Trains are a comfortable and convenient way to travel around Europe. They’re perfect for day trips from one town to another, as you can hop on a quick train instead of renting a car. They’re also a good alternative to flying when traveling between major cities, such as Paris to Nice or Barcelona to Madrid. Prices are usually affordable, plus you can earn bonus rewards on train tickets with certain travel credit cards.
If you haven’t done much train travel before, it’s normal to have some questions. How early should you arrive? Can you bring heavy luggage? It’s not always easy to find answers to everything, especially since some train company websites are tricky to navigate.
My wife and I spent the summer in Europe, and we took trains often. Here’s what we learned along the way.
1. Search on Trainline, and book at least a few days in advance for longer trips
Europe has quite a few train companies. I recommend using Trainline to compare options. You can see which train companies provide service on the route you want to book, travel times, and prices. Once you’ve found tickets, you can book through Trainline or go to the train company’s website to do it.
Although you can also get tickets at the station, it’s better to book in advance for longer trips. If it’s a popular route, ticket availability could be limited. You may need to book a more expensive ticket if nothing else is available.
On shorter day trips, getting tickets at the station isn’t normally a problem. You also can be flexible about when you head back if you haven’t booked tickets in advance. Whether you book online or at the station, train companies normally accept credit cards. Just make sure to use one with no foreign transaction fees.
2. Always double check the train stations when booking
Many cities have multiple train stations. Paris, for example, has six of them. If one station is right next to your hotel, you’ll want to make sure you arrive there, and not at the station all the way across town.
Keep this in mind when you book tickets so you know where your departure and arrival stations are. I made this mistake when traveling from Montpellier to Paris. We had already taken trains in Montpellier before, so I assumed the train to Paris would depart from the station five minutes from our apartment. The morning of our trip, I realized it was actually departing from a station 30 minutes away. Fortunately, we made it in time, but it was a close call.
3. The luggage rules are flexible, but there isn’t always much space available
Traveling light is always more convenient, but sometimes, it’s not feasible. Since we were spending months in Europe, and we’re the farthest thing from backpackers, we had some large, heavy luggage. I tried researching luggage rules before each trip, but not all train companies provided much information.
Here’s what I learned from experience: Train companies aren’t strict at all about luggage. I never saw anyone being forced to weigh their luggage or told that they couldn’t bring it on board. The unwritten rule seems to be that if you can lift it yourself, you’re good to go. I’d still recommend seeing if you can find the train company’s luggage rules to play it safe. But if you just have typical luggage, even a large checked bag, you can most likely bring it on board without issue.
However, there’s not always a lot of space to put your luggage. This depends on the train and how busy it is. On most trains, there were luggage racks with enough space for our bags. But there were also trains without luggage racks, or where all the space was already taken. In this situation, you just need to put your luggage on the floor, ideally somewhere it isn’t blocking a walkway.
4. You can reserve premium seats and even an entire compartment
Just like when you fly, there are premium seats available on trains. The exact options depend on the train. Smaller trains may have one or two types of seats. Others offer several, sometimes including private compartments with seating for four passengers.
If you’re going to be on the train for hours, I’d suggest getting a premium seat if it works for your budget. They’re more comfortable, and they usually aren’t that much more expensive. It’s nothing like the price difference between flying economy and flying business class.
The private compartments are great if you’re traveling with friends or family. You can also reserve these if you don’t have four people, but make sure to check if you’ll still have the whole compartment to yourself. Some train companies let you reserve the whole compartment and charge you a higher price per ticket if you have fewer than four people. Others charge the same ticket price, but there’s the possibility someone else could also book the remaining seats, and you end up sharing the compartment with strangers (it’s as awkward as it sounds).
5. You don’t need to arrive too early — 30 minutes is more than enough
An advantage of taking the train instead of flying is that you don’t need to arrive early. There’s no lengthy security check where you take off your shoes and take your laptop out of your bag. At the station, you walk to the platform where your train is, scan your ticket along the way, and board.
There’s no need to arrive an hour before departure time. Waiting around at train stations isn’t that enjoyable, either. Train stations can be hectic, with travelers everywhere and nowhere to sit. Some train companies have lounges available if you book a premium seat. But to be honest, the lounges I’ve seen are nothing special. It’s not like the airport lounge access available through many credit cards.
If you’re there 15 minutes to 30 minutes before departure, that’s fine. I’d suggest arriving 30 minutes early if you’re unfamiliar with the station. It’s occasionally tricky to find the train platform, especially in large stations, so it’s nice to have a little breathing room.
If you get the chance, taking the train while you travel Europe is well worth it. It’s a travel method that’s not available in much of the United States, it’s relaxing, and the views can be spectacular.
