21 vintage transport adventures you can still enjoy today

Nostalgic trips around the world

Step aboard, cast off, or buckle up for a travel experience with a twist of nostalgia. From paddle steamers and cable cars to classic buses and sky-high funiculars, these vintage transport adventures offer more than just a scenic ride. They’re time machines in motion, connecting past and present through craftsmanship, culture, and charm.

Click or scroll on to explore voyages that are just as much about the journey as the destination, whether you’re gliding over ancient rivers or rattling down cobbled streets...

Cable Cars, San Francisco, USA

San Francisco’s vintage cable cars have run since 1873, making them the world’s last manually operated cable car system. Listed as a National Historic Landmark, they climb the city’s steep hills with clanging charm.

Three lines – Powell-Hyde, Powell-Mason, and California Street – connect downtown to Fisherman’s Wharf and Nob Hill. A single ride costs $9 and day passes are available for $15. 

Cuba's classic taxis

Cuba’s classic cars – mostly 1950s American models – are a legacy of the country's 1959 revolution and America's subsequent embargo, which cut Cuba off from car imports and spare parts. Restored with mismatched parts and Soviet engines, many are now taxis: polished Gran Cars for tourists and shared "almendrones" for locals.

Whether cruising Havana or rumbling through Santiago de Cuba in a chrome-trimmed Chevy, Cadillac, Pontiac, or Buick, they offer a vivid glimpse into Cuba’s history, as well as a view of its vibrant streets.

Darjeeling Himalayan Railway, India

The Darjeeling Himalayan Railway, nicknamed the Toy Train, opened in 1881 and climbs from the plains of Siliguri to the hill station of Darjeeling via loops and zig-zags. This narrow-gauge track, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, winds through tea gardens, misty forests, and mountain villages.

Steam and diesel engines still run today, offering scenic rides to Ghum, India’s highest railway station. The higher the train climbs, the chillier it gets, so it's worth having a sweater at the ready.

Queen Mary 2 cruise ship

The flagship of Cunard Line, Queen Mary 2 is the world’s only true ocean liner (as opposed to a traditional cruise ship) still in service – she sails between Southampton, UK, and New York City.

Designed for transatlantic crossings, she’s longer than the Eiffel Tower is tall and built to withstand rough seas. QM2 features a planetarium, ballroom, and kennels for pets crossing the Atlantic. She blends the Art Deco elegance of her predecessor – the Queen Mary, which sailed from 1936 to 1967 and is now a hotel and museum located at Long Beach, California – with modern engineering, offering a rare taste of golden-age ocean travel.

Glacier Express, Switzerland

Switzerland’s Glacier Express, launched in 1930, links the chic ski resorts of Zermatt and St. Moritz via a breathtaking eight-hour alpine journey. Dubbed the world’s slowest express train, it crosses 291 bridges and 91 tunnels, including the iconic Landwasser Viaduct (pictured).

The route climbs over 6,600 feet at Oberalp Pass and passes through a glittering UNESCO World Heritage landscape. Panoramic windows reveal snowcapped peaks, deep valleys, and charming villages.

Scarborough Cliff Lift

Scarborough’s Cliff Lift opened in 1875 as Britain’s first seaside funicular, linking the South Cliff Esplanade to the Spa below. Originally powered by seawater and gravity, it carried 1,400 passengers on its first day for a penny each. 

The lift inspired four others in town, though only two remain. Today, this one runs on electricity and still offers stunning views across the bay – an elegant Victorian solution to a steep seaside climb. As of 2025, a return ticket costs $3.50, which helps support the funicular's upkeep.

Cyclo tours, Vietnam

Cyclo tours in Vietnam offer a relaxed, open-air ride through cities like Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City (formerly Saigon). Introduced during French colonial rule in the late 19th century, cyclos evolved from rickshaws – pulled by people on foot – into pedal-powered three-wheelers.

Once a staple of urban transport, they now serve as nostalgic sightseeing vehicles, with their drivers sharing local stories and hidden gems along the way. The eco-friendly and slow-paced cyclos connect travelers to Vietnam’s vibrant street life and extraordinary history.

Vintage Routemaster buses, London, England

Vintage Routemaster bus tours offer a nostalgic ride through London aboard restored 1960s double-deckers – once the backbone of the city’s transport. These tours blend sightseeing with live storytelling, comedy, and theatrical flair.

The Routemaster, introduced in 1956, was famed for its open rear platform and iconic red design. Though retired from regular service in 2005, it remains a beloved symbol of London. Today’s tours pass landmarks like Big Ben and Tower Bridge and range from hop-on, hop-off trips to on-board afternoon tea experiences.

Jacobite Steam Train, Scotland

The Jacobite Steam Train runs from Fort William to Mallaig along Scotland’s West Highland Line, hailed as one of the world’s most scenic rail journeys. Operating since 1984, it crosses the iconic Glenfinnan Viaduct – as featured in the Harry Potter films – and passes Britain’s highest mountain (Ben Nevis), deepest loch (Loch Mora), and shortest river (River Morar).

Originally built in 1901 to open up the remote coast, the route now draws thousands of tourists each year, contributing more than $27.3m to Scottish tourism.

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Venice Simplon-Orient-Express

The Venice Simplon-Orient-Express, launched in 1982, revives the glamour of 1920s-30s luxury rail travel. Its restored Art Deco carriages were built between 1926 and 1949 – they once carried royalty, spies, and inspired Agatha Christie’s world-famous mystery Murder on the Orient Express.

Originally part of the 1883 Paris-Istanbul route, this version travels between London, Venice, and other European cities. Each carriage has its own story – one was stranded in a snowdrift for 10 days in 1929.

Georgia Queen Steamboat, Georgia, USA

The Georgia Queen is a towering paddle-wheel riverboat cruising Savannah’s historic waterfront. Measuring 230 feet long and six stories high, it evokes classic steamboat grandeur and features three ballrooms, vintage chandeliers, and a sweeping staircase. Though built in the 1990s, it channels 19th-century riverboat style and honors Savannah’s steamship legacy, as well as its Southern charm.

It hosts sightseeing and dinner cruises with live commentary, cocktails, and panoramic views from its 5,000-square-foot open-air deck.

Horse-drawn carriages, Seville, Spain

Seville’s horse-drawn carriages, or coches de caballos, date back to the 16th century and were once the city’s main mode of transport. Today, they’re a charming way to explore landmarks like Plaza de España and the Alcázar. During the April Fair, more than 1,000 carriages parade through the city. Each carriage must be registered, and drivers follow traditional etiquette, often wearing Andalusian attire.

As of 2025, a ride costs between $53-$142, depending on the duration, time of year, and departure point.

Heritage tube journeys, London, England

London’s heritage tube journeys feature restored 1938 Wes Anderson-style Art Deco trains, offering nostalgic rides through the iconic Underground. These vintage carriages, once considered pioneering for housing electrical systems beneath the floor, now glide along routes like the Piccadilly line during special events a few times a year. 

Passengers experience woolen moquette seating, period lighting, and Charles Holden’s iconic station architecture. 

Ford Tri-Motor flights, USA

The Ford Tri-Motor, nicknamed the "Tin Goose," debuted in 1926 as one of the first all-metal passenger planes in the US. Backed by Henry Ford, it revolutionized commercial aviation with a reliable three-engine design and rugged corrugated aluminum. It carried post, cargo, and even President Roosevelt during his 1932 campaign. A Tri-Motor famously flew over the South Pole in 1929 with explorer Richard Byrd.

Today, restored models like this one celebrate early air travel via nostalgic flights across the US.

The Ghan, Australia

The Ghan is Australia’s legendary transcontinental train, named after cameleers from Afghanistan, Pakistan, and parts of British India who helped explore the Outback from the 1860s to the 1930s. Its inaugural journey ran in 1929 from Adelaide to Alice Springs – amazingly, the full route to Darwin wasn’t completed until 2004.

Spanning nearly 1,864 miles, it offers a three-day ride through the deserts and remote towns of Australia's vast interiors. Early versions faced floods and breakdowns – passengers sometimes helped repair tracks! 

SS Sudan, Luxor, Egypt

The SS Sudan is a historic steamship built in 1885 for Egypt’s royal family and later became part of Thomas Cook's Nile cruise fleet in the early 20th century. It remains the last authentic paddle steamer cruising the river and sails between Luxor and Aswan, offering Belle Époque elegance with wood-paneled cabins and vintage charm.

Agatha Christie sailed on the SS Sudan in 1933, and the journey inspired her novel Death on the Nile. Passengers can hop off to visit iconic temples like Karnak and Philae while reliving the golden age of travel.

Vintage trams, Vienna, Austria

Vienna’s vintage trams date back to the late 1800s, when horse-drawn tram carriages first rolled along the Ringstrasse. Electric trams debuted in 1897 and helped shape the city’s elegant boulevards.

Today, preserved historic trams like this one run nostalgic sightseeing tours, showcasing Art Nouveau stations and imperial architecture. Vienna boasts the world’s sixth-largest streetcar network, with over 106 miles of track.

The Blue Train, Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka’s famed Blue Train runs the scenic Kandy-Ella route through misty tea hills and colonial-era viaducts like Nine Arches Bridge (pictured). Built by the British in 1864 to transport tea and coffee, it’s now a beloved slow-travel experience. 

Second-class reserved seats offer the best balance of comfort and photo opportunities, while unreserved tickets are the cheapest. The journey lasts seven hours and is considered one of the world’s most beautiful rail rides.

Houseboats, Kerala, India

Kerala’s houseboats, or kettuvallams, began as cargo barges made from wood bound with coir (a natural fiber extracted from coconut husks). The boats were used to transport rice and other goods across the vast network of canals, rivers, and lakes along India's Malabar Coast. As roads replaced waterways, they evolved into floating hotels, offering scenic cruises along palm-lined waterways.

Today’s houseboats feature bedrooms, kitchens, and open decks, blending tradition with comfort. Popular in Alleppey, Kumarakom, and Ashtamudi Lake, they offer a tranquil glimpse into rural life, with onboard meals and views of Kerala’s lush landscapes.

Wuppertal Suspension Railway, Germany

Opened in 1901, Germany’s Wuppertal Suspension Railway (Schwebebahn) is the world’s oldest electric hanging railway. It glides 8.2 miles above the Wupper River, offering scenic city views. Nearly 20,000 tons of steel support its Art Nouveau stations and sleek carriages.

In 1950, a circus elephant named Tuffi famously jumped from a carriage into the river as a circus PR stunt – thankfully, she survived the ordeal and was quickly rescued.

Amazon river cruises, Iquitos, Peru

Amazon river cruises in Peru offer tranquil journeys through the biodiverse Pacaya-Samiria Reserve. Guests enjoy wildlife spotting, pink dolphin encounters, guided skiff excursions, and cultural visits with ribereños – traditional river-dwelling communities. 

Options range from luxury vessels like this one, The Delphin, to more budget-friendly boats. Cruises typically depart from Iquitos and last four to seven days. It's a serene experience ideal for nature lovers and slow travel enthusiasts.

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