RachelJB19
Traveller
1 comments
Posted 15 years ago
Hi everyone, me and another female friend are planning on going away in Europe for around a month next summer. We would really like to visit and stay for a few days in Paris, Madrid, Barcelona, Rome, Berlin, Amsterdam, then Brussels, then home. We live in the UK. I looked at the map and I thought that going around like that in a circle would be relatively easy, but what I wanted to know was is it easy to just carry on travelling between these places or is there a lot of changes/delays, etc? I also wouldn't mind stopping and staying for a day or two in some other places along the way such as Nice, Munich, Hamburg. I also do not have the first clue on which trains you can get on using just your ticket and which trains you have to pay a supplement for. Basically I'm totally clueless about the whole thing but at the same time extremely excited! I would also like to know if the hostels in these places are safe and clean and if anyone has any recommendations for accommodation that would be great :) Thanks guys xx
Flo
Traveller
10724 comments
Well then. Information about trains which require a supplement/reservation you can find here: [u]https://rail.cc/en/interrail-train-reservation[/u]
You've already made a wise decision by making the trip in a circle. It may be better to make it counter clockwise because by ending the trip in the Benelux you stay more flexible for your journey home (ie if you miss a train etc).
Paris - Madrid you will have to change trains in Irun; there are two nice connections:
Paris 2310 - Madrid 1357
Paris 1010 - Madrid 2208
[u]https://rail.cc/en/search-interrail-route[/u]
Madrid - Barcelona there are several fast connections every day.
From Barcelona to Rome there would be a connection with a night train to Milano where you would have to change to a train to Rome. Note that this is a very fast but also very expensive way to go.
If you want to travel cheaper you have to make a stop along the French coast (not a bad place for a little break ;) ).
There are lots of nice little villages along the Côte d'Azur (as well as on the Ligurian coast in Italy) if you may want to spend a little more time there.
Anyway there are lots of possible connections, like this one:
Barcelona 0845 - Nice 2225 (change in Montpellier, Marseille)
Nice 0746 - Rome 1814 (change in Ventimiglia, Genova)
[u]https://rail.cc/en/search-interrail-route[/u]
There are also many possibilities for going from Rome to Berlin. It is doable in one day, but you would have to change several times and especially the trains Italy - Switzerland are not very reliable at the moment (and it's not predictable when the problems on this route will be finally solved).
Therefore it would make sense to make an overnight journey as you then don't have to change trains that much.
One possible route would be:
Rome 1910 - Berlin 1310 (change in Munich)
There are several direct trains from Berlin to Amsterdam, travel time about 6h30.
From Berlin at: 0637, 0839, 1037, 1236, 1437, 1637. Note that these trains have their terminus at Schiphol (Airport) and only call at Amsterdam Zuid (which is some kilometres away from the center). If you want to go to Amsterdam Centraal you have to change at Hilversum.
From Amsterdam to Bruxelles there are IC trains hourly, leaving Amsterdam at xx54, travel time is ~3h. Avoid the expensive Thalys services, they are not worth the money, especially on the Amsterdam - Bruxelles route.
Note that you have to pay supplements on most trains I mentioned. In general you can say that you have to pay supplements for all fast trains in France, Spain, Italy. In Germany and the Benelux you don't have to pay many supplements (except on night services).
Of course you can do all routes by other trains which don't require supplement but they will take significantly more time in general.
[u]https://rail.cc/en/search-interrail-route-[/u] find train schedules for whole Europe
[u]https://rail.cc/en/interrail-train-reservation[/u] - How to buy reservations and supplements for European trains
I can recommend the Wombats hostel in Berlin as I've already stayed there (There is also one in Munich). Other hostel information you can find on [ux]https://rail.shop/hostelworld[/ux]
There you can find price and booking information as well as many reviews.
[quote]Basically I'm totally clueless about the whole thing but at the same time extremely excited! [/quote]
InterRailing is absolutely amazing and exciting I can tell you! :D
RachelJB19
Traveller
1 comments
Thank for your help! I have already started to plan my trip and have found out a lot already so it's going well so far!
Thanks again
Rachel x