Train Instead of Plane: Is Rail Travel Europe’s Next Big Holiday Trend?

For years, flying has been the default way to reach European destinations from North Wales. But rail travel has been steadily gaining ground as a genuine holiday option, not just a way of getting between cities once you arrive. With new EES border checks adding time to some airport crossings, and a growing number of travellers looking for a slower, lower-stress way to start their holiday, 2026 looks like the year rail genuinely earns its place alongside flying.

Why travellers are reconsidering the train

• No airport-style security queues or liquid restrictions, and considerably more generous luggage allowances
• City-centre to city-centre travel, avoiding the transfer time that eats into flight-based trips
• A lower carbon footprint per journey compared with short-haul flights, which matters increasingly to environmentally conscious travellers
• The journey becomes part of the holiday itself, particularly on scenic European routes, rather than simply a means to an end

Eurostar as the obvious starting point

For UK travellers, Eurostar remains the natural gateway into European rail travel, connecting London directly to Paris, Brussels and Amsterdam in under three hours, with onward high-speed connections reaching much of France, Belgium, the Netherlands and Germany. From Wrexham, a train south to London followed by Eurostar can realistically compete with flying once airport transfer and check-in time on both ends of a flight are factored in.

Scenic routes worth booking for their own sake

• The Bernina Express through the Swiss Alps into Italy, one of the most photographed rail journeys in the world
• The Glacier Express across Switzerland, connecting Zermatt and St Moritz through high alpine scenery
• Norway’s Bergen Railway, crossing fjords and mountain plateaus between Oslo and Bergen
• Italy’s Cinque Terre coastal line, linking the five villages with sea views for most of the short journey

What to know before booking a rail-based holiday

Rail travel across multiple countries usually works best when booked well in advance, particularly for high-speed and sleeper services, where the cheapest tickets sell out first. Interrail and Eurail passes remain a strong option for multi-country trips, though for a single, well-planned itinerary, point-to-point tickets booked ahead often work out better value. We would always recommend building in a little flexibility around connection times, since European rail networks, while generally reliable, are not immune to delays.

Who rail travel suits best

Rail holidays tend to suit couples and small groups looking for a relaxed, scenic trip, families who want to avoid airport stress with young children, and anyone who simply enjoys travel as part of the experience rather than a logistical hurdle to get past. It is less suited to very tight timeframes or destinations far outside continental Europe, where flying remains the more practical choice.

Curious whether a rail-based itinerary could work for your next holiday? Global Travel Worldwide can put together a multi-country rail trip, or combine train and flight legs to get the best of both.