Want to travel far without taking off from the ground? Let’s explore railway exploration: from Sweden to Singapore, the editorial team of Figaro takes you on train journeys as poetic as they are clever: the Inlandsbanan beyond the Arctic Circle, the Orient Express revisited without breaking the bank, sleeper trains from Thailand to the Malaysian jungle, up to the panoramic trains of Switzerland. Between northern lights, straits crossed by ferry to Sicily, and the legendary lines of the Massif Central, find our ready-to-go itineraries each month: stops, comfort, budget, and tips to book your tickets.
From the polar circle to tropical jungles, the rails sketch out epics that no airplane window can match. Here’s an overview of the most enchanting train journeys endorsed by the editorial team, from Sweden to Singapore: legendary lines, nights in sleeper cars, cinematic landscapes, tasty stops, and good deals (80 to 150 € in Asia, 300 to 500 € for the Paris–Istanbul route, two days for the Inlandsbanan…). Prepare sandwiches, load your playlists, slip a good travel book into the bag: the window becomes a panoramic screen, and the train your rolling living room.
Since trains have captured the hearts of travelers again, it’s because they combine chosen slowness, reduced carbon footprint, and a sense of panorama. In France, the SNCF has experienced a record year in 2023, and 2024 is already opening new horizons (hello TGV to Berlin and the “Ouigo lents” to Bordeaux and Rennes). Elsewhere, cross-border routes are writing contemporary odysseys. The editorial team shares its favorite routes, with pointers on comfort, budget, and stops to shape your journey.
From Thailand to Singapore: 3000 km of tropical scenes
From the misty highlands of Chiang Mai to the futuristic neon lights of Singapore, passing through Bangkok, the Thai coast, and the Malaysian jungle, this ribbon of 3000 km is traveled in about two days (excluding extended stops). Thai sleeper trains have the patina of beautiful stories; Malaysian cars glide modern and air-conditioned. As for the budget: between 80 and 150 €, depending on the class (seat, sleeper, compartment). Through the rice fields and palm groves, some views seem straight out of the countryside and Chinese landscapes. Editorial tip: break up the journey to enjoy a street food evening in Bangkok and a breathtaking stop at the towers of Kuala Lumpur.
Paris–Istanbul: the spirit of the Orient Express without the price tag
Get on in Paris, get off in Istanbul four days later, full of European stops: here’s the dream itinerary to replay the myth without mortgaging your savings account. Expect 300 to 500 € depending on comfort (seat, sleeper, private cabin), often with a sequence of night trains. In the meantime: a Viennese coffee in Vienna, baths in Budapest, a neoclassical stroll in Bucharest. And upon arrival, the shores of the Bosphorus, vibrant gateways to Asia. Booking: anticipate the highly sought-after nights, and give yourself time for connections—often the best encounters arise from a platform.
Grand Italian escape: Paris–Sicily, the Boot to the end
Tell them you reached Sicily by train and they will ask: but how? By ferry of course! The train slides into the hold, crosses the Messina Strait, then ascends toward Palermo, Taormina, or Catania at the foot of Etna. The interruption of the Paris–Milan line complicates the journey until the end of 2024, but a detour via Nice or Switzerland does the trick. Budget tip: the Trenitalia Pass can turn your odyssey into a festival of stops, from the spritz of Rome to the cannoli of Palermo. Choose at least one night in a sleeper: waking up to the sea is priceless.
Sweden from north to south: Inlandsbanan, a conveyor belt of nature
The Inlandsbanan stretches 1288 km of forests, lakes, and mountains, from Gällivare (beyond the Arctic Circle) to Kristinehamn, west of Stockholm. It takes two days to swallow it whole, aboard a railcar that operates each summer with the company of an English-speaking guide. It’s the anti TGV: an ode to contemplation, punctuated by stops to photograph a mirror lake or taste a lingonberry pie. Editorial tip: follow up with a detour to the Norwegian coast to touch the Lofoten, or even the waves of Unstad, where you surf under the northern lights.
Goal: Northern Lights – Train from Paris to the Arctic Circle
No, Northern Lights are not reserved for planes and sleds. From Paris, you can reach Swedish Lapland or the Lofoten Islands in two to three days, across some 3000 km of tracks. In summer, the midnight sun bathes the tundra in a crazy light; in winter, the near-permanent night makes the green lights dance above the roofs. Practical connections: towards Narvik to reach the Lofoten by road, or towards Bodø to board a ferry. For comfort, a private sleeper and a thermos of tea already do a lot for the magic. And if the desire for icy sea tickles you, take a detour to Unstad, where the polar night is often adorned with green curtains.
The Aubrac Train: the line that perseveres in the heart of France
Between Clermont-Ferrand and Béziers, the Aubrac line (277 km) cuts through plateaus, gorges, and pastures, crossing the Garabit Viaduct designed by Gustave Eiffel. This artery, once threatened with closure, has been saved in extremis by track work: all the more reason to take it. The stations sound like a poem: Roquefort, Millau, Aumont-Aubrac… To extend the nature escape, head to a Cevennes village sanctified by nature nearby, between chestnut trees and ridge paths. On board, you let yourself be rocked and watch for the blonde Aquitaine cows—the most punctual spectators of the line.
Tokyo–Nikko in Spacia X: futurism, cedars, and temples
Launched in July 2023, the Spacia X train from Tobu Railway connects Tokyo to Nikko in about two hours. For a few dozens of euros, you glide from skyscrapers to sacred mountains, in the silky comfort of a high-end train with aerodynamic lines. Upon arrival, the Shinkyō Bridge, the shrines, and the forest of cedars and cypress promise a Zen interlude—and some photos that will make your social media feed pale in comparison.
Great Train Tour of Switzerland: the art of the panoramic
Switzerland has such a dense network that it flirts with ubiquity. Between cities, lakes, and pastures, the Grand Train Tour offers a circuit woven with mythical segments, such as the Bernina Express (from Chur to Tirano). Glass-roofed carriages, Swiss cadence, and even a bit of boat or bus to connect the most spectacular views. Editorial tip: alternate panoramic trains and regional lines to vary the atmospheres—and lighten the bill.
On the rails of history: the “Death Railway”
Starting from Kanchanaburi, in Thailand, the line to Burma tells a tragic page of World War II. Between 1941 and 1943, nearly 100,000 people perished during its construction, led by the Japanese imperial army. Today, excursion trains run on weekends for a few euros, notably crossing the dizzying wooden bridge of Tham Krasae over the Kwai River. You also encounter the very popular “floating train“. A day trip, as beautiful as it is necessary, to combine landscapes and memory.
Rails in full swing: new lines and micro-adventures
Regulars have not finished feeling ants in their luggage. With openings like the TGV Paris–Berlin and Ouigo lents to Bordeaux and Rennes, the year promises inspiring connections. On the micro-adventure side, the editorial team loves to suggest a detour to curiosities accessible by train, such as the smallest river in Normandy, a perfect excuse for a walk between tides and mills. And to prolong the magic even at dock, bring a novel chosen from these best travel books—they read even better while watching the world go by.
