The 11 Best Scandinavian Luxury Train Tours for 2026
Written by
Railtrail - 19th May 2026Key Summary: Norway’s Flåm Railway drops 864 metres in 20km and tops Lonely Planet’s most incredible train journey list, while the Rauma Railway has repeatedly won Europe’s most beautiful railway. Sweden’s Arctic sleeper crosses the Circle en route to Narvik, and Denmark’s Kystbanen reaches Kronborg Castle in 40 minutes from Copenhagen. Railtrail’s escorted Scandinavian rail holidays cover the region from £75pp deposit, ABTOT protected.
Exploring Scandinavia By Train
The Bergen Railway crosses the Hardangervidda plateau at 1,237 metres above sea level. The Flåm Valley drops around 864 metres in just 20 kilometres, descending in under an hour. On the Nordland Line in July, the sun does not set.
Norway alone has three railway routes recognised by Lonely Planet among Europe’s finest scenic rail journeys. Sweden adds heritage steam railways through boreal forest and lake country. Denmark connects to it all via the Øresund Link, the 15.9km combined road-and-rail bridge and tunnel between Copenhagen and Malmö that opened in 2000.
This post covers 11 of the best Scandinavian train journeys for 2026, across Norway, Sweden, and Denmark, taking in scenic routes worth booking independently alongside Railtrail’s escorted rail holidays.
Photo by Ferdinand Stöhr on Unsplash
1. The Flåm Railway
The Flåm Railway (Flåmsbana) is a 20km adhesion railway in western Norway, descending 864 metres from Myrdal station to the village of Flåm on the Aurlandsfjord. Lonely Planet named it the world’s most incredible train journey.
Unlike a rack railway or funicular, an adhesion railway climbs on friction alone, wheel on rail, nothing else. At a 5.5% gradient for 80% of the route, the Flåm Railway is one of the steepest of its kind anywhere.
A few numbers worth knowing before you board:
- 20 tunnels, 18 excavated by hand
- 5.5% gradient for 80% of the route
- A five-minute stop at the Kjosfossen waterfall mid-descent
- A horseshoe tunnel where the train loops inside the mountain to lose altitude
The carriages are deliberately vintage, which suits the route. This is a scheduled public service, not a private luxury train, but the engineering and the scenery put it in the same conversation.
Book ahead. The Flåm Railway sells out weeks in advance between June and August.
Photo by Daniele D’Andreti on Unsplash
2. The Bergen Railway
The Bergen Railway is a 471km mainline railway between Oslo and Bergen, opened in 1909, and Northern Europe’s highest railway line at 1,237 metres above sea level at Finse station. The journey takes approximately 6.5 to 7.5 hours and crosses the Hardangervidda, Europe’s largest high-mountain plateau at around 6,500 square kilometres and protected within Hardangervidda National Park.
The route passes through six landscape zones:
- Oslo’s broad valleys and lake country
- The Hallingdal treeline
- The Hardangervidda plateau at altitude
- The steep descent to Myrdal, where the Flåm Railway branches off
- The Voss valley and river country
- The fjord approach into Bergen
182 tunnels. Finse station, the highest point, was used by Roald Amundsen, Robert Falcon Scott, and Ernest Shackleton for Antarctic expedition training, covering glacier crossings, whiteout navigation, and cold-weather survival at altitude. For travellers drawn to Alpine rail travel as well as Nordic routes, our guide to the best scenic train rides in Switzerland covers the mountain railways worth knowing.
Photo by Sara Groblechner on Unsplash
3. The Rauma Railway
The Rauma Railway is a 114km branch line in western Norway running from Dombås to Åndalsnes on the Romsdalsfjord, and has been repeatedly named Europe’s most beautiful railway by Lonely Planet, most recently in 2022 and 2023. The route passes Trollveggen, Europe’s highest vertical rock face at around 1,100 metres, and crosses the Kylling Bridge, 60 metres above the Rauma river.
From the mountain plateau at Dombås, the line descends through the Romsdalen valley past Trollveggen’s wall and over the Kylling Bridge before reaching Åndalsnes and the fjord. The journey takes just under two hours. The route has also served as a filming location, with scenes from Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince and Mission: Impossible 7 both shot along it.
4. The Arctic Circle Sleeper Train
The Arctic Circle Sleeper Train runs overnight between Stockholm and Narvik. Around 1,500km, roughly 18 to 19 hours, operated jointly by SJ and Vy. It crosses the Arctic Circle in the small hours and joins the Iron Ore Line at Boden for the final run north.
The train leaves Stockholm in the early evening and works its way up the coast before turning inland through Swedish Lapland. Kiruna comes in the middle of the night. It is home to the world’s largest underground iron ore mine, and a town still being relocated, building by building, to make way for it. Beyond Kiruna the train follows the shore of Lake Torneträsk, 60km long, before crossing into Norway near Riksgränsen and descending to the fjord at Narvik. Sleeper cabins, couchettes, and ordinary seats are all available, and the route is included on an InterRail or Eurail pass.
Sleeper berths are released in batches several months ahead and sell out quickly over summer, so book early. For Railtrail’s escorted programme in the country, see Norway rail holidays.
5. The Nordland Line
The Nordland Line is Norway’s longest railway at 729km, running from Trondheim to Bodø and crossing the Arctic Circle. Often called the Polar Express, it is one of four railways in the world that crosses the Arctic Circle, passing the Svartisen Glacier, visible from the carriage window, before reaching Bodø and the ferry connections to the Lofoten Islands.
The full journey takes approximately 10 hours. At 66.5 degrees north, the train marks the Arctic Circle crossing with an on-board ceremony. From there, the route runs west towards Bodø with the Svartisen Glacier to the left and open Arctic sky above.
A replacement bus currently operates between Mo i Rana and Trondheim until summer 2026. Check current schedules with Visit Norway before booking.
Photo by Joshua Kettle on Unsplash
6. The Lennakatten
The Lennakatten is a 33km narrow-gauge heritage railway from Uppsala to Faringe, running on 891mm track, a gauge unique to Sweden. It opened in 1876 to serve the ironworks at Länna and survives today as one of the best-preserved fragments of the old Roslagen network.
Steam and vintage diesel locomotives share the timetable through the traffic season, from mid-May to late September. In places the line moves at barely more than walking pace, past lakes, farmland, and small wooden stations that look much as they did in the nineteenth century. Marielund, roughly the midpoint, has a station café and makes a natural point to break the journey.
It rewards a free afternoon out of Uppsala. Railtrail’s Swedish rail holidays cover the escorted programme across the country.
Photo by Ayadi Ghaith on Unsplash
7. The Inlandsbanan
The Inlandsbanan is a 1,300km railway running through the interior of Sweden from Kristinehamn in the south to Gällivare above the Arctic Circle, passing through boreal forests, reindeer country, and Sámi cultural territories. The summer-only tourist service runs June to August.
Unlike the coastal routes most visitors default to, the Inlandsbanan cuts through terrain that sees relatively few international travellers. Östersund is the key joining point for those wanting the Arctic Circle section without committing to the full length. The line crosses the Arctic Circle at roughly the same latitude as Norway’s Nordland Line, but where the Nordland runs through fjord country and open tundra, the Inlandsbanan stays inland through dense boreal forest and Sámi reindeer territory.
There are no escorted Railtrail departures on this route. It suits confident independent travellers with time to spare and no fixed schedule.
8. Kystbanen, the Coastal Line
Kystbanen, Denmark’s Coastal Line, runs 46km along the Øresund shore from Copenhagen Central Station to Helsingør. The line opened in 1897, and DSB services now cover the route in around 40 minutes.
Sit on the right-hand side heading north for the best view of the water. The route calls at Klampenborg for the UNESCO-listed Deer Park, then passes coastal towns that have drawn writers and architects for a century, Karen Blixen among them. At the end of the line, Kronborg Castle sits directly across the harbour from Helsingør station, the setting for Shakespeare’s Hamlet and close enough to walk to in a few minutes. Since the Øresund Bridge opened in 2000, some services have continued beyond Copenhagen to Malmö, joining the wider Scandinavian network.
Railtrail’s Danish rail holidays cover an escorted programme across the country.
For a closer look at the best times and places to visit across all three countries, read our Scandinavia travel guide.
9. The Ofoten Railway
The Ofoten Railway (Ofotbanen) runs 43km from the port of Narvik to Riksgränsen on the Norwegian-Swedish border, where it connects with Sweden’s Iron Ore Line towards Kiruna and Luleå. It is entirely isolated from the rest of Norway’s rail network, yet one curve just outside Narvik marks the northernmost point of the Western European standard gauge railway network.
The line rises from sea level at Narvik’s harbour to 523 metres at Riksgränsen station, with gradients averaging 21 per mille and reaching 25 per mille. The route follows the Rombaksfjord before climbing through gorges, glacial valleys, and Arctic plateau. In the waters below Narvik, the rusting wreck of a German destroyer sunk during the Battle of Narvik in 1940 is visible from the carriage window.
Construction began in the late 19th century and the line opened in 1902. Over 5,000 navvies cut the route through rock, permafrost, and mountain terrain above the Arctic Circle. The strategic importance of the line made Narvik a primary German objective in April 1940: controlling the iron ore supply from Kiruna was central to Germany’s war industry, and the Battles of Narvik lasted 62 days.
Today a summer tourist service called the Arctic Train covers the full 43km from Narvik to the Swedish border and back, typically departing around 11:30am and returning by 1:30pm. The regular SJ passenger service runs all the way to Kiruna and Stockholm, with an overnight sleeper available. Visit Narvik has full schedule and booking information.
Photo by Katja Ano on Unsplash
10. Norway in a Nutshell
Norway in a Nutshell is a self-guided route combining the Bergen Railway from Oslo or Bergen, the Flåm Railway descent to the Aurlandsfjord, a fjord cruise on the Nærøyfjord, and a return bus connection via Voss. It is Norway’s most popular tourist route and can be booked as a day trip or multi-day itinerary.
The Nærøyfjord is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a branch of the Sognefjord, Norway’s longest fjord at 204km. At its narrowest point it is one of the narrowest fjords in Europe, with rock walls rising several hundred metres on both sides.
The Bergen Railway crosses the Hardangervidda at 1,237 metres before the Flåm Railway drops 864 metres to fjord level in 20km. The Nærøyfjord cruise follows, the rock walls closing in as the fjord narrows. A bus via Voss completes the loop back to Bergen or Oslo. The route can be extended with an overnight stay at Flåm, which gives more time on the fjord and avoids the busiest part of the day on the railway.
For everything arranged on the same railways, Railtrail’s Stunning Railways of Norway covers the Flåm Railway and the broader Norwegian rail network with a tour manager throughout.
11. The Norient Express
The Norient Express is a new Norwegian luxury train service planned to run between Bergen, Oslo, and Trondheim over six days, operated by SJ Norge. The train runs the Bergen Railway and Dovre Railway corridors, with weekly Sunday departures from either Bergen or Trondheim. On board: locally sourced interiors, an observatory carriage, a gym car, and overnight stays at historic Norwegian hotels along the route. Regulatory approval came in 2024. A launch date has not been confirmed, with 2026 cited as the current estimate on the official website.
Monitor the Norient Express official channels for confirmed departure dates.
Conclusion
Scandinavia’s rail network covers some of the most dramatic terrain in Europe. Norway alone accounts for three of the continent’s most celebrated railway routes. Sweden adds heritage steam and Arctic wilderness. Denmark connects it all.
Some of the journeys above run as scheduled public services, ready to book independently. Others feature in Railtrail’s own escorted programme across the region. Browse Norway, Sweden, or Denmark rail holidays for current departures.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the most scenic train ride in Scandinavia?
Norway holds the strongest claim. The Flåm Railway descends 864 metres in 20km and was named the world’s most incredible train journey by Lonely Planet. The Rauma Railway has been voted Europe’s most beautiful railway on multiple occasions. The Bergen Railway crosses six landscape zones over 471km.
What is the most beautiful train trip in Norway?
The Flåm and the Rauma are the two most recognised, both Lonely Planet award holders. The Flåm is shorter, descending from mountain snow to fjord level in under an hour. The Rauma offers 114km of sustained scenery including Trollveggen and the Kylling Bridge. Railtrail’s Stunning Railways of Norway covers both.
What is the new luxury train in Norway?
The Norient Express is a planned six-day service between Bergen, Oslo, and Trondheim, operated by SJ Norge, featuring an observatory carriage and stays at historic Norwegian hotels. Regulatory approval was granted in 2024. No confirmed launch date has been announced, with 2026 cited as the current estimate on the official website.
What is the most scenic Scandinavian country for rail travel?
Norway has the strongest claim, with the Flåm and Rauma railways both repeatedly named among Europe’s finest journeys. Sweden’s appeal is different: hundreds of kilometres of boreal forest and lake country on the Inlandsbanan, and the Arctic wilderness the sleeper train crosses on its way to Narvik. Denmark is flatter and gentler, best seen from the Kystbanen along the Øresund coast to Kronborg Castle.
Can I take an escorted rail tour of Scandinavia from the UK?
Yes. Railtrail runs escorted rail holidays across the region, with a Tour Manager meeting you at London St Pancras before departure. Current departures and itineraries vary through the year, so check with the team for what’s currently available. All tours are ABTOT protected, with flight-inclusive options also covered by ATOL, and a deposit from £75pp.
When is the best time to take a Scandinavian train tour?
July and August give the longest daylight and full access to every route, but book the Flåm Railway weeks ahead. Things ease off from late May and again in September. For the far north, February and March are worth planning around: long, dark nights and clear cold air give the sleeper train to Narvik its best chance of clear skies. Check current Nordland Line schedules with Visit Norway before booking, as engineering works have affected part of the route.
