The best routes and destinations for first-time Interrailers
Bart Giepmans, author of Platform Europe
20 April 2026
I still remember it vividly.
I was twenty, setting off on my first real adventure abroad — an Erasmus exchange in the French Alps that would shape so much of what came after. It was 1997, and somewhere along the way, I found myself standing in Paris, at the Gare de Lyon, watching sleek, orange TGVs glide in and out, as if the future had already arrived.
For someone coming from the Netherlands, used to "normal speed" Intercity trains, the TGVs seemed impossibly fast. They didn’t just travel, but rushed — southwards at 300 kilometres an hour, towards the Alps, towards the Mediterranean, towards places that suddenly felt within reach.
At the time, I didn’t yet realise how much that moment would stay with me.
It was only later, when I lived in Paris, that it truly sank in. The Gare de Lyon became part of my everyday world. I could walk there in just under an hour, crossing the city as it slowly woke up. And every time I stepped into that grand hall, with its vast murals depicting sun-drenched destinations like Montpellier, Menton, Nice and Avignon, I felt it again — that quiet thrill of possibilities. Leaving at six in the morning, and by nine stepping out into the southern light at Marseille St. Charles station. By half past nine, you could be by the sea. A different world, 750 kilometres south but just three hours away. Warmer, brighter, slower.
That same feeling is still there today. A sense that from this one place, an entire coastline will open up before you — a whole other world waiting just a few hours away. Taking the train has the speed of flying, but the beauty of truly travelling. The landscape unfolding, the anticipation building, the journey itself becoming part of the experience.
I loved it. And I still do.
And every time I return to the Gare de Lyon, I think back to those early days. That feeling — that quiet excitement of knowing you can go anywhere with one single Pass — remains exactly the same. Or it’s even better. Because the network has only grown.
Do you dream of exploring Europe by train? Bart Giempans, author of Platform Europe, put together a list of his top four European train routes for beginner Interrailers. The first one, fittingly, begins at Paris Gare de Lyon.
From Paris Gare de Lyon over the Pyrenees into Spain
Paris Gare de Lyon remains the starting point for one of my favourite journeys: Paris to Marseille or Montpellier with the TGV, then onwards across the Pyrenees into Spain.
As much as I still admire the speed and elegance of the TGV, over time I have found myself drawn to the slower trains that take me through the mountains into Spain. The ones that stop at in-between stations in places you’ve never heard of. Quiet towns, forgotten junctions, historic stations where time seems to linger just a little longer. Lines that branch off, leading to somewhere unexpected. Because every place, no matter how small, has a story waiting to be discovered.
Leaving Montpellier in the early morning, the same sense of freedom I felt as an Erasmus student returns. The regional train rolls south towards the Spanish border, the Mediterranean never far away. Empty beaches drift past the train window, a lone cyclist traces the shoreline, and just beyond Agde, flamingos stand motionless in the shallow water, as if time itself has paused. After Narbonne, the landscape opens up, salt lakes shimmering in the morning light. The Pyrenees slowly rise on the horizon, the snow-capped Canigou watches over the journey south.
Many travellers change at Perpignan for the high-speed line to Barcelona — these days, you can actually travel from Paris to Barcelona in only six-and-a-half hours. But staying on the local train transforms the experience entirely. The line skirts the Mediterranean in unhurried fashion, past Collioure, Banyuls-sur-Mer, and Cerbère, winding past rocky coves and quiet stations where the platforms are covered in yellow wildflowers. It’s exactly the kind of rustic charm I travel for.
The pace slows as the line threads its way into the eastern Pyrenees, before arriving at Portbou, a small border town defined by an outsized station, wedged dramatically between two mountain ridges. Portbou was once a major railway hub, with direct trains to Paris, Barcelona and Madrid, but its importance faded with the arrival of the high-speed rail link between Perpignan and Figueres, which opened in the early 2010s, allowing passengers to cross from France to Spain far faster.
From Portbou, regional trains run to Barcelona Sants, where you can change for regional trains to Valencia Estació del Nord. The train rolls into Estació del Nord slowly, as if it knows this station deserves a grand entrance. The modernist building is a celebration of Valencian agriculture, with colourful mosaics, intricate ironwork and references to oranges everywhere you look. Tickets are still sold from small windows set into a vast oak-panelled wall. Step outside and you’re already in Ruzafa, one of Valencia’s most vibrant neighbourhoods, a tangle of colourful streets, cafés, boutiques and small squares.
Total travel time: 18-20 hours
Recommended stops: Montpellier, Banyuls-sur-Mer, Portbou, Llançà, Figueres, Girona, Tarragona, Benicarló / Peniscola, Valencia
Off the beaten track from Rotterdam to Paris
Instead of heading straight from Amsterdam or Rotterdam to Paris, I recommend taking time to discover a different side of northern Europe — one shaped by characterful cities, rich history and unexpected highlights. No reservations are needed for any train on this route.
Begin in Rotterdam, a city that feels refreshingly different from the rest of the Netherlands. Known for its bold architecture and cutting-edge design (including Rotterdam Centraal station), Rotterdam is a place of creativity and innovation, where striking modern buildings sit alongside lively waterfronts, galleries and a thriving food scene.
From here, a short 45-minute train ride brings you to Antwerp. Belgium’s second city is effortlessly stylish, known for its fashion, a vibrant café culture and impressive architecture. The grand Centraal Station is arguably Europe’s most beautiful station and should not be missed.
Next up is Ghent, a lively student city full of history and hidden gems, offering a vibrant atmosphere without the crowds of bigger Belgian cities. Continuing south, you’ll reach Lille in just over an hour, across the French border. With its elegant squares, Flemish façades and lively atmosphere, Lille blends French flair with Flemish architecture. It’s a city made for wandering — through markets, museums and bustling streets filled with local life.
The real surprise, however, awaits in Amiens. Its belfry, together with 22 others across the region, has been part of the UNESCO World Heritage list since 2005. But the true centrepiece is the cathedral. Over 800 years old, it is the largest cathedral in France by volume and a remarkable example of French Gothic architecture. Amiens is also closely linked to science fiction author Jules Verne, who lived here for many years and found inspiration in the city.
From Amiens, regional trains will bring you in two hours to Paris Gare du Nord.
Total travel time: 7 hours
Recommended stops: Rotterdam, Antwerpen, Gent, Lille, Arras, Amiens, Paris
The Hungaria, from Hamburg via Berlin and Prague to Budapest
One train, four countries, three rivers. The Hungaria follows the banks of the Elbe, the Vltava and the Danube, linking a string of urban gems along the way: Hamburg, Berlin, Dresden, Prague, Bratislava and Budapest. One of Europe’s oldest and longest direct international rail connections, — over 1,200 kilometres (745 miles) in length — it’s an unforgettable journey packed with cultural highlights, stunning scenery and, conveniently, a reliably cold beer on board.
The first direct rail services between Berlin and Budapest appeared at the end of the 19th century, departing from the iconic Anhalter Bahnhof. The original route ran from Berlin via Dresden, Prague, Brno and Bratislava to Budapest, but since 2015, the train has started in Hamburg.
Today, the train is a comfortable modern Railjet, and you can still travel daily from Hamburg to Budapest in under 13 hours (note: the Hamburg to Berlin stretch is currently stopped due to construction works. It is expected to resume later this year). The train is direct, with countless tempting places to hop off, and no reservations are needed in Germany and the Czech Republic.
Alternative travel idea: tack on a visit to Vienna by travelling from Prague to Vienna and from Vienna to Budapest.
Total travel time: 13 hours
Recommended stops: Hamburg, Berlin, Dresden, Prague, Brno, Bratislava, Budapest
Alpine adventures: from Graz via Innsbruck to Chur, and on to the Bernina Express
This journey combines two of the Alps’ most iconic rail experiences: the EuroCity Transalpin (one of the longest direct train routes through the Alps, from Graz in Austria to Zürich in Switzerland) and the famous Bernina route from Chur in Switzerland to Tirano in Italy.
Shortly after leaving Graz, the train climbs over the Schober Pass at 849 metres (2,785 feet). Past Bischofshofen, you enter the Salzach Valley, where the railway weaves along the river through tunnels and over bridges. The route continues past Zell am See, where the crystal-clear lake mirrors the surrounding peaks. You might catch a glimpse of the Kitzsteinhorn at 3,203 metres (10,509 feet) near Kaprun and its year-round snow before the train passes well-known ski resorts like Kitzbühel on its way through Tyrol to Innsbruck.
From there, the line climbs toward St. Anton am Arlberg, which at 1,304 metres (4,278 feet) is the highest station on the route. A highlight is the Trisanna Bridge, an engineering marvel built in 1884 that stands 87 metres (285 feet) above the valley floor. Between Feldkirch and Buchs, you briefly pass through Liechtenstein and cross the Rhine, which forms the border with Switzerland. Soon you’re skirting the emerald-green waters of Lake Walen. As you approach Zürich, the mountains recede, but the views over Lake Zürich are just as inviting. It’s a magnificent journey from start to finish, complete with a dining car and first-class panoramic coaches. No reservations are needed.
Switch trains in Sargans, the second-to-last stop, and continue to Chur, the gateway to the legendary Bernina route. Southbound, the charming red trains wind their way across the Bernina Pass into Italy, traversing some of the most breathtaking landscapes in the Alps. Glaciers, high mountain lakes and dramatic peaks unfold along the way, making this one of Europe’s most unforgettable rail journeys. For a more flexible experience, you can follow the same route on regional trains, hopping on without reservations.
After arriving in Tirano, there are direct regional trains to Milano Centrale, just two-and-a-half hours away.
Total travel time: 15 hours
Recommended stops: Graz, Zell am See, Innsbrück, Chur, Tirano
Meet the writer
Bart Giepmans began his railway career as a night train steward in the late ’90s, and has since explored Europe extensively by train. He has worked with NS, Deutsche Bahn, and Interrail. He now writes about European train journeys for several Dutch media outlets and his own blog, Railtripping. Platform Europe is his first book in English. Bart lives in Berlin. You can follow him on Instagram.
About Platform Europe:
In Platform Europe, you find many tips for inspiring routes, on and off the beaten track. Ride classic railways through Scotland and Switzerland, chase the pinkish glow of midsummer nights in Lapland, and travel to the edges of the continent. Discover routes to Croatia, along the Mediterranean coast, across the Alps and Pyrenees, and to wild places at the end of the line. You’ll find engaging stories about the people, stations, and scenery that make train travel special.
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