Travel enthusiasts often look for train routes that test the limits of distance and endurance, and this remarkable Europe to Asia journey is one of the most ambitious trips available. It connects Portugal to Singapore through 13 nations and stretches across varied landscapes including mountains, forests, deserts and tropical regions.
The route begins in Lisbon in southern Portugal and spans around 18755 kilometres before ending in Singapore. Travellers cross Spain, France, Germany, Poland, Belarus, Russia, Mongolia, China, Laos, Thailand and Malaysia along the way. This journey is frequently described as the longest train route in the world.
This is not a single train ride and requires multiple connections through different rail networks. Each leg must be booked separately, and some border points may require bus transfers depending on local conditions.
The first part passes through western Europe with trains from Portugal into Spain, then onward to France and Germany. From there, the route continues through Poland and Belarus before entering Russia. In Asia, travellers may choose the variant that includes Mongolia before reaching China and then continuing south through Laos, Thailand and Malaysia before arriving in Singapore.
Making this journey requires detailed planning. Travellers need to book trains country by country, as no single pass covers all 13 nations. Visa paperwork is essential for countries like Russia, Belarus and China, and departures from remote areas may be limited. After leaving China or the Laos border region, the southern stretch into Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore is relatively straightforward.
Packing light is advised, though essentials like power adapters, connectivity options such as local SIM cards or e SIM and printed copies of train schedules and visas are important. Overnight trains help manage the long distances, especially across Siberia where a single stretch can last several days. Flexibility is necessary as schedules may shift due to weather, political situations or infrastructure issues. Adding extra days in major cities such as Moscow or Beijing can help travellers rest before continuing onward.
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