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

Written by Par Amélie de Five on Track

Published on August 6, 2025, modified on November 5, 2026

How about taking a family trip by train? In this article, Amélie, the creator of the YouTube channel Five on Track, tells us about his amazing journey from 4 months by train through 15 countries, with her three sons and her husband. Follow the guide!

Why the five of us left… without a plane

As a French-Hungarian couple who love to travel and are parents to three boys aged 12, 9, and 5, we decided to turn our everyday life into a grand adventure: four months traveling by train across Europe…

No jet fuel, no sky streaked with white contrails—just railroad tracks, landscapes, train stations, and time. Traveling by train seemed like the obvious choice to us: a slower, more intimate, and more mindful way to travel.

Our goal? To show our children (and ourselves) that adventure can go hand in hand with family life… and a low carbon footprint.

The itinerary: 15 countries, one backpack each, zero flights

Since April, we've already traveled through 14 countries, and the adventure continues. Here's our 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, Krakow)
• Hungary
• Romania (Brașov, Bucharest)
• Bulgaria

Our easternmost point? The Black Sea. And between now and the start of the school year, we plan to travel through Serbia, Hungary (again), Austria, and northern Italy before heading back home.

Our Son on the Polish Train

A few hidden gems discovered along the way

• The Immense Ones playgrounds in Copenhagen, proof that this city really cares about children.
• The Stockholm–Narvik overnight train, which winds through snow-covered forests north of the Arctic Circle: magical (and a little chilly).
• A break in a hybrid car to explore the islands of the Vesterålen and Lofoten.
• The bohemian neighborhood of Užupis, in Vilnius—it has a bit of a “parallel republic” vibe, arty and poetic.
• The Brașov Mountains, in Romania… where we even came across a bear!

The Whole Family in Finland

Practical Tips for Traveling by Train with Kids (and Staying Calm)

Before reading Amélie's tips, check out the basics in our guide to traveling by train:

Article

Traveling by Train: The Complete Guide to Traveling Without Flying

1. Travel Light

One large backpack each (except for the youngest, who has a small bag of toys) and two small “day” backpacks. Layered clothing, using the “onion” method, for northern climates.

2. Interrail? Not necessarily.

We decided to do not take some Interrail pass. Why? Because with three kids, there are limits to how spontaneous you can be: we wanted to make sure we had seats next to each other, especially on overnight trains. And in our case, booking in advance was often more economical.

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Interrail Pass 2026: The Complete Guide to Traveling by Train in Europe

3. Stay for a few days

We try to keep it to a minimum 4–5 nights per leg - Ideally, through a home on the Home Exchange platform. Less running around, more familiar surroundings for the kids. Traveling isn’t just about “seeing” places—it’s about “living in a place,” even if only briefly.

Old Town of Riga, Latvia

4. Night trains: We're 100% on board

The Stockholm–Narvik It's still our favorite—waking up to a snowy morning... Tip: Pack a small, easily accessible bag for the night (pajamas, toothbrush, water, snacks...).

5. Sleep mask = survival

Many homes don't have shutters, and in Luleå, Sweden, in May, the sun rose at… 3:30 a.m. A good sleep mask is a must.

6. Don't underestimate the need for social connection

Regular calls with friends (long live video chat), reunions with family, or running into friends along the way: all of this helped us maintain a sense of balance during this road trip in isolation.

On the Narvik–Luleå train

Traveling with Three Kids: A Traveling School, Manga, and a Basketball

A school… on rails

Our children attend public school in Paris. We obviously planned ahead for their absence, spoke with their teachers, and de

registered for the trip to the Academy.

Every day, we’d pull out our textbooks, workbooks, or an app. The goal? To stay on top of our math and language skills. For everything else, we relied on museums, exhibits, encounters, and landscapes… Another Way to Learn.

How was it organized? Two groups, one parent per group, and we rotated every week. Surprisingly, it worked better than it did during the pandemic!

Off to Sweden!

Rediscovering the Joy of Reading

Before, our two older kids only read manga. This trip got them back into novels—thanks to the e-reader! Our train rides have become little reading retreats.

Real-Life English

Talking with other travelers, hosts, and children in the parks… Their English has improved by leaps and bounds.

When it comes to toys: minimalism and great ideas

With just one bag per person, we chose only the essentials. Here’s what we were able to find:

• A basketball: Yes, it's bulky, but it was a huge hit with our boys who love basketball. It gave them a chance to let off some steam, make friends, and discover local playgrounds.
• A story machine: perfect for quiet moments.
• Skyjo, cards, toy cars: always tucked away in a corner of my bag.
• We started with notebooks and pens, then added paint and a sketchbook.
• A Switch (because let's be realistic).

The result? They didn't never Bored. Productive boredom, taking things slowly, figuring things out on your own… it works.

Whether you’re traveling alone, as a couple, or with your family… the train transforms the way you travel: you feel the kilometers pass by, you experience the changing seasons, and you soak in the scenery. Travel becomes an experience again—not just a destination. Our best advice if you’re ready to embark on this adventure? Just go for it!

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

Written by Par Amélie de Five on Track

Amélie a créé Five on Track, une aventure familiale franco-hongroise avec trois enfants curieux et voyageurs, portée par un rêve simple : traverser l’Europe en train, à vitesse humaine. À travers ce projet, elle défend un voyage en train lent et engagé, pour vivre l’Europe autrement et raconter de nouveaux récits durables.