City trips by train? Want to explore Europe in a relaxed and sustainable way? Then an Interrail city trip is a great choice. In this article, I’ll share my travel experiences from a 3-week Interrail itinerary I put together myself, visiting 7 European cities. I’ll also include practical tips for your own Interrail adventure.
The trip from Arnhem to Berlin takes 5.5 hours
This city is brimming with history, art, and trendy breakfast spots. I had booked all my accommodations in advance. That way, I could be sure my hotel was near the train station. Of course, you don’t have to do this, but it might save you some stress once you’re there. Read more here about traveling to Berlin by train.
Accommodation tip: B&B Hotel Berlin-Mitte.
Breakfast at: Sag mir wo die Blumen sind.
Sights: Brandenburg Gate, Holocaust Memorial, Berlin Wall, Fotografiska, Checkpoint Charlie, and the Berlin Wall.
Travel time from Berlin: approx. 5 hours
After two days in Berlin, on to Warsaw. A quiet, charming city with a regal air. The city has a pleasant and friendly atmosphere. They don’t use the euro here—it’s the Polish zloty. Fortunately, you can use your debit card just about everywhere.
Accommodation tip: Motel One Warsaw-Chopin. Dining tip: The Botanist restaurant (vegetarian).
Highlights: Royal Palace, Lazienki Park, Old Town.
The trip from Warsaw to Krakow takes 2.5 hours
Krakow is a charming city full of culture and history. It has lovely squares and streets. You can walk to Wawel Castle (on a hill). It has a beautiful cathedral, a castle, and fantastic views. You can also book a tour from Kraków to Auschwitz (by bus with a tour guide).
Accommodation tip: Vinci Apartment, located near the main square. Dining tip: La Grande Mamma.
Things to Do: Visit Wawel Castle, book a tour to Auschwitz.
Travel time from Krakow: 8.5 hours ( be sure to bring plenty of snacks)
On to Budapest. This trip takes a little longer. Be sure to bring plenty of provisions. There are plenty of shops at the Krakow train station where you can pick up some food. They don’t use the euro in Budapest either. But it’s a beautiful city. You’ll cross the Danube River and find yourself in a lovely wooded area (Gellért Hill). It offers a stunning view of Budapest. Other highlights worth visiting include the Great Synagogue, the Fisherman’s Bastion, the Buda Castle, the Old Jewish Quarter, and the bathhouses. You can easily spend a week here.
The shoes lined up along the edge of the quay are a striking sight, commemorating the Jews who were executed in the city.
Note: To continue my journey, I had to go to a different station than the one I had arrived at. Please pay close attention to this.
Accommodation Tip: Paulay Downtown Apartments
Breakfast: Blueberry Brunch
Discover: the Chain Bridge, Gellért Hill, the Fisherman’s Bastion, the synagogue, the bathhouses, and the shoes on the Danube embankment.
The trip from Budapest to Zagreb takes about 6 hours
This compact capital city is ideal for a more leisurely pace. It’s smaller than Budapest but just as pleasant if you’ve been traveling for a while. Be sure to visit the National Theater, the Ilica Funicular (the world’s shortest funicular), Zagreb Cathedral, Dolac Market, and St. Mark’s Church. The city isn’t very big, so you can easily book a hotel that’s a little further from the center.
The “Botanical Garden” is really nice: for a €2 admission fee, you can spend a whole day here enjoying a beautiful piece of nature with many different plants, trees, and flowers.
Accommodation tip: Stay outside the city center for a more affordable stay.
Breakfast/lunch at Melt.
Must-sees: Botanical Garden, Zagreb Cathedral, Dolac Market.
It takes less than 2.5 hours to get from Zagreb to Ljubljana
A short train ride (2h 20m) takes you to this surprisingly charming capital of Slovenia. The journey itself is beautiful, by the way. You’ll pass by stunning lakes and breathtaking natural scenery. Ljubljana is also a lot of fun; you can explore the entire city on foot. It’s full of beautiful buildings and squares. Highlights of the city include the Dragon Bridge and Ljubljanski grad, a medieval castle on Castle Hill. You can climb one of its towers for a great view and visit a few museums there.
I also took a guided bus tour from Ljubljana to Lake Bled. My guide told me a lot about Slovenia and its history. It was very interesting and definitely worth doing. We took a small boat to a little island in the middle of the lake. It’s a beautiful Nature reserve and makes you curious about the rest of the country.
Restaurant recommendation: Parenzana Ljubljana. I really enjoyed sitting outside here. A very nice man helped me with the menu and the drink list. By the way, they brew their own beer here!
Accommodation Tip: Penzion Pod Lipo
Dining tip: Stazione Parenzana Ljubljana.
Highlights: Dragon Bridge, Ljubljana Castle, day trip to Lake Bled.
The trip from Ljubljana to Vienna takes about 6 hours
The last stop on my trip. I stayed close to the station, which was convenient for the return trip. I was able to leave my luggage at the hotel all day. The city is quite large and has a lot to offer. Public transportation works very well here. I had a delicious lunch at Café Meierei Volksgarten, right in the middle of a park. Near this park, you’ll also find the Kunsthistorisches Museum. Be sure to check out the Hundertwasserhaus, Belvedere Palace (which houses Gustav Klimt’s *The Kiss*, among other works), the State Opera, and St. Stephen’s Cathedral.
Tips: Museum of Art History, Belvedere Palace, St. Stephen’s Cathedral, Hundertwasser House, State Opera.
Outdoor seating: Café-Meierei Volksgarten.
I traveled back to the Netherlands from Vienna. City trips by train are definitely worth considering. In just three weeks, I visited seven beautiful European cities at a great price. Of course, you can also choose to go away for much longer and plan your own itinerary. Click here for all our train travel tips.
Interrail is a pass that lets you travel flexibly by train throughout (almost) all of Europe. For this trip, Merel purchased a 10-day pass valid for 2 months. You can choose from various options, such as:
You can buy your Interrail pass at NSinternational.com
Download the Interrail app, activate your pass, and add your destinations. Seat reservations are required for some routes. You can book these online, and in some cases, you’ll receive them by mail. So don’t forget to make your reservations in time and keep your ID handy during your trip. Discounts on the above fares are available for young people up to age 27 and seniors age 60 and older.
Note: Interrail does not notify you if train schedules change or if a train is canceled. You’ll need to keep an eye on this yourself. You can also reserve a sleeper berth on night trains. This is handy for the return trip from Vienna. Read more about the night train to Vienna here.
Met een passie voor reizen en fotografie én meer dan 30 jaar ervaring in de reisbranche, deel ik graag mijn bijzondere natuur-reistips. Reizen is heerlijk en belangrijk, je ontmoet nieuwe mensen en culturen en het opent je blik op de wereld.
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Laat je inspireren
Ben je op zoek naar de mooiste wandel- en fietsroutes? Of wil je informatie over reizen met de trein of advies voor de mooiste roadtrips door de natuur. Laat je inspireren voor je volgende reis in het groen; ideeën om je eigen reis te plannen of te kiezen voor een georganiseerde reis.
