Destinations

Europe by train is one of the best ways to explore the continent — fast journeys, scenic routes, and new cities at your feet in hours. Below you’ll find ten of the most popular stops for Interrailers, complete with essential train info, top attractions, and a feel for what each city is really like.

These aren’t generic city blurbs — this is the kind of travel info you'd want from a friend who’s already been.

🇫🇷 Paris, France

📍 Main Station: Gare du Nord / Gare de Lyon
🚆 Connections: London, Brussels, Amsterdam, Zurich, Barcelona
Top 3 things to do:
  • The Louvre – World’s most famous art museum
  • Montmartre – Artists, cafés, and the best city views
  • Seine River Walk – Walk the river past Notre-Dame and local book stalls
City experience:

Paris is big, busy, and full of must-see landmarks — but also has quiet corners if you know where to look. With two main stations, it’s a perfect entry point into continental Europe. Trains and metros are fast, but walking between cafés, parks, and riverbanks is where the charm really is. Pricey, yes — but even a short stop is unforgettable.

🇳🇱 Amsterdam, Netherlands

📍 Main Station: Amsterdam Centraal
🚆 Connections: Berlin, Brussels, Cologne, Paris
Top 3 things to do:
  • Van Gogh Museum – Incredible art collection
  • Anne Frank House – Powerful and moving
  • Jordaan – Chill cafés, small shops, and great coffee
City experience:

Amsterdam is easygoing, scenic, and built for slow travel. The centre is compact, walkable, and full of detail — curved bridges, narrow houses, buzzing markets. Bikes rule the road, but the tram system is solid. It’s social without being chaotic, and ideal for 2- to 3-day visits between bigger legs of your trip.

🇩🇪 Berlin, Germany

📍 Main Station: Berlin Hauptbahnhof
🚆 Connections: Prague, Warsaw, Vienna, Amsterdam, Copenhagen
Top 3 things to do:
  • Berlin Wall Memorial – History without the filters
  • Museum Island – Culture packed into a single stop
  • Tempelhofer Feld – Urban park built on an old airport runway
City experience:

Berlin is raw, creative, and effortlessly cool. Every neighbourhood feels different, from edgy Kreuzberg to posh Charlottenburg. It’s full of culture and contradictions — war memorials next to burger stalls, underground clubs near world-class museums. Public transport is excellent, but you’ll want to explore on foot to feel its personality.

🇨🇭 Lucerne, Switzerland

📍 Main Station: Lucerne
🚆 Connections: Zurich, Interlaken, Milan, Bern
Top 3 things to do:
  • Lake Lucerne Cruise – Scenic ferry trips through the Alps
  • Chapel Bridge – Iconic wooden bridge from the 1300s
  • Mount Pilatus – Take a cable car or cogwheel train for unreal views
City experience:

Lucerne is postcard-perfect. It’s quiet, safe, and small enough to explore in a day — but beautiful enough to stay longer. The lake and mountain backdrop feels unreal. It’s a good stop for resetting after big cities, even if it’s one of the pricier places on your route. Very walkable, very clean, very Swiss.

🇦🇹 Vienna, Austria

📍 Main Station: Wien Hauptbahnhof
🚆 Connections: Munich, Budapest, Zurich, Prague
Top 3 things to do:
  • Schönbrunn Palace – Grand and historic
  • Naschmarkt – One of the best food markets in Europe
  • St. Stephen’s Cathedral – Tower views and gothic architecture
City experience:

Vienna is grand without being intimidating. You’ll find world-class music, palaces, and art, but also quiet parks, strong coffee, and chilled public spaces. Trains run like clockwork, and the U-Bahn is easy to navigate. Everything just works — ideal for slowing down and soaking in culture.

🇨🇿 Prague, Czech Republic

📍 Main Station: Praha hlavní nádraží
🚆 Connections: Berlin, Vienna, Krakow, Budapest
Top 3 things to do:
  • Prague Castle – Hilltop complex with unbeatable views
  • Charles Bridge – Early mornings here are magic
  • Old Town Square – Clock shows, buskers, and nightlife nearby
City experience:

Prague is compact, stunning, and easy on the wallet. You can walk most of the centre in a day, but it still feels like a real city, not a theme park. Expect crowds around the tourist zones, but they’re easy to escape. Great value, great beer, and a great vibe.

🇭🇺 Budapest, Hungary

📍 Main Station: Keleti
🚆 Connections: Vienna, Zagreb, Belgrade, Bucharest
Top 3 things to do:
  • Széchenyi Baths – Soak in style with locals and travellers
  • Buda Castle – Gorgeous views and relaxed walking trails
  • Ruin Bars – Bars built inside crumbling buildings — and still going strong
City experience:

Budapest is a mix of energy and calm. The Danube splits it in two — historic Buda and lively Pest — and both sides are worth exploring. The food scene is better than you’d expect, and the nightlife is on its own level. You’ll spend less here and still live well. One of the best-value stops on the Interrail map.

🇮🇹 Rome, Italy

📍 Main Station: Roma Termini
🚆 Connections: Florence, Milan, Naples, Venice
Top 3 things to do:
  • Colosseum – Feels as big in person as it does in photos
  • Trevi Fountain – Classic photo stop, especially at night
  • Trastevere – Eat, drink, and wander the evening away
City experience:

Rome is alive. Loud scooters, ancient ruins, fountains, street food — all packed into the same street. It’s busy and a little chaotic, but that’s part of the charm. Spend one day on the sights, one just walking and eating. Termini is right in the centre, so everything's within reach.

🇪🇸 Barcelona, Spain

📍 Main Station: Barcelona Sants
🚆 Connections: Madrid, Valencia, Lyon, Paris
Top 3 things to do:
  • Sagrada Família – Still unfinished, still unmissable
  • Barceloneta Beach – Sun and sea a short metro ride away
  • Gothic Quarter – Lanes, wine bars, and local life
City experience:

Barcelona has a buzz to it. You’ve got beach on one side, mountains on the other, and Gaudí’s masterpieces scattered in between. The city runs on tapas, late nights, and sunny mornings. Public transport is great, but walking lets you feel the rhythm. A great place to start or finish your trip.

🇩🇰 Copenhagen, Denmark

📍 Main Station: København H
🚆 Connections: Stockholm, Hamburg, Oslo via Malmö
Top 3 things to do:
  • Tivoli Gardens – Retro fun right in the city centre
  • Nyhavn – Colourful buildings, boats, and outdoor dining
  • Rosenborg Castle – Royal treasures in a peaceful park
City experience:

Copenhagen is modern, clean, and laid-back. Everything is close — the airport, the train, the sights. Locals bike everywhere, and you should too. Coffee shops, bakeries, and design stores are everywhere, and it’s easy to feel like you belong, even on a short visit. On the pricier end, but the quality shows.

Explore Our Blog

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City by City: What to Expect When You Arrive by Train

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We don’t do fluff. Everything you see here is built for travellers planning real Interrail trips — with train info, hotel links, and city highlights that actually matter.

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