Discover Europe’s Quirkiest Train Carriages
Europe’s trains aren’t just about getting from A to B. Hidden among the continent’s rails are carriages that double as chocolate factories, open-air cinemas, and even rolling saunas. Intrigued?
Buckle up as we explore Europe’s most delightfully unusual train carriages—where the journey truly is the destination.
1. The Chocolate Train: Switzerland’s Sweetest Ride
Picture this: A vintage Belle Époque carriage winding through the Swiss Alps, wafting with the scent of melted cocoa.
Switzerland’s Chocolate Train (Montreux to Gruyères) is a dream for dessert lovers. Operated by GoldenPass, this train partners with the Cailler chocolate factory and Gruyère cheese dairy.
First, sip coffee from porcelain cups as you glide past Lake Geneva. Then, tour Gruyères’ medieval streets before diving into a cheese-making demo.
The grand finale? Unlimited chocolate tasting at Cailler, where pralines and truffles roll out like edible confetti.
Why rush? This 9-hour round trip is a feast for the eyes and the taste buds. Just don’t forget stretchy pants.
2. Venice Simplon-Orient-Express: Art Deco on Rails
Agatha Christie’s Murder on the Orient Express wasn’t just fiction. The Venice Simplon-Orient-Express still crisscrosses Europe with its mahogany-paneled cabins, polished brass, and staff in 1920s-inspired uniforms.
Book the “Grand Suite” for a private marble bathroom and 24/7 butler service. Or join strangers in the bar car for martinis and jazz piano.
The Paris-to-Istanbul route remains iconic, but shorter trips—like London to Venice—let you live the luxury without the week-long commitment.
Fun fact: The train’s original 1920s carriages survived WWII by hiding in a Dutch barn. Talk about a plot twist!
3. Flåm Railway’s Panoramic Carriages: Norway’s Moving Postcard
Norway’s Flåm Railway isn’t just a train—it’s a 20km-long cinema screen. Its panoramic carriages, with floor-to-ceiling windows, climb from Flåm to Myrdal, passing waterfalls so close you’ll feel the mist.
The train slows at Kjosfossen waterfall, where a dancer in a red dress performs a folklore routine (yes, really). Snap photos, but don’t drop your phone—the views of fjords and snow-capped peaks are that dizzying.
Pro tip: Sit on the right side going uphill for the best vistas. And pack a raincoat—those waterfalls aren’t shy.
4. The Jacobite Steam Train: Hogwarts Express in Real Life
All aboard the Hogwarts Express! Okay, technically it’s Scotland’s Jacobite Steam Train, but the resemblance is uncanny.
This 84-mile round trip from Fort William to Mallaig chugs over the Glenfinnan Viaduct (yes, the one from Harry Potter) with vintage carriages puffing coal smoke.
The retro compartments have plush seats and sash windows perfect for spotting “Hippogriffs” (read: sheep) in the Highlands. Bonus: The snack trolley sells “Butterbeer”-style brews.
Muggles welcome. Just don’t expect a chocolate frog to hop your way.
5. Al Andalus: Spain’s Palace on Wheels
Step into the Al Andalus, and you’ll forget you’re on a train. This luxury narrow-gauge experience in southern Spain features suites with king-sized beds, silk drapes, and private lounges.
The seven-day Seville-to-Santiago de Compostela route includes flamenco shows, sherry tastings, and guided tours of UNESCO sites like Córdoba’s Mezquita. Dining?
Think Iberian ham carved tableside and lobster paella paired with Rioja.
With only 14 suites, it’s like a rolling five-star hotel—if your hotel had ever-changing views of olive groves and Moorish castles.
6. Rasender Roland: Germany’s Vintage Island Hopper
Germany’s Rasender Roland (“Racing Roland”) isn’t fast—it putters at 30km/h—but its open-air carriages are pure nostalgia.
This narrow-gauge steam train connects Rügen Island’s chalk cliffs and thatched-roof villages, with wooden benches and clanking brass bells.
Buy a bratwurst from the conductor (seriously) and dangle your legs over the edge as Baltic Sea breezes ruffle your hair. The route’s star is the Sellin Pier, a 19th-century gem that looks plucked from a Wes Anderson film.
Pro tip: Visit in June for seaside poppy fields in full bloom.
7. Train des Pignes: France’s Open-Air Time Machine
The Train des Pignes in Provence is a relic of the French countryside. Its 19th-century open-air carriages—no windows, just wooden benches—run from Nice to Digne-les-Bains, rattling past lavender fields and stone villages.
Locals use it for market days, hauling baskets of peaches and sunflowers. You? Bring a baguette, some goat cheese, and pretend you’re in a Van Gogh painting.
Word to the wise: Hold onto your hat. Those Provençal winds are sneaky!
8. Schneebergbahn: Austria’s Cogwheel Climb
Austria’s Schneebergbahn isn’t for the faint-hearted. This cogwheel train scales the Schneeberg mountain at a 25% gradient, with carriages that look like alpine cottages on wheels.
The windows flip open, letting you inhale the scent of pine forests as you ascend 1,800 meters. At the top, hike to a 13th-century chapel or sip schnapps at Austria’s highest-altitude tavern.
Just don’t look down—unless you’re into sheer drops and existential dread.
9. Belmond Royal Scotsman: Scotland’s Rolling Castle
The Belmond Royal Scotsman redefines “train carriage.” Its mahogany-paneled Observation Car has a open-air veranda for whisky tastings, while the Spa Car offers massages as lochs glide by.
The two-night “Highland Journey” includes a private tour of Edinburgh Castle and a bagpiper-led hike. Dinner? Black-tie optional, with haggis flambéed in Scotch.
With only 40 guests, it’s like having Scotland’s wilderness (and a butler) all to yourself.
All Aboard the Quirk Express
From chocolate-filled carriages to saunas in the Arctic Circle, Europe’s trains prove that getting there really is half the fun. So next time you plan a trip, skip the standard seat. Choose a carriage that surprises, delights, and maybe even pampers you.
After all, why settle for ordinary when you can ride the rails in style—or steam, or chocolate, or a fluffy bathrobe?
