How to Plan a Multi-Country Trip in Europe

Planning a multi-country trip in Europe requires prioritizing a fast-paced but realistic rail-based route. Limit your trip to one region, like Central Europe or Scandinavia, and cap travel at one new city every three days to avoid burnout.

1. Define your geographic corridor. Don't try to see the whole continent. Pick a logical cluster (e.g., London-Paris-Amsterdam or Prague-Vienna-Budapest) to minimize transit time. Stick to a maximum of four countries for a two-week trip.
2. Book your arrival and departure flights separately. Use the 'Multi-city' search function on flight sites. Fly into your first city and out of your last. This saves you an entire day of backtracking and the cost of a return train or flight.
3. Map your rail connections. Check travel times on Rome2Rio or the Deutsche Bahn website. If a train journey is longer than 5 hours, look for a flight or a night train to save on a hotel night.
4. Choose your accommodation near transit hubs. Book hotels or hostels within walking distance or a 10-minute transit ride from the main train station. This saves you from lugging bags across cities.

Should I get a Eurail Pass?

Only if you are planning to take more than five long-distance trains in a short time. Otherwise, booking individual point-to-point tickets 60 days in advance is almost always cheaper.

How many cities should I visit in two weeks?

Stick to 3 or 4 cities maximum. Every time you switch cities, you lose at least half a day to transit and logistics.