Family rail travel: a 4-month tour of Europe
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A family tour of Europe: 16,000 Km on the rails
In this episode, we're joined by Gwenaëlle, co-founder of a media we love at HOURRAIL! and which also puts train travel in the spotlight: Voyager en train !
And she embodies her values perfectly with the journey she tells us about: four months of adventures across Europe in the company of her two daughters, aged 4 and 6, and her husband.
“Travelling by train with children means sharing quality time, far from the stress of other means of transport. They're not tied down, they can move around, play, look out of the window. The journey becomes an adventure in itself."
A veritable rail odyssey covering over 16,000 km across 8 countries and aboard 37 trains! It's an opportunity for the whole family to discover everything from the warmth of Andalusian villages to the green hills of Scotland.
Episode summary
- The story behind the birth of “Voyager en train”,
- The organization of this long family trip: from preparations to bookings, including tips on how to travel safely with children,
- The unforgettable stages of the adventure: from Spain to Scotland, via Italy and Austria,
- Practical tips for parents: how to turn every journey into a moment of sharing and play,
- And other nuggets we'll let you discover right here 👇
“Taking the train is also a way of slowing down, of enjoying the journey as much as the destination. At each stop, we took the time to relax, to discover the city or nature. This trip has taught us to live differently.”
The itinerary of Gwénaelle and her family: 4 months in Europe
- France - Andalusia (Spain) 🇪🇸: almost 3 weeks exploring Seville and the charming white villages around Ronda,
- Spain - Southern Portugal 🇵🇹,
- Portugal - Barcelona (Spain) 🇪🇸,
- Barcelona - Cinque Terre (Italy) 🇮🇹 ,
- Pisa - Vienna (Austria) 🇦🇹 by night train (an unforgettable first experience for the kids!),
- Vienna - Bratislava (Slovakia) 🇸🇰, Budapest and Linz (Hungary) 🇭🇺 along the Danube,
- Linz - Brussels 🇧🇪 by night train to the Eurostar, then Brussels - London 🇬🇧,
- Then a change of program with an overnight bus to Scotland 🏴 (following an exceptional rail strike) for three weeks, from the Highlands to Edinburgh via the Isle of Skye: a real treat for the whole family! (If you're interested in Scotland, check out Fanette's solo trip to Scotland).
© Voyager en train
You can discover all the details of Gwénaelle and her family's journey on their travel blog "Et pourtant elle tourne" !
Travelling by train with children: Gwenaëlle's experience
The ideal means of family transport
“If we chose the train in the first place, it was for ecological reasons. And if we take the train with our daughters today, it's because it really is the best means of transport with children.”
For Gwenaëlle, it's obvious: train travel - far from the stress of plane or car journeys - is an integral part of family vacations.
“On the train, we're really together. We picnic, we're not tied down, we watch the scenery go by, we can walk and relax,” she explains. During these four months, each journey was transformed into an interactive moment, where the girls could follow the route on a map or even guide the family through the stations. It was a way of making the children part of the journey, and gently introducing them to the world.
“At each station, we asked them to find our platform or our train. They were so proud to be able to guide us and play an active part in the journey."
An opportunity to take time out together
Traveling by train with young children means adopting a quieter, more flexible pace. Gwenaëlle and her husband structured their trip so that their daughters could discover each stage: “We took the time in each city, three to five days minimum, to explore at their own pace and enjoy play areas, museums and local discoveries.”
As a result, the family was able to enjoy Scottish nature, Spanish beaches, and hikes in the Italian Alps, with plenty of stops to satisfy the children's curiosity and offer moments of relaxation.
“For our daughters, every train journey was a new adventure. They love to revisit their travel diaries, where they glued train tickets, drew landscapes... These memories have become treasures for them.”
Gwenaëlle's tips for a smooth family trip
- Advance booking: with children, Gwenaëlle recommends booking travel and accommodation in advance, especially for night trains, which she prefers to privatize. This guarantees comfort and avoids the unexpected!
- Train activities: to keep the kids busy, she recommends taking along books, card games or a travel diary (tested and approved by her daughters!) to draw in at each stop. A fun activity that will leave a treasure trove of memories for the kids!
- Picnic time: “Picnicking on the train has become a ritual,” confides Gwenaëlle. It's best to plan ahead for family meals!
- Take breaks: with children, it's important to plan frequent stops and remain flexible in the face of unforeseen events (such as strikes or delays), which can transform the journey into a real opportunity for learning and discovery.
In the end, Gwenaëlle's daughters will have unforgettable memories of this trip: from the Cinque Terres in Italy to the wild beaches of Scotland, not forgetting the night train journey to Vienna and the magical passage of the Jacobite Steam Train, the famous “Harry Potter train” that left its mark on the whole family!
About Voyager en train
Created in January 2020, Voyager en train was born of Gwenaëlle and her husband Victor's passion for train travel and their desire to share a more sustainable way of traveling.
“In 2019, we carried out our carbon footprint, and that was the turning point. We wanted our travels to be consistent with our values, and the train stood out as the best option.”
The voyagerentrain.fr website offers a wealth of resources and practical advice to encourage travelers (and families!) to discover the joys of rail travel. From route planning to logistical details, experience stories and destination recommendations, the site is a goldmine for those looking for an alternative to planes and cars.
What's more, after their first book "Voyager en train en France", they're now releasing a second brilliant book: “Travelling by train in Europe”! The book is already available for pre-order via this link.
To make sure you don't miss a single episode and get inspired by our guests, don't hesitate to subscribe to the podcast on your favorite listening platforms. Thanks to our partner SNCF Connect, the reference app for trains and sustainable mobility, which accompanies over 15 million users on their journeys in France and Europe!
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