by Here’s a fun fact for anyone looking to be more ecological in their exploration of the continent this summer: taking the train instead of flying can cut your red’s carbon footprint by up to 90 percent. Plus, if you follow our headache-free hacks, it doesn’t have to be as expensive or complicated as you might think – and we guarantee your trip will be even more magical.
Trust us, it’s easy
A world away from the queues and stress of airports, traveling by train in Europe is a wonderful experience. After a fast, central Eurostar from London to Brussels, Paris or Amsterdam, the continent’s railway lines are a map of possibilities, making their way from the north of Norway, the banks of the Bosphorus in Istanbul, far from south of Spain with thousands of exciting stops in between. Convenient online bookings, fast trains, reasonably priced fares and incredible landscapes await – as does a journey without a carbon conscience.
Book in advance
Booking is one area where you need to think the same when you fly. For the widest availability and cheapest fares, book early. Most services open three to four months in advance of travel, while Eurostar will be booked six to eight months in advance. Although restrictions vary, seat reservations are always a good idea and mandatory on high-speed and high-speed services in many countries. Many popular peak season trains, such as TGV Lyria trains from Paris to Swiss cities and Nightjet trains, are sold out well in advance. Advance bookings will reduce the cost of many non-reservable intercity and regional trains. Trainline.com comes in handy for many international journeys, but also compare the booking sites for the national carriers.
Give us a pass
The Interrail pass for exploring Europe as a continent, or as individual countries, still functions largely as a system as it has for generations, offering flexible and unlimited travel for the duration of the pass. Apps on your phone are usually easier to access but not always the best option: point-to-point fares can work out cheaper than a pass, especially if booked well in advance, and some fast trains have preventive supplements. and limited availability, especially in high season, so check if a pass will give you access even if you’re traveling at peak times on popular routes. But, in addition to unparalleled freedom, Interrail offers free or discounted travel on many ferries, cable cars, museum entrance fees and more.
Try a night on the rails
The new generation of night trains changed transcontinental travel. Night jet routes, which depart from Austria and are run by its national railway (ÖBB), offer comfy up-to-date stoves and swanky sleepers, some of which come with showers. Newer trains running between Hamburg and Vienna offer innovative private rooms – cabins for one – and more are coming soon on other routes. There are other great sleeper trains across Europe – try Zurich in Switzerland to Ljubljana in Slovenia for an overnight odyssey of moonlit rivers and snowy peaks, or our very own Caledonian Sleeper from London Euston to the Scottish Highlands.
Dining cars and picnics in cars
In addition to its impressive network of comfortable and affordable trains, Czech Railjet services are among Europe’s best bets for meals in a well-stocked dining car. Sirloin, dumplings and cranberries washed down with Czech draft beer or Bohemian sparkling wine sound nice? Look for happy hour prices at good value. Polish, Swiss and Austrian intercity trains and Iryo are reliable options for Spanish start-ups when it comes to eating well on the rails. There’s always the option of indoor picnics: discerning passengers may want to avoid aromatic cheeses and spread those baguette crumbs.
Allow extra time
Delays happen, so plan for them and allow plenty of time when connecting. They’re rarely a big drama: most major routes offer plenty of services every day, so you’re unlikely to fall far behind in your plans. Night trains, with their complicated journeys and the addition or removal of carriages along the way, can be very vulnerable to delays. Wherever you are, if your connection hits the buffers, ask the guard on your train for advice on whether you can travel on the next service or whether you need a new ticket. Make sure you have travel insurance, just in case. Many of the apps, such as Rail Planner or Omio, will allow you to reconfigure cascading connections at any time.
Bran out and S out
One of the most beautiful parts of traveling by train is finding yourself on a quiet branch line and seeing unexpected beautiful scenery. Little known everywhere – the slowest route from Florence to Rome goes through Perugia through a succession of Umbrian hill towns. In contrast, the route from Barcelona to the French border at Latour de Carol is three hours of rolling Pyrenean scenery. Traveling down the Moselle in Germany from Koblenz to Trier is a great way into this corner of Europe’s exciting wine country. Try the main line in Slovenia to enjoy views of the Julian Alps, the SoÄ a River and Lake Bled on the beautiful trail from Jesenice to Nova Gorica on the edge of Italy.
Light on clothes, heavy on accessories
The best packing strategy is still to pack as light as possible – carrying bulky bags on crowded trains is never fun – but make sure you have everything you need to stay connected. Wifi is becoming more common, if often unreliable. While many trains come with power points, a battery pack is a helpful back-up and sound-canceling headphones can double as earplugs if you share a couchette. For a value-added experience, take them along to chat with friendly fellow passengers; they are probably as happy as you are not to be on a crowded plane.
Tom Hall is a writer and railway obsessive at Lonely Planet. His happy place is pulling into Zurich Hauptbahnhof in the summer, knowing that the Limmat River is only a few minutes stroll away. He has written and contributed to many Lonely Planet titles, including Europe Without Flying, A Guide to Train Travel in Europe and Best in Travel. He also added what’s to come Lonely Planet’s Amazing Train Journeys of the World.
