Best flight-free travel tips for getting around Europe by train, from an expert insider

Catherine Livesley is a sustainable journey knowledgeable who has traversed virtually each nation in Europe overland. She has created dream journeys at a few of the world’s main rail and sustainable journey firms and labored as a advisor for impartial journey firms. She is the founding father of flight-free tour operator and journey membership, No Fly Journey Membership.

Whereas working as a tailored journey specialist, frequent flights have been as a lot part of my life as a beer after work. However when the pandemic hit, I used to be compelled to remain grounded for much longer than anticipated. This led to a sluggish revelation. More and more involved in regards to the local weather disaster, it grew to become clear that my flight habits needed to change. Not solely that – I wished to assist others make the change too.

In November 2020 I stop my job to start out No Fly Travel Club, utilizing my experience in overland journey to assist others swap their wings for rails.

We concentrate on overland journeys beginning and ending within the UK – in addition to providing a membership membership for these on the lookout for flight-free journey recommendation and inspiration.

When you’re trying to minimize your carbon footprint with out reigning in your adventures, right here’s all of the insider data on learn how to journey Europe flight-free.

Prepare journey is nice worth for everybody – however particularly one sort of traveller

When planning an overland journey, ask your self these two questions: how a lot time do I’ve and what sort of vacation do I would like?

Are you trying to metropolis hop? Hike in stunning environment? Or simply chill out on the seaside?

The additional forward you propose, the cheaper your journey can be. Ideally it is best to e-book trains 2-3 months upfront. This offers you probably the most selection for the bottom worth.

One other approach to economize is to be versatile along with your dates. For one of the best offers purpose to journey outdoors of college holidays and weekends. For journeys with many legs, you also needs to look into whether or not an Interrail pass can be cheaper ultimately.

With a little bit of insider information, travelling by prepare may be particularly economical for households, since many prepare operators supply free and discounted seats for teenagers.

Taking the prepare with youngsters could possibly be far cheaper than flights

Most European prepare firms supply free tickets to youngsters (precise age limits fluctuate however it may be as much as 6). There’s no want to purchase a ticket – merely purchase a ticket for every other passengers and produce your youngsters alongside for the trip.

If you wish to reserve your little ones their very own seat, you are able to do so with a ‘little one seat complement’ from simply €9 per individual.

Some trains in France, Italy and Switzerland even have carriages particularly designed as play areas, so youngsters can run round freely.

For kids underneath 12 reductions often quantity to about 50 per cent off. Merely add the ages of every passenger when reserving and also you’ll routinely see the costs. That is notably helpful for those who’re travelling on an in a single day prepare as you may safe all of the beds in a cabin for your loved ones at a reduced worth. It’s a good way to profit from further privateness provided by rail journey.

Tips on how to journey to high locations

France – the land of cheese, wine and picture-perfect villages

France has spent a long time investing in its excessive velocity rail community, making it excellent for exploring by prepare.

Generally known as TGVs, France’s highspeed trains join main cities at a formidable 320km/hour. Once you consider time travelling to the airport, checking in and gathering baggage, travelling to France by excessive velocity prepare turns into kind of similar to flying. Probably the most acquainted route for UK travellers is, in fact, the Eurostar, connecting London to Lille in 1 hour 15, and Paris in simply 2 and a half hours.

Each these Eurostar hubs supply loads of selection for onward journey. Connecting in Lille is right if you wish to keep away from having to cross busy Paris. Massive cities in areas resembling Brittany and the Loire Valley Alsace may be simply reached in 4-5 hours from London, and you may be sipping Pastis within the Mediterranean area of Provence in as little as 7 hours.

Regional trains, generally known as TER providers, join smaller locations in addition to providing a less expensive, slower possibility for intercity journey. There are additionally a small variety of in a single day trains connecting Paris with the south of France (locations embody Good, Toulouse, Marseille and Perpginan). Reclining seats are the most cost effective possibility – beginning at round 19 euros per individual. Alternatively go for a ‘couchette’ for finances (and household) lodging, or improve to a sleeper cabin for the last word in in a single day consolation.

Italy – seashores, vineyards and pizza are all inside simple attain

As soon as in France, Italy is straightforward to achieve. Excessive velocity connections run direct from Paris to Milan and are provided by each SNCF and TrenItalia. With routes priced to rival finances airways, there are many bargains to be discovered. Fares begin at €39 per individual and the journey takes round 7 hours.

When you stay in London, it’s attainable to go all the best way to Turin or Milan in a day – or for these coming from additional afield, I like to recommend breaking apart the journey with a pitstop in Paris or Lyon.

From Milan, onward journey to most elements of northern and central Italy is fast and simple due to the superb excessive velocity rail community. In a single day providers additionally run to the south, permitting you to float all the way down to Rome, Naples or Sicily in fashion. Tickets may be bought from TrenItalia, in addition to personal excessive velocity prepare operator Italo.

Greece – hop from prepare to boat to discover a whole bunch of Grecian isles

Made it to Italy? Then you definately’re only a boat trip away from Greece. Ferries cross the Aegean from many locations alongside Italy’s east coast.

Excessive velocity rail connects main Italian ports like Ancona, Bari and Brindisi. These supply each day sailings to Igoumenitsa (on Greece’s west coast) and Patras (the place you may decide up a bus to Athens). There are additionally frequent sailings to Corfu and different Ionian Islands – however verify your dates as these don’t run on daily basis. Most supply in a single day journey, taking between 8 and 24 hours relying on the vacation spot. As with in a single day trains, you have got numerous choices for various costs. You possibly can sleep ‘on deck’ for the most cost effective worth, or e-book a cabin for an extra price if you wish to assure a cushty night time’s sleep.

Turkey – keep grounded till you attain the new air balloons of Cappadocia

Whereas it could be finest reserved for the extra adventurous traveller, it’s attainable to achieve Turkey overland from the UK. The simplest possibility (obtainable late April – early October) includes travelling from London to Munich through Brussels. From right here you may take in a single day trains to Budapest after which on to Bucharest, with a ultimate in a single day hop taking you from the Romanian capital to Istanbul – and the very fringe of the continent – on day 4.

Whereas it may not beat the 4 hour flight in a race, you’ll get to take in the surroundings in three of Europe’s most fun cities on the best way – and that’s one thing no airline can supply.