Dinogo Readers' Top 5 Trains for 2024

Train travel possesses a certain enchantment — the soothing rhythm, the passing landscapes, and often, a lavish onboard experience. The trend of slow travel has gained traction over the years, prompting train operators to create remarkable journeys that extend beyond simple transportation. In the 2024 World's Best Awards, marking the second year of train inclusion in the survey, our readers voted for trains showcasing various highlights, from luxurious amenities to stunning views and exquisite wines.

Voting Process Explained

Annually, for our World's Best Awards survey, T+L invites readers to share their insights on global travel experiences, evaluating the best hotels, resorts, cities, islands, cruise lines, spas, airlines, and more. Over 300,000 T+L readers participated in the 2024 survey, casting a total of more than 700,000 votes across 8,700+ properties (including hotels, cities, cruise lines, etc.).

Trains were rated based on the following criteria:

Accommodations
Culinary Experience
Service Quality
Travel Itineraries
Destinations Offered
Overall Value

Participants rated each feature as excellent, above average, average, below average, or poor. The final scores represent the average of these ratings.

Highlights from Readers

Our readers favored five trains from North America and Europe, ranging from multi-night adventures to single-afternoon excursions. Returning this year is the Rocky Mountaineer (ranked No. 3), offering multi-day routes through the Canadian and American Rockies, alongside the British Pullman, A Belmond Train (ranked No. 2), which provides various tours across the U.K., including sightseeing trips, afternoon tea experiences, and murder mystery events. 'It's all about the scenery,' remarked one reader regarding the Rocky Mountaineer. Additionally, there are three newcomers: the Napa Valley Wine Train at No. 4, and the Royal Canadian Pacific at No. 5. To discover which European icon claimed the top spot as our readers' No. 1 train, keep reading.

The Champion

Venice Simplon-Orient-Express, A Belmond Train

Luxury train cabin interior on the Venice Simplon Orient Express

Image courtesy of Belmond

Regarded as one of the most iconic and opulent trains globally, the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express, A Belmond Train, has won the admiration of our readers, with one noting it as '[t]he epitome of elegance and glamour!' This luxury train offers various routes throughout Europe, predominantly featuring one-night journeys. Passengers enjoy lavish suites or vintage cabins that evoke the art deco era of train travel, complemented by gourmet dinners and lavish breakfasts served in beautifully restored 1920s carriages. 'A truly once-in-a-lifetime experience... unless you have the chance to do it again,' reflected one reader.