Sunday 23 June 2013

20 Easy, but Incredible Day Trips by Train

Btw I have spent hours trying to make the text below stay within the format I set when I created this post, but I can't make Blogger publish the edited/updated version in IE, Chrome or Firefox!

Some of the most fabulous destination towns and cities in Europe are also blessed with easy access to journeys by train that can compete with more typical attractions for wow factor status.

So as an alternative to museums and galleries, head for the station and make spontaneous journeys of a lifetime that don’t require an itinerary

The journeys listed below have the following in common:
1: They commence at stations near to the town/city centres 
2: Trains depart at regular intervals during the day – at least hourly on the routes journeys marked* and every two hours on the routes marked with a ** 
3: Are used by trains that don’t have to be reserved in advance, you can hop on board as long as you have a ticket  
4: The views from the train are fabulous 
5: You won’t be on the train in each direction for more than two hours (ish), so making a day trip is easy. 
6: Ticket prices won’t break the budget - the typical costs for the journeys is less than €20, so they can be bought at the station just before you head off on a day to remember!

And in many instances the final destinations of the trips will also be a delight.

Mountains:

Munich – Fussen/Garmisch **
There are regular trains from Munchen hbf to multiple destinations in the Bavarian Alps. Once the trains are passed Buchloe you’ll soon be travelling through spectacular mountain passes and wishing that these journeys were your daily commute. 
Journey time = Fussen; 2hr 10mins; Garmisch, 1hr 25mins

Innsbruck – Garmisch **

As I said on my guest post for GotSaga, Innsbruck is a great base for exploring by train. 
The city is located where two of the most spectacular long distance European railway routes; (1) Munich – Verona and (2) Zurich  - Salzburg cross, but even better than these is the route that winds its way over the mountains and across the border to Garmisch in Germany.

A picture postcard day out at any time of year.  
Journey time = 1hr 25 mins (you may have to change trains in Mittenwald (connections are guaranteed) 

Innsbruck - Brenner * 
A contender for Europe’s most spectacular commuter route, it’s also a stress free way of seeing the infamous Brenner Pass.

Apart from grabbing a bite to eat there’s little to do in Brenner itself, except for catching a train on to Italy (see below). But the journey there and back is great way of spending a morning or afternoon.
 
Journey Time = 40mins

Verona - Bolzano*
I’ve cheated a bit here because there are two different train services that head north from Verona on arguably Europe’s most spectacular express train route. The Regionale (REG) trains have cheaper ticket prices than the alternative EC express trains, but they only operate at hourly intervals in the afternoons.
Two good reasons for not taking the EC trains; they're much more expensive and require a reservation.
The REG trains also break another rule, as they take 2hr 10mins to reach Bolzano, but you won’t want the journey to end!
And yes Verona is beautiful, but getting into the mountains you can see from the city by train is a must.
Journey Time = 2hr 10mins
Salzburg - Zell Am Zee** 
This route offers the easiest access to spectacular views of the Austrian Alps from Salzburg, as the train follows the River Salzach as it carves its way through the mountains.
The trains that depart every hours and have Innsbruck as a final destination, travel along the east bank of the journey before crossing over to the west at Bischofshoffen, so simply sit on one side going there and the other coming back.
Journey Time = 1hr 37mins
Bilabao - San Sebastian/(Donastia) 
Yes the journey takes more than two hours, but for virtually the entire journey your jaw will be dropping as you pass through a mountain landscape that’s a world away from the beaches of Spain.
You’ll be on the Euskotren, the narrow gauge railway that departs from Axturi station in Bilbao and Amara station in San Sebastian. (The railway uses Donastia, the Basque name for San Sebastian)
Journey Time = 2hr 38mins

Lakes:

Milan - Colico*  
Colico is on the eastern shore of Lake Como and can be reached by local trains Milano (Centrale) station that are heading for Tirano.
This route gives the best views of any of the Italian lakes that can be seen from a train. Many people head for Lecco, but carry on to Colico to see the best of the scenery. 
Journey Time = 1hr 27mins


Basel - Berne - Interlaken*
There a numerous must see destinations that are within easy reach of Basel by train, but the simplest and fastest journey that guarantees a fix of stunning Alpine scenery is this one. 
Once the train is past Berne, you’ll be speeding along the southern shore of beautiful Lake Thun (Thunsee), so if you’re staying in Berne itself you’ve got no excuse for not making this journey.
If you’re travelling from Basel sit on the right of the train as you face the direction of travel, the train will reverse direction in Bern station.
Journey time = 1hr 58mins (from Basel); 53mins from Berne

Zurich - Luzerne*



Not one but two spectacular lakes surrounded by mountains can be seen on this journey that provides the fastest access from Switzerland’s biggest city, Zurich, to the heart of The Alps.


Sit on the left of the train, as you face in the direction of travel, when you depart from Zurich hb station, the train will initially head north for a short time before turning south to run along the shore of the Zurichzee.
Journey time = 45/50mins


Rivers:




Koln - Koblenz*
South of Koln/Cologne the River Rhine flows through a spectacular valley lined with vineyards and dotted with fairytale castles. On both side of the valley there are railway lines that hug the river, providing a near continuous supply of spectacular views for hours.





Take the slow train (there’s no need to rush) from Koln hbf to Koblenz on route RE8 or RB27 to Koblenz via Troisdorf  sit on the right of the train when your facing in the direction of travel, you’re going to heading south on the east bank of the river.



From Koblenz you can travel back to Cologne/Koln on the opposite back on trains on route RE5. These trains commence their journeys in Koblenz so when you board you can guarantee you can be sat on the right to make the most of the views.

Journey time = 1hr 38mins
Frankfurt (Main) - Koblenz*
Due to a rare quirk of the German rail timetable, it’s easier to make this journey on Mon-Fridays, the hourly Regional Express (RE) trains that depart from Frankfurt(Main) hbf, don’t operate at weekends.

Once the train is past Mainz you’ll be travelling on the west bank of the Rhine river, so sit on the right to make the most of the spectacular views.

Then head back to Frankfurt (Main) on the opposite bank of the river, on the hourly trains that travel via Weisbaden.
Journey time = 1hr 47mins
Luxembourg - Trier - Koblenz*
The capital city is packed with attractions that make it a U.N.E.S.C.O World Heritage site, but getting out of the city by train is a great idea.

To see the best of the incredible Moselle River valley, you’ll need to change trains in Trier to travel on to Koblenz, but this is no hardship as Trier is near the top of any most beautiful towns in Germany list.


Journey time = 2hrs travel time, plus the wait for the connection at Trier


As you’ve probably worked out by now, if you ever spend time in or near Koblenz then some day trips by train are a must!



Dresden - Bad Schandau*

The railway line to the south of Dresden hugs the west bank of the River Elbe, so sit on the left of the train as you face the direction of travel when the train departs.



Don’t take the EC express trains, it’s highly they’ll already be packed with other travellers heading to Prague from Berlin, but if you board the local trains you can guarantee a view across the stunning river gorge.
Journey time =  46 mins

Coasts:

Paignton - Exeter*

The multiple delights of South Devon are a constant lure for holiday makers and it’s impossible to stay in the area and be unaware of the wonderful journey by steam train between Paignton and Kingswear (Dartmouth).


But a cheaper and even more spectacular option from a scenery point of view, is to take a regular local train to Exeter from Paignton or Torquay.


For much of the journey there’s nothing between the train and the sea apart from a beach and there’s also great views to be had over the estuary of the River Exe.
Journey time = 55mins

Napoli - Sorrento*

Italy’s Amalfi coast is world famous for its resort towns that seemingly cling to the cliffs between the mountains and the sea. Driving along the coast is not for the faint-hearted, but regular trains shuttle between Napoli and Sorrento and the views over the sea for most of the journey are incredible.


Don’t head for the main Napoli Centrale station, the trains that are termed the ‘Circumvesia’ depart from their own city centre station, Napoli, (Porta Nolana) station
Journey time = 60mins (average)

Nice - Cannes and/or Menton

There aren’t many French journeys on this list, as few local trains outside of Paris offer a stress-free regular interval service, but fortunately for visitors to the French Riviera, the railway line along the coast between Cannes and Menton is an exception!



Twice an hour during the day local trains travel in both directions on a Cannes – Antibes – Nice – Monaco – Menton route with amazing views down to the sea.
Journey times; Nice – Menton = 35mins; Nice – Cannes = 41mins


Bridges:

Edinburgh - Dundee* 
The spectacular Forth Bridge is a world famous monument to Scottish engineering and can be seen from many of Edinburgh’s numerous viewpoints.



Instead of admiring it from a distance why not take one of the trains that depart from Waverley and Haymarket stations to Dundee.



You’ll soon be at the handsome city on the river Tay and you’ll have travelled over not only The Forth Bridge, but The Tay Bridge too. The views from both from either side of the train are incredible and the journey between the bridges is also charming. 

Journey time = 1hr 18mins



Koebenhavn - Malmo*  

Considering the length of the journey it’s comparatively expensive to travel by train from the Danish capital, Copenhagen to Malmo in Sweden, but that’s because in effect you’ll be paying a levy to travel the length of arguably Europe’s most impressive engineering achievement – the Oresund Bridge.



Looking down from such a great height on a train on to the sea below is awe-inspiring.
Journey time = 37mins

Cities:

Venezia - Padova*  
I’ll admit you’ll need to use your imagination on this journey more than most, but if you sit on the right of the local train as you face the direction of travel; (avoid the more expensive ‘Freccia’ trains) when the train departs Venezia (St Lucia) station, you’ll immediately find yourself seemingly gliding across the lagoon to the mainland.
Journey time = 23mins

London Charing Cross - London Bridge* 

You won’t find the journey I take every time I travel to/from my day job in any guide books of London, but trains that give great views of the Houses of Parliament, the London Eye; Festival Hall, the bridges over the Thames, St Pauls, Borough Market; Southwark Cathedral and The Shard just couldn’t be missed off any best journeys in Europe list!
 Journey time = 8mins