The Best Rail Trips to Take in Europe

This 10-day border-crossing epic is our definitive take on the classic Euro rail adventure. See it as an homage to the romance of train travel, as well as a symbol of eco-friendly overland travel as the future, not just a nostalgic relic of the past. This itinerary takes in five countries across the heartlands of Central Europe, carving through huge swathes of the continent’s most scenic rural communities and stopping off in the capital city of each nation. We start in Germany, with Berlin’s unique combination of old and new. From there it’s onto Prague, one of the most spectacular medieval cities on the continent, and a haven for beer lovers. Next up is Austria, where you’ll gorge on schnitzel and sachertorte in Vienna and go cycling down the Danube in the Wachau Valley. Bratislava, the capital of Slovakia, is one of Europe’s most underrated capitals, with a gorgeous old town. Our final stop? Budapest, with its grand works of architecture overlooking the Danube. The city’s soothing thermal baths and trendy ruins bars make it the perfect place to wind down and reflect on the Euro adventure of a lifetime.