Last year I shared reasons why you should take the train to your next holiday destination and some suggested routes – but we as we all known, most of our plans did not happen in the way we wanted to last year…
As a result, I am very carefully looking at where I can go next, preferably by train, and ooooh how inspired I am: I want to train through Europe again with a backpack and take in as many cities as possible. Perhaps take in a slow train trip through France? Maybe it will soon be safe to take the Night Riviera Sleeper to Cornwall as well? Or just a quick trip to the Netherlands?!
In honour of my train excitement (traincitement?), I’m sharing five destinations that you can take by train that are not Paris, Brussels or Amsterdam.
Travel to Morocco by train – Thanks to high-speed trains in France and Spain, you can leave London in the morning and reach Tangier the evening of the following day. Sure it takes a bit longer to get there than by air, but remember – it’s about the journey not the destination! From Tangier, you can easily travel through the rest of Morocco by train.
Take the sleeper train to Venice – Taking the train from London to Venice via Paris? It’s possible with the Thello sleeper train that gets you from Paris to Venice overnight. The train also stops in Milan and Verona if that’s on your list. Sleeper cabins aren’t too expensive! £29 for a 6er cabin or £85 for a 2er is totally doable.
London to Dublin By Train – The ‘Rail & Sail’ ticket offers you a way to travel to Ireland without taking the plane! From London Euston to Dublin ferry port via Holyhead takes around 9 hours. From the ferry you can take the bus to Dublin and explore the city or travel around Ireland by train. Sure it will take you three times as long, but think of all the modes of transport you can tick off in one day. Tickets are around £50 one way, so going green won’t break your bank.
Travel To San Sebastián By Train – You can get to Basque Country without flying by taking the Eurostar from London to Paris and from there the high speed train to Hendaye. From Hendaye you can take the local train to San Sebastián and explore the city. To travel to Bilbao, you can take the bus that will get you there in a few hours. If you’re in the mood to treat yourself, why not take the luxury bus that serves snacks on board?!
Take the Overnight Train To Vienna – Another overnight train! Going from Brussels to Vienna via Cologne and Linz. Why not combine your trip with a visit to Salzburg or Innsbruck? Vienna is also connected to Slovakia and Czech Republic, which makes it a perfect starting point to explore Eastern Europe!
Will you be making any trips by train this year?
