Rail Holidays by Month: The Best Train Journeys to Take Throughout 2026
Wondering where to go next?
Have a look at our calendar of inspirational ideas for your next rail holiday, whenever you want to travel.
January
Give winter the cold shoulder and travel to warmer climes. Top of our list is the Blue Train, which makes an epic journey through South Africa. There’s also a stunning Rovos Rail trip into Zimbabwe and Victoria Falls. You might also like to consider the luxurious Eastern & Oriental Express taking in the wild landscapes of Malaysia. Or if you want to take a fully rail-based holiday, there’s always Malta or Southern Spain & Morocco! Though we don’t feature them on our website, we are able to book iconic Antipodean train journeys like the Ghan, Indian Pacific and TranzAlpine. Please call us to find out more.
Rovos Rail – South Africa
February
February is the traditional time for carnival! The most famous is the Venice Carnival, bringing parades, parties and masked balls to the City of Canals, culminating on the Shrove Tuesday before Lent. There are also spectacular carnival parades in Nice and Menton – which hosts an unique Fete du Citron, with lemon-themed floats and displays. In Cologne, the Rose Monday Parade is one of the largest and most spectacular in Germany, whilst Binche in Belgium has hosted a carnival since the 14th century, which is great for families. You can visit any of these events by train. Give us a call!
Fête du Citron – Menton
March
Spring is in the air and the Keukenhof gardens in the Netherlands open for the spring season. You can visit these spectacular gardens from Amsterdam or Leiden. Alternatively, there are plenty of other gardens across Europe that are coming into flower, from the Petrin Gardens below the castle in Prague, to the Boboli Gardens in Florence and the unforgettable Mainau Island near Lindau, Lake Constance. For some wilder beauty, head for the lush landscapes of Saxon Switzerland National Park.
Keukenhof Gardens
April
Now’s the time to visit a popular destination in Italy, just at the start of the season, when the weather is fine and there’s blossom on the trees, but it’s not yet busy. Our top recommendation is the Cinque Terre. You can walk along the clifftop paths between picture-perfect villages and enjoy each one without the crowds. Other great options are Lake Como, Andalucia and Croatia. Dubrovnik is a popular place to visit but the walled city is relatively compact, so it’s perfect for discovering when it’s quieter.
Dubrovnik Harbour
May
All aboard! The world-famous Venice Simplon-Orient-Express starts the first of its two annual return journeys to Istanbul this month. Find out more about this iconic holiday here. Alternatively, another iconic train, the Rocky Mountaineer, can be great to experience in May, when the Rockies are emerging from sleep and there’s lush greenery contrasting with the snowy peaks, along with powerful waterfalls from meltwater and abundant wildlife.
Rocky Mountaineer
June
Our top recommendation for June 2026 is the Inlandsbanan, a train that runs through the summer through the unspoilt scenery of rural Sweden. You can also take advantage of long days of sunlight with visits to Copenhagen or Stockholm. Alternatively, why not experience the start of lavender season in Provence, with warm sunny days but less competition for visits to the food market and trips to the beach.
July
It’s not necessarily traditional thinking, but in our opinion, Switzerland is a great place to see in summer! You can see green mountain meadows and clear glacial streams contrasting with the snow-capped mountains aboard the Glacier and Bernina Expresses, watch the scenery changing as you climb up to the peak of the Jungfrau Mountain or enjoy a dip in Lake Geneva at Montreux or Lausanne. Cities like Bern and Lugano also have wonderful al fresco dining with beautiful backdrops.
Jungfrau Mountain Railway
August
Why not experience the midnight sun this month with a trip to northern Norway or Swedish and Finnish Lapland? You can cruise along the Norwegian coast with the Hurtigruten Coastal Express or take the train all the way from London to above the Arctic Circle. With our Grand Tour of Scandinavia, you can also include a visit to the unworldly and breathtaking Lofoten Islands.
Hurtigruten cruise ship
September
This month, it’s harvest season in much of Europe. Visit the Rhine Valley, Champagne & Beaujolais or Porto & the Douro Valley for some great wines and wine festivals. In Uzbekistan, you can see markets overflowing with melons and other fresh produce, with festivals taking place in different cities throughout the month. The country also celebrates its Independence Day on 1st September.
Uzbekistan
October
Our top destination for autumn colours is Lake Bled in Slovenia, a stunning destination any time of the year, but especially when the leaves are changing and the visitors are lessening. Other top picks include the landscapes of Bavaria (see Neuschwanstein Castle below), the Lavaux Vineyards along the shores of Lake Geneva and the forests of Transylvania. Why not travel by train all the way from London to Brasov, Sibiu, Bucharest and the Black Sea?
Neuschwanstein Castle, Bavaria
November
If you’ve ever wanted to take an epic journey by train, why not choose November to travel by rail and sea to Morocco! The weather warms up as you travel south through Spain and you’ll leave the low temperatures of Northern Europe behind as you head across the Straits of Messina. You can also take this trip with a guide on our Escorted Journey to Marrakech departing this month.
The end of November is also the start of Christmas market season in Europe, and we’ve curated our top 10 Christmas Markets by train with dates, highlights and how to get there by rail. Plus, a few pre-planned holiday itineraries to browse.
Djemaa-el-Fna – Marrakech
December
Christmas is just around the corner, and December brings plenty of reasons to travel by train. Head to Rovaniemi in Finnish Lapland to meet Father Christmas, which can be included as part of our Finnish Explorer, or travel to Bergen to see the world’s largest Gingerbread City. Elsewhere, you could enjoy Christmas lunch aboard the British Pullman or see the Swiss Alps in winter aboard the Glacier Express. Find more inspiration in our guide to 10 festive experiences to visit by train.
Gingerbread City, Bergen
Tailor make your dream holiday, any time of year
If you know when you want to go on holiday and exactly what you’d like to do, just contact our friendly team and let them know your plans. We’ll help put together the perfect bespoke holiday for you.
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