Economical and ecological, the train allows you to cross a large part of Europe in just a few hours. Each year, new destinations departing from Paris are offered by the many European railway companies. So, what are you waiting for to discover Europe for a long weekend?
Good to know : night trains are making a comeback in Europe! So why not try this experience on your next trip?
Milano
©Brian Jannsen / Alamy / Abaca
Italy’s fashion capital, Milan is home to the country’s top fashion houses. But Milan is not just that.
Many historical, artistic and cultural sites are to be discovered there, such as the Piazza del Duomo, the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, the Leonardo da Vinci museum or the Sforza castle. And then, it’s also a good opportunity to discover Italian gastronomy like you’ve never tasted it before.
©anna quaglia / Alamy / Abaca
©Zoonar GmbH / Alamy / Abaca
How to get there ?
With Frecciarossa and TGV INOUI companies
Average duration: 7 hours
From Paris Gare de Lyon
From 29 euros
Bonn
©eugen_z / Alamy / Abaca
Former capital of the former Federal Republic of Germany until 1990, Bonn is a city with a fascinating historical and architectural heritage. Very easily accessible by train from Paris, many museums and moments await you there, such as the Schaumburg Palace, Beethoven’s house or the former Bundesrat hall.
To take a deep breath of fresh air and enjoy the idyllic setting of Bonn, take the opportunity to take a cruise on the Rhine or to take a walk in one of the many natural sites in the area. Many lakes are particularly accessible by transport.
©Pavel Dudek / Alamy / Abaca
©Travel Harry / Alamy / Abaca
How to get there ?
With the company Thalys
Duration: 4 hours. With change in Cologne.
From Paris Gare du Nord.
From €39.90
Vienna
© mauritius images GmbH / Alamy / Abaca
Capital of the Habsburgs for centuries, Vienna is both modern and traditional. The city, in addition to being dazzling, offers a multitude of activities: visit the Belvedere Palace, discover the rich collections of the Museum of Modern Art Foundation, listen to classical music at the Vienna State Opera or simply stroll in the largely pedestrian historic center.
Tired of walking the streets of Vienna? Head to the Lainzer Tiergarten, a nature reserve with an area of 24 km2, for a well-deserved break.
Open since December 2021, the Paris-Vienna line allows you to reach the Austrian capital for an overnight stay. So, are you ready to fall asleep in Paris and wake up in Austria?
©Sergey Borisov / Alamy / Abaca
©Sorin Colac / Alamy / Abaca
How to get there ?
With the company ÖBB
Duration: 14 hours
From Paris Gare de l’Est
From €29.90
Three round trips per week, on Tuesdays, Fridays and Sundays from Paris to Vienna and on Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays in the opposite direction.
Girona
©Niamh Photography / Alamy / Abaca
Nicknamed “the Catalan Florence”, Girona offers a relaxing break to all its travelers, with its cobbled streets, its ramparts, its stone buildings and its beaches accessible in just 20 minutes.
For a long weekend, treat yourself to a real journey through time in this city on a human scale, admiring its medieval constructions and its Roman, Arab and Jewish remains. It is in particular for its particular charm that certain scenes in the series Game of Throness were filmed on location!
Another good opportunity to go there: have dinner at the Celler de Can Roca, one of the best restaurants in the world!
©Niamh Photography / Alamy / Abaca
©MIKEL BILBAO GOROSTIAGA- TRAVELS / Alamy / Abaca
How to get there ?
With Renfe-Sncf
Duration: 5 hours 50
From Paris Gare de Lyon
From 39 euro
rotterdam
©Don Mennig / Alamy / Abaca
76 km from Amsterdam is Holland’s second largest city, Rotterdam. Ideal for a stopover during your Dutch stay, this city has its share of beautiful surprises in store for you: in addition to benefiting from the largest port in Europe, the Batavian metropolis has modern architecture, dynamic cultural places and festive addresses of fame!
Far from the hustle and bustle of Amsterdam, take advantage of its canals by taking a bike ride, much calmer than in Amsterdam where it is sometimes difficult to get around.
©Chun Ju Wu / Alamy / Abaca
©Ian Dagnall / Alamy / Abaca
How to get there ?
With the company Thalys
Duration: 2h36
From Paris Gare du Nord
From 35 euros.
Bonuses : Other railway lines are to be planned in the coming months:
- Paris – Berlin (via Brussels): end of 2023
- Paris – Venice: June 2024
- Paris – Warsaw: during 2024
LR