Scenic Routes

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.

Bernina Express If the Glacier Express is iconic, the Bernina Express is dramatic. This is a journey that climbs high into the Alps, passes glaciers and frozen lakes, spirals through engineering marvels—and then descends into Italy, where palm trees and espresso replace snow and silence. It’s not just a train ride. It’s a transition between worlds. But before you plan it, there’s one important thing most guides don’t explain properly… The Key Thing to Know (Before You Book An

In most countries, trains are a way to get somewhere. In Switzerland, they’re part of the experience. Here, rail travel isn’t just efficient—it’s beautifully integrated into the landscape, the culture, and the way people move. And once you experience it, it’s hard to imagine travelling any other way. 1. The Scenery Isn’t a Bonus—It’s the Point In Switzerland, train lines are deliberately routed through the most spectacular landscapes. You don’t pass scenery—you travel through

The Cévennes Line is one of France’s most beautiful and underrated railway journeys. Running from Clermont-Ferrand to Nîmes, it cuts through volcanic landscapes, deep river valleys, remote villages and the wild heart of southern France. This is slow travel at its best — a train journey where the views are the highlight and the destinations at either end reward you with culture, history and food. This guide covers what to expect onboard, the most scenic sections of the journey

The Train Jaune , or Yellow Train, is one of France’s most iconic and adventurous rail journeys. Climbing high through the eastern Pyrenees, this narrow-gauge railway crosses deep gorges, stone viaducts and sunlit mountain plateaus, linking Catalan villages that feel frozen in time. This guide covers what makes the Train Jaune so special, what you’ll see from the carriage windows, how to ride it, and what to do at both ends of the line — all without a car. Why Go? The Train J

Bernina Pass, Pontresina - Tirano The Bernina Line is one of the most famous train journeys in the world — and one of the few that climbs from Italian vineyards into high alpine glaciers in just a few hours. Starting in Tirano, Italy, this UNESCO-listed railway spirals through the Alps on open curves and dramatic viaducts, delivering jaw-dropping scenery at every turn.This guide focuses on the Italian side of the Bernina Line, what you’ll see onboard, what to do in Tirano and

Vineyards view in Santa Maddalena Bolzano The train journey from Milan to Bolzano is one of northern Italy’s most rewarding rail routes, carrying you from urban Italy into alpine landscapes in just a few hours. Vineyards replace factories, valleys narrow into mountain passes, and Italian culture gradually blends with Tyrolean traditions. This is a journey where the changing scenery tells the story — and where both ends of the line offer outstanding weekend destinations. This

If Italy has been on your mind lately — whether you’re sketching out your first Italian adventure or dreaming of returning to explore new regions — now is the perfect time to start planning. To kick-start the 2026 travel planning season , Touring Italy by Train is FREE on Kindle for a limited time , from January 27th to 29th . This bestselling guide is designed for travellers who want to experience Italy independently, confidently, and without stress — no car hire, no rigi

September is one of the best months to explore the Cinque Terre. The summer crowds have thinned, the weather is still warm enough for swimming, and the hiking trails are quieter. This UNESCO-listed stretch of Ligurian coastline—made up of five pastel-painted villages clinging to the cliffs—is best experienced without the peak-season bustle. Arriving by train is the simplest and most sustainable way to visit, as cars are restricted and parking is scarce. The Cinque Terre Expre