a day ago
After riding dozens of trains across America, Europe, and Asia, there's one that has wowed me the most
I've gone on many train rides throughout the world, from American Amtrak rides to Eurostar trips.
Recently, I journeyed from Northern Italy through the Swiss Alps on a UNESCO World Heritage route.
The Alpine Bernina Express won me over as I rolled past soaring mountains and frozen glaciers.
I'm a train enthusiast who's traveled on dozens of routes worldwide.
After all, there's nothing like a laid-back method of transportation with scenic views.
I've embarked on long and short trips down both of America's coasts on Amtrak, zipped between iconic European cities on the Eurostar and ItaliaRail, and sped along at almost 200 miles per hour on Japanese bullet trains.
Although I've already enjoyed some of the best-known and majestic train routes, the Alpine Bernina Express has topped my bucket list for years.
This UNESCO World Heritage train route travels from Northern Italy through the Swiss Alps and is filled with breathtaking views.
On a recent vacation to Europe, I finally got to experience it for myself. Here's what made it so special — and why it's my favorite train ride to date.
This route travels along some of the steepest tracks in the world.
Crossing through the Alps requires taking the high road or, in the case of the Bernina Line, the high tracks.
As such, the route is a gentle roller coaster ride up, down, and through steep, elevated passes, offering a more laid-back way to explore this dramatic scenery.
The Bernina Express begins in the Italian town of Tirano and rolls through romantic Swiss landscapes.
I started my ride at the southernmost end of the route and quickly passed into Switzerland.
As my trip was in late November, I was almost immediately greeted with glimmering snow-covered landscapes and some of the most stunning Alpine vistas imaginable.
My 2 ½ hour journey to St. Moritz, Switzerland, took me through tunnels and over bridges.
Ascending into Switzerland, I passed through the famous Brusio Spiral Viaduct — a marvel of engineering where the train loops around itself to navigate steep terrain.
The entire four-hour Bernina route passes over 196 bridges and through 55 tunnels. I did only a portion of this journey, so I missed some of these marvels, but the many I did see were seriously impressive.
Chugging past snowcapped Alpine mountains, frozen glaciers, and dramatic gorges took my breath away.
Climbing high into the mountains allowed me to soak up epic views I'd never be able to see otherwise. The craggy landscapes and glacier-filled backdrop had me constantly pulling out my camera.
My favorite part of the journey was crossing the Bernina Pass, which reaches an altitude of over 7,000 feet and provides an awe-inspiring look at Lago Bianco and the Morteratsch Glacier.
Large picture windows allowed me to truly soak up the idyllic scenery.
Unfortunately, I couldn't secure first-class seats, which have massive panoramic windows.
However, my view from the "cheap seats" didn't disappoint. The windows here were large and could be opened for a better look at the scenery outside.
The views were so picturesque, in fact, that I didn't even mind the chill rushing in through the open panes. My constant rush back and forth between sides of the train kept me warm as I took in the sight of mountains and lakes rushing by on both my left and right.
My destination was St. Moritz, Switzerland, which was also stunning.
This Alpine crossing is my new favorite rail journey to date — and experiencing it in winter made it even more magical.
Exploring the Alps on the Bernina Express was meant to be a once-in-a-lifetime journey, but I'm already plotting a return trip.
The scenery was mesmerizing, and the time passed so quickly that I'm eager to take another journey on this practically perfect route.
Although trains are meant to just get you from one place to another, this ride has quickly become one of my most beloved vacation experiences.
