Bus and Train Travel

Buses and trains go almost everywhere in the world, allowing travelers to cover a lot of ground without the hassle of driving or the inflexibility of flights. Whether you want to embark on a romantic long-distance rail journey in Europe or a boozy excursion through Napa Valley’s vineyards, Travel + Leisure has the scoop on the latest routes — and the best bus and train travel ideas.

Latest Stories
The famous steam locomotive, Flying Scotsman, heads north on a summer's morning over Arten Gill.
I've Taken 30 Train Rides Through the U.K.–Here Are 8 of My Favorites
Alaska Railroad train passing through a mountainous and forested landscape
This 500-mile Railroad Goes to National Parks, Glaciers, and Some of the Best Northern Lights Destinations in the U.S.
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Trip Ideas

Amtrak train crossing a bridge with trees in the background
This Amtrak Route Takes Riders to the Heart of Vermont’s Stunning Fall Foliage
A train traveling through a scenic landscape with mountains in the background
This Mountain Town Glows Gold in Fall—and This Scenic Train Is the Best Way to See It
a black train going by a lake in the Great Smoky Mountains
This Scenic Railroad Through the Mountains Is One of the Best Leaf-Peeping Trips in the U.S.—and It Goes Through an Iconic National Park
Narrowgauge train passing along a scenic mountain river surrounded by forested and mountainous autumn landscape
Colorado's Most Famous Fall Train Ride Travels Through Canyons, Rivers, and Historic Towns
Scenic view of a rural estate in a hilly vineyardfilled countryside
This Vintage Train Now Connects Rome to Tuscany’s Most Iconic Countryside for Just $34
A scenic steam train traveling through a forested mountainside with a rocky peak in the distance surrounded by autumn foliage
This Historic Steam Train Through the Rockies Has Some of the Best Foliage Views in the U.S.—and It's the Longest and Highest Steam Railroad in America
A doubledecker bus branded with Travel asleep across Europe and Twiliner parked outdoors
Europe's New Luxury Night Bus Feels Like Flying Business Class With Lie-flat Beds and an Onboard Bar—and It Connects Iconic Cities
A train crossing a bridge with a view of the Boston skyline in the background
This City Just Ranked No. 1 for Public Transit—and No, It's Not New York City
Steam train traveling through a scenic mountain landscape in autumn
Virginia’s Most Scenic Fall Train Ride Is Back For 5 Weekends—With a Vintage Steam Engine and Peak Foliage Views
A stylish dining area with set round tables and upholstered chairs featuring wooden paneling and decorative blue walls
This New Luxury Train Journey Around France Is a Wine Lover’s Dream—Here's What to Know
A railway bridge extending into a foggy distance surrounded by autumn foliage
This Scenic Train Ride Is One of the Best Ways to See Fall Foliage in the U.S. South—With Open-air Cars and Riverwalks in Charming Small Towns
A monument featuring a statue of a rider on horseback located by a pond with small boats surrounded by trees and a colonnade
The Most Popular Train Journey in Europe Takes You From Spain's Capital to Coast in Under 3 Hours—and It Costs as Little as $20
Exterior of an Amtrak Acela train
The Fastest Train in the U.S. Launches Aug. 28—Here's Everything to Know
Exterior of Rocky Mountaineer in Jasper, Canada
The World’s Top-rated Train Just Launched a New Route Through the Canadian Rockies
Forest train moving through a dense wooded area on a curving stone bridge
This Scenic Train Climbs Nearly 13,000 Feet Through Mountain Forests—and Crosses 4 Different Climate Zones
A train traveling along a river in a canyon with rocky treecovered hills
The Most Luxurious Train Ride in the U.S. Is Expanding Its Route—and We Were Among the First to Experience It
Exterior of Taiwan Dessert Train
This Luxury Dessert Train Has a 3-course Tasting Menu, Coastal Views, and Takes You to Hidden Gems in Taiwan—Here's What It's Like
An interior view combining a luxurious train cabin and a traditional Peranakanstyle room
This Asian City Redefines 'Heritage'—With Beautifully Restored Hotels, a Luxury Train, and the World's Coolest Cocktail Bars
A man dressed formally standing inside the doorway of a train engine cab with others
The British Royal Train Will Be Decommissioned Soon—Here’s Why
Interior of a train with a window view of a lush rural Italian landscape
This Overnight Train in Italy Might Be the Best (and Most Affordable) Way to See the Country
A scenic train traveling alongside a lake and tree-covered hills with mountains in the background
Travel + Leisure Readers' 5 Favorite Trains in the World of 2025
A blue locomotive pulling a train on a scenic rural railway with hillside in the background
This Scenic Train Has Dramatic River Canyon Sights—and an Open-air Car for Cinematic Views
A scenic train traveling beside a rocky coastline and forested hills
This Scenic Train Ride in an Old-fashioned Locomotive Has Open-air Cars and Seaside Stops
A grand corridor in the Vatican Museums, adorned with ornate arches and classical statues
This After-hours Tour Lets You Visit the Vatican Without the Crowds—but It's for 1 Day Only
A train traveling through a mountainous landscape with a village and a church on a hillside
This Scenic Train With Panoramic Windows Is One of the Most Beautiful Ways to Travel Through Switzerland
Jacobite Steam Train in scotland
You Can Ride the Real-life 'Harry Potter Train—and It Takes You Through Some of the Most Stunning Parts of Scotland
Train next to river
This 11-day Train Journey Lets You Visit Both Yosemite and Yellowstone in One Incredible Trip
Rocky Mountaineer train
The Most Luxurious U.S. Train Added 2 New Scenic Summer Journeys—and It Has Panoramic Windows for Stunning Views
Eiffel Tower from a train
The Train Connecting Milan and Paris Is Finally Back — and Tickets Start at $35
The Jet bus in DC
This Bus Between New York City and Washington, D.C. Is One of the Most Glamorous Ways to Make the Trip — Here's What It's Like
Train station in Rabat
The Best Way to Travel Through Northern Morocco Is by Train—Here's How to Plan Your Trip
A woman rolling her luggage on an Amtrak platform in Washington DC
This Little-known Free Amtrak Hack Makes Train Travel Way Easier
Train at station
Everything You Need to Know About Traveling Italy by Train — From the Best Routes to Local Tips
Aerial of the Atlantic City boardwalk and beach
New Jersey Trains Are Free Next Week — What to Know
The bar at night on board the Orient Express
The Original Orient Express Train Is Coming Back in 2025 — Take a Sneak Peek Inside the Glamorous Remodel
A red and white train traveling on a mountainside railway with a scenic peak visible in the background
You Need to Explore This Country By Train to See It the ‘Right’ Way—Here’s How, According to an Expert Travel Advisor
Mount Washington Cog Railway during autumn
15 Scenic Train Rides Across the U.S. for Stunning Fall Foliage Views
A steam locomotive traveling through a forest during autumn
This Scenic Train Ride Through West Virginia Has Some of the Best Fall Foliage Views in the State
Train traveling on a winding mountain railway surrounded by trees in autumn foliage
This Historic Cog Train Climbs to the ‘Top of New England’ and Has Some of the Most Glorious Fall Foliage Views
A steam locomotive traveling on tracks with smoke billowing and an American flag on a nearby fence
9 Best Train Museums to Visit in the U.S.
A passenger train stopped at a station platform with a covered waiting area nearby
This Amtrak Route Was Just Revived After a 20 Year Pause—and It Connects These 2 Iconic Southern Cities
First class section on Amtrak's Acela fleet
Amtrak's First Class on the Acela Line Just Got a Big Upgrade—What to Know
Interior of an elegant train car with luxurious seating and decor designed for a premium experience
England’s First Luxury Sleeper Train Is Set to Depart in July—With Fine Dining, a Victorian-inspired Bar Car, and a Spa
Amtrak Cascades train traveling through a scenic mountain landscape
One of the Most Scenic Amtrak Routes in the U.S. Is Getting a New Look—and Train Cars With Panoramic Windows
Train station scene with an attendant greeting people, passengers boarding or standing beside a train at a platform
The New Trains in Central Asia Travel Back in Time to Breathtaking Sights Along the Silk Road
Amtrak train traveling on tracks surrounded by fields and trees
This Popular Amtrak Line Is at Risk of Closure—What to Know
Luxurious train sleeper cabin with a bed, seating, table, and countryside view through the windows
I Traveled on 2 of Europe's Most Luxurious Trains—Here's What They Were Like
View of Freiburg im Breisgau with prominent cathedral in the distance framed by trees
This Weeklong, Food-focused Train Ride Through Europe Was an Unexpected Way to Taste My Way Through the Region
Amtrak Pacific Surfliner traveling south on rail tracks through Del Mar, California.
This Solo Traveler Traveled All Over the U.S. Over 30 Days Using a Single $499 Amtrak Pass—Here's How
A train alongside a river
These Are the 7 Best Train Routes in the South
Northern Lights
There's an 88% Chance of Seeing the Northern Lights on This 17-hour Train Through the Arctic Circle
Rendering of a train exterior
This Company Wants to Bring Modern Night Trains to the U.S.—Here's How It Could Change Domestic Travel
Aerial view of the Rovos Rail in Africa
This Luxurious African Train Trip Takes You From South Africa to Zimbabwe on Vintage Railcars — Here's What It's Like
The Grand Canyon Railway's 1923 steam engine GCR No. 4690
You Can Visit One of America's Best National Parks on a Vintage Steam Train This Summer
The Royal Gorge Route Railroad prepares to depart the station in Canon City
This Lesser-known 26-mile Train Ride Goes Through Some of Colorado's Most Stunning Sites
Aerial view of Machu Picchu during sunrise
This Luxury Train Company Now Offers Trips to Machu Picchu, the Amazon Rainforest, the Galapagos, and More — With Some 25-day Itineraries
A view of the Duluth Zephyr train on the tracks
This Summer-only Lakefront Train Runs Along Lake Superior's Shores — With a Domed Glass-ceiling Car for Stunning Views
Exterior view of the Strasburg Rail Road
You Can Ride on the Oldest Continuously Operating Railroad in the U.S. — Complete With Quaint Vintage Train Cars
Exterior of Amtrak Airo
Amtrak's Next Generation of Trains Are Coming Soon—and They're More Spacious, Have Panoramic Windows, and Tons of Modern Upgrades
Polar Express in snowy Colorado
This 'Polar Express' Train Is One of the Most Festive Ways to Celebrate the Holidays — and It Goes Through a Stunning Mountain Town