You've sorted your flights and first destination — now let's figure out how you're actually going to move around once you get there.
Option One
Train Travel — My Top Pick
Milan Central Station — one of Europe's great railway cathedrals
Train travel is my favorite way to move around Europe — and I'm not alone. Many European countries are even considering eliminating short-distance flights for routes easily covered by train. It's often more comfortable and hassle-free than flying, with none of the airport security theatre.
We've built two entire series around European rail travel. If you want to see what it actually looks like in practice, start with The Inaugural European Rail Odyssey or our more recent Second European Rail Odyssey.
Planning Your Train Journey
- Map It Out: Scour train maps and trip times before committing to anything. A Rome to Vienna trip, for example, is about 10 hours — worth knowing before you assume it's a quick hop.
- Break Up Long Journeys: Instead of one long haul, consider a midway stop to explore and spend the night. Two 5-hour segments — say, 6 AM–11 AM and then onward the next morning — still leave you the afternoon and evening to discover a new town.
Long-Distance Train Perks for First-Timers
The views are half the point
✦ Scenic Views: Enjoy incredible countryside scenery, especially on high-speed routes through mountains and coastlines.
✦ Café Cars: Always available, serving drinks, snacks, and light meals — jamón sandwiches in Spain, sausages in Germany.
✦ First Class: Often includes cart or waiter service and is frequently not much more expensive than coach if you book early.
✦ Comfort: Large, comfortable seats with tray tables, even in standard class.
✦ Tech-Friendly: Most newer trains offer complimentary Wi-Fi and charging ports at every seat.
✦ Local Transfers: Many major train stations include a free exchange to board a connecting local train. For more detail on European rail travel, check out my train series.
Most European trains are pet friendly — small dogs and cats can typically travel in a carrier, and larger dogs are usually welcome on a leash with a muzzle and a pet ticket. Rules vary by country and operator. See our Train Travel in Europe with Pets resource page for a full breakdown by country.
Train shutdowns happen — strikes, accidents, infrastructure work. Following a tragic derailment in January 2026, the line between Málaga and Córdoba was closed for months. Europe's bus network is extensive and a reliable backup. If you don't want to rent a car, always research bus alternatives for your route before you travel.
Option Two
Car Travel — Is It for You?
Taking a car is a valid option, but it depends heavily on your travel style. Consider these before you book:
- Local Drinks & Driving: If you enjoy local wines and beers — and you should — driving for 2+ hours after a night out is neither fun nor legal. Policing yourself on vacation isn't enjoyable either.
- Active Travel: After hours of hiking or walking tours, being stuck in a car with tired legs might not be ideal.
- Tight Spaces: European streets, especially in older towns and cities, are incredibly narrow and parking spaces are very tight. Always rent the smallest car you're comfortable with — it makes navigating and parking significantly easier.
This is not an exaggeration
The Madrid–Lisbon Lesson
We rented a car in Madrid in 2019, planning to explore and drive to Lisbon to visit family. Flying back from Lisbon to Madrid was only $65 each — seemed like a great deal. What we didn't realize: dropping a rental car in another country adds about $250.
$130 for two flights + $250 drop fee = $380. So much for that great deal on flights to Madrid.
✦ Train to Lisbon: A train from Spain to Lisbon is another story — as of this writing, the overnight train requires a change mid-journey.
✦ Our Long Drive Back: Our last trip day involved an 8-hour drive from Lisbon to Madrid. It was beautiful, but nothing stresses you like having to be somewhere to catch a flight.
The castles you find when you can pull over anywhere
When a Car Makes Sense
✦ Spontaneous Exploration: You prefer the freedom to follow your curiosity and pull over for that hillside castle you spot from the highway.
✦ Flexible Itinerary: You want to move around without a fixed plan.
✦ Traveling with Pets: A car was essential for our move to Europe with three dogs — we couldn't get them on a train to our final destination. This is the one scenario where I recommend getting the largest car possible.
✦ Traveling with Small Children: The comfort and flexibility of your own family bubble is hard to beat.
✦ Important Appointments: Job interviews, medical consultations, legal appointments in another city — when you absolutely cannot miss something and public transport schedules aren't reliable enough, a car removes all the uncertainty.
✦ House Hunting or Relocation Scouting: If you're exploring villages and towns outside the city center as potential places to live, a car is essential. Trains don't stop in the smaller towns, and bus schedules won't let you cover enough ground. This was exactly our situation when we were exploring the area around Málaga before settling in.
If you have an early morning flight and you're already renting a car, consider dropping the car at the airport the day before your flight and staying at the airport hotel that night. You eliminate the morning rush, use up hotel points certificates (airport hotels usually fall under cap — see Step 5), and arrive at the gate calm and rested.
Always check the cross-country drop fee before booking a one-way rental. It can easily add $200–$300+ to what looked like a bargain — as we discovered on the Madrid–Lisbon trip.
Other Options
Bus, Ferry & Beyond
Bus and ferry travel are both worth knowing about — we've used both. Buses in particular are underrated. Europe's intercity bus network is extensive and increasingly comfortable, with operators like FlixBus connecting cities across the continent at very low prices. If trains are disrupted or fully booked, buses are almost always a viable backup.
Ferries open up entirely different itineraries — crossing to the Greek islands, hopping between Croatia's coastline, or connecting Spain and Morocco. Your choice of transport depends on your comfort level and what brings you the most enjoyment for each leg of the journey. There's no single right answer.
Thanks for stopping by and sharing!