Marta González-Hontoria
Updated Saturday, February 17, 2024-00:05
Great trip Around the world in 80 days... aboard the seven most luxurious trains on the planet
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It is happening in Europe and around the world. The train is once again gaining traction in the minds of many travelers. The legendary luxury convoys, the Orient Express and company, are returning, but also the medium-distance journeys, more ecological than the plane, and the night ones, which from this year begin to roll under the moon of the Old Continent. We review some of these new developments.
the charm of the alps
Inaugurated in 1898, the
Gornergrat
rack railway rattles through the snow from the Swiss station of Zermatt to a height of 3,089 metres. It is the highest open-air railway line in the world. A technological feat in an exciting landscape dominated by the Matterhorn. Normally, the Gornergrat is full of skiers, but there is a more sybaritic version. Every week, the train invites 22 passengers to live a gastronomic experience aboard the
NostalChic
, a vintage car from the 60s with large windows to enjoy the majestic snowy landscape. Lasting six hours and all the time accompanied by a local guide with a thousand stories to tell, the trip includes a delicious aperitif at the
Hotel Tannenhof,
in the town of Zermatt, and the round trip on the train to the Riffelhaus 1853 spa hotel where passengers in this special car will enjoy a gourmet four-course meal paired with local wines.
Nostalchic staff, the new vintage car experience at the Swiss station of Zermatt.GORNERGRAT
italian design
Created by the French group Accor, the long-awaited super luxury train Orient Express-La Dolce Vita will cross Italy this year from North to South, from the Alps to Palermo, with six itineraries and every imaginable whim on board. This is a different convoy from others that also come from the original Orient Express and that still today pay tribute to the belle époque and the glorious era of the railway. La Dolce Vita celebrates the creativity and genius of the
masters of 20th century Italian design
showcased in 11 glamorous carriages, the elegant Bar Car with live music and its luxury suites.
One of the designer carriages of the long-awaited super luxury train Orient Express-La Dolce Vita.ACCORD
the kings of europe
The return of night trains will be a reality in 2024 and 2025. The Belgian-Dutch company
European Sleeper
already offers a night service between Brussels and Berlin. In the coming months it will also reach the German city of Dresden and Prague. Meanwhile,
Midnight Trains,
a startup based in Paris, is also preparing night routes from the French capital to Milan, Venice, Florence, Rome, Barcelona and Madrid. The Austrian
Nightjets
have been ahead of it
and are already circulating in five European countries and more than 20 cities. Already in daytime,
Leo Express
, based in Prague and a partner of Renfe, connects the Czech capital with Krakow and Bratislava. The company has requested permission to operate a 19-hour daily service between Bratislava and Brussels, which could be launched at the end of 2024. In Spain, since last summer we can already take the international
AVE
to France, either between Barcelona and Lyon, or between Madrid and Marseille.
The family cabin of the Austrian Nightjet night trains that already run in five European countries.NIGHTJET
the new mayan train
It is one of the great tourist bets in Mexico. Part of the
Mayan Train
route opened in December, taking the first passengers from popular Cancun to Campeche. It is expected that in the coming months the seven sections (1,525 kilometers) that will traverse the Yucatán Peninsula, crossing up to five Mexican states (
Chiapas, Tabasco, Campeche, Yucatán and Quintana Roo
), will be completed. For tourists it will be a very attractive way to discover all the natural and cultural treasures of the territory, from the magical towns to its Mayan ruins.
adventure to the east
The Eastern Express, which circulates this winter in the icy landscapes of the Turkish geography.TRIPS
Sheltered in their carriages, with all kinds of comforts, the passengers of the
Eastern Express
enjoy the icy landscapes of the Turkish geography every winter while this convoy runs between the cities of Ankara and Kars, the gateway to Anatolia from the Caucasus. This is the longest train journey in the country (1,310 kilometers in 26 rattling hours), a journey through some of the most spectacular landscapes in Europe. Such has been the popularity of this line that since 2019 there has been a more tourist version, with sleeping cars with greater comfort and fewer stops along the route and longer stays at some points, a perfect option for lovers of
slow travel.
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