Europe's Most Glamorous Train Journeys This Summer

Belmond announced May 12, 2026, details on their Royal Scotsman journeys, highlighting the enduring allure of European luxury train travel. While the destinations themselves are compelling, the true indulgence lies in the journey, with upscale amenities and breathtaking scenery outside every window. From the verdant Alps to the rugged Scottish Highlands, these experiences redefine elegant exploration.

The Glacier Express, an eight-hour traverse through the Swiss Alps, epitomizes this grand escape. Connecting Zermatt to St. Moritz, it navigates two UNESCO World Heritage sites and nearly 300 bridges. Summer transforms the landscape into a tapestry of wildflowers across dramatic valleys and green meadows, a vista especially striking through the Rhine Gorge, often dubbed the Swiss Grand Canyon. Sheer white cliffs descend to an aquamarine river, a view best enjoyed from the Glacier Express's Excellence Class, which offers panoramic windows and Champagne service, as Condé Nast Traveler reports.

For those drawn to the romanticism of Scotland, Belmond's Royal Scotsman offers the Western Scenic Wonders journey. This three-night Edinburgh roundtrip carves through windswept landscapes, past cascading waterfalls, towering mountains, and tranquil lochs. Guests witness the iconic Glenfinnan Viaduct and explore sites like Fort William and the Isle of Bute. Condé Nast Traveler notes that morning full Scottish breakfasts precede daily excursions, while evenings feature three-course dinners and traditional ceilidhs in the observation car. Departures for June and August 2026 are still available, though selling quickly.

Our take: These curated rail voyages represent a pinnacle of luxury travel. They're not merely transportation; they are moving hotels, offering an intimate connection with the landscape that conventional travel cannot replicate. The emphasis on gourmet dining, attentive service, and immersive cultural experiences elevates them beyond mere sightseeing into genuine journeys of discovery.