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Solo Interrail with a Pre-schooler

  • February 15, 2025
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I’m looking to plan a 3 week-ish trip in September with my 4 year old. It won’t all be solo, but some of it will be. Have not bought a pass and have no restrictions on that at the moment. Looking to plan the best route that works for us and then see what pass suits our needs. 

First of all, I’m looking for specific advice on travelling alone with a young child.

  • Are there any top tips?
  • What I might not have thought about? 
  • Are there any destinations that just worked really well for your kid - not focused on child activities - she’s an incredibly easy going traveller, eats everything, loves a city vibe and is happy with an occasional a playpark, so any suggestions will do!

Second of all, route advice with a child this age.

  • We need to plan a return route from Glasgow for three weeks, ideally no fly but not against taking a flight one direction for ease and to maximise the adventure given our distance from the Eurostar. 
  • The only must stop is Munich, at the request of my daughter.
  • We managed a train from Nuremberg to Berlin last summer with zero drama, so I think we’d be ok with direct routes maxing out at 4hours
  • Also happy to try an overnight train - unless someone has tried this with a child and would advise to avoid! 

What would you suggest?

Best answer by thibcabe

A trip is always very personal but I will try to give sone advice. Others might give their 2 cents as well.

On Day 1 you'll both be excited and I think you can push it to Paris with lunch in London.

From then on: too many options! Let's leave Spain and Portugal out (too many seat reservations, infrequent trains, no flexibility). In my head I picture a few cities, followed by a scenic journey across the Alps and some time in Italy.

September is slightly less hot and busy so all good!

Few options I can think of after Paris:

- Strasbourg, Munich, Vienna, cheap night train to Bregenz, few nights in Engadin, stunning Bernina railway into Italy, Lake Como, Florence,..., Nice, Lille, home

- Basel, some Alpine village, Munich, Verona, Florence, Rome, along the coast until Nice, last overnight stop in Lille and home

- Strasbourg, Munich, Engadin valley, Bernina, Lake Como, Florence, Rome, night train to Sicily (using the last European train-ferry)

Of course you may mix and match them haha, it's your trip. I'd say the Bernina is my favourite railway. It has everything: stunning views, cool trains with openable windows, from glaciers to palm trees, hourly frequency and so on.

In 3 weeks you should have plenty of time to take the train home. But you could as well decide to spend 10 days in say Sicily and fly home. 

Night trains aren't a must but they could be a cool experience. I'd aim for a private sleeper compartment (2-3) or couchette (4) depending on the group size. They tend to be expensive but if there's one cheap route it is Vienna <-> Bregenz (heavily subsidized).

For something different on the return there's the cool Stena Line overnight ferry between Hoek van Holland and Harwich. But reaching Glasgow isn't very easy. Otherwise there's Amsterdam (rather IJmuiden) -> Newcastle. Just throwing out a few ideas really.

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  • thibcabe
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  • February 16, 2025

A trip is always very personal but I will try to give sone advice. Others might give their 2 cents as well.

On Day 1 you'll both be excited and I think you can push it to Paris with lunch in London.

From then on: too many options! Let's leave Spain and Portugal out (too many seat reservations, infrequent trains, no flexibility). In my head I picture a few cities, followed by a scenic journey across the Alps and some time in Italy.

September is slightly less hot and busy so all good!

Few options I can think of after Paris:

- Strasbourg, Munich, Vienna, cheap night train to Bregenz, few nights in Engadin, stunning Bernina railway into Italy, Lake Como, Florence,..., Nice, Lille, home

- Basel, some Alpine village, Munich, Verona, Florence, Rome, along the coast until Nice, last overnight stop in Lille and home

- Strasbourg, Munich, Engadin valley, Bernina, Lake Como, Florence, Rome, night train to Sicily (using the last European train-ferry)

Of course you may mix and match them haha, it's your trip. I'd say the Bernina is my favourite railway. It has everything: stunning views, cool trains with openable windows, from glaciers to palm trees, hourly frequency and so on.

In 3 weeks you should have plenty of time to take the train home. But you could as well decide to spend 10 days in say Sicily and fly home. 

Night trains aren't a must but they could be a cool experience. I'd aim for a private sleeper compartment (2-3) or couchette (4) depending on the group size. They tend to be expensive but if there's one cheap route it is Vienna <-> Bregenz (heavily subsidized).

For something different on the return there's the cool Stena Line overnight ferry between Hoek van Holland and Harwich. But reaching Glasgow isn't very easy. Otherwise there's Amsterdam (rather IJmuiden) -> Newcastle. Just throwing out a few ideas really.

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