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

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👇

Among all the tracks laid across Europe, the route along the Portuguese coast remains my absolute favorite Interrail experience. What makes this journey so special is the raw, untamed beauty of the Atlantic Ocean paired with the effortless charm of the Iberian lifestyle. Starting from the soulful, riverside streets of Porto and heading down to the vibrant hills of Lisbon, the train offers a front-row seat to some of the continent's most dramatic landscapes.

Beyond the iconic cities, the real magic lies in the smaller stops: the massive waves of Nazaré, the golden cliffs of the Algarve, and the hidden surf spots where time seems to slow down. Traveling this coast by rail is more than just a way to get from A to B; it is an invitation to embrace "slow travel." Whether it’s the affordable, world-class seafood, the salty breeze coming through the window, or the breathtaking sunsets over the horizon, the Portuguese coast captures the true spirit of freedom that Interrailing is all about.

My favourite slow in the recent years has been the route from France to Spain via Port-Bou and all that, avoiding all the expensive trains lol. When I started interrailing 30 years ago there wasn’t so many extra payments even on main routes but also all the villages on the way there were super cool to stop by and have snack or a drink.

I would love to travel the eastern part of Europe and/or the balkan by train. To explorer the culture and the nature. My favorite train journey was from Austria to Switzerland. So much beautiful mountains. Looking forward to discover more!

Unfortunately, I cannot name a slow route from personal experience. Due to my health conditions, I was unable to travel far for a long time—over 20 years. Also because of the financial implications of illness. But with Interrail, it might become possible, as I can rest for a few days in between. My favorite slow route would then be between Milan and Collico. My distant ancestors come from there, and I would therefore love to visit the town of Domasso.

I haven’t been on any trips yet but I’m so excited and looking forward to my first trip with eurail, Can’t wait 😜 

J adorerais aller à Auschwitz  en interrail . Un voyage qui me tient à cœur ❤️  . Interrail c est aussi allier Tourisme et Culture. 🍀🍀🍀

En çok görmek ve gitmek istediğim rota Bernina expres yolcuğulu  o manzaraları görmek için sabırsızlanıyorum 

Next: Neuchâtel-Prague!

My favourite journey so far has been through Scandinavia. Going by train up from southern Germany to Copenhagen and Malmö, then taking the train through Göteburg to Stockholm and then the night train to Trondheim and waking up in the north of Norway. Then making my way south to Oslo through the majestic nature landscapes and exploring the surrounding countryside to then board the ferry back to Denmark and making my way back to Copenhagen.

On my next journey I would like to explore the Southern/Eastern European coastline. First down to the south of Italy and then with a ferry to Greece. And from Greece I'd make my way upwards back to southern Germany through Bulgaria, Romania and Hungary. I’d make a detour to through Croatiadown to the coast line again then up to Slovenia then Austria and Lake Constance and back home to the South of Germany.

The night train from Stockholm to Boden. When you wake you are confronted by waterfalls, forest and a wild northern landscape.... magic

My favorite slow route is through the alps via Austria and italy and then down the Po Region. 

My favorite train route is the one that connects Sofia to Istanbul. It was a magical experience, with beautiful landscapes, sunflower fields, interesting people and the excitement to get to a new place.

My dream slow travel journey is the Bernina Express route from Chur to Tirano, that crosses a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It just looks so beautiful, the wya it winds through the mountains. Getting this pass would be a dream come true!!!!!!! :)))

I’d like to do this interrail Route. Does somebody have some advices where it’s cheap and nice to stay for one Night in Lyon?

Nachdem ich beruflich viel mit der Bahn unterwegs war, bin ich mit Eintritt ins Rentenalter dazu gekommen längere Bahnfahrten zu unternehmen.

Zwei Bahnpässe in 2023 und 2024 haben mich und meine Partnerin von Dortmund aus nach Süden geführt.

Die schönste Bahnfahrt war von über Chur und Mailand nach Ventimiglia. 

Von Ventimiglia ging es über Marseille Barcelona, Madrid über Porto, Lissabon und Faro nach Sevilla, Algeciras (Gibraltar) und zurück über Barcelona nach Hause.

Beeindruckend war dabei, was alles mit der Bahn geht, wenn man Zeit hat.

In 2025 waren wir dann über Paris und Barcelona in Granada, Cordoba, Bilbao und auf dem Rückweg in Lyon.

Eine zweite Reise hat uns per Nachtzug bis nach Palermo geführt.

Europa bietet so viele schöne Landschaften und freundliche Menschen.

Ich bin sehr dankbar, dass ich das per Bahn erleben kann.

I still remember it vividly, it was 5 am and still pitch black as we rolled into the central station in Cologne and my jaw dropped when I saw the Cathedral. I was just a young kid, but I was in total awe. I’ll never forget it, the gothic giant floating around in the mist. I’ve added a photo that doesn’t do it justice, but it gives an idea.

 

The West Highland Line from Glasgow to Mallaig in Scotland. It has been voted the top rail journey in the world several times. Highlights include: Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park, Glenfinnan Viaduct (famous for its appearance in the Harry Potter films as the route to Hogwarts), Rannoch Moor (one of the most desolate and beautiful stretches, where the tracks are laid over deep peat bog in an area unreachable by car), Ben Nevis (as you approach Fort William, you get stunning views of Britain's highest mountain).

My favorite slow travel route started in Amsterdam through the artsy villages of Germany entering Poland through the warm culture and delicious Pierogi of Gdansk and Krakow running into the art and culture of Vienna and then to the beautiful mountains in Hallstatt.

The next train journey on my wishlist is a slow traveling from Amsterdam to Norway.

My favourite is from Sankt Moritz to Lausanne (Switserland). You travel from the high mountainous areas to Lake Léman, via tunnels, forests and blue mountain lakes :)

My favorite slow train was in Bulgaria into the mountains, through a winter snowy landscape.

The ultimate favourite journey is from Oslo to Trondheim 😍

I loved traveling by train through the mountains. Especially in Switserland. Beautiful views and rough nature to admire from the window!

I don’t think you can beat Switzerland and I think the Bernina pass pips the Glacier Express but both are spectacular!

For me it was never the route, but much more the feeling I gather while being on the train. The freedom, the impressions, the emotions I get when traveling with Eurail/Interrail. They make me aware of the world I am living in, and show me how small problems can be, when being distant to their location. It helps me focus on myself and gives me the strength to solve problems instead of pushing them away. 

I remember my first Interrail tour from Germany to Belgium (Brugge), which is not far in distance but it let me grew so much, I hardly can phrase. A year previously to my journey, my dad passed away suddenly without any warning and I felt like covered in darkness for so long, like swimming through a bottomless lake in the middle of a moonless night (I know that sounds cheesy/ over the top, but it explains the mixture of feelings so well). I decided to go on an Interrail journey quite spontaneously, all by myself for the very first time and I was afraid. On the platform in Brussels I was so overstimulated by three languages catching my eye, busy people, and looking for the right train, I got into the pre-phase of a real panic attack. But from one moment to the next, I remember calming myself with adventurous and comforting thoughts, pushing me into an euphoric state of mind I never experienced before. This moment really is a core memory of myself. I was able to see within the moment that I am more than the broken person that was manifested in my head. That moment really was the beginning of my healing journey, finding the lakeshore of my feelings and stepping out of the darkness. All this together with exploring the wonderful city of Brugge still feels like a dream to me. 

With maybe being way to oversharing, I hope I can maybe motivate someone else, who is struggling right now, to go on a journey by yourself and learn more about the facets of your mind and to find strength in yourself. Not the route, not the destination, but the journey you can experience with Interrail is the thing that matters. And from my side, if I really need to recommend something, it will always be the train ride to Brugge ;-)

The most beautiful train journey (a bit slow maybe 14 h) was from Sicily to Salento, on a charming little train that boarded a ferry to cross the Strait of Messina and then continued its journey for another eight hours to Lecce. I was able to see how the Italian regions changed their landscape in such a short time.