Looking for a flight-free Easter break? Here are 7 amazing European cities to visit by train

The Easter holiday seasons are swiftly approaching and if you’re searching to e-book a break, it could be the best time for a practice adventure. 

Rail routes can be astonishingly fast – just 3.5 hrs from London to Amsterdam – and even the very long kinds have deluxe sleeper routes to suggest them.

Travellers are increasingly sharing the joys of slow travel. Receiving from A to B is a enjoyment when you are immersed in the diversified landscapes of Europe. And far more routes than ever are opening up all around Europe which implies you can make the journey with simplicity. 

So from cultural hubs in the north to sunshine-soaked places in the south, we’ve picked 7 great metropolitan areas in Europe that you never have to fly to.

For mountain landscapes: Bern

Switzerland’s postcard-best money is situated on the financial institutions of the crystal distinct River Aare and surrounded by the towering beauty of the snow-capped Alps. 

Take gain of the spring weather conditions to embark on an e-bicycle tour along route Radwanderroute 888 – Grünes Band Bern or stroll by means of the Rosengarten. 

It’s also property to 6 kilometres of sheltered sandstone shopping arcades packed with independent cellar bars, cafés and craft stores. For the very best views in excess of the medieval Altstadt (Old City), climb the 344 techniques up to the major of Bern Cathedral, the country’s highest church tower at 101 metres.

Direct trains operate to Bern from Paris and Frankfurt in 4.5 several hours. From Brussels and London, the journey can take 7.5 hrs with just one alter in the French cash.

For foodie delights: Florence

It is not possible to pick just 1 gourmand hotspot in Europe, but Italy’s enchanting town of Florence is a particularly mouth-watering option. 

Emphasising regional, sustainable and seasonal food items, Tuscan treats these types of as schiacciata flatbread and flavourful Florentine steak are generally on the menu. Tuck into tagliatelle manufactured with domestically sourced truffle and porcini mushrooms, or go for wild boar pappardelle pasta, followed by arguably the best gelato in the whole state.

Temperatures commence soaring in March but are continue to mild in spring – the excellent weather for sightseeing. 

Night time trains reach Florence in 10 hours from Munich, producing the metropolis an excellent location for sleeper train holiday seasons. From Geneva, the journey is less than 6.5 several hours.

For culture vultures: Amsterdam

Many thanks to well known painters like Van Gogh and Rembrandt, Amsterdam is a metropolis of iconic artwork. 

Dwelling to the Dutch Masters’ performs in the Rijksmuseum and the equally partaking modern day items at the Stedelijk, it is quick to see why the Netherlands’ funds is regarded one of Europe’s cultural hubs. Investigate further more and you are going to discover a lot a lot more, from out of doors sculptures to tiny unbiased galleries.

Amsterdam and the surrounding countryside bursts into lifestyle for the duration of spring. The canals are lined with vibrant green trees, the city’s parks are arguably at their ideal and tulips – just one of the Netherlands’s most well known exports – start out to bloom.

To see these legendary flowers head to Keukenhof Gardens, just more than an hour southwest of Amsterdam, concerning March and May perhaps. 

You can capture a direct practice from Frankfurt to Amsterdam in 4 hours, from London in just over 3.5 hours and from Paris in 3.

For sunlight-soaked sightseeing: Seville

Whilst a little out of the way, southern Spain’s Seville is a lively spot that generously rewards people prepared to journey those added miles. 

It is 1 of Spain’s best cities indicating temperatures regularly reach 40°C in summer creating it practically impossible to examine. Seville is a great deal milder in Spring with reduced temperatures. 

This is a metropolis steeped in heritage, with architectural highlights ranging from the world’s premier Gothic cathedral to the exquisite Royal Alcázar palace. A sultry, sun-drenched location of winding lanes, heavenly tapas and Flamenco dancing, it will most unquestionably go away its mark on you.

Seville is 2.5 hrs by immediate coach from Madrid. A trip from Paris or Lisbon normally takes 12 to 13 hrs.

For intriguing architecture: Cologne

Germany’s Cologne is a interesting mix of historic Roman partitions and medieval church buildings. 

The twin spires of its Kölner Dom cathedral are an legendary aspect of the skyline, and the look at above the city’s eye-catching sprawl from the South Tower is perfectly truly worth the 533-move climb. This structure also houses the world’s biggest absolutely free-swinging bell, weighing in at 24 tonnes.

Although not as warm as some other destinations on the record, the temperature begins to boost in Cologne in Spring. But be organized for a lot of rain and even thunderstorms so provide your soaked-climate clothes.  

You can vacation to Cologne from London in 4.5 several hours, transforming in Brussels. From Paris, the immediate journey is 3 hours, producing it an suitable selection for your train holiday seasons in Europe.

For lush vineyards: Bordeaux

Arguably the wine capital of France, Bordeaux delights people with its neat and really vineyards. 

Below you can tour some of the hundreds of aristocratic wine estates, or châteaux, to discover much more about the wine-producing approach and sample the conclusion solution. 

In the metropolis by itself, the extremely-modern Cite du Vin museum is an remarkable venue committed to bringing wine and its heritage to a more youthful era through immersive exhibitions.

If you are arranging to visit in April, it may possibly be worth timing your excursion to coincide with a single of the a lot of wine festivals and vineyard openings that take place for the duration of the thirty day period. 

Bordeaux is 2 hours by train from Paris. You can get there from London or Amsterdam in all over 5.5 several hours with one particular transform or in 4.5 several hours from Brussels.

For imperial grandeur: Vienna, Austria

Austria’s funds is renowned as the world’s City of Songs thanks to a heritage that incorporates Mozart, Beethoven, Brahms and Strauss. 

Pay a visit to the planet-renowned Musikverein, exactly where the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra performs or check out the interactive reveals at the impressive Haus der Musik museum. Alternatively, learn the imperial legacy left by the Habsburgs at the Hofburg Palace, which dates again to the 13th century and is one particular of the world’s largest palace complexes.

And if you are going to in spring, you will see the greatest of Vienna’s floral displays. Gardens and parks across the city are crammed with magnolia and cherry blossoms as properly as roses and tulips. 

You can get to Vienna from Paris in 10 several hours with one particular alter, or from Brussels in 11. A direct journey from Frankfurt requires just 6.5 hrs.