Best/hottest/beach destination in Europe by train

[hopeandivy]

Any recommendations from London? Hoping to travel by train only. Hoping to get there in 1-2 days and then the same on the way back, but as simple as possible. Or any websites for inspiration that you would recommend? Thinking of June as the time of year. Thank you

Best, hottest and beach are three different things. What exactly are you looking for?

Anywhere on the Côte d’Azure. Direct trains to Nice from Paris are under 6 hours.

Barcelona should be doable

I'd be interested in this too! I'd like to do some inter railing next year but feel the need to build in some relaxing days by a pool. I was thinking of Lake Garda.

For the practicalities of train travel to wherever you choose, seat61.com is an invaluable resource.

Thanks everyone and in answer to TMMC1, I guess I mean the best beach resort for relaxing with sunny weather, so we can go for a swim

Lake Garda is really interesting elizabethcharlotte, I have been there before and loved it, will have a look into that as an option

We did Juan Les Pins in a day from Brussels via Marseille. Coming from UK I would do Lille / Lyon or Aix en Provence in day one and then onwards to Riviera from there, In theory the Italian Riviera is also doable day 2 from Nice. Montpellier / Languedoc is also easy on that route. We also spent 2 weeks in Puglia last year, but did (from Brussels again) Frankfurt / Munich/ Innsbruck on day one, Rimini on day 2 and Bari / Monopoli day 3. 10 days in Monopoli. Then on the way back, Verona for a night then Munich for a night. From Innsbruck you could go to Venice / Venetian Riviera instead via Verona.

Second seat61.com as a fab resource

I'd head straight down to Nice or Marseille. Easy journey. Weather will be great in June and it will be great being there before school holidays/peak holiday season. If you want to be somewhere smaller you could get train to Cassis, Hyères, Bandol or somewhere like that.

I agree but beaches are variable. Antibes and Villefranche sur mer are good . Otherwise get the intercity to Toulon that has “made” fantastic sandy beaches around sea lagoons. Theres also coves and less developed swimming all along the bay if you like more authentic.

We had a great time at lake Lucerne by train from London via Paris. There is a lovely lake beach. Swiss trains were great.

It's 3 hours from Paris to Marseille on the TGV. I love Marseille, but it's definitely a marmite kind of city!

Right on the edge of the city is the Calanques National Park, which is stunning. It's expensive to stay there because it has hardly any development, but the nearest town is Cassis- also pricey, but pretty!

Going along the coast towards Nice, I haven't stopped, but there's some lovely red rock Coastline around St Raphael. I managed to locate one particularly stunning looking beach on Google maps as we were whizzing past- the Calanque d' Antheon I think.

Yes, Villefranche s/m is nice, or you can continue on into Italy, with a string of beaches and resorts all the way through Liguria. I mean, basically there's a railway along the whole of that coast from Toulon to La Spezia, so the world's your oyster!