New Aquitaine by Train: A 7-Day Car-Free Itinerary
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Published on 7/3/27
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Traveling in Europe without flying has never been easier… as long as you know where to start. Between rail networks, alternative routes, and sustainable accommodations, the range of options has expanded significantly in recent years, but it can also quickly become difficult to navigate.
Good news: some travel guides do an excellent job of curating, explaining, and inspiring. Whether you’re new to low-carbon travel or already a train enthusiast, here are 4 Travel guides for exploring Europe in a different way, by reducing your carbon footprint without giving up on adventure!
Well... Yes, it's a little biased to start with our guide, and yes, it's a bit of self-promotion. But I promise, it's for a good cause!
Travel by train with HOURRAIL!, is a guide designed for those who want to turn their dreams into a concrete itinerary. It brings together 45 routes across Europe, accessible by train, with a special focus on the overall coherence of the trip: routes, connections, and on-site experiences.
From Berlin to Marseille, from Venice to Lapland, each itinerary has been designed as an invitation to slow down, to observe, and to experience the journey itself as an integral part of the trip.
What makes the difference is also the Practical Guide : Understanding discount cards, figuring out rail passes, booking at the right time, avoiding pitfalls… All of these factors can make the difference between a smooth trip and a logistical nightmare.
This guide, which is intended for both the curious and the already convinced, has a clear objective: make train travel more accessible, easier to understand, and, above all, more appealing. More info here:
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Travel by train with HOURRAIL: our travel book
If you're looking for a very practical guide to planning your next train trip, the one from voyagerentrain.fr is also a great resource.
Designed as a true planning tool, this guide offers itineraries throughout Europe and tips for understanding how the European rail network works. It also features traveler testimonials and profiles of industry professionals, which enrich the reading experience and add depth to the subject.
And if you want to explore France, you should know that voyagerentrain.fr has also released Traveling by Train in France, A comprehensive guide to traveling by train in France!
For more inspiration, we'd like to remind you that you can subscribe to our newsletter Bimonthly (inspiration and great tips, every other Thursday in your inbox):
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In his guide, Guide Tao offers 1,300 experiences in ten European countries: Italy, Portugal, Spain, Switzerland, Great Britain, Ireland, Germany, the Netherlands, Greece, and Austria. All itineraries depart from France and can be taken by train, boat, bus, or bicycle.
It also highlights ethical and eco-friendly activities and establishments. From bike rides to cultural tours, and from socially conscious inns to eco-lodges, Guide Tao promotes responsible travel—from transportation and activities to dining and lodging!
Petaouchnok's Extraordinary Journeys Through Europe
Petaouchnok offers experiences accessible by train throughout Europe. What makes this guide, that is the uniqueness and variety of the experiences on offer: horseback riding in Iceland, sledding in the Austrian Tyrol, an inline skating trip in Switzerland, boating on the Klaralven River, and so much more!
From the Scottish hills to the Greek islands, via the frozen lakes of Sweden and the cliffs of Portugal, this guide invites us to travel responsibly across our beautiful continent.
Petaouchnok also tells us, for each experience, the distance traveled in kilometers and the best season to try it. And for sports activities, the guide also indicates the level of physical difficulty. If you’re looking for ideas for unique and sustainable travel experiences, this guide is for you!
While guidebooks are invaluable for inspiring you and helping you plan your itinerary, they sometimes lack one key element: an overview of the rail network.
That is exactly what it offers Cartotrain, a project conceived by passionate cartographer Jean-Luc Levoux: fold-out paper maps designed for train travel that let you see at a glance where you can go.
The Cartorain map of Europe, unfolded (front side)!
A simple yet incredibly effective tool for visualizing lines and connections, identifying alternatives, and planning your route in a whole new way!
Seven cards are already available:
- 🇪🇺 Europe (large format to view the entire network)
- 🇫🇷 France (large format or pocket-sized: practical information, night trains, cycling…)
- 🇮🇹 Italy (connections, route ideas, etc.)
🚆🚍 "France by Train+Bus" Collection (including bike routes and GR trails):
- ⛵ Western France
- 🏰 Southwest
- 🏔️ Alps: 6 Countries
Cartotrain isn't a replacement for guidebooks, but it complements them perfectly: the maps let you take a step back and explore freely. And that, at HOORAY!, we love it.
Issue du monde de la communication et des médias, Sophie est Responsable éditoriale chez HOURRAIL ! depuis août 2024. Elle est notamment derrière le contenu éditorial du site ainsi que La Locomissive (de l'inspiration voyage bas carbone et des bons plans, un jeudi sur deux, gratuitement dans ta boîte mail !).
Convaincue que les changements d’habitude passent par la transformation de nos imaginaires, elle s’attache à montrer qu’il est possible de voyager autrement, de manière plus consciente, plus lente et plus joyeuse. Son objectif : rendre le slow travel accessible à toutes et tous, à travers des astuces, des décryptages et surtout, de nouveaux récits.
