years ago, I sat in the dining car of a train, watching snow fall gently outside as I travelled from Bern to Interlaken. As I sipped my hot chocolate and the train glided past the deep blue waters of Lake Thun and into the jagged mountains, it hit me: winter is perhaps my favourite time to travel Europe by train.
As the cold sets in once again, I spoke with Hugo van Vondelen, Product Specialist at Eurail, to discover some of Europe’s best winter train routes. These routes, ranging from a nearly 24-hour journey across Turkey to a one-hour jaunt through the forests of Slovakia, can easily be incorporated into a longer Interrail journey.
Simply choose the best Pass for your adventure, buy any required seat reservations and pack some extra layers. The splendor of winter is waiting for you.
From big city Scandinavia to ski resorts
The Alps aren’t the only ski destination worth visiting in Europe this winter. Experience Sweden's rugged beauty with a train journey to the Scandinavian mountains, near the country’s border with Norway. And there’s more: in addition to its status as a premiere winter sports destination, this region of Sweden may also give you a front-row seat to the northern lights.
Direct night trains run by Snälltåget whisk travellers from Malmö and Stockholm to the slopes of Åre, Duved, and Storlien. You will fall asleep as the lights of Stockholm flicker outside your train window and awake in a snowy wonderland.
Note: To board the night train, you’ll need to make a reservation in advance.
Find larger-than-life adventure in the Giant Mountains
The winter sport fun continues in the Giant Mountains, a snow-capped range that runs from Poland into the Czech Republic.
To reach the ski slopes of the Giant Mountains, simply board a night train from Warsaw to Jelenia Gora, a convenient jumping off point for accessing destinations such as Karpacz and Szklarska Poręba. In addition to downhill skiing and snowboarding, travellers who wish to take it slow may chose to explore Karkonosze National Park’s trail system by snowshoe.
Note: To board the night train, you’ll need to make a reservation in advance.
A journey through the heart of Wales
Witness the beauty of Wales from your train seat on this journey from north to south. Begin in Shrewsbury, a town in western England, and take a direct train (run by Arriva Trains Wales Service) to Swansea.
On this 3-hour journey, you’ll be treated to views of the English and Welsh countryside, passing through picturesque Herefordshire, Cardiff (the largest city in Wales), and scenic towns, such as Pyle, Port Talbot and Neath, that hug the Swansea Bay.
If you travel to Swansea in December, you’ll experience the city’s festive Christmas Market and Waterfront Wonderland, while those travelling to Swansea in February have the chance to catch the region’s annual Dark Skies Week and marvel at the stars that illuminate the countryside.
Experience the Dogu Express
The Dogu Express, linking Ankara to Kars on a 1,300-kilometre journey, is immensely popular in summer — but the night train is perhaps even more enjoyable in winter. It begins in Turkey’s capital city and later cuts through the gorges of the ancient Euphrates River, which nourished some of the earliest civilizations on earth.
We recommend stopping in Erzurum, a city in eastern Anatolia known for its nearby ski areas, preserved historical sites and enchanting natural landscapes, such the Fairy Chimneys of Narman.
Note: To board the night train, you’ll need to make a reservation in advance.
An alternative route to Switzerland
Travelling from France to Switzerland this winter? Try taking an alternative route on a local train through the Jura Mountains.
Board the train in Belfort, a small city in northeastern France home to a mighty citadel and picturesque old town. From Belfort, you’ll take an 8-minute train ride to Meroux and switch to a regional train to Delémont, another charming town over the border in Switzerland.
The Carpathian mountains by train
The Carpathian Mountains, known for its lush forests teeming with wildlife, stretch across a wide swath of Europe, from the Czech Republic into Romania. A journey on Romania’s northernmost train route may be one of the best ways to experience the mountain chain.
Board your train in Cluj Napoca and sit back as you watch the region’s valleys and mountain passes rush by your train window. About seven hours later, you’ll reach Suceava, an ideal jumping-off point for visiting the UNESCO-recognised Painted Monasteries of Bucovina.
Note: Seat reservations are required for this journey.
A historical gem in the Pyrenees
For decades, the exquisite Canfranc rail station stood sentry as trains whisked passengers from Spain into France and back again. A train derailment in 1970 resulted in the cross-border line’s closure, but travellers can still experience this stately landmark, which today operates as a hotel.
To reach Canfranc Estación, board a train in Huesca and enjoy the ultra-scenic journey through the Pyrenees. Once you arrive, treat yourself to a stay at the hotel – it's a luxe place to relax during the winter, as snow falls in the mountains above.
Travel by train to the center of a caldera
It's not every day you get the chance to take a train into the crater of an old volcano. But that’s what you’ll experience when you travel to Banská Štiavnica, an ancient town nestled in a large caldera in central Slovakia.
Begin in Zvolen, a city just under 1 hour away from Banská Stiavnica. Soak in sights of the snow-covered mountains and forest as you make your way to the UNESCO-recognised community.
Cross an ancient trading route in the Alps
The Lötschenpass is an ancient trading route in use since the Roman Empire controlled vast areas of Switzerland.
Today, you can experience this jaw-droppingly scenic route by train on a journey from Brig to Spiez, via Kandersteg. The journey from southern Switzerland to the shores of Lake Thun takes just a little over an hour. The impressive views continue you reach Spiez, where travellers can take a BLS Interlaken Lake Cruise, free for anyone with an Interrail Pass.
From Spiez, travellers can access several breathtakingly beautiful ski regions; I recommend the Jungfrau Valley, under one hour away by train.
Note: To take advantage of the BLS Interlaken Lake Cruise offer, you must have a travel day in progress on your Interrail Pass; I suggest a morning train ride from Brig to Spiez, followed by an afternoon sail on Lake Thun.
See fjords and mountain peaks in Norway
The train ride from Oslo to Bergen is well-known for its beauty. But travellers wishing to veer off the beaten path should cast their gaze to north, to the train line connecting Dombås and Åndalsnes.
The 1.5-hour-long journey takes travellers from the lush and lovely Gudbrandsdalen Valley through snow-covered mountaintops, all the way to a mountaineering town on the shores of a fjord. Travellers may opt to ski or snowshoe with a view of the jaw-dropping fjord – or simply take it slow and soak in views of the surrounding nature, sharpened by the light of the winter sun.
Note: Seat reservations are required for this journey.
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