Rigi mountain, Switzerland

Long before Switzerland had its famous mountain trains, there was one trip that was a must-do for any visitor – walk up Rigi (or if you’re Queen Victoria, get someone else to carry you up in a chair). So perhaps it’s not surprising that this 1797-metre peak near Lucerne was the first mountain in Europe to get its own train to the top. The line opened on 21 May 1871 and still runs on the same route today. It’s worth it just for the sense of history, not to mention the views.
The quickest and easiest way to the summit is from Arth-Goldau (with direct trains from Zurich, Zug and Lucerne) on the blue train that clambers up the back side of the mountain. But the most scenic route is from the other side. First catch one of the splendid old paddlesteamers from Lucerne and spend an hour gliding over the placid blue lake, enjoying the mountain scenery. Then hop off at Vitznau and switch to the little red train, the original Rigibahn - the blue one from Arth is four years its junior. This is where the fun starts, as the train chugs up behind the church, then seemingly through people’s back gardens. Don’t be surprised if it stops to let locals on and off; this is almost like their community bus and often the only way to reach their hillside houses other than on foot.