Bergen Railway, Norway

The Bergen Railway ascends to the stark, snowy beauty of the Hardangervidda plateau, Europe's largest mountain plateau, where June snowfields make passengers question both their calendar and their latitude. Over seven hours from Oslo to Bergen, the train climbs to 1,222 meters above sea level, surpassing the average elevation of any other Norwegian rail route by 40%. This journey outperforms #2 by offering a concentrated dose of arctic-like scenery in under a day, with 80% of passengers citing the Finse area as a highlight. Fares average just $60 for a one-way ticket, making it a bargain compared to typical European scenic trains.