Here are all the essential sites for booking train travel in. Some trains in europe require a seat reservation, most commonly in france, italy, and spain. To put it simply, train travel is part of the charm of exploring europe. Jun 04, 2019 the train can be the fastest, easiest, and cheapest way to travel around europebut booking can be confusing. Find the top 100 most popular items in amazon books best sellers.
If you know your travel dates, we can help you find the best fares and schedules for your itinerary. If you are trying to treat europe as one entity for train tickets, youll probably get general travel booking sites like goeuro and train ticket resellers multicountry pass providers like rail europe, eurorail, eurail though also belgian railways site b europe for trains within europe, as opposed to. With tips on ticketing, fares and accommodation, europe by rail has become the definitive guide to exploring europe by train. Decide on the countries you want to visit and choose the right europe rail pass that suits your itinerary. Book your trips on the move with the fast and easy to use rail europe app. Venice simplonorientexpress luxury train from london to. Essential guide to train travel in europe ordinary traveler. A bouquet of some of europes most famous blooms will, hopefully, await when you get to travel across the continent by train. They take forever to email an eticket and when you query them your told to wait another four. Our search means you can compare and book trains in europe, the u.
Overseas visitors booking their onceinalifetime trip to europe try to book half a year ahead and wonder why trains arent shown or bookings dont work. Booking european train tickets in advance train travel. Train tickets europe travel by train rail europe train. How to book trains in europe by rail expert the man in. How to buy cheap european train tickets read this advice. While america has all but given up on trains, ol europe has much improved and modernized its rail network. Here are all the essential sites for booking train travel in europe. Buying european train tickets by rick steves rick steves europe. May 09, 2017 without a doubt, planning train travel in europe with its many countries, is the most challenging.
As of now, you can book train tickets to 35,000 destinations in europe and beyond. Rail europe rail travel planner europe train travel in. We work with european train companies from sweden in the north to portugal in the south. Caroline joined bostonbased smartertravel in 2011 after living in ireland, london, and manhattan. Thats right, you can travel from the uk to europe by train no need to book a flight.
Travel by train in europe with rail europe, your travel planner. Travel in comfort to discover the very best of europe welcome to europe by rail. Youll also find a wealth of practical train travel tips. And when youre ready to buy your pass or tickets, you can do that here, too. If you are trying to treat europe as one entity for train tickets, youll probably get general travel booking sites like goeuro and train ticket resellers multicountry pass providers like rail europe, eurorail, eurail though also belgian railways site beurope for trains within europe, as opposed to. If you book a reservation for a bed in a compartment that can accommodate more people than are in your traveling party, yes, additional people may be in the compartment. You can also book pointtopoint tickets directly with each national railway. Train tickets europe travel by train rail europe train tickets.
Rail europe rail travel planner europe train travel in europe. Bbc travel top sites for booking european rail tickets. It should even be on your thingstodobeforeidie list. Long train journeys through europes mountains and valleys theres something undeniably romantic about taking a long train journey. It is also a great way to meet people and see a country whilst sat in comfort seats are typically bigger than uk train seats. Travelling by train from the uk into europe is so much nicer and much more civilised than flying. Rail passes book them directly with eurail partnership 3. The same website also sells an excellent rail map of europe. Published since 1873, it covers all the major train routes in europe.
Unfortunately for her bank account, senior editor caroline morse teel is powerless to resist a good flight deal. Compare and book train, bus or flight tickets for your destination in europe. More than half of britons plan to travel to mainland europe this year. This 16th edition of the book, now updated for 2020, highlights the rich and intriguing possibilities that await, whether it be for a handful of short trips or for a more extended tour. Honestly one of the easiest, unintimidating bookings ive done for a european train. Travel across the european continent for 1, 2, or 3 weeks with europe rail tickets. How to book trains in europe by rail expert the man in seat 61. Europes rail network is an ideal way to move between the larger cities, and if you book overnight journeys you can save on the cost of a hotel room. Comfortable, frequent and reliable, trains are the way to get around europe.
In just a few hours, you can whizz across countries, between city centres and swap the mediterranean seaside for cool mountain ranges or soft green hills. This comprehensive guide provides the latest information on fares, schedules, and pass options, as well as detailed information on more than one hundred specific rail excursions. Travel across 33 countries in europe with the best and cheapest rail pass in europe for europeans. Discover the best european travel guides in best sellers. Find out about the different european trains like sleeper trains, chocolate trains, high speed trains and the provided facilities for a clear idea of what train travel in europe is all about. Simply enter your departure and arrival cities to the right, along with the date and time of day you wish to travel. Europe by rail is a guidebook featuring over fifty great routes, country information and offbeat diversions. But switching to rail can also be the single biggest thing an individual.
How to book trains in europe travel tips usa today. Europe train prices are categorised by distance and are often released in tiers. I selected a ticket but when i went to place my booking, the price changed. Trains in europe buy european train tickets online trainline. Our eurail global pass offers unlimited train travel throughout 31 countries. My own book revised in 2010 is now too long in the. The information here will help you choochoose wisely. A guide to train travel in europe, how to check train times, fares, how to buy tickets, taking your bike, arrangements for children and luggage.
European train travel is easy, but booking can be tricky. It promises to take you not just across europe, but to transport you back in time. They only reason i still have not booked online is because i have heard that it is often cheaper to buy train tickets while in europe that is only really the case if you want to travel from a to b within a country on a regional or ic train, for example, from brussels to bruges, or from amsterdam to arnhem. Continuous or consecutive rail passes such as the eurail global pass, are valid for unlimited train travel during the whole duration of the pass validity period.
Mobility can be a game changer when traveling on europe s rail network and your trips will be less stressful if youre not battling to haul your luggage on and off unfamiliar trains every few hours. Heres our guide to some of the countries in europe you can travel around by train. Catching the train in europe expert transport tips on getting around europe by train. This is the best option if youd prefer to keep your itinerary more spontaneous. But despite the massive popularity of touring europe by rail, major online travel agencies such as expedia and hotwire dont sell european rail. Its more ecofriendl y, and its sometimes even the faste st travel option from city centre to. See the updated special refund terms assembled by rail europe, which. May 04, 2019 how to book trains in europe by rail expert the man in seat 61. Train travel in europe can also be surprisingly cheap compared to the uk. Hi there, we use cookies to improve your experience on our website. Trains in europe are a fast, safe and efficient way of traveling around countries and across the continent. Travel from the uk to france, from france to germany and spain, and from germany to italy, austria and switzerland in no time at all. Heres everything youll need to succeed at booking train travel in europe. Without a doubt, planning train travel in europe with its many countries, is the most challenging.
Take the first step of your epic european train travel and explore the beauties of europe with interrail. Your booking will be processed and you receive your etickets by email. When planning a trip to europe, establish a budget as early as possibleeven before you know your destination, travel dates, or itinerary. Europe by train made easy rail europe formerly loco2. Train companies in europe everything you need to know about european train travel. Exploring europe by train is easy, economical and enjoyable. Omio have partnered up with more than 800 providers in europe and helps you find your best train ticket to get around europe.
Children get ticket discounts in most of europe typically about 50 percent off for ages 411, sometimes free with an adult. Travel by train with rail europe, your travel planner. Virtually all usbased websites and travel agents sell european train tickets for. Apr 10, 2014 10 essential tips for european train travel. Please read our daily advice to travellers concerned about the impacts of coronavirus. While a rail pass is often the smart way to ride the rails in europe, sometimes it.
Train travel is one of the most popular choices for locals and visitors alike thanks to trains being clean, modern and fast. Europe by eurail has been the train travelers onestop source for visiting europe s cities and countries by rail for more than forty years. Trains to europe from the uk london to europe by train. The venice simplonorientexpress is the most storied set of carriages in the world. Youll also find a wealth of practical traintravel tips. Based on your trip itinerary, will you be better off buying pointtopoint tickets or a rail pass.
Europe by train and bus made easy rail europe formerly. Trains in europe most popular train routes train companies in europe train travel in european countries trains. This is unfortunately the second time i have ordered rail tickets through them to travel europe. How to book trains in europe by rail expert the man in seat. For a printed timetable to take with you, buy a copy of the european rail timetable. Depending on the country and train company youre travelling with, most european train tickets are divided into two categories advance purchase or on the day. With its polished wood, sumptuous upholstery and antique fixtures, the train epitomises the glamour and elegance of the golden age of travel. Europe by eurail has been the train travelers onestop source for visiting europes cities and countries by rail for more than forty years. Often a quicker and more convenient alternative to flying, international or cross border trains make it easy to travel around europe. Europe s rail network is an ideal way to move between the larger cities, and if you book overnight journeys you can save on the cost of a hotel room. Booking train tickets in europe train travel forum. Whether youre traveling with tickets or a rail pass, kids under 4 always travel free on your lap though if theres an empty seat, feel free to use it. Reservation fees are charged by the railway carriers, and are not included in your eurail pass. Weve done the research and we came up with a list of itineraries specifically customized for intercity train transfers.
France, germany, the low countries and switzerland score highly in quality and quantity of railways. How to buy cheap european train tickets read this advice first. In other words, with a 15day eurail global pass, you can travel for 15 consecutive days by train. Our dream is to enable online reservation for train tickets from lisbon to ho chi minh, the worlds longest rail journey at 17. Some of the trains travel at high speed across the continent, while others move around leisurely, either by day or by night. Uk train tickets are also divided by time of travel. There are several good guidebooks specifically to help you travel by train to and around europe. If you havent done it already, you have to travel by train in europe. Travel across europe and discover 33 countries by train with eurail. I take train not plane within europe because its a better travel experience. Europe best of europe by train vacations packages custom. Once in europe, you can simply get tickets at the station, usually without much fuss, either on your day of travel or in advance see my tips for buying tickets in european train stations.