While traveling by air is often faster than by train, these days flying is rife with delays, understaffed airports and airlines, and holiday-hijacking cancellations. Following nearly three years of Covid restrictions, travel is enjoying a robust comeback, but things don’t look exactly as they did before — and not just in the security lines. Some travelers are reverting to rail: Over a 90-day period between August and November 2022, Google searches for “scenic train routes” increased by 747%, according to a study by Motorcycle Insurance.
As a starting point for the study, the team consulted Eurail, travel magazine Wanderlust, and Lonely Planet rankings of routes. Then, they assessed the popularity and beauty of each route on their initial list, basing their conclusions on a combination of Instagram hashtag data, number of TikTok views and global average monthly search volume. Each route was then assigned a “scenic train route score.” The final tabulation found Italy at the head of the index, boasting an impressive — if unsurprising — five out of the 10 best railway routes operating within its borders.
Here are the routes that made the cut.
Le Cinque Terre
Taking the top spot with a score of 10/10 for beauty and popularity, the La Spezia-Cinque Terre-Levanto line cuts through all of the “five lands” — Monterosso-Vernazza-Corniglia-Manarola-Riomaggiore — and terminates at Levanto.
Bernina Express
Tied for second with the Glacier Express (see below), the Bernina Express garnered a “scenic train route score” of 9.4 out of 10, having been posted on Instagram 77,067 times. The Bernina connects Chur and Poschiavo in Switzerland, crossing the spectacular Engadin Alps and ending in Tirano, Italy.
Glacier Express
The Glacier Express emerged as the second most Googled train journey thanks to a ride that chugs past the snow-capped Alps, across 291 bridges and alongside numerous glistening lakes. It’s no wonder it touts the most TikTok views in this group of over-the-top itineraries.
Trenino Verde
With an overall score of 8.0 out of 10, this route travels across the island of Sardinia, connecting the region’s interior with its rugged coastline. A favorite on TikTok, where it’s garnered an impressive 406,400 views, the “green train” is a historic gateway that has been in operation for more than 130 years.
Venice Simplon Orient Express
Squeaking in at the tenth position, the legendary Venice Simplon Orient Express offers top-tier travel elegance. Hop aboard in London, Paris, Amsterdam, Brussels or Geneva and end in the canaled city of Venice. TikTokers have shared images of the journey 170,500 times.
