Trains can be magical. Sure, they might not feel it when they’re jam-packed during your morning commute, or when they end up being delayed for hours at a time, but when done right train journeys can feel properly luxurious.
And there’s no better time to indulge a little than Christmas. Luckily, there are a few train routes specifically designed for festive getaways this time of year, two of which have been picked out by the luxury travel magazine Travel + Leisure as particularly worth your time.
Both routes that T+L highlighted run gorgeous vintage train carriages between two major European Christmas markets, which it says gives punters the chance to ‘experience Europe's holiday traditions while evoking the romance of classic rail travel’. Sounds delightful.
Recommended: The best Christmas train journeys in Europe
First there’s the Espresso Monaco, a sleeper train that takes you from Rome to Munich. There, you’ll find the iconic Christkindlmarkt, one of Europe’s best Christmas markets, full of handmade gifts, hot mulled drinks, and, of course, tonnes of bratwurst. It only runs for two weekends this year (Dec 5 and 12), so space is pretty limited.
We recently named the Espresso Monaco as the second-best winter train journey in Europe, selected by Time Out’s resident train-obsessed travel writer Clara Hogan. The views along the way are ridiculous, cruising through the Italian countryside and the Alps, as well as stops in cities like Verona and Trento. You can choose between a shared and solo cabin, and every carriage will be properly decked out for the season. This is a bucket-list sort of trip, which will almost certainly sell out. You can book your ticket here.
Alternatively, hop onto the Espresso Assisi, a daytime trip from Rome to Arezzo every Sunday from November 30 until January 11. This gorgeous Tuscan city transforms over Christmas, complete with light shows, huge nativity displays, and what T+L describes as a ‘festive wonderland’.
The train itself is part of the fun, with bar service, gifts on sale, and general good vibes throughout. The best part is that the whole experience is pretty affordable, with return tickets starting at only €62. You can book those here, although they are being released bit by bit, so if they are sold out make sure to check back every few days for the latest drop.
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