Why Travel by Train?
Next time you travel, why not take the scenic route? Embrace the slow travel trend and discover inspiring vistas, cinematic overland journeys and make deeper cultural discoveries by building the journey into your holiday.
With excellent rail connections across mainland Europe, skipping the airport queues is simple. Step aboard the Eurostar and onto high-speed services to reach European cities within a matter of hours. Eurostar offers through-fare train tickets, where you can book your onward travel to European destinations, and St Pancras is a great starting point for UK travellers, with direct train services to:
- France: Paris (Gare du Nord) & Lille
- Belgium: Brussels-Midi
- The Netherlands: Rotterdam & Amsterdam
One of the best things about overland travel is that train stations are often located in city centres, saving you additional transfer time or lengthy waits at the airport! Slow travel by rail is a particularly sustainable alternative to air travel, with a reduced carbon footprint. It's a surefire way to ease into your next trip with the chance to sit back, pick up a book, enjoy a bite to eat and share time with friends or loved ones before arriving at your destination without flying.
Where we Recommend for Flight-Free Walking Holidays in Europe
France
France offers a wide variety of walking holidays across impressively diverse routes. Explore the allure of sun-drenched landscapes and picturesque villages that capture the imagination. Find dusty paths, olive groves and bright blue coves on the quiet side of the Cote d'Azur, traverse vineyards and chateaux-studded landscapes in Alsace or explore Brittany's stunning shoreline.
Our recommended walking holidays:
Alsace from North to South
Explore the charming region of Alsace with its colourful half-timber houses and picturesque local vineyards as you travel from the medieval town of Obernai to Turkheim and Eguisheim. On your travels, you pass the renowned Mont Saint-Odile monastery, ascend through the peaceful Andlau forest, visit the ruins of Saint-Ulrich Castle and journey through one of the most beautiful villages in France – Riquewihr. One of the highlights is sure to be a hike to the majestic Château du Haut-Koenigsbourg, an incredible 12th-century castle with fantastic views of the surrounding landscapes.
How to get there? From London St Pancras travel on the Eurostar to Lille Europe. Take the TGV high speed train to Strasbourg and catch a regional train to Obernai.
The French Riviera Trail
Hike from the colourful town of Menton to the vibrant Old Town of Nice, passing through charming medieval villages, plentiful olive groves and pine forests. Along the way, you climb to the summit of Baudon for a breathtaking 360° view of the surrounding sights including the Bays of Menton and Saint-Tropez. Upon arriving at Nice, you have time to explore the Old Town and buy local produce at the market. Blessed with 300 days of sun every year, the region offers the perfect climate for hiking year-round!
How to get there? Take the Eurostar to Paris where you can catch either the high-speed TGV Duplex or low-cost Ougi south to Nice with a local transfer to Menton.
Walking Brittany's Breton Coast & Brittany's Pink Granite Coast Short Break
Discover Brittany's Pink Granite Coast on this 5-day walking holiday in north-west France. Beginning in the seaside resort of Perros-Guirec, you follow the Custom Officer's Trail to the picturesque village of Ploumanac’h, weaving your way through extraordinary pink-hued rock formations sculpted by the wind and sea over millions of years. Continuing along a section of the GR34, admire panoramic views from the Île Renote Peninsula, then journey through ferns, forests and along cliff-tops to the quaint town of Lannion.
For an extended version of this trip, we also offer a week-long itinerary which includes the option to explore the delightful fishing village of Paimpol, Bréhat Island – the 'Island of Flowers', and a longer section of the GR34 before reaching the unique pink granite formations of Ploumanac’h and the stunning shores of the Île Renote Peninsula. Combining incredible coastal scenery, a rich cultural heritage and delicious local gastronomy, this is a rewarding walking holiday that showcases the best of Brittany's northern coastline.
How to get there? Travel to Paris Gare du Nord, transfer by Metro or taxi to Paris Montparnasse, then board a TGV high-speed train to Lannion. From Lannion, a local bus connects you to Perros-Guirec in around 20 minutes. Brittany also has the benefit of direct ferries from Plymouth and Cork to Roscoff or Portsmouth to St-Malo, with the option of an overnight ferry to save on a night's accommodation in France.
Austria
Austria is famous for its stunning alpine scenery and no more so than in the world famous Salzkammergut region. Once a favourite destination of emperors and empresses, the region offers a wide variety of alluring walking trails set against the breathtaking backdrop of the Alps, scenic lakes and historic villages. Austria's position in Central Europe makes it an excellent option for a multi-centre holiday, where you can combine three different countries: Italy, Slovenia and Austria, in one trip.
Our recommended walking holidays:
Hike the Danube - Castles & Vineyards
Discover the breathtaking Wachau Valley and Danube River as you walk scenic trails past vineyards, medieval castles and charming villages. There are opportunities to savour renowned wines and apricots, visit historic sites such as the iconic Melk Abbey and take a scenic train journey to the picturesque town of Weißenkirchen. This journey offers the perfect blend of culture and natural beauty in one of Austria's most captivating places.
How to get there? Reach Austria in under 24 hours by taking the Eurostar from London St Pancras to Paris where you catch the EuroNight sleeper to Vienna. A regional train can take you from Vienna to Krems to start your walking holiday.
Austria's Alpine Splendour
Walk among the resplendent scenery of the Salzkammergut region – Austria’s Lake District, visiting traditional alpine villages, dramatic mountain peaks and deep blue panoramic lakes. During the day, waymarked trails allow you to make the most of this beautiful area, while at night you stay in charming accommodation and indulge at wonderful mountain restaurants. Highlights include walking to the exceptionally pretty village of Hallstatt, taking a ferry across Lake Wolfgangsee and an optional ride on the cogwheel railway to Mount Schafberg.
How to get there? Travel on the Eurostar from London to Brussels and connect to the German ICE network via Frankfurt. Continue to the UNESCO-World Heritage City of Salzburg, before boarding the scenic Salzkammergut railway to Bad Ischl, passing beautiful lakes and mountain scenery along the way. The journey takes around 13-15 hours, so you may wish to spend a night in Salzburg before continuing to Bad Ischl.
Alpe Adria Tri-Country Trek
This self-guided, multi-country walking holiday along Europe's Alpe Adria Trail combines three beautiful countries: Italy, Slovenia and Austria. Following a circular route, you hike through peaceful valleys and forests, enjoy stunning views from the Monte Lussari mountain sanctuary, and visit charming alpine villages. Blending physical challenge, natural beauty and cultural variety, this is an unforgettable way to experience the spirit of three Alpine nations.
How to get there? Begin your journey by taking the Eurostar to Brussels, before continuing through Germany on the ICE network to Munich. From Munich, board a Railjet service to Villach in Austria, where regional trains cross the border into Tarvisio. The journey typically takes around 15-17 hours, so you may prefer to break the journey up with a night in Munich or use an overnight Nightjet sleeper train for part of the route.
Slovenia
Rugged and natural Slovenia could easily be said to be the jewel in Europe’s Crown for walking holidays. The spectacular mountain scenery of the Julian Alps is a joy to walk and until you’ve been there it’s hard to imagine this country's natural beauty.
Our recommended walking holiday:
Slovenia's Lakes & Mountains
Spend a week in Slovenia's pristine Alpine landscapes, enjoying a variety of walks through hidden mountain valleys, wildflower meadows and peaceful forests. Your self-guided adventure begins near Lake Bohinj, where you can visit the impressive Savica waterfalls, trek off the beaten track in the picturesque Mostnica Valley and summit Vogel for spectacular panoramic views over the lake and mountains. Next, transfer to the beautiful town of Kranjska Gora to spend a few days walking in the Karavanke or Julian Alps, stopping off at the picture-perfect Lake Bled on the way.
How to get there? Take the Eurostar from London to Paris where you catch the Franco-Swiss TGV to arrive in Zurich in just four hours. From Zurich board the EuroNight sleeper to Jesenice, arriving shortly after 7am with an approximate 30 minute local transfer.
Spain
You just can’t beat the striking combination of mountains and sea on the northernmost part of the Costa Brava. The unspoiled landscapes make it an ideal region to discover on foot. You can expect hidden coves, shady pinewoods, medieval Begur and a regional cuisine which is renowned throughout Spain.
Our recommended walking holiday:
Walking the Catalan Coast
Soak up Spain's delightful Mediterranean climate as you explore an exciting mix of landscapes on this invigorating walking holiday along the 'Wild Coast' of Catalonia. Blending coastal cliffs, solitary beaches and crystal-clear coves with mountain trails, medieval villages and dense forests, every step reveals a new perspective of this remarkable region. Along the way, you have opportunities to indulge in Catalonia's wines and gastronomy, and will return home with your appetite for both adventure and food completely fulfilled.
How to get there? It's easy to travel to Spain from the UK. Take the Eurostar from London to Paris. After lunch take the afternoon double-deck TGV Duplex direct to Girona.
Germany
Witness the beautiful scenery of the magnificent Bavarian Alps to the hidden delights and charming cities of Saxon Switzerland. Alpine scenery, castles, fortresses, myths and legends are just waiting to be discovered.
Our recommended walking holiday:
Along the Harz Witches Trail
Follow the undulating path of the Bode River on this atmospheric trail which passes through dense forests and mystical landscapes. According to ancient lore, witches gather on the mist-shrouded Brocken peak on Walpurgis Night (30 April) to dance and worship the devil, and the whole place is shrouded in myth and legend. Explore this enchanting world of lush forests, rocky gorges, waterfalls and attractive medieval towns, revealing the region’s thousand-year-old mining history at every turn.
How to get there? Travel from London to Brussels on the Eurostar before connecting to Germany's high-speed ICE network. Continue via Cologne to Göttingen, then board a regional train for the final leg of your journey to Osterode am Harz. You can expect a total journey time of around 10-11 hours.
Sweden
If you're looking for natural beauty or outdoor adventure, this Nordic nation is hard to beat. Sweden has over 30,000 islands and islets to explore and a hiking trail stretching over 1,000km, just south of Stockholm.
Our recommended walking holidays:
Sörmland Hiking Adventure
Embark on a journey through Stockholm and Sörmland's breathtaking landscapes, hiking past serene forests, shimmering lakes and historic villages. You follow some of the most naturally beautiful stretches of the Sörmland Trail, one of Sweden's longest and most scenic hiking routes, discovering the country's culture and historic treasures along the way. Highlights include the charming village of Nävekvarn, the medieval Nyköping Castle and several tranquil nature reserves. For those seeking active exploration and relaxation, this itinerary is a must.
Hiking the Stockholm Archipelago
This island-hopping walking holiday offers a unique opportunity to hike through Sweden's stunning Stockholm Archipelago, extending into the Baltic Sea. Explore the ancient woodlands of Tyresta National Park, Huvudskar's dramatic coastlines, the vibrant village of Utö and Ornö's tranquil landscapes. This journey blends pristine nature, cultural charm and adventure. Boat transfers between the islands provide wonderful opportunities to enjoy the archipelago with chances to dip into some wild swimming spots and kayak too.
How to get there? Stockholm can be reached in under 24 hours departing on a Eurostar train from London St Pancras to Brussels. Change onto a train to Hamburg, where you pick up the Hamburg-Stockholm EuroNight sleeper arriving into Stockholm approximately 12 hours later.
Train travel is not only a more sustainable way to explore Europe, but also a chance to relax in comfort and sit back to watch the landscapes unfold before you even lace up your walking boots!
Use our holiday search to browse all of our walking trips. Alternatively you can view all our walking holidays in Europe or to find out more, speak to our team.
