The most beautiful steam locomotive routes in Germany for romantic train rides in autumn

On these trains, speed isn't an issue: More than 200 historic steam locomotives still puff through Germany on nostalgic routes. The journeys, some in magnificently decorated carriages, take you back to a time when train travel was still a luxurious adventure. Reisereporter presents a selection of the most beautiful steam locomotive routes for a leisurely autumn excursion.

The nostalgic scent of the "Angeln Steam Railway" in northern Schleswig-Holstein greets travelers as soon as they arrive at Kappeln station. The train ride on Germany's northernmost heritage railway continues with stops in Scheggerott and Wagersrott to its final destination in Süderbrarup, about twelve kilometers away.

The "Angeln Steam Railway" operates with an original carriage from the 1920s and is pulled by locomotives from Scandinavia, including a steam locomotive from 1952. Through the train windows, passengers gaze at the landscape between the Schlei, the Baltic Sea , and the Flensburg Fjord in northeastern Schleswig-Holstein. Drinks and snacks are served in the Swedish dining car.

Just before Süderbrarup, just like 90 years ago, a switch still has to be switched by hand before the train reaches its destination at platform 1 of the pretty station building from 1904.

After arriving, nostalgia fans can either hike through the Thorsberg Moor or drive back to Kappeln. There, the day trip can be perfectly rounded off with a boat trip on the Schlei . Combined tickets are available for both train and boat rides. Seats can be reserved in advance and must be paid for on-site.

Note: According to its own information, the Angeln steam railway will run from May 4th to October 26th, 2025.

• Route: Kappeln to Süderbrarup
• Tickets (round trip): Adults 21 euros, children (up to 16 years) 10 euros
• Info: “ angelner-dampfeisenbahn.de ”

For train enthusiasts from all over the world, Saxony , with its proud steam locomotive history and numerous special and themed tours, is a mecca for excursions. Six historic lines remain from what was once Germany's largest narrow-gauge railway system. Along these routes, the Free State reveals its most beautiful side. An overview:

Weißeritztalbahn (Dresden region): Freital to Kipsdorf. Among train connoisseurs, the 26-kilometer route of Germany's oldest operating narrow-gauge railway (in service since 1883) is considered one of the most beautiful in all of Europe.

Lößnitzgrundbahn (Dresden region): Radebeul-Ost to Radeburg. The "Lößnitzdackel" whizzes through the Radebeul wine-growing region, stopping in Moritzburg, a popular tourist destination with the magnificent Baroque Moritzburg Palace .

Döllnitz Railway (Leipzig Region): Oschatz to Mügeln. The route runs along the Döllnitz River. Steam trains run onselected days .

Preßnitz Valley Railway (Ore Mountains region): Jöhstadt to Steinbach. This narrow-gauge railway steams along a nine-kilometer route through the beautiful valleys of the Ore Mountains .

In our WhatsApp channel, you'll find exclusive travel tips, unusual destinations, and affordable travel deals. Want to be notified of important news immediately? Activate the bell in the channel and be notified of new posts.

Zittau Narrow-Gauge Railway (Upper Lusatia Region): Zittau to Johnsdorf. This idyllic route in Upper Lusatia has led through dense forests to the Zittau Mountains in the border triangle since 1890. The monastery ruins on Mount Oybin are a popular hiking destination.

Fichtelberg Railway (Ore Mountains region): Cranzahl to Oberwiesentahl. Around 200,000 passengers travel annually on the 17-kilometer route. A detailed description follows.

The Fichtelberg Railway steams from the Cranzahl gauge changeover station at about 25 kilometers per hour through the romantic Ore Mountains to Oberwiesenthal, Germany's highest town (914 meters above sea level).

The journey takes about an hour, with stops in Unterneudorf, Neudorf, Vierenstraße, Kretscham-Rothensehma, Niederschlag, Hammerunterwiesenthal, and Unterwiesenthal. From the stations, train passengers can embark on hikes or take excursions, such as an animal enclosure with an adventure world, the soup museum , and a demonstration workshop for incense cone production. Shortly before reaching its destination, the train crosses the spectacular Hüttenbach Viaduct – a 110-meter-long steel bridge.

From Oberwiesenthal, the “ Schwebebahn ”, Germany’s oldest cable car, leads to the summit of the Fichtelberg.

In this popular winter sports area, visitors can ski and snowboard on eleven slopes and routes (total length: 15 kilometers) or whizz down a 1,700-meter-long toboggan run from the Fichtelberg plateau. Even in snow-free periods, there is a wide range of leisure attractions, including an ice arena, Segway and monster scooter rides, and a summer toboggan run.

The "Rasende Roland" (Racing Roland) has been steaming across the southeastern part of the island of Rügen for over 125 years. "Racing" is a rather tongue-in-cheek description of a ride on this steam-powered narrow-gauge railway. It connects the Baltic Sea resort of Göhren with Putbus at a leisurely 30 kilometers per hour, stopping in Binz, Sellin, and Baabe along the way. In summer, the narrow-gauge railway also travels to Lauterbach Mole.

The fleet includes six steam locomotives, including a historic train for occasional special trips. The "Rasende Roland" (Racing Roland) is a popular attraction for island vacationers and an integral part of the local transport network.

We've already tried out the "Rasende Roland" – and captured the ride for you in the video:

From the island train stations, visitors can, for example, set off on hikes through the various island landscapes and transfer to a steamer for an excursion on the Baltic Sea.

• Route: Göhren to Putbus
• Tickets: Prices for single tickets range from 3 to 15 euros, depending on the fare level ; day ticket 33 euros; holders of a Deutschlandticket receive a discount.
• Info: “ ruegensche-baederbahn.de ”

1972 actually marked the end of the Härtsfeld Railway, which ran from eastern Baden-Württemberg to Bavaria. At that time, passenger and freight traffic was discontinued, and the tracks were dismantled. But steam locomotive fans can rejoice: Under the voluntary management of the Härtsfeld Museum Railway Association, two lines were rebuilt and completed in 2001 and 2021, respectively.

Locomotive enthusiasts can now once again travel through the Egau Valley on the Härtsfeld Museum Railway. The museum line runs from Neresheim to Katzenstein Station on Lake Härtsfeld. It passes the Baroque Neresheim Monastery, perched atop Ulrichsberg. From the Steinmühle stop, the Zwing Nature Reserve is a perfect starting point for hiking.

The railway then continues across the Egau River to the other side of the valley, through a wetland biotope created in 1985, and repeatedly along the slope to the Sägmühle terminus station, which served for many years. The mill that gave the route its name can still be found today on the Egau River. Passing Iggenhausen, the line continues between the Egau River and the rock face to Katzenstein on Lake Härtsfeld.

The Härtsfeld Museum Railway operates every first Sunday from May to October, on public holidays and other selected dates.

• Route: Neresheim to Katzenstein on the Härtsfeldsee
• Tickets: Single ticket 10 euros, children (6 to 14 years) 7 euros
• Info: “ hmb-ev.de ”

The Black Forest in Baden-Württemberg can also be explored by steam-powered train. The 25-kilometer-long "Sauschwänzlebahn" winds its way along an idyllic route from Blumberg over four mighty valley bridges and through six tunnels to Weizen.

The cute name doesn't refer to the railway itself, but rather to a spiral-shaped tunnel, whose structure resembles a pig's tail. From the windows, passengers enjoy a magnificent view of the Black Forest valleys and, in good weather, even a distant glimpse of the Alps .

The steam locomotives run on selected days. From November to March, the tunnels are closed to train travel because of the nesting of strictly protected barbastelle bats.

• Route: Blumberg-Zollhaus to Weizen
• Tickets: 39 euros for the steam train ride (round trip)
• Info: “ sauschwaenzlebahn.de ”

In the Harz National Park, puffing steam locomotives flank the popular hiking routes to the summit of the Brocken, the highest mountain in the low mountain range in Lower Saxony and Saxony-Anhalt at 1,141 meters.

The approximately one-hour, 40-minute journey starts in Wernigerode and makes eight stops to reach Germany's highest station for so-called adhesion railways. The journey is particularly spectacular in winter, when the mighty 700-horsepower steam locomotives from the 1950s battle their way through snow-covered coniferous forests to the summit.

Demand for Harz Railway Romance is enormous. Around one million people travel on the narrow-gauge railways every year, two-thirds of them on the Brocken route.

• Route: Wernigerode to Brocken station
• Tickets: 57 euros (round trip), children (6 to 14 years) 34 euros
• Info: “ hsb-wr.de ”

The route of the historic "Vulkan-Express" in Rhineland-Palatinate is popular not only with fans of historic trains, but also with hikers and cyclists. From its nine stations, the beautiful Eifel landscape can be explored year-round on foot or by bike. The 18-kilometer route runs from Brohl am Rhein over spectacular viaducts to Engeln.

On the trains, passengers are quickly reminded of the origins of the term "wooden class." If the nostalgic feeling of traveling on the wooden benches seems too authentic, you should secure a ticket for the upholstered first class ahead of time.

Passengers have the best view from the open "summer carriage," a car without a roof and enjoying a fresh breeze. But the Eifel panorama can also be fully enjoyed from the interiors of the historic carriages. The trains travel at 20 kilometers per hour—plenty of time to slow down.

The trains are mostly pulled by vintage diesel locomotives, but on selected days , a historic steam locomotive is also used.

• Route: Brohl am Rhein to Engeln
• Tickets: 17.50 euros (round trip)
• Info: “ vulkan-express.de ”

The sight of the cute "Selfkantbahn" (Selfkant Railway) is reminiscent of the children's book stories of Jim Knopf and Engine Driver Lukas. On North Rhine-Westphalia's last small steam railway, railway fans can truly feel like they're in the stories of Michael Ende. Anyone can take the wheel of the small locomotive as an "honorary engine driver." Complete with a driver's hat, of course! The nearly six-kilometer-long route runs from Schierwaldenrath to Gangelt.

Those who book the two-day "locomotive driver training" will, after a tour of the station, be introduced to the history and technology of the heritage railway. The next day, the locomotive is fired up before the journey finally begins. Under the supervision of a professional, the train will first travel back and forth through the station. On the route, travelers will then learn a great deal about what everyday life was like at the controls of a train. The training will be certified upon arrival with an "Honorary Locomotive Driver Certificate."

Looking for more inspiration? You can find tips for all the top travel destinations at reisereporter .