Marcus Webb
Europe’s trains are experiencing a sort of underground renaissance. As flights between European airports take longer and longer to get from gate to gate, the high-speed trains of Europe’s core are offering competitive door-to-door times to many air-routes, and growing networks to previously isolated corners.
Routes where trains clearly win
There are some routes that are faster by train than they would be by air after adding in the time spent traveling to and from the airports. I’ve covered some of these in my Worth knowing section, below. There are plenty of other routes where the high-speed trains take a substantial portion of the total travel time away from flying, but not quite enough to bring the total below the time spent traveling to and from the airports.
The high-speed network in 2026
There has been an increase in the high-speed rail infrastructure recently. Countries in Europe like France, Spain, Italy and Germany have the densest high speed network but also countries in Western Europe like Belgium and the Netherlands are well connected. The countries in Eastern Europe do have trains but they travel at lower speeds and while it is possible to travel by train across much of Eastern Europe there are many journeys that are quicker by air. However there are also many night-trains that travel across Europe, such as the night-train from Paris to Vienna, and from Berlin to Brussels and Paris. While these journeys are generally slower than flying they save on the cost of an overnight hotel stay.
Cost comparison realities
Booking tickets in advance for trains, as opposed to flights, has generally proven to be cheaper. For the long distance road traveler booking individual tickets as opposed to purchasing an Interrail or Eurail pass for specific number of travel days in a given time frame (2 weeks for example) within that time frame for 5+ individual trips, will most often be cheaper then purchasing a pass. For those traveling fewer days within a given time frame, and take more individual trips, purchasing point to point tickets will likely save you money. The first class tickets often cost 30-60% more then their standard counterpart(s), so unless your long trip involves plenty of work and you can get a lot more done from the more spacious seats, they are likely not worth the money.
This is probably one of the most valuable tips I learned from a hostel owner in Porto for a long time. The cheapest way to travel is by train!
What trains do better than planes
Several travel experience factors favor trains. The trade-off is that luggage; you carry everything onboard, no fees, no lost-bag risk, no liquid restrictions. On the road, comfort; the seat pitch on a train is significantly more than economy air; you can move around, use a laptop, eat real food. The pattern I see is that city-center to city-center; train stations are downtown, airports are at the edge; this saves 30 to 60 minutes per direction. That is the rule that has not let me down.
When flying still wins
There are a number of circumstances where flying is better for long distance European travel. As a rule, the long distance trains will take 18 hours or more to reach their destination and a flight of just 3 hours will soon become more attractive. Off-the-rail destinations such as the Greek islands and the Mediterranean coast where trains stop at ports will also see flights become the preferred option. If you only have 36 hours or so in a country then the time spent on a long train journey can soak up most of your time and leave you with little to do when you arrive. Most people find this out the hard way!
How to think about the real cost
Save money in areas that yield better value for your buck, i.e. transport, accommodation in cheaper cities, and food on the road in countries where you can find awesome street food, for instance. Then again, splurge once in a while on something that’s worth it in the long run. This could be one amazing sight or activity, a better seat on a long-haul flight, or even travel gear that’ll withstand years of use. And don’t forget to have a contingency fund (about 10-15% of your total budget) for things that can and usually do go wrong on the road, e.g. a sick day that requires an extra night in a hotel, a missed connections and rebooked flights, or even that one extraordinary activity that pops up out of nowhere.
Closing perspective from years on the road
These are the general guidelines, patterns, practices, tips, tricks and experiences which I have found on the road and from talking to other travelers that generally work for most people on most trips. But there is always going to be variation from trip to trip and from person to person, and the best way to get the most out of long-term travel is to read as much as you can about different approaches and then talk to other travelers and then go and do it for yourself. That is the only way you will really learn and gain experience and figure out what works best for you, and that is the way that most travelers generally get the most out of their time on the road.
Review: Maya Calderon
Editor’s Note: Always verify information found on-line, use the contact page for corrections. Information in this article was reviewed with primary sources and by current and past travelers to Europe, flight schedules, prices for train tickets, maps and more. Editorial Standards and Fact-Checking Policy.
