Those who are planning to spend some time exploring Europe will find that one of the best ways to travel is by rail. Rail passengers are able to relax in comfort and enjoy the views as they pass from one country to the next.

Why Europe?

Despite the fact that all the European countries are so closely linked, each one has a very distinct identity, so within a matter of hours, several different cultures can be experienced at close quarters. InterRailing has become a popular gap year option for students before they head off to university, but there are also many older people discovering the delights of European rail travel.

Beers on a high speed train through the Czech Republic.

France is known for the quality of its rail services, and it would be a shame to miss out on a trip on one of its high-speed trains. These can cover a great deal of ground in a short space of time. If a traveler is desperate to see Paris but is at the other side of the country, they can be there in no time.

The same applies in the UK. There are many fast trains that can get you to and from the major cities in a couple of hours, but the smaller local services that run through picturesque areas, such as the Scottish Highlands, the Yorkshire Dales and along the south coast should also be used for a great travel experience.

Planning the trip

Purchasing an InterRail ticket means that only one ticket is needed; this lasts for one month. It can be used on any of Europe’s trains, so all of the continent’s capital cities could potentially be visited, and the ticket would cover the travel. It can also be used on night trains to save money on hotel bills.

There are a few advantages to doing a little forward planning. It is worthwhile researching what is happening and where, to determine if certain places should be included on the itinerary, but a few days should be left free for spontaneous travel too.

It is important to travel light – carting heavy suitcases around is not what rail travel is all about. A rucksack would be ideal, and extras should be kept to a minimum to keep the weight manageable.

Travelling through Germany on the cheap on Euro Rail.

Managing money

It is necessary to budget carefully for the trip – not everyone has endless funds available. It is worth doing some research into favored destinations to find out the costs of things such as hotels and hostels and eating out. Traveling around can make it more difficult if there are any problems such as losing money. Family and friends can always send money with a transfer service, so it is a good idea to learn how to use Transfast in order to make the process easier.

A stop off in Leipzig

Rail travel is a very calm way to travel, and being able to move around from place to place by train makes it so much easier to do. Lasting memories can be made on a trip like this.