You can travel south to Andalucia at high speed if you choose, but if you have a few hours to spare, why not take the old rail route that runs through the gorge at Despeñaperros?
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EUROPE BY RAIL: THE DEFINITIVE GUIDE. By Nicky Gardner & Susanne Kries. 19th edition published 22 June 2026. #EuropebyRail. Published by @hiddeneurope.eu
Interesting to have the chance this month to travel on the Glacier Express in a carriage which was largely empty. It was a spontaneous decision seeing the rare empty carriage. Paid the supplement onboard.
“Görltz, right on the Polish border, has one of the finest city centres in central Europe with a dazzling array of Renaissance, Gothic and baroque architecture…” and you’ll find Görlitz close to the start of Route 38 in our book...
“In time we come to the Cinque Terre coast where, prior to the coming of the railway, a string of villages clinging to the cliffs relied entirely on boats for their connection with the outside world…” (from Route 46 in the 19th edition of Europe by Rail). Photo © Ahara / Dreamstime
Want a peek inside the 19th edition of our book? Here’s one of our ‘Sidetracks’ features from Europe by Rail, all about some of the best mountain excursions you can do by train in the Alps…
A tram ride is a fine way to take the pulse of the Rua Augusta in Lisbon, and the railway is a fine way to take the pulse of Portugal. Route 24 in our book is designed to do just that, as we follow the Atlantic coast of Iberia... Photo © Angelo Cordeschi / Dreamstime
For a couple of weeks this autumn - first half of November - the Bernina Express will run via the beautiful Prättigau railway instead of Albula. A rare chance to take a direct train from Klosters to Italy, running via Zernez to pick up the regular Bernina route at Samedan.
Spotted near Aranjuez in April this year. A Renfe train crossing the Rio Tajo (River Tagus). A lush valley before the arid lands of La Mancha. This old main line to the south from Madrid is a gorgeous route.
The St Moritz to Zermatt Glacier Express at Nätschen. A photo stop and a chance to breathe cool mountain air (or have a smoke) before the steep descent to Andermatt.
Swiss style on a long journey through Germany. Twice daily SBB trains from Basel to Hamburg offer a superb alternative to DB ICE trains. This is the ECE8 at Mannheim.
We describe crossing the Forth Bridge in Europe by Rail as a real magic moment… and if you are travelling north from Edinburgh, make sure to sit on the right side of the train to get a fine view of the bridge as you approach. Photo © Tomáš Bureš / Dreamstime
Which side of the train do you need to sit on for the best view of the coast, for example as you are passing through Villefranche-sur-Mer on the French Riviera as you travel along Route 46 of our book? Photo © Sergey Dzyuba / Dreamstime
Long term followers of Europe by Rail will know that we are great advocates for slow travel, but sometimes there is a need to get somewhere quickly… and Spain’s high-speed lines can certainly do that, for example on the AVE between Barcelona and Madrid… Photo © Pedro2009 / Dreamstime
Dresden station is not only the gateway to this fascinating city on the Elbe river in eastern Germany, but it is also the starting point for a journey to the mountains from the 19th edition of Europe by Rail…
Santiago Calatrava’s spectacular and fluid design for Liège-Guillemins railway station lies at the heart of a bold urban renewal programme. If you’re stopping for a photo, the station is arguably even better appreciated from the road outside… Photo © Boarding1now
Have you already got your hands on a copy of the 19th edition of Europe by Rail? If you’ve enjoyed planning your future railway trips or simply a spot of armchair travel over a hot weekend, could we ask you a favour?
The #52routes of Europe by Rail. But which one to take next? Which one cuts the mustard? How about Route 14, which takes the slow route from Paris to Geneva via the lovely French city of Dijon (see what we did there?) Photo © Sergey Dzyuba / Dreamstime
The 19th edition of Europe by Rail is out now, and as well as some lesser known treasures along the railways of the continent there are of course some classics, such as the Semmering Railway - one of Europe’s finest mountain routes...
One of the joys of exploring Europe by Rail is stopping off on a whim at a small station in the hills. This is Le Tretien in Switzerland. The 19th edition of our book Europe by Rail: The Definitive Guide is published today.
Not so often that an ICE makes a scheduled stop in Emmerich.
What nicer way to mark publication da of the 19th edition of "Europe by Rail: The Definitive Guide" than by riding the Hanzelijn west from Zwolle in the Netherlands? A regional train seen here at Lelystad.
What is the perfect railway carriage? If you opt for the belle époque style of carriages which are used on some local Golden Pass trains from Zweisimmen to Montreux you can combine the theatre of the Swiss landscapes with a spot of time travel…
When you dream of a European railway adventure, what comes to mind? How about a journey through snowy mountains, for example on the Albula Railway from Chur in the Rhine Valley to the Engadine region? Photo © Boarding1now
At the start of this month, I didn't even know Lüneburg-West station existed. It's not in HAFAS, but seems to be a semi-detached bit of Lüneburg's main station. But in last ten days, I have been through it thrice. On Euronight, ComfortJet and ICE-L trains.
Sometimes the best railways are the ones of yesteryear. The old Spey Valley railway near Nethy Bridge is now part of the Speyside Way. Follow it down the valley towards Grantown-on-Spey (East) and beyond.
Have enjoyed trying a few night train operators these past weeks. European Sleeper was fun. Less success with RDC/SJ Berlin to Sweden which terminated short in Hamburg, just three hours into the journey.
Speed can be exciting, but sometimes we like to take the slow train. Route 39 in the upcoming 19th edition of Europe by Rail follows a rural route through Upper Bavaria from Munich to Innsbruck…
Which railway journey would you like to take next? One from the forthcoming 19th edition of Europe by Rail perhaps? How about a journey along the Rhine, upstream from Cologne via Koblenz and Mainz? Then you’ll be wanting to jump aboard Route 9 in our book. Photo © Boarding1now
The 19th edition of Europe by Rail features 52 routes, a journey for every week of the year, from following the Glacier Express from St Moritz to Zermatt, Bohemian byways, a foray through Finland and many more… Photo © Michael Müller
