2025 has been named the year of new luxury trains. Several eloquent, luxury train experiences are set to hit the world’s rails this year.  This follows a strong surge in tourists prioritizing slow paced and sustainable ventures.

The most iconic train journeys should be forgotten. Some are just as adored after 40 years on the train tracks.  Thus, this begs the question: which luxury rain experiences captivate our hearts the most?

The experts at Japan Rail Pass provide analysis of popular luxury train rides from around the world. using collating and comparing factors such as TripAdvisor reviews, Instagram hashtags, and global search volumes.  As a result, they reveal a list of the world’s most sought-after luxury train journeys in 2025.

Key Findings

• Rocky Mountaineer, situated in Vancouver, ranks as the world’s best luxury train journey, scoring a respectable 8.88/10.
• Napa Valley Wine Train, based in California ranks second scoring 8.81/10.
• Luxury train journeys in Canada rank twice within the top ten.
• The Twilight Express, based in Japan ranks 9th, with a strong score of 7.90/10.

Top 10 best luxury train rides across the globe

Rocky Mountaineer: Vancouver, Canada

Topping the list as the world’s best luxury train is the Rocky Mountaineer in Vancouver, Canada, with a score of 8.88/10. This captivating train ride is available on four routes, in British Columbia, Alberta, Colorado and Utah. 

Passengers can expect to view the breathtaking Canadian Rockies and Pacific Northwest. Enjoy viewing through glass-domed carriages with luxury food inspired by the regions it passes through. The train also boasts an average Tripadvisor score of 4.4 stars, over 60k Instagram hashtags, and is searched for online 48,000 times a month on average.

Napa Valley Wine Train: Napa Valley, California

Taking second place with a score of 8.81/10 is the Napa Valley Wine Train.  This luxury train runs through the scenic heart of California’s Napa Valley. It features vintage carriages and carefully restored interiors. As a result, the train offers a leisurely journey past vineyards, charming towns, and rolling hills, capturing the region’s relaxed pace.

It holds an average TripAdvisor rating of 4.5 stars, has been tagged in over 17,000 Instagram posts, and sees around 29,000 online searches each month.

GoldenPass Express: Montreux, Switzerland

The GoldenPass Express ranks third, scoring 8.66/10. Located in Switzerland, it takes passengers from the resort town of Montreux to Interlaken in the Bernese Oberland.  Continuing, it transitions from lakeside vistas to stunning mountainscapes. All are visible through the train’s panoramic windows. 

This experience has an average review of 4.5 stars, 17k Instagram hashtags, and an average of 9,300 monthly online searches.

Rovos Rail: Pretoria, South Africa

Ranking as the fourth most luxurious train ride in the world is Rovos Rail in South Africa. It scores 8.6/10 in the study. Said to be one of the most luxurious train journeys in the world, this train encompasses vintage charm.  It has a wood-paneled interior and fine dining aboard. 

This experience invites passengers to experience the historical towns and wilderness of South Africa. It boasts over 13.7K Instagram hashtags, an average of 17,000 monthly searches, and a gleaming average review of 4.5 stars.

The Ghan: Adelaide, Australia

With a score of 8.54/10 and securing fifth place is The Ghan, in Australia. A luxury train service that operates between the northern and southern coasts. It passes through the cities of Adelaide, Alice Springs and Darwin on the Adelaide – Darwin rail corridor. 

This luxury ride has scored an average review of 4.3 stars, 13.2k tags on Instagram and the second highest monthly searches in the dataset, with 22,200 enquiries on average.

Haroun Khan is the Founder of JR Pass.  He discusses on the rising demand for luxury train experiences in Japan:

“When people think of trains in Japan, high speed travel might immediately spring to mind. But the inclusion of the Twilight Express, and Seven Stars within the world’s most luxury train rankings showcases the finer experiences that rail travel in Japan can bring.

“With sightseeing and experiential travel being a key motivator for tourists to visit Japan, as well as other beautiful destinations, blending this with embarking on rail journeys is quickly becoming a favourite for tourists, whether looking for a luxury experience or simply have an appreciation for slow, immersive travel. We’ve seen a clear shift in demand toward these kinds of journeys, not just as transport, but as destinations in themselves.”

Photo: Pixabay

Each year, Italy is consistently one of the top luxury travel destinations in the world. For a truly VIP experience this winter, travel Italy by luxury train. Art cities, ski resorts, Christmas markets, quaint little villages and spa towns. Plus, Italian tourism has all manner of treats to offer even in the winter. Italy attracts millions of travelers from around the world.

Mass tourism to Italy is not solely reserved for the summer months. Therefore, the historical land of La Dolce Vita is also ready and waiting to welcome tourists over the winter. For example, the figures from the last winter season speak for themselves. 25 million incoming visitors and just under 72.2 million overnight stays. Yest, more and more foreigners find themselves captivated by the country’s ski resorts and enchanting little villages. As a result, a new record number of tourists from other countries being expected this year.

Truly unmissable winter destinations

Ski resorts are undoubtedly top of the list of most desirable holiday destinations. These include Cortina d’Ampezzo, Livigno, Bormio, Courmayeur and Bardonecchia. Locations with something to offer lovers of all winter sports. For example, downhill and cross-country skiing, snowboarding, ice skating, snowshoeing and many more. But that’s not all, because the mountains are not the exclusive preserve of sports enthusiasts.

Take a luxury train to enjoy countless activities to be enjoyed in these little gems set in the highest peaks of the Italian Alps. Also, feast on wonderful cuisine. Foodies can seek hearty traditional flavors and to please a sophisticated palate in search of delicacy.

There are many ways to enjoy with a true Italian experience. It’s a cultural hub that offers visitors the opportunity to travel in authentic Italian style. For those looking to immerse themselves in all the Christmas magic of Italy, take a luxury train for convenient travel.

Winter Experience: excellent deals from the Passenger Hub

The most popular holiday destinations are increasingly easy to reach by luxury train. Passenger Hub of the FS Group is made up of Trenitalia, Busitalia, Ferrovie del Sud Est and FS Treni Turistici Italiani.

There are new links to ski resorts and tourist destinations in the mountains. Therefore, more travel solutions seamlessly integrated with train, bus and air connections. For mountain lovers, Trenitalia now offers new services running from Friday to Sunday for Oulx and Bardonecchia from Naples, Rome, Florence, Bologna and Milan.

Two new Frecciarossa trains a day will also serve Trento, Rovereto and Bolzano with departures from Rome, Florence and Bologna> Thus, a total of 12 Freccia trains per day, plus two new Frecciarossa trains will run from from Milan at weekends. Skiers can also reach the peaks of the Dolomites with Alleghe Link, a regional intermodal service that includes buses from Belluno to Agordo, Alleghe, Caprile and Arabba. Also, travelers from Milan can now hop aboard a Eurocity for an easy way to reach Switzerland. The memorable Swiss holiday season features Christmas markets in Zurich, Berne, Basel, Montreux, Lausanne and Geneva.

<h5>Treni Turistici Italiani: Cortina-bound “Espresso Cadore”</h5>

For a journey of pure relaxation and luxury, FS company Treni Turisti Italiani will be connecting Rome with Cortina d’Ampezzo. The company’s very first overnight luxury train will offer passengers exceptional levels of comfort. Choose from single or double sleeper cabins, with dinner and breakfast included in the cost of the ticket. Hence, travelers can also opt to be waited on with a luxurious dinner in the dining car. It is accessible by reservation, along with an all-night bar. Luggage and sports equipment will all travel on a securely supervised baggage car. They will be ready for collection at each station upon arrival.

The Life of Luxury can help you plan and book your entire luxury vacation to Italy. We provide the best luxury accommodations to provide a VIP experience you will never forget.

(Credit: Jiji Press/AFP/Getty Images)

For those wanting to enjoy the local Japan sites onboard a train and travel in ultimate luxury, then consider the new luxury suite from JR Kyushu.

JR Kyushu is a regional, Japanese railway and recently announced a deluxe passenger service that travels across the volcanic southern island of Kyushu. They have become first company in Japan to build a luxury sleeper cruise train.

Luxury comes with a cost, and 2 train tickets on the Seven Stars train can set you back as much as $11,500!

Seven Stars is a “cruise train” that consists of only seven cars. Traditional bullet trains that whisk passengers across Japan at extreme speeds have never been confused with luxury. But Seven Stars plans to change that label.

JR Kyushu states, “The ‘Seven Stars in Kyushu’ cruise train, combines traditional and modern styling in Japanese and Western designs to create a new dimension in elegance and grace.”

Deluxe Suite A can be found in the end car and definitely saves the best for last. Deluxe Suite A features a 226-square-foot room, offering stunning views from a 5-foot panoramic window with an unobstructed line of site from the back of the luxurious Seven Stars train.

The luxury Seven Stars train doesn’t just zoom from point A to point B, but stops by huge volcanoes and relaxing hot springs of Kirishima and Yufuin.

For an insider’s peak at Seven Stars train, take a look at the below video.

As you roll through the scenic Kyushu hills, you will pass Mt. Aso, which is one of the world’s largest volcanoes. The journey continues southern Japanese port city of Kagoshima. You will there be able to see another volcano – Sakurajima. The journey ends by making the round-trip back to where it all started in Hakata.

To relax and enjoy yourself in a more social setting, there is a bar in the lounge car, plus couches and rotating chairs for passengers to sit in while enjoying live musical performances.

Current suite pricing for two people will cost you $5,750 per person for a four-day, three-night journey. The demand has been so high that Deluxe Suite A is already sold out through June of 2014.

You thought the $11,500 price was steep, then get ready for this. Beginning for July journeys, the price shoots up to around $7,835 per person for double occupancy.

If you ready to travel the Japan countryside in luxury style and book a reservation on the Seven Stars Train, then please contact The Life of Luxury and speak to one of our travel concierge specialists.