European holiday via train - Where?

[Peggy0907]

I'm looking for an August European getaway. Something fun to do for teens is a must. We would like to travel via Eurostar. No car. Can anyone recommend somewhere? I have googled so much that my head is spinning.

Barcelona?
Milan (and also easy to take local train to Lake Como from there)

There is a direct service to Rotterdam and Amsterdam. Look at what you can do around there and choose one.

If they're doing a western European language at school, consider going there.

For a sensible journey time you're looking at Paris, northern France generally, or the Benelux. Anywhere in the Randstad (Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Utrecht, etc) in the Netherlands is a good shout - lots to do, great public transport, nowhere's perfectly safe but it's not pickpocket central like Barca or Rome are, and if your teens aren't good with foreign languages (or they've learned Chinese or something) then English is widely spoken there.

Brussels seemed good to, although I only spent one night there. Places in western Germany or Switzerland are reachable if you want German-speaking.

You're looking at city break or/and countryside stuff - if you stay somewhere like Rotterdam you can get out for bike rides/walks in the country easily. If you want beach resort I'd probably do somewhere on the French Riviera. You could do places like Barca or Genoa but the journey time really ramps up.

We went to Biarritz- four hours by train from Paris. Surfing lessons for teens. Loved it.

We have done London to Portaventura on the train and stayed at one of the theme park hotels next to the station. That was fun.

Amsterdam was my first thought also.

We went to southern Italy by train - it did involve a sleeper, but with inter-railing it was really doable. We got '5 in 15' tickets - 5 days travel out of 15 days which was enough to get us there and back.

It was fabulous!

The Dordogne is completely doable.
Paris obviously, also done Biarritz. Rotherham is on my list for next Summer......

We just came back from the south of France. Previously have done San Sebastián and Geneva. Check Seat61 website for ideas.

La Rochelle?
The Dordogne is completely doable
Or this. There's a decent trainline between Bordeaux and Sarlat with some lovely places to explore. Bergerac is a decent base with some nice self-catering accommodation in town.

We've done Paris, Lille and Brussels by train with teenagers. This year we're doing Amsterdam. All have been great but I personally really like Lille because it's much less touristy.

This typo made me smile!

Hello. This is not 100% linked to initial post but I’m after some help. I’ve asked the same question in ankther thread in hope of attempting to quieten my severe anxiety down!
My family and I are travelling from Paris to Madrid on the high speed trains (with a change in Barcelona.)
does anyone know if either of these trains are those tilting type trains?
I’ve had responses on ankther thread that suggest not, but just posting here for further clarification. Thank you

OP - not sure if you have now booked something but The Guardian did a really good article on this last year which I have bookmarked for future planning: