Travel by train to Europe: options. Tours to Europe by train: features and recommendations of tourists

If you conduct a survey among Russians on the topic "What kind of transport do you prefer to use when going on a trip abroad?", Then the aircraft will be in the lead. It allows you to quickly reach anywhere in the world, and in recent years, prices for air tickets have become more than available. But, unfortunately, not all people well tolerate even short-term air travel, for example, to Europe. This may be due to medical indications, phobias or just dislike for this type of travel. What to do when you want to go on holiday, and the plane is not available? In this case, you should consider traveling to Europe by train. All the features of this trip are devoted to our article.

Railways: trains to Europe

Residents of Moscow and St. Petersburg are in a better position than Russians living in other regions of the country. After all, the last to get to Europe will be much more difficult, but Muscovites can easily make this journey by train. Such routes have always existed, but in recent years they are in high demand, and in the summer season, Russians often face the lack of tickets to the country.

A train to Europe can be traveled alone, by a family or by a big noisy company. In any case, you will be provided with comfort and convenience, because there is some special charm in the quiet observation of the passing landscapes under the uniform clatter of wheels. This is how many people imagine a perfect holiday.

From Moscow and St. Petersburg train to Europe can be reached in many countries. Of course, not all routes suggest a direct route from one point to another, but experienced travelers consider this a minor inconvenience. In addition, the train travels to Europe in absolutely different ways. Russians can go on the road unorganized, that is, independently, and can purchase a tour in the agency. Since railway travel abroad is still something that is unfamiliar to most of our compatriots, we decided to consider these options in more detail.

Travel with the help of travel agencies

Batch tours to Europe are sold by almost all Russian agencies. Over the years, various programs have been developed that can satisfy even the most demanding taste. And almost all routes are in stable demand. Travel agents in every way praise such trips, listing their advantages. Among them:

• Maximum safety;
• Low cost;
• The opportunity for a short period of time to get acquainted with different cities;
• Ease of movement between countries.

To date, tours to Europe are represented by four main programs: summer and winter holidays, combined and excursion.

Beach holidays

Every year, with the onset of heat by train on the sea, more and more of our compatriots are leaving for Europe. Such tours allow you to get acquainted with the intermediate settlements along the way and eventually rest for several days in a popular European resort. Sometimes the program of travel includes also the excursion program. Most often, Russians go to the sea to the following countries:

• Italy.
• Bulgaria.
• France.

The cost of such a tour fluctuates within one and a half thousand euros for twelve days (it should be borne in mind that you will spend about a day on the road to Europe).

Winter travelers to Europe

With the onset of the first frost, Russians are rushing to European ski resorts. More than sixty percent of the total number of fans of extreme sports travel to Europe. And this is quite a good indicator for Russian Railways. Most of our compatriots go to Poland, Finland and Norway. Some experienced tourists with transfers go to France or Spain.

The cost of such a tour starts from six hundred euros, which is quite inexpensive for an active and comfortable stay.

Combined Tours

This is a rather complicated kind of travel. Usually tourists get on the train to Brest, and then from there several buses of Europe pass by bus. At the final point of travel, Russians will wait for a rest for five to seven days. Such a tour can only be sustained by experienced tourists, ready to spend a long time en route.

Excursion package tours

Such rest is usually in demand in the early spring and late autumn, when there is a certain decline in tourism activity in the main areas. In some cases, tourists travel by train directly to their destination. Then they can see only one European city. Another version of this tour resembles a combined one and has one scheme with it, the difference is that it includes excursions in all cities of destination. There is a similar pleasure from 700 euros.

Independent travel to Europe by train: general description

If you are not afraid to plan trips yourself, then to go to Europe by train - this is definitely your option. You will be able to visit almost any European country, because here the railway communication system is developed very well. It is worth noting that crossing the border, you find yourself in a special world where the most common mode of transport is a train. For a European, this movement is the most convenient, so you will enjoy comfortable and clean cars, polite conductors and developed infrastructure of the stations.

Train tickets to Europe are mostly bought at the ticket offices, many of them are not sold through the Internet. But on the official website of RZhD you can always see all possible compositions in the section "International routes", but you will have to pay for the ticket already at the station.

In Europe, the situation with railway tickets is similar: some of them are sold only through cash desks, and payment by card will raise the cost from five to twenty percent. This fact inexperienced travelers often learn on their own sad experience.

I would like to add that both Russian and European trains are very convenient. You do not have to shake for a day in a crowded wagon with an unpleasant smell. Deciding on a railway trip to Europe, you will discover a completely different world.

How to get to Europe?

If you have never traveled abroad by train, then before buying tickets you need to find out a few nuances, without knowing which, it will be difficult to plan a trip.

For example, high-speed trains to Europe from Moscow are sent quite rarely. Such a route is quite expensive for RZhD, so it is often canceled. The average travel time is 20 or 30 hours.

Which trains go to Europe more often? This is one of the most interesting questions, because many travelers get to European countries on special non-stop cars, which are interchanged on different trains as they go to different trains. Thus, the passenger, even without ever going to the platform, can change several trains.

You can also go to Europe and the usual direct train, which at numerous stations makes quite a long stop. For example, in Brest the train costs six hours. This allows tourists to take a walk in the city and calmly return to the railway station.

Types of wagons

Wagons of international trains are made according to the European standard. They are divided into first and second class. The difference between them is the number of passengers. In addition, the first class is somewhat more spacious than the second. Also the difference can be in the comfort of the seats. Therefore, it is important not to confuse the class of cars, buying tickets for the train at the ticket office.

Moscow: where can I go by train?

Finland, France, Czech Republic, Holland - these and many other countries you can visit if you choose a railway version of the message and buy a train ticket to Europe from Moscow. Prices, by the way, do not always depend on the distance traveled. For example, from Moscow to Paris you can get for 500 euros, and travel to Helsinki will cost 100 euros.

Many Muscovites go straight to Helsinki, and then go on a ferry or another train to Europe. This significantly reduces the cost of travel, especially if you take care of a single ticket. With it, you can travel throughout Europe for a few days and save at least 200 euros on these movements.

St. Petersburg: where are the trains going?

The choice of a train from St. Petersburg to Europe is quite limited. Now the inhabitants of the northern capital can reach Finland, the Czech Republic and Tallinn. The fare starts from 250 euros.

You can get to Tallinn in a sitting car, this innovation appeared about a year ago. Of course, this mode of transportation is not the most comfortable, but the price is able to completely change your opinion about such trips - 1300 rubles. Many students enjoy such a magnificent opportunity to get to Europe for symbolic money.

Planning a railway trip: highlights

So, you decided to go to Europe by train. How to start preparing for a trip? What to look for and how to save on tickets? Let's analyze these questions in the most detail.

First of all, you need to work out the route itself. Your main goal will be to choose a place in Europe, to which you will go by train. Moving further will be much easier.

Keep in mind that RZD can buy tickets for 60-90 days. At this point you can buy the cheapest tickets. In the future they will be more expensive. Before buying, pay attention to possible discounts, they are seasonal or targeted. On some routes the service of Russian Railways allows ticket booking via the Internet with the subsequent twelve-hour redemption at the ticket office.

Once in Europe, calculate how often you plan to travel by train. If there are enough trips of this kind, then you will get a single ticket that is sold at any ticket office or on the website. It can be of three types:

• For one country;
• For all European countries;
• For a certain number of days.

Keep in mind that in Europe there is no single service for buying train tickets. In each country there is a website.

You can buy a ticket not only through the Internet, but also at the ticket offices, shops and special vending machines. If possible, pay in cash - this significantly reduces its cost.

When buying a ticket, carefully look at the designation of the train - it can be high-speed and local. The first one can drive half of Europe in a matter of hours and almost without stopping, while the second one will brake at each station.

And in conclusion I would like to tell you one small, but very important secret, concerning European trains: doors to the car do not open automatically, for this inside and outside there is a special button. Do not forget about this, otherwise you will not get on the train, and your journey through Europe will not begin.