Family rail travel: a 4-month tour of Europe
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Published on 11/17/24, modified on 7/15/26
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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!
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 rails, 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.
Since April, we've already traveled through 14 countries, and the adventure continues. Here's our journey so far:
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
The Whole Family in Finland
One large backpack each (except for the youngest, who has a small bag of toys) and two small “day” backpacks. Layered clothing for northern climates.
We decided to do not take from 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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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
The Stockholm–Narvik This is still our favorite—waking up to a snowy morning... Tip: Pack a small, easily accessible bag for the night (pajamas, toothbrush, water, snacks...).
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.
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
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 the scenery… 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!
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.
Talking with other travelers, hosts, and kids in the parks… Their English has really improved.
With just one bag per person, we packed only the essentials. Here’s what we were able to find:
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 !
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.
