Beach holidays by train
Flight-free made easy
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Journeys you’ll love
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Adventurous coastal journeys
Albanian Riviera
Nice, Genoa, Bari, Tirana, Vlorë, Milan and Paris with sleeper ferries
This year’s up-and-coming beach destination? Albania. Go by train past towns and bays along the Mediterranean, Adriatic and Ionian coastlines.
Flight-free Greece
Zurich, Bologna, Bari, Corfu, Ancona and Milan
During the summer months, uncover the UNESCO Heritage town of Corfu on Greece’s verdant Ionian Island by way of Switzerland and Italy.
Dalmatian Coast
Ulm, Zagreb, Split, Mljet, Dubrovnik, Korčula, Vienna and Zürich with sleeper trains
Hunker down on the sleeper train to Zagreb to enjoy Croatia’s world-famous Dalmatian coast and islands, with nights in Split, Korčula, Dubrovnik and Mljet.
Easy-breezy beach by train
Marseille
On the agenda: produce hunting in the port market, hiking across the emerald Calanques, lapping up the Corniche Propeller sunset over a glass of pastis.
Barcelona
Reliable warmth awaits on the Catalonian coastline. Based in Barcelona, but with easy access to surrounding quieter spots when the mood takes you.
La Rochelle
For a hit of coastal French glamour with fewer crowds than the south, try La Rochelle for miles of sand and a slew of oyster bars.
Bilbao
Go for the best Basque pintxos and world-class galleries, including the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao and the Bilbao Art District, a thriving public-private project.
Den Haag
All the charm of a Dutch city, with a sandy (yes, really) beach. Aspiring water skiers and paddleboarders: hit up the seaside resort of Scheveningen for a slew of watersport opportunities.
Nice
The classic glamour of the Côte d'Azur is just a train away from Paris. Go for palm-tree-lined promenades and coastal bars, best paired with oversized sunglasses and wide-brimmed hat.
Ostend
Belgium may not be considered a classic beach destination, but that only increases its charm. Dive into the city’s Maritime history in the Mercator Ship Museum before hitting the beach.
Boulogne-sur-Mer
Boulogne-sur-Mer is home to some of the most picturesque beaches on the nearby North French coast, and an ideal base for exploring the Côte d'Opale.
Santander
Enjoy a direct sailing to Spain’s green coast, home to idyllic sand beaches, verdant mountain landscapes, and in Santander, elegant Belle Époque architecture.
Classic coastlines
Amalfi coast
Paris, Naples, Amalfi, Florence, Milan and Chambery with sleeper train
Above the buzz of fine seafood and aperitif spots carved into the cliffs, the Monti Lattari lead up into green landscapes of citrus trees and umbrella pines.
Bay of Biscay
Bordeaux, Biarritz, San Sebastián, Santander
For fans of surf—or surf ‘n’ turf. Failsafe waves meet one of the best gastronomy scenes in Spain. Hit the waves, and then the Pintxo bars of La Cuchara.
The Algarve
Bordeaux, San Sebastián, Madrid, Faro, Seville, Barcelona, Paris
Opt for off-season for a dose of the Algarve’s authentic side. The beaches are peaceful and the Ria Formosa teem with rare waterfowl and flamingoes.
Alternative coastlines
Côte d'Opale
Le Touquet and Boulogne-sur-Mer
Swap the Côte d'Azur for the northern, lesser-known Côte d'Opale for dune-jumping, undercliff walks and fresh de fruits de mer.
North Dutch Coast
Texel
Head to the Dutch Island of Texel to uncover salt marshes of flowering sea lavender, nesting birds, and miles of dune-fringed beaches.
The Baltic Riviera
Cologne, Berlin, Sopot, Gdansk, Berlin, Osnabrück
It’s not for the fainthearted, but brave the chill of Poland's Baltic Coast and you'll experience the quiet of snow-covered beaches and vast white skies.
Island escapism
Palma, Mallorca
Marseille, Palma, Mallorca, Barcelona, Paris
You don’t need to fly to paradise. After a serene overnight sailing from Barcelona, wake up to waters straight from the pages of a glossy travel mag.
Classic Sicily
Rome, Cefalù, Messina, Naples, Turin
Lap up the golden-hour pinks and oranges of grapefruit granita, honey-hued architecture and some of Europe’s most vibrant sunsets.
Corsica: beaches of Corse-du-Sud
Marseille, Ajaccio, Bonifacio, Avignon
Real island escapism is just a short sailing from the French mainland. With 25 surrounding beaches, Bonifacio on the southern tip makes the ideal base.
UK beach breaks
Scotland’s east coast
Aberdeen, Perth, Inverness
Scotland’s east coast is where wild Highland landscapes collide with rugged coastlines, dotted with reminders of bygone fishing communities.
Norfolk coast
Sheringham, Cromer, Norwich
Ride the heritage Bittern line through the Broads to reach the North Norfolk coast for a dose of sea air: cold water dips, crabbing and sunsets from the pier.
Cornish coast
Penzance, St Ives, Falmouth and sleeper train
Board a private cabin on the Night Riviera and go straight from bed to beach. Wake up with a dip in Penzance’s art-deco lido, or head straight to the sea.
UK Island breaks
Guernsey
Poole, Saint Peter Port
Gone is Guernsey's outdated image as a sleepy tax haven. Teeming with wildlife, don't miss the smaller islands of Alderney, Sark, Herm, Jethou, Brecqhou and Lihou.
Isles of Scilly
St Mary’s, Scilly
With limited hotels that sell out years in advance, we’ve secured exclusive availability for Byway travellers at the sought-after Bell Rock Hotel for select weekends in August.
The Isle of Arran
The Isle of Arran, Glasgow
Cradled by the Firth of Clyde, Arran is one of Scotland's most accessible islands. There's the Sleeping Warrior for hiking, Brodick Bay for swimming and the wee village of Brodick.
Here’s the minimum time you’ll need for a relaxed round trip starting from London. We do other departure stations, too!
