Our readers' favourite train journeys in the world: 2022 Readers' Choice Awards
The survey for the 2023 Readers' Choice Awards is open, vote now for your favourite places, hotels, airports, cruise ships, travel fixers and more.
It’s always about taking the scenic route (four glorious days for The Canadian to trundle from Toronto to Vancouver) and The Railway Children Return-style nostalgia (see Wes Anderson’s retro-escapist new carriage for Belmond’s British Pullman). For cabin comfort, the Andean Explorer and Venice Simplon-Orient-Express are preferred, but it’s the upgraded Seven Stars in Kyushu – now with just 10 guest rooms and a tea lounge across two carriages – that made you stop in your tracks.
These are the best train journeys in the world, according to the 2022 Readers' Choice Awards. The scores below are percentages representing overall average levels of satisfaction.
YUJI HORIThe best train journeys in the world 2022
15. The Canadian, Canada. Score 84.39
14. Royal Scotsman, A Belmond Train, Scotland. Score 84.65
13. Golden Eagle Danube Express, Europe. Score 84.79
12. Pride of Africa, Africa. Score 85.09
11. British Pullman, A Belmond Train, England. Score 85.11
10. Al Andalus, Europe. Score 86.64
9. Northern Belle, Europe. Score 86.79
8. Eastern & Oriental Express, A Belmond Train, Southeast Asia. Score 87.17
7. Rovos Rail, Africa. Score 88.47
6. The Ghan, Australia. Score 88.55
5. Hiram Bingham, A Belmond Train, Machu Picchu. Score 89.04
4. Palace on Wheels, India. Score 89.63
3. Venice Simplon-Orient-Express, A Belmond Train, Europe. Score 89.69
2. Andean Explorer, A Belmond Train, Peru. Score 92.66
1. Seven Stars in Kyushu, Japan. Score 95.62
