If you find yourself with 2+ weeks to spend in Europe, you might be tempted to visit a few different cities in a few different countries. Maybe you’ll start in London, then pop over to Dublin, then Paris, then Rome, and finally Barcelona. Especially for Americans who don’t get many vacation days each year, I definitely understand wanting to make the most of your time and see all kinds of different places! But instead of taking a bunch of flights… have you considered taking a train trip instead?
While you might not be able to hit all those big cities in one trip, you’ll still have the opportunity to visit several different cities and countries. Without having to travel all the way out to the airport and get there 2 hours before your flight — not to mention the flight time itself — you’ll save time commuting, and the commuting you do have to do will be much less stressful. And, traveling by train allows you to look out the window and notice your surroundings. Notice the small towns passing by. The real, everyday European life.
Matt and I spent two and a half weeks traveling through five countries and nine cities by train this past spring. So, here’s our exact itinerary if you’re looking for inspiration to plan your own train trip!
Day 1: Arrive in Brussels, Belgium
After flying from Alicante, Spain, at 6 a.m., we arrived in Brussels at 8:45 a.m. and were ready for a full day! But it was a rainy weekend in Brussels, so we decided to focus on indoor activities. If you want to really lean into the fact that you’re on a train trip, I highly recommend exploring Train World, which takes about 20-25 minutes to reach on public transportation from central Brussels.
Train World is the official railway museum of the National Railway Company of Belgium. And while it just sounded like something to do on a rainy day, the museum was actually really impressive! You’ll need more than two hours to get through everything, and I’d say visiting Train World to start our train trip got things off to a great start.
Day 2: Day trip from Brussels to Bruges, Belgium
Train time: 1 hour 4 minutes each way
Bruges, Belgium, is probably the most popular day trip to take from Brussels — and for good reason! This smaller, charming canal town is often known as the “Venice of the North,” and its colorful market square is in stark contrast to the more muted, Gothic architecture in Brussels.
The first time I visited Bruges in 2018, the city was still quiet; in 2026, the secret is out and I don’t think we can consider it a “hidden” gem any longer. But it’s still worth seeing. My recommendation: grab a drink at the 2be Bar and enjoy the view. (They even have gluten-free beer options!)
Day 3: Day trip from Brussels to Ghent, Belgium
Train time: 36 minutes each way
If you decide you only want to do one day trip from Brussels, I’d actually choose Ghent. Because I think most people are picking Bruges as their one day trip, which means that Ghent is typically way less crowded. It still has canals, but the city’s vibes are totally different — instead of quaint and colorful, it’s moody and medieval. Add in the torrential downpours we experienced, and everything looked extra dramatic. Visiting the Gravensteen Castle was the perfect indoor activity, which definitely suited the mood.
Day 4: Brussels
For your last day in Belgium, be sure to explore all the “typical” Brussels attractions if you haven’t already! Visit Grand Place and the Manneken Pis statue, eat as many Belgian waffles, fries, and chocolate as you can, and don’t forget to check out the Delirium Village.
Beyond that, it’s always nice to wander. We came across a few new areas that we wouldn’t have otherwise found without a good wander, like the Sablon/Zavel neighborhood.
Day 5: Train from Brussels to Cologne, Germany (A.M.)
Train time: 3 hours, direct
On day five, it’s time to say goodbye to Brussels and Belgium as you head on to country #2 of the trip: Germany!
You can take the train from any of Brussels’ three train stations, but leaving from Brussels-Zuid / Bruxelles-Midi (these mean South station in Dutch and French) will get you to Cologne without having to make any changes. Also, there may be faster trains available, but since we were still working remotely during this trip, we didn’t mind 3 hours on a German ICE train with WiFi.
Day 6: Cologne
The truth is that Cologne, Germany, is not a beautiful city — because the area is so industrial, it was very heavily bombed during World War II, which means that most of the old architecture no longer exists. But of course, there are a few things you have to see… and topping the list, the Kölner Dom. Also known as the Cologne Cathedral, the Kölner Dom is the tallest cathedral in the entire world! (Though not the tallest church in the world, which has a different definition than a cathedral.) Either way, there’s no way you’d go to Cologne without seeing its famous cathedral. Especially because it’s right next to Cologne’s train station. 😉
Day 7: Cologne
Besides the cathedral, there are a few other things you have to see and do in Cologne. First, take a walk across the Hohenzollern Bridge over the Rhine River for a great view of the cathedral with the green bridge in the foreground. (For an even better view, visit the top floor of the Köln Triangle building.) Next, book a tour of the Farina perfume store and museum to learn about how Cologne became home to the first cologne in the world! And while you’re in a shopping mood, check out Schildergasse Street for some of the best shopping I saw on the entire trip. To finish off your busy day, find a bierhaus and relax with a Kölsch — beer from Köln.
Day 8: Train from Cologne to Luxembourg City, Luxembourg (A.M.)
Train time: 2 hours 10 minutes, one change at Koblenz (20 minutes), total 2 hours 30 minutes
Important warning! Make sure when you book your trip to Luxembourg, you’re visiting Luxembourg City in Luxembourg the country… not Luxembourg, Belgium. It’s really confusing and I don’t know why Luxembourg, Belgium, exists, but it does.
On the train trip from Cologne to Luxembourg City, you will have to make one change at Koblenz Station, which is about halfway through the journey. Due to a Deutsche Bahn train delay, our “layover” was only about 2 minutes but we had no problem making the transfer.
Now… welcome to Luxembourg, a country that gets fewer than 2 million visitors per year, and almost half are business travelers — mostly from nearby Belgium, Germany, France, and the Netherlands.
Day 9: Luxembourg City
Luxembourg City was probably the biggest surprise on our entire trip. We’d been to other cities in very small countries before, like Andorra, and we expected Luxembourg City to be similar. But it turns out they’re nothing alike! While Andorra la Vella felt small, sleepy, and slightly artificial, Luxembourg City was a hidden gem that I’m going to start recommending to my American friends in Spain who are looking for a weekend getaway.
In Luxembourg City, you’ll find an entire city with UNESCO World Heritage Site status, lots of green space, and free public transportation! I recommend spending at least half a day exploring the lower town, “the Grund,” where it feels like you’ve stepped foot into the Europe of a bygone era. Up above, in the more modern upper town, be sure to visit at least one park — maybe the Luxembourg Municipal Park — which is home to a few park bars, complete with lawn chairs so you can enjoy the views and brews.
Day 10: Train from Luxembourg City to Heidelberg, Germany (A.M.)
Train time: 4 hours 9 minutes, one change at Koblenz (52 minutes), total 5 hours 1 minute
This is the longest travel day on the itinerary, but trust me when I say it doesn’t feel too bad! The trains are comfortable, the stopover time isn’t too short so you don’t feel rushed, and you’re also on each train long enough that you can settle in for a bit. For being about halfway through your trip, you might be ready for a few hours of rest while relaxing on the train.
When you finally arrive in Heidelberg, though, your transportation for the day is unfortunately not done. While basically every other city on this trip has its train station in or next to the downtown area, Heidelberg Hauptbahnhof is about 2 km/1.2 miles from the old city center. Taking Bus #20, 34, 35, or 36 is probably your best bet because they’re direct and only take about 15-20 minutes to get you downtown, if that’s where you’re staying. (I recommend using Citymapper app to figure out which bus is best for you, and to use on the entire trip as a whole. 🙂)
Day 11: Heidelberg
Heidelberg is a university city that sits on the Neckar River in the southwest German state of Baden-Württemberg. While it’s only Germany’s 51st-largest city, it punches well above its weight when it comes to tourism. Possibly because of how pretty it is! Unlike Cologne, Heidelberg is an objectively beautiful city — thanks to the fact that it was not targeted during World War II, so its historic old town and architecture have been preserved.
You could spend half a day wandering along the Hauptstrasse, a long pedestrian street that stretches from one end of the Altstadt (Old Town) to the other. The western half of the street is home to typical European retailers while the eastern half is mostly restaurants and souvenir shops. During your time in the Old Town, you can’t miss visiting the Church of the Holy Spirit, which is located on the Marktplatz. And across the square from the church is the Heidelberg Rathaus, or old town hall.
Day 12: Train from Heidelberg to Tübingen, Germany (P.M.)
On your second full day in Heidelberg, if you haven’t already, be sure to visit Heidelberg’s crown jewel: Heidelberg Castle. You can either walk the 400 steps up to the top via the Kurzer Buckel pathway, or take a steep incline at Burgweg. If you don’t want to walk, there’s also a funicular — the Heidelberg Bergbahn, the funicular! I’ve never taken it, so I don’t have many details other than the fact that the funicular costs €11 per person, round-trip.
But no matter how you reach the castle, you absolutely can’t miss a visit to the top. It’s a great spot to bring a picnic and relax on the castle grounds, and that’s what all the local Heidelbergers seemed to be doing. Plus, you might see some animals! We saw some cows and even a baby wild boar chilling in the grass below.
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Train time: 1 hour 56 minutes, one change at Stuttgart (31 minutes), total 2 hours 27 minutes
While we traveled in the morning on most travel days during this trip, this is my one recommendation to plan your train trip for the evening — you want to make sure you have enough time in Heidelberg, and Tübingen is small enough that you’ll only need the two full days.
Day 13: Tübingen
Tübingen is a university city that sits on the Neckar River in the southwest German state of Baden-Württemberg. Stop me if this sounds familiar. 😜
Just like Heidelberg, Tübingen survived WWII without any major damage, so the historic old town and traditional architecture is still intact, making it a very beautiful city as well. However, unlike Heidelberg… Tübingen has very few tourists. For that reason, it was probably both of our favorite stop on the entire trip!
When you arrive in Tübingen by train, you’ll cross the Eberhard Bridge (Neckarbrücke) over the Neckar River — and you’ll immediately be treated to Tübingen’s most iconic view. The colorful half-timbered houses on the riverfront are most vibrant in the morning when the eastern sun hits them at just the right angle. But no matter what time you visit, you might be surprised at how quiet it is at this Instagrammable spot on the bridge. Below, Tübingen’s unique punt boats drift by, each filled with friends and families spending time on the river.
Day 14: Tübingen
The best thing to do in Tübingen is wander around, marvel at the architecture of the old town, and enjoy the lack of crowds. The longer you spend in Tübingen, the more you’ll wonder why the tourists haven’t found this young, walkable, charming city… but you’ll hope it stays that way!
If you haven’t discovered the riverfront beer garden yet, be sure to make a stop. The northeast bank of the Neckar is home to the Neckarmüller Biergarten, where you can grab a drink before taking a seat at one of the many picnic tables adorned by string lights, right next to the river. They also offer no-frills German fare like sausage, baked potatoes, and pretzels. We liked the vibes and the experience so much that we came both nights we spent in Tübingen.
Day 15: Train from Tübingen to Zürich, Switzerland (A.M.)
Train time: 2 hours 45 minutes, one change at Horb (4 minutes), total 2 hours 49 minutes
After Tübingen, it’s time to head on to the fourth country of this trip: Switzerland! This was my very first time visiting Switzerland, so I was extra excited. 🙂 If your train stopover is a short four minutes like ours was, don’t worry. Horb is not a big train station and there are only a few platforms, so it was an easy transfer.
We arrived in Zürich slightly late because our Deutsche Bahn train decided not to go all the way to Zürich; instead, it terminated one stop early in Schaffhausen, Switzerland, and we had to grab the next available train to Zürich, which was not a big deal. But it did introduce us to Schaffhausen… more on that later.
Zürich’s train station is thankfully right in the city center, and it was only about a five minute walk from our hotel. After dropping our stuff off, we went for a walk. As it was an unseasonably hot week in May, it didn’t take us long to come across a Swiss summer tradition: floating down the river. Make sure you’ve packed your swimsuit so you can join in with the crowds taking a nice float 400 meters along the Letten River. The water is so clear, clean, and refreshing, and it’s a great way to cool off while having fun like a local.
Day 16: Zürich / Optional Day Trip to Schaffhausen, Switzerland
Train time: 36-38 minutes each way, direct
As we made our unplanned stop in Schaffhausen the day prior, we realized something pretty interesting: Schaffhausen is home to Rhine Falls, the most powerful waterfall in Europe. So we decided we’d take a half-day trip to go visit it.
When you arrive in Schaffhausen, you’ll basically be “downtown” already, where you can meander through the cobblestone pedestrian streets and experience a small Swiss city, which definitely feels different from Zürich. Before leaving old town Schaffhausen, I recommend a visit to the Munot, which is a 16th-century fortification on Emmersberg Hill. The hike up to the top was basically just a staircase through a vineyard, but it took us like twice as long to get to the top as it should have… because we kept stopping and taking photos of the view of the old town behind us.
You will have to take a bus to get to the Rhine Falls, since it’s not *actually* in Schaffhausen, but it’s pretty easy. From the Schaffhausen, Mühlentor bus stop, catch the #1 bus heading west and ride it 7 minutes to the Neuhausen, Zentrum stop. From there, it’s just a few minutes to the falls, where you can spend some time wandering around the perimeter and taking it all in.
Day 17: Zürich / Optional Day Trip to Vaduz, Liechtenstein
Travel time: 1 hour 13 minutes train, 35 minutes bus, total 1 hour 48 minutes each way
We might be slightly insane, but we decided to add a fifth country to this trip. If you prefer to stay in Zürich rather than spend nearly two hours commuting — and then doing it all in reverse later on — that is more than understandable.
But we were the closest we’ve ever been to Liechtenstein, and I figured I’ll never have a real reason to go to Liechtenstein. So we went to Liechtenstein.
Start by taking the train from Zürich to Sargans, Switzerland. Once you arrive in Sargans, find the bus stop, where you’ll grab the 11 or 12E bus to Vaduz, the capital of Liechtenstein. Truthfully, there is not a ton to do in Vaduz except for hike up to Vaduz Castle, which takes about 20-30 minutes. Unfortunately, you can’t really get that close to the castle because Liechtenstein’s royal family actively lives there. Our favorite part of Vaduz was actually when we stumbled upon a high school band competititon near the Rathaus. 😉
On our way back to Sargans, we got off the bus in Balzers, which is another town in Liechtenstein, so we could check out the castle — Burg Gutenberg, which is a shorter hike to the top than in Vaduz, and I think the payoff is a lot better!
Day 18: Depart from Zürich
Even though we took two day trips, we still felt like we had enough time in Zürich, especially since we were back in town by the late afternoon both days. Here are a few things to do in Zürich if you haven’t already:
- Hike up to Lindenhof hill overlook
- Wander through the Altstadt (old town)
- Ride the Polybahn funicular
- Walk through the Platzspitz park
- Eat Swiss fondue
A few hours before your flight out of Zürich, head back to the Zürich Hauptbahnhof and take the very last train of your trip — to Zürich Airport. There are lots of options available, and most take just 10-15 minutes to arrive at the airport.
Trip Overview
Day 1: Fly to Brussels, Belgium
Day 2: Brussels + Bruges Day Trip
Day 3: Brussels + Ghent Day Trip
Day 4: Brussels
Day 5: Train from Brussels to Cologne, Germany
Day 6: Cologne
Day 7: Cologne
Day 8: Train from Cologne to Luxembourg City, Luxembourg
Day 9: Luxembourg City
Day 10: Train from Luxembourg City to Heidelberg, Germany
Day 11: Heidelberg
Day 12: Train from Heidelberg to Tübingen, Germany
Day 13: Tübingen
Day 14: Tübingen
Day 15: Train from Tübingen to Zürich, Switzerland
Day 16: Zürich + Schaffhausen Day Trip
Day 17: Zürich + Liechtenstein Day Trip
Day 18: Fly home from Zürich
I hope this Europe train trip itinerary helps give you some ideas for planning your very own train trip through Belgium, Germany, Luxembourg, and Switzerland!
Let me know your thoughts, and feel free to leave me a comment below.
-Cathy
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