Travel by Train in Europe| Complete Beginners Guide

Traveling to Europe by train is a scenic way to explore the rich culture and landscape of the continent. Traveling by train from your home country to any destination in Europe is both easy and comfortable. If you are planning a thrilling trip to Europe by train it's the right choice than flying. However, travelers may face challenges including traveling schedules, ticket options, and route navigation. 

Do not worry, making strategic planning and understanding some important points can help you to sort out these challenges. In this guide, I will help you sketch a plan for your safe and smooth traveling to Europe by train.

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Is traveling by train in Europe the right choice for you?

Traveling in Europe by train is an excellent experience but whether it is right, depends on your, destination, trip length choice, budget, and preference. In my opinion, traveling by train is convenient and comfortable.  

• European trains like Eurostar and TGV are comfortable and high-speed trains. You can easily relax with your companions during the travel. 
• European train stations are usually located in the central cities and are easy to reach.
• Unlike flying, you can travel by train without the hassle of security checks.
• Europe has a vast network of trains that connects the major cities to the small towns for the traveler's convenience. 
• The train services are quick to offer flexible tickets for the many destinations. 
• During the train travel, you don’t face any kind of luggage restrictions and policies.  
• The main point to be noted is train travel is more eco-friendly than air travel. 

Planning your Trip

Before purchasing the tickets for your Europe trip, you must consider some points. You should design the traveling plan like which places you want to visit, your stay duration, your route, and your traveling time. 

Choose your Destination

Before starting your journey, you must be clear about your destination like which country and city you are visiting in Europe. In Western Europe, you can visit  Paris and Berlin. While in Southern Europe, consider  Rome, Barcelona, and Madrid.

Train Routes and Travel Time

Once you choose the travel destination, search the European train routes. The online rail map of Europe is good for searching the railway network. The Traveller Railway map of Europe also provides details about the train routes. The area it covers includes Portugal in the west to Moscow & Istanbul in the east, and Finland in the north to Sicily. The map highlights the stations in major cities and high-speed routes.

You should also check for the traveling time and suitable train for your journey. Such as from Paris to Amsterdam, you can take the high-speed train Thalys to cover your destination in 3 hours and 30 minutes.

Consider the Travel Season

It is important to consider the traveling season. Check whether it's the peak or low season at your traveling destination. In peak seasons you require advanced booking while in low or shoulder season times discounts and deals are offered for travelers. 

How to travel to Europe by train?

1. Choose the Train Service

The European train system is a mix of high and low-speed trains. Fast-speed trains are used for long journeys and low speeds for short distances. The high-speed train usually charges higher than the other. The cost also depends on the peak and off-peak seasons. 

Eurostar

Eurostar is a high-speed train and most of the journey from the UK starts on this train. The train provides the services in different countries and the major cities. The train is divided into different classes, the first-class fares are comparatively higher than the other due the services like comfort, drink, and meals. 

You can move from London to Paris or Brussels by Eurostar train. This journey from UK into Europe often involves a change of train and station in Paris. You can stay in Paris for some time by taking the Eurostar on an outward journey. The long-distance trains stop at Brussels Midi station including trains to Amsterdam, Cologne, Paris, and all other destinations in Belgium, this makes changing trains easy.

Interrail

Interrail Global Pass allows you to travel the 33 countries in Europe. You can buy the one-country interrail pass to visit the one country of your desire. 

2. Get your Train Ticket

If your priority is cheap traveling to Europe, you should book the ticket in advance. Rail Pass is the best option if you are looking for a comfortable and easy journey. You can select any other train service that suits you. After choosing the company you can purchase the ticket online, by hand, or from third-party sites. 

Online Ticket Purchasing

Online ticket purchasing is easy, you can go to the official website of the selected train service and buy the ticket. Buy sometimes people do not know how to use it.

By Hand purchase

You can typically buy your Europe tickets for your destination country from a digital kiosk.

Third Party Sites

I usually prefer to book the ticket through a third-party site. You have to pay the little charges to them. The third-party sites provide the best quality services and assist travelers throughout purchasing the ticket for multiple countries. 

3. Move to the Station Before Departure

If you are traveling to Europe for the first time, move to station 30 minutes before the departure.  At the station, you need to come to the departure board and move to the relevant platform. After completing the screening process over there, step onto the train. At some European railway stations, the tickets are checked on board during travel.

In France stations have automatic gates to check the tickets for long-distance travel. They scan the barcode of your ticket 2 minutes before departure. In Spain, X-ray luggage checking takes place before boarding. The process just takes a few minutes. Then you move to find your carriage.

4. Search your Carriage and Seat

Find the carriage with the class you booked for. After finding the carriage, search for your booked seat. If the seat is not assigned to you, select any seat according to your leisure in the right class. Before sitting down make sure the seat is yours or reserved by someone else.  

Travel Essentials

Here I am discussing some travel essentials that will help you to move freely in your destination country. One is the travel insurance and the internet connectivity.

Travel Insurance

Before traveling take out travel insurance from a reliable insurer company. Travel insurance is the coverup for the traveler in case of any mishap including trip cancellation and loss of cash or belongings. The travel insurance doesn’t work to bail you out of every missed connection.

Get the eSIM for Connectivity

During your journey make sure to buy the eSIM. If you are a physical SIM card user, you will require each European country’s local SIM for making calls, text, and data. 

I recommend the best alternative of a physical SIM card. eSIM Card is the eSIM provider that offers eSIM plans for 200+ countries all over the world. Go to the eSIM Card website and buy the European eSIM regional plan. The European eSIM will keep you connected all over the region without swapping the physical SIM card and data roaming. 

FAQs

Is it easy to travel around Europe by train?

Yes, it is more comfortable and easy to travel than flight travel. Traveling to Europe by train is affordable and convenient without any luggage restrictions and extra charges. The European train network is well-established and modified with the luxury and fast-speed trains that offer the best passenger services.

What is the best way to travel to multiple countries in Europe?

You can travel to multiple countries in Europe by flight. But if you are looking for an affordable way to travel, trains are the best option. The European trains provide luxury travel for budget travelers. 

How much is a train ticket to travel around Europe?

Traveling to Europe by train costs a reasonable price which the budget traveler can afford. The average cost is around $50 to $200 which can vary according to your destination.