From frost-dusted coasts inside the Arctic Circle to Alpine peaks draped in fresh powder, Europe’s railways have quietly become one of the continent’s most atmospheric ways to celebrate Christmas. As airlines contend with busy skies and winter storms, a growing number of travelers are turning to snowbound trains that promise panoramic views, festive dining and direct access to some of the season’s most photogenic towns and ski resorts.

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Why Christmas by rail is having a moment

Rail operators across northern and central Europe report strong winter demand, with iconic routes in Lapland and the Swiss Alps often booking out weeks in advance around Christmas and New Year. For many passengers, the draw lies less in speed and more in the slow, cinematic transition from ordinary landscapes to deep winter, framed by oversized picture windows and warmed by on-board dining.

Tourism boards from Finland to Switzerland are actively promoting winter rail as part of broader campaigns to spread visitor numbers beyond the usual summer peak. In Switzerland, packaged itineraries that combine the Glacier Express and Bernina Express into multi-day winter escapes highlight the December to April season, with December singled out as a high-demand period for snow and Christmas markets. In Lapland, Finnish and Swedish rail services serve as lifelines for both residents and visitors heading to remote Arctic resorts, Santa villages and aurora-viewing lodges.

Sustainability is also part of the story. As long-haul travelers fly into major hubs such as Zurich, Geneva, Oslo or Helsinki, many are choosing to complete their journey by train instead of connecting flights or rental cars. For European travelers, night trains and daylong scenic routes offer a lower-emission alternative to short-haul aviation at a time when many countries are encouraging rail over air for domestic trips.

Into the Arctic Circle: Lapland’s Christmas rail experiences

For travelers chasing a classic northern Christmas with a chance of seeing the aurora borealis, trains into Lapland have become a seasonal staple. Finland’s overnight services from Helsinki to Rovaniemi, often described as the official hometown of Santa Claus, deliver passengers directly to the Arctic Circle, where snow, pine forests and Santa-themed attractions greet them in late November and December.

Rovaniemi’s SantaPark and the nearby Santa Claus Village, both positioned near the Arctic Circle line, draw hundreds of thousands of visitors each winter with grotto visits, elf workshops and snow activities. The night train, with its sleeping cabins and dining car, transforms the approach into part of the holiday, particularly for families traveling with children who wake up to find the landscape transformed from bare ground in southern Finland to deep snow in Lapland.

Across the border in Sweden and Norway, railways thread north toward the Arctic coast and traditional mining and fishing communities. Lines to destinations such as Kiruna in Swedish Lapland and Narvik in Norway combine heavy industry with winter tourism, carrying skiers, aurora hunters and cruise passengers heading to and from Arctic ports. Operators have been investing in refreshed rolling stock and improved on-board services to meet the seasonal surge, while also warning that the most popular departures over Christmas and New Year can sell out if booked too late.

Snowbound sleepers and the revival of the night train

While daytime panoramas dominate social media, night trains are quietly underpinning many of Europe’s Christmas rail journeys. In the north, sleepers allow passengers to leave capital cities in the evening and wake up the next morning inside the Arctic Circle. In central Europe, night trains link hubs such as Vienna, Zurich, Munich and Hamburg with mountain regions and Christmas market cities.

Railway companies across the continent are investing in modern sleeping cars with private compartments, showers and family cabins. This revival has dovetailed neatly with the resurgence of festive tourism, as travelers look for a way to combine transport and accommodation while still arriving in time for morning sled rides, ski lessons or market visits.

Industry officials say demand is particularly strong on Friday and Saturday departures in December, when city residents head to the mountains for long weekends in the snow.

For families, the appeal is as much about the ritual as the practicality. Boarding a sleeper in the glow of a decorated station, watching snow accumulate on the window and tucking into a simple supper in the dining car has become part of the seasonal narrative, especially for children experiencing their first long-distance train journey.

Travel advisers note that many families now plan itineraries that mix one or two nights on board with several nights in a chalet or lodge, using the train as both transport and memory-making experience.

Switzerland’s Glacier Express: a moving Christmas postcard

In Switzerland, the Glacier Express remains one of winter’s most sought-after train journeys, particularly between December and early April. Often billed as one of the slowest express trains in the world, it links Zermatt and St. Moritz along a 291 kilometer route that crosses three cantons and an array of high Alpine landscapes. The train runs daily in winter, with panoramic cars offering floor-to-ceiling views of frozen rivers, snow-covered bridges and steep valleys.

Swiss travel specialists highlight the Glacier Express as a centerpiece of four-day and longer winter packages, with December marked as a high season thanks to reliable snow cover and festive events in mountain resorts. Travelers frequently combine the rail journey with stays in St. Moritz, Zermatt or Brig, timing departures to coincide with Christmas markets, torchlight ski descents and seasonal concerts.

On board, the experience leans into the season. Reservation-only dining brings multi-course meals to passengers’ seats, served against a backdrop of frost-laced forests and peaks. As the train climbs to the Oberalp Pass, which at just over 2,000 meters is the highest point on the line, carriages often move through a landscape that appears entirely white, broken only by dark pine stands and the occasional cluster of farm buildings.

Tour operators warn that seats in the panoramic cars can sell out well ahead of Christmas and New Year, particularly in first class. Travelers are being encouraged to book several months in advance for December departures, and to consider early January dates if they are seeking slightly quieter trains while still enjoying deep winter conditions.

The Bernina Express and a new winter offer in the Alps

Running between Chur or St. Moritz and Tirano in northern Italy, the Bernina Express is another Swiss route that has become a Christmas favorite. The train traverses the Albula and Bernina lines, which together form a UNESCO World Heritage railway landscape, climbing to more than 2,200 meters at Ospizio Bernina before descending through spirals and viaducts to the vineyards and palms of the Italian side.

In winter, the contrast is particularly striking. Passenger reports describe icy-blue lakes, snow-laden roofs and the gentle glow of high-mountain villages as the train inches along its narrow-gauge track. The panorama cars, with their wide, curved windows, are designed for sightseeing, and rail enthusiasts say that midwinter departures often provide some of the clearest views when cold air reduces haze.

This season, the Rhaetian Railway has introduced a dedicated winter special for the Bernina Express that targets Christmas and New Year travelers. A new offer, bookable from November 1, 2025, to January 31, 2026, prices a return journey for two in the panoramic car from Chur to Poschiavo, Le Prese or Tirano at 249 Swiss francs, including lunch in a partner restaurant featuring traditional pizzoccheri from the Val Poschiavo. The promotion underscores how operators are using bundled dining and rail to extend the festive atmosphere beyond the train itself.

Travel advisers suggest that passengers considering the Bernina Express in December or early January book both their seats and connecting accommodation early, as snow-sure resorts in the Engadin and along the route attract skiers, winter hikers and Christmas market visitors on the same trains. Shoulder dates before Christmas or after Epiphany can offer a quieter experience while still delivering heavy snow on the higher sections of the line.

Beyond Switzerland: alpine and cross-border festive routes

While the Glacier and Bernina Express dominate winter rail marketing, a cluster of lesser-known routes across the Alps and central Europe are seeing rising seasonal interest. Scenic trains in Austria’s Tyrol and Salzburg regions, for example, are used by both commuters and tourists heading to resorts that host Advent markets and ski-opening festivals. Lines that run along lakes and through narrow valleys gain particular attention in December when villages light their waterfronts and church spires for Advent.

Germany and Austria’s traditional Christmas market cities also rely on regional and intercity trains to funnel visitors into historic centers where car access is restricted or discouraged. Rail timetables typically see added services on peak weekends in early and mid-December, when market attendance swells. In some cases, heritage steam trains are brought out of storage for special Advent excursions, though these often sell out quickly and operate only on specific dates.

Cross-border routes remain important for travelers piecing together multi-country Christmas itineraries. Journeys that link Munich to Verona over the Brenner Pass, or Vienna to Zurich through the Arlberg region, are increasingly marketed as scenic experiences in their own right, with winter timetables designed to show off the daytime mountain scenery. While these services are not strictly tourist trains, their large windows and on-board catering make them attractive alternatives to driving in potentially hazardous winter conditions.

How operators are preparing for a busy 2025 festive season

With Christmas 2025 approaching, European railways are making operational adjustments to cope with a mix of strong tourism demand and challenging winter weather. Operators in mountainous regions are reinforcing snow-clearing capacity and reviewing contingency plans for avalanches and heavy snowfall, particularly on single-track sections where delays can ripple across the network.

In Switzerland, the companies behind the Glacier Express and Bernina Express are emphasizing punctuality and service continuity while promoting their winter products through national tourism campaigns. Dedicated winter packages that combine multiple scenic trains with hotel stays, ski passes and local transport passes are intended to simplify planning and spread visitors more evenly across the season, rather than concentrating them solely on the days around December 25.

Farther north, Nordic rail companies are balancing their role as essential public transport for remote communities with the influx of international visitors headed to Christmas destinations such as Rovaniemi and Kiruna. Officials have pointed to the need for early booking, particularly in sleeping cars, to avoid disappointment. At the same time, economic and environmental arguments in favor of rail are likely to sustain investment in new rolling stock, which in turn can offer improved comfort and amenities for winter tourists.

Practical tips for planning a Christmas train journey

Travel planners advise that anyone considering a Christmas rail journey in Europe for the 2025 or 2026 festive seasons approach it as they would a long-haul holiday, rather than a last-minute getaway. That means reserving key scenic trains such as the Glacier Express and Bernina Express several months in advance, with particular attention to panoramic cars and first-class sections that have limited capacity.

Passengers are also encouraged to think through connections carefully, particularly in winter. Building in extra time between long-distance trains reduces the impact of weather-related delays, especially at mountain junctions where snow and ice can slow operations. Choosing central hotels within walking distance of main railway stations can make early morning departures or late-night arrivals far easier, especially for families with children and heavy luggage.

On board, dress codes skew toward comfort and layering rather than formality. Even on high-end panoramic services, passengers are more likely to be in winter sportswear or casual sweaters than business attire. Good footwear is essential for station platforms and snowy streets, while a small daypack with snacks, water and entertainment for younger travelers can make long journeys feel shorter, particularly if dining cars are busy at peak times.

FAQ

Q1. What are the most iconic Christmas train journeys in Europe right now?
The Glacier Express and Bernina Express in Switzerland, along with overnight services into Finnish and Swedish Lapland, are among the most sought-after Christmas rail journeys, thanks to their combination of deep snow, mountain scenery and access to festive resorts and Santa-themed attractions.

Q2. When is the best time to book Christmas train tickets for 2025?
For departures in December 2025, travel advisers recommend booking panoramic scenic trains three to six months in advance, especially for dates close to Christmas and New Year, and securing sleeper cabins on popular night routes as soon as reservations open.

Q3. Is winter weather a serious risk to these train journeys?
Rail operators in the Alps and the Arctic are accustomed to severe winter conditions and maintain extensive snow-clearing and avalanche-protection systems, but heavy snowfall or storms can still cause delays, which is why building extra time into itineraries is advised.

Q4. Are these Christmas trains suitable for young children?
Yes, many families travel with young children on both sleeper services to the Arctic and panoramic day trains in the Alps, and while there are no theme-park theatrics on most services, the scenery, occasional visits from on-board hosts and the anticipation of reaching Santa villages or ski resorts keep children engaged.

Q5. How expensive are Christmas train journeys compared with flying?
Point-to-point airfares can be cheaper, but once airport transfers, baggage fees and winter driving costs are included, rail can be competitive, especially when using rail passes, advance-purchase fares or seasonal offers such as bundled journeys with meals included.

Q6. Do I need special clothing or gear for winter rail travel?
Trains themselves are well heated, so standard winter clothing is sufficient on board, but passengers should pack warm, waterproof layers, sturdy footwear and hats and gloves for station platforms, outdoor transfers and time spent in snowbound destinations.

Q7. Can I bring skis or snowboards on these trains?
Most long-distance and regional services serving alpine resorts have space for skis and snowboards, either in dedicated racks or luggage areas, although passengers may need to reserve spots or travel outside peak commuter times on some routes to ensure space.

Q8. Are Christmas rail journeys accessible for passengers with reduced mobility?
Newer rolling stock on major scenic and night routes typically includes accessible toilets, boarding ramps and dedicated spaces for wheelchairs, but availability can vary by train and class, so travelers are advised to request assistance and confirm facilities at the time of booking.

Q9. What kind of food and drink can I expect on board?
Offerings range from full multi-course meals served at your seat on premium panoramic services to simple bistro or trolley service on regional and night trains, and many passengers supplement these options with their own snacks and bottled water, especially when traveling with children.

Q10. Is travel insurance recommended for Christmas train trips?
Given the combination of winter weather, high seasonal demand and the cost of some panoramic and sleeper tickets, comprehensive travel insurance that covers delays, missed connections and accommodation changes is widely recommended for festive rail itineraries.