European adventure via train

[robertfleckney]

We are planning to travel to various destinations in Europe on a road trip, via train. We plan on buying an interail global pass which covers 33 countries and staying in hotels along the way.

We haven’t decided exactly which countries, so any suggestions welcome. ChatGPT has been helpful, suggesting routes and places of interest.

We would be taking our 3 children (9,9,7) who love adventures and aren’t scared of walking.

I thought it would be worth posting here as I’m sure someone has experienced this already.

Thanks

[littleredrooster]

robertfleckney said:

... on a road trip, via train...

...does not compute...

[Mr Penguin]

I have done this a couple of times and I think it's best to pick 1-3 places you want to go to. These can be anything - a city, a cathedral, a museum, even a shop or concert (I also like to do this on a theme). Once you have those you should have a natural route and can fill in the gaps with places to stop and scenic lines. Most regions in Europe have towns and cities worth visiting so it shouldn't be hard to find nice places along that.

[balise]

Just back from 15 days using the pass. We did France, Spain and Switzerland, and travelled most days, some days not far, the most we did in a day was 6 hours which was a bit much TBH.

You’ll have your hands full with kids! Switzerland is easy, has some great scenery and lots of good places to visit. It’s pricey. France can be tricky to get reservations if you’re using TGVs.

Hotels close to stations are worth it.

This is resource is invaluable https://www.seat61.com/how-to-use-an-interrail-pas...

The Eurail app takes a while to suss out.

[Screenwash]

Save money - take them on the Circle Line for the day. That can be an adventure!

[MBBlat]

For Switzerland, Swiss rail do a service where they transport your bags between hotels for you, saves having to drag large suitcases on and off trains. There are also two main train companies, SBB standard gauge doing most of the mainline services and the RhB meter gauge in the alps, the latter has the worlds slowest Express train in the Glacier Express from Zermatt to St.Moritz. The Jungfrau is also worth doing if you have the time/funds.

If you are trying to save the pennies then there are local trains that cover the same routes as the big named trains, just not as comfortable and they don’t have the large picture windows.

[daqinggregg]

A great way to travel, flying if doing multiple stops/short distances, train travel as a whole is a lot more relaxing and much less of a faff, stations tend to be in a central locations, none of the hassle of security. You haven’t mentioned how long or what time of year, you plan to travel for.

A lot will depend on infrastructure and rolling stock, high speed trains, efficient and quick; downside too fast to appreciate the scenery.

Slow trains, lots of time to take in the scenery, very relaxing; downside, rolling stock tends to be old, covers distance slowly.

For high speed train, 2 hours flight can generally be replaced with an 8 hour train journey, without too much inconvienence.

When we travel we tend to do it during the day, I like to watch the scenery (not everyone’s cup of tea). I’ve traveled extensively in Europe by train, but that was when, ‘punk’ was in the charts and countries had different names, not sure that information is still relevant.

[daqinggregg]

Mr Penguin said:

I have done this a couple of times and I think it's best to pick 1-3 places you want to go to. These can be anything - a city, a cathedral, a museum, even a shop or concert (I also like to do this on a theme). Once you have those you should have a natural route and can fill in the gaps with places to stop and scenic lines. Most regions in Europe have towns and cities worth visiting so it shouldn't be hard to find nice places along that.

Mr Penguin, you had your own topic on this subject. ‘What is the furthest you have travelled by train in one day?’

[Mr Penguin]

daqinggregg said:

Mr Penguin, you had your own topic on this subject. ‘What is the furthest you have travelled by train in one day?’

That's a bit different because that trip has a fixed and single destination so the train is a substitute for a plane and we won't be interrailing.

[superpp]

always fancied doing an interrail trip.
however doesn't it get expensive having to stay in a different hotel each night, unless you're prepared to use hostels?

[robertfleckney]

Mr Penguin said:

I have done this a couple of times and I think it's best to pick 1-3 places you want to go to. These can be anything - a city, a cathedral, a museum, even a shop or concert (I also like to do this on a theme). Once you have those you should have a natural route and can fill in the gaps with places to stop and scenic lines. Most regions in Europe have towns and cities worth visiting so it shouldn't be hard to find nice places along that.

Sounds sensible - we need to work out what countries, how long etc.

We are aiming for this summer, as we are both teachers on our 6 week break.

Thank you to all of the responses - the information regarding booking seats is particularly useful.

[trashbat]

Last year we did:

Flew to Bergen
Bergen-Oslo train
Oslo-Copenhagen by DFDS cruise ferry
Copenhagen to Malmö day trip for Eurovision
Copenhagen-Cologne train
Cologne-Zurich train
Zurich-Chur train then Bernina Express to Tirano
Tirano-Lecco train
Lecco-Milan train then flew home

Six countries, two weeks, two nights in most places but more in Lecco (Lake Como). All trains were first class where possible. Travel costs - not hotels, but including the ferry cabin - were about £1700 total for two adults.

This was all calculated to be scenic travel.

It was great. Any questions, just ask.

[balise]

robertfleckney said:

Sounds sensible - we need to work out what countries, how long etc.

We are aiming for this summer, as we are both teachers on our 6 week break.

Thank you to all of the responses - the information regarding booking seats is particularly useful.

The DB app is good for planning, together with Google maps and the Eurail app. Not all journeys are covered with the pass, so just watch out.

[robertfleckney]

Mr Penguin said:

I have done this a couple of times and I think it's best to pick 1-3 places you want to go to. These can be anything - a city, a cathedral, a museum, even a shop or concert (I also like to do this on a theme). Once you have those you should have a natural route and can fill in the gaps with places to stop and scenic lines. Most regions in Europe have towns and cities worth visiting so it shouldn't be hard to find nice places along that.

Sounds sensible - we need to work out what countries, how long etc.

We are aiming for this summer, as we are both teachers on our 6 week break.

Thank you to all of the responses - the information regarding booking seats is particularly useful.

[TownIdiot]

We've done this quite a few times and always enjoyed it

Probably the best one we did combined a flight to Europe (we picked the cheapest flight going and ended up in Poland)

We got a couple of overnight trains which the kids loved and also did some island hopping in Croatia.

We preferred not to have a strict timetable so sort of made it up as we were going along.

Probably my favourite travel moment of any trip is leaving the station in Venice, straight onto the grand canal. Absolutely fantastic.

Probably the only negative is that stations can be in slightly stty areas of some cities so it's good to have a plan for arrival. And pack as light as possible, which won't be easy with kids.

[RichFN2]

TownIdiot said:

Probably the only negative is that stations can be in slightly stty areas of some cities so it's good to have a plan for arrival. And pack as light as possible, which won't be easy with kids.

This is something I have also noticed on our European city breaks, not all of them but except around a 3rd to be somewhere to avoid later in the evening/at night. (Amsterdam, Brussels and Bucharest from memory were high on that list)

Another point worth mentioning is the sheer size of some of the stations, particularly the international ones like Amsterdam and Brussels so allow for some extra time when using these.

Karl Watson went from London to Tbilisi and made a YouTube documentary about it which might be of interest (helps that his videos are generally decent)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4eaQK70Dwj8

[robertfleckney]

Really appreciate the advice and the YouTube links - thanks

[MBBlat]

Another good link that may help your planning, the man in seat 61.
https://www.seat61.com/

[robertfleckney]

MBBlat said:

Another good link that may help your planning, the man in seat 61.
https://www.seat61.com/

Superb - this is why pistonheads is so great!

Thanks 😎

[Den Den]

MBBlat said:

Another good link that may help your planning, the man in seat 61.
https://www.seat61.com/

Wow that's a great website, hours of planning this evening