Best European train trips

Europe: a patchwork of tiny nation-states in the birthplace of the modern world. Visiting them all by car would take way too long (even though you’d be traveling on such famous roads as Germany’s autobahn system!), so why not take a train journey instead? Check out this list of the best European train trips out there and start planning your next vacation now!

The Orient Express

How could one forget the Orient Express, made famous by Agatha Christie’s renowned murder novel? Although the original Orient Express Company no longer exists, a similar train journey, the Venice-Simplon Orient Express, runs a similar service from Paris to Istanbul, traveling much the same route. The trains run on this service look rather antiqued, adding to the charm and ambience of the trains themselves. If you’d like to see Europe from east to west, the Orient Express is a brilliant option.

The Trans-Siberian Railway

While this journey starts in eastern Europe and ends up in the furthest reaches of eastern Asia, making it technically more than just a European train trip, this journey is not to be missed by those interested in extended train travel. The Trans-Siberian Railway is the longest continuous railway in the world, and despite this, fares are not too expensive, with cheap fares to be had for as little as 250 euro. Several lines branch off the main Moscow-Vladivostok line, such as the railways to Beijing, China, Pyongyang, North Korea, and Ulan Bator, Mongolia, although the main line is the most famous.

The Danube Express

If you’re looking to travel to as many eastern European nations as possible while remaining on the same train route, the Danube Express is an option to consider. This train journey takes eight days to complete and begins in Budapest, finishing in Istanbul. You’ll get to visit many tourist attractions along the way that many back home will never have heard of, despite being a very interesting experience for visitors. For example, if you’ve never heard of Vlad the Impaler, it might be high time for you to visit Sighisoara in Romania. On top of all this, you’ll get to visit the very center of Transylvania – definitely something special to tell those back home!

Eurostar

Remember the English Channel’s Channel Tunnel opening way back in 1994? If you do, and have never traveled on the Eurostar train, there has never been a better time to do so than right now. The Eurostar rail network offers countless opportunities to travelers – visitors to Europe have the option of visiting locations such as London, England, Paris, France (with a connection to the famous Disneyland Paris), and Brussels, Belgium. The train comes complete with food and drink to purchase, although this is at a rather expensive price. If you do go, make sure you sit in a frontwards-facing seat, as sitting in a backwards-facing one can make train riders quite dizzy after a while!

Which train journey you choose is up to you, but regardless of which one is your final choice, it is guaranteed to be a journey you will never forget!