Touring Europe by train with children: they traveled through 15 countries in 4 months

Written by Par Amélie de Five on Track

Published yesterday

Thinking about going on a family train adventure? In this article, Amélie—behind the YouTube channel Five on track—shares her incredible 4-month rail journey through 15 countries, with her husband and their three boys. All aboard!

Why We Set Off—All Five of Us, Without a Plane

We’re a French-Hungarian couple, travel lovers, and parents to three boys aged 12, 9, and 5. We decided to turn our daily routine into a big adventure: four months on Europe’s railways…

No kerosene, no sky streaked with white trails—just tracks, landscapes, stations, and time. Train travel felt like the obvious choice: slower, closer, more mindful.

Our goal? To show our kids (and ourselves) that adventure can go hand in hand with family life… and low-carbon living.

The Route: 15 Countries, One Backpack Each, Zero Flights

Since April, we’ve crossed 14 countries—and the adventure isn’t over yet. Here’s the journey so far:

• France
• Germany (Hamburg)
• Denmark (Copenhagen)
• Sweden (Malmö, Stockholm, Luleå)
• Norway (Narvik, Vesterålen, Lofoten)
• Finland (Oulu, Espoo)
• Estonia (Tallinn)
• Latvia (Riga)
• Lithuania (Vilnius)
• Poland (Warsaw, Zakopane, Kraków)
• Hungary
• Romania (Brașov, Bucharest)
• Bulgaria

Our easternmost point? The Black Sea. Before school starts again, we still plan to pass through Serbia, Hungary (again), Austria, and northern Italy—before heading home.

Our son on the Polish train

A Few Gems We Discovered Along the Way

• The huge playgrounds in Copenhagen—proof that this city truly thinks about kids.
• The Stockholm–Narvik night train, gliding through snowy forests north of the Arctic Circle: magical (and a bit chilly).
• A break with a hybrid car to explore the Vesterålen and Lofoten Islands.
• The bohemian Užupis district in Vilnius—like a quirky, poetic parallel republic.
• The mountains of Brașov in Romania… where we even came across a bear!

The whole family in Finland

Practical Tips for Train Travel with Kids (and Staying Sane)

1. Travel light

One large backpack each (except our youngest, who had a toy bag), and two smaller daypacks. Flexible clothing, onion-layering method for cold climates.

2. Interrail? Not necessarily.

We didn’t get an Interrail pass. Why? Because with three kids, spontaneity has its limits—we wanted to guarantee seats together, especially on night trains. In our case, booking in advance was often cheaper too.

3. Stay a few days

We try to stay at least 4–5 nights at each stop—ideally through Home Exchange. Less rushing, more routine for the kids. Travel isn’t just about “seeing”—it’s about living in a place, even briefly.

4. Night trains: 100% approved

Stockholm–Narvik was our favorite—waking up to snow! Tip: pack a small, easy-access bag for the night (pajamas, toothbrush, water, snacks...).

5. Sleep mask = survival

Lots of places had no blackout curtains. In Luleå, Sweden, in May, the sun rose at… 3:30 a.m. A good sleep mask is essential.

6. Don’t underestimate the need for social contact

Regular video calls with friends, reunions with family, or meeting people on the road—these helped us keep our balance in this moving microcosm.

On the Narvik-Lulea train

Traveling with Three Kids: Nomadic Schooling, Manga, and a Basketball

A school… on rails

Our kids go to public school in Paris. We informed their teachers and notified the Education Authority before leaving.

Each day, we pulled out books, notebooks, or a learning app. The goal? Stay on track with math and languages. For everything else, we counted on museums, exhibitions, people we met, and the landscapes around us—an alternative way to learn.

The setup? Two groups, one parent per group, and we’d switch each week. Strangely, it worked better than during COVID!

On the way to Sweden!

Rediscovering Reading

Before, our two older kids only read manga. This trip reconciled them with novels—thanks to an e-reader! Train rides became peaceful reading sessions.

English, For Real

Chatting with other travelers, hosts, and kids at playgrounds… Their English improved dramatically.

Toys: Minimalism and Smart Picks

With just one backpack per person, we chose carefully. Here’s what made the cut:

• A basketball: Bulky, yes, but a huge hit with our basketball-loving boys. It helped them burn energy, make friends, and find cool local courts.
• A storytelling device: Perfect for quiet moments.
• Skyjo, playing cards, toy cars: Always tucked in a corner of the bag.
• Notebooks and pens, later joined by paint and a sketchpad.
• A Nintendo Switch (because let’s be realistic).

The result? They never got bored. Embracing boredom, slowness, and creativity… it works.

Whether you’re solo, in a couple, or with your family… train travel changes the way you explore: you feel the distance, you move through seasons, you soak in the scenery. Travel becomes an experience again—not just a destination.

Our top tip if you’re thinking about trying it? Just go for it!

To follow Amélie and her family's adventures on the rails, visit their Instagram account @fiveontrack!