If you take the train from Spiez in Switzerland into the Simmental, you are not just travelling through a valley, but through a small chapter of Swiss railway history. First, the line takes you through the green Simmental to Zweisimmen, where you change to a charming narrow-gauge railway. This takes you further every hour past cosy wooden chalets, cows with bells and the babbling Simme, towards the final station Lenk, below the imposing Wildstrubel.

In Switzerland, travelling by public transport is often not a matter of ‘getting from A to B’, but an experience in itself. This is certainly true in the canton of Bern. Although most locals use the train, bus or cable car to get to their destination, in this region it is at least as tempting to just stay put. Because along the way, a succession of unforgettable views, shimmering lakes, steep mountain sides, charming alpine villages and snow-capped peaks that look almost otherworldly unfolds.

From the Swiss Bundesstadt Bern, a train journey of about three hours takes you to the Jungfraujoch, Europe’s highest train station at a whopping 3,454 metres above sea level. Along the way, you’ll pass medieval towns, shimmering mountain lakes, fairytale castles and panoramas that will leave you speechless. No wonder this route is among our absolute favourites. At the top, an eternally white world awaits – even in the middle of summer – overlooking a sea of snow stretching to the horizon.

Brighton wears its moniker “London by the Sea” and “the LGBTQAI+ capital of the UK” with immense pride, and so it should. This loveable, fun and historic seaside city remains famously liberal, creative and progressive. As a walkable destination with a resort-feel, it’s an ideal day trip or weekend escape from London by train.

Bordered by miles of rugged coastline and unspoiled beaches, northwest Wales is a land of wild, poetic beauty. From ancient fortresses and Celtic shrines to mountain trails brimming with tales of legendary kings, the region feels worlds apart from the rest of Britain despite being just a short train ride away. To discover this distinctly Celtic corner of Europe, we hop on board the scenic Cambrian Coast Line which links charming fishing villages along the shores of Cardigan Bay with the breathtaking national parks nearby.

Snow-covered forests, medieval castles, and fairytale myths and legends about witches. The Harz, the northernmost mountain range in Germany, is a paradise for romantics and outdoor enthusiasts. And in winter, the white hills and crisp mountain air draw many visitors to the rugged, barren peak of the Brocken, the highest mountain in northern Germany, complete with its own train station.

The train guard pointed to his watch and said ‘We will arrive in Munich in just over 3-hours”, a relatively short journey from Frankfurt’s grand terminus. Yet, between these two points, I had the chance to hop into Franconia’s wine country, skip between the medieval charms of Nuremberg and jump straight into the cosmopolitan flair and Bavarian traditions of Munich, swapping a crisp glass of white wine with a ‘Die Maß’ litre glass of beer at Oktoberfest, along the way.

From the unexpectedly beautiful beaches along the Gulf of Gdańsk to the towering peaks of the Tatra Mountains, this train journey across Poland offers an impressive variety of both natural and urban beauty. Everywhere you look, traces of Poland’s important—and often tragic—role in European history are also visible.

Often described as Europe’s last wilderness, Sweden’s remote and sparsely populated far north is a land of striking beauty – and in summer it’s easy to visit without a car or plane. The slow trains of the Inlandsbanan, or Inland Line, take you through a landscape of forests, heathland, lakes and rivers. On the way, reindeer and elk cross the tracks. Ahead of you, over a thousand miles of wild nature and endlessness. Welcome to life in the slow lane.

As you stand on the banks of the Rhine and look out over this mighty river, many words come to mind. Enchanting, formidable, majestic. It’s hard to imagine that at its source you can step right over it in a single stride. Intrigued, I recently travelled to Lake Toma, Switzerland, by bike and train to see for myself the Rhine at its humble source.