Best Europe Itinerary for your Europe vacation

The Benefits Of Exploring Europe By Train

Ask seasoned travelers for their opinions on the best European itineraries, and you’ll never receive the same answer. Many will agree that Europe’s sweeping and highly interconnected rail network offers a world of possibilities for laidback travel as you glide from tourist hotspots to hidden gems off the tourist trail.

The benefits of rail travel in Europe are legion. The convenience of hopping on board moments before travel contrasts favorably with increasingly fraught airport experiences.

Many European services are highly accessible, even when mobility is limited. Because most towns and cities are connected by train and stations are found in the beating heart of cities, car rental is unnecessary.

 

Europe’s Rail Network Is Made For Leisurely Travel

Add moments to chill and watch the world pass by on comfortable, modern trains coupled with the chance to gain deeper insights into local culture, and it’s clear why European travelers prize their rail network.

The environment benefits, too; experts agree that trains are the most sustainable and eco-conscious mass transport.

In short, there is a world of possibilities for relaxing yet culture-rich vacations on Europe’s trains. Some of the best European itineraries weave together contrasting cities and cross-border adventures made easy by passport-free borders and frequent high-speed inter-city and inter-country services.

Borrowing inspiration from our favorite Rail Escape travel packages, here’s a look at some of the best European itineraries, made all the more compelling when you ride the rails.

 

Scenic Alpine Rail Journeys

Some of the best European itineraries follow incredibly scenic rail routes through the Alps and Alpine foothills.

Eight countries border the Alps, with gentle rail journeys threading along picturesque rail lines between diverse cities like Zurich, Basel, Munich, Salzburg, and Innsbruck.

 

Alpine Trains Enrich Some Of Europe’s Best Itineraries

On Alpine trains, the journey is often the highlight. The standout voyage is on the legendary Bernina Express, traversing under the peaks and through valleys between Switzerland and Italy. With floor-to-ceiling windows, tour guide headsets, and sophisticated onboard services, it’s the centerpiece of many European rail adventures.

It’s not the only train to glide through serene and breathtaking landscapes. The Glacier Express between Zermatt and St Moritz is another Swiss marvel. Opening up the wider region are national and regional services used by commuters and roving tourists.

Want to create an epic Alpine rail journey weaving together some of Switzerland’s most scenic train journeys? Talk to our specialists about building a Transalpine rail journey like no other.

 

A Multi-Country Journey Through The Alps And Beyond

The Alps have long seduced travelers who want to blend incredible scenery with a taste of cultural life in countries on either side of the Alps.

One of our best European rail itineraries – Scenery And Elegance: Swiss Train Tour – places the mountain range at the center of a fascinating voyage that combines three countries into one inspiring Alpine experience over 10 serene days.

 

Start your Alpine Rail Tour In Munich

This journey begins in Munich, the beerhall capital of Germany and home to the Nymphenburg Palace, where Bavarian royalty partied in the summer.

An altogether different party ignites in autumn when the raucous Oktoberfest festival lights up the city.

Throughout the year, you can sip fresher than fresh beer in the fabled Hofbräuhaus any season. Or lose yourself in the atmospheric Old Town, where the famous glockenspiel clock still chimes, so you never lose track of time.

 

Next Stop, Switzerland

Less than four hours away on Deutsche Bahn trains is Zurich, Switzerland’s largest city. The refined banking center on the banks of Lake Zurich boasts a characterful old town and renowned museums, from art collections in the Kunsthaus Zürich to the FIFA Museum built for soccer obsessives.

From Zurich, the Alpine experience reaches giddy heights on sleek Swiss SBB services (two trains minimum) to Zermatt, in the shadow of the Matterhorn.

The star attraction is the pyramid-shaped peak that inspired the Toblerone chocolatiers and literary greats. On the undercard is an array of outdoor activities around Zermatt, from winter skiing to summer hikes through Alpine meadows.

After filling your lungs with mountain air, the extraordinary Glacier Express awaits to whisk vacationers to the upmarket ski resort St Moritz on the tranquil waters of Lake Moritz. St Moritz has hosted two Winter Olympics and is an enchanting breakpoint for outdoor sports and indulging a taste for fondue and views.

 

Cross The Alps To Finish Your Alpine Rail Itinerary In Italy

After invigorating high-altitude escapades, head to Milan to rejoin the urban hustle. Before reaching Italy’s second city and economic powerhouse, consider a more tranquil break at Lake Como.

Nature meets glamor in beautiful Lake Como, backdropped by snowy peaks, underlining why Alpine trains can help you build a vacation of contrasts and some of the best European itineraries if you crave a varied taste of European culture with a healthy dose of nature.

Milan is where you can shop at world-famous fashion boutiques, see Da Vinci’s Last Supper, and nibble on Milanese specialties from ossobucco to panettone.

Milan’s international airport is handy for waving arrivederci. Unless you’re embarking on another rail odyssey, like our next contender for the best Europe itinerary.

 

Glide By Rail Between Grand European Capitals

A sedate rail journey with broad appeal and near limitless opportunities for urban adventures is made possible by linking together Europe’s grand capitals.

Concentrating on European capitals, many just a few hours apart by high-speed rail, offers an altogether different experience to the Alpine adventures. But can’t be beaten if you want a condensed voyage through European history and culture.

 

The Ease Of Rail Travel Enriches The Best Europe Itineraries

Travelers might be tempted by budget airlines, but with many capitals in Western Europe just a few hours apart, the comfort and convenience of rail travel cannot be topped.

Many capitals are linked by direct high-speed trains or require a quick switch at stations along the route.

Recline your first-class seat and watch cityscapes merge into the countryside as you see more of the host nation than is possible from the air or on congested highways.

Even better, you can step from the train directly into the hustle and bustle, with intercity stations usually close to the action. With Rail Escape, we’ll ensure your hotel is near the station so you can quickly drop off your luggage and drop into the milieu of world-famous landmarks and cosmopolitan atmosphere.

 

European Capitals Are Well Connected By Rail

Central to many of the best European itineraries, the grand capitals distill entire national heritage and identities into one destination.

Examples abound in Rail Escape packages like our Western Capitals: London, Paris, and Brussels, uniting the cross-Channel Eurostar and France’s speedy TGV network.

No need to limit yourself to this corner of the continent. Adventurous travelers can thread together a rail vacation through any Western and Central European capital. The only limit is imagination and time. And there is never enough time to explore Europe.

Unsure where to begin building the best Europe itinerary for you? Our travel experts can craft a journey through some of Europe’s most captivating capitals with bespoke rail tours that let you customize your dream vacation to the cities you want to see across the continent.Timeless Cities Along The Waterways Of Europe

The great rivers of Europe were once the smoothest way to move people and trade between adjacent cities. Trains fill that role today, especially if you want to follow heritage routes through riverside cities and picturesque valleys.

The Rhine and Danube – two of Europe’s longest rivers – offer bountiful opportunities to knit together a European itinerary through cities with long and storied histories shaped by these waterways that enriched and fertilized regional heritages.

 

The Romance Of A Rhine Rail Tour

Take our Rhine River Tour, for example. Sweeping past castles and vineyards, this 9-day rail itinerary coasts through three countries, from Amsterdam in the Netherlands to Basel, Switzerland via Germany. Along the way, stopping in laidback Arnhem (Netherlands), the cathedral city of Cologne, then delightful Koblenz in the Upper Middle Rhine Valley, a UNESCO World Heritage region.

 

Waltz Along The Danube By Rail

If Central Europe piques your wanderlust, the Danube offers another focus for an exciting itinerary, threading together the imperial cities of central Europe, from Budapest to Prague via Vienna.

Inspiring composers and artists long before tourism reached the Danube, this river winds through cities brimming with culture and a heritage shaped by their proximity to each other. It’s a mesmerizing voyage to imperial palaces, opera houses, and chocolate box towns sprinkled along the river.

 

Explore Enchanting Waterways From The Comfort Of Your Train

Rhine or Danube, regional trains pass sights that evoke the romanticism of travel through the ages. Whizz past notable landmarks, soaring castles, cute villages, and scenery you dream about on your daily commute.

If you crave a balanced blend of nature and metropolitan buzz, following the continent’s rivers and the train lines running alongside them makes it easy to piece together one of the best European itineraries to mix culture and adventure.

 

Romantic Rail Journeys Between Europe’s Art Capitals

Want to glimpse Europe’s art wonders at your own pace?

There is no shortage of museums big and small across Europe. And visiting the ones you yearn to see is achievable when hopping on Europe’s rail network, even if they are in different countries.

The potential is near limitless. To excite your appetite for cultural wonders, here’s a look at one of the best European itineraries for art lovers.

 

A Rail Tour Around The Masterpieces of Western Europe

Our Western Europe Tour whisks you on an epic journey from Amsterdam to Paris and onto Madrid is a journey from the Rijks Museum to the Louvre and then The Prado, museums housing some of the world’s most important art collections.

The leading museums are just the tip of a creative iceberg, with countless museums (close to 300 across all three cities, according to our count). Plus, you’ll find much more to see and do in these bustling capitals.

You cram a lot of art and culture into a one to two-week vacation on a carefully curated itinerary using Europe’s trains.

 

Immerse Yourself In Europe’s Contrasting Regions

Europe’s wonderfully interconnected rail system opens up opportunities for leisurely voyages around entire regions of the continent.

It’s the chance to enjoy an utterly immersive experience, bringing together contrasting cities where the similarities sometimes outweigh the differences. Yet it’s a journey where no two cities are the same.

Picture a rail tour through the capitals of Central Europe – Berlin, Prague, Budapest, Vienna – or the Nordic cities of Scandinavia.

 

 

Regional Travel Easy On The Best European Itineraries By Rail

Travel by train across borders in Europe and you can appreciate European Union benefits that also make travel more agreeable. The Schengen agreement removes custom checks at many borders, while the Euro currency will relegate Bureau de Change to an afterthought on many rail tours.

These EU agreements don’t cover all European countries. But you can enjoy passport-free travel across 27 countries in the extended European Economic Area (EEA), including non-EU countries Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, and Lichenstein.

The single Euro currency is used in 20 countries, helping you build some of the best European itineraries with fewer details to worry about. Often, you can zip from city to city in a few hours without even realizing you crossed a border. Sometimes more than one!

 

Discover Scandinavian Delights By Train

Underlining the potential is our Highlights of Scandinavia package that links the Danish and Swedish capitals, Copenhagen and Stockholm, with a bonus stop in Gothenburg. You can add Oslo to the schedule for a Nordic land cruise like no other.

A little planning goes a long way on this expansive voyage. But once your seats are reserved and hotels booked, you can look forward to rolling from the Little Mermaid in Copenhagen to the stunning botanical gardens of Gothenburg. Then dial up the Scandinavian vibes at the peerless maritime Vasa Museum in Stockholm before potentially decompressing on a sauna boat on the Oslo fjord. There are Viking museums to pillage at nearly every stop.

 

Elevate Your Travel with Regional Rail Tours

The opportunities for a regional rail tour to rival the best European itineraries do not end there. Whether zipping between the imperial cities of Central Europe or roving around the Mediterranean, intercountry rail connections offer tantalizing possibilities for wanderers keen on a next-level adventure unpacking a European region.

 

Explore A Single European Country For The Ultimate Immersion

If you want to form an intimate connection with a country, an unhurried train voyage can unlock inimitable experiences without leaving the country.

Rail travel is a winner for slow travelers who like to absorb the details and explore differing sides of local culture. It’s a time to do like the locals and forget where you’re from. Until the flight home, at least.

 

Ideas For An Absorbing European Rail Itinerary

Whether drawn to the vineyards of France, the gastronomic patchwork of Italy, or the classical music heritage of Austria, a carefully crafted rail itinerary can reveal more of a country.

Some of our best European itineraries remain in one country, from sun-dappled journeys along the coastal cities of Spain to a British Isles tour that transports you from London to the bonny lochs of Scotland.

In short, trains can form the backbone of adventures without crossing international borders. A ticket to seeing the parts everyday tours miss, with the opportunity to dive deep into a national heritage. The hard part is choosing which country to visit first, as the best European itineraries begin in the heart.

 

Your Dream European Rail Adventure

We could wax lyrical about what we consider the best European itinerary. But, with 50 countries and a highly developed and interlinked rail network, there is no single winner.

There’s no doubt that trains can uncork some spellbinding European escapades.

Aside from the simplicity of hopping onto a train mere moments before departing the city center you just explored, it’s the ultimate way to see the bits in between the cities.

Extending the adventure onto slower regional trains adds layers of potential for curious travelers keen to connect with local communities and see the sights many tourists overlook.

Europe’s trains are safe, reliable, and better for the environment than other modes of travel. Above all, trains are more comfortable and convenient than flying or driving, removing the need to dash to airports or rental car offices and giving you more downtime to relax and enjoy the views.

If you like to concentrate on planning your day’s activities, having your hotels and train tickets reserved before you leave can be a weight off your mind.

 

How Rail Escape Can You Create Your Perfect Europe Itinerary

At Rail Escape, we know how to build the best European itinerary for you and your travel companions. We deliver a premium experience that wraps up the essentials before you go so you can book your flight and relax every step of the way from the airport. If you have an idea for a European vacation that falls outside the box, contact our specialists, who will help make your vision a reality.