What are the best ways to get around Europe? Once you get to your destination, how you get around can really change how you see a country. It's more than just a way to get from point A to point B. How you choose to get around can really change what you see and even how much you can see. Here we will talk about the different options and things to look for. Maybe you decide to step outside your comfort zone and try something different. In the end, it's all up to you. If you want to jump ahead and start booking click here!
In this section we'll be talking about the different way to get around Europe available to you. They all have their own advantages and disadvantages. You will probably be using a combination of ways to get around. What you choose may depend on what you want to see, what your budget is, and where you plan on staying.
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Trains in Europe
Trains in Europe: Pros and Cons
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Cons
Buying Individual Train Tickets
Direct from Railways
If you just plan on taking the train once in a while, then look directly at rail provider website or you can buy tickets at the station. Prices at the station can be more expensive during peak times of the day and week. So a 6am train in the middle of the week could be cheaper since there are less locals travelling then.
Check who is operating the train. For example I needed a train from Graz, Austria to Hamburg, Germany. On Deutsche Bahn's website the cheapest I could find was 129€. I checked ÖBB (Austrian Rail), I got on the exact same DB train for 60€. Deutsche Bahn, for example, has many options that you may miss if you just plug in a "to and from". They have inter-regional deals, weekend deals and more. So really explore the all websites for deals, and discount cards.
In order to find reasonably price trains, it's best to start looking and booking about 3 months in advance. Waiting until the last minute can be quite expensive.
Where to Buy Train Tickets Online
Omio (formerly Go Euro) is one of the best sites to find and book single tickets for trains within Europe. Omio will find you all the routes and even compare with flights and buses.
Rail Europe also allows you to book single train tickets in Europe and also specializes in Rail Passes.
Eurail Pass and Interrail Pass
Regional trains in Europe are great. They can get you around quite fast, at a reasonable cost, and great comfort.
The Eurail Pass and Interrail Pass offer you hop on hop off tickets (overnight and high-speed trains may require reservations) in a variety of options.
The Eurail Pass is for non-European residents.
The Interrail Pass is for European residents.
You can get a Eurail Global Pass, Select Pass, or One Country Pass. All the passes differ, giving you options depending on your travel style.
Click here to learn what is the best Eurail Pass/Interrail Pass for you.
Public Transit in Europe
Public Transit in Europe: Pros and Cons
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Look for Discounts
There are lots of discounts to be found when using subway.
Look for multiple day passes or all day passes. You can find 3-day and 7-day pass, which is perfect for most trips. Some cities like Hamburg allow you to use their pass on the ferries there too.
Deutsche Bahn allows you to pay a little extra to use local transit for free with your train ticket the day you arrive or depart.
Every city will be different. Many cities in Europe have a visitor card. These cards allow you unlimited use of the public transit along with the discounts and free entry into common tourist attractions.
Here are some popular ones:
Transit Apps and Google Maps
If you are traveling with a smartphone, download the local public transit app. There it will tell you what bus/train to take and you can purchase tickets right on the app too often. They will have maps available too.
One of my favourite apps is City Mapper. It uses GPS to track you helping you find the bus stop, and even sending you an alert a stop in advance telling you when to get off. It's great for route planning, saving favourite locations to really make using public transit stress-free. It's not available in every city, so check first.
CityMapper Transit App
Using Google Maps will help immensely finding and planning a route. It will show you exactly which subways and trams to take from your current location. You can also download maps in advance for offline use.
Google Map Apps
Flights in Europe
Flights in Europe: Pros and Cons
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Cons
The Quickest Way
Flying within Europe is definitely the quickest way to get around. As for the cost, it can be comparable to taking the train if you know what to look for. There are lots of budget airlines that can get you around for under 100€. Just be careful and read all their fine print. Some will charge you to print off a ticket at the airport. Checked luggage can cost you much more than your ticket. So that 49€ flight, can now become 149€.
One of the best sites for booking flights within Europe is Omio (formerly Go Euro). They are my goto for checking transportation within Europe.
Beware of "Cheap" Flights
For example Ryanair has a flight from Berlin to London for 23€. If you forget to check in advance, look at paying 50€. I've read stories also of airlines separating people if they don't have reserved seats (read here).
Of course this is not intentional *cough*, but they really want you to pay the 2-3€ fee to reserve a seat. They do have an option for 84€ that includes reserved seating, and 20kg checked baggage, priority boarding. Just think, if anyone is getting bumped "if" they oversell the flight, is it the person paying 84€ or 23€? I'm not saying this to discourage you from booking with a low budget airline.
Just do your homework and be prepared for anything. Also, know your baggage allowances before you book. Check here.
To learn more on booking flights, check out my page on finding cheap flights to Europe.
Car Rentals in Europe
Car Rentals in Europe: Pros and Cons
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Driving in Europe is Different
We are all good drivers, right? Yeah well, ask yourself that after driving in Europe. My first day driving there, I had to swerve in a traffic circle, to avoid a man, on a bike, eating an ice cream cone. Okay, that could happen anywhere, but I wasn't well versed in traffic circles.
Driving in different countries provides different challenges. Germany has the speed of the Autobahn and German efficiency. The UK is driving on the left. Spain you will notice many cars might not have side mirrors left and bumpers are for.....well.... bumping.
Drivers can be very aggressive. So educate yourself on what the rules are for each country you want to drive in, as well as the driving customs of the locals.
Before you rent a car in Europe, read the post on Things to Know Before Renting a Car in Europe.
Park and Rides
Park and Ride in Europe
Driving allows you to do what you want when you want. That being said, I avoid driving in a big city if possible. Many large cities have a Park and Ride set up. So if I was visiting a city for the day, I would park at a Park and Ride just outside the city and take the train in. This saves you the headache of city traffic, and parking. Parking can be very frustrating and costly.
Driving can take you to places you could never get to by train or bus. If you are travelling with more people it could be more economical than taking the train.
Where to Book a Car Rental
Booking a car can be as complex as finding a flight. It can be costly, and always make sure you know what you are getting, especially when it comes to insurance. One thing to be aware of is, that booking on a site from out of country can be much cheaper!
My friend was in Germany, walked into a car rental place, and they quoted her 400€ for two days plus they would put a freeze 900€ on her credit card. I told her to check the North America rental site not the German sites and she found a car for $115 Canadian for three days. That's quite a difference. How much does a car rental cost in Europe? It really depends.
I like using Auto Europe because you can compare multiple car rental companies at once. Give it a try to see what a car rental would cost in Europe for your trip.
To see other options for booking a car online click below.
Ride Sharing in Europe
Ride Sharing in Europe: Pros and Cons
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More Common Than You Think
Europe also has had Ride Sharing for a long time. Gas is expensive in Europe, so drivers often fill seats in their car in order to split the cost of gas.
There are lots of Ride Sharing sites in Europe. In essence it is organized hitchhiking, with reviews like Uber. You can get rides for as cheap as €6 for short distances. The longer the trip, the more it can cost.
Is it safe? Much like anything, read the reviews. Drivers have profiles, ratings, review much like AirBnB or Uber. Are you female and concerned about your safety? There is a Ladies Only website too.
I've heard people rave about it, especially in France. The locals use it all the time.
Blablacar is one of the biggest websites out there.
Regional Buses in Europe
Regional Buses in Europe
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Cons
Cost vs Time
Buses that go from city to city can be a cheap way to get around. Now that being said, sometimes that cheap can cost you time. On longer trips there may be several stops.
I once took a three hour bus ride from Hamburg to Berlin for 9€. The train would have taken 2 hours but cost three times as much. That's win in my books.
I also took a 16 hour bus trip (one way) from Berlin to Vilnius, Lithuania return for 60€. That's a loss in my books. I could have saved myself 29 hours travel time flying for 120€.
So really look at the distance you need to travel.
Travel on a Budget
If you are on a budget, maybe a bus is the way to go. For example, Paris to Munich by bus for 21 hours, you can find that for 33€. It's an overnight bus so you are saving on one night accommodation.
Flying with Air France from Paris to Munich on the same day you can find starting at 65€ for a 1 hour 30 minute flight time. So decision time. With the bus you are saving 82€ if you factor in one night in an apartment. Much more if you are staying in a hotel.
Use your time on the bus. This is a great time to organize your photos, label them, do some editing, things like that. We all know you have thousands of them. You'll start to forget what everything is called and the stories behind it. Take this down time to do all that. You'll be grateful after.
Not going to lie, waking up in the morning on a bus to the Polish countryside was a memorable moment. It really depends what kind of traveller you are.
Book a Bus in Europe
The nice thing with buses is you can just walk up and buy tickets the day you want to go. So if you are the type of traveller to fly (or bus in this case) by the seat of your pants, then buses are great.
Omio
If you are a planner, you can still book a bus in advance. One of my favourite websites to compare buses to flights and trains is Omio. You'll see a time and cost comparison for all three.
Flixbus
If you are looking for the largest networks in Europe check out FlixBus, as they have the most coverage in Europe. With over 1400 destinations in 26 countries this is why it's my goto place to look for bus tickets. One of the best deals is the InterFlix 5 cities for 99€!
Megabus
Megabus is a great site for finding buses in the UK.
Taxi / Uber in Europe
Taxi / Uber in Europe: Pros and Cons
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Cons
Experts in the City
Taxis and Uber are generally a quick, efficient way to get around. You don't have to know how to get there, just give them an address. Of course this comes at a cost.
Taxi drivers in cities like London have to pass extensive tests and pay big money to be able to operate a taxi. These drivers know the cities better than anyone. They can also be a source of advice for things to do.
If you are sharing a Taxi with others, it can be cost effective. I've often travelled by myself, and am very comfortable with public transit, even with a suitcase. But with more people in your group, you may want a taxi or Uber.
Most airports are not in the city. A taxi will generally run you about 50€ one way from the airport to city centre.
Using public transit can be between 9-10€ for the same trip. For door to door service, a taxi can be the way to go.
Biking in Europe
Cycling in Europe: Pros and Cons
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Cons
Fantastic City Exploring
Biking in a city can be quite a great way to get around. The harder part will be finding one. Some bike shops will rent by the day anywhere between 12€ - 18€ approximately.
Deutsche Bahn even has a bike rental program in the major cities. So you can arrive by train and if you are registered you can rent a bike.
Most major cities now have the pay-per-use bikes. You have to register in advance, and then pay for the time used. Usually based per half hour and/or daily rates. There are at stations in various locations around the city, so you can use the bike to get between locations, and they stop charging when you return the bike to a station.
If you are looking at renting an apartment through AirBnB/Wimdu/VRBO, sometimes a bike could be included. I had the fortune of finding a place like that in Graz. So for four days I had a bike, which was invaluable for getting around, all included in the rental of the place. That will be a little trickier to find, but they are out there.
Ships & Ferries in Europe
Ships & Ferries in Europe: Pros and Cons
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Cons
Great Experience
There are different ways to take a ship. I mainly look at it as a unique experience, not a cost effective way to get around.
There are cheaper boat tours that take you around rivers and canals for the day. Hamburg has ferries you can take around the harbour for the cost of public transit, which is nice to do for a cheap cost.
There are many cruises around Europe. You can tour the Fjords of Finland for 4 days, which will set you back about 350€ and up.
Smyril Lines run to and from Iceland from the Faroe Islands, Denmark and other places. Denmark to Iceland one way in a bunk in an 8 person room will set you back about 275€ not including meals for the 3 day trip.
Cruise on popular river routes like the Rhine for 7 days, start at about 800€ to well over 3500€.
Ferry Crossings
Look into some of the ferries crossing bodies of water.
Tallinn, Estonia to Helsinki, Finland across the Baltic Sea can be as low as 18€.
Popular routes like Dover, England to Calais, France can be done for approximately 35€.
These prices are quite reasonable to have a different experience on your trip. Ferries can also accommodate a vehicle.
For example a small car, from Tallinn to Helsinki starts at around 35€, and Dover to Calais 65€, just to give you an idea. Definitely something to look into for another option.