Train Travel in Europe

The Traveler’s Handbook to European Railroads

(or: How to Cross a Continent Without Losing Your Sanity)

Why Trains and Not Planes?

Airports are fine… if you enjoy early wake-ups, removing your shoes in public, and arguing with security about whether your toothpaste is “dangerous.” But in Europe, trains often beat planes hands down: stations are downtown, there’s no security theater, and you get to watch castles, vineyards, and cows roll by instead of clouds. Plus, you can bring wine on board without hiding it in your sock.

Meet the Rail Royalty

Every country has its own train overlords, each with their quirks:

Germany – Deutsche Bahn (DB): Legendary for speed and delays. If your train is on time, buy a lottery ticket. – www.bahn.com
France – SNCF/TGV: Fast, sleek, and strikes often enough to keep life exciting. – www.sncf-connect.com
Italy – Trenitalia & Italo: Stylish, affordable, and sometimes more dramatic than a soap opera (platform changes at the last second are an Olympic sport). – www.trenitalia.com | www.italotreno.it
Spain – Renfe (AVE): The trains are as fast as the tapas are tasty. – www.renfe.com
Switzerland – SBB: Punctual to the minute. If they say 12:07, they mean 12:07. Germans look at Swiss trains and whisper, “Wow.” – www.sbb.ch
Austria – ÖBB: Comfortable, cheap-ish, and home of the excellent Nightjet sleeper trains. – https://www.oebb.at

For cross-border bragging rights, you’ve also got:

Eurostar (London – Paris/Brussels/Amsterdam in a tunnel under the sea) – www.eurostar.com
Thalys (Paris – Amsterdam – Cologne, merging into Eurostar soon) – www.thalys.com
Railjet (connecting Austria’s heart to neighboring gems) – www.oebb.at

High-Speed or Slow and Scenic?

High-Speed Trains: These are your continent-hopping bullets, zooming at 300 km/h. Paris to Lyon in two hours? Easy. Madrid to Barcelona in three? Done. Just book early—prices rise faster than the trains move.
Regional Trains: Slower, cheaper, and perfect for spontaneous adventures. Want to hop off in a random village because you spotted a castle? Regional trains are your best bet. They rarely require reservations, and sometimes they’re free entertainment (imagine Italian grandmas gossiping louder than the train’s engine).

Tickets, Passes, and Other Ways to Confuse Yourself

Point-to-Point Tickets
Buy for a specific journey. Great if you’re only going A → B. Just don’t expect last-minute bargains on high-speed routes—Paris to Zurich bought on the day can cost more than a small car.
Eurail/Interrail Passes
- Eurail = for non-Europeans
- Interrail = for Europeans
  Think of them as all-you-can-eat buffets for trains. You choose how many “travel days” you want in a month. Perfect if your travel style is “Let’s see where the next train goes!”
  Warning: Some trains still demand seat reservations, which can feel like being invited to an exclusive club—except you pay a few euros instead of wearing fancy shoes.
Seat Reservations
On French TGVs, Spanish AVEs, or Italian Frecciarossas, they’re mandatory. On regional German trains, no one cares—you can sit next to the bathroom door if you want.

Border Crossings: So Easy, It’s Suspicious

Thanks to the Schengen Agreement, traveling between most European countries is as simple as crossing the street. No passport checks, no visa stamps—just a gentle shift in the train announcements. You’re in Belgium, then suddenly the announcements are in Dutch, then French, then both at once, and then you give up and look at the icons on the signs.

Night Trains: Beds on Wheels

Europe is reviving the romance of the night train. With ÖBB Nightjet and other services, you can go to bed in Vienna and wake up in Venice, all while avoiding hotel costs. Cabins range from “cozy couchette with snoring strangers” to “private sleeper with chocolate on the pillow.” Pro tip: if you want the latter, book early—everyone else has the same idea.

Scenic Routes Worth Missing a Flight For

Glacier Express (Switzerland): Slow, pricey, but jaw-droppingly beautiful. It’s basically Instagram on rails.
Bergen Line (Norway): Fjords, mountains, and probably snow, even in July.
West Highland Line (Scotland): Hogwarts Express vibes. Don’t forget your butterbeer.
Cinque Terre Local Train (Italy): Not “scenic” in the Swiss sense, but you’ll hop between seaside villages while tourists battle for gelato.

Tips for Surviving European Train Life

Pack Light: You’ll thank yourself when you’re sprinting to platform 14 with 3 minutes to spare.
Validate Tickets: In Italy, France, and elsewhere, unstamped paper tickets are as useful as Monopoly money.
Snacks: Bring your own. Dining cars exist, but a €7 sandwich tastes better when you bought it for €2 at the station bakery.
Mind the Strikes: France and Italy, in particular, enjoy a good transport strike. Always have a Plan B (or C).
Don’t Panic About Delays: Trains run late sometimes. But hey—if you’re stuck in Cologne, there’s always beer.

A Sample Interrail Itinerary

Want to feel like a seasoned rail traveler in two weeks? Try this:

Day 1–3: Paris (croissants, Eiffel Tower, obligatory TGV ride)
Day 4–5: Amsterdam (take Thalys/Eurostar, eat fries with mayo)
Day 6–7: Berlin (night train or ICE, history and hipster cafes)
Day 8–10: Prague & Vienna (cheap beer, classical music, palaces galore)
Day 11–13: Venice & Florence (yes, Trenitalia is late, but the pizza forgives everything)
Day 14: Zurich (end with Swiss punctuality, chocolate, and mountains).

Final Thought

European rail travel is equal parts practical and poetic. You get from A to B, yes—but you also watch landscapes shift, languages change, and cultures unfold, all without ever removing your belt at a metal detector. If you travel smart, pack light, and embrace a little unpredictability, the European train network will deliver more than just transport: it’s the journey itself that becomes the story.

🚆 Train Tickets and Passes (with Links)

Point-to-Point Tickets

Trainline: www.thetrainline.com
Deutsche Bahn (Germany): www.bahn.com
SNCF (France): www.sncf-connect.com
Trenitalia (Italy): www.trenitalia.com

Rail Passes

Eurail Pass (for non-Europeans): www.eurail.com
Interrail Pass (for Europeans): www.interrail.eu

Seat Reservations & Specialty Booking

Rail Europe: www.raileurope.com
ÖBB (Austria, Nightjet sleeper trains): www.oebb.at