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Traveling without any trade-offs: These routes in Europe are faster on the ground than by plane.

We have identified 28 routes within Europe where traveling by train or bus is faster than flying. And on top of that: No baggage fees, easy check-ins, and speedy departures and arrivals.

ROUTES

Click here to get access to the full routes included in the research.

How Omio compiled the ranking

This ranking is based on the 100 most popular routes by train, bus and flight booked through Omio in summer 2020 (between June 1, 2020 and September 30, 2020) in Germany, the United Kingdom, Spain, Italy, and France. CO2 emissions in kg per train / bus / flight were calculated using values from Atmosfair.

Flight time: Shortest possible travel time in minutes
Travel time by train and bus: Shortest possible travel time in minutes, via Omio.com
Transfer city center – airport – city center: Fastest possible route by public transit from the city center to the airport as well as from the destination airport to the city center (all transfer times were determined via Google Maps)
Transfer city center – train station – city center: Fastest possible route by public transit from the city center to the train station as well as from the destination train station to the city center (all transfer routes determined via Google Maps)
Check-in time: Total time for check-in at the airport. For domestic flights, an average time of 60 minutes was used; for international flights, 90 minutes was used and for flights outside the Schengen area, 120 minutes was used.
Kilometers per route: Flight distance determined via Google Maps
CO2 in kg per train/bus/flight: Values calculated by Atmosfair

For the ranking for each of the 100 routes, the total transfer times (consisting of the flight duration + check-in time + transfer time from the city center to the airport and from the destination airport to the city center) were compared to the total train or bus travel times (consisting of the travel times for bus and train + transfer times from the city center to the train station and from the train station to the city center at the destination). All bus and train routes were then ranked by the greatest amount of time saved compared to the flight routes.

Sustainability is going mainstream – also in tourism. More and more people make a conscious effort in considering how their everyday choices affect the world. However, when wanderlust grips, most people seem to opt for convenience and comfort over the environment. But you can choose both!

A representative poll by Omio has found that many travelers in Europe are ready to make a compromise between minimizing their impact on climate change: One in four says that they are willing to accept an additional 60 minutes to their overall traveling time, provided that this will have a positive effect on the environment. Eight percent of the respondents say they would take ground transportation even if this meant an additional two hours of traveling. Every other person thinks they would travel by train instead of plane if the connection were faster, while already more than half of the Europeans are choosing the train or bus if it is the more sustainable option instead of flying.

CO2 and time saved by train travel for top routes

With more and more people leaning toward ground travel for sustainability reasons, every tenth person is also switching to train travel due to safety concerns due to the global pandemic, while almost every fourth European is planning on taking more domestic trips this year. And, luckily, travelers have enough options to choose from.

Everyone knows that planes are major gas guzzlers. Traveling on the ground can lower our carbon footprint tremendously. Not only that, traveling by train or bus can be just as fast and comfortable as flying. Think about all those times you have had to wait in long security lines, never mind the traffic to and from the airport. And don’t get us started on baggage and in-flight fees. On the ground, travel gives you all the comforts of a flight but none of the hassle.

Trains vs. Flights Ranking from 2019

Click here to get access to the full routes included in the 2019 research. Omio researched all European routes included in the ranking. This ranking was based on the 100 most popular routes by train, bus and flight booked on Omio during summer 2019 (August 15, 2019 - September 30, 2019).

Ready to go? Get there with Omio!

Trains in Europe

Trains in Europe are a fast, safe and efficient way of traveling around countries and across the continent. Train travel is one of the most popular choices for locals and visitors alike thanks to trains being clean, modern and fast.

Train companies in Europe vary from country to country with some companies crossing into neighboring countries. Most train companies in Europe are state-owned, meaning there’s one main train company providing the routes throughout a country, occasionally with smaller regional companies running some local routes. The biggest exception to this is the UK, where train companies are privatized meaning there are multiple companies serving routes across the country.

Furthermore, all countries have committed to high-speed trains across Europe. Many routes, particularly across borders can be done within a matter of hours. These routes include London to Paris and Amsterdam to Brussels. For longer journeys, night trains can be considered. Although they were once more popular there are still some night trains that run throughout Europe.

Explore several countries in Europe by train

Europe by train can seem overwhelming but, in reality, it is often easier and faster than flying! With train tracks stretching the width and breadth of Europe, getting around by train is an enjoyable way to see the continent. With lots of different ticket options allowing for travel in several countries, getting around by train is as easy as your daily commute. From London to Paris, Berlin to Amsterdam and Prague to Budapest, discovering Europe by train is an unforgettable experience.

Trains from Rome to Florence	duration: 1h12
Trains from Madrid to Barcelona	duration: 2h30
Trains from Barcelona to Madrid	duration: 2h30
Trains from London to Paris	duration: 2h16
Trains from Prague to Vienna	duration: 3h55
Trains from Paris to London	duration: 2h28
Trains from Rome to Venice	duration: 2h35
Trains from Florence to Rome	duration: 2h40
Trains from Paris to Amsterdam	duration: 3h28
Trains from Milan to Venice	duration: 2h25

Train Companies in Europe

Everything you need to know: European train travel

Taking the train is a great alternative to flying in Europe: seats are generally spacious and comfortable, boarding avoids the long waits at airport security, and it lets you view the picturesque landscapes of the regions you travel through—from the snow-tipped Swiss Alps to the rolling green hills of Spain’s Basque Country. Additionally, most main train stations in Europe are located in the city center, saving you potentially expensive cab rides to and from the airport.

Train service, speed, and prices vary considerably depending on the country; Western Europe tends to operate more modern, high-speed trains, while Eastern European trains can be less frequent but also tend to have far cheaper ticket prices. Train ticket prices can fluctuate considerably, so it’s best to book your train tickets as far in advance as possible.

EU rail schedules vary depending on what country you're in, this is because each country has its own major rail company (except the U.K., which has several). However, most train companies in Europe offer international train travel, which allows you to travel from one European country to another. You can find these EU train schedules when you search for your desired trains around Europe with Omio.

ÖBB: ÖBB or Austrian Federal Railways is Austria's national train company. In addition to numerous cities in Austria, ÖBB also travels to select destinations in Germany, Hungary, Italy, Switzerland and the Czech Republic.

Westbahn: Westbahn operates one train route between Vienna and Salzburg. Westbahn trains run every hour and stop at Wien Westbahnhof, Wien-Hütteldorf, St. Pölten Hbf, Amstetten, Linz Hbf, Wels Hbf, Attnang-Puchheim and Salzburg Hbf.

SNCB: In addition to servicing domestic destinations, Belgium's national train company also operates 4 high-speed international train routes: from Brussels to Paris Nord or Lille Flandres train stations in cooperation with SNCF; from Leuven to Ans; from Liège to the German border; and from Antwerpen-Centraal to Rotterdam Centraal train stations.

České Dráhy: Often abbreviated ČD, České Dráhy is the Czech Republic's main train company. České Dráhy operates both regional and long-distance train routes throughout the Czech Republic.

SNCF: SNCF operates all of France's national rail services including the high-speed TGV network. More than 800 high-speed SNCF trains depart every day. SNCF’s TGV trains carry over 100 million passengers every year.

Deutsche Bahn: Germany's national train company is the largest in Europe, transporting approximately two billion passengers per year. Deutsche Bahn's high-speed Intercity-Express (ICE) trains connect major cities in Germany as well as some select international destinations in Belgium, Switzerland, Austria, France, Denmark and the Netherlands.

Italo: Italo is a privately-owned high-speed train company that connects 16 train stations in 13 Italian cities. Italo operates 3 high-speed train lines through Italy: from Verona to Naples (via Bologna, Florence, and Rome); from Venice to Salerno (via Padua, Bologna, Florence, Rome, and Naples); and from Turin to Salerno (via Milan, Reggio Emilia, Bologna, Florence, Rome, and Naples).

Trenitalia: Owned by the Italian government, Trenitalia is Italy's main train company. Trenitalia offers both regional and long-distance routes as well as international connections to select destinations in France, Germany, Austria, and Switzerland.

NS: Nederlandse Spoorwegen or NS is the main train company in the Netherlands. NS runs 4,800 domestic trains in the Netherlands every day, serving approximately 1.1 million passengers.

Renfe: Renfe Operadora is Spain's national train company. Renfe's high-speed AVE trains travel up to 350 km/h and connect Madrid with other major cities in Spain including Seville, Barcelona, Valencia, Toledo, Cordoba, and Malaga.

SBB: Swiss Federal Railways (or SBB) is Switzerland's national rail company and operates the majority of national and international train traffic. SBB also operates international EuroCity and EuroNight trains in Switzerland.

SJ: SJ is Sweden's main train company, which has been around for over 160 years. Over 130 000 people travel with SJ from over 275 stations in Sweden every day. SJ also travels internationally to other Scandanavian cities including Oslo and Copenhagen.

Abellio Greater Anglia: Abellio Greater Anglia Trains succeeded National Express in 2012 as Eastern England's primary train company. Abellio's train network covers Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex, Cambridgeshire and parts of Hertfordshire.

Arriva Trains Wales: Arriva Trains operate on 5 routes: between the Midlands and Northern Wales, between South Wales and Northern Wales/Manchester, along the South Wales Coast Line to Cardiff and Swansea, along the North Wales Coast Line to Crewe and Manchester, while also operating a network of commuter train lines in and around Cardiff.

C2C: c2c is predominantly a London commuter railway, providing services along the London, Tilbury and Southend Railway line, from London Fenchurch Street to East London and along the southern part of Essex. Trains depart along the main route from Fenchurch Street to Shoeburyness around 8 times each hour during off-peak times.

East Midlands Trains: East Midlands Trains operates two types of trains: long-distance trains connecting London St Pancras train station with destinations throughout the UK and regional trains. East Midlands's regional trains link towns and cities in the East Midlands as well as Central and Northern England. East Midlands trains run between London and Sheffield, York, Derby, Corby, Nottingham, and Leeds.

Great Western Railway: Great Western Railway is the main train company for the west and south-west counties in the UK including Devon, Somerset, Cornwall, Gloucestershire, Bedfordshire, Wiltshire, and Bristol. Great Western's trains are also available in Wales, focusing specifically on Southern Wales.

First Hull Trains: First Hull Trains operate just one train from Hull to London, which stops at Brough, Howden, Selby, Doncaster, Retford, Grantham, and Stevenage along the way. First Hull's train schedule has grown every year since 2000, with 7 trains currently departing every day.

TransPennine Express: TransPennine Express operates intercity trains on 3 main routes across Northern England. TransPennine Express trains connect Liverpool and Manchester with Leeds, York, Sheffield and Doncaster with as many as 5 trains departing per hour on some of the popular routes.

Merseyrail: Merseyrail operates trains throughout Liverpool, the surrounding area, and the rest of Merseyside. Over 100,000 passengers utilize Merseyrail's network every week with pproximately 800 trains departing every day.

Northern Rail: Northern Rail operates most trains in Northern England between Leeds, Liverpool, Manchester, Newcastle and Sheffield.

Scotrail: Scotrail runs trains throughout Northern England connecting Newcastle and Carlisle with London. The vast majority of Scaotrail trains run between major Scottish cities like Edinburgh, Glasgow, Inverness, Aberdeen and Dundee.

Southern: Southern trains run between London, East and West Sussex, Surrey, Kent, and Hampshire. Popular destinations include Hastings, Lewes, and Southampton. Southern also manages the Gatwick Express which is a 30-minute, non-stop train between London Victoria station and Gatwick International Airport.

South Western Railway: South Western Railway (formerly South West Trains) operates the majority of commuter trains from London Waterloo station to destinations in South West London. Most trains run on an electrified third rail, with diesel engine trains on the West of England line to Salisbury, Exeter, and Bristol.

Avanti West Coast: Avanti Trains (formerly Virgin Trains) operates long-distance trains on the West Coast Main Line between Greater London, the West Midlands, North West England, North Wales and Scotland. Avanti West Coast connects London, Birmingham, Manchester, Liverpool, and Glasgow.

Eurostar: Journeys from London to other prominent French or Belgian cities will always involve a Eurostar train via the Chunnel under the English Channel. Eurostar trains run between London and Paris, Lille, Lyon, or Brussels. Traveling by the Eurostar from London to Paris or Brussels takes approximately two and half hours.

Thalys: Founded as a partnership between SNCF, SNCB, and Deutsche Bahn in May 1995, Thalys links major cities in Belgium, Germany and the Netherlands by international high-speed train. Thalys trains link Paris, Brussels, Antwerp, Rotterdam, Amsterdam, Liège, Aachen and Cologne.

TGV Lyria: TGV Lyria trains, a partnership between SBB and SNCF, transports more than 4 million travelers per year between France and Switzerland. TGV Lyria operates 6 train routes: between Geneva and Lille, between Geneva and Nice (via Marseille), between Lausanne and Paris (via Geneva), between Lausanne and Paris (via Dijon), between Interlaken and Paris (via Bern, Basel, and Dijon), and between Zurich and Paris (via Basel and Mulhouse).

Thello: Created in 2010 via a cooperative agreement between Trenitalia and SNCF, Thello trains link major cities in France with cities in Northern Italy. Thello trains travel to many of the cities on France's Côte d'Azur. Thello offers night trains between Paris Gare de Lyon and Venezia Santa Lucia railway station, which stop at Dijon-Ville, Milano Centrale, Brescia, Verona Porta Nuova, Vicenza and Padova along the way. Daytime trains between Milan and Marseille (via Genoa and Nice) are also operated by Thello.

Deutsche Bahn and Renfe also offer international train routes into countries bordering Germany and Spain.

When is the best time to book train tickets in Europe?

With long-distance trains in Europe, it’s best to book as far in advance as possible. Most European train companies release tickets 90 days in advance but there are some exceptions;
Eurostar and Deutsche Bahn release tickets 180 days in advance, French international trains (i.e. Paris-Amsterdam) release tickets 120 days in advance and Eastern European countries release tickets just 60 days in advance.

During peak months (i.e. the summer season and Christmas) trains in Europe will be busier and more expensive, as cheaper tickets sell out faster so, booking your euro train tickets as soon as they’re released will help keep costs down.

If you are booking a short-distance or intercity train within Europe, these tickets can be bought on the day of travel as prices fluctuate less.

First Class vs. Second Class train travel in Europe

Most train companies in Europe have two classes, first and second. Second Class is the cheapest option—think coach class in the United States—and offers comfy seats and in some cases, free Wi-Fi. If you want to guarantee a peaceful journey look out for quiet carriages, available in second class at no extra cost.

First Class is the more expensive option but affords guests comfier seats, larger tables, charging outlets, free Wi-Fi, complimentary food and drinks and access to lounges. Many European train companies offer last-minute upgrade deals to 1st class so it’s always worth double-checking!

Traveling by Train in European Countries

Trains in Italy

Trains in Spain

Trains in France

Trains in the UK

Trains in Germany

Trains in Austria

Traveling by Train in Europe: FAQs

Booking a train ticket for your Eurail adventure with Omio is easy. Just simply put in your departure and arrival destinations — and the date you’d like to travel— then Omio will do all the hard work for you. Within seconds, our search will present you with all the possible train routes running that day along with a breakdown of times and prices. Once you’ve picked the option that suits you best you just need to follow the instructions and within moments you would've paid and received your ticket!

Please note: That in some countries you can only book tickets up to three months in advance.

Although most train journeys in Europe don’t require you to have a seat reservation, it is advised to buy one to secure yourself a seat. In some cases, particularly in the UK, your seat reservation comes included when you buy a specific ticket. Other companies such as Deutsche Bahn and Trenitalia will offer seat reservations for an extra fee. If you have a Eurail pass then you will need to buy an additional seat reservation for every trip you take. Also in some rare cases, such as the Bernina Express, you must buy a seat reservation to be able to get on the train.

If your ticket is a mobile ticket (don’t worry we’ll let you know) then all you need to do is make sure your phone is fully charged! If your ticket needs to be printed then make sure this is done before you board your train. Also, give yourself plenty of time to find the platform. Some trains station, particularly in larger European cities, can be quite big and it's best to avoid stress by being there in time to find the platform and maybe pick-up a snack before you board the train.

Amenities will vary from country to country and train to train. Although it is safe to say that most long-distance journeys will have charging sockets, a cafe, and Wi-Fi. Furthermore, most trains in Europe will have toilets on board and baggage storage.

Taking baggage on European trains is much more relaxed than that of airlines and in, some cases, buses. The general rule is that you’re allowed to bring with you what you can carry—for example, two large suitcases and a carry-on. Bags can be stowed either above the seats or at the end of each carriage and will be safe. Bigger items such as bikes will often need to have a ticket bought for them and for longer journeys may need to be stored in a different carriage. It is best to check with the train company that you are traveling to check their bike policy.

If you are traveling by Eurostar then it is worth noting that they have a baggage limit of two large items (of a maximum of 85cm in one dimension) as well as a carry-on. They also prohibit the carrying of certain items including knives over 3 inches and flammable canisters.

Pet policy varies from country to country as well as companies. All companies will allow guide dogs but it is always worth notifying the company beforehand as sometimes they may require a free ticket to board the train. Most train companies, allow small dogs as long as they are properly stored in a dog carrier. However, as policies do vary we recommend checking with the company before purchasing your tickets. International services such as Eurostar will not allow animals except for guide dogs.

Traveling with children on trains in Europe is simple and often one of the easiest ways to get around the continent. Child travel policy varies from company-to-company but children 15 and under will often travel at a discounted price and must be accompanied by an adult. Babies and toddlers can often travel for free if they share a seat. It is worth checking with the train companies as ages and policies to vary.

Refunds depend on the company you are traveling with and the type of the ticket you originally purchased. To check if you apply for a refund it is best to check with the train company directly or you can speak to someone in our Customer Service department.

Get inspiration for your European train adventure

Got your tickets for your European train adventure and need to know what to do next? Well, you've come to the right place, check out our online magazine The Window Seat, and find out about the best things to do in Europe and beyond—you can also find out about night trains!

Trains in Europe

Train Companies in Canada

If you’re heading to Canada, check out VIA Rail. Travel on “The Great Western Way” and discover Canada from Toronto to Vancouver or take “The Maritime Way” and explore the country’s Eastern provinces.

VIA Rail Canada is an independent, state-owned corporation that operates intercity train services throughout Canada. Running 500 trains a week, the company transports more than 4.7 million passengers yearly. The most popular Via Rail route is the Montréal–Ottawa–Toronto line, which takes a little more than five hours end-to-end. This line transports around 2.5 million people each year.

Traveling the U.S. or Canada by train is an enriching experience like no other. So get on board!

Trains in the U.S. FAQs:

Catching a train in the United States? Here are some tips to help keep costs down:

Aim to travel outside summer and winter vacations as these are when trains are most expensive.
The earlier you book Amtrak tickets the better—even booking 14 days in advance can save you up to 25 percent compared to buying on the day of travel.
Whether you’re a local or a tourist, getting a discount card is worth it especially if you’re planning on using trains frequently.

Yes—we have launched in the U.S. meaning that Omio sells tickets for Amtrak and VIA Rail trains. You can get mobile tickets on selected routes. Look out for the green mobile ticket symbol.

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