Even though Russia is closed from most European cities, travelling from Portugal to Singapore is still possible – making it the most epic train journey in the world.
A while ago, travel news made headlines when the world’s longest continuous train journey became possible with the inauguration of a new rail line in Laos. Unfortunately, this journey was halted with the closure of all train lines between Europe and Russia. However, for those adventurous enough to attempt it, you can still complete about 95% of this route by train, traveling from southern Portugal all the way to Singapore.
This incredible journey spans 15 different countries across two continents and would take several weeks to complete. I decided to take a closer look at this route and give you a step-by-step guide on how you can embark on this epic adventure yourself.
The most epic train journey in the world
Starting from the city of Lagos in Portugal and passing through Spain, France, Germany, Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, Russia, China, Laos, Thailand, and Malaysia, before reaching Singapore, this route requires more than just some planning in advance. For some sections, you can’t simply arrive at the station and book a ticket. You must schedule tickets in advance, set up specific travel dates and stops and calculate potential inconveniences.
Due to the war in Ukraine, the train connection between Berlin and Moscow has been canceled and you will have to take a detour and enter Russia through the Baltic countries. You will also need to keep in mind, that due to the current Russian sanctions, you can’t book any Russian train ticket in advanced unless you have a local to support you.
Overview of the Journey
- Lagos → Lisbon → Paris → Berlin → Warsaw (Several trains with multiple schedules)
- Warsaw → Vilnius via Kaunas (Train)
- Vilnius → Riga (Train)
- Vilnius → St. Petersburg (Bus)
- St. Petersburg → Moscow (Train)
- Trans-Siberian Railway – Moscow → Beijing (Trans-Siberian/Trans-Manchurian)
- Beijing → Kunming (many routes available)
- Kunming → Vientiane (Train)
- Vientiane → Bangkok (Overnight Train)
- Bangkok → Singapore (via Malaysia)
Total Duration: ~2-3 weeks (depending on stopovers and schedules)
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Section 1: Traveling Across Europe
Getting around Europe is quite simple simple. Trains in Europe run pretty regularly, and catching a connection from Madrid to Paris or Paris to Berlin can be done on the go with a little planning.
The quickest route from Lagos to Moscow would be from Lagos to Lisbon, Lisbon to Madrid, Madrid to Paris, Paris to Berlin, Berlin to Warsaw and Warsaw to Riga. This route would take 4-5 days to travel continuously, and the price varies drastically depending on when you book your tickets.
NOTE: When travelling in Europe, buying your train tickets at least 3 days in advance is recommended. Prices increase significantly if you buy a ticket on short notice, and you can pay 3 or 4 times the value you had the week before.
Lagos, Portugal to Warsaw, Poland (by train)
- Route:
- Lagos → Lisbon:
Duration: 3–4 hours
Frequency: Trains run regularly
Booking: Comboios de Portugal - Lisbon → Hendaye (Overnight Train):
Duration: 18 hours
Frequency: Daily
Booking: Renfe - Hendaye → Paris:
Duration: 5 hours
Frequency: Several daily
Booking: SNCF - Paris → Berlin:
Duration: 8 hours
Frequency: Several daily
Booking: Deutsche Bahn - Berlin → Warsaw:
Duration: 6 hours
Frequency: Several daily
Booking: Deutsche Bahn
- Lagos → Lisbon:
The section between Lisbon and Berlin can be also done in multiple ways. You can take a train from Lisbon to Madrid or southern France reach Berlin or Warsaw via Munich, Vienna, Budapest or Prague. All these connections are possible and easy to book and could add more excitement and adventure to your trip.
Warsaw, Poland to Riga, Latvia
- Route:
- Warsaw → Kaunas:
Duration: 7–8 hours
Frequency: 3-4 trains per day
Booking: Polish Railways - Kaunas → Vilnius:
Duration: 1.5 hours
Frequency: Trains depart every 1-2 hours
Booking: Lithuanian Railways - Kaunas → Vilnius:
Duration: 5 hours
Frequency: Daily
Booking: LTG Link
- Warsaw → Kaunas:
Read more: How to plan an interrail journey in Europe
Read more: Uncovering Laos – The unexplored side of South East Asia
Section 2: Entering Russia and getting into Moscow
Entering Russia is not as easy as before. For nationalities needing a visa, applying regulations are becoming stricter than ever before. You also need to keep in mind that Russia today is some uncharted territory and information is not as easy to find as before.
Keep also in mind that once you enter Russia, your credit cards won’t work and you will rely only on cash and offline bookings.
Riga, Latvia to St. Petersburg, Russia (by bus)
Since there are no direct trains between Riga and St. Petersburg, a bus journey is the only option to keep this overland trip. There
- Route: Vilnius → St. Petersburg
Duration: 10–12 hours
Frequency: Daily departures
Cost: Approx. €40-50
Booking: Ecolines
St. Petersburg to Moscow (by train)
- Route: St. Petersburg → Moscow (Sapsan high-speed train)
Duration: 4–4.5 hours
Frequency: Trains depart every 1-2 hours
Cost: Approx. €60-120 depending on class
Booking: Russian Railways (with VPN and Russian cards) or Russian Trains (for foreign cards)
From St Petersburg to Moscow there are several daily connections depending on your budget, availability and time. If you plan to check out the official site of Russian Railways, keep in mind that the website and payment methods are completely blocked in Europe. An alternative is the english page Russian Trains, but keep in mind that tickets here are way more expensive than in any Russian site or offline.
My recommendation is that you book your St Petersburg to Moscow train while you are in St Petersburg. It will be cheaper and more flexible for you.
Read more: how to plan an interrail trip in Europe
Read more: What Happens if My Flight is Canceled or Delayed?
Section 3: The Trans-Siberian Railway
The most straight option to get from Moscow to Beijing is with the famous Trans-Siberian Railway. Unfortauntely, I was not able to find a single internet platform offering these tickets. However, Russian Train sells tickets all across Russia. My suggestion would be to book a train with Russian Train to Chita and from there catch another train to Beijing. Another option is to reach the city of Ulan Ude and from there take a train through Mongolia to Beijng.
Moscow, Russia to Beijing, China via Chita (Trans-Siberian Railway)
- Route: Moscow → Beijing (via the Trans-Siberian Railway)
Duration: 6-7 days
Frequency: 1-2 departures per week
Cost: €700-1,300 (depending on the class and season)
Booking: Russian Train
DID YOU KNOW: If you want to get from Moscow to Bejiing, the Trans-Siberian Railway is NOT the correct route. You either need to take the Trans-Manchurian train or the Trans-Mongolian train connections. The Trans-Siberian train does not go to Beijing.
Section 4: Crossing China
China has one of the most modern train infrastructures in the world. There are connections everywhere across the country running at all times. Crossing China from north to south is very straightforward. This is a journey I’ve already done in the past, and has been one of the most memorable travel experiences ever.
Great stops along the way are Shanghai, Guangzhou, Hong Kong, Guilin, and Nanning. They all can make your travel experience more exciting, and they are along the way.
For those who still want to make it in one go, trains from Beijing to Kunming run daily. Speed trains take around 10 hours and cost about 150 EUR, while slower direct trains can take up to 35 hours and cost 30-35 EUR.
From Beijing, you can choose different routes to travel to Kunming, a hub for traveling south to Southeast Asia. Here are three options:
1. The Most Direct Route:
- Beijing → Kunming (High-speed train)
Duration: 12 hours
Frequency: Several daily
Cost: Approx. €120-160
Booking: China Rail or Travel China Guide (foreign friendly site)
2. The Most Interesting Route:
- Beijing → Xi’an → Chengdu → Kunming
- Beijing → Xi’an
Duration: 5-6 hours
Xi’an offers the famous Terracotta Army.
Cost: Approx. €75 - Xi’an → Chengdu
Duration: 4-5 hours
Chengdu is famous for its panda sanctuaries.
Cost: Approx. €70 - Chengdu → Kunming
Duration: 8 hours
Kunming, known as the “Spring City,” offers a moderate climate year-round.
Cost: Approx. €90
Booking for all legs: China Rail or Travel China Guide (foreign friendly site)
- Beijing → Xi’an
3. The Most Panoramic Route:
- Beijing → Lhasa → Kunming (via the Qinghai-Tibet Railway)
Duration: Approx. 48 hours (2+ days)
Frequency: Trains depart every 2-3 days
Cost: Approx. €250-300
Scenic Highlights: Enjoy the stunning views of the Tibetan Plateau on one of the world’s highest train routes.
Booking: China Rail or Travel China Guide (foreign friendly site)
Read more: How to plan a visit to the Harbin Ice Festival in China
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Section 5: Traveling Southeast Asia by Train
This can be the most exhausting, but also the most exciting part of the journey. Travelling in South East Asia by train requires more patience and time. There are no direct train connections between separate cities, and due to the different regulations in each country, there is a big chance you will spend hours in some of the borders.
China also has stringent regulations for non-citizens, and you will need to inform yourself how each of these regulations affects you.
From Vientiane to Bangkok, direct connections happen several times a week, and once you are in Bangkok, travelling all the way down to Singapore should be easy. Malaysia has one of the best railway systems in South East Asia, and Singapore is one of the most modern cities in the world.
Kunming, China to Vientiane, Laos
- Route: Kunming → Vientiane
Duration: 8-10 hours (new high-speed train service)
Frequency: Trains depart twice daily
Cost: Approx. €40-50
Booking: 12go- Here you can also check out the schedule for this route.
Vientiane, Laos to Bangkok, Thailand
- Route: Vientiane → Bangkok
Duration: 10-12 hours (overnight train)
Frequency: Daily departures
Cost: Approx. €20-40 (depending on class)
Booking: 12go
Bangkok, Thailand to Singapore (via Malaysia)
- Route: Bangkok → Butterworth → Kuala Lumpur → Singapore
- Bangkok → Butterworth
Duration: 18 hours (overnight train)
Frequency: Daily departures
Cost: Approx. €30-50
Booking: Thai Railways - Butterworth → Kuala Lumpur
Duration: 4-5 hours
Frequency: Multiple daily departures
Cost: Approx. €15
Booking: KTM Berhad - Kuala Lumpur → Singapore
Duration: 5-6 hours
Frequency: Several daily trains
Cost: Approx. €15-20
Booking: KTM Berhad
- Bangkok → Butterworth
Read more: These are the most epic train journeys in the world
Calculating the Costs of the Journey
After researching the whole route, the total estimated cost for the entire trip from Lagos to Singapore by train can vary depending on the season, ticket class, and advance booking discounts. Here’s a rough breakdown of the costs:
- Lagos → Warsaw: Approx. €150-200
- Warsaw → Riga: Approx. €40-60
- Riga → St. Petersburg: Approx. €40-50 (bus)
- St. Petersburg → Moscow: Approx. €60-120
- Moscow → Beijing: Approx. €300-500 (Trans-Manchurian route via Chita)
- Beijing → Kunming: Approx. €120-160 (direct route)
- Kunming → Vientiane: Approx. €40-50
- Vientiane → Bangkok: Approx. €20-40
- Bangkok → Singapore: Approx. €60-80
Total Estimated Cost: €1,200-1,600 (for the entire journey)
