Your Essential Guide To Europe Travel By Train

Although air travel can be the most convenient for the modern world, traveling by train offers a hint of excitement and romance. When you travel Europe by train, it’s often more comfortable and can be budget-friendly as well. 

That said, if you aren’t experienced with train travel, the idea might seem a little daunting when planning a European vacation – especially if you don’t understand train routes, departure and arrival times, or even the unique ways that trains connect across the continent through multiple countries. 

Our in-depth travel tips section contains many articles that can help you manage your trip with relative ease. These include essential suggestions for planning your stops to hit all your destinations and saving money through various clever tricks.

Europe Rail System Overview

Traveling Europe by train has a lot of benefits, including:

• Seeing the countryside close-up in a way you can’t while flying,
• Being able to get up and walk around, dine, chat to other passengers and check out different spots of the train,
• Getting to smaller towns without airports or renting expensive cars,
• Ease of booking, particularly when you understand European track schedules.

Remember that the cost isn’t always cheaper than airfare, especially if you are booking a high-demand line. There are trains with sleeper cars along many lines, but you should compare their rates to staying in a local hotel as you travel. Often, they’re similarly priced but can be an interesting experience for you and your family.

Since there are dozens of European countries, it’s essential to research the local guidelines for travel. You may need a valid passport or a visa, though most suggest at least bringing a passport along just in case. There are over 50 countries in Europe, with 26 of them having signed the Schengen Agreement. This deal states that travelers don’t need passports to enter. 

Understanding Train Types In Europe 

When you travel Europe by train or rail, it’s critical to know what type of train you’re using. The blanket term “train” is simply far too broad because guidelines, booking rules, and other factors can greatly influence your trip. Train options throughout Europe include:

• Metro or intra-city subway systems either under or above the ground ,
• Commuter rails or regional trains that move throughout cities and surrounding areas ,
• High-speed trains that move across countries and the continent,
• Tourist trains explicitly designed for sightseeing purposes,
• Sleeper trains with carriages to sleep during your travel,

Furthermore, tickets can vary from first-class to second-class. Differences between these ticket types include more comfortable seating, larger areas, and better food. Make sure to buy appropriately to save money on your travel, no matter where you go. 

Buying Train Tickets for Your European Travel

When buying tickets to travel Europe by train, it’s important to know where you can get them. Just a few options include: 

• The best travel gadgets and apps such as Omio or Trainline,
• Country sites on the European National Rail Service website ,
• Directly at the station before you take off,

After you have your ticket, make sure you head to the correct station (most European cities have multiple stations), find the right platform, validate your ticket at a kiosk, and find your seating. Once you’ve stored your luggage, you can enjoy your trip in style.

Where To Go in Europe by Train

The best part of a plan to travel Europe by train is customization. If you want to book short trips from a central location, you have plenty of options. For example, you could park yourself in Paris and take trains out to the surrounding countryside to check out beautiful vineyards. 

You can also extend your train trip into days or even weeks. That said, it’s important to remember that the most popular trips fill up early. Even if you’re only planning a short journey, it’s essential to carefully plan every step of your trip.

Consider looking for trips heading in an uncommon direction. Europe is truly massive and diverse, and getting to some out-of-the-way places for romantic getaways or even solo travel is a lot of fun. Here are a few trip ideas to help you get started.

London to Venice

If you’re going to travel, you might as well do so in style. The Venice Simplon-Orient-Express offers a luxury train service that starts in London and progresses to Venice. It’s an opportunity to enjoy a bit of rail history with historic rail cars that your whole family will love.

The trip takes a full day of travel. While you sit and watch the hills roll by, you’ll enjoy luscious surroundings, fine dining, and excellent service. This is a time when you should splurge on comfortable first-class living.

Amsterdam to Vienna

Sometimes, the best part of train travel is the ability to wake up in a new city in a completely different country. Here’s a fun suggestion: since traveling from Amsterdam to Vienna takes a little over 12 hours, you’ll have plenty of time for a meal and a full night of rest. 

The best part is that you arrive in the middle of the city, without spending hours waiting to go through customs or finding your way from the airport.

Paris to Barcelona

Although much of European train travel emphasizes high-speed rail these days, there is something to be said for taking the slow path. At a slower speed, you can take your time to truly enjoy the scenery as it changes, particularly through beautiful areas like Paris and Barcelona.

The trip from Paris to Barcelona takes about 10 hours or more, but the trip is yours to customize. Feel free to book extra stops along the way to check more items off your bucket list. March, April and May are beautiful times to travel throughout these regions in style.

A Sample Week Itinerary for Your European Train Trip

Now, when you travel to Europe by train, you probably want to visit as many sights as possible. Unfortunately, you’re not going to be able to see literally every country in a week, but you can still plan a fantastic week-long family vacation by train by following this itinerary. Note you can change this plan in any way that you want to ensure that you see what interests you the most: 

• Day One: Fly into Madrid, Spain’s capital city, and book a trip to Paris. While in Madrid, check out local food destinations as well as museums dedicated to Spain’s long history.
• Day Two: Travel up to Paris and spend the day checking out streetside cafes and the Eiffel Tower. Get a real baguette to see what the world’s been raving about for years.
• Day Three: Head up to Amsterdam in the Netherlands to check out this always fascinating city. Make sure you bring along something for the kids to do while you’re here.
• Day Four: Go east towards Berlin to examine this once-divided city. There are plenty of opportunities for enjoying music and other fascinating cultural experiences here.
• Day Five: Spend the day traveling to Switzerland, where you can enjoy some delicious foods, check out amazing clocks, and experience this very modern city in style.
• Day Six: Travel over to Barcelona, where you can relax on the beach for hours and check out some of Spain’s most beautiful areas in style.
• Day Seven: Cycle back to Madrid and spend your last few hours in Europe exploring this beautiful city.

Safety Suggestions for Your European Travel

Whether you’re planning a summer trip to places like Barcelona or a late fall visit to Germany for the Rubber Duck Race, it’s important to stay safe. But if you plan on traveling by rail throughout the continent, here are some safety tips to keep in mind:

• Use handrails and other support when walking through trains to avoid tripping,
• Always wait for the train to come to a complete stop before changing stations,
• Keep your bags in sight at all times or lock them up in the back for safekeeping,
• Put your wallet in a closed pocket on the inside of your jacket,
• Never sign petitions, as they’re often an opening to scams,
• Store your phone and cards in a safe area to minimize risks, 

Travel Apps That Make Your Vacation More Fun

Downloading travel apps can help make your trip more enjoyable by streamlining your experience and minimizing confusion. Just a few options that might appeal to you include:

• Citymapper, which helps plan trips using bus or train stations, 
• Rebtel, which lets you call friends back home for cheap rates,
• The Parking Spot, which lets you book reservations and earn points with The Spot Club,
• AllTrails to find various hiking spots throughout your destinations,
• Eurail and Interrail, two apps that help you book your European train trip,
• Cabify, which helps you book cabs in the cities you’re visiting,
• Rome2rio, a trip planning app that helps you handle every step of your journey,

Translation Suggestions to Streamline Your Experience

When you travel Europe by train and rail, you’re going to experience many languages. While many people in the continent speak some English, not everybody does, so it’s important to find some translation apps and download them before your trip. Check out this list the best translation apps. 

Tipping Etiquette Varies by Country 

It’s important to remember that tipping etiquette isn’t uniform throughout Europe. Some countries, like Austria, expect tips from between 5-15%, with 10% being about average. Other countries, like France, add a 15% service fee to their bills to give their staff a living wage.

By contrast, countries like Spain don’t have a tip culture at all or a very small one. For example, Spanish residents might round up to the nearest Euro, such as paying €50 for a €49 meal. If you’re not sure, it’s important to talk to guides in the area, as they can let you know what most people tip in the country and ensure you feel comfortable giving money to service people.

Get the Help You Need From The Parking Spot

Whether you’re flying into Europe for business travel or having a family vacation, knowing how to travel Europe by train can ensure that your experience goes smoothly and happily. Don’t forget to pack properly to streamline the luggage you bring on your trip. This step can also reduce your travel expenses!

Before planning your trip in this depth, reserve a parking spot with The Parking Spot using our best coupons and deals.