This epic ride takes passengers up to 2,969 feet of altitude along the scenic border between and France. The Rhune Rack Railway isn't your average cross-country commute. Instead, it's a 35-minute scenic adventure that captures the beauty of the Basque region with views of the Atlantic Ocean, the Cantabrian Sea, the Pyrenees mountains as well as the beaches of the Landes. This railway line was launched in 1924 and is located in Sare, which is close to the stunning seaside town of and Saint-Jean-de-Luz.
The train has reopened for the 2025 season, and since April 5, visitors have once again been able to enjoy this scenic route, which has become a beloved tourist attraction in the region. You can catch a ride on this stunning train every day until November 11, 2025.
During the train ride it's highly likely you'll see Pottok ponies, Manech sheep, griffon vultures, and rare flora such as the carnivorous Drosera.
The train is a piece of history, being one of the few rack railways in France still in service, and runs from the Col de Saint-Ignace, around 6.3 miles east of Saint-Jean-de-Luz, to the summit of La Rhune at an altitude of 2,969 feet on the border between France and Spain.
The idea to build such a railway came about in 1908 and building started back in 1912.
The works were then suspended during World War 1 though they were back on in 1919 and completed in 1924, with two inaugurations for the two different sections of the railway.
A round-trip ticket on the Rhune Rack Railway £21.8 for adults and around £14.5 for children, with an optional guided experience available for an additional £4.2 for adults and £3.4 for children.
Rebecca, from East Grinstead, said the experience is a "must see if in the area" and continued to write on TripAdvisor: "The views were incredible- could see Biarritz and over the border into Spain - and so much more.
"The train experience was fun and an insight into the history of the train. The summit has 3 cafes - all serving similar fare."
Cacie, from Ledbury also wrote: "Set in beautiful surroundings the station is small, offers cafes and souvenirs but not too much. Pretty station. History interesting. Loved the old carriages. Amazingly, we had a compartment to ourselves, although it was the 1210 trip. It was beautiful."