22 of the best rail journeys in Europe
European rail journeys embody more than mere romance. The latest independent routes and packaged tours allow travellers to gaze over entire nations, while train windows screen lakes, mountains and countryside in full colour. By avoiding airport hassle, and zipping from city centre to city centre, Europe's trains promise more time 'on holiday' too.
On longer journeys, you'll have the added thrill of falling asleep in your private compartment and waking up at sunrise in a new place. Whether you opt for slow travel across the snow-covered Scandinavian Arctic, being whisked across rural France on the high-speed TGV, or the unfettered luxury of black tie and bellinis on the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express, there's a train journey for every budget. Here are the most exciting European rail journeys.
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Le Train Rouge (Red Train) clatters along 100-year-old tracks over gravity-defying suspension bridges, through tunnels and across flower-filled French Pyrenean meadows on its 35-mile journey Rivesaltes to the small town of Axat. The ride is one of the day trips on this week-long break to Catalonia, travelling by rail from London and staying in the resort of Roses, on the Costa Brava. Rail fans will also revel in the day on the Nuria Rack Railway, which travels eight miles to the Nuria Valley, where mountain pastures fringe a blue-green lake. Visits to Girona and Figueres, for the Gala-Salvador Dalí Foundation — provide a culture fix.
You could arrive on the Côte d'Azur frazzled from hours on the autoroute — or you could just relax on the train, racing from London to Nice on the Eurostar and TGV and using the city as a base for forays along the coast by rail: swish Antibes, Cannes and pretty Villefranche-sur-Mer are all easy day trips. In Nice, people-watch on the Promenade des Anglais, admire the Chagalls and Matisses in their respective museums and take a front-row seat for salad niçoise and catch of the day at Le Safari on Cours Saleya, the old-town market.
• Eurostar guide: everything youneed to know before you travel
Reach the French Alpine resort of Chambery on day one, before gunning through the mountains to charming Turin on day two. Sightseeing options include Turin's old Fiat factory, immortalised in The Italian Job, and which now hosts Europe's largest rooftop garden. A snaking run down the Adriatic deposits travellers in historic Bari: base for the sleeper ferry to Albania, a land of eagles, secret beaches and madcap socialist architecture. The trip finishes in buzzy Tirana for a two-night stay.
• Best places to visit in Albania
The spiky Dolomites of Italy are criss-crossed by narrow-gauge railways and funiculars, which form the basis of four excursions in this week-long idyll on the banks of Lake Molveno in Trentino. Take a deep breath as the improbably steep Mendola funicular cranks a terrifying 854m (2,801ft) at a 64 per cent gradient, with magnificent panoramas from the top your reward. The Renon railway, too, is 18 minutes of lip-biting drama — the historic carriages haul you up to a high mountain plateau to see 25,000-year-old earth pyramids, bizarre rock spikes left over from the Ice Age.
• Read our full guide to Italy
The high-speed link from Paris Montparnasse to Toulouse, which zips for four and a half hours through France's agricultural heartland, puts this cool university city within quick-getaway reach of the UK. In La Ville Rose, named for the dusky pink of its terracotta bricks, plunge into the edgy food scene of the Vieux Quartier. Check out the 5 Wine Bar, thrice voted best in the world, with more than 500 wines by the glass. Load up on cheeses and pâtés from the Victor Hugo market before canoeing on the Garonne, or cycling along the Canal du Midi. The three-star Hôtel Albert 1er is a lovely boutique hotel with a fine line in slow-food breakfasts; coffee comes from Maison Roquemaurel, an artisanal city roaster.
Take in the antiquities of Rome, the ravishing Amalfi coast and chic Taormina in one trip, speeding across Italy's rolling hills and lush countryside by train and staying in locally owned four-star hotels. Pack a picnic for the train journey from Naples to Taormina and settle back to marvel at the views, with mountains on one side and flashes of sparkling blue Mediterranean on the other. For the 20-minute crossing of the Strait of Messina from Villa San Giovanni in Calabria to Sicily, the train is actually loaded onto a ferry, passengers enjoying the spectacle from the boat's upper decks. You have optional day trips to Pompeii and Etna — but throw in some fun with the more immersive tours on offer: gelato-tasting in Rome, pizza-making in Sorrento and dinner with a local family in Sicily.
citalia.com
• Discover the best of Sicily
Napoleon claimed he could smell the maquis, an intoxicating perfume of wild brush and herbs, as he crossed the sea to his beloved Corsica. You'll have plenty of chance to breathe in the mountain air and soak up rugged coastal scenery with an exploration of the island on the quaint trinighellu trains. Highlights include the atmospheric port of Calvi; the old capital, Corte, its extraordinary citadel teetering on a vertiginous rock outcrop; and the captivating train journey from here to Ajaccio, across Gustave Eiffel's Vecchio viaduct and through forests of pine and chestnut.
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• Best things to do in Corsica
Mysterious, mist-shrouded Transylvania lends itself particularly well to old-fashioned train travel. This private adventure on the luxurious Golden Eagle Danube Express starts in Istanbul, crosses Bulgaria and climbs through the wild, forested Carpathian Mountains before speeding across the vast Hungarian steppes into Budapest. Stops include medieval Veliko Tarnovo, Bulgaria's former capital, where a jumble of stone houses cling to the banks of the Yantra River, as well as the turreted Bran Castle in Romania — said to have inspired Bram Stoker's Dracula. On board, expect lots of polished wood and brass, fine dining and cosy compartments with private bathrooms.
goldeneagleluxurytrains.com
Journey across wintry landscapes on the night train from Stockholm to Kiruna, Sweden's northernmost city, deep inside the Arctic Circle on the banks of frozen Lake Luossajarvi. Activities you might book include trekking through snow-laden forests on snowshoes, dog sledding, ice fishing and spinning across the icy tundra on snowmobiles, keeping an eye on the sky for the rippling green curtains of the aurora borealis. You have three nights for Arctic adventures, following train travel there via Münster and Copenhagen, and two in Stockholm. Summertime adventures on the same tour enjoy the midnight sun.
tailormaderail.com
Vienna's graceful baroque heart is easy to explore on bicycle, foot and tram. This eight-night holiday by rail gives you three nights in the Austrian capital and three in dreamy Salzburg, stopping in Frankfurt on the way out and Zurich on the return. Check out the Hofburg palace and the State Opera, get your art fix at the MuseumsQuartier and gorge on coffee piled with whipped cream in the 19th-century cafés. In Salzburg, just two hours and 20 minutes away on the speedy Railjet service, there's the legacy of Mozart and the von Trapps to explore.
planetrail.co.uk
• Discover the best of Vienna
Spain's grand, belle époque Al-Andalus train takes a seven-night route round the great Moorish cities of Andalusia, from Seville and Cordoba to Granada, sprawled at the foot of the snow-capped Sierra Nevada. You'll taste sherry in Jerez, poke around the ancient port city of Cadiz, tap your feet to flamenco in Seville and explore Granada's exquisite Alhambra palace. While the plush velvet and polished, inlaid wood make the vintage carriages a magnificent base, you won't miss out on Andalusian cooking, as lunches are taken in local restaurants.
kirkerholidays.com
• Best things to do in Seville
Like the immaculately terraced vineyards, the railway along the Douro Valley snakes round the contours of the hills, making for one of the prettiest train journeys in Europe. On a rail-and-walk week-long break you'll enjoy daily guided group hikes along the river, across hilltops, through wild olive groves and between the sprawling port wine estates, taking the train between overnight stays in a family-run hotel in Regua, which promises a comfortable base after long days on foot.
rambleworldwide.co.uk
Getting there is half the fun on this romantic escape: jump on the Eurostar to Paris, then take the TGV to Zurich, where you'll board the night sleeper. Look out for the moon reflecting on the snowy mountaintops as the track snakes along the curves of the Zürichsee and Walensee lakes. You'll wake to a cup of tea and a lush Bohemian forest, arriving in Prague by 11am. You have three days to roam this unforgettably beautiful city, losing yourself in cobbled alleys and squares, admiring the Charles Bridge and Prague Castle, and drinking in the atmospheric beer gardens.
railbookers.co.uk
• Best things to do in Prague
The GoldenPass Express route in Switzerland winds its way from Montreux on the shores of Lake Geneva to the glittering glaciers of Interlaken in three hours and 15 minutes. Seats are spread over three classes: second, first and prestige, the latter with chairs that are warmed at the touch of a button and swivel to take in the 360-degree views from panoramic windows. It's from these windows that the real magic unfolds: alpine valleys studded with bell cows, snow-dusted chalets and mountains reminiscent of those on Toblerone boxes.
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• Best places to visit in Switzerland
For sheer opulence you can't beat the classic journey on the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express, whisking you from London to Venice in a blur of black tie, bellinis and belle époque splendour. Doze off to the swaying of the train as it dashes through the night before being woken by your steward for breakfast amid the snowy vistas of the Swiss Alps. After two nights in Venice, the Frecciarossa — Italy's flashy 'red arrow' express — speeds you through the countryside to Florence and Rome for a further two nights in each city.
railbookers.co.uk
• Best things to do in Rome
A tiny package of glacial lakes, ice-capped mountains, vineyards, meadows and a sliver of Adriatic coast, Slovenia is easy and rewarding to explore by rail. Your journey takes you from Lake Bled through a bucolic landscape of vineyards and cherry orchards to Bohinjska Bistrica, near the Italian border, before heading south to Ljubljana, the leafy capital. After two nights exploring its markets, intriguing streets and riverside cafés, you're off to the improbably picturesque Piran — all Venetian façades, pretty squares and, around the marina, enticing seafood restaurants.
inntravel.co.uk
• Discover the best of Slovenia
The dream for fans of steam: three days chugging along 87 miles of narrow-gauge lines on Germany's venerable Harzer Schmalspurbahnen. You'll stay in medieval Wernigerode after a leisurely two-day train journey from London, then a Harz Rover pass gives you time to explore; the steam-hauled journey up the Brocken mountain is a highlight, as much for the Cold War museum at the top as the sweeping views. Half-timbered Quedlinburg can also be reached by steam train. The trip ends in Essen, with a chance to ride the Schwebebahn, a futuristic suspension railway that runs eight miles across the city of Wuppertal.
ffestiniogtravel.com
• Best sleeper trains in Europe
This seven-night 'rail cruise' across Spain's northern coast is slow travel at its most indulgent. Aboard the opulent Transcantabrico, polished, inlaid wood features heavily in its four lounge cars — beautifully restored Pullman carriages dating from 1923 — and the suites are pretty sumptuous, too, with private bathrooms and living quarters. You'll sleep well, as the train remains stationary after dark. The route hugs the coast from San Sebastian to Santiago de Compostela through Cantabria, Asturias and Galicia, rattling through lush countryside beneath the spiky Picos de Europa.
eltrentranscantabrico.com
Reaching Italy's palm-fringed Lake Maggiore is a breeze on the Eurostar to Paris, followed by TGVs to Zurich and Milan. Your base on the lake is the comfortable Hotel Cannero, alongside the pink and ochre villas on the waterfront of the pretty resort of Cannero Riviera. From here, explore the lake on boat trips to the Palazzo Borromeo and botanical gardens on the Borromean Islands, or spend a day in arty Stresa, from where a cable car whisks you up to Mottarone for sweeping lake and mountain views.
expressionsholidays.co.uk
• Discover the best of Milan
Visiting Norway the slow way takes 12 days there and back by train, starting from London, but overnights in hip Hamburg and Gothenburg are all part of the adventure. You get two nights in Oslo before speeding past forest and lakes to the fjord-indented west coast. At the Myrdal mountain station, high in the vertiginous Flamsdalen valley, you'll switch trains onto the Flam railway, one of the world's steepest standard-gauge lines, slowly trundling in and out of 20 tunnels on its hair-raising journey down to Flam itself, a sleepy village at the head of Aurlandsfjord. After three days exploring the walking trails around Flam, board the ferry for Bergen, sailing the length of Sognefjord, Norway's longest and deepest fjord.
originaltravel.co.uk
• Discover our full guide to Norway
The Eurostar and TGV combo from London to Bordeaux is so efficient that you can whizz from work to wine country in just six hours, with a quick change in Paris. Bordeaux sweeps in a graceful half-moon along the banks of the Garonne, the salty scent of the Atlantic on the breeze. There's loads to see in a weekend: the elegant Place de la Bourse with its reflecting water mirror, the futuristic Cité du Vin museum, the grand, 18th-century city centre and riverfront cafés and markets. Stay at the cool, Philippe Starck-designed Mama Shelter boutique hotel in the centre; the rooftop bar buzzes on balmy nights.
eurostar.com
• Best hotels in Bordeaux
Enjoy a five-day return trip to the Netherlands from London, which includes first-class rail. Spend four nights based in a smart hotel in the university city of Utrecht; explore colourful local canals, the Dutch national railway museum and, during spring, the Keukenhof Gardens where millions of tulips and other seasonal bulbs are on display. The tour also includes a tour on the Medemblik steam train and a day trip by train to Amsterdam.
greatrail.com
• Best things to do in Amsterdam
Additional reporting by Tristan Rutherford and Lucy Perrin
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The Independent
10 hours ago
- The Independent
How ‘boring Bordeaux' is having a wine renaissance
Bordeaux is undoubtedly the most famous wine-producing region in the world, but I have to admit: I've had a slightly complicated relationship with their wines, and I wonder if that's the same for you, too? While it has delivered some of my most memorable drinking experiences, there have been moments over the years when I've found it dated and fusty. It seemed as though it was the preserve of a 'certain sort' of person – and I am definitely not that person. But that's all changing. Bordeaux and wine conjure images of being a bastion of tradition, and to an extent it is. Its winemaking history dates back over 2,000 years, but it was the marriage of Henry II to the brilliant Eleanor of Aquitaine that saw the UK develop close links with Bordeaux, as the marriage brought the Duchy of Aquitaine – including the Bordeaux region – under English rule. While territories and lines on the maps moved, the valuable trading remained intact (give or take a few little mishaps). It's an incredibly difficult region to characterise as it produces both the world's most expensive wines and, at the same time, some of the cheapest wines available. But despite the tradition, I really see Bordeaux as one of the most innovative and proactive wine regions when it comes to responding to the challenges that it faces – namely the evolution of customer preferences, climate change and a push for greater sustainability. It's a region that's adapting – and it needs to. In 2024, the French government proposed a scheme costing £100m that would potentially remove up to 30,000 hectares of vines to tackle the pressing issue of oversupply in Bordeaux. It mirrors the overall global trend where production outstrips demand – with that figure being as high as 10 per cent, according to figures relating to 2023 released by the International Organisation of Vine and Wine. But Bordeaux's proactive spirit is likely to be the essence that allows this region to thrive once again. It's a region that is leading the way in viticultural sustainability – over 75 per cent of Bordeaux's vineyards are certified by some form of environmental approach, including organic, biodynamic and High Environmental Value certifications. The department of Gironde, the area where Bordeaux is located, is the leading area in France for organically cultivated vines. There is a greater drive for biodiversity in the vineyard through increased plantings in hedges and woodlands, too. There's also a dynamic approach to the variety of vines that are allowed to be planted, including those that are likely to be more resistant to the pressures of climate change. And it's not just the viticultural side of wine. The CIVB ( Bordeaux Wine Council) is driving conversations and actions, not just around environmental protection, but also on the human sustainability of wine production. The regional diversity in the styles available is staggering; the growing trend towards fresher, more approachable wines being a testament to this. It seems I'm not alone in my opinion on Bordeaux: Richard Bamfield MW, a regional expert on Bordeaux, told me, 'It makes no sense to me that Bordeaux is finding it so hard to sell its wines at present. Most of its production sells for well under £20, the reds have never been better, the dry whites are perfect by-the-glass material, the crémants look great value and, in Clairet, I think they have a rosé/light red that offers an excellent alternative to Provence. What's more, Bordeaux itself has become one of the best cities in Europe to visit. Those not drinking or visiting Bordeaux are missing out!' And that's not even mentioning the outstanding sweet wines, traditional rosés and orange wines too. And this is exactly what I felt on a visit to a wine fair recently in the charming town of Monsegur, located on the edge of the Bordeaux region. It was brimming with excitement. The joy in tasting a stunning range of wines produced by energetic and engaged producers felt a world away from the hushed clinks of claret in 'society' gentlemen's clubs. And so, like all good love stories, I think Bordeaux and I are finding our beautiful happily-ever-after – one that evolves over time through the range of styles and the stories that they tell. So, if you think you're a little like me, I think it's time you gave them a second chance as well. Here's just a tiny selection of Bordeaux, which represents this new and exciting energy: No Lemon No Melon White Merlot, Chateau Picoron, France, 2023 Available nationwide, including Thorne Wines, £18.95, 13 per cent ABV Think of Bordeaux and you might think of deep reds – but what about their whites? While the region makes outstanding sauvignon blanc/semillon blends, this is 100 per cent merlot (yes, you read that right). Made by some merlot-mad Australians who work outside of the appellation c ontrôlée, the grapes were pressed and whisked away from their skins, leaving a beautiful rose-gold tinged white wine. It's a gorgeous glass of soft white peaches, creamy butter, slices of ripe pineapple with a lick of vanilla on top – good acidity keeps this wine fresh and very fun. Le Benjamin, Chateau Des Annereaux, France, 2021 Available nationwide, including Forest Wines, £15.00, 13 per cent ABV Made in Lalande-de-Pomerol, a right bank region neighbouring the famed area of Pomerol, this offers great value for money. Benjamin Hessel is a wonderful example of the 'new generation' of Bordeaux; he's deeply passionate both about his role as custodian of the land and the relationships with the people he works with. It's a medium-bodied merlot with a drop of petit verdot, delivering a palate of deep black cherries, ripe blackcurrants, and a black-pepper crack of spiciness. The tannins give just the right amount of grip to support this fruit-forward drop. Hégoa Rouge, Domaine Des 4 Vents, France, 2022 Available nationwide, including Les Caves De Pyrene, £20.80, 13 per cent ABV A great example of some of the natural wines that are emerging in this long-standing 'traditional' region. Domaine Des 4 Vents was established in 2020 and is making wines at the wilder end of the spectrum – they're life-full and energetic. It's 100 per cent merlot, and is full of hedgerow fruit such as wild blackberries, rosehips and blackcurrants – it finishes with an autumnal earthy note and a fresh herbaceous edge, too. This is an 'open up and drink with friends in one go' kind of wine, as it doesn't have the stability to last beyond the first day. Bordeaux Rouge, Clos de la Molenie, France, 2021 Available from Jeroboams, £19.95, 12 per cent ABV A wine I want to drink over and over again. Clos de la Molenie are located in the Entre-deux-mers, the largest wine-producing area in Bordeaux, and is a great example of the evolution in the region. It's a contrast to the historic wines of Bordeaux, which relied on the passage of time before they were anywhere near approachable. This is fruit-driven merlot at its finest – you'll be greeted with layers of bright red cherries, soft raspberries, late-summer plums and deep-red stained rose petals supported by gentle, supple tannins. It's easy to understand why this producer is gaining such a great reputation for their innovative, small-scale production.
Times
11 hours ago
- Times
22 of the best rail journeys in Europe
European rail journeys embody more than mere romance. The latest independent routes and packaged tours allow travellers to gaze over entire nations, while train windows screen lakes, mountains and countryside in full colour. By avoiding airport hassle, and zipping from city centre to city centre, Europe's trains promise more time 'on holiday' too. On longer journeys, you'll have the added thrill of falling asleep in your private compartment and waking up at sunrise in a new place. Whether you opt for slow travel across the snow-covered Scandinavian Arctic, being whisked across rural France on the high-speed TGV, or the unfettered luxury of black tie and bellinis on the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express, there's a train journey for every budget. Here are the most exciting European rail journeys. This article contains affiliate links, which may earn us revenue Le Train Rouge (Red Train) clatters along 100-year-old tracks over gravity-defying suspension bridges, through tunnels and across flower-filled French Pyrenean meadows on its 35-mile journey Rivesaltes to the small town of Axat. The ride is one of the day trips on this week-long break to Catalonia, travelling by rail from London and staying in the resort of Roses, on the Costa Brava. Rail fans will also revel in the day on the Nuria Rack Railway, which travels eight miles to the Nuria Valley, where mountain pastures fringe a blue-green lake. Visits to Girona and Figueres, for the Gala-Salvador Dalí Foundation — provide a culture fix. You could arrive on the Côte d'Azur frazzled from hours on the autoroute — or you could just relax on the train, racing from London to Nice on the Eurostar and TGV and using the city as a base for forays along the coast by rail: swish Antibes, Cannes and pretty Villefranche-sur-Mer are all easy day trips. In Nice, people-watch on the Promenade des Anglais, admire the Chagalls and Matisses in their respective museums and take a front-row seat for salad niçoise and catch of the day at Le Safari on Cours Saleya, the old-town market. • Eurostar guide: everything youneed to know before you travel Reach the French Alpine resort of Chambery on day one, before gunning through the mountains to charming Turin on day two. Sightseeing options include Turin's old Fiat factory, immortalised in The Italian Job, and which now hosts Europe's largest rooftop garden. A snaking run down the Adriatic deposits travellers in historic Bari: base for the sleeper ferry to Albania, a land of eagles, secret beaches and madcap socialist architecture. The trip finishes in buzzy Tirana for a two-night stay. • Best places to visit in Albania The spiky Dolomites of Italy are criss-crossed by narrow-gauge railways and funiculars, which form the basis of four excursions in this week-long idyll on the banks of Lake Molveno in Trentino. Take a deep breath as the improbably steep Mendola funicular cranks a terrifying 854m (2,801ft) at a 64 per cent gradient, with magnificent panoramas from the top your reward. The Renon railway, too, is 18 minutes of lip-biting drama — the historic carriages haul you up to a high mountain plateau to see 25,000-year-old earth pyramids, bizarre rock spikes left over from the Ice Age. • Read our full guide to Italy The high-speed link from Paris Montparnasse to Toulouse, which zips for four and a half hours through France's agricultural heartland, puts this cool university city within quick-getaway reach of the UK. In La Ville Rose, named for the dusky pink of its terracotta bricks, plunge into the edgy food scene of the Vieux Quartier. Check out the 5 Wine Bar, thrice voted best in the world, with more than 500 wines by the glass. Load up on cheeses and pâtés from the Victor Hugo market before canoeing on the Garonne, or cycling along the Canal du Midi. The three-star Hôtel Albert 1er is a lovely boutique hotel with a fine line in slow-food breakfasts; coffee comes from Maison Roquemaurel, an artisanal city roaster. Take in the antiquities of Rome, the ravishing Amalfi coast and chic Taormina in one trip, speeding across Italy's rolling hills and lush countryside by train and staying in locally owned four-star hotels. Pack a picnic for the train journey from Naples to Taormina and settle back to marvel at the views, with mountains on one side and flashes of sparkling blue Mediterranean on the other. For the 20-minute crossing of the Strait of Messina from Villa San Giovanni in Calabria to Sicily, the train is actually loaded onto a ferry, passengers enjoying the spectacle from the boat's upper decks. You have optional day trips to Pompeii and Etna — but throw in some fun with the more immersive tours on offer: gelato-tasting in Rome, pizza-making in Sorrento and dinner with a local family in Sicily. • Discover the best of Sicily Napoleon claimed he could smell the maquis, an intoxicating perfume of wild brush and herbs, as he crossed the sea to his beloved Corsica. You'll have plenty of chance to breathe in the mountain air and soak up rugged coastal scenery with an exploration of the island on the quaint trinighellu trains. Highlights include the atmospheric port of Calvi; the old capital, Corte, its extraordinary citadel teetering on a vertiginous rock outcrop; and the captivating train journey from here to Ajaccio, across Gustave Eiffel's Vecchio viaduct and through forests of pine and chestnut. • Best things to do in Corsica Mysterious, mist-shrouded Transylvania lends itself particularly well to old-fashioned train travel. This private adventure on the luxurious Golden Eagle Danube Express starts in Istanbul, crosses Bulgaria and climbs through the wild, forested Carpathian Mountains before speeding across the vast Hungarian steppes into Budapest. Stops include medieval Veliko Tarnovo, Bulgaria's former capital, where a jumble of stone houses cling to the banks of the Yantra River, as well as the turreted Bran Castle in Romania — said to have inspired Bram Stoker's Dracula. On board, expect lots of polished wood and brass, fine dining and cosy compartments with private bathrooms. Journey across wintry landscapes on the night train from Stockholm to Kiruna, Sweden's northernmost city, deep inside the Arctic Circle on the banks of frozen Lake Luossajarvi. Activities you might book include trekking through snow-laden forests on snowshoes, dog sledding, ice fishing and spinning across the icy tundra on snowmobiles, keeping an eye on the sky for the rippling green curtains of the aurora borealis. You have three nights for Arctic adventures, following train travel there via Münster and Copenhagen, and two in Stockholm. Summertime adventures on the same tour enjoy the midnight sun. Vienna's graceful baroque heart is easy to explore on bicycle, foot and tram. This eight-night holiday by rail gives you three nights in the Austrian capital and three in dreamy Salzburg, stopping in Frankfurt on the way out and Zurich on the return. Check out the Hofburg palace and the State Opera, get your art fix at the MuseumsQuartier and gorge on coffee piled with whipped cream in the 19th-century cafés. In Salzburg, just two hours and 20 minutes away on the speedy Railjet service, there's the legacy of Mozart and the von Trapps to explore. • Discover the best of Vienna Spain's grand, belle époque Al-Andalus train takes a seven-night route round the great Moorish cities of Andalusia, from Seville and Cordoba to Granada, sprawled at the foot of the snow-capped Sierra Nevada. You'll taste sherry in Jerez, poke around the ancient port city of Cadiz, tap your feet to flamenco in Seville and explore Granada's exquisite Alhambra palace. While the plush velvet and polished, inlaid wood make the vintage carriages a magnificent base, you won't miss out on Andalusian cooking, as lunches are taken in local restaurants. • Best things to do in Seville Like the immaculately terraced vineyards, the railway along the Douro Valley snakes round the contours of the hills, making for one of the prettiest train journeys in Europe. On a rail-and-walk week-long break you'll enjoy daily guided group hikes along the river, across hilltops, through wild olive groves and between the sprawling port wine estates, taking the train between overnight stays in a family-run hotel in Regua, which promises a comfortable base after long days on foot. Getting there is half the fun on this romantic escape: jump on the Eurostar to Paris, then take the TGV to Zurich, where you'll board the night sleeper. Look out for the moon reflecting on the snowy mountaintops as the track snakes along the curves of the Zürichsee and Walensee lakes. You'll wake to a cup of tea and a lush Bohemian forest, arriving in Prague by 11am. You have three days to roam this unforgettably beautiful city, losing yourself in cobbled alleys and squares, admiring the Charles Bridge and Prague Castle, and drinking in the atmospheric beer gardens. • Best things to do in Prague The GoldenPass Express route in Switzerland winds its way from Montreux on the shores of Lake Geneva to the glittering glaciers of Interlaken in three hours and 15 minutes. Seats are spread over three classes: second, first and prestige, the latter with chairs that are warmed at the touch of a button and swivel to take in the 360-degree views from panoramic windows. It's from these windows that the real magic unfolds: alpine valleys studded with bell cows, snow-dusted chalets and mountains reminiscent of those on Toblerone boxes. • Best places to visit in Switzerland For sheer opulence you can't beat the classic journey on the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express, whisking you from London to Venice in a blur of black tie, bellinis and belle époque splendour. Doze off to the swaying of the train as it dashes through the night before being woken by your steward for breakfast amid the snowy vistas of the Swiss Alps. After two nights in Venice, the Frecciarossa — Italy's flashy 'red arrow' express — speeds you through the countryside to Florence and Rome for a further two nights in each city. • Best things to do in Rome A tiny package of glacial lakes, ice-capped mountains, vineyards, meadows and a sliver of Adriatic coast, Slovenia is easy and rewarding to explore by rail. Your journey takes you from Lake Bled through a bucolic landscape of vineyards and cherry orchards to Bohinjska Bistrica, near the Italian border, before heading south to Ljubljana, the leafy capital. After two nights exploring its markets, intriguing streets and riverside cafés, you're off to the improbably picturesque Piran — all Venetian façades, pretty squares and, around the marina, enticing seafood restaurants. • Discover the best of Slovenia The dream for fans of steam: three days chugging along 87 miles of narrow-gauge lines on Germany's venerable Harzer Schmalspurbahnen. You'll stay in medieval Wernigerode after a leisurely two-day train journey from London, then a Harz Rover pass gives you time to explore; the steam-hauled journey up the Brocken mountain is a highlight, as much for the Cold War museum at the top as the sweeping views. Half-timbered Quedlinburg can also be reached by steam train. The trip ends in Essen, with a chance to ride the Schwebebahn, a futuristic suspension railway that runs eight miles across the city of Wuppertal. • Best sleeper trains in Europe This seven-night 'rail cruise' across Spain's northern coast is slow travel at its most indulgent. Aboard the opulent Transcantabrico, polished, inlaid wood features heavily in its four lounge cars — beautifully restored Pullman carriages dating from 1923 — and the suites are pretty sumptuous, too, with private bathrooms and living quarters. You'll sleep well, as the train remains stationary after dark. The route hugs the coast from San Sebastian to Santiago de Compostela through Cantabria, Asturias and Galicia, rattling through lush countryside beneath the spiky Picos de Europa. Reaching Italy's palm-fringed Lake Maggiore is a breeze on the Eurostar to Paris, followed by TGVs to Zurich and Milan. Your base on the lake is the comfortable Hotel Cannero, alongside the pink and ochre villas on the waterfront of the pretty resort of Cannero Riviera. From here, explore the lake on boat trips to the Palazzo Borromeo and botanical gardens on the Borromean Islands, or spend a day in arty Stresa, from where a cable car whisks you up to Mottarone for sweeping lake and mountain views. • Discover the best of Milan Visiting Norway the slow way takes 12 days there and back by train, starting from London, but overnights in hip Hamburg and Gothenburg are all part of the adventure. You get two nights in Oslo before speeding past forest and lakes to the fjord-indented west coast. At the Myrdal mountain station, high in the vertiginous Flamsdalen valley, you'll switch trains onto the Flam railway, one of the world's steepest standard-gauge lines, slowly trundling in and out of 20 tunnels on its hair-raising journey down to Flam itself, a sleepy village at the head of Aurlandsfjord. After three days exploring the walking trails around Flam, board the ferry for Bergen, sailing the length of Sognefjord, Norway's longest and deepest fjord. • Discover our full guide to Norway The Eurostar and TGV combo from London to Bordeaux is so efficient that you can whizz from work to wine country in just six hours, with a quick change in Paris. Bordeaux sweeps in a graceful half-moon along the banks of the Garonne, the salty scent of the Atlantic on the breeze. There's loads to see in a weekend: the elegant Place de la Bourse with its reflecting water mirror, the futuristic Cité du Vin museum, the grand, 18th-century city centre and riverfront cafés and markets. Stay at the cool, Philippe Starck-designed Mama Shelter boutique hotel in the centre; the rooftop bar buzzes on balmy nights. • Best hotels in Bordeaux Enjoy a five-day return trip to the Netherlands from London, which includes first-class rail. Spend four nights based in a smart hotel in the university city of Utrecht; explore colourful local canals, the Dutch national railway museum and, during spring, the Keukenhof Gardens where millions of tulips and other seasonal bulbs are on display. The tour also includes a tour on the Medemblik steam train and a day trip by train to Amsterdam. • Best things to do in Amsterdam Additional reporting by Tristan Rutherford and Lucy Perrin
BBC News
12 hours ago
- BBC News
What is the future of the ID scheme for French visitors?
Thousands of passengers visiting the Channel Islands from France have used a scheme allowing them to use their national ID instead of a passport to cross the the future of the scheme could be in doubt after the UK government brought in new rules for non-British or Irish nationals needing an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) when they and Guernsey's governments have both said they want the French ID scheme to continue, but would work with the UK on the issue. The scheme began in 2023 in response to a fall in day trippers from Brexit, rules meant visitors from outside the Common Travel Area (CTA) - an agreement between the governments of the UK, Jersey, Guernsey, Isle of Man and Ireland - had to show their passports upon February 2023, French authorities said they would stop funding a ferry service to Jersey unless an agreement could be reached on travel documents, as it was difficult for many French nationals who might not possess a Manche Iles Express Ferry, which is partially funded by the Manche Département to run services between France and the Channel Islands, said it was losing money due to the post-Brexit government said the changes had also hampered the island's tourism market and the scheme was launched to help address the issue. Upon arrival at an approved port, French nationals can show their national ID cards if they are visiting the islands for a day Iles Express has day trip routes available from Granville, Barneville-Carteret and Diélette to Jersey, Guernsey and Ferries runs a day trip services between France and Guernsey while DFDS operates a Jersey to St Malo States of Guernsey said the scheme had been designed to be easy to police as officials could see if the French national had booked return travel on the same day. What form of ID is allowed to be used? Only one - a French national ID card has details including the holder's name and address along with a passport style photograph of them and are normally valid for 10 other form of ID such as a driver's licence is not valid under the scheme, said the States of States said the scheme was reviewed annually and, if renewed, was done so in States Assembly also reviews the scheme 4 June, the assembly unanimously approved a proposition to continue the scheme for French day trippers to the island. How popular is the scheme? Figures from Manche Iles Express show the number of French who have used their national ID to visit the Channel Islands for a day trip has grown since figures from the company showed the number of day trip passengers who used their national ID:2023: 11,588 - 30.94% of total passengers2024: 16,235 - 39.57% of total passengersJanuary-May 2025: 5,692 - 49.62% of passengersSeparate figures from the States of Guernsey showed 3,536 of the 10,381 French passengers from 28 March to 6 June who visited the island for a day trip had used their national ID card. What is the future of the scheme? There have been concerns following the introduction of the ETA 2 April, new rules came into force which required most tourists to have an ETA before getting to the UK Home Affairs Minister Deputy Mary Le Hegarat said the States had received a letter from the UK government which had raised concerns with the scheme. The BBC has requested a copy of the Hegarat said: "We will be speaking to the UK again about the matter in person, I will go with the external relations minister so we can have those discussions about Jersey's economy and our tourist industry and how we move forward, because it is important we do that."It's critical for us to manage our economy and I'm hoping that the UK can see the evidence from the years we have been running this that it works well and it's not a risk to the borders and safety."In her ministerial comments on the proposition, she said if the UK had concerns about the scheme, which Jersey was unable to mitigate, it could lead "in a worst case scenario, which is considered unlikely, in the implementation of a hard border between the UK and Jersey". Guernsey Border Agency said it wanted to extend the scheme for the bailiwick, but added the government would work with the UK to ensure any extension would not impact its membership of the said: "It is the intention in Guernsey to seek to extend the French Identity Card Scheme locally, on the condition it does not place our membership of the Common Travel Area at risk."Guernsey Border Agency Officers have been in contact with the UK to discuss the matter of the from a Bailiwick of Guernsey perspective, and will continue to work with UK counterparts around the introduction of ETAs."The BBC has asked the UK Home Office for comment.
