Europe by Train: The Complete Guide to Routes, Tickets, Passes and Luggage
Europe by train: 2026 journey times, passes vs tickets, reservation fees, booking windows, classes, luggage and step-free travel, from a local operator.
Free guide · PDF · 19 pages
Europe by Train: the American traveler’s guide
How European trains actually work, from someone who takes them every week: booking windows, passes versus tickets, reservations, luggage, stations, and the scenic routes worth planning a trip around.
- When a rail pass pays off, with real numbers
- Which trains need a seat reservation
- Four sample itineraries, 7 to 14 days
Rated 4.8/5 on Kimkim · 273 verified reviews
A look inside
19 pages, written and checked each season by our designers in France.
Passes versus tickets, priced 
Seat reservations explained 
The scenic routes worth a trip
What you will find in it
- Why trains beat cars and flights for most of Europe
- The networks: TGV, ICE, SBB, Trenitalia, Eurostar
- Passes versus point-to-point tickets, with real numbers
- Seat reservations: when they are mandatory
- Luggage, stations, strikes and what to do about them
- The scenic routes: Glacier Express, Bernina, GoldenPass, Rhine Valley
- Four sample itineraries, 7 to 14 days
- A booking checklist
Americans arrive with two wrong ideas about European trains: that a rail pass is always the cheapest option, and that you can show up and buy a ticket for any train. Both cost money. This guide explains the systems country by country, in plain English, with the prices we see every week.
Written by
Valentine Julien
Global Manager · Based in Villefranche-sur-Saône
Grew up between the French and Swiss Alps; designs our scenic train and mountain itineraries and has strong opinions about hotels.
More about ValentineTravelers who planned with us
Wonderful trip, handled expertly by Mathilde
Wonderful trip! Everything was handled expertly by Mathilda! Our guides in Nuremberg, Justina, and Munich, Renata, were absolutely fantastic. We had a fantastic time, enjoyed every place we visited. Hotels and arrangements were hassle free. Overall beautiful and care free experience. Will most assuredly do again!!
Mathilde provided incredible service
Mathilda provided incredible service! The detailed itinerary was perfect. So easy to travel with this as our written guide. When we had a question, she was responsive.
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Frequently asked questions
Do I need a Eurail pass?
Usually not for a two-country trip. Advance tickets on TGV and ICE are cheaper than the pass; in Switzerland, the Swiss Travel Pass or a Half Fare Card is better value than Eurail. The guide shows the arithmetic for typical routes.
How far ahead should I book trains?
High-speed trains in France, Germany and Italy open sales 3 to 6 months ahead and prices rise as the train fills. Swiss trains have fixed prices, except the panoramic trains, which need seat reservations.
Can you book trains for me?
Yes. Every itinerary we sell includes train tickets and seat reservations, delivered as e-tickets, with the right pass when it saves money.
Itineraries built on this guide
Legendary Swiss Trains: Glacier Express, Bernina & Gornergrat, 7 Days
Six nights by train from Interlaken to Lucerne, with the GoldenPass, the Gornergrat, the Glacier Express and the Bernina Express, in 4-star hotels beside each station. For first-time visitors who want the big views without a car.
From €2,199 per person
Switzerland by Train in 12 Days: Lavaux, Jungfraujoch, Glacier Express
Eleven nights by train from Montreux to Zurich: Lavaux, the Chocolate Train, Jungfraujoch, Zermatt and the Glacier Express to St. Moritz. Well-placed 3-star hotels keep the price down; we upgrade one or two stops on request.
From €3,499 per person
Germany Christmas Markets by Train: Munich to Berlin in 9 Days
Eight nights by first-class train from Munich to Berlin in December: a day in Salzburg, Rothenburg, Nuremberg's Christkindlesmarkt and Dresden's Striezelmarkt. Old-town 4-star hotels within walking distance of the stalls.
From €2,299 per person
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Paris, Lake Geneva, the Jungfrau region and Zermatt in ten days, with the trains, the hotel neighborhoods, the budget and the booking timeline. The plan our designers start from.
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Pick your train legs and mountain excursions: see whether the Swiss Travel Pass, a Half Fare Card or single tickets costs less.