Whether you like to experience culture, history, food, or socializing. The routes featured in this article will satisfy your travel needs. But you can also just take certain cities from these routes to integrate into your trip. And if you want you can also jam a few more towns into the route along the Way, the choices are endless! However, these are some of the best Interrail routes for anyone looking to travel Europe by train.
Why do an Interrail route?
Interrail routes are a helpful tool to get the most out of your trip through Europe. You can acquire an interrailing ticket at the Interrail online shop. This ticket allows you to travel across the entirety of the European Union. An interrail route can give some much-needed structure to an otherwise chaotic environment of many choices.
The best Interrail Route for Culture, Arts, and City life (Western Europe)
Europe´s cities are home to some of the most creative up-and-coming artsy and unique neighborhoods. Experience these cultural centers where creativity thrives and new trends emerge. This route will take you through some of the top destinations for anyone looking to get to know the creative side of Europe.
Interrail routes, destination 1: Berlin Hauptbahnhof.
Berlin Center
The first stop on this route, Berlino, is widely considered one of Europe´s most creative and artistic cities with great nightlife and many artists. Berlin is home to some of Germany´s most interesting neighborhoods, such as Kreuzberg, or Grafkiez. From Berlin, our Interrail route takes us 6 hours of travel further west, to the Netherlands, and into Amsterdam.
Best interrail routes tip: Berlin is a very multi-cultural place, while german food should be on your bucket list, make sure to also try some more foods from all around the world.
Interrail routes, Destination 2: Amsterdam Central.
Amsterdam Canals
The second city on this route also has a vibrant and culturally rich atmosphere. The excellent bike infrastructure allows you to cycle pretty much anywhere in the metropolitan area. Amsterdam is home to some very famous museums and art galleries, exhibiting pieces by Van Gogh, modern art, and much more. Taking the Eurostar Highspeed train allows you to get to our next destination, London in just 4 hours and 40 minutes!
Best interrail routes tip: Amsterdam’s canals are traversable by little rentable boats, a trip on these can cost a bit of money but is absolutely an awesome way to explore the city!
Interrail routes, Destination 3: London St. Pancras international
West London
Before you start worrying, Brexit will not stop you from reaching one of Europe´s most creative cities. London is known all over the world for its influence on the entertainment industry and art scene. London is known for Street Art, alternative clubs, and neighborhoods, and is generally considered a city thousands across the world flock to for a multitude of reasons. A true melting pot of creativity! From London, you can reach Paris in 2 hours and 20 minutes.
Best interrail routes tip: When ordering food in London some places will demand a 12,5% service charge. To avoid this try going to nontouristy places, or be aware that you might be excepted to pay for a bit more than what you ordered.
Interrail routes, Destination 4: Paris Gare du Nord.
Montmartre, Paris
Paris is known as the city of love. If you decide to visit this beautiful french capital do not just stick to the conventional sightseeing! Quartiers(Neighbourhoods) like Montmartre or Canal Saint-Martin, offer a lot of artistic and hip flair. Paris has amazing cuisine, you should check out many of the great places to eat. From Paris, you can head south on a day’s journey to Barcelona.
Best interrail routes tip: The restaurant Bistrot Victoires is one of Paris’s most affordable and original places, a true local gem. Enjoy some Parisian food, they even have vegan options.
Interrail routes, Destination 5: Barcelona-Sants
Park Güell, Barcelona
Barcellona is a lively beautiful city on the Mediterranean coast of Catalonia, Spain, Its unique city planning creates plenty of walkable spaces. On top of this Barcelona is home to a lot of extremely unique and colorful architecture predominantly by the creative late architect Antoni Gaudi. The Sagrada Familia (Barcelona’s biggest and most famous church) was built by him! From Barcelona, you can head further south to Seville in the heart of the province of Andalusia.
Best Interrail routes tip: On your way to Seville you will most likely stop in Madrid, and it is worth it to check the capital of Spain out!
Interrail routes, Destination 6: Sevilla Santa Justa
Neighborhood in Sevilla
In Siviglia, the Andalusian culture punches you in the face. Enjoy some of Spain’s most delicious foods and tapas at Casa Pepe Hillo, or La Bartola. Listen to fiery flamenco for free at the Plaza de Espana, as well as enjoy the amazing cultural nightlife. Sevilla is also incredibly walkable and one of the most beautiful cities in Europe. Arabic influences also make Sevilla incredibly different from other major European cities. The next destination on this route is best reachable by a relatively cheap bus. Beautiful Lisbon.
Best interrail routes tip: Visit Plaza de Espana at sunset and stay there a bit, it is a truly beautiful experience!
Interrail routes, Destination 7: Lisboa Oriente
25th of April Bridge, Lisbon
Lisbona, sometimes referred to as the pearl of the Tagus has caught up and surpassed a lot of Cities in Europe in terms of Artistic scenes and cultural spaces. Furthermore, Lisbon has long been a mecca of ex-pats across Europe, due to its free spirit and creative atmosphere. You can discover beautiful neighborhoods such as Alfama and Santos-O-Velho. And if you want to see some of Lisbon’s art scene you can go to LX Factory or one of the many temporary galleries and Artist meetups happening all year round. From Lisbon, the last stop on our route takes us to Porto.
Best Interrail routes tip: The best time to visit Lisbon is in June, during this month the street festival Santos Populares is happening all over Portugal.
Interrail routes, Destination 8: Porto Campanha
Porto
Our last stop, Porto was one of the inspirations for J.K. Rowlings Harry Potter and after being in the city it is easy to see why. Porto has a mysterious and magical atmosphere, around every corner you can spot quirky little bars and oddly specific shops, restaurants, and other cultural places. Porto is well known for the francesinha, which you should try!
Best Interrail routes tip: Porto´s riverside (shown in the picture) hosts, many cultural activities and buskers. Listen to music and enjoy the sunset here!
The Best Interrail Route for exploring Nature (A tour around the Alps)
When traveling by train it can be difficult to reach Nature, public transport often doesn´t exactly get you where you want to go. The following route will highlight nature destinations that can be explored with your Interrail ticket. If you like to hike and explore National parks you will not be disappointed.
Interrail routes, Destination 1: Munich (Allgäu/Berchtesgardener Land
Berchtesgardener Land, Bavaria Germany
The Start of this Interrail route is in Germany. From Munich you can reach Nature easily, you can get to the mountains within an hour’s train ride. There are also a lot of Lakes around Munich. Some of the best places to reach are for example the “Berchtesgardener Land”, its Alpine Landscapes and lakes make it a beautiful destination for hikers. Lakes like the “Starnberger See” are also worth a visit. Munich itself is also a very green city with lots of parks like the “Giardini inglesi”. At the “Eisbachwelle” you can even go surfing!. From Munich, we will head further south and into the Alps.
Best Interrail routes tip: Munich was where the Nazi movement originated, there are many historical sites and also a documentation center that documents this dark time in german history very well.
Interrail routes, Destination 2: Salzburg (Salzburger Land)
Salzburg City Center
Salzburg the next stop on our Interrail route borders the Berchtesgardener Land of Germany. The city itself is beautiful and from the castle, you can enjoy views of the Mountains and the town below. From Salzburg, it is easy to take day trips into the surrounding Alps. . Salzburg is also an incredibly beautiful city beyond just being close to Nature, it is a true place to explore! From Salzburg, we make our way into Italy.
Best Interrail routes tip: Use the website Zuugle. At. This website allows you to check access to hiking routes in the Alps by public transport.
Interrail routes, Destination 3: Bolzano/Bozen (the Dolomites)
Mountains in the Dolomites
From Bolzano, there are many opportunities to discover Nature. Sitting at the edge of the Dolomites, Bolzano is perfect for a daily excursion into some of the most dramatic Landscapes of all of Europe. being the capital of the region of Southern Tyrol Bolzano is also a great place to spend walking the streets and looking out to the mountains. Departing to our next stop on the Nature Interrail route from, Bolzano we can head further south, towards Venice.
Best Interrail routes tip: Southern Tyrol has one of the best cuisines in Europe, combining Italian and Austrian elements. You will very likely enjoy the traditional food.
Interrail routes, Destination 4: Venice
Venice at dawn
After spending a lot of time in the Mountains Venice can provide a short stopover for some sightseeing and a change of pace. While in Venice, you should try and wander off the beaten path and discover some lesser-known alleys and canals! From Venice, it´s just a short train ride on our interrail route to the region of Tuscany.
Best Interrail Routes tip: From Venice, you can enjoy Daytrips to Nature, for example to Slovenia, and even all the way to Ljublijana.
Interrail routes, Destination 5: Florence (Tuscany)
Tuscan Landscape
Taking a detour from the north of Italy, Florence is perfectly situated for day trips across Tuscany, a beautiful area for hikes and known for good food and wine. Tuscany is a change of pace from the dramatic mountains and can bring a nice change of scenery for anyone that spent many days in the Alps. In Florence, you can enjoy some delicious Italian pasta such as from the restaurant Il giova or many others. Daytrips from Florence include hikes in the wine regions as well as days at the beaches and much more! From Florence, we head north, to Como.
Best Interrail routes tip: Florence is very easily discoverable by bike, rent one and even go on little tours into the surrounding wine country!
Interrail routes, Destination 6: Como (Lake Como)
Village near Como, Lake Como, Italy
Lake Como is beautiful and certainly right in the middle of nature. Due to this, You can enjoy many beautiful hikes around the Lake and the close by mountains. Another beautiful place, Lake Lugano is only about 40 minutes from Como. The Lake also appears in many movies for its breathtaking scenery. Taking the train from Como to Interlaken is next up on our interrail route.
Best Interrail routes tip: For public transport, you should get a ferry pass and discover the lakes´ many different towns by just docking there, and going for a stroll, a truly romantic experience.
Interrail routes, Destination 7: Interlaken (Swiss Alps)
Swiss Mountains
Heading back into the Alps, our next Stop on the best interrail route for exploring nature takes us to Interlaken. Interlaken is a relatively small city nestled in a valley in between the Mountains. In the city, Enjoy the Mountains of Switzerland from this beautiful location. From Interlaken, you can either continue traveling or return to Munich to end your interrail route in a round trip.
Best interrail routes tip: In Interlaken, accommodations often offer hikes and tours of the surrounding Alps. So reaching those hiking destinations can be made easier depending on your accommodation.
The best Interrail Route to experience History
Europe is home to many regions and nations. Because of this, The Continent has been through many wars and periods of historical importance. On this next Interrail route, we will explore some of Europe’s most important historical sites reachable by train. If you are interested in learning more about this Continent and experiencing its history first-hand look no further! This Interrail route has got you covered!
Interrail routes, Destination 1:Istanbul
Istanbul, Bosporus strait
Istanbul is a must for anyone interested in European History, the city on the Bosporus was formerly known as Constantinople and the last stronghold of the Byzantines until they were driven out by the Turks. Today Istanbul is filled with architecture and historical sites from across the ages, with visible traces of ancient greek, roman, byzantine, and Turkic/Islamic influences. From Istanbul, we head north and towards Bucharest.
Best Interrail routes tip: Istanbul is so large and filled with interesting things to do that you should try to just get lost in it. Explore the city at your own pace and do not stress about the sightseeing!
Interrail routes, Destination 2: Bucharest
Bucharest, Along the river Dambovita
The capital of Romania boasts a lot of interesting History, Romania is historically a place of many origins. You have roman influences, Dacian, and many more. Bucharest is home to a lot of relatively modern history too, predominately from the era of Ceausescu, the dictator who ran the country from 1965 until 1989. During this time he, unfortunately, destroyed a lot of Bucharest’s historical heritage to make room for his totalitarian buildings such as the parliament of Romania. There is still a lot to discover though. The next stop is Budapest, Hungary!
Best Interrail Routes tip: From Bucharest, you can take a day trip to the castle of Bran, which is widely regarded as the “Draculas” Castle. Also when interrailing from and to Bucharest, the interrail planner lists Bucharest as “Bucuresti” (the Romanian spelling) so make sure to type in Bucharest this way.
Interrail routes, Destination 3: Budapest
Budapest Parliament at night
Budapest, the capital of Ungheria is filled with history. The cities (yes there were two) were of vital importance during the medieval ages and the days of the late Austro-Hungarian empire. The industrial revolution saw the actual birth of Budapest. The city was created from the two cities of Buda and Pest after this merging construction began on some of Budapest’s most impressive architecture today.
Best interrail routes tip: Budapest, has some of the best food in Europe, especially the national dish, goulash is very delicious! You should give it a try!
Interrail routes, Destination 4: Vienna
Heldenplatz Vienna
Vienna is probably one of the most influential cities since the medieval ages. The city was extensively bombed during world war 2 however “only” 20 percent of the city was destroyed. This means a lot of historical Vienna was able to survive to this day, giving you the chance to explore it. Vienna is historically significant for a multitude of reasons, such as being Mozart’s birthplace or being the capital of the Hapsburgs empire.
best interrail routes tip: A very interesting part of Viennese history was the coffee houses, these places were used for political discourse and intrigue as well as networking. They hosted some of the most influential people in Austria. Many of them still operate to this day and are worth checking out.
Interrail routes, Destination 5: Venice
Venice Canals
Making our descent into Italy, Venice is one of the most unique cities in the entire world. historically this is the most important of the Italian merchant republic cities. Venice contains a multitude of historical buildings, this is due to the fact that the city has not been expanded on in the modern age.
Best Interrail routes tip: If you are looking for the best museums and activities try asking the locals, they usually have good ideas! Venice is also much more than San Marco Square, discover it on your own.
Interrail routes, Destination 6: Milan
Streetcar in Milan
Milano is a beautiful city in northern Italy. On top of this, the place is very historically important. The city was first settled by the celts in 400bc. Since then it has evolved multiple times into the city it is today. In Milan, the Merchant republics of the medieval age were very influential. There is also a lot of roman history there. From Milan, we take the train further south to Rome.
Best interrail routes tip: On your way from Milan to Rome, you will also cross beautiful towns such as Florence, as well as the Ligurian coast near Genoa. So if you have the time, give these areas a visit they are breathtaking.
Interrail routes, Destination 7:Rome
Rome, the coliseum
The birthplace of one of the most influential civilizations ever to exist. Roma is packed to the brim with historical architecture and museums. In fact, in Rome, ancient Roman buildings can be found everywhere. They seamlessly integrate into the modern city. Rome is also great for people interested in the history of the medieval age as the Vatican is surrounded by Rome.
Best interrail routes tip: To get some insight into the history of how Rome was built, you can visit the “welcome to Rome experience”. Or you can do a tour of the Coliseum and the adjacent park.
Where to stay on your Interrail routes?
Traveling Europe can be expensive and a bit lonely(hotels or private rooms) to mitigate this you can stay at a hostel. At Europes Famous Hostels we specialize in this, with over 40 Hostels in Europe many of the mentioned destinations on our Interrail Routes actually have one of our partner hostels in them. You can book with our partners directly here at the website.
Why stay at a Famous Hostel?
In order for a hostel to become a “famoso ostello”, the place has to fulfill the quality standards required by Europes Famous Hostels. This ensures that the hostel you are staying at will be of high quality. Each city has multiple candidates and the requirements are rather strict and controlled by Europe’s famous Hostels employees. If you read further you will have even more reasons!
