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

I would like to someday take the train from the Uk to France! England has been on my travel list for ages and I’d like to go there this summer!! <33

During our first Interrail journey, we followed two of Europe’s great rivers, each representing a completely different era of train travel.

We began along the Rhine, starting in Leiden at the birthplace of Rembrandt and traveling upstream to its source at Lake Toma in Switzerland. This part of the journey felt like the future of rail. Connections across the Netherlands, Germany, and Switzerland were seamless, reservations were handled easily through apps, and both passengers and staff spoke fluent English and German. Everything was fast, efficient, and predictable. 

After that, we turned to the Danube. We started at the Donauquelle in Donaueschingen, in Germany’s Black Forest, and followed the river all the way to the Black Sea in Constanța, Romania, crossing Germany, Austria, Hungary, and eventually Romania. Along this route, modern train travel gradually gave way to something much older.

In Romania, the system changed completely. Digital reservations disappeared and we had to visit ticket counters at each station. English or German was rarely spoken, which meant getting a seat on a train took time, patience, and often the help of others. Almost every time, someone nearby stepped in to translate. It made the process slower, but also much more human.

The trains themselves reflected this shift. On several stretches in Romania, they moved incredibly slowly, at times barely faster than walking pace. Tracks were under construction, with new modern rail lines being built alongside the old ones we were traveling on.

Romania was slow in every sense, both in getting tickets and in the journey itself. Yet that slowness had its own charm. It forced us to connect with people, with places, and with a way of traveling that is slowly disappearing.

What made it even more special is that this experience will not last. We could already see the new infrastructure taking shape. In a few years, high speed trains will likely replace these slow journeys, and this part of rail travel will be gone.

Our slowest train journey was not just about speed, but about traveling through time.

I love absolutely all the routes in Switzerland, but my favourite one passes the Walensee, which stunning views of the steep vertical cliffs above the lake. Best route imo is therefore Zürich to Davos Klosters, for the unparalleled mountain and landscape views. 

I would like to go to spain, because of the beautiful nature and the warm climate. I would love to go canyoning and hiking.

For me it's Amsterdam to Innsbruck! I grew up next to the mountains and seeing the landscape change from completely flat to entering right into the alps gives me the best feeling!

I love the route between Basel (CH) and Narvik (NO)! An experience in itself, easy to book, beautiful landscape...

The route from Wien to Salzburg 🌳

The obvious answer is Oslo to Bergen, It’s breathtaking. However, I really enjoyed a tiny little train from Oristano to Olbia in Sardinia. The train was ramshackled and ancient, but the landscape it passes through is absolutely stunning . I enjoyed the complete lack of pomp inside, juxtaposed to the grace and beauty of the Sardinian landscape. 

My favourite route has to be the Caledonian sleeper up north the UK to Scotland, especially the northern part via the west highland line to Fort William 😍

All train routes in Scotland are breathtaking, but my favourite is probably the route from Inverness to Kyle of Lochalsh. 

I loved the train journey from Siracuse in Sicily, all the way up to Milano in the North - amazing to see many of the varying Italian landscapes in the sunshine of early spring 

My first interrail Journey Was from paris to La Spezia, in Italy. We took the train early in the morning, and got to see the morning sun over the french alps and the the wild nature, as well as the hute little french cities, that eventually turned italian. I love to see how the landscape changes. We stopped in torino and had a classic torino lunch - something with tuna that I cannot remember the name of, and then we continued toward La Spezia with AMAZING View over the ligurian Ocean. When we arrived in La spezia the sun was about to set. Truly one of the most amazing trips I’ve had!!!

My favourite slow travel journey was the train between Madrid and Gijón -- I first took the train to meet someone special and the as the train slowly weaved through the Asturian mountains, I fell in love with the region. Would love the chance to go back !!

My favourite journey so far has been my Hungary-Switzerland-Germany-Netherlands-Austria route. I was able to see so much of the beautiful historic towns and the scenic nature. 

From Venice to Lecce is one of my favorites

I think my favourite, the one that sticks with me, is still going from Berlin all the way down through East Germany to Prague, Budapest, Bucharest and Sofia in 1991, the first year most of those countries were accessible via Interrail. It was a wonderful journey and a wonderful time to make it.

Love the local train in the UK. Especially along the coast and through mountain. The best has to be Inverness to Kyle of lochalsh

I have loved the train route from Amsterdam to Zurich, the closer to Zurich you get, the prettier the view becomes. I loved watching the green hills and blue lakes and rivers along the way, which made the long travel way more bearable. I have multiple train rides still on my list, but the train route between Kandy and Elly in Sri Lanka and the Arctic Circle Express are highest on my list. 

haven’t really been on any slow routes yet, Bernina Express looks nice

I really would love to do the trip from Amsterdam to Berlin and from there to the Baltic countries: to Warschaw Poland, to Vilnius in Lithuania, to Riga in Latvia, and to end in Talinn Estland, maybe same train back or with boat to Helsinki Finland and back that way??  :)

My favourite slow route is the Inlandsbanen in Sweden - the true definition of slow travel!  It meanders through the centre of the country through stunning scenery, stopping at beautiful locations with options to stop off and visit the Swedish wilderness. The scenery changes as you move north and cross the arctic circle and the speed of the train is such that you can’t miss anything and learn to appreciate ‘just being’.  The journey can be continued via regular train up to Narvik, through one of the most scenic journeys in the world (Abisko-Narvik).

It’s quite a contrast from my other highlights such as travelling through the Alps, or on the train across the Messina Strait, but is definitely the best slow journeys in Europe.

Must be the journey from Trondheim to Åndalsnes in Norway for its immense scenery!

My favourite slow travel train route – which is still on my wishlist – is the West Highland Line from Glasgow to Mallaig in Scotland. Crossing the Harry Potter famous Glenfinnan Viaduct would be a truly magnificent experience and I hope this dream will soon come true!

My girlfriend and I fell in love on the road from the Czech Republic to Slovenia. It was so beautiful to see and both countries were definitely worth it; we would love to do it again or discover new routes.

My all time favorite train route is the train from Oslo - Trondheim in the evening in summer when there is light all night long. You pass over the beautiful mountain pass, Dovrefjell, after the sun has gone down, but there is still a magical and beautiful light lighting up the mountains around you.