Trains remain the finest way to travel, and we particularly love the fast, scenic train travel of Western Europe. We’ve got tips for booking the cheapest tickets, and for how to make travelling the rails more comfortable and fun.
Knowing which sites to book on can save more than money; national European train operators’ websites in particular can cause a lot of other hassles, especially if you don’t speak the language or are using a non-European credit card.
We continuously test the best booking systems for each country.
How to ride with Spain’s various train operators, including Iryo, Ouigo, and the national operator Renfe (Ave, Avant, Avlo, etc.) as well as what to expect from the experiences
The Newbie’s Complete Guide to Trains in Spain Read More »
All about the train operators in Spain—Renfe Ave and Avlo, Iryo, and Ouigo—their differences, and how to get the cheapest or best trips
Our extensive testing and review of Omio finds better options out there for most air, train, and bus travel booking.
Omio Has Problems—There Are Better Alternatives for Booking Travel Read More »
Everything you need to know for train travel to the center of Porto and its São Bento Train Station
The Complete Porto São Bento Train Station Guide—What to Know in Advance Read More »
A guide to Porto Campanhã Train Station and its services as well as how to transfer to Porto São Bento (more central) for free
Porto Campanhã Train Station Guide: Get Around, Connect Quickly, and Stay Nearby Read More »
Your Guide Mose Hayward Wandering Kenya I recently took a break from bouncing around on European rail systems to take trip by train on Kenya Railways from Nairobi to Mombasa. My advice based on the experience is below, along with wisdom from the dozen or so Kenyans I spoke to who have taken this train
Everything you need to know to get train tickets in Portugal on Comboios de Portugal including Alfa Pendular and Urbano trains.
Trains in Portugal: A Quick Guide to the Best Deals Read More »
A complete guide to Barcelona Sants Station for taking long-distance and local trains, including ticket purchasing, security, restrooms, and more.
A complete guide to scoring the best prices, choosing seats, saving with split ticketing, and the experience of riding trains in England, Wales, and Scotland
The Renfe app and website are full of errors and payment problems; here are solutions for buying train tickets for Spain
Solved: The Problems with Renfe’s (Disfunctional!) Website—And Some Easy Workarounds Read More »
Navigate the rules, pack wisely, and get the correct tickets for travelling with a dog on trains in Europe
Can I Take Fido? Top Tips for Riding European Trains With Dogs Read More »
How to book European train tickets from Australia without getting overcharged
European Train Booking from Australia: Solutions for Website Problems Read More »
A quick guide to the National Railway Company of Belgium and other international services that come in and out of the country.
Trains in Belgium: A Quick Guide to the Best Deals Read More »
Everything you need to know to get train tickets in Switzerland on SBB (in German: Schweizerische Bundesbahnen, or Swiss Federal Railways).
Trains in Switzerland: A Quick Guide to the Best Deals Read More »
Everything you need to know to get train tickets in Sweden on SJ, VR or Snälltåget.
Trains in Sweden: A Quick Guide to the Best Deals Read More »
Everything you need to know to get train tickets in Slovenia on SŽ (Slovenske železnice, in English: Slovenian Railways)
Trains in Slovenia: A Quick Guide to the Best Deals Read More »
Everything you need to know to get train tickets in Slovakia on ZSSK (Železničná spoločnosť Slovensko or The Railway Company of Slovakia), Leo Express or Regiojet .
Trains in Slovakia: A Quick Guide to the Best Deals Read More »
Get ready to ride the rails in Romania on the three operators serving the country: CFR (Căile Ferate Române) Călători, TFC (Transferoviar Călători), and Astra Trans Capatic.
Trains in Romania: A Quick Guide to the Best Deals Read More »
The basics for train ticketing in Poland on PKP Intercity and Polregio
Trains in Poland: A Quick Guide to the Best Deals Read More »
A guide to comparing ticket options on Norway’s three train operators: Vy, SJ Norway, and Go-Ahead Nordic.
Trains in Norway: A Quick Guide to the Best Deals Read More »
Everything you need to know to get train tickets in Netherlands on NS (Nederlandse Spoorwegen), Arriva, Eurostar, or European Sleeper.
Trains in Netherlands: A Quick Guide to the Best Deals Read More »
Everything you need to know to get train tickets in Luxembourg on CFL, or the Société Nationale des Chemins de Fer Luxembourgeois, that is, the Luxembourg National Railway Company.
Trains in Luxembourg: A Quick Guide to the Best Deals Read More »
Compare your options for train travel in Italy on Trenitalia and Italo and get the best and cheapest tickets
Trains in Italy: A Quick Guide to the Best Deals Read More »
Everything you need to know to get train tickets in Hungary on MÁV (Hungarian State Railway, or, take a deep breath: Magyar Államvasutak Zártkörűen Működő Részvénytársaság).
Trains in Hungary: A Quick Guide to the Best Deals Read More »
The basics for train tickets in Greece on OSE, the Hellenic Railways Organisation
Trains in Greece: A Quick Guide to the Best Deals Read More »
A quick guide to trains (Hrvatske željeznice, or Croatian Railways) and ferries in Croatia, as well as Nightjet.
Trains in Croatia: A Quick Guide to the Best Deals Read More »
Hitting the rails in Denmark? Your options are Danish Railways (DSB) and, for certain routes, Snälltåget or Øresundståg. Here’s what to know.
Trains in Denmark: A Quick Guide to the Best Deals Read More »
There are a few options for train tickets in Czech Republic: České dráhy (Czech Railways, or ČD), Leo Express, Railjet, Regiojet or European Sleeper. Here’s how to compare them.
Trains in Czech Republic (Czechia): A Quick Guide to the Best Deals Read More »
A quick guide to trains in Finland on VR-Group Plc (or in Finnish: VR-Yhtymä Oyj)
Trains in Finland: A Quick Guide to the Best Deals Read More »
Catalan trains can take you around the country as well as into the equally great countries beyond; here are your options and the ways to get tickets.
Trains in Catalonia: A Quick Guide to the Best Deals Read More »
A quick guide to Bulgarian State Railways (Balgarski darzhavni zheleznitsi).
Trains in Bulgaria: A Quick Guide to the Best Deals Read More »
How to compare deals with the multiple Austrian train operators: ÖBB (Österreichische Bundesbahnen), Regiojet, Nightjet, and WESTbahn
Trains in Austria: A Quick Guide to the Best Deals Read More »
Advice (against) travelling on
Hekurudhë ë Shqipërisë, or HSH, the Albanian railways, and what to do instead, as well as links to our other Albania coverage
Trains in Albania: A Quick Guide to the Best Deals Read More »
Where to find the best tickets on Deutsche Bahn, European Sleeper, FlixTrain, SJ, and Snälltåget; what to expect on trains in Germany; and links to our other German travel advice
Trains in Germany: A Quick Guide to the Best Deals Read More »
An overall guide to saving money on train tickets when travelling in Europe, including quick suggestions for each country
Hacks for Getting the Cheapest European Train Tickets Read More »
A review of the train operator Iryo and our experiences riding around Spain and eating on board, as well as how it compares to other options
A complete review of Rail Europe as a train booking platform—what it’s good for and where it could be better
Our Rail Europe Review: A Good—But Not the Best—Platform for Train Tickets Read More »
Key details about travelling to and from Aveiro by train and where to stay near the train station
Aveiro Train Station Guide: Getting Around and Staying Nearby Read More »
What to expect in Braga Train Station, as well as food and hotel recommendations nearby
Braga Train Station Guide: Staying and Traveling in the Braga Area Read More »
Everything you need to know to navigate the Atocha train complex—the busiest train hub in Spain—and where to stay nearby
Madrid Atocha Train Station—Our Complete Guide to Navigating and Staying Nearby Read More »
I’ve used Trainline for years to book train and bus tickets in Europe; here’s why I use it and what I wish was better.
Trainline Review: A Legit Money-Saver for Trains—But Not Always Read More »
Your Guide Mose Hayward Travel Nerd Travelers make some mistaken assumptions about how to get around Europe. Many think that flights are always faster or long-distance buses are always cheapest. But, of course, it depends. Competition has opened up for buses, planes, and independent budget train companies. These offer new and better ways to get
A review of Iryo based on our trips on this high-speed train service in Spain and tips for getting cheap tickets, riding, and how to pack
What Is Iryo? The Basics You Need to Know for Riding These High-Speed Trains in Spain Read More »
Our guide to the FlixTrain experience in Germany and Sweden and whether this money-saving option is worthwhile
FlixTrain: What to Know Before Taking this Cheap Rail Alternative in Germany Read More »
A guide to the various types of discount passes that can be purchased for European train systems so that you can get the best deals on frequent travel
Here’s how to solve the many error messages on Trenitalia’s website and app
Here’s How We Solved the Problems with Booking On Trenitalia’s Website Read More »
We tested the top three train booking platforms to find out which gave the best prices: Omio, Trainline, or Rail Europe?
Here are answers for basic questions for newbies to taking trains in Europe—from those who have ridden the rails here for years
How to Travel Europe by Train Read More »
Eurostar is great; it’s also expensive. Here are alternate ways to cross between France and England.
Cheap Eurostar Alternatives: Low Cost Tricks for London-Paris & More Read More »
Here’s how to keep tabs on French train strikes and know what to do if they happen.
The Total Guide to Train Strikes in France: Ride Out the Aggravations Read More »
This is a detailed guide to senior discounts for trains in Europe and how to ensure you get them.
Senior Savings on European Train Travel: The Ultimate Guide to the Discounts Read More »
Here’s what to do if you have problems with the SBB website or booking train tickets in Switzerland in general.
How to Book Swiss Train Tickets — and Avoid Problems with the SBB Website Read More »
Here are the fastest, cheapest, and most convenient ways to get between Paris and Barcelona—my two favorite cities.
Here’s how to make sure you get all offered discounts for babies, children, and youth on trains in each European country.
How to Get the Best Child and Youth Discounts on European Trains Read More »
SNCF Connect infamously does not like foreign credit cards; here’s how you can still manage to buy French train tickets.
Train secrets from the point of view of a train ticket inspector from France working in Switzerland
What You Never Knew about European Trains — Secrets from a Ticket Inspector Read More »
Personal experience and wisdom on riding the high-speed AVE trains from Renfe, Spain’s national operator, including booking, class options, and food and drink
What To Expect on Spain’s Renfe AVE Trains—Tips from My Travels Read More »
Our tips for the luggage limits on trains in France as well as keeping your luggage safe, whether on TGV INOUI, Ouigo, or other trains
Luggage Restrictions On Trains in France — What to Know Before You Go Read More »
How likely are French trains to be on time? And what should you do if they are late? Our complete guide for passengers…
Late Trains in France: What to Know Read More »
We checked a number of itineraries on SNCF Connect, Trainline, Omio, Rail Europe, and more to find the best routes and deals.
We Tested the Best Ways to Book Train Tickets in France—Here’s How to Save Money Read More »
Here’s how to get around the website and app errors in booking French train tickets on SNCF Connect and Ouigo websites
By testing hundreds of trip searches over a broad swath of booking websites, we pinpointed the best ways to get cheap train tickets in Europe.
Our Test Results: The Best Train Booking Platform for Europe Read More »
Our extensive tests revealed the best ways to comparison shop and get deals on the many train options in Spain (Renfe, Ouigo, Iryo, and Avlo).
The schemes and strategies to find the cheapest train tickets in France, based on our years of travel here
Schemes for Cheap Train Tickets in France Read More »
Understand the basics of the French system and what you need to know while booking about train types, seating, etc.
How to Book French Train Tickets: A Guide to Painless Trip Prep Read More »
A complete review of Ouigo budget trains in Spain and France—how to get the cheapest tickets, deal with luggage restrictions, and prepare for the ride
A review of Avlo and guide to getting the cheapest tickets, packing, and preparing for this high-speed budget option for Spain
How to snag cheap tickets on Italian trains by comparing all options; here are the best booking platforms for Italy in our tests
Reviewed: The Cheapest, Easiest Ways to Book Italian Train Tickets Read More »
How to prepare for German trains, find the cheapest tickets and best routes, and what to expect
The Key Tips for Deutsche Bahn—And Getting Cheaper, Smoother Rides on German Trains Read More »
Our testing showed that Interrail and Eurail simply don’t save any money compared to the other options now available, even for last-minute travel.
Is a Eurail / Interrail Pass Worth It Any More? Price Comparison Results Read More »
Yes there is Wi-Fi on most of the Spanish high-speed trains known as AVE. It doesn’t work great, but hey, the Wi-Fi is included in the ticket price for all travellers. The Paris-Barcelona trains are run by SNCF (the French train operator) and not by Renfe. These French trains offer Wi-Fi, though in my experience
All About How Wi-Fi Works on Renfe AVE Trains Read More »
I can safely say I’ve gone everywhere on the Swiss rail network, and here’s the verdict: Most Swiss train rides are awe-inspiring. But some are merely great, a handful are overrated, and a few simply suck. For the past nine years I’ve been taking them all in as a ticket inspector with the national railway
A Train Inspector Reveals: The Top Five Most Beautiful, Thrilling Rides in Switzerland Read More »
Trains often have outlets but can your device plug in? Check out our recommendations for universal travel adapters.
Hang any bag anywhere with a carabiner/travel hook.
Using e-tickets? Carry a backup phone battery in a wallet to ensure you can access them.
Using train WiFi? We strongly recommend a good, travel-ready VPN.
