Travel Europe by train: choosing trains over planes for a European getaway

There's no direct train service from the UK to Zagreb, but we reckon that can be a good thing! Trains departing from the UK to Croatia whisk you across mainland Europe, stopping off at the likes of Paris, Vienna, Stuttgart and Zurich along the way.

Once you reach Zagreb, it's time to join our Walks and Coastal Towns of Croatia tour, where you'll follow forest paths through Plitvice National Park, pound the cobbled streets of Split and soak up the culture in Zagreb, nicknamed the 'city of museums'.

There's a few ways to reach Athens from the UK, including via Italy, but going via Sofia in Bulgaria is the standard land-only option. And this is as exerting as it gets, as on our relaxing Greek Island Cruise, you'll board a traditional caique at Evia Island in Greece before spending a week visiting different bays and harbours.

In between swimming and snorkelling in the sea, you can eat at local restaurants, read a book on the spacious deck or get to know your fellow passengers better. Read Yasmin's take on the trip here.

It's pretty straight-forward travelling from the UK to Sofia by train. Depending on the route you choose, you'll tick off a few well-known and lesser-known European cities, including Paris, Vienna and Belgrade, until you reach Bulgaria's capital of Sofia.

Continue the city-hopping theme on our fascinating Ancient Macedonia trip. After a guided tour of Sofia, you'll cross into North Macedonia and stay overnight in a unique 12th-century monastery.

Spend a few days in Greece, taking a boat trip to Mount Athos and relaxing on the beaches, before it's back to Sofia where you can take in Ottoman mosques, Roman ruins and old Soviet monuments. 

Train travel to Scotland takes less than a day, depending on your departure destination, making train travel to Scotland easier than other European destinations. Plus, your scenic arrival into Inverness complements an equally scenic walking holiday.

Our week-long walking trip dots around the Orkney Islands by ferry. Along with coastal walks, you'll visit the Heart of Neolithic Orkney, a UNESCO site comprising of Skara Brae village, the Ring of Brodgar and the Stones of Stenness, all of which are older than Stonehenge.

Travelling from the UK to France is one of the easiest, fastest ways to reach Europe; trains from the UK to France can take as little as eight hours. Following a change in Paris, you'll arrive into Marseille raring to go on our Cycling in Provence tour.

Take in the landscapes that inspired Vincent Van Gogh as you pedal along the bank of the Rhone, through hilltop villages and to beautiful vineyards, where you can try world-renowned wine (Chateanuef du Pape, anyone?) at its source.