Imagine stepping aboard a train in the sunny coastal town of Lisbon in southern Portugal and travelling for nearly three weeks through 13 countries - crossing Europe into Asia, over mountains, deserts, forests and tropical terrain - before finally arriving in bustling Singapore. This extraordinary itinerary covers approximately 18,755 kilometres and is often cited as the world's longest train journey.
While this trip isn't offered as a single continuous ticket, it's achievable by linking a series of international train legs and planning carefully.
Here's a fresh look at how you could make it happen - including how to ride, when to go, and what challenges and delights await.
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The Longest Train Route Overview - From Lisbon To Singapore
The journey begins in Portugal and threads through Spain, France, Germany, Poland, Belarus, Russia, Mongolia, China, Laos, Thailand, Malaysia and ends in Singapore.
Here's a breakdown:
- West Europe: From Portugal into Spain, then onto France and Germany.
- Central/Eastern Europe to Russia: Via Poland and Belarus into Russia.
- Asia: Through Mongolia (if using one variant) or directly into China, then south through Laos, Thailand, Malaysia, finishing in Singapore.
- Total length: 18,755 km.
Do note: this journey is not a single train ride - there are many transfers, border crossings and segments where a train may be interrupted or replaced by bus/coach.
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Train journeys are a different kind of adventure
How To Take The World's Longest Train Journey
Planning and bookings
Begin in Portugal. Book a train from Lisbon (or Lagos) to Spain. From there, connect to France, Germany, then eastwards. In Europe, high-speed and conventional trains are abundant. Earthly steps include changing trains at major hubs.
For the Russia / Mongolia / China section: acquire necessary visas in advance (especially Russia, Belarus, China). These legs are remote and may have fewer departures.
Southern Asia leg: after China (or Laos border), proceed through Laos to Thailand, Malaysia and ultimately Singapore.
Purchase individual tickets for each country - there's currently no universal pass covering all 13 countries.
On-the-ground tips for the longest train journey:
- Pack light but include essentials: power adapters, local SIM/roaming or e-SIM for connectivity, and a printed visa/train schedule backup.
- Overnight trains are your friend for long stretches - e.g., the segment across Siberia can run several days.
- Stay flexible: schedules can change, especially in remote sections or where political/geographic factors intervene.
- Allow a few buffer days at major stops (e.g., Moscow, Beijing) to rest, explore, and recover before the next leg.
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Best Time to Visit (Make the Most of It)
- Spring (April-May) and Autumn (September-October) offer mild weather across much of Europe and Asia, making long train rides more comfortable.
- Avoid deep winter for Siberian legs (freezing temperatures, limited daylight) and heavy monsoon season in Southeast Asia.
- Booking ahead for peak summer is wise (June-Aug) as trains can fill up, but expect higher prices and hotter stations in southern Europe.
- For scenic views: the Trans-Siberian/Trans-Mongolian sections look stunning in late spring or early autumn when landscapes are coloured rather than frozen or overcast.
Why Make the Trip?
For travellers who relish slow travel, this journey is an experience. You'll witness dramatic changes in geography, culture and climate: from Portugal's Atlantic coast to Siberia's expanse, then into China's bustling cities and tropical Southeast Asia. The voyage stitches together history, nature and railway romance in one epic tapestry.
If you dream of pushing the boundaries of train travel, this extraordinary Europe-to-Asia journey offers an adventure like no other.
