Flight-free holidays: 7 superb European cities to go to by practice

Practice journey round Europe has a wealthy historical past, as generations of inter-railers know.

With rising consciousness of the carbon footprint left by international tourism, increasingly more persons are turning to the continent’s in depth railways to chop down on air miles.

These routes will be surprisingly quick – simply 3.5 hours from London to Amsterdam – and even the lengthy ones have luxurious sleeper routes to advocate them.

Travellers are more and more sharing the fun of sluggish journey. Getting from A to B is a pleasure if you’re immersed within the different landscapes of Europe.

So from cultural hubs within the north to sunshine-soaked locations within the south, we’ve picked seven improbable cities in Europe that you just don’t must fly to.

For mountain surroundings: Bern

Switzerland’s postcard-perfect capital is situated on the banks of the crystal-clear River Aare and surrounded by the towering great thing about the snow-capped Alps. It’s additionally residence to 6km of sheltered sandstone procuring arcades filled with unbiased cellar bars, cafés and craft retailers. For the perfect views over the medieval Altstadt (Outdated City), climb the 344 steps as much as the highest of Bern Cathedral, the nation’s highest church tower at 101 metres.

Direct trains run to Bern from Paris and Frankfurt in 4.5 hours. From Brussels and London, the journey takes 7.5 hours with one change.

Plan your journey at myswitzerland.com

For foodie delights: Florence

It’s unimaginable to select only one connoisseur hotspot in Europe, however Italy’s enchanting metropolis of Florence is a very mouth-watering alternative. Emphasising native, sustainable and seasonal meals, Tuscan treats akin to schiacciata flatbread and flavourful Florentine steak are sometimes on the menu. Tuck into tagliatelle made with regionally sourced truffle and porcini mushrooms, or go for wild boar pappardelle pasta, adopted by arguably the perfect gelato in the whole nation.

Evening trains attain Florence in 10 hours from Munich, making town a super vacation spot for sleeper practice holidays. From Geneva, the journey is underneath 6.5 hours.

Get inspiration at visitflorence.com

For tradition vultures: Amsterdam

Due to well-known painters like Van Gogh and Rembrandt, Amsterdam is a metropolis of iconic artwork. Residence to the Dutch Masters’ works within the Rijksmuseum and the equally participating fashionable items on the Stedelijk, it’s straightforward to see why the Netherlands’ capital is taken into account one in all Europe’s cultural hubs. Discover additional and also you’ll uncover lots extra, from out of doors sculptures to tiny unbiased galleries.

You possibly can catch a direct practice from Frankfurt to Amsterdam in 4 hours, from London in simply over 3.5 hours and from Paris in three.

Plan your go to at iamsterdam.com

For sun-soaked sightseeing: Seville

Though slightly out of the best way, southern Spain’s Seville is a vibrant vacation spot that generously rewards guests prepared to journey these additional miles. This can be a metropolis steeped in historical past, with architectural highlights starting from the world’s largest Gothic cathedral to the beautiful Royal Alcázar palace. A sultry, sun-drenched setting of winding lanes, heavenly tapas and Flamenco dancing, it’s going to most undoubtedly depart its mark on you.

Seville is 2.5 hours by direct practice from Madrid. A visit from Paris or Lisbon takes 12 to 13 hours.

Organise your flight-free journey at spain.information

For intriguing structure: Cologne

Germany’s Cologne is a captivating mix of historic Roman partitions and medieval church buildings. The dual spires of its Kölner Dom cathedral are an iconic a part of the skyline, and the view over town’s eye-catching sprawl from the South Tower is properly well worth the 533-step climb. This construction additionally homes the world’s largest free-swinging bell, weighing in at 24 tonnes.

You possibly can journey to Cologne from London in 4.5 hours, altering in Brussels. From Paris, the direct journey is three hours, making it a super choice to your practice holidays in Europe.

Discover out extra at cologne-tourism.com

For lush vineyards: Bordeaux

Arguably the wine capital of France, Bordeaux delights guests with its neat and fairly vineyards. Right here you’ll be able to tour a number of the a whole lot of aristocratic wine estates, or châteaux, to study extra concerning the wine-making course of and pattern the top product. Within the metropolis itself, the ultra-modern Cite du Vin museum is a formidable venue devoted to bringing wine and its heritage to a youthful era by way of immersive exhibitions.

Bordeaux is 2 hours by practice from Paris. You will get there from London or Amsterdam in round 5.5 hours with one change or in 4.5 hours from Brussels.

Plan your journey at bordeaux-tourism.co.uk

For imperial grandeur: Vienna, Austria

Austria’s capital is famend because the world’s Metropolis of Music due to a heritage that features Mozart, Beethoven, Brahms and Strauss. Go to the world-famous Musikverein, the place the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra play, or discover the interactive reveals on the revolutionary Haus der Musik museum. Alternatively, uncover the imperial legacy left by the Habsburgs on the Hofburg Palace, which dates again to the thirteenth century and is among the world’s largest palace complexes.

You possibly can attain Vienna from Paris in 10 hours with one change, or from Brussels in 11. A direct journey from Frankfurt takes simply 6.5 hours.

Compose your go to at wien.information/en