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Byway Travel | Train trips across Europe

Travel through, not over. Beautiful custom routes and stays, by land and sea. Supported by no-fly travel experts.

https://www.byway.travel/about/linkinbio Travel through the world instead of flying over it. Slow travel holidays, where the journey is the star of the show. Sign up for the Byway slow travel newsletter: https://www.byway.travel/newsletter

16/10/2026

Destination swaps: 2027 edition.

Getting off the train one stop earlier, staying one stop longer, or taking a small detour from the route-well-travelled, is a great way to avoid the crowds to and explore somewhere new.

So, keep an eye on places like Girona, Trieste, Piran, Turku and Tartu for 2027.

They offer many of the things travellers love about Barcelona, Venice, Santorini, Helsinki and Tallinn, but with a very different feel. Less queueing for the famous viewpoint, more finding a harbour restaurant in Piran, reading in a historic café in Trieste, or stumbling across a festival in Tartu you hadn't planned for.

15/10/2026

Think you know where these landmarks are located? Drop your guesses in the coments.

In a recent survey with YouGov, we found that 70% of British adults believe they have a good knowledge of European geography, but the average European literacy score was just 36%.

Take the full quiz here: https://tally.so/r/rjZzaM

14/10/2026

Most people know to book Eurostar early for the best fares.

But if you're planning a last-minute trip to Paris, Brussels or Amsterdam - and we're talking within the next 10 days - there's another option worth knowing about: Eurostar Snap.

It offers discounted fares on selected departures, with tickets assigned closer to the date of travel. Availability is limited, so if you have a specific date in mind, it's worth checking as soon as tickets become available.

It's not a replacement for booking ahead, but if standard fares are making you reconsider your trip, it's worth checking Snap before ruling out rail travel or looking at flights instead.

If you’re planning a train trip - don’t forget to sign up to our DIY slow travel course, which has helpful tips and info. Or if you’d rather not deal with ticket timings and stress, we can sort the whole thing for you.

12/10/2026

If you're already travelling all the way to Finland, don't stop at Helsinki.

Turku is the gateway to the archipelago, where thousands of islands stretch into the Baltic Sea, and a natural stop on onwards journeys to Lapland.

Short on time? It makes an easy day trip from Helsinki. Got a few extra days? Stay longer and use it as a base for exploring the islands.

Just don't visit on a Monday - most of the museums and activities will be closed.

Comment TURKU and we'll send you our trips to Finland. 🇫🇮

06/10/2026

Travel has become disconnected.

We ran a survey with YouGov to see how much Britons know about Europe. The results were shocking. While 70% of British adults believe they have a good knowledge of European geography, the average score on our actual test was just 36%.

Yet - many of us are craving the journey. 62% of respondents said the journey itself is part of the holiday.

Most importantly, the survey showed that rail travel improves geographic literacy more than flying - with rail travellers scoring consistently higher than frequent fliers.

Travelling by train means you see more of the world, and connect more deeply to what you see. Is it time to reconnect with the world around us?

Comment SKIP and we’ll send you the full report and findings 🌍

05/10/2026

The bells might not be jingling yet, but Christmas market season is peeking around the corner, and now is the best time to book a trip.

Some of Europe's biggest festive markets start opening in November, which means now is about the time festive enthusiasts start planning their to-visit list.

The good news? By train, you're rarely more than a short walk from your first Glühwein, gingerbread or festive impulse purchase.

Comment GINGERBREAD and we'll send you our favourite Christmas market trips by train and our guide on how to ‘do’ Christmas markets.

30/09/2026

There’s been quite a lot of positive rail news recently. Virgin Trains was given the green light to run UK-Europe services, Eurostar has announced a new direct route to Antwerp, and Nightjet sleeper trains have become easier to book in advance.

YouGov polling commissioned by and Clean Cities adds another layer to that conversation: what the public thinks about the future of international rail.

Something that stands out is the support for Ashford International. The Good Growth Foundation's “Light at the End of the Tunnel” report explores the wider impact international rail can have on coastal communities, tourism economies and regional growth, and reaching communities beyond London. It adds important context to the conversation around rail travel’s future.

Thanks to , and Clean Cities for highlighting the research.

Comment REPORT and we'll send you the full reports.

28/09/2026

Is Milan to Paris better by train than by plane?
If you've been following Byway's Stories this summer, you might recognise me - I'm Sade, and for this route my answer is a 100% yes.

The direct train from Milano Centrale to Paris Gare de Lyon takes around 7 hours, crossing the Alps before arriving right in the heart of Paris.

These photos were taken on the final stretch of my four-week solo trip around Europe, but this route is one I know well as I've spent years travelling home between Italy and the UK via Paris, Basel, Munich, high-speed rail, FlixBus and pretty much every combination imaginable.

My biggest tip? Compare both SNCF and Trenitalia before booking. I've travelled on both direct services and personally prefer Trenitalia - the trains feel newer, brighter and the journey is a little more comfortable.
If your budget allows, this is also a route worth upgrading for. And for the best views, sit on the right-hand side towards Paris and the left-hand side towards Milan.

Watching Italy become France outside your window beats another airport queue every time.

Comment DIRECT to read all about my four week solo adventure.

23/09/2026

'How do I travel by train on a tighter budget?'

Travelling in shoulder season, using an Interrail Pass and looking beyond the obvious destinations can make a surprisingly big difference to your budget.

We've rounded up a collection of trips where your money stretches further - meaning more nights away, longer lunches and more room for spontaneity along the way.

Comment BUDGET and we'll send you our favourite affordable Europe-by-train trips.

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