Why Train Travel in Europe
Europe's rail network is the best in the world. London to Paris in 2h15m. Amsterdam to Brussels in 1h50m. Munich to Vienna in 4 hours through the Alps. Trains take you city centre to city centre (no airport transfers), there's no luggage limit, no 2-hour-early security theatre, and the views from a Swiss panoramic carriage beat any in-flight entertainment ever made.
It's also increasingly the cheapest option — a Deutsche Bahn Sparpreis from Munich to Vienna can be €17.90. A Eurostar from London to Paris starts at £39.
Interrail Pass vs Point-to-Point Tickets
When Interrail makes sense:
- Visiting 4+ countries in 2+ weeks
- You want flexibility to hop on and off
- You're under 28 (Youth Pass from €194 for 4 days in 1 month)
- You're over 60 (Senior discount 10-15%)
2026 prices: Global Pass 4 days in 1 month: €261 (adult), €194 (youth). 15 days continuous: €496. Check interrail.eu for current offers — they regularly run 10-20% sales.
When point-to-point is cheaper:
- Travelling between 2-3 cities only
- You can book 6-8 weeks ahead (advance fares are dramatically cheaper)
- Routes where budget airlines are £15-30 (like UK to Spain)
Booking Tips That Actually Save Money
- Book early: SNCF (France), Deutsche Bahn (Germany) and Trenitalia (Italy) release tickets 3-4 months ahead. The cheapest fares sell out fast — set calendar reminders
- Use national sites, not aggregators: bahn.de (Germany), sncf-connect.com (France), trenitalia.com (Italy), renfe.com (Spain). Direct booking is almost always cheapest
- Split tickets: London to Edinburgh via LNER can be £100+. Split at York (London→York + York→Edinburgh) and pay £40-50 total. Trainsplit.com does this automatically
- BahnCard 25 (€62.90/year): 25% off all Deutsche Bahn tickets. Pays for itself in 2-3 journeys. Works on international DB-operated routes too
- Ouigo: SNCF's budget TGV service. Paris to Lyon from €10. Paris to Marseille from €19. Same high-speed train, no-frills service
The Best Scenic Routes
- Bernina Express (Switzerland): Chur to Tirano through 55 tunnels and 196 bridges. UNESCO World Heritage. 4 hours of jaw-dropping Alpine scenery. Regular trains run the same route for half the panoramic car price
- Bergen Railway (Norway): Oslo to Bergen, 7 hours across the Hardangervidda plateau. Snow-capped mountains, frozen lakes, and the Flåm branch line descent (one of the world's steepest railways)
- Cinque Terre line (Italy): La Spezia to Levanto. 20 minutes through five impossibly colourful coastal villages. A Cinque Terre Card (€18.50) gives unlimited rides for a day
- Vienna to Salzburg (Austria): 2h30m through rolling hills and lake districts. Cheap too — ÖBB Sparschiene from €9.90
- Douro Valley (Portugal): Porto to Pocinho along the river through terraced vineyards. One of Europe's most underrated train journeys. 3.5 hours, from €14
Overnight Trains: The Comeback
Sleeper trains are back in a big way:
- Nightjet (ÖBB): Europe's biggest sleeper network. Vienna→Rome, Zurich→Amsterdam, Munich→Venice. Seats from €29.90, couchettes from €49.90, private sleepers from €89.90. Book at nightjet.com
- European Sleeper: Brussels→Amsterdam→Berlin. Launched 2023, expanding routes. From €49
- Caledonian Sleeper: London→Edinburgh/Glasgow/Fort William/Inverness. From £55. Wake up in the Highlands with a complimentary breakfast — one of the most romantic train journeys in Britain
The maths works: an overnight train replaces a night's accommodation AND transport. A €50 couchette that saves you a €100 hotel is actually €50 cheaper than flying + hotel.
Essential Apps
- Trainline: Best aggregator for booking across multiple countries
- DB Navigator: The gold standard for journey planning across all of Europe (not just Germany)
- Interrail Planner: Essential if using an Interrail pass — shows which trains need reservations
- Omio: Good for comparing train vs bus vs flight prices
First-Timer Tips
- Reservations: Some trains (TGV, Eurostar, Thalys, most Spanish trains) require paid seat reservations even with an Interrail pass. Budget €10-30 extra per reservation
- Platform announcements: In most countries, platform numbers appear 15-20 minutes before departure. Don't panic — this is normal
- Validate your ticket: In Italy, stamp your ticket at the yellow machines before boarding or face a €50 fine. This doesn't apply to e-tickets
- Pack light: There's no luggage check but overhead racks are your only option. A carry-on-sized bag makes train travel infinitely easier