Scenic Routes

Liencres Natural Park in Cantabria Why this journey? Most visitors arrive in Spain and head south. Madrid. Barcelona. Seville. Perhaps Granada. Few ever explore the country's northern coast. That is a mistake. Stretching from the Basque Country to Galicia, northern Spain offers some of the most dramatic scenery, distinctive cultures and rewarding food experiences in Europe. And one of the best ways to discover it is by train. The journey from Bilbao to Santiago de Compostela

Train Ferry Crossing from Calabria to Messina, Sicily There are sleeper trains. And then there is the train from Milan to Palermo. At almost twenty hours, it is one of the longest rail journeys in Western Europe — a train that leaves the financial heart of northern Italy one evening and arrives beneath the palms, domes and markets of Sicily the following afternoon. Most travellers fly. Many never see the country between. But on this train, Italy unfolds slowly. Cities become

Sunset at Lej Pitschen at The Bernina Pass, Graubünden, Switzerland Few rail journeys in the world are as instantly recognisable as the Bernina route. Images of red trains crossing high stone viaducts, glaciers in the background and lakes reflecting the sky have become almost shorthand for “scenic travel in Switzerland.” But what most people don’t realise is that the best way to experience this journey is not necessarily the famous panoramic train. It’s doing it independently

Zurich by Night There is a point, somewhere after leaving Zurich, when the city lights disappear and the train begins climbing south toward the Alps. The dining car slowly empties. Conversations soften. Reflections from station platforms give way to darkness and mountain silhouettes. By midnight, most passengers have disappeared behind compartment doors as the Nightjet continues through Switzerland toward Italy. By morning, you wake approaching Rome. Not an airport outside th

Paris by Night There is something quietly satisfying about leaving Paris after dinner and waking beside the Mediterranean. Not dramatic. Not luxurious in the Orient Express sense. Just deeply civilised. The overnight train to Nice still preserves a version of European travel that airports have almost completely erased: the sense that the journey itself matters. At around 8pm, passengers begin filtering into Gare d'Austerlitz carrying paper bags from wine shops, backpacks pack

Last Chance to Download Touring Switzerland by Train TODAY for FREE If Switzerland is on your travel list, this is your final reminder. Today (May 4th) is the last day to download Touring Switzerland by Train for free on Kindle. 👉 Get your copy here: https://mybook.to/SwitzerlandByTrain Why This Guide Exists Switzerland is one of the most rewarding destinations in Europe — but it can feel complicated to plan. Routes, rail passes, costs, where to base yourself… it’s easy to g

Touring Switzerland by Train Guide available on Amazon.com Few places in the world feel quite as magical as Switzerland. Snow-capped peaks. Crystal-clear lakes. Storybook villages. And connecting it all? One of the most scenic rail networks on the planet. If you’ve ever dreamed of visiting Switzerland, this is your moment to start planning. 👉 For 2 days only (May 3rd–4th), Touring Switzerland by Train is FREE on Kindle. Why Switzerland Is Made for Train Travel Switzerland is

Bern Switzerland Why Go in Spring? Spring is when Bern feels quietly magical. The winter chill fades, terraces begin to fill, and the Aare River glows an almost surreal turquoise as snowmelt flows down from the Alps. Temperatures typically range from 14–20°C, perfect for walking the city’s arcaded streets and riverside paths. It’s also one of the best times to experience Bern without the summer crowds. The Old Town feels lived-in rather than busy — calm, elegant, and deeply a

Interlaken, Switzerland, overlooking the Aare River at dusk Why Go in Spring? Spring in Interlaken feels like a quiet awakening. Snow still lingers on the high peaks, but down in the valleys everything begins to soften — meadows turn bright green, waterfalls surge with snowmelt, and the lakes shift from deep winter blue to shimmering turquoise. Temperatures typically range from 12–20°C, making it ideal for walking without the summer crowds. It’s also one of the best times to

If France has been on your travel list, this is your moment. For the final day today , our 2026 guide Touring France by Train is available FREE on Amazon —and after today, it goes back to full price. This isn’t just another travel guide. It was created for a very specific kind of traveler: someone who wants freedom, flexibility, and a more authentic way to explore France—without the stress, the high costs, or the overwhelm. Why Real Travel Guides Published This Guide Too man

Planning a trip to France in 2026? This is the moment most people get stuck. Too many places. Too many logistics. Too many decisions. Flights get booked… and then everything else becomes overwhelming. But there’s a simpler way to do it — and it completely changes the experience. Travel France the Way It Was Meant to Be Seen Forget rigid tours. Forget long drives and confusing road systems. France has one of the best rail networks in the world — fast, scenic, and incredibly ea

Aerial view of GoldenPass Line through Gstaad village in the Bernese Oberland, Switzerland Some of Switzerland’s rail journeys are dramatic. The GoldenPass Line is something different — softer, more graceful, and quietly spectacular . Running from Montreux on Lake Geneva to Interlaken in the Bernese Oberland, this route feels like a moving postcard: vineyards, wooden chalets, rolling meadows, waterfalls, and wide alpine skies. In spring , it becomes one of the most beautiful

Tirano, Italy Italy’s great train journeys aren’t always long. Some unfold quietly, revealing their beauty mile by mile — and the route from Milan to Tirano is one of the most rewarding. In spring , this journey feels even more special. In just over two and a half hours, the train carries you from Milan’s energy into alpine foothills where snow still lingers on the peaks while valleys begin to bloom. Vineyards reawaken, rivers run fuller with snowmelt, and the changing light

Well… this is a bit surreal 👀 All three Real Travel Guides books are sitting at #1, #2 and #3 on the Amazon Bestseller List today! Clearly a few people are catching on to the magic of travelling Europe by train… If you’ve been thinking about it, maybe this is your sign 😉 No car hire, no rigid tours — just easy, flexible journeys through some of Europe’s most beautiful places, discovering the real side of Italy, France and Switzerland along the way. Everything you need to

Path of the Gods, Amalfi Coast If you’re planning to explore the Amalfi Coast on foot, spring is without question the best time to go. From April to early June, the coastline transforms into a landscape of wildflowers, green terraces, and clear coastal views. Temperatures are ideal for hiking, trails are quieter, and the entire region feels more authentic compared to the peak summer months. Whether you’re planning to walk the Path of the Gods or explore hidden lemon groves an

Glacier Express on Landwasserviaduct, Filisur, Grisons, Switzerland There are train journeys, and then there are experiences that become the highlight of an entire trip. The Glacier Express sits firmly in the second category. Stretching across the heart of the Swiss Alps, this legendary route connects the car-free mountain village of Zermatt with the glamorous resort town of St. Moritz. But calling it simply a train ride doesn’t do it justice. This is a slow, cinematic journe

If Switzerland has been sitting on your “one day” list… this is your sign. Today is your final chance to download Touring Switzerland by Train completely FREE before the offer ends. This is the third book in the best-selling Real Travel Guides series , and it’s one we're incredibly excited about. Switzerland is made for rail travel—panoramic routes, seamless connections, and some of the most jaw-dropping scenery in the world. Inside the guide, you’ll discover: Easy, flexib

Snow-capped peaks of Pic de Péréjat and Pic des Estaqnols in early spring in the French Pyrénées If the Alps feel polished and postcard-perfect, the Pyrenees in spring feel something else entirely — wilder, greener, and quietly alive again after winter. The train from Toulouse to Latour-de-Carol captures that transformation beautifully. This isn’t a journey to rush. In spring especially, it’s one to slow down for — as rivers swell with snowmelt, hillsides turn vivid green, an

Riomaggiore in Spring There are few places in Europe where train travel feels as magical as it does along the Cinque Terre coast—but in spring, it becomes something even more special. The railway slips through tunnels carved into cliffs, emerging into views of pastel villages, terraced hillsides bursting with wildflowers, and the soft blue Ligurian Sea. After winter, the landscape feels fresh, green, and uncrowded. In spring, the train isn’t just transport—it’s your front-row

Some places in the world feel made for train travel. Switzerland is one of them. And after months of planning, travelling, refining routes, and bringing it all together, we're excited to share that the third book in the series is now live: Touring Switzerland by Train Why Switzerland? When we created Touring Italy by Train and Touring France by Train , the goal was simple: help travellers explore independently, without the cost, complexity, or constraints of organised tours.