travel town train rides

Travel Town Museum

Travel town museum is open 10am-5pm seven days a week (closed thanksgiving day & christmas day)., no reservations to visit are needed., the exhibit hall, gallery, and depot are now open., we are now accepting reservations for picnic spots and party areas, feel free to give us a call at (323) 662-5874 if you have any questions., days & hours of operation.

Train Rides in Griffith Park

You could easily spend an entire day in Griffith Park doing nothing but taking train rides and visiting the railroad museum. In fact, Griffith Park has more train rides than any other kind of recreation. 

Here's a roundup of all the trains you can ride, see, climb on and enjoy.

Los Angeles Live Steamers and Carolwood Pacific Railroad Company

Fans of miniature trains like it but for Walt Disney fans, it's a don't-miss stop. That's because the Carolwood Pacific Railroad Company preserves Disney's barn workshop, his original engines, and railroad cars. 

It's next to the Los Angeles Live Steamers club, run by hobbyists who operate 1/8th-scale trains on a 1.5-mile track. Check out the Los Angeles Live Steamers website for more information .

You can't ride Walt's trains, but you can take a ride on one of the other miniature trains, which are cute and fun. Imagine Ricky Schroeder and his dad rolling into their living room riding a train on the television show "Silver Spoons" — or that classic photo of Walt Disney riding his private miniature train in his back yard.

The Live Steamers also run a fun Halloween Ghost Train in October. The railroad is run by volunteers, open to the public on a limited schedule, and does not charge admission. There is a small fee for the train ride. You can read reviews of Live Steamers at Yelp .

Learn more about  Carolwood Pacific Railroad Company here . The railroad is located at 5202 Zoo Drive.

Travel Town

Next door to the Los Angeles Live Steamers you'll find the Travel Town Museum and Travel Town Railroad. Travel Town's 16-inch gauge miniature railroad is slightly smaller than the 18.5-inch gauge over at Griffith Park & Southern.

Travel Town's railroad history began in the 1950s when the city ran a narrow-gauge railroad along the Los Angeles River and Zoo Drive. In 1975, the city of LA commissioned the Travel Town Railroad to run a miniature train around the perimeter of the museum.

Walt Disney wasn't the only train-loving celebrity of the twentieth century. The entire train at Travel Town came from singing cowboy Gene Autry’s Melody Ranch. The original locomotive was replaced with a non-steam version, but the cars are original.

Travel Town Museum  is also worth a stop if you love railroads. It has a collection of significant locomotives and rolling stock from Southern California. For railroad buffs, docents give guided tours of selected railroad cars the second Saturday of every month. Check the guided tour schedule.

The Travel Town Museum gets extraordinarily high ratings from visitors, who love the fact that they have real trains you can climb onto. Kids seem to like it, and lots of people say it's a good place for a birthday party. Travel Town is the highest-rated railroad experience in Griffith Park. To get a better idea of what it's like,  read some of the Travel Town Reviews at Yelp . 

Travel Town is open every day of the year except December 25 and does not charge an admission fee, although you do have to pay for the train ride. It is at 5200 Zoo Drive, next to the Live Steamers.

Find out more at the Travel Town website .

Griffith Park and Southern Railroad

As if all those trains aren't enough, there's more. Miniature trains have operated at the Griffith Park and Southern's location since the 1940s, but the Griffith Park and Southern Railroad started in the 1960s. It has a mile of track, and everything is about one-third the size of standard trains. The cars are reproductions of classic American trains from the early twentieth century.

People like the Griffith Park and Southern. They especially praise the holiday train ride and talk about how much fun small children have there. To see what others have to say, you can  read some of their reviews at Yelp .

The Griffith Park and Southern Railroad is open every day of the year, except for Christmas Day, Their trains run on a mile of track, across a bridge, through a forest and an Old Western Town and the ride takes about 10 minutes. They charge a fare that's as scaled-down as their trains are. It's at 4400 Crystal Springs Drive.

The Griffith Park and Southern Railroad runs a Holiday Light Festival Train ride for the Christmas season. It runs from just after Thanksgiving through the end of the year.

You can get their hours and more details at the Griffith Park and Southern Railroad website.

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Travel Town Museum

Travel Town Museum is a railroad museum located in Griffith Park, Los Angeles, California. It was established in 1952 with the donation of SP 0-6-0 3025 as its first locomotive. It features a collection of historic steam locomotives, diesel locomotives, passenger cars, and freight cars.

Visitors to Travel Town can explore the museum's collection of trains and related exhibits, take a ride on a miniature train that circles the museum grounds, and learn about the history of railroading in California and the United States. The museum also offers educational programs and special events throughout the year, such as guided tours, holiday train rides, and steam locomotive demonstrations.

Travel Town is open to the public free of charge, although donations are accepted to support the museum's ongoing preservation and educational efforts. The museum is a popular destination for families with young children, train enthusiasts, and anyone interested in the history of transportation in the United States.

For more information, please visit the official Travel Town Museum web site .

Steam Locomotives on Display

AT&SF 2-8-0 #664

AT&SF 2-8-0 #664 was a steam locomotive operated by the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway (AT&SF) in the United States. Originally numbered 891, this was part of the 664 class of steam locomotives, which were built by the Baldwin Locomotive Works in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in the early 1898.

The 2-8-0 wheel arrangement, also known as a Consolidation type, was a common freight locomotive design in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The "2-8-0" designation refers to the arrangement of the locomotive's wheels, with two leading wheels, eight driving wheels, and no trailing wheels.

AT&SF 2-8-0 #664 served the AT&SF for over five decades on Santa Fe's Northern, Southern, Panhandle, Plains, and Gulf Divisions. The engine's appearance changed very little during its 55-year career, and the locomotive was in active service when the Santa Fe Railroad donated it to Travel Town.

Conrock 0-6-0ST #1

#1 was built in 1925 by Alco (Cooke Works) for Reliance Rock in Azusa, CA. Consolidated Rock Products (Conrock) acquired the locomotive in January, 1929. #1 was a tank-type locomotive and weighed 65 tons. Specifically, it was a saddle-tank locomotive where the water tank, in the shape of a saddle, was draped over the boiler of the locomotive. With fuel carried in a bunker behind the cab, there was no need for a tender, making this type of locomotive very suitable for yard switching duties.

Conrock #1 was donated to the museum in 1958 by Consolidated Rock Products.

Camino-Placerville & Lake Tahoe 3-Truck Shay #2

This 3-Truck Shay was built in 1922 by Lima Locomotive Works for the Little River Redwood Company in Crannell, CA as their #4. Little River Redwood merged into Hammond & Little River Redwood in 1931. In 1935 the engine was sold to the Camino, Placerville & Lake Tahoe as their #2. In 1936 it was sold to Michigan-California Lumber Company. It was donated to the museum in 1955 by Michigan-California.

Los Angeles Harbor Department 0-4-0ST #31

#31 was built in 1921 by the Davenport Locomotive Works. 31 was used to haul rock in the Catalina Island quarry. The rock was used in the construction of the Los Angeles Harbor and breakwater.

Destined to be scrapped, 31 was rescued from a scrapyard and donated to the museum in 1952 by the City of Los Angeles.

Los Angeles Harbor Department 0-4-0ST #32

#32 was built in 1914 by Alco (Rogers Works). 32 was used to haul rock in the Catalina Island quarry. The rock was used in the construction of the Los Angeles Harbor and breakwater.

Destined to be scrapped, 32 was rescued from a scrapyard and donated to the museum in 1952 by the City of Los Angeles.

Pickering Lumber 3-Truck Heisler #2

#2 was built by Heisler in 1918 for the Hetch Hetchy Railroad. It was used during the construction of the O'Shaughnessy Dam which was to provide a water source for San Francisco and surrounding areas. After the completion of the dam, it was sold in 1923 to the Standard Lumber Company (Pickering Lumber). It was donated to the museum in 1957 by the Pickering Lumber Corporation.

Sharp & Fellows 2-6-2 #7

#7 was built as a 2-6-0 in 1902 by Alco (Dickson Works) for the Minnesota Land and Construction Company. It was sold to the Dulutn, Virginia & Rainy Lake Railway in 1903. In 1909 it was sold to C. H. Sharp Construction Company who added a two-wheel trailing truck. It was then used in the construction of the Santa Fe Railway system from Kansas to California. During WWI, #7 served at Camp Kearney, San Diego. It was donated to the museum in 1955 by the Sharp & Fellows Contracting Company.

Santa Maria Valley 2-8-2 #1000

This 2-8-2 was built in 1920 by Alco (Schenectady Works) for the Hetch Hetchy Railroad as their #4. It was used during the construction of the O'Shaughnessy Dam which was to provide a water source for San Francisco and surrounding areas. After the completion of the dam, it was sold to the Newaukum Valley Railroad in Washington and renumbered 1000. In 1944 it was sold to the Santa Maria Valley Railroad. It was donated to the museum in 1953 by the Santa Maria Valley Railroad.

Southern Pacific 0-6-0 #1273

SP 1273 was built in 1921 by the Southern Pacific (Sacramento Shops). It was donated to the museum in 1957 by the Southern Pacific.

Southern Pacific 0-4-0 #20

#20 was built as an 0-4-2T in 1880 by Baldwin Locomotive Works for the Market Street, Park & Cliff Railroad in San Francisco. Because it was used on a "Street Railroad", it was constructed with a wooden shell representing a street car. Supposedly, this was to prevent it from frightening horses. Locomotives like this were sometimes called "Steam Motors" or "Steam Dummies". This locomotive changed hands and was renumbered many times. In 1905 it was converted to an 0-4-0T before being used as a shop switcher by the Southern Pacific. It has been on permanent loan since 1954 by the Railway and Locomotive Historical Society, Southern California Chapter.

Southern Pacific 4-4-2 #3025

3025 was built in 1904 by Alco (Schenectady Works). It was built with very tall drivers (81 inches) for passenger service on the California coast and possibly used on the Daylight, Starlight, and Lark trains. It was donated to the museum in 1952 by the Southern Pacific.

Stockton Terminal & Eastern 4-4-0 #1

This 4-4-0 was built in 1864 by Norris-Lancaster. This was one of 10 locomotives used to construct a railroad line between Sacramento and San Jose. Those 10 locomotives were lettered "A" through "J". This locomotive was letter "G" and named "Mariposa". It was then acquired by the Central Pacific and became their second #31, replacing a previous #31 which has suffered an explosion. It was sold to the Stockton, Terminal and Eastern in 1914. It was donated to the museum in 1953 by the Stockton Terminal & Eastern Railroad.

Union Pacific 0-6-0 #4439

4439 was built by Baldwin in 1918 for the Union Pacific. 4439 was one of many 0-6-0s that worked in switching yards. 4439 worked for many years in Cheyenne, WY and then on the Loas Angeles Harbor Belt line. It was retired in 1957 due to an order by the Air Pollution Control Board. It was donated to the museum in 1957 by the Union Pacific.

Western Pacific 2-8-0 #26

26 was built in 1909 by Alco (Schenectady Words) for the Western Pacific. It spent time working in Utah and Nevada. It was donated to the museum in 1954 by the Western Pacific Railroad.

1st Generation Diesels

(and Electrics)

California Western RS-12 #56

56 was built in 1955 by the Baldwin Locomotive Works as the McCloud River 33. A total of 50 RS-12s were built by Baldwin. This model had 1200 hp with AAR a type B-B wheel arrangement. In 1969 it was sold to the Chrome Crankshaft Company and then in 1970 sold to the California Western Railroad in Fort Bragg. There is was renumbered as their 56.

56 came to Travel Town with the intention of operating on Travel Town's own proposed railroad through Griffith Park to the Los Angeles Zoo.

• Side view (2022 Wes Barris photo)

American Locomotive Crane #1887

This crane was built in 1943 by the American Hoist & Derrick Company. Its lifting capacity is 40 tons (50 tons with outriggers). It was donated to the museum in 1999 by the Boeing Corporation.

Pacific Electric #1544

1544 was built in 1902 by the North Shore Railroad. It is a one-of-a-kind electric locomotive constructed from two steam locomotive slope-back tenders. It reportedly drew such large amounts of current that other electric cars on the line would slow to a crawl, and therefore, was not considered a success. It was purchased in 1917 by Pacific Electric and used on various construction projects in Los Angeles until being retired in 1952. It was donated to the museum in 1953 by the Pacific Electric Company.

Travel Town #52

"Charley Atkins" was built in 1941 by EMD for the US Navy and served at the Torpedo Station on Goat Island, RI. It later served at the Naval Air Station, North Island, San Diego. In 1962 it was transferred to the McDonnell-Douglas Aircraft Corporation in Torrance, CA. It was donated to the museum in 1988 by the McDonnell-Douglas Corporation and became the first display locomotive at the museum to move under its own power since 1961.

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Operating at Griffith Park & Southern Railroad (18.5" gauge)

The Colonel Griffith

2-8-0 locomotive built by Severn Lamb Ltd. in 1983. This beautiful locomotive and tender were built by one of the premier builders in the world. Severn Lamb has been commissioned to build models for the Smithsonian and several major museums in the United Kingdom. The motive power is in the tender. It consists of a Wisconsin four cylinder, air-cooled engine fueled by propane. The engine drives a hydraulic pump which provides power to a large hydraulic motor on the locomotive..

The Freedom Train

A streamliner built by the All American Streamliner Co. of Los Angeles. This locomotive was built in the 1950s and is modeled after the famous EMC "F" series of streamliners. It consists of an A-unit (the front unit with the engine and powertrain) and a B-unit, where the engineer sits. This is the lightest of our locomotives. It was repainted in 1976 to mirror the real Freedom Train that toured the US celebrating our bicentennial.

The Stanley Diamond

A 2-6-0 mogul built by Gerry Bowden in 1993. This locomotive and its brother unit, the Courage, were built in Oregon in 1993 to a design by our chief engineer, Gene Gustavson. They are modeled after the narrow gauge locomotives that worked the timber and mining areas of the West during the early part of the century. This unit has identical power as the Colonel Griffith.

Five Seat Steel Coaches

Pullman style coaches built by All American Streamliner of Los Angeles. These coaches were built in the 1950's and modeled after the common Pullman passenger cars.

Six Seat Wood Gondolas

Built by Skeets Simpson in 1993 after a design by Erik Thomsen of Redwood Valley Railway. Modeled after the open freight gondolas used to carry bulk goods by railroads all over the country.

Operating at Travel Town Railroad (16" gauge)

The Courage

A 2-6-0 mogul built by Gerry Bowden in 1993. Sister locomotive to the Stanley Diamond, built in Oregon in 1993 to a design by our chief engineer, Gene Gustavson. They are modeled after the narrow gauge locomotives that worked the timber and mining areas of the West during the early part of the century. This unit has identical power as the Colonel Griffith.

The 1986 - Diesel Switcher

Diesel switcher built by Gerry Bowden in 1986. A classic “yard goat” design, this locomotive is modeled after the EMD series of yard switchers. It’s fitting that this is our heaviest and most powerful locomotive.

Pullman Style - Six Seat Coaches

Six seat coaches built by George Reddington in 1956 for Gene Autry's Melody Ranch Special train. Similar to the Pullman style coaches at GPS, but longer, steel covers were added to these coaches in 1989 because Travel Town did not have a loading platform cover to protect the passenger seats from the sun. These coaches originally were a part of a set with a steam locomotive. The locomotive burned out its boiler and was sold in 1985.

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Griffith Park & Southern Railroad: A Miniature Train Adventure

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The Griffith Park & Southern Railroad opened in 1948 and has been a family favorite since that day. Your journey begins at the Los Feliz passenger station, where you purchase train tickets.

The trip aboard the miniature train is about a mile long and takes 15 minutes to complete. The train ride takes you over a fifty-year-old creaking bridge and into the woods of Griffith Park. Sights you will see include an old western town and an Indian village.

The miniature trains depart from the station every 30 minutes on weekends and summer season and can carry up to 70 passengers.

Griffith Park & Southern Railroad operated three trains: Colonel Griffith, a replica western steam train; the Stanley Diamond, a narrow gauge locomotive; and the Freedom Train streamliner, which is only used on special occasions.

The railroad track is approximately one mile long, with most structures built in the early 1960s. Although the scenery is a little dated, it adds to the charm of riding the train.

Pony rides were closed because The Los Angeles Alliance for Animals successfully lobbied for an ordinance banning them.

If you’re looking for the Griffith Park & Southern Railroad, you can find it at 4400 Crystal Springs Drive, close to Los Feliz and Riverside, in Los Angeles, CA. The location has free parking in the lot adjacent to the pony rides. You can purchase tickets to ride the trains at Griffith Park Southern Railroad for a few dollars.

If you want to add more train rides to your day trip, Griffith Park offers two additional options for kids.

Travel Town Train Ride Griffith Park

The Travel Town Museum is located nearby. It is just a short drive down the road, and it offers a train ride and full-size train engines and cars on display. Children can climb aboard some locomotives and experience what it would be like to be an engineer on one of these massive train engines.

Los Angeles Live Steamers Griffith Park

Join us for a delightful experience on our beautifully crafted 7½” gauge model trains with small railroad passenger cars. With a donation of $3 per person, passengers can enjoy a 15-minute ride on more than two miles of tracks, passing through a miniature world that includes tiny towns, low-hanging tunnels, and dainty bridges. The trains are well-maintained, and the journey will surely be memorable!

Los Angeles Live Steamers operates model trains that can be ridden every Sunday, from 11 am to 3 pm, except for the Sunday before Memorial Day and the first Sunday in October. The gate opens at 10:45 a.m. and closes at 3 pm. Train rides commence at 11 a.m.

Griffith Park Attractions

Southern california train rides, irvine regional park railway.

I am looking for activities and day trips to do with our summer camp from Grace Brethren Elementary school. Can you send me information about travel town, and the cost. We will have about 40 kids that maybe attending. Thank you for your time, Debbie Holmes Grace Brethren Elementary

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Here is the phone number for information (323) 662-5874

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The best train rides in the USA for seriously gorgeous views

It’s all about the journey on the best train rides in the USA, featuring mind-blowingly scenic routes

Of course, a road trip through America is one of the best ways to see the magnificent views on offer across the country, but from time to time it's just nice to take a break from being behind the wheel. Instead, how about taking one of the best train rides in the USA? Gently saunter across the country, leaving you free to contemplate life, ponder the meaning of existence or just spend a few hours thinking about nothing and staring out of the window.

Riding on a train can be a romantic, nostalgic, and best of all leisurely way to see the country. Even a commuter train between major cities can be a step up from a drive, but these scenic train rides are more than that. Geared towards long-haul trips from coast to coast, or specifically designed for enjoying the scenery, these train routes will let you take in all the glorious views.

Looking for a west coast adventure? Take the Coast Starlight from Los Angeles to Seattle . Heading to Alaska ? Catch all the highlights on the Denali Star’s 350-mile trek from Fairbanks to Anchorage. The Grand Canyon Railway and the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad will take you from quaint towns to national parks . There are even some shorter jaunts, like the Mt. Washington Cog Railway or the Hawaiian Railway that will give you a small taste of scenic train travel.

So hop aboard, enjoy the views, and take as many pics as you want without having to keep your hands on the wheel.

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Best train rides in the USA

1.  Rockies to the Red Rocks

Denver, co to moab, ut.

The first US offering from luxury Canadian company Rocky Mountaineer, the new 'Rockies to the Red Rocks' trip takes passengers on a two-day ride from Denver to Moab—passing through stunning Rocky Mountains and southwest scenery along the way. Best of all? Passengers will witness all that gorgeous nature from the train's glass-dome top! That's right, we're talking about unobstructed views of some of the most gorgeous scenery in the USA. The 2023 season will kick off in August and will run through October.

Discover the  best things to do in Denver

2.  Coast Starlight

Los angeles, ca to seattle, wa.

Put a spin on the classic left-coast road trip by traveling by train instead. The advantages? Zero wrong-turn fights and way more photo-ops. The 1,377-mile Coast Starlight route hits the best of the West: Santa Barbara, San Francisco, Sacramento, Portland and more. On the 36-hour trip, bounce from your seat to the dining car and the 'sightseer lounge car' where all the seats face the panoramic, floor-to-ceiling windows. 

Discover the best things to do in Seattle  

3.  The Grand Canyon Railway

Williams, az to the grand canyon, az.

Sure you may have been to the Grand Canyon already, but have you ever admired Grand Canyon country by train? On The Grand Canyon Railway, you’ll depart from Williams, Arizona, and roll through pine forests and prairies, spotting pronghorn and bald eagles, before arriving two hours and 15 minutes later at the epic South Rim. All of the historic cars of the Grand Canyon Railway have fascinating former lives, and some have glass-dome ceilings for unstoppable panoramas. 

Discover the best things to do in Arizona

4.  The Empire Builder

Chicago, il to portland, or.

There is only one word to describe this journey: epic. The Empire Builder runs daily between Chicago and the Pacific Northwest, mirroring much of Lewis and Clark’s original expedition. It passes through a greatest-hits list of must-see sites, from the urban (St. Cloud and Minneapolis) to the great outdoors (big-sky country and Glacier National Park ). The trip totals 46 hours, which warrants booking at least a roomette with seats that convert to beds, so you can fully stretch out once you’ve gotten your fill of landscapes under the moonlight. 

Discover the best things to do in Portland 

5.  The Alaska Denali Star

Anchorage, ak to fairbanks, ak.

This 350-mile stretch through the heart of Alaska highlights the state's beautiful, rugged wilderness. Between the birch forests, rushing rivers, caribou- and bear-spotting, views of Mt. McKinley and a stint through Denali National Park, there’s a reason this is the Alaska Railroad’s flagship sojourn. If you can swing it, splurge on a GoldStar upgrade and take in the spectacular scenery from an open-air viewing car, with absolutely nothing between you and the wild. 

Discover the best things to do in Alaska 

6.  The Great Smoky Mountains Railroad

Bryson city, nc.

It may be pint-size, but Bryson City, the departure point for this rail-riding adventure, is rich with local gems like barbecue joints, a soda fountain and a brewery. Various routes originate here, but the four-and-a-half-hour Nantahala Gorge excursion is a scenery-serving star, snaking along the forested Nantahala River and crossing the Fontana Lake by bridge. Foliage lovers take note: The leaves here are breathtaking during the fall.

Discover the best things to do in North Carolina 

7.  The Mount Washington Cog Railway

Bretton woods, nh.

Like the Little Engine That Could, this antique train chugs daily up Mount Washington , depositing its passengers at the 6,288ft peak, the highest in the Northeast. A working museum of sorts (the track dates to 1852), the Cog has the elevated feel of a gondola, only you’re in a sturdy little train. At the top, take in the sweeping views—of Canada and the Atlantic on a clear day. 

Discover the best thing to do in New Hampshire

8.  The Napa Valley Wine Train

Napa valley, ca.

On this California Wine Country track, you can get intoxicated by the scenery alone: picture-perfect wineries and hills carpeted in lush rows of vines. But you’ll have a little help, what with all the vino you’ll be sipping alongside your onboard multicourse meal—both lunch and dinner are options. The roving restaurant is made up of a collection of vintage Pullman railcars complete with mahogany panels and brass hardware. So go ahead and soak it all up—you’re not behind the wheel, after all.

Discover the best  things to do in Napa

9.  The Hawaiian Railway Society

Train travel takes a turn for the tropical on this 90-minute jaunt across Oahu in an old sugar-cane hauler traveling at the lickety-split speed of 15 miles an hour. The ride shows you a rarely-seen version of Hawaii, filled with old sisal plantations and ghost towns. Time your trip for the second Sunday of the month and you can book a seat in the elegant 1900 parlor car that was the personal ride of Oahu Railway & Land Co. founder Mr. Dillingham. It's worth noting, however, that reservations are now required to ride the train. 

Discover the best things to do in Oahu

10.  Durango Narrow Gauge Railroad

Durango, co to silverton, co.

One of the most scenic ways to experience one of the most scenic states; a ride on the Narrow Gauge Railroad isn’t merely photo fodder, but a full immersion into the wild, wild west. The train has been rolling between Durango and Silverton since 1882, when it was tasked with transporting silver and gold out of the San Juan Mountains. The 45.4-mile route runs in both directions along the Animas River, crisscrossing it five times, and passing by old stagecoach trails and long-deserted mining camps as it winds between 14,000ft high peaks.

Discover the best things to do in Colorado

11.  The Ethan Allen Express

New york city, ny to burlington, vt.

While the destination is a major draw, getting there is half the fun on this five-and-a-half-hour journey from New York City to Vermont. You’ll cruise through the postcard-perfect towns of New York’s Hudson Valley; hit Saratoga Springs, as famous for its horse races as its hot springs and snake around Vermont’s fittingly named Green Mountains before landing in charming little-big city Rutland, with its historic downtown and one helluva farmers' market.

Discover the best things to do in Vermont

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15 Stunningly Scenic Train Rides You Can Take Around the World

Posted: June 22, 2023 | Last updated: June 22, 2023

Train travel evokes a sense of wonder and nostalgia often unmatched by other forms of modern transportation. 

On a train ride, you simply sit back and enjoy the landscapes as they roll by. It’s a step away from the hustle and bustle of daily life because the experience receives your full attention. You don’t typically choose to ride a train because it’s the most convenient or affordable option (in many cases it’s not), but because you want a unique and memorable experience.

If you want to enjoy one of these 15 scenic train rides, it will likely take some planning, especially finding ways to boost your income to pay for an upcoming trip. After the list of epic rail journeys, we’ve shared a list of money moves you can make in preparation for future train travel.

Compare the best travel credit cards for nearly free travel

Inca Rail First Class – Machu Picchu, Peru

The Inca Rail First Class train isn’t the only way to make it to Machu Picchu, Peru, but it’s one of the best. Large, comfortable seats and massive windows help you relax and enjoy the ride from the town of Ollantaytambo to the town of Aguas Calientes, at the base of Machu Picchu.

Of course, to even get to this point of your journey, you’ve likely already passed through the ancient Incan capital of Cusco and the beautiful Sacred Valley region. This train ride helps to build the anticipation even more as one of the final steps before seeing Machu Picchu for yourself. Heading into the Andean jungle while following the Urubamba River is a great precursor to the big event up in the mountains.

In addition, Inca Rail First Class passengers are provided with meal service and drinks during the nearly two-hour train ride.

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Adirondack Scenic Railroad – New York, United States

Upstate New York is an ideal destination for immersing yourself in beautiful foliage and visiting quaint towns and villages seemingly untouched by time. The Adirondack Mountains provide the perfect backdrop for a train ride along the Adirondack Scenic Railroad.

Choose from one-way or round-trip itineraries between Utica and Thendara (Old Forge) and enjoy train travel through lush forests and over multiple rivers and streams. A one-way journey takes about 2 1/2 hours, whereas a round trip takes about 4 1/2 hours. Be sure to include time in your itinerary to visit and explore the Old Forge area if you want a true upstate New York experience.

California Zephyr – United States

If cross-country train trips are your thing, add the California Zephyr ride to your bucket list. This train journey, operated by Amtrak, runs from Chicago, Illinois, to Emeryville (San Francisco), California, and takes more than 50 hours to complete.

The itinerary also includes stops along the way in Iowa, Nebraska, Colorado, Utah, and Nevada. It’s possible to create a customized itinerary for part of the journey, like jumping on in Denver, Colorado, and getting off in Reno, Nevada.

Many of the scenic highlights include mountain ranges like the Rocky Mountains and Sierra Nevadas. Near the end of your journey you’ll also be able to see the San Pablo Bay and Carquinez Strait.

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Pacific Surfliner – California, United States

The Pacific Surfliner, also operated by Amtrak, offers a stunning train journey along 351 miles of California’s Pacific coastline from San Luis Obispo to San Diego. Take your time to enjoy views of pristine beaches and rolling green hills from the comfort of your reclining seat.

Potential stops to visit along the way include Grover Beach, Santa Barbara, Oxnard, Los Angeles, and Anaheim. Each destination has its own range of activities and highlights. The beach is located just two blocks from the Santa Barbara rail station or you could head to the Channel Islands National Park from Oxnard.

Sri Lanka Railways – Sri Lanka

If you’ve seen photos of passengers hanging out of a blue train surrounded by dense, green foliage, you’ve likely seen the Sri Lanka Railways journey from Kandy to Ella in Sri Lanka. Although it may not be recommended to hang from objects moving at high speeds, you wouldn’t want to miss the views on this train ride between the central city of Kandy and the small southern town of Ella.

The ride takes about seven hours and offers views of tea plantations, green hills, bridges, and villages. It’s recommended not to book first-class tickets for your itinerary, as you won’t have the experience of mingling with the locals and having open windows.

The Jacobite – Scotland, United Kingdom

The Jacobite steam train is run by West Coast Railways, an independent train operating company based out of Lancashire, England. This train ride takes you on an 84-mile round-trip journey between Fort William and Mallaig in the Scottish Highlands.

The Scottish Highlands are a global destination known for their impressive natural beauty, including striking lochs and windswept hills. However, The Jacobite train in particular is famous for its starring role as The Hogwarts Express in the Harry Potter films.

For the full magical experience, book a first class “HP” compartment carriage for your own private compartment with a large viewing window. This will help you take in the sights, including the Glenfinnan Viaduct.

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Venice Simplon-Orient-Express – Europe

The Venice Simplon-Orient-Express, operated by Belmond, offers modern luxury travelers the opportunity to experience a journey reminiscent of famous train rides of the past. This train can take you through many popular European cities, though it depends on which booking you select. London, England, to Venice, Italy, is a classic route, but you may prefer Paris, France, to Venice or Paris to Verona, Italy.

Whichever route you select, you’ll enjoy panoramic scenes of lush vineyards and mountain landscapes as you travel through Western Europe. You’ll pay more for this luxury experience, but getting to take in the scenery from your own private cabin might be well worth the cost.

Snowdon Mountain Railway – Wales, United Kingdom

For a shorter train journey with unbelievable views, consider a ride with Snowdon Mountain Railway in Wales. A small diesel carriage takes passengers nearly the whole way up to the summit of Snowdon, the highest mountain in Wales.

The journey takes about 45 minutes and ends at Clogwyn Station, where you can take time to enjoy the views of Snowdonia National Park. The park is within driving distance of Liverpool, so it could provide a welcome escape from the city if you’re interested.

Northern Explorer – New Zealand

The longest-running passenger service in New Zealand is ready to give you a taste of everything the North Island has to offer. For a full-day journey, take the Northern Explorer train from Auckland to Wellington, with seven stops in between. Of course, if you’re coming from the South Island, you’d take the train in the opposite direction from Wellington to Auckland.

Highlights on your trip may include spending time in both cities and taking in the unique views of New Zealand. Gaze out across the rocky Kapiti Coast, admire the white cliffs above the Rangitikei River, and marvel at the Ruapehu active volcano in the distance. If you have the time, be sure to make a few stops.

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Korail V-Train – South Korea

South Korea’s Korail offers a variety of train routes for traversing different parts of the country while enjoying the scenery along the way. The V-Train follows a route through different valleys in a mountainous region of the country between Buncheon and Cheoram.

Three observatory cabins provide ample space to enjoy the passing scenery and there’s a mini cafe if you need refreshments. The V-Train runs at a slower pace than typical transporter trains so you can take your time with sightseeing.

Pro tip: Purchasing your overseas flights, hotels, and other travel-related expenses with a travel credit card that offers generous rewards could help you cover the costs of a trip halfway around the world. 

Mount Fuji Shinkansen – Japan

Japan’s Shinkansen, or bullet train, is an experience in itself with a top speed of nearly 200 mph. But the journey becomes more special when you include sights along the way, such as Mount Fuji, Japan’s highest mountain and an active volcano.

If you’re traveling by train between Tokyo and Kyoto, consider your seating selection so you get the best view of Mount Fuji as you speed by. You want to be on the right side of the train car if you’re coming from Tokyo and the left side if you’re coming from Kyoto. Of course, it’s best to hope for a clear day so the massive mountain is visible.

Bernina Express – Switzerland

Do you dream of viewing and crossing the incredible Alps landscape from the comfort of a train car? If so, consider the Bernina Express, by the Swiss Rhaetian Railway company, to bring your dreams to life. The train journey begins in Chur, Switzerland, and ends in Tirano, Italy.

Along the way you’ll cross 196 bridges and pass through 55 tunnels, all while enjoying pristine alpine landscapes and panoramic views. Highlights include multiple viaducts, views of glaciers, and passing the highest point of the journey at 2,253 meters (about 7,400 feet) above sea level. The full journey takes about four hours.

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Bergen Railway – Norway

If you’re exploring the Scandinavian lands of Norway, take the opportunity to travel from Bergen to Oslo by train on the Bergen Railway. This train ride takes about seven hours, has 22 stops, and passes through 180 tunnels. In addition, you’ll see plenty of amazing scenery, including potential views of forests, lakes, mountains, fjords, rivers, and waterfalls.

For an additional boost of pleasant views, get off the train at the Myrdal stop and take another train to Flåm. This side adventure has been called one of the top 10 train journeys in Europe, as well as the best train journey in the world.

Rocky Mountaineer – Canada

The Rocky Mountaineer is a Canadian company that offers three rail journeys in Canada and now offers one U.S. rail journey as well. The most popular route is from Vancouver to Banff/Lake Louise. This ride takes you through the Spiral Tunnels, next to mountains, and past stunning lakes.

If you want to break up the trip, book a package deal that includes overnight stays along the way. This can help you enjoy the journey more by spending time in the beautiful provinces of British Columbia and Alberta.

Rovos Rail – South Africa

African safaris aren’t limited to lodges and vehicles with four-wheel drive. If you’re feeling adventurous, you can opt for a scenic train ride with Rovos Rail in South Africa instead. You’ll have different itineraries to choose from, but the Cape Town to Pretoria option is likely one of the most epic.

This ride is an 11-day journey that includes an ostrich farm visit, a boat cruise, multiple game drives, city tours, and more. In addition, your private sleeper coach makes it easy to enjoy the South African landscapes as you pass by, including the beaches, lakes, and rolling hills of the famous Garden Route.

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How to save money on train travel

Train travel can often be expensive, especially if you have to factor in flying to another country and then booking your train tickets. Fortunately, you have options to reduce your train travel costs, including using credit cards.

Here are a few tips to help you save money on train travel:

• Use credit cards. Many of the best travel credit cards offer rewards for travel purchases, which often includes train tickets. Using the right credit card for booking train travel could net you valuable rewards you can use for future travel redemptions such as flights or hotel stays. In addition, if you’re taking a flight or staying in a hotel as part of your train journey, having a credit card with specific perks or benefits can be helpful. Airport lounge access or complimentary elite status at a hotel or could help you save money on parts of your itinerary or simply have a more enjoyable adventure.
• Earn points. Using specific credit cards to book train tickets, like an Amtrak credit card , can help you earn points and reduce overall travel costs. If you want to save up for a train trip, though, many of the best cash back credit cards offer better rewards on everyday purchases. You also have the option to earn points from partnerships with train companies. For example, Amtrak partners with hotel, retail, and car rental companies to provide everyday ways to earn points you can put toward future train tickets.
• Skip the flight. If you’re already planning to travel to another country or city and have an open itinerary, consider taking a train instead of a flight if geography allows. This will put the money you save from not flying straight into an enjoyable train journey.
• Pack supplies. The train’s concession or restaurant area can be tempting, but you’ll likely save money if you bring your own food and drinks. Be sure to check ahead of time what the restrictions are for food and beverages on any train ride, as some companies may not allow you to bring your own.

Bottom line

If you’re putting together travel plans, remember to include train travel as an option. Not every train ride will be the same, but it could be a fun opportunity to switch up your typical routine and have a new experience. You’re especially likely to have a memorable trip if you include one of the exciting rail journeys mentioned above.

Keep in mind, train travel doesn’t have to be financially overwhelming if you’re prepared for what to expect. It may be less expensive to travel by train in certain countries, but you have to get to those countries first. It may make sense to pick up a side hustle or two to boost your bank account  and help pay for an upcoming trip. Also, earning points or miles now to cover your flight and hotel expenses could leave more room in your budget for the train rides you want to take.

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The Moscow Metro Museum of Art: 10 Must-See Stations

There are few times one can claim having been on the subway all afternoon and loving it, but the Moscow Metro provides just that opportunity.  While many cities boast famous public transport systems—New York’s subway, London’s underground, San Salvador’s chicken buses—few warrant hours of exploration.  Moscow is different: Take one ride on the Metro, and you’ll find out that this network of railways can be so much more than point A to B drudgery.

The Metro began operating in 1935 with just thirteen stations, covering less than seven miles, but it has since grown into the world’s third busiest transit system ( Tokyo is first ), spanning about 200 miles and offering over 180 stops along the way.  The construction of the Metro began under Joseph Stalin’s command, and being one of the USSR’s most ambitious building projects, the iron-fisted leader instructed designers to create a place full of svet (radiance) and svetloe budushchee (a radiant future), a palace for the people and a tribute to the Mother nation.

Consequently, the Metro is among the most memorable attractions in Moscow.  The stations provide a unique collection of public art, comparable to anything the city’s galleries have to offer and providing a sense of the Soviet era, which is absent from the State National History Museum.  Even better, touring the Metro delivers palpable, experiential moments, which many of us don’t get standing in front of painting or a case of coins.

Though tours are available , discovering the Moscow Metro on your own provides a much more comprehensive, truer experience, something much less sterile than following a guide.  What better place is there to see the “real” Moscow than on mass transit: A few hours will expose you to characters and caricatures you’ll be hard-pressed to find dining near the Bolshoi Theater.  You become part of the attraction, hear it in the screech of the train, feel it as hurried commuters brush by: The Metro sucks you beneath the city and churns you into the mix.

With the recommendations of our born-and-bred Muscovite students, my wife Emma and I have just taken a self-guided tour of what some locals consider the top ten stations of the Moscow Metro. What most satisfied me about our Metro tour was the sense of adventure .  I loved following our route on the maps of the wagon walls as we circled the city, plotting out the course to the subsequent stops; having the weird sensation of being underground for nearly four hours; and discovering the next cavern of treasures, playing Indiana Jones for the afternoon, piecing together fragments of Russia’s mysterious history.  It’s the ultimate interactive museum.

Top Ten Stations (In order of appearance)

Kievskaya station.

Kievskaya Station went public in March of 1937, the rails between it and Park Kultury Station being the first to cross the Moscow River.  Kievskaya is full of mosaics depicting aristocratic scenes of Russian life, with great cameo appearances by Lenin, Trotsky, and Stalin.  Each work has a Cyrillic title/explanation etched in the marble beneath it; however, if your Russian is rusty, you can just appreciate seeing familiar revolutionary dates like 1905 ( the Russian Revolution ) and 1917 ( the October Revolution ).

Mayakovskaya Station

Mayakovskaya Station ranks in my top three most notable Metro stations. Mayakovskaya just feels right, done Art Deco but no sense of gaudiness or pretention.  The arches are adorned with rounded chrome piping and create feeling of being in a jukebox, but the roof’s expansive mosaics of the sky are the real showstopper.  Subjects cleverly range from looking up at a high jumper, workers atop a building, spires of Orthodox cathedrals, to nimble aircraft humming by, a fleet of prop planes spelling out CCCP in the bluest of skies.

Novoslobodskaya Station

Novoslobodskaya is the Metro’s unique stained glass station.  Each column has its own distinctive panels of colorful glass, most of them with a floral theme, some of them capturing the odd sailor, musician, artist, gardener, or stenographer in action.  The glass is framed in Art Deco metalwork, and there is the lovely aspect of discovering panels in the less frequented haunches of the hall (on the trackside, between the incoming staircases).  Novosblod is, I’ve been told, the favorite amongst out-of-town visitors.

Komsomolskaya Station

Komsomolskaya Station is one of palatial grandeur.  It seems both magnificent and obligatory, like the presidential palace of a colonial city.  The yellow ceiling has leafy, white concrete garland and a series of golden military mosaics accenting the tile mosaics of glorified Russian life.  Switching lines here, the hallway has an Alice-in-Wonderland feel, impossibly long with decorative tile walls, culminating in a very old station left in a remarkable state of disrepair, offering a really tangible glimpse behind the palace walls.

Dostoevskaya Station

Dostoevskaya is a tribute to the late, great hero of Russian literature .  The station at first glance seems bare and unimpressive, a stark marble platform without a whiff of reassembled chips of tile.  However, two columns have eerie stone inlay collages of scenes from Dostoevsky’s work, including The Idiot , The Brothers Karamazov , and Crime and Punishment.   Then, standing at the center of the platform, the marble creates a kaleidoscope of reflections.  At the entrance, there is a large, inlay portrait of the author.

Chkalovskaya Station

Chkalovskaya does space Art Deco style (yet again).  Chrome borders all.  Passageways with curvy overhangs create the illusion of walking through the belly of a chic, new-age spacecraft.  There are two (kos)mosaics, one at each end, with planetary subjects.  Transferring here brings you above ground, where some rather elaborate metalwork is on display.  By name similarity only, I’d expected Komsolskaya Station to deliver some kosmonaut décor; instead, it was Chkalovskaya that took us up to the space station.

Elektrozavodskaya Station

Elektrozavodskaya is full of marble reliefs of workers, men and women, laboring through the different stages of industry.  The superhuman figures are round with muscles, Hollywood fit, and seemingly undeterred by each Herculean task they respectively perform.  The station is chocked with brass, from hammer and sickle light fixtures to beautiful, angular framework up the innards of the columns.  The station’s art pieces are less clever or extravagant than others, but identifying the different stages of industry is entertaining.

Baumanskaya Statio

Baumanskaya Station is the only stop that wasn’t suggested by the students.  Pulling in, the network of statues was just too enticing: Out of half-circle depressions in the platform’s columns, the USSR’s proud and powerful labor force again flaunts its success.  Pilots, blacksmiths, politicians, and artists have all congregated, posing amongst more Art Deco framing.  At the far end, a massive Soviet flag dons the face of Lenin and banners for ’05, ’17, and ‘45.  Standing in front of the flag, you can play with the echoing roof.

Ploshchad Revolutsii Station

Novokuznetskaya Station

Novokuznetskaya Station finishes off this tour, more or less, where it started: beautiful mosaics.  This station recalls the skyward-facing pieces from Mayakovskaya (Station #2), only with a little larger pictures in a more cramped, very trafficked area.  Due to a line of street lamps in the center of the platform, it has the atmosphere of a bustling market.  The more inventive sky scenes include a man on a ladder, women picking fruit, and a tank-dozer being craned in.  The station’s also has a handsome black-and-white stone mural.

Here is a map and a brief description of our route:

Start at (1)Kievskaya on the “ring line” (look for the squares at the bottom of the platform signs to help you navigate—the ring line is #5, brown line) and go north to Belorusskaya, make a quick switch to the Dark Green/#2 line, and go south one stop to (2)Mayakovskaya.  Backtrack to the ring line—Brown/#5—and continue north, getting off at (3)Novosblodskaya and (4)Komsolskaya.  At Komsolskaya Station, transfer to the Red/#1 line, go south for two stops to Chistye Prudy, and get on the Light Green/#10 line going north.  Take a look at (5)Dostoevskaya Station on the northern segment of Light Green/#10 line then change directions and head south to (6)Chkalovskaya, which offers a transfer to the Dark Blue/#3 line, going west, away from the city center.  Have a look (7)Elektroskaya Station before backtracking into the center of Moscow, stopping off at (8)Baumskaya, getting off the Dark Blue/#3 line at (9)Ploschad Revolyutsii.  Change to the Dark Green/#2 line and go south one stop to see (10)Novokuznetskaya Station.

Check out our new Moscow Indie Travel Guide , book a flight to Moscow and read 10 Bars with Views Worth Blowing the Budget For

Jonathon Engels, formerly a patron saint of misadventure, has been stumbling his way across cultural borders since 2005 and is currently volunteering in the mountains outside of Antigua, Guatemala.  For more of his work, visit his website and blog .

Photo credits:   SergeyRod , all others courtesy of the author and may not be used without permission

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A ride across passages of history - Moscow Metro rolls on

Click on the map to enlarge it

Lying at a depth of 5 (Pechatniki station) to 80 metres (Park Pobedy station), the history of the last eight decades unfold before your eyes, carved out of marble and granite and built in iron and glass – revealing the tastes, ideas, dreams, hopes and disappointments of the previous generations and contemporaries. The Moscow Metro dates back to 1931, when its construction first began, although engineers Pyotr Balinsky and Evgeny Knorre submitted their first designs to the Moscow City Duma as far back as 1902. “His speeches carried a strong temptation: like a true demon, he would promise to cast Moscow down to the bottom of the sea and raise it above the clouds”, a journalist for the Russkoye Slovo newspaper commented on Balinsky’s idea. Yet the Duma, made up of rich people, did not bite the bait: after all, they all lived in the centre of the city and never rode overcrowded trams.

After five failed proposals before the Duma, the Moscow Metro finally threw open its doors on May 15, 1935, 18 years after the revolution, and carried the first passengers on its moving staircases, escalators, and the padded seats of its new wagons (unlike the wooden seats in trams). The first metro line – from Sokolniki to Dvorets Sovetov (now known as Kropotkinskaya) -- was 11 km long and had 13 stations. Now, the Moscow Metro has a track of over 300 km with 12 lines and 182 stations. The city’s development outline for 2020 envisages that, by then, another 120 km will have been added to the existing routes.

For the first 20 years of its history, the Moscow Metro was named after Lazar Kaganovich, the “iron commissar” and Stalin’s right hand man, who was in-charge of construction of the first stage of the metro (incidentally, he personally blew up the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour in December 1931 as a part of the Proletarian Capital project). In 1955, however, the Metro was renamed after Vladimir Lenin. Although Russia has long since changed its political track, you can still find the images of the former leader at over 10 stations, including, for instance, busts of Lenin at Belorusskaya and Komsomolskaya stations, impressive mosaics at Baumanskaya and Kievskaya stations, a tile panel in the passage between the Borovitskaya and Biblioteka Imeni Lenina stations. By a bitter irony of fate, Lenin’s full-face and side-face images decorate the Tsaritsyno (translated as the Tsarina’s Estate) station (dubbed Lenino up until 1990) – images of the very person who ordered the shooting of the royal family. You will not, however, find any images of Stalin in Moscow’s underground. A symbol of Russia's victory, he was omnipresent in the late 1940s. After his death in 1953 and the denunciation of Stalin’s personality cult, his images were gradually withdrawn from the Moscow Metro.

“Architecture developed along the same lines, both above and below the surface. Anything that emerged above ground had a reflection underground. It is equally true that vice versa never occurred: good architecture underground but bad architecture above the ground,” says Nikolay Shumakov, chief architect of the Moscow Metro. The first metro stations, up until the mid-1950s, were conceived and built as luxurious “palaces for the people”, great architecture for a great state. Art historians insist that the richly-decorated underground was a deliberate ideological move to eulogise the young Soviet country. Stations built between 1937 and 1955 are characteristic of the first architectural period. Everything completed at this time is worthy of special attention. For instance, look at the ceiling at Mayakovskaya and Novokuznetskaya stations to see mosaic panels based on designs by artist Alexander Deineka – 24-Hour Soviet Sky and Heroic Labour of the Soviet People on the Home Front. The mosaics were assembled by famous mosaic artist Vladimir Frolov, author of the mosaic icons in St. Petersburg’s Church of the Saviour on Blood. The Ploshchad Revolutsii station was decorated with 76 bronze sculptures of workers, soldiers, farmers, students and other Soviet people. You can even find a frontier guard with a dog and rub its nose for good luck. You may also note that all the figures (except pioneers) are either sitting or bent, which engendered the sad joke – “Any Soviet man is either in jail or on his knees.”

 Elements of decoration in Moscow's metro.   Photos by Alexandr Ganyushin

1955 heralded the end of the good times for Russian architecture – both underground and above ground – after the Communist Party issued a decree "On elimination of extravagance in design and construction.” Dull stations, without any stucco work, mosaics, original columns or other “unjustified” elements, were built under the slogan “Kilometres at the expense of architecture”. Things were the same above the ground, where entire cities were built of commonplace five-storey apartment blocks, all looking the same, nicknamed ‘Khrushchevkas’ after the then leader, Nikita Khrushchev. To get a sense of this period’s architecture, see the few stations built in the 1960s-1980s like Tverskaya, Kitay-Gorod and Kolomenskaya. In 2002, with the reconstruction of the Vorobyovy Gory station, the development of the Moscow Metro entered a third stage, which could be defined as ‘renaissance’. The platform of the station offers a splendid view of the Moskva River, the Luzhniki Olympic Complex and the Academy of Sciences building. Architectural canons of the 1930s-1940s were once again in use in the design of underground stations. By the same token, artists once again become involved in decorating the stations. As such, the Sretensky Bulvar station boasts silhouettes of Pushkin, Gogol, and Timiryazev and Moscow sights; the Dostoevskaya station is decorated with black-and-white panels featuring the main characters from Dostoyevsky’s novels The Idiot, Demons, Crime and Punishment, The Brothers Karamazov, and the Maryina Roshcha station flaunts its pastoral mosaic landscapes. In 2004, Russia's first monorail transport system was launched into service – an elevated track (running 6 to 12 metres above the ground) in the northern part of Moscow, linking the All-Russian Exhibition Centre and the Timiryazevskaya metro station. The evolution of the Moscow Metro goes on. It’s still a work in progress, with ambitious plans to move the Moscow Metro even closer to passengers over the next ten years, not just by adding an extra 120 km to its total track. “We want to strip the stations of everything we can,” says Nikolai Shumakov. “We are trying to show the passengers their very framework, what the metro is made of. Cast iron and concrete are beautiful.”

Joy ride: Read Gogol, Dante or savour art

The Aquarelle Train.   Source: Reuters/Vostock-Photo

With any luck, you can ride in a retro train, a moving art gallery or a library. The trains are actually a part of the general traffic (i.e., they do not run to any special schedule) and are used on certain lines. The Reading Moscow Train , an ordinary train on the face of it, features extracts from literary works for adults and children. Each wagon has its own selection, from children’s fairy tales to Gogol. Circle Line. The Poetry in Metro Train carries an exposition, updated this year, dedicated to Italian poets Dante Alighieri, Francesco Petrarch, Giacomo Leopardi, etc. All the poems are featured in two languages, Russian and Italian. Filevskaya Line. The Sokolniki Retro Train looks exactly like the first Moscow Metro train, both inside and out. Painted brown, it has padded seats, typical wall decorations and retro lamps. Sokolnicheskaya Line. The Aquarelle Train looks like a cabinet painted with flowers and fruit on the outside. Inside, it is an art gallery featuring art reproductions from the Vyatka Apollinary and Viktor Vasnetsov Art Museum. Arbatsko-Pokrovskaya Line.

Revolution Square station (built in 1938) is close to the Red Square area. There are 72 sculptures in the station, depicting the people of the Soviet Union, including soldiers, farmers, athletes, writers, industrial workers and school children.

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Moscow Metro 2019

Will it be easy to find my way in the Moscow Metro? It is a question many visitors ask themselves before hitting the streets of the Russian capital. As metro is the main means of transport in Moscow – fast, reliable and safe – having some skills in using it will help make your visit more successful and smooth. On top of this, it is the most beautiful metro in the world !

. There are over 220 stations and 15 lines in the Moscow Metro. It is open from 6 am to 1 am. Trains come very frequently: during the rush hour you won't wait for more than 90 seconds! Distances between stations are quite long – 1,5 to 2 or even 3 kilometers. Metro runs inside the city borders only. To get to the airport you will need to take an onground train - Aeroexpress.

RATES AND TICKETS

Paper ticket A fee is fixed and does not depend on how far you go. There are tickets for a number of trips: 1, 2 or 60 trips; or for a number of days: 1, 3 days or a month. Your trips are recorded on a paper ticket. Ifyou buy a ticket for several trips you can share it with your traveling partner passing it from one to the other at the turnstile.

On every station there is cashier and machines (you can switch it to English). Cards and cash are accepted. 1 trip - 55 RUB 2 trips - 110 RUB

Tickets for 60 trips and day passes are available only at the cashier's.

60 rides - 1900 RUB

1 day - 230 RUB 3 days - 438 RUB 30 days - 2170 RUB.

The cheapest way to travel is buying Troyka card . It is a plastic card you can top up for any amount at the machine or at the ticket office. With it every trip costs 38 RUB in the metro and 21 RUB in a bus. You can get the card in any ticket office. Be prepared to leave a deposit of 50 RUB. You can get it back returning the card to the cashier.

SamsungPay, ApplePay and PayPass cards.

One turnstile at every station accept PayPass and payments with phones. It has a sticker with the logos and located next to the security's cabin.

GETTING ORIENTED

At the platfrom you will see one of these signs.

It indicates the line you are at now (line 6), shows the direction train run and the final stations. Numbers below there are of those lines you can change from this line.

In trains, stations are announced in Russian and English. In newer trains there are also visual indication of there you are on the line.

To change lines look for these signs. This one shows the way to line 2.

There are also signs on the platfrom. They will help you to havigate yourself. (To the lines 3 and 5 in this case). 

How to travel by bicycle in Russia: ideas and suggestions

• April 15, 2021
• Last updated: April 19, 2021
• Adventure , Destinations , Outdoor , Russia

Home » Travel Blog » How to travel by bicycle in Russia: ideas and suggestions

Day trips in Russia

Newcomers can test their “strength” on a one-day trip – the roads should not be complicated and the distances should not be too long. For first-time riders, study the route carefully, taking into account not only the length of the road, but also the conditions: there should be no long climbs and no high mountain passes. The flatter the road, the better. Do not ride close to crowded and busy large traffic lanes, even if conditions permit.  Also, make sure carry your Russian invitation letter with your visa . 

Route: Levutov – Pavlovsky town

Distance: 65 km

From Reutov (metro station “Novokosino”) outside Moscow, via Saltykovsk, Zheleznodorozhny, Fedurnovo, then turn to Biserovo, to Staraya Kupavna, then to Elektrostal via Ivashevo, and finally to Pavlovsky Posad via Subbotino, the intercity electric train This is a good route for newcomers to the town of Pavlovsky Posad (Vokhna or Pavlovsky Posad station).

This route is good for beginners: the terrain remains almost unchanged throughout the route. It’s mainly asphalt, but it’s quiet, with a rural landscape and few cars. Also, there are many intercity train stations along the way – if you get tired, you can take the train back to Moscow.

For the uninitiated, there are plenty of suitable roads around Moscow. The entire Moscow region is dotted with railway lines, so it is not necessary to make a circular route. You can take an intercity train to one station and back from another. There are many convenient route options around most Russian cities. You can make your own route, or take the advice of experienced travelers and use an already prepared route map.

Two-day trips in Russia

If you can travel 60-70 km per day, it’s no problem and you’ll be able to ride for two days. First of all, you need to solve your overnight problem: will you stay in a hotel, borrow a private house or pitch your own tent? Be sure to take the weather into account and take extra things that will keep you warm or heated.

When choosing your route, add some “hills” on the way, but not too steep.

Keep an eye on your bike. Ideally, it should be carefully checked and tested two days before departure; if you don’t know much about bike parts, you should have a full “car check” at a good mechanic’s shop to remove all faults in time.

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Route: ride along Nizhny Novgorod and rest on the Volga

Distance: 140 km

This is a self-guided route with picturesque Volga forests, where you will have to pitch a tent on the road overnight. You don’t have to think about the schedule of electric trains or buses, even if you are delayed on the way, don’t worry.

From Nizhny Novgorod, you will pass through the town of Bor (you can cross the Volga by cable car). Next, head to Ivanovskoye. On the way, note the unique, interlocking bi-level railroad: it is no longer in use, but the original structure is still there. Then go in the direction of Yurasovo, where you will turn to Maloye Utkino, then to Beryozovka, to Vypolzovo, then to the Volga River, to Apraksino, passing through the hill fortress with its ancient earthen embankment. Hillfort, which retains its ancient earthen berm.

After that, follow Orlovo, Belkino, Yamnovo, Zavrazhnoye, Selishi. After passing through Zhukovka, you can go straight through the forest to the bank of the Volga River and find a place to pitch your tent.

The next day, go in the direction of Pumra, then through Vagankovo, Orekhovo, Markovo, turn left at Matveyevka, go to Vatoma, then through Put’kovo and back to the banks of the Volga, then to the town of Pol, and then to Nizhny Novgorod.

There are many suitable two-day rides in the Volga Valley, around the Voronezh region, around the cities along the Golden Ring and in the Crimean steppe.

Multi-day rides in Russia

Riding for several days in a row is a very serious matter and you need to be physically prepared. For the first time, choose a route that is not too difficult and not extreme, because riding a few days in a row is not at all the same as riding 100 km in a week. Please estimate that it is more comfortable to travel 70-80 km per day on the plains and with much less hills.

Check to see if there are any settlements along the way – it depends on whether you’ll be carrying a lot of food, or if you can buy all your food along the way. But whenever and wherever you go, make sure you have drinking water on you. Please do not forget to constantly replenish your supplies and have an emergency reserve – about 1.5 liters of water per person. 

Route: “Crimean coast: from Kerch to Alushta”

Distance: 270 km , 5-7 days

We have intentionally divided the trip on this route into several days, as it depends a lot on your fitness and desire to visit the sights – which will be seen on the way, and quite a lot of them. There will be some mountain passes – if you feel tired as you pass them, it is always possible to set up camp early and prepare for an overnight stay. Almost the entire road runs along the coastline. If you don’t want to pitch a tent, you can easily find a place to spend the night in the resort.

Get off the ferry to Kerch and head directly to the Feodossia steppe. Pass through the town of Ordzhonikidze and head to Koktebel. Be prepared for a long and tiring uphill climb. If you don’t want to tire yourself out that much, then sacrifice some of the scenic views and take a different route – along the Simferopol highway.

From Koktebeli there is a difficult mountain road leading to Sudak. The strongest will can cycle to the town of “Novyi Svit” in one day, while the rest of the people should go to the village of Morske and then to Alushta via Rybache and Malorichens’ke. From Alushta, you can take a bicycle and a trolleybus to Simferopol, from where you can return by plane or return to Kerch by bus or taxi.

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Guest Contributor

• Published: April 15, 2021

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