train trips in europe 2024

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Train & Rail Tours & Trips in Europe

• Italy Train & Rail

107 Train & Rail tour packages in Europe with 998 reviews

• Train & Rail

Eco-Comfort - Tour Of Italy By Train

"The Executive Hotel in Florence was splendid in its unabashed luxury." Sylvia, traveled in August 2019

• €50 deposit on some dates Some departure dates offer you the chance to book this tour with a lower deposit.

• Christmas & New Year

Rome, Florence, Cinque Terre & Venice in 7 Days

"Overall the Italy on a Budget tour is great. I would be only a day in Pisa and add more time in Cinque Terre." Alana, traveled in November 2018

• €100 deposit on some dates Some departure dates offer you the chance to book this tour with a lower deposit.

Glacier Express & Porsche 911 Rail & Drive Experience

• Sightseeing

Berlin to Venice

Central Europe Group Rail Tour (18-35)

"The whole trip was thoroughly planned and so enjoyable! Such a stress free experience." Juliet, traveled in August 2023

• 10% deposit on some dates Some departure dates offer you the chance to book this tour with a lower deposit.

• In-depth Cultural

Berlin to Rome

"It's a long trip and designed for those wanting to see much of central Europe in a short amount of time." Patrick, traveled in April 2018

European Romance

Mediterranean Express: Rivieras & Railroads

"The Mediterranean Express trip is a great way to get to know fellow travellers before arriving." Catherine, traveled in August 2018

Whole of Europe Group Rail Tour (18-35)

"The whole experience was so easy we just got taken from city to city and got to see so much. It was really hassle free."

Paris to Barcelona: Tapas & Train Rides

What people love about train & rail tours in europe.

Overall experience was excellent. The support staff was always available to answer any questions, as well as to provide vouchers for ad hoc optional tours that were selected during the excursion. Tour guides were knowledgeable. Hotels were very nice.

We had so much fun on this tour. It's amazing how much we saw in just a week! We learned a lot about the cultures and different types of food and paintings/architecture which was really cool. Emma/Jean/Francesca were amazing guides :) Pros: - most of the time we were by ourselves to do whatever we want - the 2 of us were the only ones on the tour lol - really affordable - hostels were all good, people were all friendly - the tour guides were locals and really passionate about their city Cons: - the optional activities are expensive and they were booked early in the morning :/ - there is only 2 dinners included - our Rome guide didn't put in time for lunch, so we were very hungry and walking for 4 hours in the heat. We also didn't have time to go to St. Peter's Basilica :/ - we only had an afternoon in Venice Overall, it was really memorable and I would recommend it :)

The highlight of our year so far! ? Me and my partner loved the Central Europe Tour ?(2 weeks), we would recommend it to ANYONE! And we would even suggest doing the Whole of Europe tour (4 weeks), as we could have easily carried on travelling with this company and the amazing people we met! ?The whole trip was thoroughly planned and so enjoyable! Such a stress free experience, especially for someone like myself who gets quite anxious when travelling - I would 100% do again!?? I met some incredible individuals, and the group planned activities were just what we needed to establish really strong bonds straight away! We have definitely made some lifelong friends and memories we will forever cherish! ??? The creation of the WhatsApp group chat with all our fellow travellers beforehand was so beneficial!? It broke the ice and put our minds at ease about the uncertainty of the upcoming trip ? And our guide Cristina ? - was brilliant, super friendly, helpful, considerate and extremely knowledgeable - educating us all. She was available 24/7, and we had the pleasure of spending our last day in Venice with her! ??? She deserves a lot of credit for making all our experiences amazing and unforgettable! Thank you Cristina ?? We look forward to our future bookings with Euroventure! ??

Top operators

"While this was a very fast paced tour with lots of driving every day, there were so many sightseeing experiences that we enjoyed ourselves so much. Long tiring days are to be expected travelling through Europe on this type of tour. But being at the major tourist cities was excellent and life-changing especially for my friend who had never been to Europe before. Our tour driver Gabriel from Romania was excellent and he certainly proved himself with his expertise and care he showed for all of us. Our tour leader Firo from Portugal was very busy looking after us all and making sure plans were followed and were timely. He managed us all excellently. Overall an excellent tour experience and I’ve already booked another different one. Thanks so much.

Expat Explore Travel is an expert in:

"Ash was an amazing contiki guide all the way through the trip. She made each day fun and kept us all informed with recommendations and insider knowledge at each stop. She encouraged a really fun social environment that really helped people break out of their shells and really have a special trip.

Contiki is an expert in:

• Festival & Events

"The tour went to all the sites advertised except to see Jules Verne house which we were suppose to see. The tour is catered to Spanish speaking people.

Europamundo is an expert in:

• River Cruise

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Luxury European Train Tours & Luxury Train Vacations Europe

Luxury european train holiday destinations & places.

Our range of luxury train tours in Europe lets you explore this fascinating continent in comfort and style. The slow pace of luxury rail travel in Europe gives you time to see the countries you pass through rather than just the tourist sites, and we think there is nothing like European luxury train vacations as a way to travel in Europe. Most luxury European train holidays focus on East and Central Europe, including the Balkans. Spain and Portugal also have luxury trains in Europe. Below you can browse all the destinations visited by our luxury train trips in Europe. Under each destination, you can view the luxury European train tours that visit each destination.

Luxury train holidays in Europe visit the well-known sites but also pass through places that are less visited and can make short stops to visit these places that regular luxury rail tours to Europe might miss. As the luxury sleeper trains in Europe act as a hotel on wheels, there is no need to pack and unpack, and the European luxury train trips allow for short visits to many places. This gives the passenger a more rounded experience of the countries they pass through. Taking a luxury train through Europe is a rewarding and relaxing way to travel with like-minded people.

Luxury Rail Tours In Europe

Just click on any of the tours listed below to open up or download a PDF file with the tour’s full details including dates and pricing.

● Please remember that booking as far ahead as you can in advance is essential for these trains ●

7 Nights from UK £ 14,295 / US$ 17,595 / € 16,195

Contact us for a quote in other currencies

France ● Switzerland ● Austria ● Slovenia ● Serbia ● Bulgaria ● Turkey

Turkey ● Bulgaria ● Serbia ● Slovenia ● Austria ● Switzerland ● France

11 Nights from UK £ 14,795 / US$ 18,495 / € 16,795

Venice ● Trieste ● Ljubljana ● Sarajevo ● Mostar ● Dubrovnik ● Belgrade ● Skopje ● Sofia ● Plovdiv ● Istanbul

Venice ● Trieste ● Ljubljana ● Sarajevo ● Mostar ● Belgrade ● Bar ● Podgorica ● Skopje ● Sofia ● Plovdiv ● Istanbul

6 Nights From UK £ 8,995 / US $ 11,195 / € 10,195

Istanbul ● Veliko Tarnovo ● Sinaia ● Brasov ● Sighisoara ● Sibiu ● Kecskemet ● Lajosmizse ● Budapest

10 Nights From UK £ 13,695 / US $ 17,095 / € 15,495

Budapest ● Vienna ● Lake Achen ● Innsbruck ● Zürich ● Lake Como ● Milan ● Verona ● Trieste ● Lake Bled ● Ljubljana ● Venice

Budapest ● Vienna ● Semmering Pass ● Lake Achen ● Innsbruck ● Zurich ● St Gotthard Pass ● Lake Como ● Verona ● Trieste ● Lake Bled ● Ljubljana ● Postojna ● Venice

7 Nights From UK £ 9,395 / US $ 11,795 / € 10,695

Budapest ● Keszthely ● Tapolca ● Sopron ● Eger ● Lillafured ● Aggtelek ● Hortobagy National Park ● Tokaj ● Opusztaszer ● Szeged ● Budapest

5 Nights from UK £ 6,210 / US$ 7,590 pp

Contact us for quotes in other currencies

Epernay ● Reims ● Beaune ● Annecy ● Avignon ● Les Alpilles ● Arcachon ● Saint-Emilion ● Chenonceau ● Puy Du Fou

7 Nights From UK £ 7,995 / US $ 9,995 / € 9,095

A festive journey westbound across Europe from Budapest to Munich via Vienna & Salzburg

A festive journey eastbound across Europe from Munich to Budapest via Salzburg & Vienna

11 Nights From UK £ 14,795 / US $ 18,495 / € 16,795

Budapest ● Krakow ● Warsaw ● Malbork ● Gdansk ● Berlin ● Dresden ● Prague ● Salzburg ● Vienna

8 Nights From UK £ 11,195 / US $ 13,995 / € 12,695

Budapest ● Keszthely ● Graz ● Vienna ● Cesky Krumlov ● Prague ● Kosice ● Budapest

2 Nights From UK £ 4,400 per person

Travel straight into the heart of the Scottish Highlands, visiting enchanting sites of natural beauty and making the most of the thrilling outdoor activities

3 Nights From UK £ 6,400 per person

Explore the rugged landscapes of the West coast of Scotland

Embark on a captivating journey through Scotland’s untamed beauty.

4 Nights From UK £ 8,300 per person

Discover the wild wonders and picturesque scenery that Scotland has to offer

4 Nights From UK £ 8,900 per person

Dive into Scotland’s finest estates with untold stories and guided tours

Embark on an adventure with the Scotch Malt Whisky Society, our partner for this unique journey through Scotland

5 Nights From UK £11,200 per person

Discover Scotland through the ages with unique sceneries and intriguing experiences

5 Nights From UK £ 10,400 per person

Be spirited away as you retrace part of the famed West Highland Line

A combination of the traditional Highland and scenic Western journeys

7 Nights From UK £ 14,700 per person

Explore the many wonders of the Scottish Highlands at a leisurely pace

Head West and explore the many wonders of the Scottish Highlands at a leisurely pace

9 Nights From UK £ 8,690 / US $ 11,830

Santiago De Compostela ● Ourense ● León ● Ávila ● Toledo ● Córdoba ● Seville

6 Nights From Euro 5,600 per person

Málaga ● Granada ● Úbeda ● Baeza ● Córdoba ● Ronda ● Jerez De La Frontera ● Cádiz ● Seville

Seville ● Cádiz ● Jerez De La Frontera ● Ronda ● Córdoba ● Baeza ● Úbeda ● Granada ● Málaga

6 Nights From Euro 6,000 per person

Granada ● Úbeda ● Baeza ● Córdoba ● Ronda ● Jerez De La Frontera ● Cádiz ● Seville

Seville ● Cádiz ● Jerez De La Frontera ● Ronda ● Córdoba ● Baeza ● Úbeda ● Granada ● Granada

7 Nights From Euro 8,900 Per Person

Santiago De Compostela ● Viveiro ● Ribadeo ● Luarca ● Gijon ● Oviedo ● Llanes ● Santillana Del Mar ● Cabezon De La Sal ● Potes ● Santander ● Carranza ● Bilbao ● San Sebastian

7 Nights From Euro 8,900 per person

San Sebastian ● Bilbao ● Carranza ● Santander ● Potes ● Cabezon De La Sal ● Santillana Del Mar ● Llanes ● Oviedo ● Gijon ● Luarca ● Ribadeo ● Viveiro ● Santiago De Compostela

5 Nights From Euro 4,500 per person

Santiago De Compostela ● Ferrol ● Viveiro ● Ribadeo ● Oviedo ● Gijón ● Llanes ● Picos De Europa ● Llanes ● Cabezón De La Sal ● Santillana Del Mar ● Santander ● Bilbao

Bilbao ● Santander ● Santillana Del Mar ● Cabezón De La Sal ● Llanes ● Picos De Europa ● Llanes ● Gijón ● Oviedo ● Ribadeo ● Viveiro ● Ferrol ● Santiago De Compostela

13 NIGHTS FROM £ 18,295 / US$ 24,695

BASEL ● ST MORITZ ● TIRANO (ITALY) ● ANDERMATT ● ZERMATT ● BERN ● INTERLAKEN (JUNGFRAU REGION) ● LAKE COMO (ITALY) ● PILATUS KULM ● ZURICH

Luxurious Train Rides Europe: Austria

Austria has some of the best mix of scenery and cities in Europe and is a popular destination for European luxury train travel. It has a well-developed and beautifully engineered rail network making luxury rail holidays in Europe reliable and exhilarating with routes through places like the Semmering pass. Vienna and Salzburg are the most popular cities visited in Austria visited on our luxury European train tours. Click on the European luxury train vacations below each Austrian destination for full details.

The Capital of Austria and the former Habsburg Empire is a city with a rich culture and some superb imperial architecture.

The birthplace of Mozart and, of course, setting for the Sound of Music, beautiful Salzburg is a centre of culture in Austria.

Semmering Pass

This rail pass connects Lower Austria and Styria. The Semmering Railway built from 1848–54 was the first mountain railway in the world.

Lake Achen is a beautiful alpine lake with stunning clear turquoise waters and a popular area for water sports and hiking.

Located close to both Germany and Italy Innsbruck is famed as a ski resort but also has many historical buildings in the centre of the city.

New Year in Vienna is a magical time of festivities and often snow. It is also famed for the classical Vienna New Year concert.

European Luxury Train Vacations: Bosnia Herzegovina

Bosnia Herzegovina is a relative newcomer on luxury train rides in Europe itineraries and is a country that would often be overlooked. The beauty of a luxury train across Europe is that it can pass through these less visited places and take in the better-known destinations. Sarajevo and Mostar are the most popular places visited on these luxury European train holidays, and both these destinations have recovered well from the war in the 1990s.

Sarajevo is the capital of Bosnia and known for its diversity of Christian Roman Catholic, Orthodox and the Muslim Ottoman.

Still shaking off its damage from the war in the 1990s the city is famous for its beautiful stone bridge which was rebuilt in 2004.

Luxury European Train Tours: Bulgaria

Bulgaria is located at a key point geographically between Europe and the near Orient and so features in quite a lot of luxury train vacations in Europe. The country has much to see and a good rail network for the European luxury train to use. Bulgaria has a long history and has been a pivotal country between Turkey and the rest of Europe. The main cities visited on luxury rail holidays in Europe are the coital of Sofia and the culturally rich cities of Veliko Tarnovo and Plovid.

Plovdiv is one of the oldest cities in Europe located on a large plain between the Rhodope Mountains and Balkan Range (Old Mountains).

Bulgaria’s capital is a dynamic place to visit with an architectural mix of Communist, Orthodox and European buildings.

Veliko Tarnovo

Veliko Turnovo was the capital of the Second Bulgarian Empire and is culturally rich in museums and historical sites.

Luxury Train Travel Europe: Croatia

Croatia is a Balkan country with a long and beautiful coastline. Its rail network is not as extensive as other Balkan countries. Still, it more than makes up for this with some outstanding destinations, not least Dubrovnik, making it a popular place to visit for luxury rail journeys in Europe. As well as Dubrovnik, other cities visited are Zagreb and Rijeka. Overall, Croatia is a welcome stop for luxury trains in Europe.

Zagreb’s chief attraction is the medieval ‘old city’ with architecture and cobbled streets reminiscent of Vienna, Budapest and Prague.

Rijeka is the main seaport of Croatia, located on Kvarner Bay, an inlet of the Adriatic Sea. It is compact and walkable city.

Once rivalling Venice, beautiful Dubrovnik is an UNESCO World Heritage city on the Adriatic Sea coast in the south of Croatia.

Luxury European Train Holidays: Czech Republic

The Czech Republic has one of Europe’s most famous cities, Prague, which is a must-see and featured on several luxury train journeys in Europe. The country has long been a stalwart for European tourism in the heart of Central and East Europe and has a well-developed train network. As well as the much-visited Prague, the luxury European train holiday also visits Cesky Krumlov, which has just as beautiful architecture as Prague but is far less well known.

CZECH REPUBLIC

Prague is one of the largest cities in Central Europe and has served as the capital of the historic region of Bohemia for centuries.

Cesky Krumlov

Český Krumlov is a beautiful town little changed over centuries full of Baroque buildings and with a castle and old-town square.

Experience Luxury Train Travel: France

Taking a luxury train in France offers an unparalleled travel experience, combining the romance of rail travel with opulent comfort. The journey itself becomes a highlight, not just a means to reach a destination. Luxury trains, like Le Grand Tour, provide sumptuous accommodations and fine dining, allowing travellers to relax in a refined ambiance reminiscent of a bygone era. The scenic routes traverse through France’s breathtaking landscapes, offering views of picturesque villages, vineyards, and historical sites, often inaccessible by other means of transport. It’s an immersive cultural experience, where travellers can enjoy French cuisine and wines while mingling with an international clientele. This mode of travel appeals to those seeking a leisurely pace, luxury, and a unique way to explore France’s rich heritage and stunning geography.

Enchanting lakeside gem with medieval charm, vibrant markets, and stunning Alpine vistas—a serene and picturesque fairy-tale escape.

A captivating seaside retreat boasting pristine beaches, renowned oyster farms, and the majestic Dune du Pilat.

Step into history with its majestic Papal Palace, vibrant cultural scene, and the iconic Pont Saint-Bénézet

Immerse in Burgundy’s heart, famed for world-class wines, historic Hospices de Beaune, and charming medieval architecture.

The Champagne capital, offering exquisite tastings, grand vineyards, and miles of underground cellars to explore.

A sensory delight with lavender fields, sun-drenched vineyards, ancient villages, and a deeply rich cultural heritage.

A historic city renowned for its magnificent cathedral, Champagne houses, and a rich tapestry of French heritage.

Luxury European Train Tour: Hungary

Hungary is a pivotal country in East Europe with an extensive and well-developed train network providing one of the best luxury train vacations Europe offers, fascinating cities and beautiful scenery. Some of the most luxurious train rides in Europe tour this country extensively to take advantage of this. The capital of Budapest is actually two cities Buda and Pest which are divided by the river. This city has some impressive architecture. The rest of the country has many towns and sights worth visiting on your luxury European train tour, and the nature of luxury train rides in Europe means that short stops can be made throughout your European luxury train trip.

Aggtelek is famous for its karst caves with the highlight being the Giants’ Hall 125 meters long, 55 meters wide and 30 meters high.

The capital of Hungary is a vibrant city noted for its classical music scene and nightlife as well as thermal baths and architecture.

Debrecen is the second largest city in Hungary and a centre for Hungarian Protestantism as well as a large science university.

Eger is known for its castle, thermal baths, baroque buildings, the northernmost Ottoman minaret, cuisine and red wines.

Hollókő is a preserved traditional settlement and a UNESCO World Heritage site and is a good way to understand local culture.

The Hortobagy National Park is in the Hungarian plain in the eastern part of the country known for it’s wildlife and traditional culture.

The city is well known for its secessionist architecture, museums, and for being the birthplace of composer Zoltan Kodály.

Located at the southern tip of lake Balaton the town is 750 years old. Gothic, baroque and Transylvanian architecture abounds.

Lajosmizse is a town in Bács-Kiskun county. It is located at the end of a railway line from Budapest and has a museum of folk culture.

Lillafüred close to Lake Hamori is a beautiful small town built as a holiday resort and centred around the Place Hotel and gardens.

Opusztaszer

The Ópusztaszer National Heritage Park is an open-air museum of Hungarian history most famous for the Feszty Panorama.

Sopron is a pleasant town very close to the border with Austria with winding streets and history dating back to medieval times.

Szeged is the third-largest city in Hungary known or the cathedral and a wealth of Art Nouveau buildings, and for the fish soup Halászlé.

Tapolca is known for its cave system as well as the beautiful Mill Pond. Due to the limestone karsts of this area the water is very pure.

Tokaj is a famous wine growing region dating back nearly 1,000 years and the main square of the town even has a the Bacchus fountain.

European Luxury Train Vacation: Italy

From a tourism perspective, Italy needs little introduction. The country has been seducing travellers for centuries. It is relatively less well known though, for its trains aside from being the endpoint of the Orient Express, the crème de la crème of luxury train travel in Europe. The rail network in Northern Italy is extensive; this is where the luxury train travel through Europe focuses on. Who wouldn’t want to take a European luxury train trip that visits such stunning places as Venice, Milan and Lake Como. Under each destination, you can explore the European luxury train vacation options for Italy below.

Beautiful lake in Lombardy surrounded by mountains. There are numerous pretty towns and villages around the shore.

Milan is famous for fashion and shopping and has some beautiful architecture as well as the famous La Scala opera house.

Once a very influential and powerful centre of politics, literature, music, art and culture under Austrian-Hungarian dominion.

Venice needs little introduction. Its sheer wealth of architecture and unique cancel system make it one of the world’s most visited cities.

Verona is rich in history with an abundance of Roman roots still evident today along with world class art and architecture – and gelato!

Luxury European Train Tour: Montenegro

Tiny Montenegro only takes a few hours to cross, but this is not a problem for luxury train trips in Europe which can fit this mountainous country in on their schedules before railing on to the following country. Luxury European train tours visit the dramatically located coastal town of Bar and the capital of Podgorica before continuing to explore the rest of the Balkans.

The capital of Montenegro is an interesting mix of old and new, Mediterranean and Balkan and is known for its cafe culture.

Bar has a wonderful setting on the coast backed by steep cliffs and mountains. Close by are the striking ruins of Stari Bar.

European Luxury Train Vacations: North Macedonia

Macedonia is another small Balkan country that most tourists would overlook. However, your “luxury interrailing Europe” trip can fit into their schedules as they do not need to overnight in hotels with the train acting as a hotel on wheels. This allows your European luxury train vacation to offer a short visit to fascinating Skopje, which features son several of Golden Eagle’s Danube Express train tours, including the very popular Venice to Istanbul route – one of the great luxury train rides in Europe.

NORTH MACEDONIA

Skopje is an old city with Ottoman and Byzantine era sights. The Tvrdina Kale Fortress has guarded the city since the 5th century.

Luxury Train Tours Europe: Poland

Most luxury sleeper trains in Europe focus on the southern part of East and Central Europe, but the southern Polish city of Krakow does make it into some of these itineraries, and rightly so. Krakow is one of Europe’s architectural masterpieces and is well worth a visit on any fancy train rides in Europe.

This former capital of Poland has plenty of medieval architecture which combines with a more youthful student population and culture.

Luxury Rail Tours in Southern Europe: Portugal

Opting for a luxury train journey in Portugal offers an unforgettable experience that blends the charm of vintage travel with modern indulgence. As you traverse through Portugal’s stunning landscapes, you’re treated to a visual feast of rolling vineyards, historic towns, and dramatic coastlines. Onboard, experience unparalleled comfort, exquisite dining featuring Portuguese cuisine, and impeccable service. It’s more than just travel; it’s about embracing the slower pace and elegance of a bygone era, while exploring Portugal’s rich cultural tapestry and scenic beauty in a uniquely luxurious setting.

Luxury European Train Holidays: Romania

Like neighbouring Bulgaria and Hungary, Romania is a popular destination for the most luxurious trains in Europe. This enigmatic country has a long history and spectacular scenery to enjoy on your luxury European train holiday. The fantastically named Danube Express train tour “Castles of Transylvania” encompasses a range of places, including Sighişoara and Bran and Râșnov, which are all tied up with the legend of Vlad the Impaler, whose bloodthirsty history inspired Bran Stoker’s Dracula!

A city of gothic spires, Brasov is the base to visit the castles in Bran and Râșnov and listen to stories about Vlad to Impaler!

Cluj Napoca

Recently ‘discovered’ by tourists Cluj has a vigorous mix of galleries, gardens, cafes, Gothic Churches and medieval towers.

Sibiu has a mix of big architecture and bohemian flair and this city has long been a cultural destination in Romania.

The alleged birth place of Vlad Ţepeş (the Impaler), Sighişoara is a beautiful town full of narrow lanes and medieval architecture.

Located in a dramatic valley the town is visited by hikers in summer and skiers in winter and also for the chief attraction of Peleş Castle.

This large city has an attractive layout of squares and gardens as well as a good range of restaurants and museums.

European Luxury Train Travel: Serbia

Offering some of the best luxury train tours Europe offers, Serbia is a pivotal rail junction in the Balkans and a stop for many of the most luxurious trains in Europe. A landlocked country in the Balkans, Serbia came into being out of the former Yugoslavia in the early 1990s.

Located where the Sava and Danube Rivers meet Belgrade is where the old world meets the new in this forward looking city.

Sargan Vitasi

This place is all about trains and the unusual narrow gauge railway that ran from Sarajevo to Belgrade with the section here restored.

Luxury Rail Holidays In Europe: Slovakia

Slovakia is a landlocked and mountainous country in Central Europe with beautiful cities and incredible natural sights. Slovakia can be visited on the Central European Classics and New Year In Vienna luxury train rides in Europe. The old town of Kosicce is a highlight, as well as Poprad, known as the gateway to the High Tatra mountains.

The old town is the attraction of this city with the greatest collection of Gothic towers, medieval bastions and baroque sculpture in Slovakia.

Poprad is a known as the Gateway to the stunning scenery of the High Tatras and this town makes for a good place to base and explore.

Luxury Train Travel Europe: Slovenia

Slovenia lies in South-Central Europe in the Julian Alps at the northern end of the Adriatic Sea, bordered by Austria to the north and Italy to the west. The country is a stalwart of the best luxury rail travel Europe offers. Slovenia can be visited on the Grand Alpine Express, Venice to Istanbul luxury European train holidays.

Picture perfect and very popular Lake Bled is surrounded by the highest peaks of the Julian Alps and attractive churches and castles.

Slovenia’s capital green and liveable with a pedestrianised centre and fine architecture and bridges crossing the Ljubljanica River.

The Postojna Cave system is the thing to see here. Visitors can walk along 5km of the total 24 km of tunnels full of formations.

Luxury Train Holidays Europe: Spain

The Mediterranean country of Spain needs little introduction and is one of the world’s most popular tourist destinations for its stunning history, cities and culture. Lesser known is its extensive rail network used by luxury overnight trains in Europe. Spain can be visited on the Al Andalus luxury train tours of Europe, visiting Santiago to Seville and the Portuguese capital of Lisbon to Barcelona. More details can be found below.

The old city walls consist of 8 huge gates, 88 watchtowers and 2500 turrets, is one of the best-preserved medieval in Spain.

Discover timeless beauty in its well-preserved medieval quarter, historic monuments, and a rich blend of cultural influences.

Home to some extraordinary islamic architecture, not least the Mezquita, this city also is quintessential Spain and not to be missed.

Leon’s cathedral is one of Spain’s most impressive and largest and at night this city comes alive with bars and restaurants.

Experience the pulsating heart of Spain with world-renowned museums, lively plazas, and an unrivalled culinary scene.

Ourense is known for its hot springs and thermal waters as well as its 12th-century Cathedral and Roman era bridge, the Ponte Romana.

Santiago de Compostela

The final stop on the famed pilgrimage trail of the same name 300,000 pilgrims still walk here to visit the cathedral each year.

Seville is one of Spains most impressive and pleasant cities with grand architecture and an Andalusian culture of food and drink.

Toledo is dramatically sited atop a gorge overlooking the Río Tajo, it was known as the ‘city of three cultures’ in the Middle Ages.

A harmonious blend of futuristic architecture, lush gardens, vibrant festivals, and a rich, historic Old Town.

Luxury Rail Journeys Europe: Switzerland

Landlocked Switzerland offers unique luxury rail journeys in Europe with stunning mountainous scenery and cities and towns rich in a culture influenced by the surrounding countries, including Italy, France, Germany and Austria. Swiss rail is famous for its punctuality and breathtaking engineering feats over mountain passes. Although there are few luxury night train Europe rail tours, the trip does use luxury rolling stock for day trips with nights spent in hotels. Switzerland can be visited on the Grand Alpine Express and Swiss Rail Spectacular tours, making them great luxury European train holidays to be remembered.

SWITZERLAND

Andermatt is a village in the Ursern Valley in the Swiss Alps. The train station is on the route network of the Matterhorn Gotthard Bahn.

Located astride the mighty Rhine river the city is popular for it’s wealth of galleries, museums and iconic buildings.

Switzerland’s capital has a beautiful listed old town of cobbled streets with 6km of covered arcades, cellar shops and bars.

A traditional village overlooking the lake of the same name, this is the quintessential Alpine setting among forests and mountains.

The steep Furka Pass at 2,431m) offers superb views and a memorable train ride during the summer months when the pass is snow free.

The Jungfrau, at 4,158 meters is one of the main summits of the Bernese Alps. From here the views across the Alps are stunning.

Popular with the likes of Goethe, Queen Victoria and Wagner Lucerne is as charming today as in the 19th Century and not to be missed.

Reichenbach Falls

The Reichenbach Falls (of Sherlock Holmes fame) drop over a total height of about 250 metres and are reached by a funicular train.

St Gotthard Pass

The St Gotthard Pass at 2,106 m (6,909 ft) is a mountain pass for road and rail connecting northern with southern Switzerland.

The ultimate Swiss winter resort loved by celebrities and the well-heeled alike. Year round the beautiful lake and scenery can be enjoyed.

Vitznau lies in an idyllic bay of Lake Lucerne at the foot of the Rigi making time well spent to explore the lake and the mountain area.

Zermatt lies at the foot of the famous Matterhorn. The town has preserved its original character and is a car free zone.

The lakeside city of Zürich has the classic Swiss old town (Altstadt) and plenty of bars, art galleries and shopping opportunities.

Luxury Train Journeys Europe: Turkey

Turkey is a country full of wonder and history that straddles Europe and the near Orient and has long been a place of fascination for tourists. Some of the best luxury trains in Europe start of finish in Istanbul, and Turkey can be visited on the Balkan Explorer, Castles of Transylvania, Venice to Istanbul tours.

Istanbul is one of the world’s great cities sitting on the strategic Bosphorus with a skyline that speaks of its long history.

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Our luxury train rides in Europe cover a wide range of destinations from the Iberian Peninsular to the East, Central Europe and the Balkans. Above you will see all the luxury European train holiday destinations covered by our luxury European train tours, and each destination has the tours that visit it below.

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What Is The Most Luxurious Train In Europe?

It is often said that the most luxurious train in Europe must be the Orient Express which travels from London to Venice. However, this is a short train trip, and we recommend booking that as a means to get to Venice and start another European luxury train tour on a train like the Danube Express operated by Golden Eagle. These luxury train trips in Europe are much more extensive and complement the Orient Express. We mustn’t forget the luxury trains in Portugal and Spain known as the Al Andalus which we like for its old work decor – to some these could be the most luxurious trains in Europe.

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7 of the best Interrail routes for an unforgettable European train holiday

Enchanting cities, captivating coastline and beautiful countryside – see it all on one trip with europe’s most convenient travel ticket, article bookmarked.

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In an age where travel has become more accessible but often more expensive, would-be tourists are always hunting for ways to maximise their travelling experience.

And one option comes to the fore for giving tourists the opportunity to see a large portion of Europe with greater freedom and without the environmental impact or monetary cost of dozens of flights.

Interrailing lets you hop on a train at St Pancras on the Monday and be in Budapest within a week, taking in the continent’s great capitals – from Amsterdam to Prague – or the pearls of the Mediterranean in the form of northern Croatia and Italy .

Journey as far away as the Bulgarian capital if it takes your fancy, or take a deep dive into a single nation with a One Country Pass.

Read on for more information and some once-in-a-lifetime trip ideas.

What is an Interrail pass, and how do they work?

An Interrail pass is an ‘all-in-one’ ticket that allows you to travel on trains around Europe without having to buy separate tickets for each journey.

Global Passes  offer access to several countries from €194 (£168).  One Country Passes  give you the opportunity to explore a single country in depth, with prices starting at €51 (£44).

Read more on travel inspiration :

• Interrailing explained: What it is, how to do it and how much it costs
• The best river cruises around the world
• 7 of the coolest cultural festivals in Europe

Passes allow travel either on every day within a given timeframe or on a flexible basis, for example on any 10 days within a given two-month period. Passes can be used by anyone who lives in Europe, with UK residents included.

Find out more about prices by reading our Interrailing explainer .

Which countries are included in the passes?

According to the interrail website, passes are valid in the following countries:

Austria, Belgium, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Great Britain, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Montenegro, Netherlands, North Macedonia, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey.

Are all trains included with my pass?

Passes are valid on all national railways, and some private railways, in participating countries.

Seat reservations  are an important aspect of the pass, as your pass alone is not valid for travel on some trains – you must also have a seat reservation.

Reservations are often required in France, Spain and Germany, and are necessary on all night trains and most high-speed trains. Seat reservations come with an additional cost on top of your rail card, with prices ranging from €2 (£1.74) to €20 (£17.40).

If travelling from the UK, though you can board Eurostar trains to Paris, Amsterdam and Lille, but each journey carries a reservation fee of €30 (£26).

Interrail Routes

European capitals odyssey.

London – Paris – Brussels – Amsterdam – Berlin – Prague – Vienna – Budapest – Belgrade – Sofia

Take in everything from French cafe culture to centuries-old Bulgarian folk traditions on the ultimate Interrail journey. You’ll travel the length of Europe from London to Sofia, the Bulgarian capital. The route covers many of Europe’s foremost cities, taking in the famous architecture of Paris , the canals of Amsterdam , Berlin’s so-cool-it-hurts party scene and Budapest’s picturesque Danube setting.

Starting in London, you’ll board a Eurostar train to the City of Light . Move on first to Brussels and then Amsterdam, the charming Dutch capital. Berlin awaits you after a six-hour journey, before a series of shorter hops between Prague , Vienna and Budapest . The last two legs are the longest of the trip, with just over seven hours separating Budapest and Belgrade and eight between Sofia and the Serbian capital.

How to do it

Purchase the 10-day Global Flexi Pass for around £206. Extra reservations are needed on the London-Paris leg and the Paris-Brussels journey, costing around £26 each.

Mediterranean mini-break

Naples – Rome – Florence – Milan – Nice – Barcelona – Valencia – Madrid

Fly to Naples for the beginning of this journey, stopping to enjoy a proper pizza before making your way to Rome . You’ll need at least a couple of days to cover the sights in the Italian capital, so book your journey to Florence for at least two days later.

Florence’s Renaissance past also demands more than a day to explore. The fashionable cities of Milan and Nice are next on your list, and from the French Riviera you’ll come to Barcelona , Spain’s capital of cool. Head further down the eastern coast to Valencia after you’ve discovered the Catalan capital, and end your stay in Madrid , soaking up as much Spanish culture as possible before heading home.

This journey requires a seven-day Global Pass, priced at £230. The pass is not valid between Nice and Montpellier – trains between these two are priced from £26 – but is valid from Montpellier (where you change trains) to Barcelona. Seat reservations are required between Barcelona and Valencia (from £6.90) and Valencia to Madrid (from £10).

Scandinavian sojourn

Copenhagen – Stockholm – Oslo

A Scandinavian interrail trip is a drawn out one, with larger distances between the cities but more time to pack in everything you want to see. You’ll start in Copenhagen , the home of hygge : a “cosy, contented mood” evoked by the comfort of its candlelit restaurants and independent cafes. Explore the Tivoli Gardens for a theme park-esque enchanting green area, or head to Nyhavn in between a stroll of the canal and its colourful houses.

A five-hour train awaits to Stockholm , the Swedish capital and home of logam , another Scandinavian concept inadvertently adopted by Western Europe, which means “just the right amount”. Perhaps you’ll find the exact right amount of things to do, from the ABBA Museum to the country’s history museum or a stroll across its Old Town. Moving onto Oslo , you can discover a range of Viking and Norwegian history, whether through the capital’s museums or the imposing medieval Akershus Fortress.

Buy a four-day pass for this trip – priced at £169 – to give you an extra day if you’d like to circle back to Copenhagen or add a visit to Gothenburg. Reservations are needed on both trains, starting at £7.85 and £4.30 respectively.

Eastern European excursion

Helsinki – Tallinn – Riga – Vilnius – Warsaw – Krakow – Budapest

Explore this section of Eastern Europe if you’re after an off-the-beaten-track trip. To begin with, it brings you to the Finnish capital, a city of trendy neighbourhoods and offbeat museums and cafes, before a two-hour ferry to Tallinn, the up-and-coming Estonian capital that is a haven of classical architecture. The respective capitals of Latvia and Lithuania, Riga and Vilnius, are up next, both providing a surprisingly vibrant nightlife scene alongside their charming Old Towns.

The impressive Polish cities of Warsaw and Krakow lie towards the end of your trip, offering an enjoyable fusion of medieval architecture, historic sites, and quaint-but-lively bars and pubs, before you finishing up in the busiest, most activity-filled city on the itinerary, Budapest. If you can muster the energy, take a river cruise in the evening to see the sights illuminated, and try to fit in a visit to the castle and Szechenyi baths.

The seven-day pass, priced at £230, gives you a spare travel day if you need it. The ferry route from Helsinki to Tallinn needs to be booked separately, though pass holders receive a discount of between 20 and 50 per cent. Reservations are needed on some trains between Bialystok, Warsaw and Krakow (from £5).

The ‘classic’ route

Amsterdam – Berlin – Prague – Vienna - Budapest

Though it’s certainly a typical route for students and young travellers, it is well-trodden for good reason. Journeying between Amsterdam and Budapest lets you take in an eclectic selection of cities, from the classical grandeur of Vienna to the modernity of Berlin.

The Dutch capital is a relaxed place to start a trip due to its large parks and range of museums. The party really starts (if you want it to) with the famed nightlife of the German capital, though its plethora of landmarks and museums means it caters to all types of tourist. Prague blends medieval charm, historic landmarks and entertaining evenings, while Vienna is more on the relaxed side – think opera over jaegerbombs. Budapest can be whatever you make it, whether you prefer strolling the castle grounds or diving in and out of each ruin bar and party hostel.

The four-day pass is best suited to this trip, and is great value at £169. None of the trains require reservations, giving you the ultimate freedom to either plan ahead or take each day as it comes.

Germany and the Benelux

Brussels – Amsterdam – Berlin – Munich – Frankfurt – Luxembourg

Cover a good portion of northern Europe and some much-loved cities. Your first stop will be Brussels , Belgium’s beer- and food-filled capital, centred around the elegant baroque buildings of Grand Place square. The well-documented wonders of Amsterdam and Berlin follow, before a longer trip down to Munich.

This southern German city is awash with Bavarian tradition, from the heartiness of its cuisine to the ever-full, sun-drenched beer gardens and the magnificent Marienplatz, featuring the delightful Glockenspiel clock tower. Frankfurt, most well-known for its Old Town and extensive Christmas market, is the penultimate stop, before a quick break in Luxembourg, a small but attractive country built within the gorge of the Alzette river and featuring plenty of medieval buildings and ruins.

A five-day pass, priced at £194, is the best option here. Reservations are occasionally required on trains between Brussels and Amsterdam.

Split to Switzerland

Split – Zagreb – Ljubljana – Venice – Milan – Bern

Combine four of Europe’s most beautiful countries with a trip between Croatia and Switzerland . Take in scenic coast, riverside cities and three capitals as you journey the 1,300km from Split, in northern Croatia, to the Swiss capital of Bern.

Go island-hopping around Croatia – to Hvar, Brac and Korcula if you have the time – before taking a train up to Zagreb . Next up is Ljubljana, the increasingly popular Slovenian capital, with a fantastic Old Town and plenty of opportunities for drinks by the river. Then follows perhaps the highlight of the trip: Venice , and its enchanting atmosphere created by the vast lagoon, mazy streets and canals.

The last two legs of the trip offer something different, with the glitzy fashion capital of Milan juxtaposed with Bern’s peaceful air and manageable size. While wonderful medieval architecture is present in both, Bern’s setting around the arch of the Aare River makes it one of Europe’s most striking cities.

A five-day pass (£194) will cover you for this itinerary, but you may want to consider the seven-day option (£230) so that you can add on trips to Bled or Trieste. Reservations are occasionally required on every leg of this route.

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The most spectacular European train routes to take in 2024

By Emilee Tombs

“Anything is possible on a train…” wrote Paul Theroux in The Great Railway Bazaar: By Train Through Asia … “a great meal, a binge, a visit from card players, an intrigue, a good night's sleep, and strangers' monologues framed like Russian short stories.” In other words, on a train the journey can be just as good as the destination, when done right. This is certainly true of Europe ’s rail network, which has been busily expanding over the last few years, offering discerning and increasingly sustainability-conscious travellers the opportunity to travel on sleeper trains to and from iconic European cities.

Here, we list some of the best new sleeper trains to take in 2024 and beyond, from the super luxe to more affordable, and the ones with the best views.

St. George's Basilica in Prague

Brussels to Prague on the European Sleeper

The Belgian-Dutch company, European Sleeper, launched in 2021 to ‘connect Europe by night’. With three tiers of cabin (seats, couchettes and sleepers) offering basic but comfortable snoozing options, they certainly make the idea of an overnight journey by train more appealing. The inaugural route from Brussels to Berlin stops in Amsterdam, so you can hop from bar to carriage, bed down for the night and wake up the next day with a pastry and a coffee in hand, while gazing out at the beautiful Elbe Valley in Switzerland. In March 2024, the line was extended to Prague, and European Sleeper plans to roll out a new route each year with connections to Scandinavia in the works.

From €39 (£34) round trip, www.europeansleeper.eu

Iconic Italy on La Dolce Vita Orient Express

The Orient Express needs no introduction, so it’s with great excitement that La Dolce Vita Orient Express will launch eight routes across Italy in 2025. Totalling over 16,000km of track, these routes weave slowly along iconic Italian routes, such as Venezia to Portofino, Sicily and the Italian Riviera. Suite cabins are like hotel rooms, with proper double beds, a sofa, table and two armchairs from which to enjoy the incredible views. There’s also a formal restaurant and a stylish bar, all designed by Dimorestudio as a resplendent ode to the golden age of Hollywood and rail travel. Food is also a key part of the offering, with menus curated by three-Michelin-starred Chef Heinz Beck that reflect the cuisine of the regions the train travels to. Obviously this isn’t a wallet-friendly experience, and given that pre-reservation opened in 2023, a golden ticket might be out of reach for most.

Prices from €2,500 (£2,140) per person per night in a deluxe cabin, and €3,700 (£3,170 per person per night in a suite, www.orient-express.com

Paris to Berlin with ÖBB Nightjet

Working with Swiss Federal Railways and Germany’s Deutsche Bahn, ÖBB has reinvigorated overnight routes linking cities in Vienna, Zürich, Germany, Austria, Italy, Hungary, Poland, the Czech Republic and, more recently, Paris , Brussels and Amsterdam. Since December 2024, Paris to Berlin trains run three times a week on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays from Paris, and Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from Berlin, taking between 13 and 15 hours. While these sleeper trains aren’t winning awards for style or luxe factor, they are comfortable and affordable, with showers and toilets in single and double cabins and a mini cabin option for those looking for the most affordable way to travel.

By Virginia Clark

By Eleanor Cording-Booth

By Fiona McKenzie Johnston

From €29 (£25) for a single journey, www.nightjet.com

Cortina in the Dolomites

Rome to the Dolomites by Espresso Cadore

Before December 2023, the usual way for Italians living in the capital to get to the slopes was to take on an arduous eight-hour drive. But since the state-owned railway network FS Treni Turistici Italiani (TTI) launched the Espresso Cadore, it’s possible to leave Rome on a Friday evening at 9:40 p.m., and arrive at the resort of Calalzo di Cadore near Cortina, just in time for breakfast on Saturday morning. The views as you slide into the Alpine countryside are nothing short of mesmerising and the carriages themselves aren’t too shabby. The Espresso Cadore trains are recommissioned trains from the 1980s and 90s and have a delightfully retro feel as well as hotel-like services such as an all-night bar, in-room dining and a dedicated member of staff. TTI has plans for a Rome to Marseille route to come and Rome to Puglia in time for summer beach sojourns.

Expect to pay somewhere in the region of €160 (£134) for a bunk bed and €385 (£330) for a single cabin, which includes dinner and breakfast, www.trenitalia.com

Paris to Nice by Intercités

In 2023, France introduced new restrictions on air travel; namely, if the journey takes less than two-and-a-half hours by train, then it cannot be taken as a domestic flight. Lucky, then, that the country ’s rail network is a good one. The Paris to Nice sleeper route recently relaunched and makes a weekend minibreak par la mer post-Olympics a perfectly reasonable expectation. Trains depart from Paris Austerlitz at 8.51pm and arrive in Marseille at 6.55am. From there, the train weaves its way along the French Riviera, with the most picturesque parts of the journey viewed from carriages on the right-hand side, with fantastic sea views from Les Arcs all the way to Nice.

From €19 (£16) one way, www.sncf-connect.com

Warsaw to Munich with EuroNight

This is ÖBB again, run in collaboration with other countries’ national railways. EuroNight trains connect Warsaw to Munich via stops in Hungary, Croatia, Poland, Slovakia, the Czech Republic and Germany. The ‘Comfort’ sleeper carriages sleep two in single beds and are basic but have small bathrooms with a shower and a toilet. The approach to Munich as the train coasts through the lush, mountainous Bavarian countryside is the most spectacular part of the journey, and as you arrive in Munich at 10am you’ve the morning to really take it all in.

Expect to pay around €35 (£30) for a one way ticket, www.nightjet.com

By Lise Funderburg , Allix Cott and Jessica Cherner

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13 Best Train Holidays in Europe (2024)

Last Updated on March 11, 2024 by Nicole

Are you looking for the best train holidays in Europe? Then you’re in the right place. Traveling by train across Europe offers a captivating fusion of history, beauty, and cultural immersion. Navigating the intricate railway systems, finding the best routes, and ensuring comfort might feel daunting, but it doesn’t have to be. I spent four months journeying across 26 European countries solely by train. In the process, I found some of the most scenic train journeys in Europe and gathered some of the best tips and tricks to help make your European train vacation a wonderful experience. 

Ready? All aboard for an unforgettable adventure!

This post may contain affiliate links. That means that I may earn a small commission, at no extra cost to you, if you buy something through my site. This helps me run my website and produce the articles that I hope you find helpful.

Other European Destinations

There are many wonderful destinations in Europe. Almost all of them offer rail connections to many other amazing places in Europe. Sometimes, these destinations are best explored during certain seasons, or a great holiday spot if you are looking for an inexpensive vacation. If interested in learning more about these getaways, please see the following:

• 28 Cheap Places In Europe For Best Summer Vacations ;
• 26 Amazing Summer Weekend Getaways In Europe ;
• 24 Best Places To Visit In Europe For Mild Summer Weather ;
• 24 Fabulous Fall Destinations In Europe ;
• 20 Best Snowy Winter Wonderlands To Visit In Europe ;
• 29 Best Cheap Spring Destinations In Europe ;
• 27 Best Cheap Cities In Europe For A Fantastic Vacation ; and
• 22 Best Cheap Countries To Visit In Europe .

Best Train Holidays in Europe

In the following article, I highlight some of the most beautiful train trips in Europe. They include destinations that offer quick routes that would work for a weekend getaway to multi-stop train vacations that would be best to enjoy over a week or longer.

In addition, I include maps highlighting the train journey. Some of the maps show the actual rail routes while others only show the route by car, supplying a general idea of the geography of the area. If the train route is supplied, make sure you click on all the marked paths. Often times, there is more than one rail route from which you can choose.

Regardless of whether you only have a few days to spare or are planning an epic train adventure, you will discover some of the most scenic rail vacations in Europe.

London to the Highlands of Scotland

This beautiful rail holiday commences in the vibrant metropolis of London , where the hustle of modern life plays out against a backdrop of iconic landmarks. 

As your train pulls out of the station, the urban landscape gives way to the picturesque English countryside, setting the scene for a remarkable journey.

Enter the Caledonian Sleeper, your overnight passage to the Highlands. As darkness falls, the train transforms into a moving hotel, providing a unique and comfortable journey through Britain’s heartland. 

Awaken to the sight of the dramatic Scottish landscape unfurling before you, a panorama of untamed wilderness, shimmering lochs, and misty mountains.

Arriving in the Scottish Highlands, you’re welcomed by the breathtaking vistas that have inspired poets and artists for centuries. 

The wild beauty of Glencoe, the mythical aura of Loch Ness, and the majesty of Ben Nevis are a world apart from London’s bustling streets.

London to Paris

Begin in the bustling heart of London, a city where centuries-old history seamlessly blends with modern dynamism. From Buckingham Palace’s regal splendor to the London Eye’s iconic silhouette, the British capital leaves a vivid impression as you embark on your European scenic rail getaway.

As your train sweeps into the Channel Tunnel, a marvel of modern engineering, it marks the transition from the rolling green landscapes of Kent to the idyllic French countryside.

The seamless transformation of the view outside your window underscores the incredible diversity of European landscapes.

On arrival in Paris, the City of Light welcomes you with its unmistakable allure.

From the imposing grandeur of the Eiffel Tower to the artistic treasures nestled within the Louvre, Paris offers an array of experiences that have captivated travelers for centuries.

The train journey from London to Paris is more than a transition between two cities.

It’s a captivating experience that unites the distinct cultures of Britain and France, offering travelers the opportunity to immerse themselves in the historical and scenic richness that each city and the journey in-between holds.

Paris to Zurich

Your beautiful rail trip in Europe begins in Paris, a city with charm, romance, and culture from every corner. 

From the architectural splendor of the Eiffel Tower to the artistic riches of the Louvre, the French capital’s allure leaves a lasting impression as you settle into your train seat, bound for Switzerland.

The voyage to Zurich presents a unique spectacle of Europe’s diverse landscapes. As Paris’ cityscape recedes, the rolling French countryside morphs into dense forests and picturesque towns. Beyond lies the awe-inspiring beauty of the Swiss Alps, where snow-capped peaks rise majestically against cobalt-blue skies.

On arrival in Zurich, the city greets you with its fusion of modern sophistication and rich history. The old town’s narrow lanes, brimming with medieval houses and towering church steeples, contrast with the contemporary buzz of the Bahnhofstrasse, one of the world’s most exclusive shopping streets.

The train journey from Paris to Zurich is more than a voyage between two cities. It’s a delightful exploration of contrasting landscapes and cultures, providing a unique vantage point to witness Europe’s captivating beauty and diversity.

Venice to Rome

Begin in Venice, a city where time seems to stand still amid winding canals and romantic gondolas.

The charm of St. Mark’s Square, the iconic Rialto Bridge, and the mesmerizing Grand Canal create a fairy-tale atmosphere that lingers as you step onto your train, ready to traverse Italy’s heartland.

The beautiful train journey to Rome unfolds like a scenic movie reel, showcasing Italy’s captivating landscapes.

Witness vine-clad countryside, rolling hills, and picturesque towns flash by your window, each a snapshot of Italy’s bucolic charm and a testament to its diverse geography.

As your train glides into Rome, the grandeur of the ancient city unfolds. The Eternal City, a living testament to history and culture, welcomes you with iconic landmarks from the majestic Colosseum to the awe-inspiring Vatican City.

Walking along ancient Roman streets, tasting traditional cuisine, and basking in Rome’s energetic atmosphere provide a memorable finale to your journey.

Almafi to Palermo

Embark on an unforgettable and beautiful vacation by train from the stunning Amalfi Coast to the historic heart of Palermo in Sicily, all from the comfort of your train seat. 

Start in Amalfi, a gem of Italy’s southern coastline where pastel-colored houses cascade down to a sparkling azure sea. 

After soaking in the sun-drenched beauty, step aboard your train, ready to witness a parade of coastal splendors unfold.

The train ride down the ‘boot’ of Italy is a visual feast. Panoramic views of picturesque seaside towns, rugged cliffs, and turquoise waters offer an endless carousel of photo-worthy moments. 

As you traverse the regions, you’ll appreciate the ever-changing landscape, oscillating between tranquil coastal vistas and the rustic charm of the Italian countryside.

Upon arrival in Palermo, Sicily’s buzzing capital, the city’s pulsating energy greets you. Its diverse history, manifested in Arab-Norman palaces, bustling markets, and Byzantine mosaics, is a vivid testament to its multicultural past. 

Exploring the city’s historic quarters and savoring the famous Sicilian cuisine form a fitting conclusion to your rail journey.

Balkan Rail Adventure

Embark on an exhilarating Balkan rail adventure in Europe and unlock a treasure trove of cultural richness and breathtaking landscapes. 

From the cobbled lanes of old-world Sarajevo to the sun-soaked beaches of Croatia’s Dalmatian Coast, train travel in the Balkans is an experience like no other. 

Traverse Serbia’s rugged wilderness, punctuated by monasteries steeped in history. Take a moment to admire Macedonia’s Lake Ohrid, a sparkling jewel amidst the mountains. 

Onward to Bulgaria, where ancient Sofia awaits with its awe-inspiring blend of Roman, Ottoman, and Soviet influences. 

Meandering across these regions by rail immerses you in the authentic Balkan experience and provides ample opportunities for impromptu encounters and personal connections with the warm, hospitable locals. 

Each rattling carriage and echoing tunnel marks an exciting chapter of your journey, underscoring the essence of a true Balkan rail adventure – a journey that’s as much about the ride as it is about the destination.

Alpine Lakes and Scenic Trains

Immerse yourself in the tranquil serenity of alpine lakes and scenic trains, a sublime journey through Europe’s heart that perfectly blends the grandeur of nature with the allure of European travel by train. 

Picture yourself aboard the panoramic carriages of the iconic Glacier Express or Bernina Express, as each bend reveals a mesmerizing vista of snow-capped peaks reflecting onto mirror-like lakes. 

In Switzerland, Lake Lucerne and Lake Geneva offer an enchanting spectacle of shimmering waters set against the backdrop of towering Alps, a sight made even more breathtaking through the train’s expansive, gleaming windows. 

On the Italian side, Lake Como’s dramatic scenery unfolds as you meander through tunnels and over viaducts, with glimpses of villas and terraced vineyards dotting the hillsides. 

The rhythmic rumble of the train on the tracks, the cool Alpine air, and the gentle lapping of the lakes against their shores create a symphony of sensory delights, encapsulating the magic of an alpine lakes and scenic trains adventure.

Amsterdam to Budapest by Train

Embarking on a picturesque holiday in Europe by rail from the vibrant city of Amsterdam to the historic charm of Budapest is like opening a living storybook of European culture, history, and landscapes.

Begin in Amsterdam, a city alive with a rich tapestry of art, history, and a unique canal-strewn cityscape. Aboard the train, the Dutch countryside unfolds beyond your window, your first taste of the breathtaking scenery to follow.

The journey offers more than just a ride; it’s a portal into the soul of Europe.

You’ll traverse vibrant cities, like Berlin’s dynamic heartbeat and Vienna’s imperial elegance, each stopping a unique narrative in your continental odyssey.

Upon arrival in Budapest, you are greeted by the city’s historic charm. Budapest is a stunning finale to this epic rail journey from the striking Parliament building to the therapeutic thermal baths. A trip from Amsterdam to Budapest provides a means of travel and an immersive cultural experience, making it much more than a train ride. 

Barcelona to Rome

Imagine stepping aboard a train in Barcelona, a city pulsating with rich Catalonian culture and Gaudí’s unmistakable architectural masterpieces. 

As the train pulls away, you bid adios to the shimmering Mediterranean Sea, setting off on an unforgettable journey across the diverse tapestry of Southern Europe, destined for the historic splendor of Rome.

Your scenic getaway in Europe by rail presents a unique opportunity to savor the changing landscapes, from the rugged Spanish countryside and the sun-kissed Provençal vistas of southern France to the azure coastlines of Italy’s Cinque Terre. 

The scenery unfurls like a moving painting in every direction, a beautiful blend of the region’s natural and cultural delights.

As your train glides into Rome, the ‘Eternal City’ welcomes you with an intoxicating mix of history and urban vitality. From the ancient Colosseum, steeped in millennia of history, to the awe-inspiring Vatican City, Rome is a grand finale to your voyage. 

This rail journey from Barcelona to Rome isn’t merely about reaching a destination but embracing the scenic odyssey, where every moment adds to an unforgettable European narrative. 

London to Bordeaux, Basque Country, and Costa Brava

Begin your adventure in London, where centuries-old traditions meet cosmopolitan vitality. 

Stepping aboard the Eurostar , you’re whisked away from the heart of the British capital, bound for a stunning rail journey across landscapes that epitomize the beauty of Western Europe.

Your first stop is Bordeaux, a city synonymous with vineyard-clad hills and a rich wine-making heritage. 

Breathe in the distinct aroma of ripe grapes as your train winds through the picturesque French countryside, then explore the city’s charming old town, before embarking on your next leg of the journey.

Next, discover Spain’s hidden gem – the Basque Country. Between the mountains and the sea, its unique culture, language, and gastronomy create an experience that’s a world away from the familiar Spain. 

Bilbao’s Guggenheim Museum and San Sebastián’s golden beaches are just a taste of the region’s allure.

Finally, let the train guide you to the edge of the Iberian Peninsula, where golden beaches await. 

From the Costa Brava’s rugged beauty to the Atlantic Coast’s surf hotspots, the sound of crashing waves marks a perfect end to your journey. 

A trip from London to the beach via Bordeaux and Basque Country is more than a train journey – an unforgettable European adventure.

A Grand Rail Adventure: Milan, The Alps, and Vienna

Set off on a grand European rail adventure from Milan, where Italian style and sophistication reign supreme. 

As you leave behind the city’s impressive Duomo and high-end fashion streets, the train carves a path northward, inviting you on an enthralling journey across the heart of Europe.

Soon, you find yourself immersed in the awe-inspiring landscapes of the Alps. Snow-capped peaks tower above the train, while the valleys below present a patchwork of pristine lakes and charming alpine villages. 

The scenic journey through these mountain ranges is a testament to the magic of train travel, offering unrivaled vistas and a connection to nature’s majestic grandeur.

The grand finale of your beautiful European trip by rail arrives as you reach Vienna. A city steeped in imperial history and world-class music, Vienna greets you with open arms. 

From the stunning Schönbrunn Palace to the melodious strains of Mozart at the State Opera House, the Austrian capital presents a glorious end to your journey. 

Embarking on this scenic escape by train from Milan through the Alps to Vienna is not just about the destinations; it’s a tribute to the timeless charm of European train travel.

London, Paris, and Amsterdam

Begin your European train vacation in the heart of London, a city where history and modernity coexist. 

From the grandeur of Buckingham Palace to the bustling streets of Covent Garden, London’s vibrant atmosphere sets the perfect opening scene for your adventure. 

Board the Eurostar, and as the English countryside blurs past your window, you’ll soon emerge into the City of Lights.

Paris, a city synonymous with romance, art, and gastronomy, greets you with its iconic skyline dominated by the Eiffel Tower. 

Meander along the Seine , explore the artistic wonders in the Louvre or lose yourself in the labyrinth of charming streets in Montmartre before embarking on the next leg of your journey.

The train whisks you away to Amsterdam, a city renowned for its idyllic canals, tulip-filled gardens, and renowned museums. 

The city’s unique blend of history and culture is palpable as you explore the Anne Frank House or the expansive Van Gogh Museum.

Embarking on a train journey from London to Paris, then onto Amsterdam, offers more than just the convenience of travel. It weaves a narrative of cultural discovery, connecting three of Europe’s most captivating cities through the enchanting lens of scenic rail travel.

Berlin to Budapest

Commence your breathtaking rail trip in Europe in Berlin, where contemporary vibrancy meets a poignant past. 

Explore the city’s rich history, from the iconic Brandenburg Gate to the remnants of the Berlin Wall, before boarding your train to start on an exciting voyage across Central Europe.

The journey is an invitation to unwind and savor the shifting landscapes – from the rolling fields of Germany, through the dense forests of the Czech Republic, to the striking panoramas of Slovakia. 

This is more than a train ride; it’s a moving portrait of Europe’s varied landscapes and architectural styles.

As your train sweeps into Budapest, the Hungarian capital welcomes you with its compelling blend of East and West. 

From the neo-Gothic majesty of the Hungarian Parliament building to the thermal baths harking back to Ottoman rule, Budapest is a city where history comes alive. 

Stroll along the River Danube or climb Castle Hill for panoramic city views.

Tips for Traveling Europe by Train

• Plan Your Itinerary in Advance: Decide your must-see destinations and train routes accordingly. European train schedules are generally reliable, which makes planning easier.
• Consider a Rail Pass : If your journey involves multiple countries or numerous train trips, consider purchasing a Eurail or Interrail Pass. It can be a cost-effective and convenient option.
• Reserve Your Seats: Some train journeys, especially longer or overnight trains, require seat reservations. Make sure to check this in advance.
• Travel Light : Space on trains can be limited. A compact suitcase or backpack will be easier to manage and store.
• Pack Snacks and Entertainment : While many long-distance trains have dining cars, bringing your own snacks can save money. Don’t forget books, music, or other forms of entertainment for longer journeys.
• Arrive Early : Train stations can be large and confusing. Give yourself ample time to find the right platform and settle in before departure.
• Keep Your Valuables Safe : As with any form of public transport, keep an eye on your belongings at all times.
• Embrace the Journey : One of the joys of train travel is the scenery along the way. Don’t just focus on the destination, enjoy the journey too.
• Stay Flexible : Delays can happen. Keep your schedule flexible and be prepared for occasional hiccups.
• Learn Basic Phrases : Knowing some basic phrases in the local language can be helpful, particularly in smaller towns and regions.

Wrap Up: Rail Holidays Europe

Traveling Europe by train offers an unparalleled opportunity to explore the rich tapestry of this diverse continent. 

It allows for an immersive journey through the ever-changing landscapes, from the sun-soaked coasts of Italy to the rugged highlands of Scotland, and from the romantic cityscape of Paris to the historic charm of Budapest.

Whether it’s the ease and comfort of modern train travel, the scenic routes that meander through breathtaking locales, or the chance to rub shoulders with locals and fellow travelers, there’s a unique and compelling aspect to train travel that other modes of transport simply can’t match.

As you plan your train adventure, remember to stay flexible, keep an open mind, and embrace the unexpected moments. 

The trains won’t just take you to your destination, they’ll also offer a window into the heart of Europe, its culture, history, and people.

So, it’s time to pack your bags and let the rhythmic lull of the train tracks guide you on an unforgettable journey. Europe awaits, ready to be discovered, one train ride at a time.

Fiona Boyle is the author of this article. She is an Australian Travel Blogger at Travelling Thirties . Fiona has volunteered in Thailand, lived in Scotland, jumped off cliffs in New Zealand, slept in treehouses and igloos in Finland and everything in between as she has spent the last ten years exploring the world.

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The best new European sleeper trains we can’t wait to ride in 2024

The sleeper train renaissance in Europe shows no sign of slowing down. Here are the continent’s best new night trains to ride in 2024

In 2024, Europe ’s sleeper train network is arguably in a better state than it has been at any point over the past few decades. Motivated by the climate crisis and night trains being a much, much better option for the planet than planes and cars, countries across the European continent are investing huge amounts in new and revived sleeper routes.

Sleepers are back and we’re seriously here for it. Few modes of travel are so romantic, comfortable and simple: hop on a train and doze away, speed across huge distances while you kip, then wake up someplace entirely new – and, hopefully, well-rested enough to explore it.

In other words, there are plenty of reasons why you should swap flights for night trains on your next trip . But of all the new night train routes popping up across Europe, which ones should you be most excited for? Well, that’s where we train afficionados at Time Out come in. From multi-stop pan-European routes to brand-new connections between Europe’s best cities , here are some of the best new European night trains we can’t wait to ride in 2024. 

RECOMMENDED: 🚞 The best train journeys in the world 🚂 The most scenic railway journeys in Europe 🗺️ The ultimate Interrail itinerary for Europe 🚉 The most beautiful European train journeys from London

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The best European sleeper trains for 2024

Brussels to Prague

Criss-crossing the continent by night train became more doable than ever in 2023 with the launch of brand-new train start-up European Sleeper , whose highly-anticipated Brussels to Berlin service set off on its first journey in May. Excitingly, the route will expand even further in spring 2024. On March 25, the service from Brussels will extend to Prague , with an additional stop in the historic German city of Dresden .

Brussels to Berlin

Not long after European Sleeper announced their service between Brussels and Berlin , NightJet – the sleeper arm of Austria’s national rail service ÖBB – followed suit, kicking off their service between these two European capitals at the end of 2023. It’s set be strong competition for the young rail start-up, as NightJet offers a much more packed timetable, with daily services shuttling passengers from one city to the other.

Hamburg to Vienna and Innsbruck

Another service from  ÖBB’s  Nightjet launched in December, this time from Hamburg to Vienna and Innsbruck. The 12-hour overnight route set off on its first journey on December 10. In early 2024, the route will extend even further to the Austrian city of Bregenz.

Rome to the Dolomites

Italy’s exciting new roster of revamped vintage trains is kicking off with this sleeper train, which will ferry visitors from Rome to the Dolomites during the winter ski season. Departing the Italian capital on Friday evenings, the Espresso Cadore train will trundle through knock-out mountain views and arrive in Cortina d’Ampezzo on Saturday mornings, just in time for a weekend of skiing.

Paris to Berlin

It’s taken ten long years for two of Europe’s mightiest capitals – Paris and Berlin – to be linked by night train. Another route from sleeper train kingpin NightJet, this overnight route took off on its first sold-out journey in December. The service currently runs three times a week, taking off from Paris at 7.12pm and arriving in Berlin the next morning at 8.26am – but come autumn, the Paris-Berlin sleeper will start running daily services.

Paris to Aurillac

This overnight service between Paris and Aurillac, a commune in south-central France, has made a comeback for 2024 after being out of service since the 2000s. The Intercités night train will set off from Paris at 7.27pm and arrive in Aurillac at 7.30am. It’s all part of an initiative from the French government to strengthen rail travel across the country.

Munich to Warsaw

Another new service from ÖBB’s NightJet for 2024 will connect Munich in Germany with Warsaw in Poland . It will also pass through Rosenheim, Sazlburg , Linz, Vienna and Krakow on its way. City-hopping through Europe, here we come!

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Interrail Planner

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Exciting new train routes in Europe for 2024 and beyond

As the movement towards flight-free travel gains traction and the popularity of interrailing continues to grow, European train journeys are making a remarkable comeback.

Spain’s national rail operator, Renfe, has recently unveiled its first high-speed train connection with France. Furthermore, starting from 25th March 2024, European Sleeper, a night train start-up, will extend its Brussels-Berlin service to Prague.

Switching up your travel mode is not just an eco-conscious choice, but also a stylish and efficient way to get around. For instance, when you fly from London to Paris, you release 14 times more carbon dioxide into the atmosphere than you would by taking a train.

Thankfully, European countries are heavily investing in their railway networks, offering improved and faster connections to passengers. From budget-friendly night trains to cross-country routes, let’s explore the latest European railway options.

Vienna to Paris with Nightjet

Austria’s national rail firm, ÖBB, has been leading the renaissance of sleeper trains in Europe since 2016. In late 2021, they introduced a new route connecting Vienna and Paris through Salzburg and Munich. The journey, spanning 14 hours, operates three times a week in both directions, with ticket prices ranging from approximately €30 for a seat to €120 and above for a private compartment. In the summer of 2023, Nightjet unveiled their new-generation trains, equipped with wireless charging stations, free Wi-Fi, secure storage for bicycles and snow sports equipment, and private compartments featuring showers and toilets.

Vienna to Genoa and La Spezia with Nightjet

Nightjet expanded its 2023 timetable by extending the Vienna/Munich service to include stops in Genoa and La Spezia, Italy. From there, travellers can connect to trains bound for Monaco, Nice, and Cinque Terre .

Brussels to Berlin via Amsterdam with European Sleeper

After much anticipation, European Sleeper , a Belgian-Dutch social cooperative, launched its maiden route from Brussels to Berlin via Amsterdam on 25th May. This single-change journey connects passengers to Paris, London, Prague, and Warsaw. Starting from 25th March 2024, the service will further extend to Dresden and Prague.

Liège to Aachen and Maastricht with Arriva, SNCB, and NS (December 2023)

A brand new three-country train service will link Aachen in Germany, Liège in Belgium, and Maastricht in the Netherlands. This project is a collaborative effort between Arriva, part of Germany’s Deutsche Bahn Group, SNCB, the National Railway Company of Belgium, and NS, Nederlandse Spoorwegen.

Czech Republic

Prague to zurich with čd.

In December 2022, České dráhy (ČD), the national rail operator of the Czech Republic, introduced a sleeper service linking Prague to Zurich with stops at Frankfurt and Basel. This overnight journey, reviving a service that ceased in 2017, takes slightly under 14 hours and offers a range of fare options, from six-bed couchettes to deluxe sleeper compartments with en-suite toilets and showers. Tickets for a berth in a six-bed couchette start from €49.90.

Paris to Bourg-Saint-Maurice with Ouigo Grande Vitesse (December 2023)

Embrace the winter wonderland in the Alps with the return of Ouigo’s Paris-Bourg train, running from 14th December to 24th March. Bourg is nestled at the base of the Les Arcs skiing area, and a funicular railway swiftly transports you from the town to the Arc 1600 ski resort in just seven minutes.

Paris to Aurillac with SNCF (December 2023)

The Paris-Aurillac night train, out of service since the early 2000s, is set to make a triumphant comeback later this year. SNCF Voyageurs has announced that Le Pyrénéen and L’Occitan night trains will connect the French capital with the south-central commune from 10th December 2023. A daily train will serve Cantal during holiday periods, with Friday and Sunday evening services available in each direction the rest of the time. This initiative is part of a broader effort to revive France’s night trains, which has already included the Paris-Nice and Paris-Lourdes services.

Paris to Berlin with Nightjet (2023) and TGV (2024)

Austrian rail operator ÖBB’s Nightjet is set to relaunch its Berlin-Paris service on December 11, 2023, after a nine-year hiatus. Initially, it will offer three trips per week, with plans to provide daily service from autumn 2024. France and Germany have jointly announced a new TGV train route connecting Paris and Berlin, scheduled to begin in 2024. This high-speed link will significantly reduce travel times, eliminating the need for passengers to change trains at separate stations, such as Cologne or Frankfurt, and allowing them to complete the journey in about seven hours.

Paris to Madrid with Trenitalia (late 2024)

In December 2022, FS Italiane Group, the owner of Italy’s national state-owned railway Trenitalia, unveiled plans for a high-speed Frecciarossa train connection between Paris and Madrid. This new train will link Paris and Barcelona, where an existing high-speed service already connects to the Spanish capital. The service is expected to launch in late 2024, with potential for additional routes linking Madrid with Italy through France.

Paris to Venice with Midnight Trains (2025)

French startup Midnight Trains is set to connect France and Italy with a new night train service from Paris to Venice via Milan, commencing in 2025 and backed by the European Commission. This development will simplify and expedite train travel for UK residents heading to Italy.

Berlin to Stockholm with Snälltåget

Swedish railway company Snälltåget has rerouted its Berlin to Malmö train service through Hamburg and Denmark, extending it to Stockholm. This comprehensive journey takes just under 17 hours, and direct service prices start at around €50.

Munich to Genoa and La Spezia with Nightjet

Nightjet’s 2023 timetable expansion saw its Vienna/Munich service to Milan extended to include stops in Genoa and La Spezia, Italy, offering further connections to Monaco, Nice, and Cinque Terre.

Stuttgart to Zagreb and Rijeka with Nightjet and EuroNight

In their 2023 timetable, Nightjet expanded its sleeper train service from Munich to Venice, Ljubljana , and Zagreb , now originating in Stuttgart, Germany. Seasonally, this route will also operate to the coastal Croatian city of Rijeka , with a total journey time of approximately 15 hours. The Nightjet to Venice travels via Munich, Salzburg, and Treviso, while the service to the Croatian and Slovenian capitals is provided by Croatian Railways HŽ and Slovenian Railways SŽ, operated under ÖBB’s EuroNight.

Brussels to Berlin with European Sleeper

Genoa to naples with ntv italo.

In late 2021, the Italian high-speed rail company NTV Italo launched a service connecting Genoa, a previously poorly connected port city in Italy’s northwest, to the south of the country. This journey from Genoa to Naples takes just under seven hours, with prices starting at around €80 for a return trip.

Milan to Paris with Frecciarossa

Also in late 2021, Frecciarossa, the high-speed branch of Italy’s national train operator Trenitalia, unveiled a luxurious new train route between Milan and Paris. Faster and more opulent than previous services on this route, the journey lasts just under seven hours, with tickets as affordable as €29, although executive fares offer a more comfortable experience.

Rome to Pompeii with Frecciarossa

In July, Italy launched a direct high-speed train service from Rome to Pompeii and back. This service links the capital with the popular archaeological site in southern Italy’s Campania region in under two hours, departing from Rome at 8:53 am and returning from Pompeii at 6:40 pm. Initially, the service will only run on the third Sunday of each month, but future expansions are possible.

Porto to Lisbon and Vigo with the Iberian high-speed rail network (construction starting in 2024)

Portugal has greenlit plans for a high-speed rail line connecting Lisbon, Porto, and Vigo, as part of the broader Iberian high-speed rail network that will unify Portugal and link it with Spain. This transformative rail link will reduce the travel time between Porto and Lisbon from nearly three hours to just 1 hour and 15 minutes, ultimately connecting Portuguese cities with Vigo in Spain.

Netherlands

Amsterdam to austria with tui’s ski express.

For snow sports enthusiasts, a new overnight train route is set to launch between Amsterdam and several of Austria’s top ski resorts. TUI’s ‘Ski Express’ departs from Amsterdam every Friday night between December 23 and March 31, stopping at Utrecht before heading directly to Austria.

Amsterdam to Zurich with Nightjet

Austria-led night train pioneer Nightjet introduced a route between Amsterdam and Zurich in late 2021, departing at 8:30 pm and arriving at 8:05 am. Travellers can choose from couchettes, starting from around €60, to sleeper cabins, beginning at approximately €120.

Amsterdam to Barcelona with European Sleeper (Spring 2025)

The Dutch-Belgian train operator, European Sleeper, which is set to launch soon, aims to introduce a new night train service from Amsterdam to Barcelona in the spring of 2025, significantly improving north-south rail connections in Europe.

Amsterdam to Berlin with Qbuzz (January 2027)

Qbuzz is taking advantage of the EU’s ‘open access’ railway package by applying for three new train connections: Amsterdam to Eindhoven, Amsterdam to Berlin, and Amsterdam to Paris. Pending approval by the Netherlands Authority for Consumers and Markets (ACM), these routes could become operational starting from January 2027.

Madrid to Alicante and Valencia with Ouigo, Avlo, and Iryo

In November 2022, SNCF-owned Ouigo introduced a new high-speed, budget-friendly route between Madrid and Valencia. By summer 2023, the service will expand to include Alicante. Initially, tickets will be priced at €9 one-way with one suitcase, eventually stabilising at around €30. Renfe’s Aryo, another low-cost operator, is set to launch its Madrid to Alicante service on March 27, starting at just €7, with Iryo launching a similar service on 2nd June. In 2023 and 2024, Ouigo intends to extend its services to Cordoba, Seville, Malaga, and the Costa del Sol.

Barcelona to Madrid with Iryo

A new high-speed rail service from Iryo, a consortium between Spanish airline Air Nostrum and Italian train company Trenitalia, has made traveling between Spain’s capital and its top tourist city faster and more affordable since November 2022. Iryo offers 16 return trains daily between Barcelona and Madrid, with a travel time of as little as 2.5 hours each way, all for a cost of just €18. Starting 31st March 2023, this low-cost rail provider will also launch a service between Malaga, Madrid, and Cordoba, with a journey time of three hours. From June 2023, Renfe’s Avlo will connect Madrid with Malaga and Seville.

Barcelona to Lyon via Montpellier and Nimes with Renfe

Spain’s state-owned rail network is introducing new high-speed AVE services to France in 2023. The Barcelona-Lyon service commenced on 13th July, with a journey lasting approximately five hours. Departing from Barcelona in the morning, it stops at Girona, Figueres Vilafant, Perpignan, Narbonne, Béziers, Montpellier-St-Roch, Nîmes, and Valence along the way. Starting from September 1, the train will operate daily. Tickets for the full route are available for as low as €29.

Madrid to Marseille via Barcelona with Renfe

Renfe’s plan to expand its train services into France includes another route introduced on 28th July between Madrid and Marseille. Initially, trains will operate from Fridays to Mondays but are expected to run daily from September. Further routes connecting to Paris are anticipated in 2024, just in time for the Olympic Games.

Ljubljana to Budapest with Hungarian Railways

Launched in December 2021, the Hungarian Railways train travels from Ljubljana, Slovenia to Budapest, Hungary via Graz, Austria, offering a scenic journey. The trip takes approximately 7.5 hours, with prices starting as low as €16 each way.

Stockholm to Hamburg with SJ EuroNight

Launched in September 2022, the Stockholm Central to Hamburg-Altona night train operates on renewable energy. Departing daily at 5:30 pm and arriving at 6:30 am, the journey includes a stop in Copenhagen. Travel options range from seats in a carriage (starting from €25) to shared compartment beds (beginning at €45), as well as private compartments for two passengers with a sink (from around €165). For those seeking added comfort, private compartments for one to three travellers include showers, toilets, and breakfast, starting at around €205. Pet-friendly train compartments are also available. Combined with existing Eurostar and Deutsche Bahn services, this train allows travellers to reach Stockholm from London in under 24 hours.

Switzerland

Zurich to rome with nightjet.

In a 2020 press conference, Nightjet announced its plans to launch a new night train route between Zurich and Rome in winter 2022. However, whether this project proceeds as scheduled remains to be seen. Presently, Nightjet’s Rome routes include Vienna, Salzburg, Villach, and Munich.

United Kingdom

London to bordeaux with hs1 (approximately 2026).

The UK’s High Speed 1 (HS1), which operates the Channel Tunnel railway line, is preparing to introduce a new route from London to Bordeaux. Currently this journey runs via Paris and takes around 6 hours. A new route would bypass the capital and cut the journey time down to 5 hours

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The 10 best sleeper-train journeys to take in Europe in 2024

Oct 19, 2023 • 8 min read

After a night on the Caledonian Sleeper, you’ll wake up in the Scottish Highlands © Lucy Knott Photography

A few years ago, competition from low-cost airlines and high-speed railways looked like they would spell the end for sleeper trains, which were increasingly starting to look like relics.

But an increased interest in slow travel and concern about the environmental impact of flying (driven partly by the Swedish concept of  flygskam,  or “flight shame,” movement) have boosted demand for sleeper trains. In a remarkable reversal of fortunes, operators across Europe – including several new entrants – are bringing routes back, in some cases for the first time in generations, and establishing new services, often across borders. 

Overnight trains do more than save on a night’s accommodation. They’re an adventure in themselves, recreating the romance of a bygone era as they transport travelers, families and business people across the continent under the cloak of darkness. 

Most services offer a mixture of sleeper compartments with room for two or four passengers; six-person, dormitory-style couchettes; and cars with standard seats. On some trains, however, private compartments equipped with showers and innovative capsule-style berths are becoming available on trains with new or refurbished carriages. This enhances the sense that the next generation of night trains has arrived.

Munich, Germany to La Spezia, Italy

Frequency: daily except Saturday Approximate duration: 11 hours

Nightjet ’s Munich –to– La Spezia service is one of many night routes that offer the only direct connection between their start and finish points. Passengers can board an early-evening train south from Bavarian city’s vast Hauptbanhof station aiming for Austria , northeast Italy and onward, via Genoa (another great stop-off option), to the Ligurian coast . If everything’s on time – which, it should be noted, is not a given on night services, especially those crossing borders and picking up carriages from other services – then you could beat the crowds to the Cinque Terre ’s walking trails (accessed by a local train from La Spezia). Or you could just settle in to this underrated city for a late breakfast and marvel at the city’s art-nouveau architecture, best explored by strolling the stairways that rise uphill from the waterfront.

Hamburg to Stockholm

Frequency: nightly  Approximate duration: 14 hours

This Swedish Railways (SJ)–operated service, one of the darlings of the new European night scene , has grown in popularity and scope since its launch. 

During the summer of 2023, the SJ Euronight to and from Stockholm extended to start and finish in Berlin  – a change now being made permanent. Still, travelers should not miss the chance to explore the lively maritime city of Hamburg  – plus, starting the journey here makes more sense if you’re connecting from points further south and west. From Hamburg, the night service north heads into Denmark and makes an early hours crossing of the Öresund Bridge to Malmö . 

Beyond the southern tip of Sweden , morning views of Nordic forests and lakes root travelers in their surroundings until the train pulls into Stockholm Central station, located in the middle of the tangle of waterways and islands in the heart of Sweden’s capital.

Private operator Snälltåget also operates seasonal night services on this route. This train is a good alternative if your timings or availability don’t work out on the SJ train, or if you want to try out Snälltåget ’s highly regarded restaurant coach.  

Zurich to Zagreb

Frequency: daily Approximate duration: 15 hours

A convenient route between Switzerland ’s largest city and the compact, beautiful Croatian capital , this Euronight services crosses five countries over approximately 15 hours. It’s worth taking this journey in the summer, as it’s one of Europe’s most scenic routes, passing through Austria and Slovenia  – both countries where you’re hard-pressed to find an unattractive railway line. It also passes (without stopping) through the tiny Alpine principality of Liechtenstein . You can get a taste of this train by riding as far as Ljubljana in Slovenia, though this misses a lovely stretch of track running alongside the Sava River between there and the border.

Berlin to Brussels

Frequency: six nights a week from December 2023 (though with different operators and routes; see below) Approximate duration: 11.5 hours

The much-heralded European Sleeper service from Brussels to Berlin has proved an invaluable addition to the night-train scene, and the company behind it has plans to run the train through to Prague starting in 2024. With stops in Antwerp , Rotterdam and Amsterdam , this thrice-weekly train reinstated a route phased out in 2008. Starting December, it will be joined by a Nightjet service making the same journey on three alternate days, though taking a different route via Liège and heading down the Rhine to Mannheim . (This train runs as part of the existing Brussels-to-Vienna Nightjet.) Brussels makes for a fast journey from London  – and, since there’s no need in Brussels to change stations (as in Paris), it’s an ideal starting point for UK -based travelers looking to snooze their way deeper into Europe.

London to Fort William, Scotland

Frequency: daily except Saturday Approximate duration: 13.5 hours

Great Britain has only two sleeper trains – and both have recently benefited from major upgrades in what many see as a vote of confidence in the country’s overnight services. The Night Riviera runs southwest from London’s Paddington Station and keeps going until it runs out of rails – and land – at Penzance in Cornwall . But it’s the Caledonian Sleeper that gets Britons most excited . This legendary train leaves Euston Station each night and, via a series of carriage shuffles unnoticed by the snoozing passenger, reaches Edinburgh , Inverness , Aberdeen ,  Fort William and points in between. 

The through service to Fort William is the most spectacular leg, offering a night on the rails and a morning crossing wonderful Highland scenery before depositing fresh-faced passengers at the foot of the path up Ben Nevis, the country’s highest peak.

Budapest to Bucharest

Frequency: daily Approximate duration: 17 hours

One of Europe’s most beautiful stations, Budapest ’s Keleti terminal is the starting point for this fantastic overnight adventure. There are in fact three sleepers that ply this route, but the timing of the Ister is arguably the most optimal: it departs shortly after 7pm and arrives at Bucharest ’s Gara de Nord in mid-morning, meaning passport control takes place around midnight. The big benefit of the lazy morning on the train is the chance to enjoy the superb scenery of the section of the Carpathian Mountains before crossing the plains on toward the capital. From Bucharest there’s a direct summer sleeper connection onward to Istanbul , another railway odyssey to the edge of Europe .

Trondheim to Bodo

Frequency: daily Approximate duration: 10 hours

Under normal circumstances, the jaw-dropping views offered by any Norwegian rail journey would make a night train a wasted opportunity. But there are two factors that argue for taking the 10-hour Trondheim -to- Bodø service. First, if you do this journey during the summer you needn’t miss anything – the sun will hardly set. Second, Norwegian trains are very pleasant places to hang out for a while, and a berth on a night train is an excellent deal in a country where bargains are few and far between.

Rome to Venice 

Frequency: daily Approximate duration: 7 hours

A quiet star of Europe’s night train scene, Italy’s InterCityNotte (ICN) services crisscross the country, offering several unmissable routes. While trains heading from Rome to Sicily garner attention thanks to the novelty of the ferry that carries carriages across the Strait of Messina, there are reasons to head from the capital in the opposite direction.

A Trieste -bound sleeper hauls out of Roma Termini each evening and ambles through the romantic regions of Lazio , Umbria and Tuscany . Snoozing travelers may be awakened by some shunting as northbound carriages are moved off at Mestre, before an unforgettable crossing of the lagoon causeway to Venice itself. Any bleary eyes should be swiftly jolted into life by the sunshine of a Venetian dawn, the first sight of the city with pretty much no one else around, and a strong espresso or two.

Paris to Latour de Carol

Frequency: nightly (departure times vary) Approximate duration: 12 hours

Having axed all but a handful of Intercités trains de nuit  in 2016, SNCF (French National Railway Company) has spent the past few years plotting to revive some of the canceled services. One survivor has been the service from Paris to Latour de Carol , deep in the Pyrenees . Four- and six-berth couchettes and a seated carriage make the journey south, passing through Limoges , Toulouse and the foothills of the Pyrenees to arrive at the border station of Latour de Carol.

From here, it’s possible to continue, via a suburban train, to the heart of Barcelona in around three hours, offering an epic alternative to the TGV service from Paris to the Catalan city via Montpellier and the French Mediterranean coast. The scenic, narrow-gauge Petit Train Jaune also leaves from Latour de Carol, offering a dramatic mountain train ride with connections on to Perpignan .

Innsbruck to Cologne 

Frequency: daily Approximate duration: 11.5 hours

There are a multitude of reasons to hop aboard this excellent Nightjet sleeper service, particularly in this direction. First, Innsbruck ’s beautiful location in the Tyrolean Alps makes it a rewarding spot to explore pre-voyage, with hiking trails in summer and ski runs in winter. Second – and excitingly for true train geeks – Nightjet services offer unique double-decker sleeper compartments, with deluxe berths on the upper level. Third, if you can rouse yourself early, these trains travel through the early morning along the beautiful Rhine Valley Line, passing time-worn castles and vast vineyards on their way north to Cologne .

As if all that weren’t enough, Cologne’s cathedral , right next to the railway station, is one of the great icons of Europe. Watching its twin spires grow in stature as you chug towards the city is a fitting finale to this magnificent journey.

Booking information

The resurgence in night trains’ popularity means booking ahead is essential. Depending on where you’re traveling, berths go on sale between 30 and 180 days in advance; it’s best to book as far ahead as possible. Seat61 , Trainline.com and national train operators can guide you through the booking process.

This article was first published Sep 22, 2018 and updated Oct 19, 2023.

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Aix Trip Report - April 2024 - Aix-en-Provence Forum

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Our lodging was at Hotel Le Concorde. This we found satisfactory, but perhaps we could have done better selecting a more centric location with more character. I have written an opinion on this hotel, if interested, use the link below.

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g187209-d1226071-Reviews-Hotel_Le_Concorde-Aix_en_Provence_Bouches_du_Rhone_Provence_Alpes_Cote_d_Azur.html

The best aspect of our hotel, was no doubt, the helpful personnel. From day one until the end, they provided us with friendly service and good information. The two restaurant suggested by the staff, turned out to be excellent. Our meals there where very good. For more information, take a look at the links below.

https://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserReviews-g187209-d1326253-r953755763-La_Brocherie-Aix_en_Provence_Bouches_du_Rhone_Provence_Alpes_Cote_d_Azur.html

https://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserReviews-g187209-d6717721-r953848957-Le_Miollis-Aix_en_Provence_Bouches_du_Rhone_Provence_Alpes_Cote_d_Azur.html

We had one other meal at Aix, which was very different from the ones at the restaurants above. L’ Incontournable, is a “fine dining” eatery, which serves sophisticated tasty food, well prepared, and nicely presented at the table. As you would expect, our meal there was one of the most expensive ones during this journey through Provence. You can read a better description of our experience using the link below.

https://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserReviews-g187209-d3653057-r953843811-L_Incontournable-Aix_en_Provence_Bouches_du_Rhone_Provence_Alpes_Cote_d_Azur.html

We found Aix to be very walkable and quite enjoyable. We particularly liked the old town area with its plazas and fountains. The cathedral is a real treasure vault of art and history. During our stay, we tried to visit Hotel Caumont, but on the days we spent in Aix, the main exhibits were closed. Only a garden and a couple of small rooms were open. We opted to spend our time some other way.

The best Art experience at Aix was at Museum Granet, and some other small exhibit at a church nearby. This was for us, the highlight of our visit. We found rather odd that this museum open at noon.

We had planned two day trips out of Aix, and they were a drastic contrast in satisfaction. The better one was a full day Tour to the Luberon Villages. On this we had very little to be unhappy about it. Read the link below for more information. I very much recommend this experience to everybody.

https://www.tripadvisor.com/AttractionProductReview-g187209-d19802827-Picturesque_Luberon_From_AIX_EN_PROVENCE-Aix_en_Provence_Bouches_du_Rhone_Provence.html#REVIEWS

Our day visiting Cassis was a “disaster” of sorts. Just about nothing worked well for us. We took an early morning train to Marseille St Charles station, and there we transferred to the local train to Cassis. Just before leaving our hotel in Aix, I had asked the staff to call a Taxi service in Cassis, and request a taxi to transfer to Cassis train station to the port. Later on, when returned, I learned that none of the services) in Cassis (four of them) took the call.

When we arrived at Cassis, we found a single taxi waiting, I asked the driver if he was available, and he took us to the TI office where we expected to get a map and some information.

At this point I would like to add that it is also possible to ride a bus to town, but this service is on small vans of limited capacity that runs on a set schedule. I also noticed that it would have been rather complicated to attempt to walk from the station, it is a little too long, and the roads and streets seemed complicated, particularly for anyone unfamiliar with the area.

Quite unfortunately, we learned at the TI office, that all boat rides to the Fjords, on that day, had been cancelled due to string wind conditions. We asked, what else we could do in town and provided some suggestions; the Organic Food Market, the local Cathedral, and a walk away from town to reach one of the Fjords. Perhaps too much for a couple of seniors like us. I must add that perhaps, it was my error not to inquire about the weather in advance.

Leaving the office we found the boarding stop of the Tourist Mini-Train. The driver informed us that the ride offered included a stop at the top of the mountains where it was possible to observe one of the fjords. We took the train, and it was a real disappointment. All you see during the ride is expensive residences, and lots of walls, all a speed that makes very difficult to appreciate anything. When we reached the lookout point, we found that yes, the Fjord is down there somewhere, but you cannot really see it, trees, bushes, and trekking lanes obstruct all views. My recommendation is not do this, save your 12 euros for something more enjoyable.

After walking through the port and town, and visiting the market and the cathedral, we headed to our selected restaurant for lunch, where unfortunately, we had a less than satisfactory experience. This was very much a real surprise. Chez Poulette has received lots of “excellent” reviews, and I cannot imagine exactly why. My opinion below will escribe some details of this.

https://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserReviews-g196673-d14795482-r954239811-Chez_Poulette-Cassis_French_Riviera_Cote_d_Azur_Provence_Alpes_Cote_d_Azur.html

After ending our visit to Aix, we had a very bad experience flying back home. Our flight schedule was MRS- CDG-DTW (Air France and Delta). I may write a comment on this, and post it on the Air Travel forum.

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Sleeper trains, silent nights and wee drams on a wild walk in Scotland

Take the sleeper train to the Scottish Highlands to strike out on an adventure through some of the wildest, most remote terrain in Europe.

Look at a map of the British railway network. You will see for the most part it’s a tangle of mainlines and branchlines: a mesh stitched in a way to serve most corners of the island. Direct your gaze north, and you see the Scottish Highlands is an exception. It’s served by only a few lonely lines, trailing away from the rest of the network like loose threads from a ball of wool. Two of these threads — the West Highland Line and the Highland Main Line — wander in parallel north, come tantalisingly close to knotting together, then unspool in opposite directions. Between them is a blank expanse where no rails pass. A place where none of the cartographer’s ink was spent.  

I had long seen this part of the map — the space between the lines — and regarded it as something rather like a gulf to be bridged. But in the 22-mile divide between Corrour station on the West Highland Line and Dalwhinnie station on the Highland Main Line, there is no public transport, no public roads. Nor are there marked footpaths that fully connect the two stations. Rather there lies some of the roughest, most remote terrain in Western Europe, a crossing obstructed by hulking mountains and passes of famous treachery. To make the crossing between those lines entails a two- to three-day expedition through the wild heart of the Highlands. A journey that must partly be done on two rails, partly on two feet.

We were a team of two: myself and my friend Al. We first planned to make the crossing in early autumn — when leaves were reddening and stags rutting. Delays saw the trip pushed into November, when deer herds descended from the mountains, and the first frosts snuck into the glens. By the time our expedition set out, winter was making an unscheduled early arrival. Rime ice wreathed lineside fences. Heavy snowfall was timetabled to arrive soon after our northbound train.  

Northbound through the night

One spring night in 1873, the UK’s first sleeper service departed from London King’s Cross for Glasgow. A ‘sleeper’ train was an idea stolen from the United States — advertisements subsequently billed them as ‘The Most Interesting Route to Scotland’, offering a chance to ‘Travel in your Pyjamas’. The fortunes of sleepers waxed and waned over the following 150 years — victims of faster daytime trains and budget airlines, and easy prey to the politician’s axe. The modern Caledonian Sleeper departing from Platform One of London Euston station is a rare inheritor of this Victorian tradition. It takes much the same route as the 1873 sleeper, and retains some of its predecessor’s magic.  

In the dining car there is a foretaste of Scotland: haggis and Tunnock’s caramel logs on the menu, and seven single malt whiskies at the bar. There is a diverse cast of customers — oil traders bound for Aberdeen, hillwalkers off to Ben Nevis, and one man travelling alone with his ginger cat.  

The train heaves out of the concrete behemoth of Euston. Nightcaps are served beneath the Chilterns. Most customers are snoring by Crewe. Trackside goings-on subtly weave into passengers’ dreams: the bellow of a freight train at Penrith. The sudden stillness of a small-hours station in the Borders. Once I wake for a midnight wee, and see a full moon rising over obsidian Pennine hills. I think of WH Auden’s poem, Night Mail — both a description of a Scotland-bound night train and a meditation on the lines of communication that connect humanity: ‘This is the night mail crossing the Border, bringing the cheque and the postal order…’

In a few ways, travelling by sleeper stirs a childlike wonder. You climb into your bunk, trusting you will be ushered unconscious to your destination, like a baby dozing in a pushchair. You are rocked by the rhythmic lullaby of the rails. But the greatest wonder comes when you wake and part the cabin curtains, like opening wrapping paper on your birthday. The rush hour clamour of London has segued to silent wilderness. Lochs and lochans shimmer in the day’s first light. Munros glower down on the train, their lower slopes stiff with frozen heather, their upper slopes sugared with snow. The trudge of London commuters has turned to the strut of an Imperial stag. You have travelled from one of Europe’s most densely inhabited corners to one of its most sparsely inhabited nooks — merely by closing your eyes.

Our destination, Corrour station, materialises out of blanket bog soon after breakfast. Corrour sees about 12,000 passengers per year — which is roughly the same as Euston gets in a single peak-time hour. It’s also the highest station in the UK, and inaccessible by public roads. A station building houses a cafe serving those who come for the novelty factor but, as we draw in, we see a sign has been placed by the front door: ‘Closed for the Season’.

On a sleeper train you inhabit a pocket of comfort — a roving ambassador for civilised living — with hot showers, hot food, soft beds and attendants summoned at the press of a button. With a single step onto the platform at Corrour you begin to exile yourself from the trappings of modernity — entering a landscape where people are scarce, help can be distant, and sharp air is largely undisturbed by mobile reception. You enter a place beyond railway lines, telephone lines and electricity lines. The transition is abrupt. Suddenly you must stand on your own two feet.

As we get ready to disembark, Alec, one of the sleeper attendants, asks where we are heading. We explain we plan to walk to Dalwhinnie station, where we will catch a return sleeper to London in three days. In our rucksacks there’s food and shelter to sustain us; fastened to the straps are ice axes and crampons to traverse snowbound gradients. Minutes later we are on the platform, watching the train sweep into the distance, the rails ringing in its wake. In the silence that follows, Alec’s words echo in my head: “Rather you than me, lads.”

The ghosts of the Bealach Dubh

You may have seen Corrour station in the 1996 film Trainspotting, in the scene where Tommy takes the group to the Highlands.  

“Now what?” asks Sick Boy

“We go for a walk,” says Tommy.

“Are you serious?”

The group gets roughly 100m from the station before turning back for Edinburgh.  

Our first miles take us along a track by Loch Ossian, through shoreside forests of larch and Scots pine. The winter sun clears the hills, blessing bronze moorland with its golden rays. To our east, ranks of grey clouds assemble, heavy with snow yet to fall. For now, the weather is merciful. A lone buzzard watches us from a treetop. Around lunchtime we meet the only other walker on our trail: Jessie Guilliatt has been foraging in the forests, returning with a handful of hedgehog mushrooms.  

She is from the Mornington Peninsula in the Australian state of Victoria, and has come to Scotland after selling her farm. Seeing the Northern Lights dancing in the skies above Cape Wrath in the northwest was, she says, the closest she has come to sensing the divine. “You just get a feeling here,” she says of the Highlands. “The sense of space. The fact that you could never see it all, even in a lifetime.”

Beyond the eastern shores of the loch, the forests thin out. Past the lodge at Corrour, the track narrows to a vague trail and begins its ascent to a desolate pass: the Bealach Dubh (black pass). Here, our route shadows quickening streams. We cross them, balancing ourselves on stepping stones lacquered with ice. Midway, Jessie peels off to cook up her mushrooms with coriander and noodles.

Many Highland passes have their ghosts. Bealach Dubh has more than most. In December 1942, a Wellington bomber was on a training mission from RAF Lossiemouth when it went off course, crashing into a mountainside during a blizzard. From the crew of six there was a lone survivor — air gunner Sergeant Philip Underwood, himself seriously injured. After checking for signs of life in his comrades, he set out on our path — albeit in the opposite direction, out of the pass. For a few lonely miles, the snow raged around him, his injuries doubtless smarting with every step. By a miracle, he found help at the hunting lodge at Corrour, and later recovered. So remote is the crash site, the wreckage of the Wellington has never been fully cleared. Bits of the engine can be seen rusting in the hills.

Nine years later, another disaster took place. Five members of a local mountaineering club were caught in a storm just before New Years’ Eve 1951. One hundred mph winds thundered through the night and, one by one, four young men succumbed to exposure. Again there was a lone survivor — the wife of one of the men, who traced the lonely miles to Corrour Lodge.  

The intended destination of the club members that New Year had been Ben Alder Cottage, a bothy by the shores of Loch Ericht. On a more peaceful winter day, it is ours, too. Scotland is full of bothies — shelters often repurposed from derelict crofter’s cottages. They are without electricity, bedding and flushing toilets and are all unstaffed — unless you count the resident mice. They offer little more than a roof over your head — and sometimes even this leaks — and yet after long hours tramping through the Highland wilderness, their appearance can be a profound blessing.

In the pantheon of Highland bothies, Ben Alder Cottage ranks high, partly on account of its remoteness, but also because it’s said to be its most haunted. Nine hours’ march from Corrour we fling our packs on its stone floor, and hunt out firewood for the hearth. Soon the only sound is the toothless whistle of the wind in the chimney and the crackle of pine cones in the fireplace. When we switch off our head torches we are part of a scene unchanged for centuries: wayfarers huddled by a fire, the flicker and shadow duelling against the walls.  

There are many stories of hauntings at Ben Alder Cottage. One ghost is a woman who sought refuge here with her child in a storm, and — when driven mad by hunger — ate her offspring. Another is a resident gamekeeper who hanged himself in this lonely hut. Both are historically dubious, yet the bothy guestbook is full of reports of unexplained footsteps and sudden chills. It’s a place to seek the ghosts of the past in more benign ways, too. One recent entry is from a visitor who had been here on their birthday, to this Highland sanctuary where their parents had met 50 years previously and bonded over a bottle of brandy. The two were married three weeks after. “[Dad] is no longer with us, and so we came here to raise a glass of brandy,” goes the entry, “... and to sing.”

The snows of Ben Alder

We rise before dawn to push to the summit of Ben Alder. With every metre gained the temperature drops; clouds of vapour plume skywards with every spent breath. And then I hear a ringing sound — like the tinkling of distant bells — and think it’s a warning. The ringing grows louder. Resting on a granite outcrop, I realise what it is: the water bottle in my backpack clinking with freshly formed ice.

Ben Alder is the 1,148m mountain that stands sentry over the gap between the railway lines. The Bealach Dubh had been a place people escaped from; yet Ben Alder’s remoteness had cast it as a place to escape to — somewhere you might become anonymous. Bonnie Prince Charlie, the leader of the Jacobite Rising fighting to claim the throne for his exiled father, is said to have hidden here in the wake of his defeat at the 1746 Battle of Culloden. He was joined by fugitive clan leader Cluny Macpherson, who somehow survived for nine years in the Highlands, undetected by the authorities.

In 1996, Ben Alder hit national news after the discovery of a body near the summit. The so-called ‘Man with No Name’ had shed all forms of identification, cut labels from his clothing and climbed Ben Alder to kill himself with an antique-style revolver. His final view had been from a rocky outcrop, overlooking a little loch. His corpse had lain undiscovered in the snow for months; another year of press intrigue passed before he was identified as a French water board worker.

In truth, Ben Alder is less a conventional peak, more a plateau: an upland kingdom where winter’s reign is uncontested through much of the year. Crossing it, we encounter many species of snow. First: flurries of feather-soft snow that dust our backpacks and dew our paper maps. On the summit: vengeful snow that spits in our eyes as the windchill hits -10 C. For a few frightening hours, a whiteout sees snow and cloud coalesce into a single state of blankness.  

By evening, we make our exit — tracing moonlit paths of lilac snow off the plateau, pitching camp by a pine forest and pushing accumulating drifts off our tent roof. Across Britain, holidaymakers craving a fix of winter snowfall are fleeing to Scandinavia or the Alps; meanwhile, up on the roof of the country, we are ensconced in this pocket Arctic, where the only footsteps are our own — though these too are soon erased by fresh flurries.

Fire from snow

Hidden in the foothills north east of Ben Alder is a little body of water: Lochan na Doire-uaine. From the loch, a watercourse chunters for some miles eastward through the hills, supplying water for the Dalwhinnie whisky distillery. On our final day, we walk in parallel to its course, pacing a forester’s track by Loch Ericht. Eventually the chimneys of the distillery appear on the horizon. We arrive exhausted and exalted at our finishing line.  

“Dalwhinnie in Gaelic means ‘the meeting place’,’’ says distillery guide Peter Wemyss, as he leads us through warehouses full of stacked casks. “It was where old drovers gathered with their cattle before heading south. This has always been a place where people gather.”

Dalwhinnie is also where our path meets the railway line — Peter explains casks were once exported by rail from the station next door. We seek temporary sanctuary in the distillery, amidst hot copper stills that thaw our extremities, tasting single malts that warm our bellies. Feeling the slow fire of whisky in our throats, it’s curious to think this liquid began as snows that fell on the foothills of Ben Alder, many winters ago.

  It’s after dark when the southbound Caledonian Sleeper hauls into Dalwhinnie. As we speed south, I lie in my bunk thinking of Bruce Chatwin’s classic book The Songlines. In it the legendary travel writer outlines his theory that man, in his true state, is a nomadic creature, destined and designed to walk the Earth on foot. But most intriguing is Chatwin’s evidence for our innate nomadism: that children still have to be rocked to sleep, and to soothe their young, parents recreate the motion of ancient ancestors who carried their offspring while walking to new pastures. Being on the move meant all was well.  

Soon I enter a deep sleep in my bunk, the carriage rocking beneath my mattress, the train moving through the tangle of railway lines that bind this country. But I am still dreaming of the mountains and passes that lie in between.  

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A firefighter dies and a long-distance train derails amid heavy rains and flooding in Germany

Sections of the city are flooded by water, in Reichertshofen, Germany, Sunday, June 2, 2024. (Sven Hoppe/dpa via AP)

The high water of the Schussen river floods parts of Meckenbeuren on Sunday, June 2, 2024. A railroad line has not yet been flooded, but water is already standing to the right and left of the tracks. (Felix Kästle/dpa via AP)

Firefighters erect a dam with sandbags against the flood on the Nonnenbach in the Moosheim district, Germany, Sunday, June 2, 2024. (Thomas Warnack/dpa via AP)

On the way to church in the Moosheim district, a woman carries her bicycle over fire hoses designed to suck up the floodwater, Germany, Sunday, June 2, 2024. (Thomas Warnack/dpa via AP)

Roads are flooded after heavy rainfalls in Babenhausen southern Germany, Saturday, June 1, 2024. (Nikolas Schaefers/dp/dpa via AP)

Residents are rescued with a dinghy from a flooded area, in Babenhausen, Germany, Saturday, June 1, 2024 following a several days of heavy rainfall. (Stefan Puchner/dpa via AP)

Residents are rescued with a dinghy from a flooded house, in Babenhausen, Germany, Saturday, June 1, 2024 following a several days of heavy rainfall. (Stefan Puchner/dpa via AP)

Firefighters work on a street flooded by the Günz in Ichenhausen, Germany, Saturday, June 1, 2024. Weather forecast expect more rain during the weekend. (Stefan Puchner/dpa via AP)

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FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) — Flooding, high river levels and heavy rain led to the death of a firefighter and disrupted train travel in southern Germany on Sunday.

The firefighter’s body was recovered after an inflatable watercraft carrying four firefighters capsized as they navigated floodwaters to bring residents to safety in the town of Pfaffenhofen, on the Ilm River in the southern Bavaria region, the dpa news agency reported.

A long-distance train derailed after the ground under a section of track collapsed near the town of Schwaebisch Gmund some 50 kilometers (30 miles) east of Stuttgart late Saturday. The 185 passengers were uninjured.

German rail operator Deutsche Bahn warned of extensive cancellations and delays and told customers who postponed trips that their tickets would be honored. Traffic was disrupted on routes including those from Munich to Berlin, Stuttgart and the Swiss city of Zurich.

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(Reuters) -Facebook owner Meta Platforms plans to start incorporating social media content from Europe to train its generative artificial intelligence models, the company said on Monday.

Meta will train its Llama large language models using content that people in the European Union have chosen to share publicly on its platforms such as Instagram and Facebook, it said in a blog post.

The shift appears to bring the company’s approach in Europe roughly in line with how it treats the data it feeds into its AI models from elsewhere around the world, despite earlier caution due to stringent EU privacy and transparency regulations.

Meta’s top policy executive told Reuters in an interview in September that it uses public Facebook and Instagram posts to train its Llama models, while excluding private posts and messages shared only with friends.

As of April, when the company started releasing the latest versions of Llama, Meta was “still working on the right way to do this in Europe,” its chief product officer told Reuters at the time.

The social media giant said last month that it would start notifying Facebook and Instagram users in the European region and the United Kingdom about how it uses public information shared on Meta’s services to develop and improve AI.

Advocacy group NYOB (none of your business) has filed complaints challenging the move in countries across Europe, saying the notifications were insufficient as EU privacy rules required Meta to obtain opt-in consent from users.

(Reporting by Akash Sriram in Bengaluru and Katie Paul in New York; Editing by Shailesh Kuber and Emelia Sithole-Matarise)

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