Traveling around Europe is one of the most rewarding experiences, as you get the chance to visit a large number of countries in a short period of time compared to other continents. It has some of the most wonderful architecture in the world, with each city having its own must-see structures that will leave you wanting more. Finding the best ways to get around will only enhance your travel experience.

 

Whether you want the quickest way of getting from point A to point B, the more scenic route or the most affordable travel method, there’s many ways of getting around Europe. In this guide, we will explore a few of the best ways to travel the continent, so you can get the best experience that suits your needs. Continue reading to find out more about what you can do for your next big travel journey.

European Travel Methods

Trains

Train stations are located in most European city centers, eliminating the need for expensive transfers to airports. For trips spanning three to six hours, such as Paris to Amsterdam or Rome to Florence, high-speed rail is often faster than flying, especially when factoring in the two-hour pre-flight security protocols. The freedom to move about, generous luggage allowances without extra fees and panoramic views of the changing landscape. For the environmentally conscious, trains also offer a powerful advantage in sustainability, boasting a significantly lower carbon footprint than air travel.

 

The benefits of European rail come with specific financial and logistical caveats. While travelers can find excellent value and flexibility with rail passes like Eurail or Interrail. These passes represent a significant upfront investment and the cost of individual point-to-point tickets can increase if not booked well in advance.

Coaches

Getting around Europe on a coach or bus can be very cheap with tickets sometimes costing as little as €5-€15 for intercity routes, so it’s a smart travel method. You’ll be able to find buses in almost every location across Europe, so you can get great access to many different cities and towns. Most of the time, you don’t need to book these tickets in advance so you can travel on a whim without any pre-planning. It’s also perfect for last-minute plans where you’ll need to go off course. Modern coaches also now have Wi-Fi and power outlets, making them perfect for long distance travel.

 

One downfall of using coaches is that they can be the slowest way of getting from place to place, which can get worse if there’s a lot of traffic or road conditions are poor. Getting a night bus can also be a pain, as it can be quite difficult to sleep sitting up.

Trams

Using the tram can be perfect from getting to one location to another within the same city, as these are a quick fix that will give you a speedy solution if you need to visit a bar or restaurant that’s on the other side of the city from your accommodation. These can be relatively cheap with the more popular cities costing a little bit extra, but it’s definitely worth it so that you can see everything you want without any trouble.

 

Trams aren’t a fix for travelling from country to country in Europe, as they don’t often go for long distances. This means that you’ll have to plan other transportation, which can make your trip that little bit more complicated. However, trams are the most efficient over smaller distances than anything on this list.

Rental Cars

If you want more freedom with your travelling, you can hire a car to drive around and plan your own routes around Europe, so you can get the most scenic roads. This allows you to stick to your own schedule without having to plan public transport solutions that can put strain on your timetable. The amount you pay for fuel can be expensive, but if you’re travelling as a group, you can get significant savings on this as everyone can pitch in with the payments.

Some countries have expensive highway tolls, especially in France and Italy, hefty parking fees in major cities and potential extra charges for dropping the car off in a different country. This can make rental cars not the best option if you’re looking to not spend a lot of money. However, if it’s within budget, it’s definitely a great choice.

Planes

Long-distance travel by plane can’t be beaten in a lot of instances. It can get you from one place to another within a couple of hours, giving you unlimited reach across the entire continent. This can significantly reduce total travel time if you’re going from a location like the UK to Greece, which can take days using other types of transportation. Finding cheap flights has never been easier too, as you can use websites that specifically search for low price flights.

 

While the flight time can be short, the actual travel time can be a lot longer if you include the journey to and from the airport, the security checks and the baggage collection. This means that a two-hour flight can actually turn into a 4-hour journey from point A to point B.

Large Vehicles

Large vehicles can be great for travel, as you can carry a lot of your belongings in your trailer/body. This can double up as an on-the-go bedroom, so you can park up and get some sleep no matter where you are. Of course, you’ll need to park up in an appropriate location before you do this, so keep mindful of where you can go.

Transport training can sometimes be pricey and you may require it for certain larger vehicles, but it can be completed within 48 hours with companies like Lifft Group so you can be road ready as quickly as possible. Just like driving a rental car, you need to be mindful about highway tolls, which can be more expensive when driving an HGV.

Ferries

Europe is defined by its coastlines and seas, such as the Mediterranean, Baltic and North Sea. Ferries and smaller cruise ships connect major ports, offering a comfortable and often relaxing way to cover long distances. It’s the perfect way to travel if you’re island hopping or crossing between the Baltics, so you can visit a variety of unique countries. Routes like Newcastle to Amsterdam or the ferry crossings from Italy to Greece are popular.

 

The only downsides are that they are usually slower than flying or high-speed rail, and schedules can be impacted by weather. It’s also not possible to use this form of transportation when on the mainland, obviously, so it’s not the most convenient.