1st timer confused about how to take trains in Europe? This Europe train travel guide was created with beginners in mind, with a …

If you are new to train travel attempting to travel Europe by train on your own can feel as daunting as it does whimsical well allow me to step into the very made-up role of fairy trained mother hi I’m Christina from happytoander.com and I’ve been traveling around Europe by train for almost a

Decade so I’ve done most of my learning the hard way with knowledge I will now share with you in this compact step-by-step guide this video will walk you through how to take trains in Europe from start to finish of course it’s worth noting that train travel does

Differ from country to Country so this video will speak in very general terms but let me know in the comments if you’d like any country specific guides now let’s move on to step one which is deciding if train travel in Europe is right for you first off I have to say I

Adore train travel but it isn’t always the best option in every country or circumstance depending on the length of your trip your destination and your priorities it may be worth looking into other options one app I love for this is omeo which shows you Planes Trains and

Flights from point A to point B generally speaking I think train travel is great if you’re looking for convenience comfort and scenery budget wise however buses and budget Airlines can often be cheaper and maybe a better option as well in countries where the rail system isn’t as expensive with that

Out of the way if you’ve decided you do indeed want to take the train then we move on to step two buying tickets depending on the country the pricing of trains in Europe is either fixed based on distance like in the Netherlands and Belgium which means the price will be

The same whether you buy in advance or on the day of or more commonly the pricing is dynamic based on the timing of your purchase and general demand like in Germany Italy and many other countries if you find yourself in a dynamic pricing country then the cheapest way to

Get tickets is to pre-book far in advance this is most ideal for those whose priority is budget for those who are prioritizing flexibility and ease however a rail pass may be a better option but whether or not that’s worth it depends on many factors which I cover in my full URL

Pass review video so be sure to give that a watch if you’re considering it now when you go to buy tickets you can either do it in person or online I would highly advise booking online beforehand to minimize stress and save money online you can either buy tickets directly

Through the train company or through a third party website the benefit of booking directly is usually it will be the cheapest but I found some rail company sites aren’t the easiest to use or the most intuitive for me personally more often than not I actually booked through third-party sites like omeo or

Trainline yes you do pay a bit extra in service fees but with third-party sites you get the benefits of simple user experience a familiar interface across countries and often you can save your payment information as well which is Handy if you plan to buy multiple tickets from multiple companies they’re

Also great for keeping all your tickets organized in one place whether you buy from the train company’s official website or from a third party though there are several considerations to keep in mind when buying tickets first of all the type of train most rail systems in Europe have a mix of

High-speed trains intended for Intercity use or longer Journeys as well as slower Regional or Suburban trains meant for shorter Journeys generally the higher the speed the higher the price but do pay attention to the type of train when booking so you can make an informed decision second there’s Peak or off-peak

Trains in some countries like the UK and the Netherlands pricing can also depend on the departure time of your train with Peak periods like just before and after work costing more than off-peak periods like in the middle of the afternoon or late at night I would recommend booking your Journeys

For off-peak periods even if there’s no discount because it still has the benefit of being much quieter and less chaotic third is first versus second class in most cases there isn’t a dramatic difference between first and second class seats on European trades the main perk of first class is it’s

Generally quieter and sometimes the seats are slightly comfier or more spacious on longer Journeys there may also be additional amenities like food service to your seat but the difference isn’t as Stark as safe first class versus economy when flying that said I do often prefer to book first class when

Possible because it’s calmer and less chaotic fourth we have to consider reserve seats depending on the country and train type seat reservations may be mandatory optional or not available at all anxious about your trip and especially if you are traveling during a peak season or time then I’d highly advise

Booking a reserved seat often this doesn’t cost more than 10 years extra and the ease of mind it can bring is priceless if you are traveling in a very off-peak time though you can usually get away with not pre-booking a seat if reservations are available then a further consideration is the different

Seat or cabin types in some countries there are special carriages fit for different purposes like sometimes there’s a silent and quiet carriage or there’s one deliberately meant to be a Cell Phone Zone so be sure to carefully consider where you’re reserving a seat lastly if you’re traveling with a bike

Or with a pet know that there’s often add-on tickets you must buy to bring bikes or pets on board now when buying tickets if you’re looking to save some money here are a few discounts to look up for age many companies will offer discounted tickets for children youth up

To around age 26 and also seniors group tickets in countries like Germany and the Netherlands there are often tickets you can buy for a group which work out to be cheaper than buying tickets on your own weekend discounts many companies will offer special deals and discounts for

Travel on weekends or holidays like in Belgium day tickets often you can save money by paying a set price for unlimited travel in a day which can be very good value for day trips and lastly attraction bundles so IL companies offer discounted prices for train travel when combined

With an attraction ticket so be sure to keep that option in mind and if you’re planning a longer term trip then another thing to look into would be a rail card or discount pass that costs a set fee but then gives you discounts for up to a

Year many countries have these and they can save you quite a bit if you’re booking many Journeys now with your tickets booked it’s time to move on to the day of your journey with step three which is to get snacks now before heading to the station I highly

Recommend making sure you have some snacks or drinks to bring with you on the train eating and drinking is allowed in most trains and while some larger inter-city ones will have meal options on board they’re often quite expensive and mediocre at the very least make sure you have some water or something to

Drink in case you’re hit with a delay there are also usually options at the train station themselves but I find it to be less stressful to just have something in advance now let’s move on to step four which is arriving at the station first off before leaving do double check

That you are headed to the right station many major cities in Europe will have multiple stations so it’s important you don’t get them mixed up now if it’s your first time at the station I recommend you arrive 30 minutes or more in advance of your departure time train stations in Europe

Can be overwhelming for first-timers especially if you end up at one of the mega monster stations in larger cities which have multiple levels shops and upwards of 20 platforms now if you’re arriving at the train station through public transport in a big city you might find it tough to find where the trains

Actually are because often these stations are multi-level transport hubs that service metros trams and buses as well in any case all you need to do is look for train symbols like this or this which will point you in the direction of the platforms now when you get to the

Main Concourse of the train station your primary priority is finding out which platform your trade is on often apps will tell you in advance but again in big stations sometimes trains won’t even know which platform they’ll be on until they arrive in these cases you’ll have to wait until the platform is announced

Simply wait at the big board usually where the crabs are and find your train then wait for the platform to show when you’re looking at this board remember that trains will not necessarily say your destination but rather the final destination of the train so if you don’t see the name of

Where you’re traveling to Don’t Panic instead look for your departure time and train number and underneath the main destination for the list of stops to see if your destination is listed when the platform number is announced then it’s on to your next mission which is step five getting to the platform

Platform numbers will generally be very well marked so just look for signs before making your way when you are going towards the platform be sure to have your ticket ready some countries like the UK and the Netherlands have electronic Gates that require tickets to be scanned others like Italy may require

You to physically validate your ticket before stepping on board so double check if your ticket needs to be validated at a machine when you get onto your platform double check it’s correct by confirming either on a screen or on the side of the train that you’re in the

Right place then it’s onwards to step six finding your carriage when walking to the train if you have an assigned seat take note of whether there’s a map or any kind of Legend on the platform that shows you where your seat will be this can be helpful because

Some European trains are super long so if you stand in the right section your life will be a lot easier when it comes time to board if you do not have an assigned seat when you’re choosing your Carriage pay special attention to the following first the class number of the

Carriage second whether they are special carriages meant for a certain purpose like quiet zones or bicycle zones and third most importantly check whether the carriage number is going to your intended destination because in some countries trains can actually sometimes split to go off in separate directions

Or some cars get left behind at certain stops if you don’t have a reserve seat then usually I find the farther down you walk the emptier the carriages will be once you find or choose your Carriage then it’s time to hop on board now if the door isn’t opening automatically

Then look for a button like this and press it this goes for the train doors as well as the carriage doors now it’s time for step 7 finding your seat first off if your seat is assigned try to make sure you go through the correct door there’s of course usually two doors to

Each carriage one on each side so as you’re walking look through the glass windows to see which end your seat is closer to so that you don’t have to squeeze past people coming from the other door if you have large bags keep an eye out for large luggage racks when

You enter these will usually be found on the ends of the trains with a small carry-on bag there is usually space above your seat for it although if the train is very empty you can probably get away with just keeping your bag with you at your seat otherwise in some countries

With back-to-back seat formations you can sometimes just store your suitcase in between those gaps of course this doesn’t apply to all trains sometimes Regional or Suburban trains meant for short distances will not have special areas or compartments for luggage in these cases I sometimes find it more comfortable to Simply stand in between

The train carriages and use my luggage as a seat now before sitting down make sure your seat isn’t reserved and that you’re not taking up a priority space if the train is looking full now on to the fun part step 8 getting comfortable and enjoying the journey on longer distance trains there’s often

Outlets a pull-out table hooks for your coat and if you’re lucky Wi-Fi as well so have a look around to get familiar with your seat and the nearby amenities now while it’s important to get comfortable remember to keep your ticket handy in case ticket controllers come on

Board this happens in pretty much every country although they vary in how frequently they do it it’s definitely more common with high speed or long distance trains than Regional ones but regardless just make sure you have your ticket and also some form of ID preferably your passport because they

Sometimes want to verify your name if it’s a reserve ticket and especially when you are using some kind of discounted ticket they want to make sure you’re actually how old you say you are or who you say you are longer distance trains may also have additional

Amenities like a meal car or even seat service in first class so be sure to take advantage lastly of course keep an eye out for the WC symbol to find the nearest onboard toilet but make sure to bring any valuables with you just in case because better safe than sorry now

When you’re near the end of your journey it’s on to step 9 disembarking if you’re not getting off at the end destination then I would advise you start prepping for disembarkation about 10 minutes for your arrival time this gives you plenty of time to gather your belongings in a stress-free manner

Upon arrival if the door isn’t opening then again look for a button with these symbols and be careful getting off the train as there’s often a gap during this time it’s important to keep hold of your ticket in case you need to scan it again

On the way out and be sure that your valuables are secure as train stations are often a Hot Zone for pickpockets to navigate your way off the platform and onwards to wherever you need to go keep an eye out for signs like these that will point you in the right direction if

You need a place to drop off your bags while you explore most major train stations will have a paid left luggage area with lockers or a drop-off service this is a great option if you’re too early to check into your accommodation or just dropping in for a day

Lastly remember that your train ticket is usually only valid for the specific train that you boarded so unless you bought a special ticket or pass you won’t be able to use it for onward travel on the Metro or bus thanks so much for watching I hope this

Video was helpful and be sure to like And subscribe for more practical travel videos just like this one I’ll see you all next week bye

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