I am one of those people who love traveling by train. Europe is a fantastic place for train travel, because it has many lines and you can reach most European cities fairly easily. Train might not be as fast as an airplane, but train travel is certainly less stressful and if done right, can be a lot of fun.
If you plan to travel a lot, get a pass
If you plan to travel to all corners of Europe, it would be wise to consider getting an InterRail pass. Unfortunately, the conditions of this pass have recently changed, and it’s not as comprehensive as it used to be. It’s definitely not a good idea to get one if you plan to travel in eastern Europe. Use tools like Seat 61 to check which routes are going to be free with InterRail.
Experience of traveling on a night train
Taking a night train in Europe can be an amazing experience. In the past, European countries were famous for their network of night trains, but most of them went out of business. Still, there are enough night trains to experience them and the price is fairly reasonable. For example, you can take a night train to go to Venice from Paris. If you get bored and want to pass time before falling asleep, sign up on CasinoChan to play casino games.
Surprisingly low cost
The cost of riding on night trains is surprisingly low. If you plan your trip well ahead of time, you might be able to find a bunk bed in a shared cabin for about $30. If you want a truly luxurious experience, you’ll have to pay extra for a full private cabin and a breakfast delivered to you. I wouldn’t travel in a luxurious cabin every time, but it’s something you should experience at least once in your lifetime.
The cost of $30 for a bunk bed is very low for multiple reasons. First, sleeper trains usually cover a long distance, and getting any seat for $30 is a really good deal. Second, sleeper trains allow you to go from one corner of Europe to another without paying for a hotel.
Decide on your priorities
When traveling on a train, you have to make a choice between speed and scenery. Fast trains are useful if you want to get from one region to another in just a few hours, but in my opinion, slow trains are better. They are cheaper and also offer great views from the window. This is especially true for scenic routes like the Douro Valley line in Portugal. Realistically, if you want speed, buying a plane ticket is the easy way to go. For this reason, whenever I travel on a train, I always choose to travel at a slower pace.
Our final advice is to stay safe. You are very unlikely to be in mortal danger when traveling on a train. It’s more important to look out for baggage theft. In some countries it is more common than others. If you have a bunk bed, store your bags in a safe place where no one can get to it without waking you up.