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

I had a very good and beautiful ride from Zagreb to Budapest with two very kind travelers ! 
That was an unforgetable moment :)

I loved the train ride between Domodossola, Brig and Geneva which was the last one of my first interrail trip ! I just couldn’t stop looking at the landscape changing ! I would love to explore more of the Alps with trains in Bavaria, Switzerland, Austria and Italy !

my favourite route is barcelona→ latour de carol → paris. Eventhough you cant find this route on most planner apps, it is most worth it. In quite an oldskool sleeper train you go through the pyrenees, with the first few hours vieuws over the mountains and a castle.  

My favourite slow train journey so far has been Belgrade, Serbia to Bar, Montenegro. Starting in the evening, I could see sunset and then sunrise the next morning over the mountains with bunkmates from Serbia and around the world. My next aim is Bergen to/from Oslo, which seems to go through beautiful landscapes in an area of the world I've never been to.

My answer for favourite route, is the the travel I did a few weeks ago from Poland back home in Italy, my last travel mostly is then my favorite. Since I travel a lot for work (artist) I have had already many favourite routes.

every travel is special meeting people our just be able to read a lot it always brings many insights and opportunities and connection.

I took an 8-hour trip from London to Berlin in Christmas 2024, it was very magical and beautiful, I’ve also done a 7 hour trip from Milan to Paris, it was beautiful going through the alps. The train i want to take is the one from Italy to Switzerland, the Bernina Express, it’s my absolute dreamm, because the train itself is gorgeous and the scenic route it takes through the alps is to die for.

I really like to travel to Scandinavia. On my wish list is the route from Stockholm to Narvik, because it is a very long train ride that goes through all the different landscapes in Sweden and Norway.

Difficult choice… but one thing is certain: mountains are a big plus. So, on my list are train routes through the Scottish Highlands, Norwegian fjords, and the Swiss Alps. And my next train trip is to Saxon Switzerland. Stunning views always guaranteed! 😍

I would love to travel from Spain, through France back to Austria, to see the famous wine regions.

My favourite route is the one I’ve travelled with my son twice now, between my two homes, Madrid and Helsinki, stopping on the way, visiting friends and seeing beautiful places. And this year again, the route changes a little bit every time, sometimes via Paris and sometimes via Italy, but the feeling of leaving Madrid and arriving a few weeks after in Helsinki by ferry is amazing.

After the classic route through the Netherlands and Germany, my next dream is an Interrail through the Swiss Alps. As a nature lover, I want to experience the 'slow side' of Europe, surrounded by peaks and silence. Nothing beats the connection between rail travel and the great outdoors

My favourite slow travel train route is between Prague (Czech Republic) and Dresden (Germany). I really love the part where the train is right next to river "Elbe". I highly recommend this route (especially at sunset 😍).

I would love to win so I can travel with my son. My favorite destination now is Barcelona. So I can show him the creativity of Gaudi.

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The train journey between St. Moritz and Tirano is, without a doubt, the most beautiful rail journey I have ever experienced, because it feels like traveling through several different worlds in just a few hours. You depart from the refined alpine setting of St. Moritz, surrounded by lakes, forests, and snow-capped peaks, and gradually descend through dramatic mountain landscapes filled with sweeping views that almost feel unreal.

What makes this route even more special is that it is part of the UNESCO World Heritage as the famous Bernina Railway. This recognition highlights not only the natural beauty of the region but also the incredible engineering that allows the train to wind its way through steep gradients, spiral tunnels, and iconic viaducts.

Another unforgettable aspect is the presence of stunning glaciers. Even in the middle of summer, you can see vast icy landscapes shimmering in the sunlight, adding a sense of raw, untouched wilderness to the journey. It’s rare to experience such dramatic alpine scenery so closely and comfortably from a train window. 

What truly sets this journey apart is the contrast. Within a short time, the scenery transforms from high alpine terrain into a softer, more Mediterranean atmosphere as you approach Tirano, with palm trees, vineyards, and a completely different rhythm of life.

For me, this combination of natural beauty, cultural significance, and breathtaking contrasts makes the journey between St. Moritz and Tirano the most extraordinary train ride I have ever taken. 😁

My favourite journey is from Munich south to Innsbruck. It starts out flat and built up,  then it feels like the mountains rise up out of nowhere. Suddenly the train is travelling through the most beautiful mountain scenery with green meadows with goats and cows, forests, small railway stations.  Just writing about it makes me want to book my ticket right now! 

I can't decide between two!

One of them is the long night train ride stretching from Rome to Vienna, cruising over the Italian countryside at sunset whilst waking up to beautiful mountainous landscapes (with snow!) in the morning.

The other must the be the amazing Rome Palermo ride, travelling down Italy's boot, admiring all the Tyrrenian panorama and crossing the strait (directly on the boat!!!)

I am a new convert to train travel for holidays. I was a frequent hitchhiker when I started traveling. Nice to meet new people with most unexpected places to visit. Those were the days! When I started a family we travelled by car around Europe. Europe was very small though, because of the iron curtain. It’s great that has changed! For family visits I had to get on a plane (no trains to USA as far as I know).

A lot of people my age are getting a campervan. I don’t want to follow that crowd. I am inbetween cars at the moment, and traveling by train within the Netherlands for professional training. It’s slower than going by car, but I enjoy traveling in this relaxed manner. It’s great to effortlessly travel from Leeuwarden to The Hague, looking forward to learning something new. Leeuwarden and The Hague have very different landscapes and culture but are connected by history (and a traintrack).

Visiting Eastern Europe by train has been on my wishlist for a while. I have bought a ticket, so this year it will happen! 

My favourite is always my next one which this June is Rotterdam - Antwerp- stuttgart - Linz-Budapest-Bratislava-Prague- Spandau-Duisburg-Leiden-Rotterdam 

My favorite travel train route has to be one of Europe's night trains.

It is very nice to wake up in another country and discover cities that I have always wanted to visit, like the trip from Venice to Vienna😆

My favorite slow train journey is definitely the train called the Indian Pacific that travels from Perth, Western Australia, to Adelaide, South Australia. It's a 3-day trip through the huge Australian desert. It was an awe-inspiring and absolutely amazing experience😍

So far, its the Bernina express route. You need a small supliment with an interrail pass, but then you get free treats and drinks on the train. It goes over the alps into italy. Absolutely beautiful scenery, including a glacier, and the train runs down the middle of the road in one town with cars dodging out of the way. Very very different.

I've always had a massive soft spot for Wales. Trains there also only allow you to Go slow. 

Starting at Llandudno Junction to Blaenau Ffestiniog. From there the narrow gauge to Porthmadog and another on from there on the Welsh Highland Railway up to Caernarfon. Castles, mines, mountains, sea and beautiful estuaries. And it's only a couple of hours drive from home. 

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👇

There is so many great places we all should visit. Top 3 for me are in the France-Italy border next to the Mediterranean sea, the roots of the Alps and the route from Trieste to Zagreb.

A journey from Switzerland to the remote beauty of the Scottish Highlands!