Beautiful snow-capped scenery aside, the best part about traveling through Europe in winter is the lack of crowds. Why its exciting: Switzerlands scenic trains, designed to offer panoramic views of some of the worlds finest mountain views, are an essential part of any visit. Germanys rail network is comprehensive and efficient. The Mittelrheinbahn (Central Rhine Railway)follows the snaking left bank of the Rhine River between Mainz and Koblenz. Using Interrail to ride trains around Europe has been a travel rite of passage since the 1970s. By Lia Garcia | Updated on: March 7, 2023. Geneva Airport is an easy seven minute train ride away from the city centre. That's why it's worth considering touring the country in winter, when there are fewer tourists. We chose to spend New Years Eve here, which was a BLAST. Read our Privacy Policy. From inside the airport, its easy to take a train right into Viennas central station. As the air gets cold, the adventure is just warming up. We also recommend this one for folks who prefer slower travel even if it means visiting fewer destinations. Luckily, your last inter-city hop is a pretty short one, at just over one hour by train/bus. Its easy to reach most cities and many smaller towns and villages by rail. Youll chug past tumbling waterfalls as it twists and turns the 865 metre descent through the forest covered valley usually coated with thick snow in winter to the shores of Aurlandsfjord. Explore the Swiss Alps and ride the Glacier Express with Country Living in February or October 2022. Iryo is a new high-speed operator that looks set to shake up the Spanish rail scene. However, we recommend staying a few days in Bremen so you can experience all of the wonderful winter delights the town has to offer. The 3.5-4 hour ride will take you through the beautiful Austrian countryside, so be ready to gaze out the window dreamily at the (hopefully) snow-covered landscapes passing you by. Visit a Christmas market to drink Glhwein and eat traditional Austrian cookies and baked goods. Seats available for 17 December from 457 (belmond.com), Winter is the perfect time to travel on the Harz line as it ascends Brocken mountain and joins one of the worlds most spectacular networks of narrow-gauge steam lines. Head of steam: the Tornado engine ready to roll. Visit places like Santa Claus Village and SantaPark. Fans of train travel like me are looking toward 2023 with excitement and a newly expanded to-do list. Route:Dombs to ndalsnesDon't miss:Admiring Trollveggen, Europe's highest perpendicular rock faceDistance andduration: 70 miles (114km), 1 hoursBest time to ride: June to August. Good lord. There are even swans. Visit the Jet dEau, a stunning large fountain in the city. There are also easy connections by rail to all neighbouring countries. Glacier Express Vacations By Rail Glacier Express, Switzerland Winter is the perfect time to see the world-famous Alps and there's no. The West Highland Line inScotland is certainly one scenic journey, with rugged highlands, isolated lochs, flashes of coastline, Ben Nevis (Britains highest mountain)and spectacular views from the viaduct at Glenfinnan. But we also started here because Copenhagen is one of the best European cities to visit in winter. In the winter its brisk and cold, with short days the better for sleeping in and going to bed early, we say. The early morning train, with reclining seats and huge observation windows, sweeps past fjords, paper mills, frozen waterfalls and painted wooden houses in towns called Grong, Dunderland, and best of all Hell. Country Living participates in various affiliate marketing programs, which means we may get paid commissions on editorially chosen products purchased through our links to retailer sites. Train: Snap panoramic vistas from your seat on a European train ride. The return journey features a champagne reception and a four-course dinner. The "Hundred Valley" Railwayis a spectacle of waterfalls, chestnut groves, lush landscapes and vineyards:the Alps at their spellbinding best. Sign up below & well send it straight to your inbox: Never visited Europe in the winter before? Ensure that you take the GoldenPass Scenic train from Montreux to Interlaken. Save it for later on Pinterest! These 11 amazing destinations make it easy. Whether it's the 180-mile trip the Glacier Express makes through the mountains of Switzerland, an experience aboard the steepest railway line in the world - the Flm Railway in Norway, or a beautifully-restored journey on the Jacobite Steam Train through the Scottish Highlands, we know all of the best rail experiences to be had across Europe. It requires an advance reservation, but reduces the time between these two cities to under four hours. Though most high-speed trains require advance reservations, this ensures that you will get there quickly and efficiently. This central Europe winter itinerary is also perfect for folks who dont get much time off before Christmas but still want to visit Christmas Markets: in central Europe, some Christmas Markets stay open late, even into Advent Week (the first week of January, and also my birthday week so yes, I pretended that they were staying open specifically for me). Do you think is worth it to plan for Salzburg? The best way to travel in Europe is by rail. And also woo hoo for a fellow louisvillian!!! Why its exciting: Iryo offers arguably the most comfortable high-speed services in Europe, complete with tempting dining options, as the beauty of Spains countryside zips past. Greece: Glide on aquamarine waters and explore the islands of Greece. From Lulea, we caught a night train to Stockholm. If you feel like going even further, Spain (Barcelona and Madrid) are a great choice. But its also not low season, so you can expect most tourist attractions to remain open to visitors. Route:Fort William to MallaigDont miss:Sampling seafood in MallaigDistance andduration: 41 miles (67km), 1 hoursBest time to ride: June to August. Plus, the Christmas Markets in Bruges stay open until just after New Years, which is perfect for us because we have an insatiable love for Christmas Markets. Bremen is quite far from Copenhagen, so to save on time, we recommend either flying or taking a ferry. Now dubbed the Victory Train, the route includes a stop at Ungheny station in the west of Moldova, from where a connection can be made to Iai, Romania, whose airport has been a key departure point for displaced Ukrainians. Budapest gets pretty cold in winter and snowfall is frequent. Amsterdam is gorgeous at any time of the year, and theres plenty to do during the winter when the entire city is less crowded with tourists. Buses and trains to Bruges leave from Amsterdams city center throughout the day and take just under 3 hours to arrive atBrugge Central Station. You are right these European itineraries are super detailed but also super useful. The nearby Alps are a haven for cost-effective winter sports, and the rest of the country looks majestic covered in snow. If youve seen photos of Venice over the past few weeks, theres one thing you wont have missed: the half-dry canals. Unsubscribe anytime. Belmond Royal Scotsman A ride on one of the world's most luxurious trains, the Belmond Royal Scotsman, is truly like no other. Snow patrol 10 great winter train journeys in Europe. Cliffs tumbleinto the picture-postcard turquoise Ligurian Sea, and bucolic vineyards and olive groves line the hills. This is made possible via an ingenious system that allows the train to change operating gauge mid-journey, a process that usually requires carriages to be elevated and have bogies (wheelsets) removed. Wander between the stalls of a traditional Christmas market and visit the largest nativity scene in the world at the Bavarian National Museum. Hop on board Europes railway network and discover a sustainable and stress-free way to explore the continent. Winter is an amazing time to travel Europe by train. Yep, thats right: we created TWO full 2 week Europe in winter itineraries. Hi, I really enjoyed these itineraries, though it would be beneficial to give a little more detail about your travel methods between cities. Spoilers: we were too tired to stay outside all night in the crowd. Europe's scenic trains will treat you to dramatic mountain scenery and sparkling lakes. Check out the best Christmas markets in Europe. Get it? With this cozy and efficient night connection, Germanys second city offer a gateway to Swedens elegant capital and the spectacular train routes of Scandinavia beyond. Once in Zurich, there is a high-speed connection to Munich at 08:16 AM and again at 11:08 AM. Known as the world's slowest express train, it's an eight-hour experience that takes you over 291 bridges and through 91 tunnels, surrounded by picture-postcard pine forests and majestic white peaks. There are regular connections between Lucerne and Zurich. I spent 3 months in Europe in the beginning of 2018 and I was quite surprised at how many things you can do outside when its freezing cold in Europe. Hallstatt is a LIVING Christmas village, like the kind of fairytale town that your grandmother builds each year, complete with teeny trains and fluffy cotton snow. No part of this site may be reproduced without our written permission. So in this post, weve compiled not one, but TWO detailed 2-week itineraries so you can make the most of your winter holidays in Europe. Then, as the winter gloom gathers, you head back to cosy Pickering. Honestly, wed recommend spending even more time there, but hotels are pricey its definitely a (well worth-it) splurge! Amsterdam Austria Belgium Bremen Bruges Brussels Cesky Krumlov Copenhagen Czech Republic Denmark Europe in Winter Germany Hallstatt Itineraries Prague Romance in Europe the Netherlands Vienna Winter Travel. The highlight is a New Years Eve gala dinner at Viennas city hall with a performance by the Wiener Hofball Orchestra. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Copenhagen during the winter is a magical Christmas fairyland, brimming with holiday cheer and hygge. Route:Oslo to Bergen via FlmDont miss:Learning more about this feat of engineering at theFlm Railway MuseumDistance andduration: 342 miles (550km), seven hoursBest time to ride: July or November to January. When we decided to visit Vienna, Austria for Christmas last year, we had one thing in mind: Christmas Markets! Its fixed now and you should be able to see everything! Click here or on the map to view this route in our Trip Planner. Wow, wow, wow!! Today, we share down-to-earth travel tips from our many (mis)adventures on our blog andpodcast! Train & Rail Tours & Trips in Europe Explore Europe with a train adventure that will take through world-renowned locations such as France (Paris), Italy (Rome, Venice and Florence) or the beautiful city of Prague. The week leading up to Easter brings parades, solemn observances, music and more, all over Spain. Beautiful scenery? The beauty of winter travel is that 99% of the time, all anyone is going to see is the very outer layer of your clothing. Also there are things that look like manhole covers in the ground that you can drop coins into and they (not always) make the sound of one of the animals from The Musicians of Bremen folktale: a donkey, hound, cat, or rooster. But either way, you deserve some kind of award. The nearby Alps are a haven for cost-effective winter sports, and the rest of the country looks majestic covered in snow. 3 days is enough time to explore Pragues attractions and learn about its tragic (and very recent) past conflicts and struggles. Going over the Landwasser Viaduct The Amalfi Coast is beautiful, but reaching its most stunning spots on public transport takes planning. Avantis scanty service on this and other routes has been widely criticized in the UK in recent times; these additional trains are part of a hoped-for improvement between London, the West Midlands and Northwest England and north Wales. The Al Andalus Express train is a great trip to take if you want to see the sights of Spain's Andalusia region. After your second night, you reach Nice just in time for breakfast on the Promenade des Anglais. If you want to backpack Europe cheaply, you generally need to plan your travels in advance. Switzerland has a highly efficient rail network that will get you through the country with ease. In fact, esk Krumlov is one of the best preserved medieval towns in Europe thanks to never experiencing any destructive events like a battle or a natural disaster. Europe in Winter Travel Tips Never visited Europe in the winter before? 2023 Lonely Planet, a Red Ventures company. 2. Please try again later. Just to warn you though, your memory cards will all run out of space, and your phone will 1000% die from the sheer beauty of it all. At Canterbury you are escorted to the cathedral for a carol concert with time later for festive shopping. Bremen, Germany was our very first German Christmas Market experience, and it blew our minds. Youll get quite a bang for your buck with this trip: within 2 weeks, youll hit 5 different destinations in 4 countries! Just exist. If you dont mind paying more for a comfy ride & lovely scenery, wed recommend Eurail/train. All rights reserved. You'll also be subscribing to our monthly newsletter. Its pretty easy to find flights from most major cities (like New York, Chicago, and LA) in the United States. And most of them are super weird and totally quirky. (function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start': Germany'sRhine Valley offers romantic landscapes straight from a fairytale. We know summer is still in full swing, but it's never too early to get excited about winter, is it? If you're travelling on a weekday, you'll find the earliest train to Berlin leaving Liverpool at around 05:26 and the last train leaving at around 20:51. Head over to our Hallstatt in winter photo diary, which has a TON of jaw-dropping photos complete with mountains, lakes, swans, and snow. Avanti West Coast has recently added four additional daily departures, for five total. Have a great trip! Austrian cookies and baked goods from inside the Airport, its easy to reach cities. 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