Avoiding Crowds: Europe’s Least Busy Scenic Routes

For travelers seeking serenity amid Europe’s iconic landscapes, the continent holds hidden corridors where tranquility reigns.

Far from the bustling crowds of Paris, Rome, or Barcelona, these lesser-known rail routes wind through untouched valleys, coastal cliffs, and villages frozen in time.

Here’s your guide to Europe’s quietest scenic journeys—where the rhythm of the rails matches the pace of local life.

1. Slovenia’s Bohinj Railway: The Alpine Secret

Nestled in the Julian Alps, Slovenia’s Bohinj Railway offers a peaceful alternative to the tourist-heavy Lake Bled.

This 96-kilometer route begins in Jesenice Station (Kolodvorska cesta 1, 4270 Jesenice) and curves through Triglav National Park, ending at Nova Gorica Station (Kolodvorska ulica 1, 5000 Nova Gorica).

The two-hour journey crosses 28 tunnels and bridges the emerald Soča River, where kayakers glide beneath limestone gorges. Stop at Most na Soči, a village where trails lead to the 13th-century Kanal Castle.

The railway’s vintage carriages, often filled with locals commuting to market, provide an authentic slice of Slovenian life.

Visit in September for golden larch forests and farmhouse lunches of žlikrofi (potato dumplings).

2. Germany’s Harz Narrow Gauge Railway: Steam Through Fairy Tales

The Harzer Schmalspurbahnen network in Germany’s Harz Mountains feels like a journey into a Brothers Grimm story.

Board the steam-powered Brockenbahn at Wernigerode Station (Bahnhofsplatz 1, 38855 Wernigerode), chugging 34 kilometers to Brocken Station (Brockenstraße 15, 38879 Schierke).

The 1h40m climb to the summit of Brocken—a peak shrouded in witch legends—passes misty forests and half-timbered villages.

Hike the Hexenstieg Trail, where autumn foliage transforms the path into a carpet of crimson.

Stay at Hotel Gothisches Haus, a Gothic Revival hotel in Wernigerode, and dine on wild boar stew at a timbered tavern.

3. Spain’s Basque Y Network: Coastal Cliffs & Surf Havens

The Euskotren in Spain’s Basque Country is a coastal gem overlooked by international tourists.

Begin at Bilbao-Atxuri Station (Atxuri Kalea, 48006 Bilbao) and ride 53 kilometers to Bermeo Station (Gernikako Arbola Etorbidea, 48370 Bermeo).

The 1h15m route traces the Bay of Biscay, passing cliffs where surfers ride Atlantic swells. Disembark at Mundaka, a village with a tidal island sanctuary for migratory birds.

At low tide, cross the sandbar to Gaztelugatxe, a hermitage featured in Game of Thrones. Pair fresh marmitako (tuna stew) with Txakoli wine at Bermeo’s dockside eateries.

4. Romania’s Mocănița Steam Train: A Time Capsule in Maramureș

In Romania’s Carpathian Mountains, the Mocănița Huțulca is a WWII-era steam train that chugs through valleys unchanged for centuries.

Depart from Vișeu de Sus Station (Strada Gării 1, 435700 Vișeu de Sus) for a 21-kilometer, two-hour ride to Paltin Station (Comuna Paltin, 437191).

Farmers haul wool and cheese in open carriages, while the train skirts meadows dotted with haystacks. At Paltin, hike to the Blue Lake, a turquoise quarry hidden in fir forests.

Book the “Shepherd’s Lunch” add-on for smoked pork and palinka (plum brandy) served in a wildflower field.

5. Norway’s Nordland Line: Arctic Solitude

Europe’s longest rail route north of the Arctic Circle, the Nordland Line, stretches 729 kilometers from Trondheim S Station (Havnegata 1, 7010 Trondheim) to Bodø Station (Stationsgata 1, 8006 Bodø).

The 10-hour journey crosses 293 bridges and tunnels, with October’s Northern Lights shimmering over snow-draped fjords.

Break the trip at Mo i Rana, where husky sledding and ice caving in the Arctic Circle Cave await.

Opt for a komfort class seat (€20 extra) for reclining chairs and endless coffee as reindeer herds drift past your window.

6. Montenegro’s Belgrade-Bar Railway: Cliffs & Monasteries

Montenegro’s Belgrade-Bar Railway carves through the Balkans’ most dramatic landscapes.

The 83-kilometer segment from Kolašin Station (Trg Borca 1, 81210 Kolašin) to Podgorica Station (Trg Golootočkih žrtava 1, 81000 Podgorica) takes 2.5 hours, crossing the Mala Rijeka Viaduct—Europe’s highest rail bridge at 198 meters.

Stop at Morača Monastery, a 13th-century Serbian Orthodox site where frescoes of medieval knights adorn stone walls.

April brings wildflowers to the Tara River Canyon, while autumn paints the Durmitor National Park in amber.

7. Italy’s Centovalli Railway: Vineyards & Waterfalls

Linking Italy’s Piedmont to Switzerland’s Valais, the Centovalli Railway is a 52-kilometer escape from Milan’s hustle.

Depart Domodossola Station (Piazza Matteotti, 28845 Domodossola) and glide past terraced vineyards to Locarno Station (Piazza Stazione 1, 6600 Locarno).

The two-hour ride includes 83 bridges and stops like Santa Maria Maggiore, home to the quirky Museum of Chimney Sweeps.

Dine on riso e capretto (goat risotto) at a family-run agriturismo, then hike to waterfalls hidden in chestnut forests.

8. Sweden’s Kustpilen: The Empty Coastline

Sweden’s Kustpilen (Coastal Line) runs 150 kilometers from Gothenburg Central Station (Drottningtorget 1, 411 03 Göteborg) to Strömstad Station (Järnvägsgatan 33, 452 30 Strömstad).

The 2h30m journey skirts rocky inlets and fishing villages like Marstrand, where sailboats bob in car-free harbors.

In September, forage for lingonberries in coastal heaths or cycle the Bohusleden Trail.

Stay at Hotel Hav & Himmel (Marstrandsvägen 1, 442 66 Marstrand), a seaside inn serving cinnamon-laced kanelbulle (cinnamon buns).

9. Greece’s Diakofto-Kalavryta Railway: Gorges & Ghost Stories

The Odontotos Railway in Greece’s Peloponnese is a 22-kilometer rack-and-pinion line from Diakofto Station (Diakopto 250 03) to Kalavryta Station (Kalavryta 250 01).

The one-hour ride through the Vouraikos Gorge squeezes between limestone walls dubbed “the Gates.” At Zachlorou, hike to Mega Spileo Monastery, clinging to a cliff since the 4th century.

Autumn brings chestnut harvests; join locals roasting nuts over open fires in Kalavryta’s square.

10. France’s Cévennes Railway: The Forgotten South

The Cévennes Railway winds 30 kilometers from Alès Station (Place Pierre Sémard, 30100 Alès) to Saint-Jean-du-Gard Station (Place de la Gare, 30270 Saint-Jean-du-Gard).

This 1h10m route through Cévennes National Park passes viaducts and chestnut forests where wild boar roam.

Disembark at Anduze to canoe the Gardon River or tour bamboo groves at La Bambouseraie. Stay at Hôtel L’Herbe Rouge (7 Rue des Calquières, 30140 Anduze), a former silk factory serving lavender-infused honey.

Why These Routes?

These railways thrive in the off-season. Visit May-June or September-October for mild weather and empty trails.

Use Eurail Passes for cross-border trips or regional passes like Germany’s Länder-Ticket (€25–48/day for groups). Pack light: many stations lack elevators.

Final Thoughts

Europe’s quiet corners reward those who wander beyond the obvious.

Whether sipping plum brandy in Romania or chasing Northern Lights in Norway, these routes promise solitude, authenticity, and the gentle cadence of life off the beaten track.