Until I visited Europe in the middle of 2024, I had no clue how amazing and popular train travel is within Europe. I probably still do not have a grasp on it as I have only been to two train stations in Vienna, Austria. The central train station in Vienna, Austria Wien Hauptbahnhof (click blue link) was as big or even bigger than a lot of the Airports in Canada and the United States. There were several levels, entrances, and train companies (local/international) and I got lost more than once.
I purchased a Europass for 25% off to use for a trip scheduled for March 2024. The pass that I chose was $380 USD for ten days that can be used over a two-month period. This was perfect as that is less than $40 for a full day of train travel depending on which routes I choose.
I created a dream trip at the top of the post which shows the routes I would take if possible. It will be impossible to take all of those routes but if I can even reach half of them, it would be spectacular.
Below is some of the research I did to create this dream train router:
Train rides to consider:
https://www.eurail.com/en/plan-your-trip/trip-ideas/suggested-itineraries/one-month-europe-alternative-tour
The best of Italy
stop location Milan, Rome, Florence, Naples and
Discover the Mediterranean
stop location Barcelona, Nice, Genoa, Rome
Portugal and Spain
stop location Porto, Faro, Cadiz, Granada
France north to south
stop location Versailles, Bordeaux, Nice, Lyon
Journey to the Adriatic
Villa Opicina – Rijeka
a direct, regional train has been operating from Villa Opicina in Italy to Rijeka in Croatia, cutting through the southwestern corner of Slovenia along the way.
Chase the sun in Cornwall
Exeter – Penzance
England might not seem like the most obvious place to catch some offseason warmth – but Cornwall is one of the sunniest regions in the United Kingdom, enjoying a mild climate well into the autumn.
The quiet side of Italy’s coastline
Bari – Lecce
The stretch of Italian coastline from Bari to Lecce may not be as famous as Cinque Terre or Amalfi, but if you look closely, you’ll find plenty of pristine beaches, dramatic cliffsides and ancient towns to explore
Explore Portugal’s southern coast
Lagos – Vila Real de Santo António
Portugal’s southern coastline is a summer hotspot for travelers across the world. But our favorite time to visit is after August, when crowds disperse but temperatures stay comfortable enough to swim.
Slow down in seaside towns
Perpignan – Girona
Many travelers opt for high-speed rail when crossing from France into Spain. But, in doing so, they miss a spectacularly scenic railway line that stretches along the dramatic Mediterranean coast and winds through the foothills of the Pyrenees.
Discover a wild Baltic island
Greifswald – Świnoujście
Embark on an island adventure when you travel from Greifswald, in northern Germany, to Świnoujście, in Poland’s far northwestern corner.
An Andalusian adventure
Seville – Cádiz
Wandering through Seville is an experience to be savored, especially after summer, when temperatures drop to 24 and 25 degrees Celsius. With history around every turn and mouth-watering cuisine, it’s a perfect place to begin a Eurail adventure though southern Spain.
Cities recommended to train by train:
Ghent, Belgium Rotterdam, the Netherlands Leipzig, Germany Warsaw, Poland Budapest, Hungary Belgrade, Serbia Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina Zagreb, Croatia Bologna, Italy Lyon, France