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Vegan-friendly train journeys are some of the most underrated travel experiences out there, and I say that as someone who has spent a genuinely embarrassing number of hours staring out train windows with a bag of snacks in my lap. There’s something about a train that a plane just can’t give you. You watch the landscape actually change instead of disappearing under clouds for six hours. You can get up and walk around. You can bring your own food without anyone side-eyeing your tupperware. For vegan travelers, that last part matters more than people realize.
I’ve put together this list of the best vegan-friendly train journeys around the world based on scenery, the realistic ease of eating well onboard, and the overall experience of the ride itself. Some of these routes have dedicated dining cars where a little advance planning goes a long way. Others are better suited to a fully stocked snack bag and a good podcast. Either way, you’re covered.
What Makes a Train Journey Vegan-Friendly
Before jumping into the list, it helps to know what actually separates a great vegan-friendly train journey from one where you’re stuck eating plain crackers for six hours.
A few things I look for:
- Onboard dining flexibility. Some train lines let you pre-order meals or note dietary restrictions when booking. Others have a dining car with a rotating menu that may or may not have a solid plant-based option, so it pays to check ahead.
- Station access at stops. Longer routes with meaningful layovers give you a chance to grab fresh food in a station or nearby town instead of relying entirely on what’s onboard.
- Length of the journey. A two-hour regional train doesn’t need the same food strategy as a three-day cross-continental route. The longer the ride, the more your snack bag matters.
- How easy it is to bring your own food. Most trains are far more relaxed about outside food than airplanes are, which makes this one of the easier ways to travel as a vegan without much extra effort.
Regional context matters too. A train running through a country with a strong vegetarian food culture, like India or parts of Southeast Asia, is going to be a lot more forgiving than a route through a region where plant-based eating is still catching on. It’s worth factoring that in when you’re deciding how much of your own food to bring versus how much you can plan to find along the way.
With that in mind, here’s where I’d actually book a ticket.
The Best Vegan-Friendly Train Journeys Around the World
1. The Glacier Express, Switzerland
The Glacier Express connects Zermatt and St. Moritz through the Swiss Alps, and it’s one of those routes where you’ll forget to eat because you’re too busy looking out the window. The train has a dining car, and Swiss rail service tends to be accommodating if you mention plant-based needs when you book. Zermatt and St. Moritz both have grocery stores and cafes where you can stock up before boarding, and I’d recommend doing that regardless of what the dining car offers that day. The ride itself takes around eight hours, so having your own snacks on hand means the food side of things never competes with your attention for the views.
2. Rocky Mountaineer, Canada
I love this country’s approach to plant-based food, and the Rocky Mountaineer is a fantastic way to see the Canadian Rockies without ever getting behind the wheel. The daytime-only journeys run between cities like Vancouver, Banff, and Jasper, and meals are included in most fare classes. Reach out to the rail company ahead of time to flag dietary preferences, since advance notice tends to get you a much better plate than a same-day request would.
What I like most about this one is the pacing. Because the trains only run during daylight hours and overnight in hotels along the route, you get proper sit-down meals instead of everything happening in a single dining car over a few rushed hours. It gives the kitchen staff more room to work with your dietary needs.
3. Venice Simplon-Orient-Express, Europe
This one is a splurge, but it’s a bucket list train ride for a reason. The route runs through several European cities depending on the itinerary, and the dining experience is a huge part of the appeal. Because the menus are curated in advance, this is a route where contacting the company ahead of your trip to request vegan meals definitely makes a difference. Most luxury rail operators are used to these requests and handle them well when you give them time.
4. Trans-Siberian Railway, Russia to Mongolia to China
The Trans-Siberian is less about a single scenic stretch and more about the sheer scale of the journey, days of travel across changing landscapes and time zones. Onboard dining can be hit or miss depending on the specific route and operator, so this is a trip where I’d lean heavily on bringing shelf-stable food: instant noodles, nuts, dried fruit, and anything else that travels well. Longer stops in cities along the way give you a chance to find local markets and restock.
5. The Ghan, Australia
The Ghan runs from Adelaide to Darwin through the middle of Australia, and it’s one of the more remote train journeys on this list. Meals are included in the higher fare tiers, and the crew is generally responsive to dietary requests submitted in advance. The scenery through the Outback is genuinely unlike anything else, red desert stretching to the horizon in every direction.
6. Shinkansen (Bullet Train), Japan
I wrote an entire guide to vegan travel in Japan because the food scene there deserves it, and the Shinkansen is one of the easiest vegan-friendly train journeys on this whole list. Japanese train stations are famous for their “ekiben,” boxed meals sold specifically for train travel, and convenience stores inside major stations often carry onigiri and other snacks with clear ingredient labeling. Stock up before boarding and you’re set for even the longest routes between Tokyo and Osaka or beyond.
7. Eurostar, London to Paris
This is one of the most practical entries on the list. The Eurostar connects London and Paris in around two and a half hours, which makes food planning simple: grab something solid before you board and you’ll barely notice the ride. Both cities have excellent plant-based options right near the major stations, so a quick stop at a bakery or cafe before departure covers you completely.
8. Belmond Andean Explorer, Peru
Peru holds a special place for me (I swear I’ll write all about my experience soon), and the food scene surprised me in the best way. The Belmond Andean Explorer runs through the Peruvian Andes past Lake Titicaca, and as a luxury sleeper train, meals are built into the experience. Reaching out ahead of time to confirm plant-based options is worth doing here too, especially since the route includes multiple full meals over a multi-day itinerary.
9. Palace on Wheels, India
India’s food culture is one of the most naturally vegetarian and vegan-adjacent in the world, and the Palace on Wheels takes full advantage of that. This luxury train travels through Rajasthan with multi-course meals included, and Indian rail catering is generally very comfortable accommodating vegetarian and vegan requests since plant-based eating is such a normal part of the culture there. This is genuinely one of the least stressful vegan-friendly train journeys to plan for, and it’s a good reminder that the food culture of a region can matter just as much as the train itself when you’re picking a route.
Packing Tips for Vegan-Friendly Train Journeys
Long train rides reward a little bit of prep, and having the right gear makes it a lot easier to eat well no matter where you are.
What to pack:
- A collapsible food container for leftovers or market finds
- A reusable water bottle you can refill at stations
- Shelf-stable snacks like nuts, dried fruit, and granola bars for the longer routes
- A bamboo utensil set so you’re never stuck eating with your hands
I’ve got a full breakdown of my go-to gear in this vegan travel accessories guide, most of it works just as well on a three-day train trip as it does on a flight.
Booking a Scenic Train Route
A few of the journeys on this list, especially the Glacier Express, Rocky Mountaineer, and Venice Simplon-Orient-Express, are also bookable as part of guided rail tours that bundle in transportation, some meals, and side excursions. If you’d rather not coordinate everything yourself, that’s worth looking into.
Train travel also happens to be one of the more sustainable ways to see the world, which pairs nicely with the eco-conscious mindset a lot of us already bring to plant-based travel.
Final Thoughts
Vegan-friendly train journeys are proof that you don’t have to choose between incredible scenery and eating well while you travel. A little bit of research before you book, combined with a well-packed snack bag, covers you on almost any route in the world. If you’re looking for more ways to plan a trip around your plant-based lifestyle, my guide to vegan travel destinations is a solid next stop.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are trains generally easier for vegan travelers than flights?
Yes, in most cases. Trains typically have more relaxed rules around bringing your own food onboard, and many routes have proper dining cars where you can request meals in advance. Airplanes are far more restrictive about outside food and rarely offer real advance customization.
Do I need to book vegan meals in advance for scenic train routes?
For luxury or long-distance trains with included dining, like the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express or the Belmond Andean Explorer, yes. Reaching out ahead of time gives the kitchen staff time to prepare something better than a last-minute request would get you.
What’s the easiest vegan-friendly train journey for a first-timer?
The Eurostar between London and Paris is a great starting point. The ride is short, both cities have excellent plant-based food near the stations, and there’s no need to plan meals around the trip itself.
Can I bring my own food on long-distance trains?
Almost always, and it’s usually the smart move for multi-day routes like the Trans-Siberian Railway. Shelf-stable snacks and a collapsible food container go a long way when onboard dining options are limited.
Which vegan-friendly train journey has the best food culture built in?
India’s Palace on Wheels and Japan’s Shinkansen both stand out. India’s food culture is naturally vegetarian and vegan-friendly, and Japan’s train stations sell boxed meals and snacks with clear ingredient labeling, making it easy to eat well without much advance planning.
