European holiday by train with 11&14 yr old - ideas please!

[babybouncer]

We’ve just returned from a 10 day having spent 2 nights in Paris, then a week in Ile de Re (island next to La Rochelle), travelling by train then hiring bikes and it was great. We’d like to do something similar next year and want some inspiration. Our 11 yr old is not hugely into active stuff (although the 14yr old would love it) and although we cycled in Ile de Re that worked because I had an ebike and she shared a tandem with her dad, so anything involving hiking/hills would be difficult for us. Kids love beaches, but not essential, not too hot. Wouldn’t mind hiring a car when we got there, or bikes or use buses etc if it’s easy? We could do a 2 centre thing with a big city again.
Where might work? Any ideas?

Germany or Sweden. Obviously getting there on trains would take longer than to Paris, but you could base yourselves somewhere like Munich or Malmö, explore the cities (pretty compact) and then have nature and outdoor activities on the doorstep. Local trains are really efficient in both countries, in my opinion.

You've probably already looked but the website maninseat61 is great for train travel - he lists destinations and there are details on travel, often videos and costs.

For example - www.seat61.com/Latvia.htm#london-to-riga-via-stockholm

Netherlands and/or Belgium? Something for everyone in both, good public transport, distances between places not too far and beautiful beaches and dunes along much of the coast.

PS Agree with the recommendation for the "seatsixtyone" website: an absolute mine of information for rail travel.

Amsterdam, then take the train to Duinrell. Amsterdam has loads to do with teens and tweens and they’re old enough for Anne Frank’s house.
Duinrell is within cycling distance of some nice sandy beaches. Not too busy, not too hot.

Italy. Sleeper to Venice from Paris, a few days in Venice then head back via northern Italy and Switzerland.

Meant to say that if you are there when it is hot, the Lido beach is lovely. But masses to do if you don't want a beach holiday obviously.

I’d strongly recommend Liguria - we had a fab train-based holiday there a couple of years ago. The train line goes all the way along the coast both ways from Genova, all the little towns have stations.

We spent a couple of days in Paris and then got the sleeper to Milan, and Genova is an easy journey from there. We stayed in a town about 40mins by train outside Genova, so we could get into the city easily (which is lovely), but we mostly stayed in Airbnb place and on the local beach. You can walk in the Portofino peninsular, which is gorgeous and easily accessible by train, get the train to Santa Margarita or the Cinque Terre direct from any of the stations, etc. So much to do and so easy by train - and the food in that part of Italy is the best!

I just returned from a short rail trip. South of France to Cinque Terre in Italy , Lake Como and Switzerland.

You could do Amsterdam and then take the train to the ferry to go to the island of Texel.

@babybouncer do you want to get the train from the UK or would you fly and then train?

We just got back from Slovenia via Italy travelling by train and bus. Beautiful. We flew to Venice and home from Trieste.
You could do the same using sleeper trains too.

Great ideas on here.
Whole thing on train @Sortingfinances2

Was going to say Slovenia too - we are just back and it's a great destination. The public transport there is abundant, affordable and accessible - no car needed - and there are really fun activities for tweens and teens. We did white water rafting and zip lining but there is plenty to do just cycling, hiking (many gorges and waterfalls to explore without having to hike up mountains), swimming in the lakes too. There are a couple of night trains from northern Europe that lead in that general direction.

We've just been to Delft and Amersfoort by car and ferry but I think it would be really easy by train/tram too. We hired bikes to explore and my nearly teenagers enjoyed it.

Italian lakes? Train to paris, sleeper to verona, local train/bus..to peschiara?
Lots of big campsites that have accommodation and facilities ..easy to get to from the station
You can stay on to venice or stay in verona for a couple of days as well
We came back via milan and had a good couple of days there ....

It was v hot and you couldn't swim in the lake so would recommend sites with pools...

Oh this all sounds wonderful! I am getting alot of inspiration, thanks OP.

F

We are doing Paris-Nice-Cinque Terre in September by train. Liguria is fantastic for train journeys as the train line follows the coast all the way round til you get to La Spezia where it goes in land to Pisa.

A couple of years ago we went from Paris to Turin, then on to Liguria, to Levanto and Finale Ligure, by train. As others have said, Liguria is beautiful and the food is incredible, but the beaches were heaving in August - I’ve found that to be the case in Italy generally.

We were due to then take the train to Avignon for a week then train home, but Covid travel rules changed and we couldn’t go to France - had to stay in Milan for a few days and fly from there.

I really enjoyed the Eurostar to Avignon. We did a sleeper to Carcassonne a few years back as well, but I didn't sleep that well so I am not sure I would again. With 4 of you you could get a first class sleeper carriage to yourself for less expense as you'd fill it up so that might work well.

I'm planning to fly to Italy and then wens my way back on the train, which cuts the time you have to keep available for travelling somewhat.

There's a direct train Milan to Paris I think, only takes as long as London to Edinburgh.

A few years ago we flew (but you could take the train!) to Billund in Denmark for Lego Museum (the most incredible place) and Legoland -suitable for older teens unlike UK Ll. Then took a bus to travel via canoe (with all our backpacks!) along a very easy to navigate river… then by bus & train to Silkeborg, Roskilde…train and ferry to Bornholm island…then back to Copenhagen for a few nights before flying back.

These are fantastic ideas - I now need several holidays!