Train Travel

Selected Breaks in Europe

Travelling by train could give you and your travels a new lease of life as you realise there is a more civilised way to travel. Enjoy the relaxed atmosphere. Let the journey become part of an adventure. Here's a selection of 10 long weekends or even a week for that well needed break. All available from the UK by train

Berlin and Colditz

Jump on the 6pm Eurostar from Waterloo to Brussels, change onto a German sleeper train which will send you on an overnight journey to the capital of Germany. Coffee and croissants are delivered to your compartment door just in time for your arrival at 8.30am the next morning.

An hour and a quarter south of Berlin is Leipzig and a further hour away the infamous castle at Colditz stands. German railways (0870 243 5363) have a number of packages available including Eurostar plus Sleeper train fares for £95 each way for a two bed sleeper, or £79 each way with couchette.

Dublin

One of the most popular short break destinations in Europe is Dublin. Reaching Ireland is easy especially using a train-and-ferry fare. London to Dublin is £24 each way with unlimited availability. Visit sailrail.co.uk for more details. You could also get to Ireland from any British rail station at an equally reasonable rate. For example Norwich to Galway is £39 each way, Oxford to Dublin is £24 each way and Manchester to Dublin is £20 each way.

arcelona and Figueres

For a weekend to remember, jump on the 3pm Eurostar on Friday from London to Paris, a quick detour to a café for a small glass of wine and then hop on the ‘trainhotel’ to Barcelona. With dinner, a warm bed in your sleeper, coffee and croissants for breakfast you’ll wonder where the time went when you arrive at 8.30am on Saturday morning in central Barcelona.

After an eventful sightseeing weekend in Barcelona, visiting Las Ramblas a wonderful street with entertainers and street traders, visiting the architectural buildings of Gaudi and tasting the tapas, catch the 9pm Sunday trainhotel back to London which will arrive in the capital at 11.55am on Monday morning.

If you want to add something extra then get off the trainhotel at Figueres a couple of hours before Barcelona – you’ll need to find a café for breakfast as you won’t get this on the trainhotel, then visit the amazing Salvador Dali museum. Dali’s home is just a few miles away by taxi or bus on the coast at Cadaques.

To catch the Eurostar to Paris starts at £59 return, the trainhotel fares start at £50 each way in a four-bed sleeper or £75 each way in a two-bed sleeper. The great thing about travelling by train is that you don’t have extra expenditure by way of airport taxes, taxi’s to and from airports and arriving in the morning and leaving in the evening mean smaller hotel bills compared with flying.

Prague

Using the 6pm Eurostar and sleeper to Berlin makes a great connection with the EuroCity train to Prague. Arriving in Prague early the following afternoon after a glorious scenic ride along the river valley, including lunch, the train journey is just the start to a great break in the city. Berlin to Prague starts at £23 each way.

Brussels and Amsterdam

Another great weekend break visiting two great cities! Eurostar fares from London to Amsterdam start at £69 return, inclusive of an up to 24 hour stop in Brussels then an hourly InterCity train to Amsterdam. You could have dinner on Friday night in Brussels at the Grand Palace and arrive in Amsterdam on Saturday morning ready for some more fabulous sightseeing. Hop on the train on Sunday afternoon to get you back to London on Sunday night.

Rome

A lunchtime ticket on Eurostar to Paris, £59 return and then Paris to Rome on the Palatino sleeper train, from £26 each way with a couchette or £104 each way in a two bed sleeper, will get you to one of the most fabulous cities in Europe by early on Saturday morning (9.40am). You will be amazed by the fantastic Italian landscapes on the journey and could be eating your breakfast looking at the dome of St Peter’s as you arrive in Rome.

Venice and Verona

When you think of Venice you think of romance. Arrive refreshed and eager to start your romantic break by using Eurostar to Paris and then the Stendhal overnight sleeper to Venice. For stunning views of France at dusk, eating dinner by the moonlight and comfortable couchettes or sleeping berths, the Stendhal arrives in Venice at 9.30am the next day.

You could make the trip a two centre break by adding a stay in Verona, the home of Romeo and Juliet!

Krakow and Auschwitz

An interesting long weekend break to Poland would be Krakow and Auschwitz. Take the Eurostar to Paris on Thursday evening, the sleeper to Berlin and then the EuroCity to Wawel across Poland to Krakow arriving on Friday evening. Wawel Castle, St Mary’s Cathedral and the church of St Peter and Paul are a must for a visit to Krakow and then spend Sunday visiting the amazingly historical site of Osweicim, better known by its German name of Auschwitz, a short train journey south. To get back to London by Monday, catch the Sunday night sleeper from Krakow to Berlin, then the usual high speed trains back to Waterloo.

Munich and Salzburg

The hills are alive with the Sound of Music – well they are in Salzburg. The early evening Eurostar to Paris connects with the German sleeper train to Munich arriving early the next day. A connecting EuroCity train will get to you Salzburg by mid morning. German Railways offer inclusive Eurostar and Sleeper fares from London to Munich from £79 each way with couchette or £95 each way in a two-bed sleeper. Local train fare from Munich to Salzburg is around £19 each way.

Highlands of Scotland

Don’t forget the UKs own beautiful shores when travelling by train and what better place than the romantic Highlands of Scotland. Standard fares on the Caledonian Sleepers (firstscotrail.co.uk) start at £107 return, with bargain overnight berths available for £19 each way. Travelling by train to Scotland is extremely time and cost effective. Treat yourselves to a trip on the Fort William sleeper for perhaps one of the best views in Britain.

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