I was traveling the world on a year-long journey, which was a bucket-list adventure. If I knew one thing, it was that I would spend the summer months traveling through Europe. I couldn’t imagine anything better than Europe in the summer. It was a dream of mine to purchase a Eurail pass and embark on a European train adventure. I had decided that this would be a 90-day adventure.
Planning A European Train Journey
Europe is home to many countries, making it impossible to visit them all in 90 days. At least with my travel style as I’m not into treating travel as a race to the next destination. Before I set off to travel the world, I bought a map and some sticky notes, and I began marking my bucket list of European destinations. In total, I had nine stops on my list: Prague, Italy, Greece, Denmark, London, Ireland, Paris, Portugal, and Spain. This would be my starting point, and the next task would be to fill in the blanks on my map. Given my adventurous spirit, this left room for spontaneous stops along the way.
Consider Including Budget Airlines in Your European Train Journey
Even though many countries in Europe are close together, you likely can’t do it all by train. It’s unlikely that your European rail pass will take you in a perfect straight line. Something exciting may come up, and you might need to zigzag. When I was in Budapest, my son decided to meet me in Rome, and the 15-hour train journey just wasn’t feasible, so I had to fly.
Ryanair and EasyJet: Flying with Europe’s Budget Airlines
There are two budget airlines in Europe: Ryanair and EasyJet. When I say budget, I mean very cheap. You can find flights for as low as $20, with many in the $50 range. The downside to these airlines is that there is virtually no customer service. If you have an issue with checked baggage, your carry-on, or anything else, it’s up to you to figure it out.
I missed a connecting flight in Liverpool because the check-in staff decided that my carry-on, which I have never had an issue with worldwide, couldn’t be brought on board due to a lack of space. Apparently, with EasyJet, to guarantee your carry-on bags make it onto the plane, you must check them in online beforehand. At least that’s what I was told. This resulted in having to check my bags, which was a problem since I only had a 50-minute layover in Liverpool. I missed my connecting flight because I had to retrieve my bags, obtain a new boarding pass, and go through security. Yep, I was stuck in Liverpool; poor me.
What goes in my carry-on backpack for long-term solo travel? Read my blog, My Carry-On Packing List for Solo Travel: How to Pack Light
Eurail Europe Rail Pass Packages
There are two main Eurail passes available for purchase. The first option offers seven travel days over one month for $329, while the second option provides ten travel days over two months for $385. I chose the second option because I would be in Europe for ninety days. Two months worked perfectly for me, as I arrived in London and then flew to Ireland for a couple of weeks. I knew I would end up in Greece for a couple of weeks, and I planned to island-hop so that I wouldn’t need to use the train again.
How does the Eurail pass work?
Once you purchase your Eurail pass, it’s time to download the Rail Planner App. The app will serve as your organizer for your European train journey. With the app, you can plan train journeys, make seat reservations, save trips, and much more. For most trips, once you book, you show up, hop on, and pick a seat.
Some European Train Journeys require Seat Reservations
There are exceptions where booking your seats in advance is essential, as trains can sometimes be overbooked. I was travelling from Amsterdam to Berlin, unaware that the train would be overbooked. When I say it was overbooked, people were sitting on the floor, and the train was crammed. I was fortunate to find a seat—or so I thought. A young lady approached me and informed me that I was sitting in her seat. She showed me her seat reservation on her phone, and before I knew it, I was left with a floor seat. For popular routes like Berlin-Amsterdam and Valencia-Paris, remember to book your seat reservations in advance for a comfortable journey. And don’t forget, there’s an additional charge for seat reservations.
The Amsterdam to Berlin train was overbooked, with people finding a seat wherever they could. I too, eventually ended up on the floor.
Eurail Travel Tip – Your Eurail train journey begins after you take your first trip using your rail pass.
What did the European train and Air Adventure look like
During my epic summer in Europe, I visited 14 countries with 19 city stops. The adventure included twelve train journeys and nine flights. Six of the flights were unavoidable, as I visited islands in Portugal, Greece, and Ireland (which is an island). The other flights were long train journeys that were time-sensitive, requiring a two-day train trip.
Look for my Europe itinerary blog series on my website, which I will spread over three blogs, each featuring a 30-day Europe Itinerary. These blogs will help with your Europe itinerary, whether you plan on traveling for two weeks or three months.
The European Train Journey Doesn’t Always Go According to Plan
After the missed connection flight in Liverpool headed to Amsterdam that I mentioned earlier, my planned Europe train adventure was turned upside down. I had to find a new starting point to kick off my mainland European train journey. I found a flight leaving the next morning from Manchester to Brussels, which is near Amsterdam.Therefore, I took the train to Manchester to spend the night before heading to Brussels. I also had a great night in Manchester, to boot, and I enjoyed the adventure!
Train Station Locations Across Europe
One of the best perks of using a European rail pass to travel through Europe is the convenience of the train stations’ locations. I don’t recall ever having to take public transportation or a taxi to my hostel from a train station. The train stations are centrally located and walkable to hostels and hotels in the city center. The walk into the city center in these old historic European cities signals the start of your adventure in a new country. Soak in the culture and architecture, and discover an authentic restaurant or café along the way to indulge. And of course, get a sense of where everything is in relation to where you are staying.
Read my blog about why I stay in hostels, Hostels For Solo Travel at 49
Historic Architecture of European Train Stations
I love the architecture of many of Europe’s iconic train stations. Cities like Prague, Amsterdam, and Valencia have stations whose architecture reflects the city’s vibe. Many of the stations are attractions in their own right, featuring jaw-dropping architecture. We don’t have to worry about any new train stations popping up anytime soon, as they are historic landmarks.
Planning your European train adventure can seem overwhelming, not knowing where to start. How do I navigate a Europe rail pass? What are the best European airlines? Where do I start? How do I plan my European journey? Hopefully, I’ve helped answer these questions and more so that you can plan your epic summer in Europe.
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