Published on
February 20, 2026
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Italy is also set to join Spain, Switzerland, Scotland, Peru, Hungary, Germany, and the United Kingdom in revealing secrets to Europe’s hidden gems. Now, luxury train travel is set to change the way you travel through Europe’s most beautiful and picturesque countries. View the breathtaking scenery of Spain and the grand, snowy peaks of Switzerland. This type of travel enriches the way you experience the different cultures on your journey. You also get to travel with the top-quality service and amenities offered by the various train companies. Each train journey passes through your chosen destinations, providing excellent service as well as stunning views and rich histories of the continents. Travel and Tour World invites you to read on and learn about what the newly embraced method of travel through the hidden gems of Europe will look like starting in 2026.
Travel With Luxury Train Hopping In 2026
2026 will see an all-new experience coming to train hopping. The affluent traveler looking for comfort, adventure, and an immersive experience will take a train for the first time. For many travelers, the train will become the first way to connect with the heart of Europe. Each train ride will feature first-class service and one of the finest meals you will ever get to experience. For many, this will be the first and only train ride of their lives, and the train service will become a first-class meal. Train hopping will be the first time many will experience the train for the first-class meal. The fluids will be the finest. This may raise the ultimate question – why will train hopping for the first time be the ultimate means of travel for 2026, and why will you want to do it for the first time? Let us travel to the most compelling reasons to train hop across Europe for the first time.
What is Train Hopping? The Future of Travel In Europe
A single train with all its cars will be the most comfortable way to travel in Europe. All of the cars will take you to the most scenic and beautiful destinations and landmarks of the entire continent. To hop on this train will be the most exciting experience in the world. This will be the most exciting experience in the entire world.
The Glacier Express and Venice Simplon-Orient-Express are great examples of luxury trains. However, luxury train hopping lets travelers experience train travel differently. Passengers can customize and create their own experience while exploring the centers of Europe.
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The difference between luxury train hopping and other, more traditional luxury train journeys is that the other luxury trains are single destination. When hopping trains, the journey becomes the destination. Each segment of the journey is a new train route, and with each train route, new experiences in the forms of cultures, food, and breathtaking views are found.
Exploding in 2026, European Luxury Train Hopping
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The personalized aspect of luxury train hopping, combined with the new and improved luxury trains and the newly implemented slow travel policy of the rail systems, is the perfect start for the luxury train hopping industry. With all of that combined, a perfect storm has formed in the travel industry and is creating a new wave of travel in the industry.
The Beginning of Relaxed Travel
Travel has changed quickly and a lot recently. Businessmen are booking travel that focuses on relaxation and sustainability, which has created demand for luxury train travel that encourages travel for the experience of it, rather than just traveling to reach a destination. Because of the luxury train class, you will have the opportunity to travel at a more relaxed and slow pace, spend time soaking in the scenic views, and enjoy some of the train’s elaborate meals. You will also be able to participate in course-related cultural events at various stops along the way. As such, spending time on the train will have just as much value as the other stops on your itinerary.
Growing Rail Networks and New Destinations
More and more rail operators in Europe are providing new and expanded luxury routes, and hopping on a train has never been greener and more appealing. New routes with exclusive services have been added to some of the most iconic trains, including the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express and Glacier Express, and allow passengers to discover more of the less-traveled luxury train hopping routes. Whether it be the luxurious Swiss Alps, the picturesque vineyards of France, or the historical relics of Spain, these new luxury routes will allow travelers to enjoy Europe’s many wonders. In 2026, the luxury train hopping experience will have an unprecedented level of variety and ease.
Personalized and Unique Opportunities
The luxury of train hopping is how personalized each excursion is. Each train makes sure that its guests leave with the most unique and luxurious experience. The sold-out excursions are paired with fine dining options where guests are served gourmet meals from a Michelin-starred chef, and the excursions are personalized to the history and culture of the destination. Each adventure is equipped with top-of-the-line service and the freedom to make your own itinerary to make sure the experience is as unique as the guest.
Luxury Trains and Sustainability
Modern luxury travel is all about sustainability, and that is important to most travelers. When compared to flying, luxury trains have a much smaller carbon footprint, making them a far better option for a traveler concerned with the environment. Many luxury trains that were previously considered to have an environmentally damaging footprint have, by replacing their food suppliers with local food suppliers, made the transition to sustainable luxury travel by implementing carbon emission reduction strategies and energy efficiency measures. Because of these growing sustainable practices, more travelers are turning to luxury train hopping as their preferred option.
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Combining Opulence, Culture, and Breathtaking Views
What if it is said that you could ride a train that had all of the highest quality and newest amenities, and gives you the opportunity to experience rich culture and breathtaking views that surround you? That is what makes train hopping a luxury experience. The wealth of history and the cultures of different regions are incorporated in the design of the train’s interior. The luxury of train hopping is not limited to the comfort of the train, but it also allows you the pleasure of crossing the timeless, stunning regions of Europe, whether it is the Swiss Alps, the agricultural lands of the south of Spain, or the other ancient roads of Europe.
11 Europe Destinations for Premium Train Hopping in 2026
Europe has the most famous, historic, and remarkable premium train lines. 2026 will be the pinnacle of your exploration of these lines. The stunning views of Switzerland and the golden fields of France will allow for 11 trains to be experienced and will mark the beginning of the luxury train experience like never before.
Simplon Venice Orient Express (France to Italy)
This train is the absolute foundation of luxury travel. Starting in Venice, Italy, the train takes you across the breathtaking splendor of the Alps down to Paris. With views of the Alps, fine dining, and Vanitian Lagoon, this train experience is elegantly affordable. Picture soaring French countryside and dining in splendor. This is the ultimate train experience.
Al Andalus (Spain)
The Al Andalus train takes you throughout Southern Spain. This train is one of the most luxurious trains you will ever enter. Pass through cities with fine dining and wine. Visit cultural sites such as the Alhambra and the Mezquita, sites of historical significance. The train is one of the most comfortable, with fine Southern Spain decor. Enjoy the sights of Cordoba, Seville, and Granada. This is one of the finest trains you will ever experience in your life.
Glacier Express (Switzerland)
The Glacier Express transports you through the Swiss Alps on a train ride from Zermatt to St. Moritz. The train has panoramic vistas that provide you with incredible views of direct nature, such as snow-capped peaks, glimmering lakes, and dense valleys. The Glacier Express provides an immediate connection with nature to those seeking peace and stunning views.
The Royal Scotsman (Scotland)
The Royal Scotsman’s luxurious travel combines with the highest level of comfort, and the highest level of relaxation comes together to allow you to experience the utmost relaxation and comfort while taking in the vistas of the Highlands of Scotland as you travel from Inverness to Edinburgh and other stops along the way. The Royal Scotsman also includes whiskey tastings, castle excursions, and other events that culminate in transforming the luxurious ride into a cultural experience.
The Belmond Andean Explorer (Peru)
The Belmond Andean Explorer is not a European train, yet it is a grand opportunity, as it offers an Andean mountain train ride through Peru that European travelers long for. The train takes you to places such as Machu Picchu and Lake Titicaca, with some of the best views along the way, while you travel from one sight to the next. The Andean Explorer is a train that luxurious travelers can take to indulge in a train ride for their European train ride adventures.
The Blue Train (South Africa)
The Blue Train is one of the best trains in the world, with five-star service as it travels from Pretoria to Cape Town. While it is more of an experience in South Africa, this train is amazing for those looking for a luxurious train experience worldwide.
El Transcantábrico Gran Lujo (Spain)
The El Transcantábrico Gran Lujo train takes you along Spain’s northern coast and provides you with some of the best panoramic views of the rough and beautiful coastline. The train makes stops in Oviedo, Santiago de Compostela, and Bilbao, and provides you with cultural activities along with the views.
The Danube Express (Hungary)
The Danube Express takes you on a culturally rich experience through Central Europe that’ll take you through Hungary, Austria, and the Czech Republic. This train is great for wine lovers as it takes you to Vienna and provides you with a great experience all around Europe.
The Nostalgie-Iron Curtain Express (Germany to Hungary)
The Nostalgie-Iron Curtain Express takes you on a historical journey as it travels along the route of the Iron Curtain. You will be able to explore the rich history of Eastern Europe during the Cold War. The train travels from Berlin to Budapest and provides you with a historical journey while traveling in luxury.
The Belmond British Pullman (United Kingdom)
The Belmond British Pullman is a part of the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express family. It has the finest service when traveling to historic cities, such as Oxford, Canterbury, and Edinburgh. It is a travel experience that is British to the core, with afternoon teas and fresh gourmet meals served en route.
The Trans-Siberian Express (Russia)
The Trans-Siberian Express is a totally epic train journey. It travels across the entire expanse of Russia from Moscow to Vladivostok. The journey is luxurious, and the service is exceptional. The route is legendary.
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What to Expect on a Luxury Train Hopping Journey Across Europe
A journey on a luxury train is about the experience, and here is what you can expect when you travel on a luxury train for the very first time.
The incredible views that Europe has to offer
You’ll find that every luxury train comes equipped with panoramic windows that offer stunning views of Europe’s varying landscapes, from the incredible Swiss Alps to the rolling hills of Andalusia. The scenery is most often the most memorable part of the journey.
Exquisite Dining Experience
Luxury train services offer exceptional culinary experiences ranging from region-specific local delicacies to gourmet meals made by Michelin-star chefs. Each meal is made from locally sourced ingredients unique to every stop.
Impeccable Service
World-class train services offer nothing less than royal treatment from the moment the first foot steps inside. Attentive and cordial staff offer comfortable journeys, excursion arrangements, and everything else in between.
Unique and Private Excursions to Enrich Your Experience
Luxury Now includes unique and private excursions to immerse you in the culture and history of the area. Explore the region and its vineyards, historical landmarks, and all that is culturally rich and relevant.
Luxury Rail offers you a new and comfortable way to Experience Rail Travel.
Luxury Rail Travel, for the first time, offers you the European experience of Rail Travel.
New Comfort for Rail Travel.
Luxury Rail Travel, for the first time, offers you the European experience of Rail Travel.
Conclusion: Travel Now Includes Luxury Train Hopping
Luxury train hopping will be one of the most brilliant ways to travel across Europe in the near future of 2026. With all the stunning locations, along with the good memories, pure legacy, and all the immersive cultural feats, it’s no wonder this bucket-list journey captures the travel market. To appreciate the opulence of traveling across the undiscovered jewels of Europe, Luxury Train Hopping has become a non-negotiable experience for every traveler.
