Vienna

Vienna, is a common place to change trains, so why not use the opportunity to see one of Mittleuropa’s great cities?

Brussels Midi

Travel around Europe by train often means changing trains at Brussels, so why not use the opportunity to explore? Here are three suggested strolls?

Arles

In February 1888, an artist got off the train at Arles. Over the next year, he produced some of his most famous works of art.

Avignon Centre

I could spend days walking around Avignon…

I’ve included two routes which you can choose between depending on how much time, energy and shoe-leather you have.

Bayonne

Whether you are heading south to Spain or heading for the Pyrenees, Bayonne is a good option to change trains or switch to coach, especially if you have a thing for chocolate and/or piment-cured pork.

Bordeaux Saint-Jean

For hundreds of years, the wine trade brought Bordeaux wealth in abundance which is tastefully on display in the city’s collection of buildings, particularly along a moon-shaped bend in the river known as Port de la Lune.

Boulogne-sur-Mer

It’s one of the nearest parts of France to Britain and has some great places to stroll around.

Calais

Calais has been seen as the sort of place to go through, rather than to, for most Brits who typically only stopped in town to ask for directions to the hypermarché.

Carpentras

It has the look and feel of a sleepy place in the shadow of Mont Ventoux, but it’s also the Wall Street of the truffle market.

La Rochelle

As the only deep water harbour on the Atlantic coast La Rochelle has long been attractive to the English and French who fought over it. It’s also easy on the eye thanks to the brilliant white of the local limestone, so bring your sunglasses.

Lille

It’s just a short walk between Lille Flandres and Lille Europe stations. Let’s go the long way around and see the town.

Lourdes

Lourdes used to be a bit of a backwater, but thanks to the Lady of the Immaculate Conception, with a bit of help from Bernadette Soubirous, around 5 million people a year make the pilgrimage. However, it’s also a great place to start exploring the Pyrenees and you can catcha bus from here to Gavarnie or Cauderets.

Lyon Part-Dieu

Lyon, France’s third largest city and reputed gastronomic capital of the world, sits at the junction of the Rhône and Saône rivers.

Narbonne

Narbonne has been an ideal stop off when going places since Roman times and nowadays it’s also a good place to change trains.

Nimes

As the most Roman city outside of Italy, Nîmes is a great place to stop.

Paris Montparnasse

If you are waiting for a train down south at Gare Montparnasse, here are some suggested strolls.

Paris de Lyon

If you are waiting for a train down south at Gare de lyon or Gare d’Austerlitz, here are some suggested strolls.

Paris Gare du Nord

If you are waiting for a train back to the UK from Gare du Nord or a connection at Gare de l’Est why not go for a wander?

Saint Jean Pied de Port

Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port is the starting point for the Camino Frances - the most popular route to Santiago de Compostela.

Sète

Located between a lagoon and the Med, this southern French working port is a great place to get seafood and sea views. It’s also a nice hop off on the way from France to Spain.

Tarascon and Beaucaire

Doesn’t everyone who comes to Provence, want to find the real Provence?

Aachen

Aachen is just an hour or so down the track from Brussels so is a good place to take a break on a longer journey.

Cologne

Cologne is one of those places that many journeys involve a change (changing from the main station to Deutz is common for trains down south) so why not go for a stroll.

Frankfurt

Frankfurt, birthplace of German democracy, romanticism and banking. Find out how they mix in this bussling metropolis.

Nuremberg

Nuremberg is a place that seems to be in love with its medieval past - I can see the attraction. This stroll takes you through the town, passing the great modern pieces of sculpture inspired by surprisingly modern medieval minds.

Passau

Why is Passau known as the Three Rivers City? Let’s find out on this pleasant stroll at the German / Austrian border.

Regensburg

Regensburg is a good choice to hop off the train and see a pleasant Bavarian town. However, a short bus ride away is the marvel of Walhalla - a hall of fame for the German speaking world.

Budapest

Budapest, capital of Hungary and one of the great jewels in the Hapsburg Empire. Here are some strolls that provide a glimse into that Magyar nation and it’s hitory.

Barcelona

Barcelona is the most obvious place for changing trains, but the station isn’t exactly in the most inspiring of settings. So what’s there to do if you have some time free?

Figueres

Figueres has become synonymous with Salvador Dalí and it’s home to his (literally) fantastic Theatre Museum. As a result, it’s a pretty good place to change trains when heading around Spain.

Girona

This Catalan city is a good place to change trains when coming from France and going on to explore Spain. To change from a high speed train to a slow(er) train means a short walk. But if you have time on your hands, why not go the long way round via the first-rate medieval town? - You can even pick up some local goodies…

Pamplona

Building a city on a hill made a lot of sense back in the day when the French could invade at any time. So it seems like a very first world problem to moan about trains not liking hills and limiting our ability to explore hilly Navarre.

Puigcerda

Latour-de-Carol-Enveitg is situated in the village of Enveitg and on one of the routes between France and Spain. It’s a big station for a little village and it’s fair to say, there isn’t a whole heap to do here - that’s part of its charm for locals.

Donostia / San Sebastian

Let’s go for a wander around the elegant any yet vibrant resort.