TRAVELERS ARE SWAPPING COSTLY AIR TRAVEL FOR RAIL IN EUROPE: HERE’S WHERE THEY’RE GOING

Thanks to the U.S.-Israel attack on Iran and the resulting closure of the Strait of Hormuz, fuel prices continue to put a severe damper on summer travel, whether it’s car or air travel.

But there's another mode of transportation that’s gaining a great deal of traction among travelers right now: Rail travel.

This is especially true in Europe, where rail systems are far more well-developed than the United States, making it an effortless alternative for those who want to reign in their travel budget while exploring France, Germany, Switzerland, Italy and more.

A new report from the travel platform Rome2Rio says rail travel is truly having a moment in Europe right now, emerging as the “go-to” choice among travelers who are ditching air travel.

And just in case you’re planning a European getaway, Rome2Rio has helpfully conducted an internal analysis of its rail search data to identify some of the most popular routes across the continent. Here’s a closer look.

France Reigns Supreme

Besides the Eiffel Tower, the wine, the croissants and the many fabulous museums, there’s another reason to put France on your list. 


According to Rome2Rio's data analysis, France it is the rail capital of the world, appearing in 8 of the top 10 most searched cross-border rail journeys around the world. 

“It is no surprise to see France claim the top spot as one of the world’s best-connected destinations, with seamless links across Europe and into the UK,” says the report.

The rail journey from London to Paris ranks as the number one most searched train route globally, with over 4 million searches in the past year alone. “With the Eurostar whisking passengers from St Pancras to the heart of Paris in just over two hours, it’s an effortless way to travel, connecting the UK to mainland Europe while avoiding the usual stresses of air travel,” the report adds.

The second most searched cross-border rail journey in the world also involves France. In this case, it’s a Barcelona, Spain to Lyon, France train journey, which has racked up more than 3.8 million searches over the past year.

It’s a rail route that takes around five hours (which is still quicker than flying when you take into consideration the journey to the airport, security queues and travel into the city, the report explains.)

Jumping to the number five slot among the top 10 rail journeys, France makes another appearance. The Brussels to Paris train journey fills this slot with nearly 1.7 million annual searches. This trip takes under an hour and a half, making it a fast and efficient connection between two major European capitals.

Brussels to Lille, France meanwhile ranks as the sixth most searched train journey in the world: 1.6 million searches recorded over the past year. 

“The journey takes just over 30 minutes, making it an exceptionally quick cross-border connection between Belgium and France.

Rounding out the top 10 most popular train journeys in the world is the route from Donostia, Spain to Hendaye, France, a short trip of under an hour, with over 1 million searches.

“Taking you through the heart of the Basque Country, the journey offers a scenic connection between two regions renowned for their beautiful coastline and world-class cuisine,” says the report.

Additional Top 10 Rail Journeys Across Europe

While trips to and from France certainly dominate in the rail travel space, a few other routes managed to squeeze into the top 10 most searched rail trips in Europe, as well. 

The third most popular rail journey in Europe takes travelers between Innsbruck, Austria and Brenner, Italy. (Nearly 1.9 million searches). This is followed in fourth place by the scenic rail journey between Munich, Germany and Salzburg, Austria (more than 1.7 million searches.)

The number seven slot on the top 10 list of popular rail journeys is filled by London, England to Brussels, Belgium, garnering nearly 1.6 million searches. Rounding out the top ranking journeys by rail is Budapest, Hungary to Vienna, Austria (more than 1.5 million searches) at number 8; and Lugano Switzerland to Milan, Italy coming in at 9 with nearly 1.5 million searches.

2026-05-12T19:28:13Z