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Majestic mountains, sun-dappled canals, age-old architecture and charming villages are only the beginning of what Europe has to offer. Start planning your European rail vacation to the continent’s most popular destinations today.


Inside Track
Continent:	Europe
Number of Countries:	50
Total Area:	3,930,000 square miles
Euro as Currency:	16 countries
Times Zones:	UTC to UTC +5
High-speed and Scenic Trains:	Eurostar, Thalys, TGV, ICE, Glacier Express, Bernina Express
Vacations By Rail to Europe:	26

Bordered by the Arctic and Atlantic Oceans, Mediterranean and Black Seas, and the Ural Mountains, the continent of Europe is the second smallest in terms of total land area but the third most populous. It’s where western culture was born, and where the Ancient Greeks, in a bid toward affecting the future of western civilization, socialized the idea of city-state’s and the importance of a governed area’s specific identity.

Europe is comprised of some of the wealthiest countries in terms of assets and has the biggest economy in the world thanks in large part to the European Union. In fact, the EU takes the top spot on the list of the world’s largest economies in terms of Gross Domestic Product as published in the CIA World Factbook. Specific European countries holding spots in the top 10 include France, Germany, Russia, and the United Kingdom.

Tourism plays an important role in Europe’s economy, and touring Europe is made easier with its extensive rail network. The first railway in Europe is thought to be a funicular built during the early 1600’s to carry coal from mines. After several variations, modern rail transport arrived in the 1820’s and soon became more than just a means of transporting goods but also as a reliable means of passenger travel.

Today train travel in Europe is the fastest, most efficient means of travel, taking travelers from city center to center. In fact, no European vacation is complete without riding the rails. There is no better way to see the beautiful countryside as the train whisks you from one destination to the next, allowing you to arrive rested and refreshed. To add to the efficiency, many Western European countries offer travel options on sleek high-speed trains that travel upwards of 220 miles per hour.

While there are countless sights throughout Europe, some of our favorites can be found in the United Kingdom, France, Belgium, and Switzerland.

London Must-See’s

Buckingham Palace, the official residence of the Queen of England
Trafalgar Square is one of the most famous squares and popular tourist attractions in the United Kingdom. Located in the heart of London, it is filled with statues and sculptures including Nelson’s Column located in the heart of the square.
The Tower of London, a historic castle and fortress located on the River Thames
Westminster Abbey, a Gothic church traditionally used for coronations. It is also the burial and memorial sites of royalty, British aristocrats, and important poets and prose writers including Geoffrey Chaucer, Charles Dickens, and John Keats.

Paris Must-See’s

The Eiffel Tower, created for the 1889 World’s Fair, is the tallest building in Paris and has become an icon of the country
The Arc de Triomphe is located at the western end of the Champs-Élyssés and was created as a structure to honor French soldiers
Notre Dame, located on Paris’ île de la Cité, is considered one of the finest examples of French Gothic architecture
The Louvre is one of the world’s largest museums with nearly 35,000 artifacts, paintings, sculptures, and historic objects. It his home to the Mona Lisa and the Venus de Milo.

Brussels Must-See’s

The Grand Place is Brussel’s main square, located at the heart of the city, and is one of the city’s most important landmarks
The Royal Palace is located across from the Parliament Building and symbolizes Belgium’s constitutional monarchy. It houses government offices, State Rooms used for receptions, and apartments for visiting Heads of State.
Brussels is the seat of the European Union and home to important government buildings that house the European Commission, Council of the European Union, and the European Council.
Located in the center of Brussels, Galeries St. Hubert contains cafés, fashionable boutiques, and theaters within a glass-roofed arcade. Built in 1847, it is thought to be one of the first shopping arcades in Europe.

Zermatt Must-See’s

The Matterhorn is the iconic symbol of Zermatt. More than 3,000 people climb this imposing mountain every year.
The Klein Matterhorn is the highest point of Europe and can only be reached by cable car

How to Get There
Every European country has at least one major gateway served by regional, national, and international airlines from numerous cities around the globe. Upon arrival, the best way to travel to and through any European country is by rail. The continent’s extensive train network makes it easy to cross borders and connect cities as a means of transportation to the starting point of a European holiday or as part of a vacation package.

Entry Requirements
U.S. citizens require a valid passport to travel to and from Europe. Some European countries may also require a visa—both from U.S. residents and those from other countries. For specific entry requirements, it is advisable to contact a specific country’s embassy to learn about entry requirements.

When to Go
Any time is a good time for a European vacation! When to go should be based on what you plan to see and do. Summer months are best for outdoor touring and excursions, while winter months are perfect for alpine adventures and holiday markets.

Monthly Averages (in Fahrenheit)

	London High / Low	Paris High / Low	Brussels High / Low	Zermatt High / Low
January	46 / 36	43 / 34	41 / 31	32 / 16
February	47 / 36	45 / 34	43 / 32	34 / 18
March	52 / 39	51 / 38	48 / 35	38 / 22
April	56 / 41	57 / 42	54 / 40	45 / 28
May	63 / 46	64 / 49	63 / 46	53 / 35
June	68 / 52	70 / 54	67 / 51	60 / 40
July	73 / 57	75 / 58	71 / 54	66 / 44
August	73 / 55	75 / 57	71 / 54	64 / 44
September	67 / 52	69 / 52	66 / 50	59 / 39
October	59 / 46	59 / 46	57 / 45	52 / 33
November	52 / 41	49 / 39	48 / 37	40 / 25
December	48 / 37	45 / 36	42 / 33	34 / 19

Taxes
Value Added Tax (VAT) is an estimated market value tax applied to goods and services in Europe. VAT rates differ by country but range between 7.6% and 25.5%.

Tipping
How much to tip and for what service varies by country. For instance, in the UK it is expected that travelers tip taxi and coach drivers as well as for service in a restaurant (but not pubs), whereas in Italy tipping in restaurants is not expected and is generally only done when service is exceptional. In such cases, the tip is generally 10%. For transportation, taxi drivers are usually tipped €1-€2 when they have proved of great assistance. A local tourist office can provide similar information about country-specific customs and protocol.

Trains of Europe
Train travel is the fastest, most efficient way to travel throughout Europe. While each country has its own local and regional trains, following are some of its most popular high-speed and scenic trains, many of which are incorporated in Vacations By Rail’s European rail tours and all of which are available for purchase individually.

Eurostar: The high-speed Eurostar train has been shuttling passengers from London to Paris and Brussels by way of the Chunnel (Channel Tunnel) for more than a decade. During peak season, Eurostar departs every 30 minutes; during non-peak times it runs approximately every hour.

Thalys: The Thalys train connects Paris and Brussels in under 90 minutes and provides a direct link to a total of 17 cities. Thalys makes over 50 roundtrip journeys per day throughout France, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Germany.

TGV: The high-speed TGV is France’s high-speed rail service, zipping between cities at up to 200 mph. The TGV also connects travelers to neighboring Brussels, Geneva, Frankfurt, and Stuttgart.

ICE: The Deutsche Bahn’s fastest train, the ICE connects all of Germany’s major cities including Munich, Berlin, Frankfurt, Hamburg, Stuttgart, and Cologne. Connecting service is also available to the neighboring countries of Switzerland, Austria, Belgium, and the Netherlands.

Glacier Express: The scenic Glacier Express makes the 7 ½-hour journey through the Swiss Alps from Zermatt to St. Moritz. The train is known for its panoramic views of the breathtaking Alps, fairytale castles, pristine pastures, and charming villages.

Bernina Express: This 2 ½-hour scenic rail journey takes you past deep gorges, looming glaciers, and winding tunnels as you travel from St. Moritz, Switzerland to Tirano, Italy.

Vacations By Rail is also the one source for virtually every European railpass, ticket, and scenic touring train.

Vacations By Rail in Europe
Vacations By Rail offers an assortment of European rail vacations. In addition to refined luxury rail journeys, travelers can select from a variety of escorted tours to the most popular European cities. Tours range from 9 to 16 days and start at $1,449 land-only, per person based on double occupancy. A selection of European rail vacations include:

Affordable Europe By Train: Travel to the most popular European countries by train on this well-planned 9-day escorted tour of England, France, and Belgium. Along the way, discover historic landmarks, stunning architecture, and beautiful sights as you tour capital cities connected by sleek high-speed trains.

Scenic Switzerland By Train: See the best of Switzerland by both rail and coach on this 10-day tour. Highlights include travel aboard the Golden Pass panoramic train, an excursion to the famous Gornergrat aboard Europe’s highest rack railway, travel aboard the legendary Glacier Express through the Alps from Zermatt to St. Moritz, and an excursion to Tirano aboard the Bernina Express.

Scandinavia By Train: Fairytale castles mix with Viking lore and snow-capped mountains meet deep fjords on this 10-day tour to the most beautiful destinations in Sweden, Norway and Denmark.


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