Top 15 Holiday Train Experiences for a Magical Christmas

From classic Santa experiences to a post-holiday trip with a staged train heist.

Fact checked by Elizabeth MacLennan

Trains are inextricably linked to the festive season. Whether you have a small replica chugging around the tree or you’re boarding an Amtrak to get home for the holidays, a locomotive can get you into the holiday spirit — and even more so if you embark on one of these festive train rides. All over the world, railways offer special themed journeys and decorated train cars during the holidays.

From excursions inspired by “The Polar Express” to multiday trips to explore charming Christmas markets, here are 15 holiday train rides that will take you to a realm of holiday magic.

The Chicago Transit Authority’s (CTA) Holiday Train

Every year, from after Thanksgiving to just before Christmas, the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) runs its holiday-themed fleet on eight rail lines and around the elevated Loop. The train cars are wrapped with cheerful holiday images and decorated with Christmas trees, festive lights, and candy cane-striped handrails. Santa rides alongside passengers on the Loop from his open-air car.

It’s a fun show, but the CTA Holiday Train serves a bigger purpose than mere aesthetics because it delivers food baskets to charities around the city. Schedules are posted on the CTA website, and regular transit rates apply.

Santa Steam Express, London

On select days in December, you can take a 90-minute jaunt in the British capital on an authentic steam train. The Santa Steam Express is an annual tradition where families hop aboard at London Victoria Station and are treated to a warm drink, a gift, and a visit from Santa and the crew. As you ride through West London, you’ll enjoy views of the river and picturesque areas like Chiswick. There are multiple departures per day and while all railcars are dressed up for the holiday, a first-class ticket will get you a seat on one of the restored vintage cars.

Santa Train Jolly Journeys, Napa Valley, California

Besides its regular wine-fueled excursions, the Napa Valley Wine Train offers a family-friendly festive experience aboard one of its seasonal Santa Train Jolly Journeys. The 90-minute trip starts with carolers at the station as passengers board the charming railcar bedecked with holiday decor.

The train then travels through the rolling scenery of Napa Valley to Yountville and back. All the while, passengers enjoy sing-alongs, hot chocolate, and freshly baked cookies. You can opt for the basic Santa’s Cookie Car package or upgrade to a three-course meal in one of the luxury cars. All kids aboard will get the opportunity to snap a photo with Santa and drop postcards for him at the Merry Mailing Center.

The Polar Express by Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad, Durango, Colorado

A ride on Durango & Silverton’s version of The Polar Express gives families a true Chris Van Allsburg-worthy experience. Hot chocolate flows and other sweet treats are served as the conductor performs a reading from the iconic holiday story. When the train pulls out of Durango Depot en route to the North Pole, caroling and general merriment abound.

After a half-hour ride, passengers are treated to a light show set to music at the North Pole, then gifts are distributed by Santa himself on the way back to Durango. The whole experience takes around two hours, and participants are encouraged to wear pajamas just like in the book.

The Train of Lights, Devon, United Kingdom

In southwest England, the Train of Lights whisks passengers away on a kaleidoscopic journey into the forest. Created by the Dartmouth Steam Railway and River Boat Company, the train travels through the Devon countryside, casting color onto the landscape with lights strung on its exterior. Holiday displays and decorations also adorn the route. Passengers board the vintage railcars at Queen’s Park Station in the town of Paignton and embark on an hour-long round-trip journey to Kingswear, passing through a tunnel of light along the River Dart.

The Grand Canyon Railway and Hotel’s Polar Express, Williams, Arizona

The Grand Canyon Railway and Hotel’s Polar Express ride takes passengers through the nighttime wilderness of Williams, Arizona, to “the North Pole.” Pajama-clad youngsters and adults are served hot chocolate and chocolate chip cookies while they listen to the cherished Christmas tale before arriving at a brightly lit scene starring Santa and his reindeer. There, Santa presents every kid with a keepsake gift before families return from the 90-minute journey.

Brightline’s The Polar Express, Miami

In Florida, The Polar Express train ride by Brightline is an hour-long round-trip journey from MiamiCentral Station, taking passengers around Downtown Miami while dancing chefs keep the hot chocolate and cookies flowing. Families enjoy caroling alongside characters from the film and even get a ceremonious hole punched in their festive golden ticket. Everyone leaves with a boost of holiday cheer and a keepsake sleigh bell presented by Santa himself to remember the ride.

The Holiday Express 1880 Train, Hill City, South Dakota

The Holiday Express 1880 Train combines Christmas and history as passengers take a one-hour ride aboard the world’s longest-operating standard-gauge excursion train. Adults of legal drinking age can enjoy the Holiday Express Spiked, where hot chocolate comes with an alcoholic kick.

The train weaves from Hill City through the Black Hills National Forest, with views of historic mining encampments and rock huts along the way. Passengers can enjoy hot chocolate and sugar cookies and may even spot “reindeer” (elk, actually), turkeys, and marmots during their journey. The train heads to “the North Pole,” where Santa comes aboard and greets each guest.

Ferrovia dei Parchi, Abruzzo, Italy

This historic train traverses the lovely mountains and gorges of Abruzzo — an Italian region rife with charming villages — throughout the year. During the Christmas season, it’s the best way to travel to Christmas markets in Sulmona, Roccaraso, and Campo di Giove on a multiday train adventure. You can plan a package online with Ferrovia dei Parchi that includes two nights’ accommodations in Sulmona, daily breakfast and dinner, and a guided tour of the historic center. In each town, you’ll find festive decorations and gift-shopping opportunities.

Santa Claus Express, Helsinki, Finland

Follow in Santa’s footsteps aboard the Santa Claus Express, which travels overnight from Helsinki to Finland’s northernmost region of Lapland. By purchasing a Eurail Pass, passengers can book journeys on this train and several others. The Santa Claus Express uses the regular train numbers 265/273 and 266/274, which depart from Helsinki daily.

The double-decker train crosses through Finland’s spectacular winter scenery, providing views of its snow-lined peaks throughout the 14-hour journey. Passengers will stop at Rovaniemi, known as the “official residence of Santa Claus” and home to his personal post office, where children can drop off signed letters at Santa Park.

There are plenty of holiday-themed activities in Rovaniemi, such as visiting an elf school, riding a reindeer, or embarking on a snowmobile safari. The city’s abundance of Christmas trees and native reindeer will make visitors feel as though they’ve stepped into a real-life snow globe.

North Pole Limited Christmas Train, Chattanooga, Tennessee

A tradition since 1999, the North Pole Limited Christmas Train travels through southeast Tennessee, providing views of the beautiful Appalachian Mountain foothills and some holiday light displays along the way.
The round-trip journey, starting and ending in Chattanooga, takes an hour. Passengers get hot chocolate and cookies while listening to a holiday story, plus the chance to write letters to Santa. He makes an appearance, of course, when the train arrives at “the North Pole.”

Santa Express, Donegal, Ireland

In Donegal’s Oakfield Park, the Santa Express is one of the year’s most anticipated events for local families. The train takes riders through an enchanted rainbow-colored forest into the Christmas village. The attraction offers lots of activities to keep visitors busy, from the crafting hut where you can make your own decorations to the Elf Olympic Games, featuring small family-friendly competitions to entertain while you wait in line for your photo with Santa. Drop off your letters to the big man at the Post Office and then pick up your complimentary cup of hot chocolate or mulled wine. Note that tickets are sold only by train compartment, so it’s best to attend in a group of four to six people.

Country Christmas Train, Denton, North Carolina

Marvel at hundreds of holiday light displays and see the story of the nativity unfold in live scenes from the Country Christmas Train at Denton FarmPark, a family-owned historical park that captures the essence of old-timey North Carolina.

The experience kicks off with a walk along an illuminated candy-cane path and pictures with Santa at the station. The train follows a mile-and-a-half-long track for a short ride, during which elves can be seen out the window. On the train, passengers watch a short nonsecular film about the meaning of Christmas. Afterward, guests can head to a gingerbread house to enjoy homemade cookies, partake in a carriage ride, and visit the petting zoo.

The After Christmas Train by the Grapevine Vintage Railroad, Grapevine, Texas

Those looking to extend the Christmas cheer can take a ride on the Grapevine Vintage Railroad’s After Christmas Trains. The most unique feature of this ride is perhaps the “Great Train Heist,” a game that passengers play to help the “Cotton Belt Special Agent” catch a notorious imaginary robber.

After about two hours of games and sightseeing, passengers arrive at the Fort Worth Stockyards, where they’ll have about an hour to enjoy lunch or explore the area’s shops before returning to Grapevine. The whole experience takes roughly six hours.

Canadian Pacific Holiday Train, Locations Throughout the U.S. and Canada

Bringing a unique twist to the holiday train concept, the Canadian Pacific Holiday Train isn’t one you hop aboard, but one you gather to see pull into the station. As the illuminated train rolls into town, one of the railcars transforms into a stage, unveiling a band ready to perform Christmas classics for a good cause. In 2023, there will be two trains traveling through the U.S. and Canada making multiple stops per day from Montreal to Vancouver and Minneapolis to Houston.