Train vacations Europe

May to June or September to October is the best time to visit Europe by train, with mild weather, thinner crowds and lower prices than the July and August peak. There are highlights year-round: spring brings blossom and garden festivals across the continent, summer is peak season for outdoor music festivals and long daylight hours in the north, winter opens the ski season across the Alps, Pyrenees and Dolomites, and Christmas markets fill town squares across Germany, Austria and beyond every December.

The best things to do in Europe by train include exploring historic capitals like Paris, Vienna and Prague, hiking in the Alps, and relaxing on the Mediterranean and Adriatic coasts.

• Exploring historic capitals connected by direct rail, from Paris and Amsterdam to Vienna, Prague and Budapest

• Hiking or skiing in the Alps, around resorts in Switzerland, Austria and France

• Island and coastal hopping along the Mediterranean and Adriatic, from Croatia's Dalmatian coast to the Greek islands

• Wine tasting through Europe's great vineyard regions, from the Douro Valley in Portugal to the Rhine and Rioja

• Visiting Christmas markets across Germany, Austria and France each winter, easily linked together by train

• Discovering UNESCO-listed old towns and castles, from Prague and Kraków to the fairy-tale valleys of the Loire

• Riding scenic mountain routes including the Bernina Express route in Switzerland, the West Highland Line in Scotland and the Brenner Pass between Austria and Italy

Eurostar runs from London to Brussels, Paris, Lille, Rotterdam and Amsterdam, connecting onward to high-speed and sleeper networks across the continent. From these gateway cities, direct and connecting trains reach destinations throughout Western, Central and Southern Europe, while ferries link onward to Ireland, Scandinavia and North Africa.

Europe's most scenic train journeys include the Bernina Express route in Switzerland, Norway's Bergen and Flåm railways, and Scotland's West Highland Line.

• The UNESCO-listed Bernina Express route runs from Chur to Tirano via St Moritz, crossing 196 bridges and 55 tunnels of uninterrupted Alpine scenery

• The Glacier Express route connects Zermatt and St Moritz in around eight hours, winding through the Alps from Piz Bernina to the Matterhorn across 291 bridges and 91 tunnels

• Norway's Bergen Line runs from Oslo to Bergen, crossing fjords and the Hardangervidda plateau, connecting with the Flåm Railway's descent to Aurlandsfjord

• Scotland's West Highland Line, previously voted the world's most scenic railway, runs from Glasgow to Oban or Fort William and Mallaig

• The GoldenPass Line crosses Switzerland from Lucerne to Montreux, past lakes and vineyards in Belle Epoque-style carriages

• The Semmering and Arlberg railways cross the Austrian Alps on two of Europe's great engineering landmarks

• The Cinque Terre Express links Liguria's five colourful coastal villages along the Italian Riviera

• The coastal Marseille-Ventimiglia Railway follows the French Riviera along the Mediterranean coastline

• The Brenner Pass route runs from Munich through Innsbruck and over the Alps to Bolzano, continuing on to Verona and Venice, one of Europe's classic mountain crossings

Yes. Europe has an expanding network of sleeper trains connecting major cities overnight, including ÖBB Nightjet routes linking Vienna, Berlin, Amsterdam, Paris, Milan and Zurich. Accommodation ranges from reclining seats to shared couchettes and private en-suite cabins, with most trains offering onboard washrooms, charging points and food and drink service. Boarding in the evening and arriving the next morning saves a night's accommodation while covering long distances without flying.

Yes. An Interrail/Eurail pass allows unlimited travel across 30-plus countries on most national rail networks, including high-speed and regional services, over a set number of travel days within a month, which can be used consecutively or spaced out. Byway trips use an Interrail/Eurail pass where it works out more affordable, and we arrange both the pass and any additional seat reservations your trip needs.

Our price includes all transport, accommodation and a personalized itinerary for your trip. Byway's travel experts are also available on WhatsApp throughout for disruption support and travel tips.

No, flights to Europe aren't included, but all transport and accommodation once you're here is. Short-haul flights are highly carbon-intensive, and traveling around Europe by train, ferry or bus is an easy, enjoyable alternative.

Yes. Different hotel options are available to choose from on the trip page, and any room upgrade requests can be added in the booking form. Our team will then find upgrade options and discuss them with you.

No. If you'd like to leave Europe from a different city, our concierge team can build you a custom one-way trip.

Yes. Prices on our trip pages are shown in your local currency by default, or you can select your preferred currency, including USD, CAD, EUR or CHF, from the dropdown in the top right corner of the trip page. The payment page will always show the price in your chosen currency.

You can generally bring as much luggage as you can carry, as long as it fits in the luggage racks or overhead space. On Eurostar, UK and most European trains, the standard allowance is two large bags and one smaller item, provided you can manage them yourself; let us know in advance if you're planning to bring anything oversized. Since you may need to change stations or walk to hotels, packing light makes the journey more comfortable.

Most European train tickets are digital and sent to you by email. A few, including tickets for Spain, Portugal and some EuroCity trains, require paper tickets, which can be mailed to a hotel on your itinerary.

No, Byway trips are self-guided, not part of a group tour. You'll have on-demand personalized support by WhatsApp, text or phone throughout, so all the planning and booking is done for you, and any disruptions are handled without you having to worry about them.