Train travel in Germany allows you to reach many beautiful and interesting places. For railway enthusiasts, the journey itself is an attraction, and the destination can be one of the most scenic railway lines in Germany. I have prepared a list of the most remarkable railway lines in Germany with exceptional scenic value. Of course, the list is not complete and will likely be expanded in the future.
Scenic railways in Germany
1. Gera – Weischlitz Railway Line
A 60-kilometer-long railway line running through Thuringia and Saxony. The train travels through the valley of the White Elster River, which crosses the railway line fourteen times. Along much of the route, passengers can admire hilly and forested landscapes from the train windows. The railway line passes beneath the Elstertal Bridge – a railway viaduct built from around 12 million bricks.
Among the most notable towns between Gera and Weischlitz is Greiz (about 20,000 inhabitants), with a small town center, the Upper Castle, and the Lower Castle. The center also features a well-maintained city park with a Summer Palace. Trains also stop in Plauen (65,000 inhabitants), a city once known for its lace and textile industry. The charming town center can be viewed from the Bärensteinturm tower in the city park. Notable sites in Plauen include the Old Town Hall, the twin-towered St. John’s Church (consecrated in 1122), the Vogtland Museum, the Lace Museum, the Air Defense Museum, and a former mine. The city is also proud of its Elster Bridge, with a 90-meter span.
Vogtlandbahn trains complete the full route in about 70–75 minutes. From Weischlitz, you can continue your journey to the town of Cheb in the Czech Republic.
2. Elbe Valley Railway (Dresden – Bad Schandau)
This railway line is well known to passengers traveling from Berlin and Dresden to Prague. On the route between Dresden and Bad Schandau (and further to Děčín in the Czech Republic), S-Bahn trains also operate, with line S1 covering Dresden – Bad Schandau in 45 minutes. Almost the entire time, the train travels along the banks of the Elbe River, offering views of beautiful rock formations and forested hills. Passengers can catch a glimpse of the famous Bastei Bridge (Basteibrücke) – the most well-known viewpoint in the region.
On weekends, the trains fill up with local hikers heading for the mountains – from most stops and stations along the way, hiking trails lead into the picturesque Elbe Sandstone Mountains.
There are several worthwhile places to visit along the route. In Pirna, the preserved checkerboard layout of the Old Town is notable, along with the late-Gothic church, the Sonnenstein Fortress overlooking the town, and the former Schifftorvorstadt suburb. From Kurort Rathen station, you can reach the Bastei rock formation, and from Königstein station, you can visit the scenic Königstein Fortress. In the picturesque spa town of Bad Schandau, Germany’s only tram running into a national park operates: the Kirnitzschtalbahn.
Passengers getting off at Schöna station can take a ferry across the river to the Czech town of Hřensko, from where they can start hiking in Bohemian Switzerland National Park. In Děčín, you can visit a castle that has been converted into a museum and a zoo located on a rock overlooking the city.
3. Moselle Valley Railway (Moseltalbahn)
A railway line from Koblenz to Trier in the federal state of Rhineland-Palatinate. The railway runs along the Moselle River and hills covered with vineyards. Today, the railway runs mostly along the left bank of the river. Until the 1960s, the tracks were located on the right bank, where today large numbers of cyclists travel along a popular bike path. The railway line is 113 kilometers long and was opened in 1879, after five years of construction. The full journey takes about 2 hours.
The most interesting railway landmarks along the route include:
– the Kaiser Wilhelm Tunnel (4,205 meters long),
– the double-level bridge over the Moselle in Bullay,
– the Pünderich slope viaduct, and
– a 768-meter-long viaduct built between 1876 and 1880 on a steep slope, destroyed during World War II and rebuilt afterward.
It is worth visiting the Railway Museum in Koblenz. Other highlights in Koblenz include: the Deutsches Eck (German Corner) – a triangular headland at the confluence of the Moselle and Rhine rivers, turned into a square visited by tourists from around the world, and the fortress overlooking Koblenz. Trier is a historic city with many monuments and a very charming Old Town – definitely worth a visit.
Along the route, you should consider stopping in Cochem, with its majestic castle perched on a hill above the town, a Baroque town hall from the 18th century, and traditional half-timbered houses. From Moselkern station, you can walk to the famous Eltz Castle.
4. Black Forest Railway (Schwarzwaldbahn)
A scenic 149-kilometer-long railway line in the federal state of Baden-Württemberg. The railway connects the cities of Offenburg and Singen. The journey between the two cities takes around 1 hour and 50 minutes. Due to the rocky terrain, serpentines, and gorges, and the need to build many tunnels, the railway was constructed between 1865 and 1873. It was electrified in the 1970s.
The most important engineering features along the line are:
– the Sommerau Tunnel (1,697 meters long), and
– the viaduct in Hornberg, which spans the town center.
The railway line itself is not especially rich in major tourist attractions. However, near Singen, you can visit a castle built on a volcanic rock. Its well-preserved ruins are the largest castle ruins in Germany. Other points of interest include the small and picturesque town center of Gengenbach, the Black Forest Museum in Triberg, the world’s largest cuckoo clock, and one of Germany’s highest waterfalls and the Maria in der Tanne sanctuary, both located near Triberg.
5. The Railway Line Along Lake Constance
In the federal state of Baden-Württemberg, there is also a scenic railway line that runs along the northern shore of Lake Constance (Bodensee). On the route from Radolfzell to Lindau, travelers can enjoy views of the lake, Alpine peaks, and vineyards. The journey, with a transfer in Friedrichshafen, takes about two hours. On the Austrian and Swiss sides of Lake Constance, there are also picturesque railway lines. With the Bodensee Ticket, you can travel on regional trains around the lake in three countries.
Bodensee Ticket – a passenger’s guide
The most beautiful spot on the route is Lindau, one of my favorite German cities. The historic old town is located on an island near the Lindau-Insel train station. Highlights include the harbor and the old lighthouse from the 13th century. A newer lighthouse stands on a nearby pier. One of the most striking buildings is the Old Town Hall (Altes Rathaus), a Gothic-Renaissance structure (built 1422–1436) with a fresco-decorated façade. Walking paths line the lakefront. In Friedrichshafen, you can visit the Zeppelin Museum.
6. Marschbahn to the Island of Sylt
One of the most interesting and scenic railway lines in Germany is the line to Sylt Island. The island is connected to the mainland by the Hindenburg Dam (Hindenburgdamm), an 8-kilometer-long artificial causeway on which the railway runs. The dam was built between 1923 and 1927, despite severe storms that complicated the construction. The official opening took place on June 1, 1927. A second track was added in the 1970s.
The only way to get to the island by car is via a car transport train between Niebüll and Westerland. Off-season, the train runs a dozen times a day, while in the summer season the “Autozug Sylt” runs up to 26 times daily. The travel time between stations is about 35 minutes. You can also reach the island easily by regional and long-distance trains. The journey from Hamburg to Westerland takes about 3 hours and 15 minutes. IC and ICE trains also run from Cologne, Frankfurt, and Berlin. The trip from Berlin Hauptbahnhof to Westerland takes approximately 5 hours and 40 minutes.
There are three train stations on Sylt: Morsum, Keitum, and Westerland. The main station, where most trains begin and end, is Westerland. Ferries also connect Sylt with the Danish island of Rømø.
Sylt Island is known for its beautiful natural scenery, wide beaches, and clean air. The island is best explored on foot or by bike using its many cycling paths. It should be noted that prices are very high.
7. Höllentalbahn
The Höllentalbahn is a railway line from Freiburg im Breisgau to Donaueschingen, opened in 1887. It is a single-track line, and the most notable section is between Himmelreich and Hinterzarten. On this 12-kilometer stretch, the train climbs an elevation of 400 meters. Until 1933, this section operated as a rack railway. The route includes several tunnels and the beautiful Ravenna Viaduct (Ravennabrücke), which spans the Ravenna Gorge. The viaduct is 225 meters long and 58 meters high, built between 1926 and 1927. It was blown up during World War II by German forces and rebuilt after the war by the French.
Freiburg im Breisgau is worth visiting for its many historical landmarks, including the medieval Freiburg Minster, the beautiful town hall, an arboretum, and several museums, some of which focus on the Rhine Valley.
Along the way, the train stops twice in Titisee-Neustadt, a well-known spa town and winter sports resort. The town also hosts Ski Jumping World Cup events.
8. Scenic railways in Germany – Lahntalbahn
The Lahntalbahn is a railway line located in the federal states of Rhineland-Palatinate and Hesse. At the beginning of the route, it crosses the Rhine River, and then the tracks run along the Lahn River. Opened in stages between 1858 and 1863, it is one of the oldest active railway lines in Germany. A large portion of the route lies just a few meters above the surface of the Lahn, with the train crossing numerous bridges and tunnels. The total length of the line is 104 km.
Several interesting towns lie along the railway. In the spa town of Bad Ems, you’ll find well-preserved buildings that are excellent examples of spa architecture from the 19th and 20th centuries. Nearby Nassau features a charming small-town center and a castle on a hill, offering panoramic views of the area. In the village of Balduinstein, the castle ruins are a tourist attraction. In Diez, visitors can tour the Oranienburg Palace and a castle, while the city of Limburg an der Lahn (population 35,000) is known for its cathedral and the old bridge dating back to 1315.
9. Mittelrheinbahn
The Mittelrheinbahn is a 187-kilometer railway line running from Cologne to Mainz, much of it along the Rhine River. It passes through the Upper Middle Rhine Valley, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2002. The most beautiful section of the route lies between Bingen/Rüdesheim and Koblenz. It’s a heavily used line for both passenger and freight trains. Between Cologne and Koblenz, and between Bingen and Mainz, trains can reach speeds of 160 km/h. The first section of the line was opened in 1844.
There are many interesting cities and towns along the route, including Bonn, each with its own cultural and historical significance.
10. Waldbahn
Waldbahn is a general name for several railway lines in Bavaria, known for their scenic beauty. The name refers to lines such as Plattling – Bayerisch Eisenstein, Zwiesel – Grafenau, Zwiesel – Bodenmais, and Gotteszell – Viechtach. Numerous natural attractions and hiking trails are found along these lines.
The most interesting line connects Plattling and Bayerisch Eisenstein. Along the way, the train crosses several viaducts, the longest of which is 305 meters, and passes through the Hochbühl Tunnel, which is 569 meters long.
The line ends at the Bayerisch Eisenstein/Železná Ruda-Alžbětín station, which is divided by the German-Czech border, making it a unique landmark on Europe’s railway map. From Bayerisch Eisenstein, travelers can continue their journey on Czech trains along scenic route to Plzeň or to Prague.
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Train travel in Germany – a comprehensive guide
