There's no need to fly within Europe. It's surprisingly easy, quick and comfortable to travel by train from London to almost anywhere: Spain, Italy, Switzerland, Greece, Prague, Helsinki, wherever... The difficult bit is finding out how to do it and where to buy tickets.
Trains in Europe work really well and they usually link all the most beautiful cities, even in different countries. You can even travel by bus if you like it more. Buses travel all around Europe and they link lots of cities, and they are very cheap.
There's only one train running directly from London to Paris: the Eurostar high-speed train. So that makes choosing the right train a bit easier! This train is seriously speedy. On average the journey takes 2 hours 28 minutes, at its fastest, 2 hours 16 minutes.
What's on the Italy train map? Our interactive Italy rail map highlights both high-speed and regional railway lines in Italy, as well as the main rail connections to its neighbouring countries, i.e. Switzerland, France and Germany.
The Eurail PassWith a single Eurail rail Pass, you can travel in up to 33 countries, hopping off along the way to experience Europe's most fascinating cities, monuments, and breathtaking scenery. Travel at your own pace and know that there is the perfect Eurail Pass for every European vacation!
But if you're planning a longer journey with multiple stopovers and changes, the flexibility and convenience of a Eurail Pass is unrivalled – and for many popular routes it works out cheaper than point-to-point tickets, especially if you're traveling as a group or with children and you can take advantage of Eurail ...
How much does a Eurail Pass cost? In 2023, the cost of a Eurail Global Pass purchased directly through Eurail starts at $276 for second-class fares and $351 for first-class seats for the four-days-in-one-month pass for adults. A 15-day unlimited pass for adults currently ranges from $498 to $631.
According to a 2022 report on Railway Safety and Interoperability in the EU, railways in Europe remain “among the safest in the world” with major accidents involving five or more fatalities becoming “increasingly rare”.
The fastest and most comfortable way to travel from Paris to Amsterdam is by taking the Eurostar high-speed train. This fast, modern and luxurious train will get you to your destination in just under 3 hours and 20 minutes. For actual travel times, check out our timetable.
The fastest trains from Paris to Zurich take around 4 hours and 3 minutes, covering a distance of approximately 490 kilometres. On weekdays, the first train leaving Paris is scheduled to depart at around 07:07. The last departure is usually at around 18:23.
City centre to city, the Eurostar is quicker. Overall journey times between the centre of London and Paris is under 3.5 hours including transfers to the station and check in times. The Eurostar train journey itself takes generally takes under 2 hours 20 minutes for the 307 mile run.
Trains are generally the best way to get around in Europe. The rail network is comprehensive, ticket costs are rather affordable, and the scenery is gorgeous. Trains are a great way to visit many destinations quickly and efficiently. We loved travelling by train in Europe!