The best Christmas train journeys in Europe

Helsinki to Rovaniemi, Finland: Hometown of Santa Claus

The green double-decker Santa Claus Express train, departing from Helsinki, travels 800km to Finnish Lapland, “the homeland of Santa Claus”.

At 7:45 p.m., the train glided out of the Finnish capital. Through the snow-covered windows, passengers could watch the round flakes of snow drift against the glass. There was no sound except the chugging of the train as it sped north.

At 7:20 the next morning, the train arrives in Rovaniemi. A 10-minute shuttle bus takes visitors to Santa Claus Village, where elves with rosy cheeks and striped knee socks line up to meet the big man in his wooden grotto.

Chur, Switzerland, to Tirano, Italy: Explore ancient castles

Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2008, the Bernina Line is one of the highest railway lines in the Alps.

Departing from Chur, the oldest city in Switzerland, the Bernina Express passes through 55 tunnels.

The village of Tirano in Italy is very small, with a population of less than 10,000 people, and it takes less than two hours to stroll through the ruins of ancient castles with the church bells ringing.

From Oslo to Bergen, Norway to visit the medieval harbor

Indigo in the pre-dawn light, the Oslo sky begins to open as this passenger train begins its seven-hour journey.

Following the upper reaches of the Drammenselva River, the route curves along Lake Tyrijorden to the town of Hønefoss.

Bergen has a long maritime history that still lives on. Most visitors to Norway's second city are drawn to the medieval harbor of Bryggen.

Vienna, Austria, to Bucharest, Romania to the most beautiful bookstore in the world

Departing Vienna before 8pm, the Dacia train takes guests on an epic journey across Eastern Europe.

The morning scenery is the point of this trip: the train runs through the heart of Transylvania, with views of the snow-capped Carpathian Mountains. Along the Olt River, through tunnels hidden in the forest.

In the old town of Bucharest in winter, Cărtureşti Carusel on Strada Lipscani is one of the most beautiful bookstores in the world.

Wernigerode to Brocken, Germany, a railway for nostalgic people

A route for true railway enthusiasts who love steam engines and train whistles, the Brocken Railway is a branch of Germany's narrow gauge network that runs around the Harz Mountains.

With a whistle piercing the chilly air, the train pulled out of the town of Wernigerode, the smell of smoke pouring in through the open windows.

Glasgow to Mallaig, Scotland, the Harry Potter Express

The journey takes five and a half hours, the train departs from Queen Street Glasgow.

The highlight of the journey is when the train winds around a horseshoe bend at the foot of Ben Doran before crossing Rannoch Moor, a wilderness area.

If the weather is clear enough, you can see Ben Nevis near Fort William, followed by one of the most recognisable stretches of railway in the world – the 30m-high Glenfinnan Viaduct atop Loch Shiel – made famous by the Hogwarts Express in the Harry Potter films.

Stockholm, Sweden, to Narvik, Norway via the fairytale snow forest

With a 6pm departure from central Stockholm, the line takes 18 hours to circle the main axis of Sweden before terminating in the Norwegian town of Narvik.

During the trip, passengers can enjoy picturesque snow forests.

In the morning, most get off the train in Kiruna to cross-country ski and hunt for the northern lights in Swedish Lapland.

Berlin, Germany to Stockholm, Sweden to see the aurora

Departing at 18:37 from Berlin's Gesundbrunnen station, the EuroNight to Stockholm line heads west through the scenic Spandau region.

The train then follows the curves of the icy Spree River, before reaching the Lower Saxony countryside with its snow-covered fields.

Get off the train here for a chance to see the aurora borealis before entering the Swedish capital.