June 1, 2020
Due to travel restrictions, plans are only available with travel dates on or after
Due to travel restrictions, plans are only available with effective start dates on or after
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When traveling, all too often we’re just trying to get from point A to point B and back to point A, as quickly and cheaply as possible.
In Europe, train travel presents a totally different equation. Your experience becomes less linear—why not visit points C, D and E? Rather than trying to reach your destination faster, you find yourself wishing you had more time to linger. And in the end, you realize what people mean when they say, “It’s the journey, not just the destination.”
Romance aside, there are so many practical reasons to see Europe by train. It’s affordable, especially if you’re under 28 or over 60. Plus, kids under 12 can travel free with an adult with a Eurail pass. Train travel has a much smaller carbon footprint, compared to flying or driving. And dozens of train routes in Europe are actually faster than flying!
At first glance, it may seem like a Eurail Global Pass is the best option for train travel in Europe. Just one pass can take you to 30,000 destinations in 33 countries. How can you beat that? Well… if you’re actually planning to visit 33 countries, it’s a great deal. But if your itinerary is limited to one or two countries, or a particular region, you may be better off simply buying individual tickets. “Several countries, mostly in southern and eastern Europe, have train fares so low that rail passes rarely beat out point-to-point tickets,” says Rick Steves.1
Most high-speed trains and all night trains in Europe require you to have a reservation, which costs extra. You may also need a reservation for train travel in France, Italy, Spain and some other countries, as well as on busy routes in the summer. The upshot: Don’t wing it! Sketch out your itinerary ahead of time, then check each route to see if a reservation is required or recommended.
Just as an example, the cheapest price we found for a next-day ticket from London to Paris via Eurostar was around $400 round trip. When we booked two months out, the price dropped to $100. (Here’s another tip: The cheapest Eurostar tickets are usually for Tuesday and Wednesday trains.)
While you can use a mobile train pass in most of Europe, “some Eastern European countries still don’t have online ticket booking,” according to The Savvy Backpacker, “so it’s only possible to purchase tickets at the station or through a local travel agent.”2
While train travel may be more relaxing than flying, it’s not problem-free. Last-minute cancellations and trip interruption. Travel delays. Lost or stolen baggage. Railway strikes. All these mishaps can occur—and Allianz Travel Insurance can help make things right and get you back on track. Get a personalized quote now.
You can take the high-speed train and get there in under six and a half hours—but why not slow down and savor the scenery? In a guide to train travel in Europe, Lonely Planet recommends booking a train south from Paris through the Pyrenees, passing Limoges and Toulouse and ending in the picturesque town of Latour-de-Carol: “Possible stops along the way include fortified Ribes de Freser and Ripoll, home to an ancient monastery and a good starting point for hiking trails.” Once you’ve had your fill of sightseeing, hop on the commuter train and you’ll reach Barcelona in three hours.
In the 1800s, there were robust train routes between Italy and neighboring Slovenia, when the area was all part of the Habsburg Empire. That rail connection is now being restored for the first time in more than a century.3 A high-speed Frecciarossa (“red arrow”) train will carry travelers from Milan, Italy, to Ljubljana, the capital of Slovenia, in seven hours. But there’s no need to rush; on the way, you could stop in:
Have a whole month to travel? Try Eurail’s “Alternative Tour”: a European train itinerary that takes you to 10 European cities that aren’t overrun with tourists. After a day or two in the medieval city of Ghent, Belgium, take a 90-minute train ride to Rotterdam, Netherlands—" Amsterdam's hip younger brother.” After that, it’s a 9-hour trip on multiple trains east to Leipzig, Germany, a city known for museums and castles. Continue on a tour of eastern European capitals: Warsaw, Poland; Budapest, Hungary; Belgrade, Serbia; and Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina. The last three stops are Zagreb, Croatia; Bologna, Italy; and Lyon, France. Just like that, you’ve seen a huge swath of Europe.
“Is there a train that goes across Europe?” people often want to know. The answer is yes—and no. If you’re thinking of a single train that carries you across the continent, that’s no longer an option for most people. You can book a luxury train journey aboard The Venice Simplon-Orient-Express, which offers a Paris-Istanbul itinerary (like the historic Orient Express) once a year. The trip includes three nights onboard a beautifully restored Art Deco train, two one-night hotel stays, excursions, all meals and steward service… starting at around $26,700.
If you’re traveling across Europe by train on a budget, it’s possible to journey from Paris to Istanbul for much less. One itinerary takes you from Paris to Stuttgart, Germany; then to Budapest; then to Videle, Romania, and finally to Turkiye. It’s a long trip of about 49 hours total, but can cost as little as $240.
This European train journey isn’t about the scenery as much as the on-board experience. It’s one of the routes served by the new Nightjet sleeper train, which offers affordable, lockable sleeping berths. While these mini-cabins are extremely compact, they’re comfy and nicely equipped with linens, water, a fold-down table, charging ports and adjustable mood lighting.4 Larger sleeping cabins are also available. Once you wake, an attendant brings you rolls with coffee or tea—and then you disembark at your destination.
Ready to ride the rails? Get a quote for your next trip!
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