Trains through europe

[IJumpedAboardAPirateShip]

Thinking of taking a trip through Europe next summer by train, maybe for 2months with 11&8yr old DC.... initial ideas would be Eurostar to Paris then either down to Barcelona over to Porto OR go down through Italy then ferry across to Greek island.

This is all dreamland planning stage at the moment so in an ideal world what would you do and any other ideas? Obviously we have to get back again without flying too so another route back....we’d be happy to stay in several places but maybe 3 weeks in the middle in one place?

Anyway - Europe being your oyster WWYD?

Less rather than more! It’s another lifetime now but interailed as a student and we did 13 countries in 2 months. After a while, I didn’t want to see another town hall or cathedral and stopped appreciating places unless they were absolutely extraordinary! Though we’re leaving Europe, you can still buy an Interail pass (but it doesn’t go ‘live’ till you get on the continent I think). If it was me I’d do a month in Italy then go onto Slovenia & Croatia, stay in Air BnBs and give myself a few days at least in each place!

They do interrail passes now valid for a certain number of days travel, where a night counts only as one day, so you can get a pass for a certain number of journeys and stay longer in certain places.

Check out seat61.com for all the details of setting trains across Europe (and beyond!) - fabulous resource.

I hate flying so have used trains to do journeys including London-Madrid-Geneva-London, down to Barcelona and back to pick up a cruise, and down to Cadiz to pick one up then back on a train from Greece, ferry to Bari, train up to Bologna for a few days then Paris then home.

Going to Cadiz we got an overnight from Paris to Madrid - not sure if the service still runs but we were able to upgrade to first class for £20 which meant we had a cabin for two with an en suite (smallest one ever - you could sit on the loo, brush your teeth and have a shower all at the same should you be so inclined!) and got a free 3 course meal in the restaurant which was delicious and meant that we didn’t need to buy one in Paris plus was a lovely way to spend the evening - very civilised! Plus obviously seats were bigger and bed was comfy.

We used railbookers.com to book it through - they were able to provide lots of useful advice too and are specialists in rail travel so really good rather than just doing what we asked - they were able to ask if we had considered different options that we didn’t know about. Their prices were good too!

Oh that sounds wonderful! I love train journeys. Eurostar run a summer service direct from London to Marseilles stopping at Lyon and Avignon. It's very good, we've done it twice. You can then connect from Avignon for Spain or Italy.

Just to add, the above service is excellent outbound but on the return journey you have to disembark at Lille for immigration which is very annoying, so it's probably better to go via Paris on the way back.