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

Ohh this is a hard one! There are so many gorgeous routes and trips, in terms of charming trains, beautiful scenery,interesting culture, and/or lovely people you meet while onboard.. 

But I think, for me, my favourite trip that had all of the above components is when I traveled the trans-Mongolian railway.

I took the ferry from Sweden to St Petersburg, where I boarded a train to Moscow. And there, I got on an old steam train that took me across the siberian tundra, through old Soviet towns, around glacial lakes, frozen in the -40 degrees. The train was filled with Russians who would either only sleep until their destination, or would be happy to share stories over vodka. There was also a restaurant area where I met a few other westerners, which was lovely. After russia, I was awakened sharply in the middle of the night, by Mongolian border control, shouting and looking through all bags, examining passports and documents. A scary reminder during an otherwise relatively serene trip. Mongolia offers scorching hot days and incredibly cold nights as you swap the glacial tundra for arid deserts, watching the thermometer tick down in real time along with the sun. And after a stop in ulaan bataar, the next stop is the incredible metropolitan Beijing.

All in all, an unforgettable experience!

I’ve taken the mini cabin between Vienna and Hamburg multiple times. I like how practical it is, especially when I’m going to meet friends in Hamburg, or even in Sweden.

My slow route recommendation is the UK to Bergen, Norway.

Instead of flying to Bergen for a trip on the Norwegian coastal ferry Hurtigruten we decided to go interrail via the Netherlands, Germany, Denmark, Sweden & Norway. We had overnight stops in Hamburg, Copenhagen & Oslo. The scenery was amazing from the wide open spaces of the Netherlands to the mountains of the Bergen line. Lots of interest on the route -including the Rendsburg transporter bridge over the Kiel Canal and the Oresund Bridge linking Denmark & Sweden. 

After our cruise, due to time constraints, we flew back - an early flight, even earlier check in and painfully early getting up. We both agreed the train journey was so much better than the plane. 

Our tips: The overnight Harwich to Hoek van Holland Stena Line ferry  gives a discount to Interrail holders and means you are ready to start your rail journey early in the morning. The RET metro into Rotterdam isn't included but change onto the (inter)rail network at Schiedam which is faster, easier and cheaper than going into Rotterdam.

Ditch the plane, take the train !

Ohh this is a hard one! There are so many wonderful routes and trips, fairly new train traveller here btw. I recently went from Bergen back to Oslo after a month of hiking and it was the ideal way of coming down that self aware in the moment travel back to civilization. So as soon as it's possible I want to take the train specifically over the Flam Line between Bergen and Oslo again

One of my favourite slow train journeys is going from Kraków to Graz, passing through Vienna.

At first it’s pretty flat and calm, but after Vienna the scenery changes a lot and you start getting mountains, tunnels and much bigger views. I actually got told off once for sneaking into the panoramic carriage because the views looked so good from there (it was worth it).

It’s the kind of trip where you just sit by the window and let everything change slowly. That’s what makes it special.

As many others have voted, Norway’s Flåmsbana - of course with a side-trip to Dale!

One of my favorite slow travel train routes would be crossing into the heart of the Alps. I love the idea of watching the scenery slowly transform from vibrant cities to quiet lakes, and then to dramatic mountains.

What makes this kind of journey special to me is the gradual change. You don’t just arrive somewhere new, you feel the transition. For me, slow travel isn’t about getting somewhere quickly, but about making the journey itself meaningful and unforgettable.

A train like the Glacier Express is high on my wishlist, not just for the views, but for the experience of truly taking time to travel. Sitting by the window for hours, disconnected from everything, just observing the world pass by. That’s my idea of freedom. I dream about moving slowly through dramatic landscapes, tunnels, and snow-capped peaks. I imagine sitting by the window for hours, completely present, letting the scenery change gradually rather than rushing past it.

For me, it is about appreciating the in-between moments, the quiet, the movement, and the feeling of discovering Europe one frame at a time.

My favourite slow journey I would like to do is the sleeper from Stockholm to Narvik (shame you have to change now) in summer as it would be very cool to go to sleep in the forests and wake up in the mountains with elk and so on.

The slow train route i am dreaming about is Geneva to the Vișeu de Sus, Romania where I want travel with the Mocănița, one of the last narrow gauge steam trains in Europe (it doesn’t seem to be part of the interrail network...)  

I'd love to travel the belgrade to bar railway! Travelling in the balkans by night sounds like a great vibe and the mountain views are meant to be spectacular! 

The best route in the Interrail network is in Italy! From Portofino to La Spezia, through the Cinque terre😍

You really feel like in a Pixar movie, Luca!

My favorite Interrail trip was from Prato, Italy, to Germany (Munich), then on to Copenhagen, and back home via Berlin and Verona. I visited so many beautiful cities and relaxed during the journey by reading a good book.

The train trip from Helsinki to Stockholm north around the Bothnian Bay.

Definitely the train ride from Nova Gorica to Bled along the Bohinj Railway. The views of the Soča river and the mountains from the train window are just unreal. It’s such a peaceful ride where you can just sit back and watch the landscape change.

My dream route would be (provided I could quit my job, haha!)  in May-June-July, start from Spain towards the Alps, cross to Switzerland & Austria, then towards Slovenia, Croatia, Serbia, Montenegro, Greece, Bulgaria and end up in Turkey 🥰

Then if I’d have more time I’d find another fast route (with night trains) to go from there towards Hungary, Czech Republic & Germany, then make the classic “round route” from Poland + baltic countries towards Finland Sweden & Norway, then back down again towards Denmark, and go back towards France to see my family, and then finally go back home to Spain :D

Rather boring answer as I haven’t had the opportunity for a true European slow train journey, but I love the Settle to Carlisle line in the north of England. The landscape is truly beautiful and I love the historical provenance.

In the future, I would love to travel on the Belgrade to Bar railway. I have not had the opportunity to visit the Balkans and plan to do so in my last summer of freedom before my PhD!!!

I would love to try to go all the way from Belgium to Crete with trains and boats to visit my uncle and cousin to help them harvest their olive trees and to enjoy the slow live over there 🫒

So many memories to choose from! One wonderful journey was my Doğu Ekspresi. The anticipation started even before the main trip, on the way from Istanbul to Ankara, with lovely conversations with fellow travellers and chance encounters. And then the real adventure began. From Ankara to Kayseri. At the station I got off to take a walk around the city — incredibly raw compared to nearby Cappadocia. From Kayseri I continued on to Kars. Rugged landscape broken up by deep ravines and streams. Along the way I spotted mountain goats darting across the slopes. The journey took much longer than planned, but could have lasted even longer. Truly an adventurous trip in the spirit of Paul Theroux.​​​​​​​​​

My favourite so far was the run from Turin to Genoa with mountains , valleys and the sea all visible at certain times

The best journey (so far) is a traintrip I did with my son from Stockholm/Sweden to the Italian coast in Monte Rosso with stops in Austria and Switzarland on the way. Never have Europe been more beautiful

My favourite route I took so far was in Scotland from Fort William to Mallaig in the old steam locomotive crossing the Glennfinnan Viaduct 🚂🩷 And the next Interrail trip on my bucket list is along the Cinque Terre coast in Italy!

My favourite train memory is riding the Nordland Line from Trondheim to Bodø in Norway. Watching the sunrise so far up north and crossing the Arctic Circle before reaching the final station was truly unforgettable. I stayed at the Vandrerhjem Hostel overlooking the tracks. The perfect view to seal this magical journey!

I don’t have many experiences with slow travel, but I’m looking forward to travelling from Belgrade to Podgorica later this summer!

My wish would be to travel to Scotland by sleeper train and then enjoy the beautiful scenery during the days that follow, by travelling around by trains.

I would love to travel across switzerland with my friends, climbing mountains and visiting cities.