Five fantastic train journeys offering the best of Europe

Travelling by train can be much more rewarding than flying. Enjoy the views en-route, and arrive at your destination feeling refreshed for your adventure ahead.

Europe is a mecca for train lovers, and travel agents have long boasted it to be the best way to get about when frolicking about on the continent.

Even in this era of ridiculously low airfares, I still find it more rewarding to arrive somewhere refreshed and ready after stepping off a train platform instead of being bleary-eyed in a foreign airport still miles from the centre of town.

Below is a pick-and-mix of journeys where getting to the destination is half the fun.

MADRID TO LISBON

This Iberian explorer links the two western European capitals at a more leisurely pace than a busy flight from crowded airports. Spanish train operator Renfe runs the Trenhotel's Lusitania service, which whisks people along at up to 220 kilometres an hour, under the cover of darkness. Grand class gets you club lounge access in Madrid, along with a twin share, lockable compartment featuring a relatively long bed (190cm), a shower, toilet and basin, and complimentary toilet bag, although the current ticket prices of more than 140 euro each for twin share, may steer you towards the four-bed bunk shared compartments at 50 euro per one-way journey. But given you're heading to western Europe's most budget-friendly capital city, perhaps it's best to splash a bit of cash to ensure you arrive refreshed and ready to explore.

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* Train travel in Europe tips: 10 things you need to know* Six train tips for your UK and Europe train trip* Madrid to Barcelona by fast train: Up to 300km per hour

LAKE BLED TO VENICE

Traverse this largely ignored route from behind the former Iron Curtain from one of Europe's most picturesque lakes: The Slovenian town of Bled. Board from its Jerezo station on the western shore. From there you'll follow the icy-blue Bohinijka river then the Isonzo river, and pass through the stunning Soca valley to Nova Gorica, formerly a border town to the closed East-West frontier with Italy.

Although the Cold War is long over, you still have to break your journey to Venice here. Walk across into Italy (no checkpoints, but a few memorial plaques) catch a 1 euro minibus 3.9km from Slovenian Nova Gorica to Italian Gorizia (notice the similar spelling for the side-by-side towns). Board again at Gorizia's central station for the  two-and-a-half hour long journey to Venice's Santa Lucia station – the final few minutes crossing the lagoon are great at sunset. The journey costs as little as 20 euro for the six-hour-ish commute. Book the Italian section at Trenitalia.com. Timetables for the Slovenian section are most user-friendly at Rome2Rio.com.

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ZERMATT TO ST MORITZ, SWITZERLAND

The seven-and-a-half hour alpine journey on the Glacier Express, along with the sister service the Berlina Express, shows off the best of the Swiss Alps. Thankfully, the influx of gob-smacked tourists was catered for by the design on the carriages, which boast massive panoramic windows, which let your eye follow the mountain ranges up to their peaks. Highlights include Oberalp Pass (more than 2000m above sea level), the Rhine Gorge and the Landwasser Viaduct.

Despite the title, this "Express" only pushes an average speed of 40kmh, so you can just sit back and relax yet still find the time to take  hundreds of photographs. The connection between the two chi-chi ski resorts is, unsurprisingly, a bit pricey, at 180 euro one-way including reservation fee, but is a complete feast for the eyes.

LONDON TO MALLAIG, SCOTLAND VIA FORT WILLIAM

Combine two of the most scenic train journeys to go from buzzing metropolis London to a northern outreach in the Scottish Highlands. You can board the Caledonian Sleeper at London's Euston station just after 10pm and get comfortable in your sleeper carriage or enjoy a dram before your 11pm departure. You'll awake to a stunning Highlands sunrise if you're an earlybird, as the train rounds lochs and heather-covered hillside.

Change at Fort William to a blast from the past – an hour-and-a-half journey on the Western Highland Line, aboard a steam train to Mallaig. The area has seen plenty more tourists since the Glenfinnan Viaduct was used for Hogwarts Express scenes in the Harry Potter films. Sleeper carriages for the overnight journey start at around £90 one way, based on two people sharing, and the "Jacobite" steam train onwards to Malliag is £30 an adult one way, and runs seasonally from May to October, with a shorter Christmas season as well.

LONDON TO VENICE

This is not your ordinary sleeper train. And at £2000-plus a journey, it probably shouldn't be either. Operated by luxury hotel company Belmond, the art deco-inspired Venice Simplon-Orient-Express  has recently had a $16m refurbishment and harks back to 1920-1930s glamour. The service's place in history and pop culture will soon be reignited with this year's remake of Murder on the Orient Express, starring Johnny Depp and Dame Judi Dench. Guests are encouraged to dress up for the British Pullman's departure from London's Victoria station, and black tie is not out of place in the dining cart

After crossing the channel you swap to the Orient Express and are filled to the brim with a four-course dinner before passing out in a food coma in your private cabin – configured by friendly staff for day -and night-time setting. The two-day ,one-night journey to Italy means guests in the 35 sleeper carriages awake on day two in the Alps, and are treated to more highbrow cuisine with five-star service, before arriving at the famed Venetian canals.

Josh Martin is a London-based Kiwi journalist, who writes about travel, tourism, business, and consumer issues in between trips to places you'd rather be. Email josh.martin@fairfaxmedia.co.nz if you have a travel issue you'd like him to write about.

 - Stuff

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