Europe's Most Iconic Trains: 17 Legendary Routes to Take by Train
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Published on 11/3/26
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Fall asleep in Paris and wake up facing the Alps, get to London in 2 hours and 15 minutes from downtown to downtown, cross Europe without ever going through an airport: traveling by train is often easier than you might think. But you still need to know the right tips for booking at the right time, paying less, and planning your train trip stress-free. Whether you’re taking the train for the first time or want to travel farther, this guide brings together everything we’ve learned from hundreds of trips.
Why travel by train instead of by plane? Because a TGV trip emits about 3.5 g of CO2e per kilometer per passenger, compared to 125 g by plane. And on many routes, it’s just as fast door-to-door: we compare the two in the dedicated section.
When should you book your train tickets? As soon as tickets go on sale, when the low prices are still available. SNCF now releases its TGV INOUI tickets in large batches, sometimes more than six months in advance: we’ll walk you through the schedule you need to know in this article.
How can I travel by train on a budget? By booking early, choosing OUIGO whenever possible, and making the most of an Avantage card (€49 per year, 30% discount). See our cost-saving tips below.
How much luggage can you bring? Two large pieces of luggage and one carry-on bag on TGV INOUI and Intercités trains; one cabin bag and one carry-on bag on OUIGO trains. Bicycles have their own rules: we explain it all in this article.
What should you do if your train is late? Requesting compensation: at least 25% of the ticket price for delays of 60 minutes or more, and 50% for delays exceeding 2 hours. SNCF sometimes offers more: see below for a detailed breakdown of your rights.
Traveling by train not only reduces the carbon footprint of your trip, but it also lets you arrive right in the heart of the city and enjoy the scenery and use your time to work or relax, instead of wasting time at security checkpoints or in traffic jams.
Yes, and the gap is massive. According to the SNCF Voyageurs Carbon Calculator, according to ADEME’s Empreinte database, a passenger emits about 3.5 g of CO2e per kilometer on the TGV, including manufacturing and maintenance. That figure might not mean much to you on its own, but to give you an idea of the scale:
| Mode of transportation | Emissions (g CO2e/km/passenger) |
|---|---|
| TGV | 3.5 |
| Coach | 38 |
| Car (average mix) | 89 |
| Short-haul aircraft (excluding contrails) | 125 |
Specifically, An airplane emits about 35 times more than a TGV over the same distance, not to mention the contrails.
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Not always, especially when you factor in the door-to-door travel time. Eurostar connects Paris to London in 2 hours and 17 minutes, from Paris-Nord to St. Pancras—two stations right in the city center.
On the TGV INOUI, boarding begins on average 20 minutes before departure and closes 2 minutes before: no endless security checks or shuttle rides to an out-of-town airport. And the time spent on board isn’t wasted: you can read, work, or simply watch the scenery go by.
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Almost everywhere in Europe—and even beyond. The Interrail Global Pass provides access to trains in 33 European countries, from Norway to Greece.
To find inspiration, the HOURRAIL app! offers you more than 300 ready-to-use train itineraries for free.
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Europe's Most Iconic Trains: 17 Legendary Routes to Take by Train
To travel by train on a budget, three factors matter most: when you book, which discount card you use, and where you buy your ticket. Here’s how to combine them.
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How to save money on your train ticket?
As soon as possible, ideally on the day sales open. SNCF Voyageurs no longer uses a four-month rolling window for its TGV INOUI tickets: sales now open in large waves.
For example, on March 11, 2026, SNCF opened bookings for TGV INOUI trains for travel from July 4 to December 12, 2026. On September 30, 2026, it opened bookings for trips from December 13, 2026, to January 6, 2027. For TER trains, tickets go on sale between three and five months in advance, depending on the region.
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If you regularly take the TGV INOUI or Intercités, the Avantage card often pays for itself after just a few trips. It costs €49 per year and is available in three versions: Youth (ages 12–27), Adult (ages 27–59), and Senior (age 60 and older).
It offers a 30% discount and, most importantly, price caps based on the length of the trip:
| Travel time | Maximum price with the Avantage card |
|---|---|
| Less than 1 hour and 30 minutes | 49 € |
| From 1½ hours to 3 hours | 69 € |
| More than 3 hours | 89 € |
Please note that the discount does not apply to OUIGO. To compare all options (regional cards, passes, special offers), read Our tips for paying less for your train ticket.
Another lever: the members of the HOURRAIL Club! enjoy exclusive benefits negotiated with our partners—not only on train tickets but also on accommodations! This helps keep the cost of the entire trip down, not just the travel portion.
And for further reading:
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The safest bet: book directly with the company operating your train. There you’ll find all seating classes, promotional fares, and up-to-date exchange policies: SNCF Connect for TGV INOUI, Intercités, and TER; ouigo.com for OUIGO; and eurostar.com, trenitalia.com, or nightjet.com for international travel.
Flight comparison sites are still a handy way to find connections on an international trip. But a trip made up of several separate tickets doesn't always protect you if you miss a connection: we'll explain everything in Our Guide to Booking Trains in Europe.
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Once you have your ticket, there are a few practical guidelines to help you avoid unpleasant surprises at the platform: the size of your luggage, transporting your bike, and what time to arrive.
On TGV INOUI and Intercités trains, you’re allowed two pieces of checked luggage measuring no more than 70 x 90 x 50 cm and one carry-on bag measuring 40 x 30 x 15 cm, all labeled with your name. An extra piece of luggage or one that does not meet the requirements may result in a €50 fine.
With OUIGO, your ticket includes one carry-on bag measuring 55 x 35 x 25 cm and one small bag measuring 40 x 30 x 15 cm. A large suitcase or sports equipment is an optional extra: book it online—it’s much more expensive at the station.
It all depends on the train. On TGV INOUI trains, a folded or disassembled bicycle in a cover (maximum 90 x 130 cm) travels as luggage at no extra charge. For a fully assembled bicycle, you must reserve a paid bicycle space on trains that offer this service.
On TER trains, the rules vary by region, and many lines allow bicycles to be transported without disassembly. Be sure to arrive a little early: TGV INOUI recommends arriving at least 30 minutes early if you’re bringing a bicycle. All possible scenarios are detailed in our guide to traveling by train with your bicycle:
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To find out in advance whether your bike can be brought on board, the HOURRAIL app! It shows you—for free—the number of remaining bike spaces on TER trains and the price for transporting a bike, whether it’s assembled or in a bike bag. A filter also lets you view only the routes where your bike is accepted, throughout Europe: German, Swiss, Italian, and Spanish trains…
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It only takes a few minutes, but not a single minute less than the time limit. On the TGV INOUI, boarding closes 2 minutes before departure, even if the train is still at the platform.
On OUIGO trains, boarding closes 5 minutes before departure: the rule about arriving 30 minutes early no longer applies. For the Eurostar, allow plenty of extra time because of passport checks at the border.
Trains don’t stop at borders or when night falls. Here’s how to travel by night train, cross Europe, and assert your rights if your trip doesn’t go as planned.
All of the SNCF’s overnight Intercités trains depart from Paris-Austerlitz, bound for Briançon, Nice, Rodez, Albi, Aurillac, Latour-de-Carol, Cerbère, and Tarbes. You can sleep in a seat or a sleeper berth, and wake up at the foot of the mountains or overlooking the sea.
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Internationally, Nightjet trains have not served Paris since December 2025. European Sleeper has taken over with a Paris–Berlin, launching on March 26, 2026 from Paris-Nord, via Brussels. All routes, prices, and tips are in Our Guide to Night Trains in France and Europe. And if you'd like to learn more, feel free to read our Top List of the Most Comfortable Night Trains in Europe.
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You have two options: buy tickets for each individual trip, or purchase a pass. The Interrail Global Pass covers 33 countries and starts at €212, depending on your age and the number of travel days.
Please note that the pass isn’t everything: many high-speed and overnight trains require an additional paid reservation. To find out if it’s worth it for your itinerary, be sure to read our comprehensive guide to the Interrail pass:
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Need some inspiration for your itinerary? Our book Travel by train with HOURRAIL! offers 50 all-inclusive train trips in France and Europe, complete with QR codes so you can find each itinerary in the app and customize it to suit your preferences!
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Request compensation: it’s a right, not a favor. European Regulation 2021/782 guarantees at least 25% of the ticket price for delays of 60 to 119 minutes, and 50% for delays of 120 minutes or more. (source: b-europe.com).
Companies can do better: SNCF, for example, implements its 30-Minute Guarantee on TGV INOUI and Intercités trains. Step-by-step instructions can be found in our article for Get a refund if your train is delayed.
In conclusion, traveling by train requires a little planning ahead, but it’s much less of a hassle than you might think. Book your ticket as soon as tickets go on sale, check your train’s baggage rules, and keep in mind your rights in case of a delay—the rest is pure enjoyment. The hardest part is choosing your first destination… and that’s exactly where we can help.
What if you want to travel by train more often and for less? The HOURRAIL Club! gives you access to exclusive discounts negotiated with our travel partners, the Premium version of the mobile app, and reviews from a whole community of travelers.
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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.
