Skip to main content
Byway logo - Homepage
Byway logo - Homepage
  • Destinations

    Top destinations

    • Italy
    • Scotland
    • England
    • Austria
    • France
    • Spain
    • Switzerland
  • Inspiration
    • Best train holidays
    • Sleeper trains
    • Last minute
    • Trips of a lifetime
    • Family trips
    • Ski
    • Short breaks
    • Sustainable stays
    • Beach
    • Budget-friendly
    • Solo trips
    • Adventure trips
    • Luxe
    • Winter
    • Christmas markets
    • Dog-friendly trips

    The Glacier Express Route

    Running between St. Moritz and Zermatt, an iconic rail journey.

    The Bernina Express Route

    A bucket-list-worthy journey with alpine views and sparkling glaciers.

  • Design a trip
    • Map
    • Talk to us

    Talk to us

    Plan your trip with our overland travel experts

    Map

    Pin places on a map to create a custom trip

  • About
    • About
    • Sustainability
    • Concierge
    • Newsletter
    • Gift cards
    • Refer a friend
    • Byway Club
    • FAQs
    • Love the journey guarantee
    • Offers
  • Contact
  • Journal
  • Account
white concrete castle in green field

History holidays by rail

From hilltop castles to Roman ruins, Celtic folklore to Cold War architecture.

Below is a selection of our favourite self-guided train trips through some of Europe and the UK's most history-filled spots.

Historic adventures by train

See all trips

Renaissance capitals

Discover jewels of Italian Renaissance history on this journey by rail through cities brimming with artistic and cultural heritage.
/ 10 nights
See trip

Carpathian crossroads

Explore Cluj-Napoca’s Gothic and Baroque landmarks, then continue to Brașov, where medieval streets meet forested slopes.
/ 14 nights
See trip

A Czech expedition

Travel across the Czech Republic to experience its capital, medieval castles, breweries, and traditions of Moravia.
/ 16 nights
See trip

Europe's Imperial Cities

Explore Europe’s imperial capitals by sleeper. Wander palaces, castles, and museums shaped by centuries of royal power.
/ 15 nights
See trip

Italy & Sicily's Roman ruins

Get under the skin of Italy’s Roman ruins as you head through Rome, Naples, and across the Strait to Sicily by sleeper train.
/ 14 nights
See trip

Historic Bosnia and Herzegovina

Follow winding rivers through Bosnia and Herzegovina, exploring Ottoman bridges, hillside towns, and layered history.
/ 13 nights
See trip

Cities and mountains of Poland

Explore southern Poland, from Gothic cities to the Tatra Mountains, linking wartime history, art hubs, and Zakopane villages.
/ 14 nights
See trip

Ancient East of Ireland

Sail to Ireland to see the best castles, cathedrals, and historic sites, with an option to visit the last port of call of the Titanic.
/ 10 nights
See trip

US copy Spain’s ancient cities

Discover Andalusia's Moorish palaces, Gothic cathedrals and Córdoba’s Mezquita, where Islamic and Christian art meet.
/ 13 nights
See trip
See all trips

Shorter historic journeys

See all trips

Cathedral city of York

Explore York beneath its Minster, walking the Roman walls and weaving through the Shambles’ medieval lanes.
/ 2 nights
See trip

Bath getaway

Discover Bath’s Roman baths, Georgian terraces, and literary heritage, with spa time, riverside walks, and honey-colored streets.
/ 3 nights
See trip

To the Borders

Travel through Yorkshire villages and the Dales, then follow the Settle–Carlisle Line to Hadrian’s Wall on the English border.
/ 8 nights
See trip

WWI history of Northern France

Visit Amiens, Arras, and Compiègne for the Somme battlefields, Clairière de l’Armistice, and Chemin des Dames.
/ 6 nights
See trip

Alsace escape

On France’s eastern edge, Alsace and Burgundy combine wine villages, timbered towns and countryside walks.
/ 6 nights
See trip

Edinburgh's UNESCO Old Town

Explore Edinburgh’s Old and New Towns beneath Castle Rock, linking closes, Georgian streets, and landmark viewpoints.
/ 4 nights
See trip

Expertly routed

Powered by two million miles of expertise

Support, not supervision

Disruption replanning, journey guide and in-trip chat

More sustainable, by design

Land and sea journeys with locally-owned stays

Looking for something else?

See all trips
Trustpilot

Read our customer reviews on Trustpilot (opens in a new tab)

Looking for something else?

Create a tripContact Trip Design

Prefer to book it yourself?

Learn how to book and enjoy an overland trip yourself in 10 clear steps (or book with us, and we’ll handle the lot).

See the 10 steps

Your trip

  • Contact
  • Create a trip
  • See all trips
  • FAQs
  • Foreign travel advice

Company

  • Jobs
  • Press
  • Partnerships
  • Affiliate

Inspiration

  • Best train holidays
  • Europe by train
  • Trends

Legal

  • Privacy policy
  • Terms of use
  • Your agreement with Byway
  • Site accessibility
  • Online safety
  • Cookies policy

Planet-friendly trips and slow travel news

Read our Privacy Policy before signing up.

*

Privacy policy (required) *

blueskyfacebookinstagramtiktokyoutube

Site content © Byway 2026