Take the train not the plane: 9 flight free journeys for your next adventure
- Eveline Vouillemin
- 14 minutes ago
- 7 min read
I have taken the Flight Free pledge this year, a challenge organised by the campaign group Flight Free UK to take a year off flying to reduce emissions and shift the norm away from aviation.
Travelling by train, bus, tram, boat, and bicycle is a joy and seeing it as part of the adventure can open up so many new and unexpected experiences.
I am not alone in feeling this way and the desire to travel sustainably is strong, with 93% of global travelers saying they want to make more sustainable travel choices.
Other supporters and lovers of flight free travel have shared their favourite routes and journeys with me and I have compiled an amazing list of flight free trips to inspire you for your next adventure!
San Sebastián, The Non Flying Scotsman
As a flight free traveller I have visited many places that were sensational. One of my favourite cities to visit that is easy to access without a plane is San Sebastián in Spain.
This Basque city is known for its amazing food scene and beautiful beaches. The atmosphere is unbelievable and if you visit this city do not forget to go on a pintxos food tour around the old town. It’s such an amazing city and it has a unique ethos in a way I have never experienced.
Journey:
Glasgow Central → London Euston (Avanti West Coast train, 4 hours 40 minutes)
London St Pancras International → Paris (Eurostar train, 2 hours 25 minutes)
Paris Gare Montparnasse → Hendaye (TGV train, 4 hours 46 minutes)
Hendaye → San Sebastián (Euskotren, 31 minutes)
Follow The Non Flying Scotsman on Instagram.
Baden-Baden, The Train Navigator
I love the Panoramaweg trail in Baden-Baden, Germany, because it’s genuinely beautiful in a calm, natural way. You can take a cheap night train from Utrecht, The Netherlands, sleep on the way, and wake up right at the base of the walk, which already makes the whole trip feel easy.
You start the hike passing elegant old buildings and churches, and then, almost without noticing, you’re in the middle of the Black Forest, surrounded by tall trees, autumn-coloured leaves, and old castle ruins covered in moss. From the cliffs, you get wide, open views over the Valley.
I really like how flexible it is. You can do parts of it as a day hike or spread it out over four days, and when you’re done walking, you can simply hop on a local bus back into town.
Journey:
Utrecht → Baden-Baden (DB train, 7 hours and 38 minutes, typically departs at 20:47 and arrives at 04:25)
Follow Train Navigator on Instagram.
Istanbul, Nights On Track
Almost one year ago, a question kept returning to my mind: What must travel have felt like in an age when train journeys lasted several days, long before today’s fast low-cost carriers filled the skies?
To find out, I decided to retrace the legendary route of the Orient Express of the 1880s, travelling from London all the way to Istanbul.
With an Interrail pass in my pocket, my journey began in the British capital. Admittedly, boarding the Eurostar was far from the glamour of the past but my anticipation for the journey ahead was immense.
A canal cruise in Amsterdam, a traditional breakfast in Vienna, onward to beautiful Budapest by the Danube, eastward to Bucharest and Sofia. And finally, arriving in Istanbul - a culturally rich city where Europe and Asia meet.
Spending eight days travelling by a mix of day and night trains through seven European countries to cover a linear distance of 2,500 kilometres is, of course, far longer and more expensive than a simple direct flight.
But no plane could ever have offered what unfolded beyond the train window with the slow transformation of landscapes and the movement through space and culture. A reminder that the journey itself is the true destination.
Stockholm, The Sustainable Travel Guide
I took the train from the Hague to Stockholm and then cycled down to the south of Sweden, followed by a ferry and more trains to get back home.
On the first day I took the train all the way to Copenhagen, which is a route I really like because it has a good number of stops to change trains and stretch your legs. I also love the views from the train viaduct in northern Germany where you are travelling above a town.
After a night in Copenhagen, I hopped on a high-speed train to Stockholm. Obviously, it was very cool to be riding across the Øresund bridge.
The cycling from Stockholm was also amazing: I got to see so much more than I would have on any faster mode of transportation. I passed through lots of towns I otherwise wouldn’t have gone to, like Gränna, Linköping and Halmstad. Also, the bike lanes in Sweden are generally great!
Follow The Sustainable Travel Guide on Instagram.
Aberdeen, The Hungry Passenger
One of the most surprisingly effective flight-free journeys I’ve taken is the Caledonian Sleeper seated service to Aberdeen. I expected compromise, but found a calm, sociable, and affordable way to travel a long distance without flying.
You board in the evening at London Euston, sleep gently in your seat, and arrive rested enough to explore straight away. It turns distance into part of the experience, not something to endure, and makes a far-flung destination feel entirely doable by train.
Journey:
London Euston → Aberdeen (Night train, typically departs at 20:30 and arrives at 07:50)
Follow the Hungry Passenger on Instagram.
Nice, Green Tracks Travel
My favourite flight free trip was taking the SNCF Nuit sleeper train from Paris to Nice. It was fun walking along the Seine from Gare du Nord to Gare Austerlitz. We had a private cabin, the kids slept really well, and it was so beautiful to travel through a golden sunrise.
In the corridor of the night train I got talking with some fellow travellers. It was really nice to chat with one of my female neighbours who offered to keep our luggage at her flat if we wanted to swim on the beach. We declined her kind offer because we didn't have long in Nice, but night trains are a unique place for experiencing the kindness of strangers.
When we arrived in Nice, we went straight to a coffee shop for breakfast. It was great to relax with a good, strong coffee. We made sure that the coffee shop had a boulangerie/pastisserie nearby so we could stock up on some really French treats for the rest of the journey to Milan.
I haven't spoken much French in a long while but, when you spend time in a place, it really makes you appreciate having a bit of language for getting by! We managed to walk around the centre of Nice before catching our onward train to Ventimiglia. In Ventimiglia we only had a quick change (but enough time to stock up on some focaccia!).
Journey:
Paris Gare Austerlitz → Nice (Intercités de Nuit train, typically departs at 20:57 and arrives at 9:09)
Follow Green Tracks Travel on Instagram.
Interrail tour, Devon Roots and Rail
We did a circular Interrail trip in the school summer holidays, starting in London on the Eurostar, heading to Paris. We had two nights exploring the French capital before heading by train to the beautiful town of Brienz in Switzerland, a thirty minute train ride from Interlaken.
Brienz is a picture postcard Swiss town, surrounded by mountains and the most stunning turquoise lake. There was so much to explore here and it was easy to get around by train. We did lots of walking and had an amazing day going up Schynige Platte....with jaw dropping views from the top.
We then headed to Munich where we based ourselves for four days exploring the city, as well as taking a day trip into Austria and the beautiful city of Salzburg.
Leaving Munich, Heidelberg was our next destination. Another beautiful city with a stunning castle. Two nights here before heading to Bruges and a few days here to explore the romantic city, its canals, beautiful squares and lots of chocolate!
Returning on the Eurostar back to London, the trip came to 18 days in total, but we took it slowly and you could easily do it by staying fewer nights in the different locations. We loved the variety of the trip...the mix of city and countryside and because we did it slowly, we were able to relax and really enjoy it.
Journey:
London St Pancras → Paris Gare du Nord (Eurostar train, 2 hours 25 minutes)
Paris Gare de Lyon → Brienz (Train with around 3 changes, typically takes 6-7 hours)
Brienz → Munich (Train with around 2-3 changes, typically takes 6-8 hours)
Munich → Heidelberg (Train with 1 change, typically takes 3 hours 15 minutes)
Heidelberg → Bruges (Train with around 2-3 changes, typically takes 6-7 hours)
Follow Devon Roots and Rail on Instagram.
Wuppertal, Clara Francken
One of my favourite trips was taking the train from Brussels to Wuppertal in Germany, a journey that took around six hours. The highlight wasn’t the city itself, but discovering the Schwebebahn - a suspended monorail that feels like something from an amusement park, but is everyday transport for locals, just like a tram.
Riding it felt incredibly fun, especially sitting at the very back where a large window gives a full view as you glide above the river and streets. I even waited for the next “hanging tram” just to get that spot.
What fascinated me most was how different it felt, especially knowing it has existed for over a century. I’d recommend it to anyone interested in trains or travelling through North Rhine-Westphalia.
Follow Clara Francken on Instagram.
Ile de Ré, Green Habits
I fell in love with Ile de Ré for its long sandy beaches, fresh ocean breeze, cobbled streets full of whitewashed houses with shutters in every shade of green and blue, charming churches and pretty harbour villages. It is pure enchantment and I hope to go back one day.
Travelling by train, bus and bike was an absolute joy and added to the experience of this trip by giving us a greater sense of connection to the places we were travelling through and a deeper appreciation for the landscape of western France.
If you want to enjoy the slow way of life and have an opportunity to reconnect with nature, then ‘the jewel of the Atlantic’ is the perfect place for you.
Journey:
London St Pancras → Paris (Eurostar train, 2 hours 25 minutes)
Paris Gare Montparnasse → La Rochelle (TGV train, 2 hours 55 minutes)
La Rochelle → Ile de Ré (Bus, 1 hour 55 minutes to get to the further point north on the island)
Read more about my Ile de Ré adventure here.
By Eveline Vouillemin ©
Follow Green Habits UK on Instagram for more sustainable travel inspiration!
Comments