There are some journeys where the destination is the headline and then there are the rare few where the journey becomes the story itself.
That is exactly why luxury rail is having such a moment. In 2026, travel continues to move away from hurried, checklist-style itineraries and towards something slower, richer and more immersive. Condé Nast Traveller has named luxury train hopping as one of the biggest travel trends of the year, reporting rising demand for slow-cruising itineraries and noting that rail bookings for 2026 are up year on year.
For luxury travellers, the appeal is obvious. Rail offers something increasingly rare: time to properly take in a landscape, a route and a sense of place. There are no frantic terminal dashes, no pressure to collapse the experience into a two-hour window and no feeling that travel is simply the logistical bit between one beautiful place and the next. Instead, there are panoramic windows, beautifully designed carriages, long lunches, ‘dressed for dinner’ glamour and the quiet thrill of seeing the world unfold at a gentler pace.
The wider rise in rail interest has been building for some time. Condé Nast Traveller reported in late 2024 that luxury train journeys had seen strong growth, with demand rising across multiple destinations rather than being driven by one particular route or region. That momentum has continued into 2026, with a fresh wave of interest around both iconic names and new-generation rail experiences.
Here are four luxury train journeys to have on your radar…
La Dolce Vita Orient Express
Italy
If there is one launch that captures the glamour of rail’s revival, it is La Dolce Vita Orient Express. A modern expression of one of travel’s most iconic names, it brings together Italian design, hospitality and scenery in a way that feels unapologetically cinematic. The train’s itineraries depart from Rome and include routes across Italy ranging from one to four nights.
This is the sort of trip for travellers who want the romance of rail with a distinctly modern lens: polished interiors, destination-led experiences and an itinerary that feels as much about mood as it does geography.
Rocky Mountaineer
Canada
For travellers drawn to big landscapes and bucket-list scenery, Rocky Mountaineer remains one of the most recognisable luxury rail experiences in the world. Its official route portfolio includes journeys between Vancouver and Banff, Vancouver and Jasper and several other Rockies itineraries, each designed to showcase Canada’s mountain drama at a slower and more comfortable pace.
This is rail travel at its most panoramic. Vast forests, glacial rivers and towering peaks are the main event and the beauty lies in having the time and vantage point to properly absorb them.
Belmond Andean Explorer
Peru
For something more soulful and atmospheric, Belmond Andean Explorer offers one of the world’s most memorable high-altitude rail journeys. Official Belmond routes travel through the Peruvian Highlands and include stops and journeys between Cusco, Puno, Lake Titicaca and Arequipa.
This is the kind of experience that feels transportive in every sense. The scenery is extraordinary, of course, but so is the sense of scale and stillness. It is immersive travel in the truest sense.
Glacier Express
Switzerland
Then there is Glacier Express, which continues to prove that a daytime rail journey can feel every bit as luxurious as an overnight one. The official route connects Zermatt and St. Moritz and takes around eight hours, crossing 291 bridges and passing through 91 tunnels on its way through the Swiss Alps.
For travellers who want classic Alpine beauty with a side of comfort and precision, it is hard to beat. Excellence Class adds an even more elevated experience, including guaranteed window seating and a particularly polished take on panoramic travel.
Why luxury rail works so well now
Part of the reason rail feels so relevant is that it answers a lot of what modern travellers are looking for.
It is slower, but not boring. Luxurious, but not always flashy. Logistically considered, but emotionally rich. It gives travellers the chance to experience movement differently and to reconnect with the anticipation that used to define great journeys.
There is also a growing appetite for travel that feels more layered. Rather than rushing between hotels, travellers are increasingly drawn to experiences that combine design, landscape, storytelling and a stronger sense of connection to the route itself. Rail does that beautifully.
The Travel Seen take
For anyone planning a special trip this year, luxury rail is one of the most compelling trends to watch.
Whether it is a stylish journey through Italy, an epic crossing of the Canadian Rockies, a high-altitude escape through Peru or a panoramic ride across the Swiss Alps, rail offers something that many modern holidays lack: a genuine sense of occasion from the very first moment.
Because sometimes the most luxurious thing of all is not arriving faster. It is enjoying the journey properly.
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