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USA - Visiting the Big Easy? Don’t miss a ride on New Orleans’ St. Charles Streetcar line, the oldest continuously operating streetcar line in the world. The vintage cars rattle through the Garden district, Uptown, and the famous French Quarter.

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Portugal - Lisbon’s canary yellow tram 28 lurches and hisses its way across the Portuguese capital east to west to take passengers on a meandering excursion through some of the city’s most historic neighborhoods.

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Turkey - Both heritage and modern trams snake through Istanbul, but it’s the T1 tram that takes passengers the nearest to tourist hot spots such as the majestic Blue Mosque and the amazing Basilica Cistern.

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England - A day out at the seaside resort of Blackpool in Lancashire, northern England isn’t complete without climbing aboard one of the trams that run along the Fylde Coast bordering the Irish Sea. The tramline dates back to 1885 and runs during the summer and non-winter weekends. They run to and fro between Pleasure Beach and North Pier. (Photo: Flickr/CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)

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France - If you only follow one tramway line in Bordeaux make sure it’s route C, which crosses Place de la Bourse to pass the Miroir d’eau (pictured), the city’s amazing reflecting pool. It’s what Instagram was created for!

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China - Hong Kong trams are unique in that they are the only double-decker fleet in the world. Grab a seat on the upper deck for lofty views of some of the liveliest street scenes in the Far East. Central to Causeway Bay is the classic journey.

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Austria - One of the most rewarding ways to soak up Vienna’s Hapsburg vibe is to hop aboard any of the trams running on the Ringstrasse. The loop takes in the city’s fairy-tale palaces, and several museums and monuments.

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Brazil - For a nostalgic trundle into Rio de Janeiro’s colonial past, hop aboard the historic Santa Teresa Tram. One of the oldest tramways in all of Latin America, the route follows a circuit of Santa Teresa Hill and passes over the landmark Carioca Aqueduct.

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USA - Vintage streetcars from all around the world serve San Francisco’s F-line heritage railway, which runs from the Castro to Fisherman’s Wharf via downtown.

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Hungary - An extensive and efficient tramway network serves Budapest. Tram 2 on the Pest side of the city is the scenic wonder, which follows a line that curves alongside the Danube River with views of the splendid Parliament building, Buda castle, and the iconic "Chain Bridge."

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Australia - Want to see the best of Melbourne? Jump on tram 96 and glide through boho Fitzroy, the flashy central business district, and end up at St. Kilda Beach.

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Canada - Toronto’s distinctive red-and-white streetcars are a familiar part of the urban fabric. The city’s tramway network is concentrated primarily in the downtown district and in proximity to the waterfront area. Route 501 starts on Lakeshore Boulevard to arrow into the Beach neighborhood.

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Germany - Freiburg im Breisgau, a picture-perfect town nestled at the foot of the Black Forest near the Swiss-French border, is noted for its collection of historic 16th-century buildings. It’s also appreciated for its tramway network—numerous lines pass the most popular places of interest.

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Belgium -

Here's one for tramway aficionados! The coast tram is set along the entire Belgium (West Flanders) coast. You can almost travel from France to the Netherlands without getting off.  

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Italy - Rome has a number of tramways worth riding including route 19, which connects the Vatican with the rest of the network. And don’t miss tram 3, which trundles past the Colosseum and under the Porta Maggiore, one of the ancient gates in the city’s 3rd-century Aurelian Walls. (Photo: Flickr/CC BY-ND 2.0)

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Vietnam - If you're not up to hiking Fansipan mountain, take the tourist tram in Sapa and get a head start to the top of the highest peak in the Indochinese Peninsula in style and comfort.

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Portugal - The Sintra tramway links the pretty town of Sintra with Praia das Maçãs, a lovely beach set on the coast. The quaint tramcars represent a throwback to the early 20th-century and a less hurried era.

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Sweden - Old and new trams provide a pleasing contrast on the streets of Stockholm. Residents tend to opt for the modern modes of transport, but a heritage line to Djurgården—with its historical buildings, monuments, and museums —and the half-circle Tvärbanan line are the tourist favorites.

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Morocco -

Sprawling Casablanca is never easy to navigate, but traveling by tram beats the congestion and affords great views of this dynamic North African city. Line T2 serves the Corniche, Casablanca’s flashy coastal hotel district.

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Switzerland - As you’d expect, the tram system in Geneva runs like clockwork. Tramcars stop frequently, and service almost everywhere in the city. Line 15 extends into neighboring France.

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Poland - Warsaw’s strawberry-blonde tramcars weave their way through the city center before heading out to remote residential districts. Check out the special tourist line, served by a 1950s-era tramcar.

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Germany - A rewarding way of absorbing Berlin’s vibrant city center, as well as the bucolic countryside skirting the German capital, is to take tram 68 from S Köpenick S-Bahn to the scenic Alt-Schöckwitz village.

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Switzerland - The Swiss city of Basel entices tourists with its Old Town, home to the Basel Minster church, among other historic landmarks. Take tram 14, grab a window seat, and marvel at all its Romanesque and Gothic charm.

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Portugal - Porto’s modern tramway network has an enviable highlight—the dramatic Dom Luís I Bridge crossing. For a more nostalgic experience, follow the historic electrico line 1 in a vintage tramcar along the river from the Ribeiro to the coastal town of Foz.

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Italy - In operation since 1881, Milan’s tramway network features a pleasing mix of heritage tramcars and sleek modern counterparts. Routes 3 and 15 pass the Duomo di Milano, the city’s magnificent cathedral.

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Czech Republic - Prague’s bohemian beauty is renowned, and while walking is by far the best way appreciate its architectural splendor, taking a tram is an easy and inexpensive way to reach the city’s most famous sights. Route 23 is operated as a heritage line and served by vintage trams.

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Netherlands - Besides a bicycle, the best way to see Amsterdam is by tram. There are two tram systems operating, and it’s tram 2 you want for visiting attractions such as the 17th-century Royal Palace and the fabulous Van Gogh Museum.

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Scotland - Edinburgh’s 14-km (8.7-mi) tramway begins at York Place in the city center and terminates at the airport. Along the way, the tram stops at plenty of tourist sites, including the famous Royal Mile, home to Edinburgh Castle and Holyrood Palace.

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Spain -

Vacationing in Majorca? Spend some down time on the Tranvía de Sóller, the heritage tramway that runs between the town of Sóller and the coastal village of Port de Sóller.

See also: Scenic train routes to take this winter. 

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