More and more people are choosing not to fly anymore for environmental reasons, and certainly not within Europe, where everything is actually within reach. A train tour is a good alternative. There is a good rail network within Europe that can take you virtually anywhere. Are you planning to travel through Europe by train? In this article we give you five tips!
Map out a convenient route
If you plan to visit multiple locations in Europe, it is wise not to just pick four random places, but to look carefully at which cities are close to each other and what the train connection is like between those cities. So choose a specific part of Europe where you will travel. Do you want to see more than that? Then go again next year. A popular trip is Vienna-Bratislava-Budapest. These cities are all just a few hours away from each other. Also fun: take a tour through Italy and then take the boat to Greece. Ideally, you should never spend more than four hours on the train. In Europe it is very possible to plan your trip with that in mind.
Travel by ICE or night jet whenever possible
The ICE (also known as the international high-speed line) is a very comfortable train that can take you from A to B very quickly. There are always several toilets on board (nice if you have to travel for a long time) and there is also a catering service if you want to eat or drink something along the way. If you have to sit on the train for a really long time, it is nice to take a night jet. There are beds on the night jet, so you can simply board in the evening and wake up on location the next morning. Please note: with both the ICE and night jet, it is usually mandatory that you reserve a seat in advance. Especially with the night jet, it is useful to do this a few weeks in advance.
Pack smart
If you have to transfer a lot, it is very annoying to constantly have to lug around a huge suitcase. So only take the bare essentials with you when you travel by train. Take 1 pair of shoes with you (you are already wearing them) and certainly not too much clothing. Rather choose to do some laundry on location. Ideally, all your luggage will fit into a large backpack.
Book your accommodations close to the train station if possible
After a long train journey, there is nothing more annoying than having to board 6 buses or metros before you can finally collapse into a bed. So make sure that the accommodation where you sleep is easily accessible from the train station. These are often a bit more expensive. Don't feel like doing that? Then make sure, for example, that there is a direct bus or metro connection to your accommodation from the train station, so that you do not have to transfer five times again.
Be kind to yourself
As fun as traveling by train is, it can also be very tiring. Take yourself into account by planning enough rest during your trip. Do you mainly stay in hostels? Then book a good hotel every few days where you can relax. No matter how much you want to see the area, don't plan every day completely full, but also give yourself time to laze around.
