A delicious assortment of cheese and nuts on a rustic wooden board, perfect for appetizers.

Culinary Rails: Europe’s Secret Foodie Trains Serving Michelin Stars & Local Flavors

February 25, 2025 Francesca 8 min read

For food lovers, Europe’s trains aren’t just a way to travel—they’re rolling gourmet adventures.

Beyond the usual dining cars, hidden routes connect lesser-known regions where chefs, farmers, and artisans craft unforgettable edible experiences.

This 7-day itinerary explores Europe’s most delicious trains, pairing scenic rides with hands-on cooking classes, truffle hunts, and meals prepared by Michelin-starred chefs—all while avoiding tourist crowds.

From Swiss chocolate factories accessible only by vintage rail to Italian pasta towns where nonnas teach their secrets, let’s embark on a journey where the destination is always delicious.

Day 1–2: Switzerland – The Chocolate Train & Gruyères Cheese

Macro shot of rich dark chocolate bars sprinkled with cocoa powder, highlighting texture and indulgence.

Destination 1: Maison Cailler Chocolate Factory (Broc, Switzerland)

Start Point: Montreux Railway Station, Av. des Alpes 10, 1820 Montreux
End Point: Maison Cailler, Rue Jules Bellet 7, 1636 Broc
Distance: 45 km (1 hour via Montreux-Berner Oberland Railway)
Experience Duration: Half-day (4 hours)

Board Switzerland’s iconic Chocolate Train, a vintage Belle Époque carriage running from Montreux to Broc.

Upon arrival, tour the Maison Cailler, Switzerland’s oldest chocolate factory. Participate in a bean-to-bar workshop, crafting pralines using milk from Gruyères cows.

The twist? Your guide shares how Swiss railways helped spread chocolate globally in the 1800s. Cap it off with a fondue lunch at the factory’s café, featuring molten chocolate infused with lavender or saffron.

Why It’s Unique: The train itself serves hot chocolate made from Cailler’s 1898 recipe, paired with almond-studded Brunsli cookies.

Destination 2: La Maison du Gruyère (Gruyères, Switzerland)

Start Point: Broc-Fabrique Station, 1636 Broc
End Point: La Maison du Gruyère, Place de la Gare 3, 1663 Gruyères
Distance: 8 km (15 minutes by train)
Experience Duration: 2–3 hours

Hop on a regional train to Gruyères, a medieval village where cheese is religion. At La Maison du Gruyère, watch artisans craft wheels of AOP-protected Gruyère using copper vats.

Join a “Cheese & Cider” pairing session in their cellar, sampling 6-month to 24-month aged varieties.

For dinner, ride the MOB Panoramic Train back to Montreux, savoring a croûte au fromage (cheese toast) made with Gruyère and white wine.

Day 3–4: France – Le Train des Fromages & Truffle Country

Close-up of cheese and rustic bread on a wooden board, ideal for culinary themes.

Destination 3: Le Train des Fromages (Auvergne, France)

Start Point: Clermont-Ferrand Station, Place de la Gare, 63000 Clermont-Ferrand
End Point: Volvic Station, Rue de la Gare, 63530 Volvic
Distance: 20 km (1 hour via historic steam train)
Experience Duration: Half-day (5 hours)

In France’s volcanic Auvergne region, the Cheese Train (Le Train des Fromages) chugs past pastures to volcanic caves where Saint-Nectaire cheese ages.

Aboard the 1920s steam train, enjoy a dégustation of five regional cheeses paired with Côtes d’Auvergne wine. At Volvic, tour a family-owned farm to milk Salers cows and shape your own cheese wheel.

Why It’s Unique: The train stops at Puy de Dôme, a UNESCO site, for a picnic of truffade (potato-cheese gratin) with views of 80 dormant volcanoes.

Destination 4: Truffle Market Tour (Lalbenque, France)

Start Point: Cahors Station, Place de la Gare, 46000 Cahors
End Point: Lalbenque Market, Place de la Halle, 46230 Lalbenque
Distance: 25 km (30 minutes by train + taxi)
Experience Duration: Morning (3 hours)

From Cahors, take a TER train to Lalbenque for its weekly truffle market (Tuesdays, December–March).

Join a truffle hunter and his dog in oak forests to unearth “black diamonds.” Later, cook a 3-course meal with a local chef using your finds—think truffle-infused oeufs meurette (eggs in red wine sauce).

Day 5–6: Italy – The Pasta Express & Balsamic Vinegar Trails

Close-up of creamy pasta with herbs, offering a delicious Italian meal.

Destination 5: Acetaia di Giorgio (Modena, Italy)

Start Point: Bologna Centrale, Piazza delle Medaglie d’Oro, 40121 Bologna
End Point: Acetaia di Giorgio, Via Nazionale 312, 41123 Modena
Distance: 40 km (30 minutes via Frecciarossa train)
Experience Duration: Half-day (4 hours)

Ride Italy’s high-speed Frecciarossa to Modena, home of Aceto Balsamico Tradizionale. At Acetaia di Giorgio, a 150-year-old family farm, taste 12-, 25-, and 50-year-aged balsamic vinegars.

Blend your own bottle to take home, then enjoy a lunch of tortellini in brodo drizzled with vinegar.

Why It’s Unique: Return to Bologna on the EC City Night Line, dining in a vintage 1970s dining car on ragù alla bolognese prepared by a Michelin-trained chef.

Destination 6: La Sfoglia School (Bologna, Italy)

Start Point: Modena Station, Piazza Dante Alighieri, 41121 Modena
End Point: La Sfoglia, Via Belvedere 7, 40121 Bologna
Distance: 40 km (30 minutes by train)
Experience Duration: Evening (2–3 hours)

In Bologna, join nonna Rita at La Sfoglia to master handmade tagliatelle and tortellini. The class ends with a communal dinner featuring your pasta paired with Lambrusco wine.

Day 7: Spain – The Albariño Wine Train & Seafood Feasts

Two women sharing a joyful moment over dinner and wine at a cozy restaurant.

Destination 7: Rías Baixas Wine Route (Galicia, Spain)

Start Point: Vigo-Guixar Station, Praza da Estación, 36201 Vigo
End Point: Cambados Station, Praza da Constitución, 36630 Cambados
Distance: 55 km (1 hour via FEVE narrow-gauge train)
Experience Duration: Full day (6–7 hours)

In Galicia, the Albariño Wine Train winds through estuaries to Cambados, the “Capital of Albariño.”

Tour a 12th-century pazo (manor house) turned winery, sampling crisp Albariño with pulpo a la gallega (octopus).

Later, board a wooden dorna boat to harvest clams and oysters for a beachside cookout.

Why It’s Unique: The FEVE train’s dining car serves empanada de berberechos (razor clam pie), a Galician classic.

Practical Tips for Foodie Train Travelers

Reservations: Book culinary experiences early—many accept only 6–12 guests.

Local Trains: Use regional trains like Germany’s RE or France’s TER for cheaper, scenic routes.

Food Souvenirs: Pack a collapsible cooler for cheeses, wines, and truffles.

Seasonality: Truffle markets (winter), pasta classes (year-round), and Albariño harvests (September) dictate timing.

Savor the Journey

Europe’s hidden foodie trains prove that getting there is half the feast.

Whether sipping 50-year balsamic in Modena or hunting truffles in Lalbenque, these rails connect travelers to traditions older than the tracks themselves.

For those who believe the best meals come with a view—and a ticket stub—this itinerary is your first-class ticket to culinary heaven.