Exploring Europe by Train: A Journey Through Scenery and Culture
Since 2023, I’ve traveled over 25,000 kilometers by train across Europe—roughly the equivalent of traveling halfway around the globe. These slow, sprawling journeys have taken me from the Baltic Sea to the Bosphorus and from near Arctic latitudes to the sunny shores of the Atlantic. Each trip has offered a unique blend of landscapes, cultures, and experiences that make train travel an unforgettable way to explore the continent.
The Motivation Behind the Grand Tours
My motivation for these long-distance train journeys is both environmental and personal. In the past, I spent six years avoiding flights while working as a travel journalist, which led me to rely on long-distance travel by train and road. This approach allowed me to explore sustainably while still covering vast distances. On a personal level, I also enjoy the rhythm of slow travel—the shifting landscapes, the freedom to connect multiple stories into one journey, and the sense of adventure that comes with crossing borders by rail.
Notable Journeys Across Europe
My first big train journey in 2023 was a winter escape from Helsinki to Lisbon and back, with Portugal feeling like a well-deserved reward. The second was a more ambitious route from Finland to Istanbul, winding through the Balkans by train and bus—a region whose beauty and complexity left a lasting impression. The third, this winter and spring, took me from the Finnish coast to southern Spain, with a detour to the Scottish Highlands.
Of all these journeys—each about two months long—several stretches stand out for their scenery, sense of adventure, or the way they stitched cities together. These are the ones I’d travel again in a heartbeat.
The Baltic Capitals: A Seamless Rail Experience
A great way to explore the Baltic capitals is by rail—especially since a new direct train line connecting Tallinn, Riga, and Vilnius started running in February. Now, travelers can journey quickly between the three capitals (the total length of the tracks is 789km) without switching buses or relying on patchy cross-border connections. The route offers a relaxed way to experience the charm of each Baltic capital city, from Tallinn’s medieval Old Town and Riga’s Art Nouveau architecture to Vilnius’s Baroque style beauty—and the delicious culinary scene simmering up here.
Far North Line: Drifting Into the Remote Edges of the Rail Map
The Far North Line, Britain’s northernmost railway, runs from Inverness to Thurso and Wick, past windswept coastlines, pockets of pine forest, and the Flow Country—a vast, spongy expanse of peatland that’s both a UNESCO World Heritage site and, scientifically speaking, an impressive bog. It’s one of Europe’s most important carbon sinks, but also strangely beautiful: a living, breathing landscape that demands quiet observation.
My journey ended in Thurso, which felt like the end of the line in every sense—remote and stoic in the face of all weathers, offering the satisfaction of reaching somewhere few trains go.
Nordic City Hopping: Clean Carriages and Comfortable Seats
With clean carriages, reliable connections, and comfortable seats, Nordic trains are among the best you’ll find. My wintry journey began from the seaside Turku, Finland’s former medieval capital, with a Viking Line ferry across the Baltic to Stockholm—a mini-cruise complete with icy views, a smörgåsbord lunch, and a spa. From there, I hopped on a train west to Gothenburg for a couple of nights before pausing in Malmö and continuing my journey across the 16-kilometer Øresund Bridge into Copenhagen.
It was a slow journey to the cool heart of Scandinavia, and the sheer ease of this trip—plus the bonus ferry and the fabulous opportunities for fika (coffee and pastries)—make it one of Europe’s most effortlessly enjoyable rail routes.
Sofia-Istanbul Night Train: An Adventurous Overnight Journey
The Sofia–Istanbul Express is a daily sleeper train with old-school charm, offering an adventurous way to cross borders overnight. It departs Sofia, the Bulgarian capital, at 6:45 pm and arrives in Istanbul’s Halkalı station around 9:56 am. The train has couchettes and sleeper compartments with bedding, a sink, and even a fridge. Snacks and drinks are provided by an attendant, and you can top up your supplies during the border stop. Tickets are sold at Sofia’s international ticket window. When I arrived in Istanbul, I wandered to a café and began my morning with a strong Turkish coffee—a perfect welcome to a new city.
Easy City-Bagging in the Netherlands
On two of my three rail adventures across Europe, I made a point of stopping in the Netherlands to catch up with friends—and to revel in one of the best European countries for short-hop train travel. Charming cities like Utrecht and Delft, and trendier hubs like Amsterdam and Rotterdam, are all linked by fast, frequent trains. Most journeys take under an hour, meaning you can breakfast canalside, lunch at a cutting-edge food market, and be sipping beer in a medieval square by evening. Efficient, pretty, and delightfully compact.
Montenegro Express: A Journey Through Mountainous Landscapes
With 254 tunnels and 435 bridges spanning nearly 500 km of track, the Montenegro Express travels from the Serbian capital, Belgrade, via mountainous karst landscapes to Montenegro’s Adriatic seashore. The journey takes around 11 hours and is charmingly unpolished: expect graffiti-covered carriages and six-berth compartments with a retro feel. I recommend taking the night train from Belgrade to Bar (tickets are sold at the stations); this way, you can wake up to a pastel-colored sunrise over the Montenegrin mountains just before reaching the glittering Adriatic.
