Guidebooks are utilitarian things. Paper bricks we crammed in our backpack when wandering the world in the analog era. But every once in a while I come across one that changes the way I travel.
Europe By Rail is a beautifully-published book that covers 50 key rail routes across Europe, blending practical advice with narrative storytelling, and a focus on slow travel by local trains.
You’ll also find country information, off-beat diversions, sidebars on historic railway stations and carriages, and tips on fares and ticketing that’ll help you navigate Europe’s complex rail network.
This wonderful resource has been inspiring travel dreams for over 30 years. The 18th edition was published in October 2024.
It’s one of my favourite guidebooks, and I’m happy to be able to share it with you today.
Co-authors Nicky Gardner and Susanne Kries are Berlin-based writers with a passion for slow travel and sustainable tourism. They were also co-editors of hidden europe magazine from 2005 to 2023.
You can read more about them on the Europe By Rail website, and follow them on Facebook and Instagram.
Nicky joined me to talk about spontaneity versus pre-planning, the pros and cons of rail passes, and the return of night trains.
These are the books we mentioned in the podcast:
We also mentioned:
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