Train Travel in Europe: Eight Countries in Eleven Days: The Honest Truth About

There is a specific kind of magic that only exists on a European train platform. It’s the sound of the overhead display flipping through city names—Vienna, Ljubljana, Venice, Berlin—and the realization that with one ticket in your pocket, any of them could be your next stop.

Recently, my husband Tom and I decided to lean into that magic. Finding ourselves with an 11-day gap in our schedule and a 50% off Interrail sale staring us in the face, we did something impulsive: we booked a 5-day pass and set off to see as much of the continent as we could. The result? Eight countries in eleven days.

It was a whirlwind of breathtaking sunrises and espresso-fueled sprints. It was romantic, sustainable, and deeply moving. It was also, if I’m being completely honest, exhausting. If you’re planning your own rail adventure, here is the reality of life on the tracks.

The Allure of the Rail Pass: Interrail vs. Eurail

Before you pack your bags, you need to know which “golden ticket” applies to you.

• Interrail: Reserved for European residents.
• Eurail: The exact same concept, but designed for everyone else (including Americans and Canadians).

Both passes offer access to over 33 countries. For us, the flexibility was the biggest selling point. We chose a “5 days within a month” pass, which allowed us to travel on five specific days while staying put in our favorite cities in between. It turns the entire continent into a “hop-on, hop-off” experience.

The Itinerary: A Love Letter to Momentum

Our journey began in London, crossing the channel via the Eurostar to Brussels. From there, our plan was “no plan.” We chose our next destination based on whatever train left that evening.

We spent a night on a sleeper train to Berlin (lesson learned: book a bed, don’t try to sleep upright in a seat!), followed by the crisp autumn air of Munich. From Germany, we dipped into the emerald beauty of Lake Bled, Slovenia, and the coastal charm of Rijeka, Croatia. We saw the sunset in the quiet seaside town of Izola before finally rolling into the Grand Canal of Venice.

By the time we reached our final destination in Geneva, Switzerland, we had crossed eight borders. We had watched forests turn into mountains and mountains turn into oceans, all through the window of a train carriage.

The Romance: Why We’ll Always Choose the Train

There is a rhythm to train travel that flying simply can’t replicate. On a plane, you are a passenger being moved from Point A to Point B. On a train, you are a traveler.

You see the backyard of Europe. You watch locals board with picnic baskets and commuters share coffee. There’s a cinematic quality to the landscape shifting from the industrial outskirts of Cologne to the jagged peaks of the Alps. Plus, there’s the environmental peace of mind; traveling by rail is one of the greenest ways to explore the world.

The Reality Check: What No One Tells You

Despite the romanticism, a “8 countries in 11 days” pace comes with a price. By the time we arrived in Venice—a city I had dreamed of visiting my entire life—I felt… numb.

The “traveler’s burnout” is real. When you spend every other day packing and unpacking, hauling luggage across cobblestones, and checking platform numbers, your brain eventually hits a limit. I realized that I was so focused ongettingto the next place that I wasn’t alwaysbeingin the place I was already in.

Lessons for Your Own Adventure

If you’re planning to tackle Europe by rail, here is how to do it without losing your mind:

1. Slower is Better: If I could do it again, I’d take the same 8 countries but spread them over a month. Give yourself at least two or three nights in each city to find the local bakery and learn the rhythm of the streets.
2. Download the App: The Rail Planner app (for both Interrail and Eurail) is your best friend. It works offline and tells you exactly which trains require a seat reservation.
3. Night Trains are a Cheat Code: They save you the cost of a hotel night and move you across the continent while you sleep. But please—book a couchette (bed). Your back will thank you.
4. Pack Light: You will be lifting your bag into overhead racks and dragging it through narrow train aisles. If you can’t carry it comfortably for 20 minutes, it’s too heavy.
5. Build in “Zero Days”: Schedule days where your only goal is to sit in a cafe and watch the world go by. No trains, no platforms, just presence.

Final Thoughts

Would I do it again? In a heartbeat. There is no better way to feel the scale and soul of Europe than by rail. But next time, I’ll remember that travel isn’t a race to see how many stamps you can get in a passport; it’s about the moments where you finally stop moving and realize exactly where you are.

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