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Times
3 days ago
- Times
25 of the most tempting weekends in Europe — all reached by train
The first time I travelled by train in Europe was on a sleeper to the Pyrenees for a school trip when I was 14. It felt impossibly glamorous eating homemade ham sandwiches while the French countryside slipped by outside. Four years later I returned to Interrail around the continent, deciding on a whim each morning whether to travel on to Germany, Slovenia, Italy or Spain. I was thrilled by how simple it was to speed over borders, passing coastlines and cathedrals, vineyards and villages, on the way to somewhere new. Now it's easier than ever to travel across mainland Europe by train. There are new high-speed routes between London and Amsterdam, Brussels and Prague, and Paris and Milan, while swish trains, straightforward international connections and regular Eurostar services from London mean more countries are within reach, even for a weekend. Earlier this month the operator announced its intention to run services to Frankfurt and Geneva, although not until the 'early 2030s'. Flying might seem quicker, but often isn't once you've factored in check-in time, security queues, delays and transfers from out-of-town airports on arrival. And, of course, trains are a far better option for the environment, with one 2024 study from Eurostar finding that travelling by train between London and Paris cuts carbon emissions by 97 per cent compared with flying. • Eurostar guide: everything you need to know before you travel There are other bonuses too. Trains offer access to smaller towns, away from overtouristed capitals, and usually run more frequently so you can choose a schedule to suit rather than dragging yourself to the airport at 3am and spending the first day in a delirious haze (just me?). Plus, there are barely any luggage restrictions, particularly on liquids. I've brought lavish train picnics on board when travelling with my children to Disneyland Paris, travelled back with several bottles of fizz from the Champagne region and lugged home a pharmacy-load of French face cream from Lille. The main Eurostar destinations of Brussels and Amsterdam and spots across France feature on this list, but we've also included some lesser-visited places in western Europe to inspire you to venture beyond those cities, plus some further afield where the journey crossing countries is all part of the holiday. Times given are all from London, using the quickest available route without including any connections. You'll be surprised how far you can go. Though ham sandwiches are strictly optional. This article contains affiliate links that can earn us revenue Time 3 hours 42 minutesNormandy is an hour and a half west of Paris and an easily reached gateway to rural France ( Mortagne au Perche, in Orne, is a postcard-pretty market town with café-lined medieval streets and a 16th-century convent inside the 161-acre Perche Regional Nature Park, which has hiking trails and horse riding (£13 for half an hour; Boudin noir — a French black pudding and the local speciality — can be tried at La Brasserie (mains from £10; Place du Général de Gaulle). Stay in the old quarter in Trama en Perche, an upmarket four-room guesthouse which opened in April in a tastefully refurbished 18th-century B&B doubles from £142, two-night minimum ( Take the train to L'Aigle via Paris Time 6 hours 30 minutesDevote the whole weekend to slow travel with a cycling tour of the Côtes du Rhône in southern France, available until October. Starting in the Provençal village of Mazan, half an hour northeast of Avignon and nearly three hours south of Paris ( you'll pedal past vineyards, olive groves and fortress ruins, covering about 20 miles a day, as well as stopping in Châteauneuf du Pape to sample some of the region's famous red wine. After two nights in four-star castle hotels en route, you'll spend a final night at Crillon le Brave, a five-star hilltop hotel with traditional red floor tiles, vineyard views and a spa in vaulted 18th-century stables. Details Three nights' half-board from £1,115pp, including bike rental and luggage transfers ( Take the train to Avignon via Paris Time 3 hours, 30 minutesRaise a glass on the Eurostar as you whizz towards Paris, then onwards by TGV to the Champagne region for a weekend of fizz, in celebration of the area's ten years on the Unesco list ( It is packed with wine houses, vineyards and snug tasting bars for all-day sampling, from big names such as Taittinger with its historic cellars (£34; to the one-woman operation Baillette-Prudhomme (from £13; The harvest begins in late August, so you may witness it firsthand or even join in the grape-picking. The contemporary Royal Champagne hotel and spa is drop-dead gorgeous, with rooms overlooking the Marne Valley, ebikes to borrow and 900 champagnes on the B&B doubles from £535 ( Take the train to Épernay via Paris Time 1 hour 22 minutesYou'll barely have time to wolf down breakfast on the Eurostar before you pull into Lille in northern France. The Lille3000 arts festival, held every three years, runs until November and includes citywide cultural events, parades and performances, plus an exclusive exhibition of works from Paris's Pompidou Centre while it is closed for a five-year renovation ( Lille has the country's largest range of craft breweries and first brewery tourism agency, which offers tastings and even a beer-themed treasure hunt (£24; The four-star Grand Hôtel Bellevue is a 15-minute walk from the Eurostar terminal and the only hotel with a view of the Grand Two nights' room only from £334pp, including train travel ( Time 2 hours 40 minutesFor no-holds-barred opulence it is hard to beat the Palace of Versailles, which hosts musical fountain shows in its gardens every Saturday evening throughout summer (£27, until Oct 31; and is only a 20-minute train ride from Paris by the local TER train ( Blow the budget by staying at Le Grand Contrôle, a residence commissioned by Louis XIV and the only hotel in the grounds of the palace. It has 14 extravagant rooms furnished with authentic antiques, views over the Orangery gardens and a restaurant from Alain Ducasse. Stays include private after-hours tours of the château and its grounds, butler service and boat rides on Versailles' Grand B&B doubles from £1,708, including afternoon tea, minibar, butler service, boat use and daily tours of the Château de Versailles ( Take the train to Versailles-Chantiers via Paris Time 2 hours, 20 minutesJust an hour southwest of Lille by the regional TER train ( pretty Amiens has the largest gothic cathedral in France, a medieval centre, riverside restaurants and remarkable floating gardens, cultivated since the Middle Ages, that can be toured by traditional boat between April and October (£8; Visit Jules Verne's former home (£3; the first purpose-built museum in France at the Musée de Picardie (£8; or pick up local specialities including duck pâté and Amiens macarons at the Saturday market. The historic Hotel le Prieuré is a 15-minute walk from the station and has cathedral views, bikes to rent and a hidden courtyard. Details B&B doubles from £102, including half bottle of champagne ( Take the train to Amiens via Lille Time 5 hours, 20 minutesLaunched in mid-June, a new four-times-daily high-speed service from Paris to Marseilles from Trenitalia will have you sunbathing by the Med in no time, losing just an hour with the time difference ( France's oldest city has a thriving port, the 5th-century Abbey of St Victor, a clutch of Michelin-starred restaurants and Notre Dame du Mont, voted the world's coolest neighbourhood last year by Time Out. Over summer, there's a free programme of events across the city including a daily craft market in Canebière, late-night museum openings and weekly concerts on a floating stage in the port (until Sep 14; Book into the chic, all-white Les Bords De Mer for its rooftop pool, sea views and direct access to the sandy Catalans Room-only doubles from £160 ( Take the train to Marseilles via Paris Time 4 hours 45 minutesJust two hours southeast of Paris, Lyons has two rivers, a thriving art scene and France's largest urban park, with its own lake, botanical garden and zoo. The city is planning a giant free party this summer with more than 200 citywide cultural events including open-air cinema screenings, giant picnics and dance performances (Jul 8-Aug 31; For the first time, it will also offer free access to three air-conditioned museums and keep parks open until midnight during any heatwaves. Stay at the hip Hotel Chromatics, which has Scandi-sleek rooms, a California-inspired restaurant and a heritage listed street art faç Two nights' room only from £257pp, including train travel ( Time 4 hours 19 minutesEurostar reinstated its direct London to Amsterdam route this year in time for the city's 750th anniversary, operating at least 11 trains a day ( To mark the same birthday, Amsterdam's highest rooftop garden opened in May on the NEMO Science Museum (free; and a temporary platform on the medieval Nieuwe Kerk offers skyline views until November 2 (£13; Stay at the Rosewood Amsterdam, which opened in May in the former Palace of Justice in the Unesco-listed Canal District. It has a lavish spa with an indoor pool, a hip cocktail bar and elegant rooms in silver-grey with pale-oak Room-only doubles from £798 ( Take the train to Amsterdam Time 4 hours 44 minutesCanalside cafés, cycle paths and castles make this studenty city, 25 minutes south of Amsterdam by train, an underrated weekend treat. Stroll the cobbled streets of the old town, lined with gabled houses; climb 465 steps up the medieval Dom Tower (£12; explore the canals by kayak (£8 an hour; and hire a bike (£10 for three hours; to head to the Landgoed Rhijnauwen forest or the fairytale 19th-century Castle de Haar, with its moat and parkland (£7; Stay at the boutique Eye hotel, a converted 17th-century eye hospital with exposed beams, quirky artwork and an industrial feel. Details Two nights' B&B from £471pp, including train travel ( Time 3 hours 13 minutes Already connected by Eurostar, a new hourly high-speed service between Brussels and Rotterdam launched in December, making this cool Dutch city a weekend break no-brainer. In summer there are urban beaches, river cruises, waterfront bars and various lively festivals, including the free Caribbean street-party Rotterdam Summer Carnival (late Jul; and the foodie music festival CuliNesse (£37 for a one-day ticket, Aug 28-30; Take a bike tour to explore (£38; or see the city from its canals by renting a paddleboard (£13 for one hour; The nautical-themed Le Marin Hotel Rotterdam City is a ten-minute walk from the train station. Details Room-only doubles from £76 ( Take the train to Rotterdam via Brussels • 15 of the best things to do in Rotterdam Time 4 hours 28 minutesSlightly more than two hours northeast of Paris's Gare de l'Est by high-speed railway, Luxembourg City is easy to reach ( It has a Unesco-listed old town, ruined fortresses, seven world-class museums within a mile radius and free public transport. Go in August to witness both its Summer in the City festival, including free concerts, open-air plays and film screenings ( and the ten-acre Schueberfouer funfair (free, Aug 22-Sep 10; Stay opposite the train station at the Marriott Hotel Alfa, which opened last year in a 1930s building with art deco styling. It has a French brasserie and rooms with herringbone wooden floors, contemporary hanging lights and chic grey marble bathrooms. Details Room-only doubles from £176 ( Take the train to Luxembourg City via Paris Time 9 hours 11 minutesAfter a two-year closure caused by landslide damage, the direct seven-hour Paris to Milan route reopened in April, making travelling to Italy in a day (just) possible by train ( or Owned by the fashion house Ferragamo, Portrait Milano is a stylish special-occasion stay within Europe's oldest seminary, with a boutique-lined piazza and a swimming pool under a 16th-century vaulted ceiling. Look over the rooftops from the cathedral's terrace (from £13; then walk to the Naviglio district for a canal-side aperitivo. See another side of the city on a street-art tour (£41; or take a sun-soaked day trip to Lake Como, including a boat cruise (£86; Room-only doubles from £759 ( Take the train to Milan via Paris • Read more on Milan Time 3 hours 17 minutesOften overlooked for its better-known neighbour, Brussels, this port city makes a great weekend break with impressive museums, a trendy waterfront and open-air markets — plus you'll arrive into a station that's voted one of the world's most beautiful, either by regional train ( or on Eurostar ( Explore the busy port on a boat tour (£17; or visit the diamond museum DIVA (£10; Three-hour beer-themed walking tours reveal the city's boozy history (£38; or go for the free food and beer festival Bolleskesfeest (Aug 22-24; Botanic Sanctuary Antwerp is in a 13th-century monastery and has five restaurants with four Michelin stars, an apothecary and a 1,000 sq m spa. Details B&B doubles from £385 ( Take the train to Antwerp via Brussels Time 2 hours 2 minutesWith its high-end chocolatiers, antique markets and one of the most spectacular baroque squares in Europe, Brussels is more than just the home of the EU headquarters, and can be reached directly from London on Eurostar. Quirky attractions include a comic-strip mural trail, the world's largest art deco church and a new museum dedicated to Belgian fries (£12; Make the most of sunny days in the Bois de la Cambre park, with its forest trails, free-roaming deer and café only accessible by boat (£1 return; or in the city's alfresco bars including Rooftop 58, Europe's largest rooftop terrace ( The traditional Le Plaza Brussels is 15 minutes' walk from the Grand Two nights' room only from £307pp, including train travel ( Time 2 hours 49 minutesPop-up summer bars, lake swimming and open-air cultural events make this lesser-visited Flemish city in Belgium a surprisingly summery getaway, and it is only half an hour by train from Brussels. Time your visit to coincide with the Gent Jazz Festival (July 4-19, prices vary; or Bijloke Wonderland for free concerts and theatre shows (Aug 21-31; Or head to Blaarmeersen Sports and Recreation Park for kayaking, fishing and a sandy beach (£1; The best seasonal bars include Baraboire, in a converted American school bus (until Aug 31; Keiskantstraat), while the 40-room family-run Harmony hotel has its own waterfront terrace and an outdoor pool. Details Three nights' B&B from £568pp, including train travel and private car transfers ( • The lively overlooked alternative to Amsterdam — just two hours away by train Time 3 hours Known as the Venice of the north, Bruges is a Unesco-listed medieval city of gabled houses, baroque churches and cobbled squares an hour from Brussels on a regional train. Follow one of the free self-guided walks on the Visit Bruges app, then take in citywide views from the 13th-century Belfry or slink down pretty canals on a boat tour (£13; Try Belgium's famous beers on a brewery tour (£13; or enjoy a drink alfresco at one of Bruges' pop-up summer bars, including the Night with its beach area, food trucks and fairy-lit terrace (until August 22; The traditional Hotel Acacia is less than 20 minutes' walk from the station, close to the central Market Two nights' B&B from £378pp, including train travel ( Time 3 hours 10 minutesThere's history round every corner in Aachen, close to Germany's border with Belgium and an hour's train from Brussels. The Roman spa city with healing thermal waters was Emperor Charlemagne's 9th-century capital and hosted every German coronation for nearly 600 years. The Unesco-listed cathedral dates to the 9th century (free; while the Centre Charlemagne museum charts the city's extraordinary past (£8; Take a dip in the thermal baths (£15; and stock up on Printen gingerbread souvenirs at Nobis Printen ( The minimalist INNSiDE Aachen hotel is a ten-minute walk from the cathedral and has a rooftop restaurant with city views. Details Two nights' B&B from £377pp, including train travel ( Time 4 hoursBest known for its Christmas markets, Cologne is also a delight in summer with its riverside walks, Unesco-listed gothic cathedral and riverside beach clubs, and is less than two hours by train from Brussels. Saunter along the banks of the Rhine or take a boat trip (£15; then wander the 11.5-hectare Flora Park with its botanical garden and water-lily pond (free; The best spots for sundowners include the km 689 Cologne Beach Club with its white sand and cathedral views (free entry; and Blackfoot Beach for stand-up paddleboarding and barbecues (SUP rental £15 an hour; The five-star Excelsior Ernst is opposite the railway station and has a Michelin-starred Asian Three nights' B&B from £978pp, including train travel ( Time 10 hours, 20 minutesA high-speed train linking Paris and Berlin launched late last year and runs once daily in each direction, on a route that whizzes through Champagne's vineyards and the Vosges mountains in France then along the Spree River in Germany ( Tour the five museums on Museum Island, which celebrates its 200th anniversary this year (day tickets £20; or try city-centre swimming at Ku'damm Beach on Halensee Lake. During summer, the 519-acre Tiergarten Park has boat rentals, shady picnic spots and a lakeside beer garden strung with fairy lights. Stay at the Radisson Collection Hotel Berlin, which reopened in February after a two-year closure and is a five-minute stroll from Museum Island. Details Room-only doubles from £120 ( Take the train to Berlin via Paris • Berlin, Germany travel guide | The Times and The Sunday Times Time 5 hours 20 minutes No city does summer quite like Basel, three hours from Paris by TGV. Bathing in the historic fountains of the 15th-century old town is a long-standing tradition, as is floating two miles down the Rhine with your belongings in a colourful waterproof bag called a Wickelfisch (£9 for 24-hour rental from the tourist office; There's a three-mile sculpture trail between Switzerland and Germany, 40 museums and galleries, and open-air film screenings during August in the historic Münsterplatz courtyard (£14; Stay a ten-minute walk from the Rhine in Aparthotel Adagia Basel City, which has modern apartments with kitchenettes and a communal gym. Details Two nights' B&B from £880pp, including train travel ( Time 5 hours 38 minutesOnce the Alpine skiing season is over, Geneva shifts its focus to its 45-mile-long lake, which has watersports, beaches and alfresco bars, and is just over three hours by high-speed train from Paris ( Try windsurfing (£29 an hour; cruise across the lake on a belle époque steamer (£17; or head to Geneva Plage to take a dip (£6; There are also hiking trails just outside the city, or you can join a tuk-tuk tour of local vineyards (£343 for up to four people; Ruby Claire Hotel Geneva is steps from the waterfront and has two roof terraces for drinks on warm Room-only doubles from £249 ( Take the train to Geneva via Paris Time 10 hoursWhizz through France on high-speed TGV from Paris and you'll be in Spain by dinner. You can book up to 11 months ahead for a table at three-Michelin-star El Celler de Can Roca, run by the three Roca brothers 15 minutes from town ( or waltz straight into Rocambolesc, a gelateria from the youngest sibling Jordi ( Burn it off by strolling the medieval city walls, signing up for a walking tour of Game of Thrones filming locations (£25; or hiring a bike to explore the foothills of the Pyrenees (£67; Stay in the 19th-century Hotel Peninsular, less than ten minutes' walk from the city walls. Details Four nights' B&B from £1,085pp, including train travel and private transfers ( Time 9 hours 10 minutesSit back and watch France's Rhône Valley and the Pyrenees fly by on a high-speed double-decker TGV from Paris, which runs up to four times a day and takes less than seven hours, so you'll be sipping sangria come sundown ( Go for the free week-long La Fiesta de Gracia's street parties and food stalls (Aug 15-21; for open-air cinema screenings and live music at Sala Montjuic (£6; Jun 27-Aug 6; or to lounge on Sant Sebastia beach, in walking distance of the city centre. Moxy Barcelona opened late last year and is right next to the main train station, with a rooftop pool and burger-serving Room-only doubles from £170 ( Take the train to Barcelona via Paris • 22 of the best things to do in Barcelona Time 15 hoursIt's not the quickest journey, but if you travel overnight each way, Prague is doable in a long weekend on the direct thrice-weekly sleeper train from Brussels that launched last year ( Almanac X Alcron Prague is ten minutes' walk from the station and has a new package to celebrate the 200th anniversary of the passenger train this year, including a picnic for the return journey and extras like silk sleep masks. The Old Town is on the doorstep with its new Mucha Museum that showcases the work of the Czech painter Alphonse Mucha (£10; or walk half an hour to Letna Park for the Letni Letna circus and theatre festival (prices vary, Aug 13-31; Details Two nights' B&B from £620 for two, including one dinner and a train picnic ( Take the train to Prague via Brussels • 15 of the best hotels in Prague
The Guardian
17-05-2025
- The Guardian
Interrail passes are free for kids – so I borrowed my niece for a rail tour of Europe's great cities
A year ago, I discovered a bit of a travel hack – that if accompanied by an adult (obviously) children under the age of 12 can explore Europe by train for absolutely zilch. Profoundly susceptible to any sort of bargain, even those that promise a net deficit in the long run, I determined to take advantage of Interrail's generous offer, despite lacking dependents of the specified vintage. The Guardian's journalism is independent. We will earn a commission if you buy something through an affiliate link. Learn more. Sourcing someone under 12 was far easier than I'd imagined. When I lodged an enquiry about my 10-year-old niece, asking if Annabelle might be available for an Interrailing stint at Easter, my brother couldn't sign her up fast enough. (Though he did insist on some caveats: in bed by 10pm, out of bed by 9am, and no watching sweary Gordon Ramsay shows). But where would we go? Well, after several discussions with my prospective companion over FaceTime (during which she utilised upwards of 100 filters, including one that made her look like Donald Trump), six locations were settled on: Paris, Zurich, Venice, Innsbruck, Berlin and Amsterdam. Annabelle cited Emily in Paris and The Diary of Anne Frank as inspirations, while confessing to a long-term interest in Toblerone. If the itinerary had been up to me, it would have looked a lot different. I'd just finished writing a book, you see, in which I travel to some of the least fashionable cities in Europe, but when I mentioned to Annabelle the likes of Essen and Minsk, she raised one of her eyebrows and held it there for 10 seconds (which is something she does when deeply unimpressed). So, first up, Paris. After checking in at The Hoxton hotel on Rue du Sentier, we quickly got stuck into some snails. (I won't quote Annabelle's verdict verbatim, but she likened them to a larger version of something you might find up your nose). A picnic near the Eiffel Tower – during which Annabelle stewed over my explanation as to why there was no point in us joining the massive queue to be elevated skywards ('Are you sure British people aren't allowed, Uncle Ben?') – was followed by a rapid ascent up 500 steps to the base of Sacré-Coeur basilica, Annabelle's alacrity owing to a white lie on my part (I'd said there was a doughnut shop at the top). Our journey to Zurich involved changing at Strasbourg. A seat reservation was required for the first leg at a cost of €10 each. (It's worth mentioning that Interrail pass-holders have to cough up for seat reservations on certain European train services, and all sleeper berths.) An honest breakdown of what we did during the four-hour run down the eastern flank of France to Switzerland reads as follows: 10 minutes considering the passing landscape, 80 minutes of screen time and roughly 19 games of hangman, in which I was able to smuggle a new pair of words into Annabelle's evolving vocabulary, namely 'exasperation' and 'glee'. We spent an hour exploring Zurich's efforts to become the most eco-friendly city possible (including a hydroelectric power station that got the one-eyebrow treatment from Annabelle), and another sitting by the lake near the fetching old town watching the swans and coots squabble over pretzel scraps. Then I gave Annabelle's palate the night off chocolate and took her to a plant‑based restaurant called Dar, run by the renowned Spanish-Moroccan chef Zineb 'Zizi' Hattab. We loved everything about the place, but the highlights were the Kentucky-fried mushrooms and the vegan ceviche. In Venice, I changed my approach to travelling with a miniature human. I stopped trying to have conversations every 10 paces about bridges and sea levels and the role of Garibaldi in the reunification of Italy, and instead handed Annabelle the reins, telling her to lead the way and get us lost. She succeeded with aplomb, getting us lost in just about every gift shop we saw (her appetite for tat is astonishing). We stayed at the Avani Rio Novo, a stylish establishment near the train station. This meant it scored points with Annabelle, whose legs suffer from a disabling condition known as selective fatigue, which tends to flare up on the way to museums and so on. After a dinner of sardines and gelato (don't ask), she spent the evening trying to teach me ballet moves, whereas I spent the evening thinking the sooner she starts drinking alcohol the better. The next morning, before we departed for pastures new, I asked Annabelle for an alternative verb to 'move on' or 'proceed' and she suggested 'wobble', and so it was that we bade Venice farewell and wobbled north to Innsbruck, a charming city of about 130,000-odd citizens surrounded by mountains. Having dumped our bags at Adlers Hotel and wolfed down a schnitzel at a restaurant called Stiftskeller, we took a 20-minute cable car ride up to the peak of Hafelekarspitze, a mountain topping 2,334 metres (7,657ft). We paid our dues to the vista – a pistachio river, a motley crop of rooftops, a ring of Austrian Alps – before commencing a protracted snowball fight that Annabelle would later put forward as the highlight of her trip, a comment that had me wondering if I should have just taken her to the Snozone in Milton Keynes. We travelled the next day to Berlin, reaching the German capital in time to catch the sunset from the 368-metre tall TV Tower in Alexanderplatz. As I attempted to explain the significance of the Brandenburg Gate and Checkpoint Charlie, Annabelle appeared to be taking on board the gravitas of these historical monuments, an impression that was punctured somewhat when she asked, at the end of my summary, 'Can you do this with your tongue?' We proceeded by tram to the KPM Hotel, in a former porcelain factory in the west of the city, which Annabelle gave 10 out of 10, mainly because there was a beanbag in her room. The next morning, a guided bike tour along the Berlin Wall provided an energising lesson on ideological warfare, Helmut Schmidt, David Hasselhoff and the various ways an East German might get over an obstacle. The tour was elevated by the incorporation of curry wurst and cherry trees, and by the good nature of our guide, Phillip. When he asked if Annabelle liked the sound of life in the German Democratic Republic, she quickly and firmly said 'sure', which I later discovered is her go-to response when she hasn't been listening. The next day, we reached Amsterdam Centraal without fuss, the journey taking less than six hours and requiring neither reservation nor connection. From the station, we enjoyed a pleasant walk to our hotel, the NH Collection Amsterdam Flower Market, whose staff couldn't do enough for Annabelle, even hastily organising an Easter egg hunt when it became apparent that I'd completely forgotten what the resurrection of Christ means to people of a certain age. Over the next day and a bit, we wandered along the canals, tried some Dutch pancakes (poffertjes), and had a butcher's at the Rembrandts in the Rijksmuseum. No prizes for guessing which of these experiences Annabelle enjoyed the most. In truth, Annabelle was actually rather rude about Rembrandt. Sizing up the great painter's self-portrait of 1628, she suggested in no uncertain terms that he really shouldn't have bothered. Annabelle's verdict on our visit to the Anne Frank House was somewhat more measured. After spending a sobering hour listening to Anne's story as we navigated the building in which the Franks hid from the Nazis, she contributed the following to the visitors' book: 'I wish this museum didn't exist to be honest, but I'm really glad we came.' Sign up to Inside Saturday The only way to get a look behind the scenes of the Saturday magazine. Sign up to get the inside story from our top writers as well as all the must-read articles and columns, delivered to your inbox every weekend. after newsletter promotion As we tunnelled from Brussels to London, I could tell something had occurred to my niece because she was doing a little dance with her eyebrows. 'This time next year, I'll be 11,' she said. 'You will.' 'Which is still under 12.' 'It is.' 'Which means I still won't cost anything.' 'Not quite true, but I take your point.' 'So maybe we could do it again?' 'Maybe … ' 'Only this time we could go to Minsk and Essen and the other places you wanted to go to.' 'I'll have a word with your dad.' She shrugged, returned to a YouTube video involving Oreos, then said, very quietly and more to herself than to me: 'If you must.' Interrail passes were provided by Eurail, and start at £180 for four days' travel in a month (free for kids under 12). Accommodation was provided by The Hoxton Paris (doubles from £250, free extra bed for under 12s); Avani Rio Novo Venice (doubles from £127); NH Collection Amsterdam Flower Market (doubles from £200). Support provided by Innsbruck Tourism, Visit Berlin and I Amsterdam Ben Aitken's new book is Sh*tty Breaks: A Celebration of Unsung Cities (Icon Books, £18.99). To support the Guardian, order your copy at Delivery charges may apply.
India Today
15-05-2025
- India Today
Study Abroad: 6 hacks for cheap flights, student discounts and smart savings
Studying abroad is an exciting adventure, but it can also become costly if you're not careful. From airfare and accommodation to daily expenses, the costs can add up quickly. The good news is that with the right strategies, you can save a lot without missing out on your experience. Whether you're booking your first international flight or navigating life in a new country, these six travel hacks—ranging from finding cheap flights and student discounts to clever money-saving tips—will help you stretch your budget while maximising your time abroad opens up unparalleled academic and cultural opportunities, and with careful planning, you can create unforgettable travel experiences as well. However, between flights, hotels, and tours, expenses can accumulate rapidly. Thankfully, there are smart, student-friendly tips that can help you go further for less, inputs from Ritika Gupta, Counsellor at AAera are the best travel tips every study abroad student needs to know. 1. Fly cheap and book smartAirfare is one of the largest expenses, but it doesn't have to cost an arm and a fares using tools such as Skyscanner, Google Flights, or Hopper to monitor price midweek or off-peak hours whenever possible—this tends to be flying in and out of secondary airports if the primary hubs cost too shop incognito to prevent cookie-based price Student Universe and STA Travel provide special student and youth discounts—sign up and compare!2. Access student discounts everywhereBeing a student has its benefits—make the most of an International Student Identity Card (ISIC) for international student enquire if a museum, gallery, store, or restaurant has student prices—it's usually not advantage of various discount Most public transportation systems have youth or student passes—purchase them ahead of time to save a bundle on commuting.3. Pack light, travel easilySkip the high baggage fees and make things easy by packing in a carry-on backpack to save time and money at the essentials that can be layered and forget such essentials as a universal power adaptor, a refillable water bottle, and a compact first-aid Space-maximising compression packing cubes keep your bag tidy.4. Opt for budget-friendly transportationDitch expensive taxis—venture out and discover local transport and regional travel Europe, purchase a Eurail or Interrail pass for free-form train travel between overnight buses or trains to save on both transport and accommodation.5. Sleep cheap and safeHotels can be pricey—opt for budget alternatives with hostels via Hostel World or and read the reviews university housing boards for affordable sublets or short-term student Airbnb for group accommodations or couch-surfing for local, free experiences (just be careful and consider safety first).6. Take advantage of free and low-cost activitiesNot all things memorable are costly—some of the best are free walking tours in big cities (just tip your tour guide).Go to museums on free-admission days or with your student through local markets, parks, and cultural at Meetup or Facebook events for free local events.
National Geographic
15-05-2025
- National Geographic
A practical guide to exploring the Alps' classic highlights
This article was produced by National Geographic Traveller (UK). Wild as they are, the Alps are brilliantly accessible in the warmer months, whether you want to devise your own multi-day, cross-country trip on the frequent, efficient trains, or hit the trail on a long-distance, hut-to-hut hike. For planning, booking and money-saving tips, try this handy guide. What should I pack? Pack for the outdoors. Bring layers: a breathable fleece, loose walking trousers, hiking boots, flat shoes for cities., a wind/waterproof jacket, sunglasses for glare at high elevations and a daypack. For high-altitude hikes, add thermals, hiking poles, a compass, water bottle, torch, first aid kit and warm hat and gloves. How easy is it to get around by public transport? Exploring the Alps by rail makes perfect sense: trains are frequent, punctual and efficient, relatively inexpensive, and eco-friendly. There are generally some non-reserved seats, but it's advisable to buy tickets in advance in peak periods. Deeper in the Alps, mountain transport takes the form of funicular and cog railways, lifts and cable cars. How can I save on tickets? Get in quick. Many Alpine countries offer cut-price rail tickets, yielding discounts of up to 85% on less-popular days, times or routes. In Austria, these are called Sparschiene; in Germany, Sparpreis; and in Switzerland, Supersaver. They're generally available between six months and one day ahead of travel. If you're travelling around, look out for rail passes like the Swiss Travel Pass and Austria's Vorteilscard. Eurail and Interrail passes are valid on many routes. For high-Alpine transport, devote time to finding the best deals for the region you're visiting. Individual tickets can be pricey, and a discount pass will save you a fortune. Are there accessible options? Yes. Many trains, especially high-speed and intercity services, have lifts, ramps and mobility aids. Some cable cars and hiking trails do, too. Visit the relevant tourist board for details; Switzerland, in particular, has a sharp eye on accessibility. What if I want to drive? Roads in the Alps are generally well maintained and signposted, but you'll need to be a confident driver to tackle inclines and hairpin bends. Some Alpine passes are open year-round, others from June to October. In Austria and Switzerland, you'll need a vignette, or digital toll pass, to drive on major roads. How safe is it to hike? A few common-sense rules go a long way: inform a responsible person of your route, watch weather patterns using the Mountain Forecast app, wear the right clothing and footwear, take enough water and ensure your phone is charged. Increase the length and elevation of hikes gradually; if possible, don't walk alone at high altitudes. Avalanches and rock falls can be a risk, so stick to marked trails. These are generally colour graded: yellow or blue (easy and flat); white-red-white or red (moderately challenging, with some steep, exposed sections); white-blue-white or black (Alpine routes for experienced mountain hikers). For tougher hikes, take a map and compass. Are there any useful hiking and cycling guides? Cicerone publishes an excellent series of hiking, trekking, cycling and bikepacking guides to the Alps, with route descriptions and maps. GPX files are available for most of their books. Tiles include Cicerone, Walking in the Alps and Cicerone, 100 Hut Walks in the Alps. Online, try Bergfex for details on routes, tours, weather and accommodation. How far in advance should I book mountain huts? Most huts are staffed from mid-June to mid-September, and can be booked online, too; on popular trails in high season, you should do so months ahead. Huts with multibed dorms range from simple shelters to smart lodges with hot showers. Bring your own silk or cotton sleeping bag, a headtorch and earplugs. Take all rubbish with you. If you're planning a long-distance hike, consider membership with an Alpine club (DAV in Germany, ÖAV in Austria, SAC in Switzerland, CAI in Italy) for discounts of up to 50%. Their websites are a great resource for trail planning, weather and 1:25,000 topographic maps. Getting there & around: British Airways, EasyJet and Ryanair are among the airlines operating frequent flights from UK airports to Alpine gateways including Munich, Salzburg, Innsbruck, Zurich, Geneva and Milan. Average flight time: possible to reach the Alps by train. For example, London to Munich via Paris takes around 10h; fast trains to Geneva with one stop take as little as extensive and efficient network of trains, buses and mountain railways link up even the smallest towns and villages. Taxis are widely available in cities and towns but can be pricey. When to go: Alpine seasons go with the snow, with most high-altitude resorts closing in low season (mid-April to mid-June and October to early December). Conversely, this is a great time to score deals on flights and rooms in towns and cities. June, July and August are ideal for outdoor activities like hut-to-hut hikes, biking and rafting, with longer days and highs of up to 25C (77F). Winters are crisp and cold, with snow and temperatures often dipping below 0C (32F). The shoulder months of May and September are often mild and perfect for exploring, with temperatures hovering between 12C and 18C, and seasonal colour in wildflowers and foliage respectively. More info Walking in the Alps. Cicerone, £25 100 Hut Walks in the Alps. Cicerone, £14.95 How to do it: Nordic Visitor offers a 12-day Highlights of the Alps holiday from £4,800 per person. Ticking off Alpine regions in Germany, Austria and Switzerland, this small group tour zooms in on the classics — from Neuschwanstein Castle to the Glacier Express, Salzburg and Matterhorn. The price includes hotels on a B&B basis, four dinners, guides, transport and admission to attractions. Flights not included. Published in the May 2025 issue of National Geographic Traveller (UK). To subscribe to National Geographic Traveller (UK) magazine click here. (Available in select countries only).
The Independent
12-05-2025
- The Independent
What is our best route when Interrailing around Europe?
Q This summer we plan to Interrail for the first time. The basic plan: take Eurostar to Amsterdam, then cross Germany (visiting Heidelberg), onwards to Salzburg in Austria and across to northern Italy. Coming back, we thought we would travel from Milan back to Paris and home from there. What do you think? David M A To make the most of much of Europe, Interrail is ideal. Much of your plan looks shrewd: Amsterdam is always rewarding, and onward travel to Germany is easy. Pause in Essen to explore the dramatically reinvented industrial site of Zollverein – an unmatched post-apocalyptic theme park. Continue to Wuppertal, home of the marvellous dangling tram. You might also seek out Germany's football heartland, and museum, in Dortmund. With an Interrail pass, you can step aboard any intercity express for a faster journey and to avoid the crowds (enticed by the €58/£50 unlimited travel monthly pass on slower trains). Heidelberg is an excellent plan, offering heritage in a superb setting. Speed along to Munich and across the border to Salzburg. After sampling some Sound of Music sights, aim for Innsbruck to begin your trans-Alpine journey to northern Italy. To avoid surcharges and the need to book, stick to 'classic' trains in Italy rather than the high-speed options. You can still cover the ground easily. Meander across to Milan – but from there, I recommend cutting through Switzerland rather than going via France. You can use any Swiss train with an Interrail pass, unlike in France where you need to pay a supplement and book ahead for high-speed trains. Get at least a glimpse of Como – a fine town at the head of the Italian lake – then ensure you choose one of the trains heading through the mountains rather than through a 'base tunnel'. Make Basel your last Swiss stop for abundant culture and cuisine. From here, you could enter France, but I suggest following the German side of the Rhine and exploring some of the Black Forest before crossing to France. The high-speed line from Strasbourg to Paris is France's best, and worth the supplement, for a final day or two in the capital before taking Eurostar home. Q My partner Linda and I are thinking of going to Croatia in September or October by rail. But I am unsure about including Dubrovnik in our itinerary because we are not keen on mass tourism. What is your view? David F A Before I tackle Dubrovnik itself, I must raise a concern about your plan to travel to Croatia by rail. There are many excellent places to visit on the Adriatic coast by train, but all of them are in Italy. I am afraid that the Dalmatian coast of Croatia – as well as neighbouring Slovenia and nearby Albania – does not lend itself to access by rail. Even international rail guru Mark Smith, 'The man in Seat 61', recommends travelling to Split via the Croatian capital, Zagreb (a massive detour) and then continuing to Dubrovnik by bus. Travelling terrestrially, the way I would approach the Croatian coast is by rail to Trieste, the last station in Italy – then continuing by bus through Slovenia to the Croatian city of Rijeka. From this port, I would take a Jadrolinija ferry south to Split. From this fine city, you can continue onwards by bus or ferry to Dubrovnik. The question is: should you? I have just returned from my first visit to Dubrovnik in a decade. The difference was shocking: the city appears to have been handed over to tourists, with Game of Thrones fans jostling with cruise passengers. While the setting, monuments and city walls are as impressive as ever, the sheer weight of numbers would, I think, spoil a visit for you. Were you to delay your visit to the very end of October or into November, the city will feel very different. You will be able to enjoy its echoing lanes and handsome facades in something like splendid isolation, and make excursions – such as across the bay to the fishing port of Cavtat – without the crowds. If that does not appeal, I suggest you consider an alternative Adriatic destination. The obvious one for me is Durres, Albania's second city (after the capital, Tirana). You can reach it by ferry overnight from the Italian port of Ancona – or fly there in three hours flat. Direct buses run every hour from Tirana airport to Durres. Q My 21-year-old son and his girlfriend have booked flights to Asia for a six-week backpacking trip starting in July. They plan to visit Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam. They have backpacked in Europe before but not in Asia. Is there anything in particular they need to know about staying safe? Susanna R A Top of my risk register anywhere on the planet, and particularly in Asia, is road travel. The UK is one of the safest nations in the world for road users. The fatality rate in Taiwan, where roads, vehicles and enforcement are reasonably good, is roughly twice as high. Tragically, in Thailand (with roughly the same population), the death toll is 15 times higher. The figures for Vietnam are similarly awful. Most of the fatalities (about two out of three) involve riders and passengers of motorscooters and three-wheeled tuk-tuks. As a backpacker, I have taken plenty of rides on these – until I looked at the World Health Organisation figures. So I urge young travellers in cities to stick to the Metro system where available (Bangkok's is extensive, and in Vietnam, both Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City have opened lines in the past four years). Elsewhere, aim for proper taxis. And while renting a scooter has lots of appeal, it is a high-risk activity and unlikely to be covered by backpacker insurance. For longer journeys, the risks for professionally driven buses are lower. But I always take trains instead when available, or sometimes fly. Next in line: accidents in water, particularly when swimming. The Foreign Office warns for Thailand: 'People have drowned in strong riptides. Follow all warning signs [at beaches], especially red flags. Take care when swimming, diving, kayaking or whitewater rafting in rivers or close to waterfalls, particularly in the rainy season. Currents can be extremely strong.' Adventure tourism is common across the region, and they should ask other travellers for recommendations of safety-conscious operators. Protection against tropical diseases is also critical. My go-to source is the Public Health Scotland travel medicine website – – which provides advice on all the recommended jabs. I do all I can to avoid mosquito bites, mainly by covering up: these unpleasant insects spread malaria and other diseases. With the dangers of road accidents, drownings and disease minimised, the residual risks are small. I hope they have a great adventure. Q We are flying to Halifax, Nova Scotia, on 19 May to visit family. Should we use the 'ArriveCAN' app to maybe get through border control more quickly? My wife used it three years ago – but that was for Covid reasons. Robert C A I read your question with a shudder of recollection. I have a fair few apps on my phone that were mandatory in order to access nations during the Covid pandemic. Typically, you had to upload evidence of vaccinations and/or Covid test results before you were even allowed on a plane to your destination. In the case of Canada, I made numerous border crossings in late 2021 and the summer of 2022 – all of which required the use of ArriveCAN. What is unusual about this Covid-era invention is that it has mutated into an 'Advance Declaration' app. The government in Ottawa says: 'You can make your customs and immigration declaration using Advance Declaration in the ArriveCAN app before you fly into one of Canada's participating airports.' (These are all the obvious gateways, including Halifax and Quebec City as well as Montreal, Toronto, Calgary and Vancouver.) I am not sure that I agree with the assertion that it is an aesthetic pleasure to 'enjoy a more modern travel experience with a digital self-serve tool'. But I do like the idea of whizzing through passport control and customs after a long flight, and not having to fill in tiresome paper forms. After I received your question, I made a dummy application using my existing ArriveCAN account and a fictional itinerary to Canada. You can apply 72 hours or less before arrival. It took three minutes, and I was emailed confirmation of completing the form instantly. Happily, unlike in 2022, I was not instructed to bring proof of a Covid pre-entry test and vaccinations. The idea that you pre-register your arrival in return for a smoother frontier experience is spreading: at Singapore, it is virtually mandatory. While not every traveller will be comfortable or able to comply, this is the digital direction of travel for the world. If, like me, you are open to anything that cuts travel hassle, I suggest you sign up.
