Travelling by train is a unique experience. Be it for the thrill of high speed, the comfort, the scenery or the attractive fares, there are hundreds of reasons for choosing to travel by train in Europe. Here are the 10 reasons most commonly quoted by our customers (backpackers, families, couples, older travellers, businessmen and women, and more).
10 Reasons to travel by Train in Europe
No Hassle
Avoid the endless queues at crowded airports, or the stress of driving in a different country, with its own rules of the road and lots of traffic jams. If you travel by train, you’ll go from city centre to city centre, smoothly and efficiently. On top of which, all major European stations and trains provide information in English, as well as in the local language. So just sit back, relax, and enjoy the ride!
Go wherever you want
Europe by rail means freedom. Choose the pass most suited to your needs from wide range of passes, starting with single country passes to regional passes and even the Eurail Global Pass, which covers 33 countries. Tickets are also available for a large choice of routes.
Save Money
Whether you opt for a ticket or a pass, you can always benefit from attractive prices. Tickets can be very cheap when booked in advance, and passes not only offer various discounts (children, youth, senior, parties of two adults or more) but also come with a range of “bonuses” (free or discounted local transport, attractions and services).
Environmentally Friendly
Planning some holiday travel? Think about making that trip a little greener by travelling by train. The well-established high-speed rail systems in use today are more environmentally friendly than air or road travel. When you travel by train, you’re making a responsible, environmentally friendly choice.
Easy Day Trips
Board the train early in the morning, have a look around the city, stop for lunch, do some shopping and come back late afternoon. From Brussels, for example, it’s a piece of cake to go to London, Paris, Cologne or Amsterdam for the day. And there’s no luggage to carry or hotels to book.
Travel in Style
Comfort is always welcome, whatever the length of the journey. Treat yourself and upgrade to First Class, you’ll have more room to stretch your legs, larger seats, and a higher level of service to make your trip memorable. Check the prices, you’ll be surprised to see how small the difference between First and Second Class can be.
Travel Overnight
Optimise your time and budget by taking the night train: you’ll save on hotel costs, get a safe, comfortable night’s sleep, and wake up the next morning at your destination, refreshed and ready to explore.
Get off the beaten Track
With 240,000 kilometres of track, rail reaches into virtually every corner of Europe through forests, fields, and mountains that just aren’t accessible by road.
Europe’s 10 most famous high-speed Trains and main Hubs
High-speed trains are by far the easiest, most comfortable way to discover Europe’s main cities. Wide seats, on-board catering and other dedicated facilities, depending on the route, combine to make it a truly enjoyable experience.
Save considerable time by taking the train and getting off in city centres. Avoid the hassle of spending hours waiting at the airport or the fatigue of driving for hours.
Train tickets for all trains can be booked from two to six months in advance. E-tickets are available in two formats, Print at Home and Print at Station. Rail pass holders can get discounted rates when reserving their seats for high-speed trains. Note that reservation before travel, on board high-speed, scenic and night trains, is compulsory for rail pass holders.
High-speed Trains |
Countries |
Popular Routes |
Travel Time |
Booking Horizon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
TGV INOUI |
France |
Paris - Marseille Paris - Lyon Paris - Bordeaux |
3 hours 2 hours 08 mins 2 hours 04 mins |
90 days |
EUROSTAR |
France, UK, Netherlands, Belgium |
London - Paris London - Brussels London - Amsterdam |
2 hours 15 mins 1 hour 51 mins 3hours 52 mins |
120 days |
THALYS |
France, Belgium, Netherlands, Germany |
Paris - Amsterdam Paris - Brussels Amsterdam - Brussels |
3 hours 25 mins 1 hour 23 mins 1 hour 53 mins |
120 days |
TGV LYRIA |
France, Switzerland |
Paris - Geneva Paris - Zurich Lausanne - Dijon |
3 hours 12 mins 4 hours 04 mins 2 hours |
180 days |
ICE |
Germany |
Berlin - Munich Berlin - Frankfurt Munich - Frankfurt |
4 hours 4 hours 07 mins 3 hours 19 mins |
900 days |
ITALO |
Italy |
Milan - Florence Milan - Venice Rome - Venice
|
1 hour 54 mins 2 hours 27 mins 3 hours 26 mins |
120 days |
FRECCIAROSSA |
180 days |
|||
FRANCE-SPAIN HIGH SPEED |
France, Spain |
Paris - Barcelona Barcelona - Lyon Barcelona - Marseille |
6 hours 39 mins 5 hours 05 mins 6 hours 03 mins |
180 days |
OUIGO SPAIN |
Spain |
Barcelona - Madrid |
2 hours 30 mins
|
90 days |
AVE |
Madrid - Barcelona Madrid - Valencia Madrid - Malaga |
2 hours 30 mins 1 hour 40 mins 2 hours 46 mins |
Types of Trains
A wide variety of trains are available for travel throughout Europe. Whether you’re travelling a short distance on a local train, whizzing through beautiful countryside at 320km/h, enjoying Alpine vistas on a scenic train or taking an overnight hotel-on-wheels, train travel in Europe boasts not only efficiency and comfort, but also a relaxing environment where you can just sit back and enjoy the ride.
Day Trains
There’s a wide range of schedules, destinations and service options on offer. Many Inter-City and Express trains, as well as most high-speed and scenic trains, require advance reservation.
Perfect for long-distance travel, high-speed trains connect all the main cities of Europe. They generally run at a speed of 300km/h.
They cover long distances at an average speed of 170km/h. Intercity trains or Intercités are the way to enjoy the countryside and admire wonderful landscapes. They stop at every little town or village, offering you the possibility to discover the heart of a region.
These trains travel shorter distances and make frequent stops, connecting smaller cities and towns.
To take in some of Europe’s most exceptional vistas, there’s no better way than to board a scenic train and enjoy the ride. From Norway’s Bergen Flam and Rauma Railways to Switzerland’s Bernina Express, Glacier Express and GoldenPass Line, the experience is worth every penny.
Night Trains
Night trains cover long distances, allowing travellers to save time and money on hotels. You’ll arrive in the city centre the next day, rested and ready for sightseeing. Night trains require reservation prior to boarding. Accommodations vary by route, but most include:
Types of Tickets
What is a point-to-point ticket?
What is a rail pass?
European train offers by Country
