Win a copy of Platform Europe + an Interrail Pass! (closed)

My favourite so far is the Bernina rout in Switzerland/Italy. I have traveled it both ways. My wishlist includes Scotland and Norway and many other countries.

I would love to take a train journey through Croatia along the Adriatic coast. The mix of historic cities, turquoise water, and stunning landscapes makes it a dream destination for me. Traveling by train would give me the chance to experience the journey more consciously and sustainably. I’m especially excited to discover smaller towns and enjoy the relaxed coastal atmosphere. This trip would be the perfect combination of nature, culture, and slow travel.

I had the privilege to go from Amsterdam to Stockholm during early spring of 2023 and it was incredible to see how landscapes changed along the way. From the countryside of The Netherlands and Germany, towards the snowy scenery of Denmark and Sweden, it was mesmerising! Seeing Sweden dressed up all in white was amazing, a true fairytale. Nonetheless, I have to admit that I'm really fond of lakes and mountains, and that my trip across Switzerland and Northern Italy during an interrail trip in 2024 holds a special place in my heart. It's one of my dearest memories, because the landscapes were truly breathtaking and I keep thinking of them to this day.

So I think if I had the chance and opportunity to do another interrail, I would like to keep discovering the Alps. For instance, by going from Lyon, to Geneva, to Lausanne, to Zurich, to Ljubljana, to Piran and back to France through Trieste and northern Italy!

My favourite train ride was by far the Bernina Express. We starded in Chur and went to Lugano. Its was one beautiful ride between all the mountains. I would recommend this route to everyone!

We’re celebrating the release of Platform Europe, the latest book written by our longtime friend Bart Giepmans. Bart is an author, travel journalist, photographer and a passionate advocate for exploring Europe by train.

He is a true champion of slow travel and spends much of the year discovering Europe by rail, embracing historic stations, meaningful encounters and the stories found along the tracks. He wrote and photographed most of the journeys featured in Platform Europe!

😍Win a copy of Bart’s beautiful book AND a FREE Interrail Global Pass (7 days in 1 month)!

Participation is open to all persons 16+ living in Europe. The giveaway ends on 28 April 2026 at 12 pm CET. Five winners will be randomly selected and contacted via the community DM on 28 April 2026. The winners will receive 1x Interrail Global Pass for 7 travel days within 1 month (2nd class) and 1x Platform Europe book. The book will be shipped free of charge.

📄 Read the full Terms & Conditions, here.

How to enter the giveaway

Whether you are an experienced rail traveller or still dreaming about your first trip:

💬 Tell us your favourite slow travel train route – or the train journey that's next on your wishlist – and why.

Share your answer in the comments below to enter the giveaway👇

I live in Frankfurt, so one journey I keep dreaming about is taking the train all the way down to Venice and then continuing to La Spezia, along the beautiful west coast of Italy and the Cinque Terre.

What I love about this idea is how the whole atmosphere slowly changes. You start in a busy city, then suddenly you’re surrounded by mountains, and later everything feels lighter, warmer, almost slower. I imagine just sitting by the window, watching it all unfold without rushing anywhere.

And then finally arriving by the sea, with those colorful villages of Cinque Terre. That moment must feel unreal. For me, that’s what slow travel is really about. Not just getting somewhere, but feeling every part of the journey along the way. 🚆✨

My favourite slow travel train ride was from Visp to Zermatt in Switzerland. The mountain views along that route are stunning and the scenery after you arrive in Zermatt is breathtaking.

From Ljubljana to Bled! Stunning

I would love to explore Switzerland, so the Glacier Express and the Bernina Express would be an ideal trip.

My favourite train journey so far was going through Denmark and Sweden all the way to Narvik in Norway during the winter. You start in the middle of Europe and continue until you reach the northern parts in Sweden, all covered in snow. It is such a calm and beautiful way of crossing the country and ending up so far north. The long ride almost makes it feel like all the travellers in the train become a big family. Additionally, you can see all kinds of animals (like reindeers for example) and impressive landscapes.

In the future, I would really like to explore the north of Spain on the narrow-gauge rails along the coast.

I love rivers, so even though it’s short, the Rhine Valley line really calls to me. 

Outside of the EU, I would say The Ghan in Australia is high on my wishlist!

Lisbon to Faro for sure. The train ride along the coast looks super chill, with ocean views and cute towns on the way. I love how it’s more about the journey, and I’d love to explore more of Europe like that by train :)

My top train recommendation is the Renfe Feve narrow-gauge railway from Oviedo to Ferrol! It perfectly captures the magic of slow travel. You ride so incredibly close to the ocean, and the train allows you to access secluded, almost abandoned spots right by the beach—completely hidden away from the typical tourist crowds. A truly unforgettable journey!

I have already done a 3 weeks trip 2 years ago with Interrail from France to Hungary, then to Croatia and back to France. I really loved this experience of slow travelling and having the time to observe the landscapes. My favorite moment was when we passed near the Balaton Lake in Hungary, it was so beautiful.

Now I would love to experience a new train trip through Europe, and particularly the section from Belgrade in Serbia to Bar in Montenegro, which seems to be amazing. 

If i'm being honest, I could not choose only one route but i would gladly visit a lot more European countries !

Favourite trip is hard but loved travelling from the U.K. to Finland going through so many landscapes and countries!

I would love to go to Turkey with Interrail this year, it seems to be such a beautiful country 😍

The next train on my wishlist is a train across Finland, from South, either Helsinki or Turku towards Lapland. One of my dreams is to see the Northern Lights and doing so from a sleeper train would be 100x cooler.

I love the train from Vienna to Salzburg. It starts very flat and simple. Just suburbs, fields, nothing special at first. After a while it gets quieter. Around Linz you start to feel it more. Closer to Salzburg the land starts to change a bit, more hills, greener views, and then you realise you’re near the mountains again. It just slowly switches your head off a bit. :)

My favourite travel route is from Kopenhagen over Göteborg to Stockholm! Beautiful scenery, I loved seeing the country in snow.

The Zweinstein route in Scotland is my favourite route in the UK. And of course the Amsterdam London route to start in London

I’m really excited to start a long trip, starting in Lithuania and making my way through Latvia, Estonia and into Scandinavia, finishing by going north up Norway. I love the vibes of these regions and there’s no better way to travel around than by train!

love the train route crossing the Étang du Thau between Montpellier and Narbonne in Southern France

Arrivée à St Gingolphe - vue sur le Léman

My favourite train route I have been on is the Rosslare to Dublin train route and the lovely views of rivers and forests before travelling along the cliffside from Greystones on.

my dream would be to recreate the route of the Orient Express from Istanbul to Calais, it would be incredible to experience in my lifetime!!

My favourite journey last year was Milan to Bari - loved the changing scenery from small towns to open countryside & then along the coast.   I’d love to do the Bernina Express from Chur to Tirano - its on the list for this year, hopefully!

I dream about starting my journey in Venice and taking a slow train down the east coast, just watching the sea through the window and not rushing anywhere. I’d stop in Ravenna to see its famous mosaics and walk around the calm, quiet streets. Along the way, I’d check out small towns with rocky beaches and a really relaxed, local vibe. Further south, I’d explore Matera and its unique stone houses built into the cliffs. I’d finish the trip in Bari, just enjoying the sea, good food, and slow, warm evenings.