Find Out the Best Way to Travel Around Europe With This Klook Guide

Getting hyped up for a European adventure? Make the most of your trip to Europe by checking several countries off of your bucket list at once. Have you always wanted to visit Buckingham Palace? Or have you been in love with the Eiffel Tower since you were young? Rome, Stockholm, and Barcelona are also must-visit destinations. But how can you conveniently, affordably, and efficiently tour the continent? Below, we compare plane, bus, and train travel according to five aspects—tickets, transportation stops, proximity to your destination, seating, and luggage restrictions.

Trains might be the easiest way to travel around Europe, and one of the reasons is because you can visit multiple countries with just one rail pass. With the Eurail Global Pass, you’ll have access to unlimited and borderless travel without needing to book several tickets per destination. This makes the Eurail pass cost-effective, plus it comes with benefits such as freebies and discounts on admission to hundreds of Europe’s best attractions. In case you’re still not sold, Eurail passes are pretty flexible when it comes to boarding times. Just missed the train? You can catch the next one!

Learn more about the benefits of the Eurail Pass with this guide.

Bus tickets are relatively cheaper and faster than trains, but you’ll have to book multiple tickets through different companies for different destinations. Taking traffic into consideration, travelling by bus can lead to unpredictable delays which could lead to missing your connecting ride and needing to book new tickets. Also, there are typically no perks or discounts with bus tickets unlike rail passes. 

Plane tickets can be kinda expensive, but if you book early and through a budget airline, air travel can be an affordable option. But with budget airlines, it’s important to be aware of hidden fees, like additional payments for snacks, drinks, and even checked luggage; so, be careful as they might not be as cheap as you think! Plus, with airline tickets, it’s crucial that you arrive early or at least on time to avoid missing your flight.

Train stations provide passengers with plenty of places to sit, eat, drink, and buy supplies while they wait. Departure boards and announcements provide up-to-date information on the destinations and departure and arrival times. There is also station staff available to assist foreign passengers that might have trouble navigating how to travel by train.

For those travelling on buses, we recommend thoroughly mapping out your pick-up point ahead of time. Some buses depart from bus stations, others at parking lots, or just on the side of the road. Because of this, waiting facilities are limited and different cities can have multiple pick-up points, which can make it difficult to find your bus stop, unlike trains stations which are usually in a central location.

Most airlines require passengers to arrive at the airport a few hours before their flight to check-in, drop off their baggage and go through security checks. But when travelling by train, you skip all the hassle of these on-flight procedures. This is why airports typically have shops, restaurants, and convenience stores to keep waiting passengers comfortable and entertained. Depending on where you’re flying from and which airline you’re flying with, some budget airlines may fly from distant or out-of-the-way airports; this could be a hassle or more expensive to travel to. 

With the Eurail Pass, you can visit nearly anywhere from Europe’s most popular cities to the quaintest villages with just one handy ticket. Because of the extensive routes of trains, passengers can enjoy the flexibility of deciding where to board and alight on their journey. Plus, this means that if you travel by train, you can arrive at your chosen destination sooner than a flight because you’ll be travelling directly to and from city centres. 

Some buses travel similar routes as trains with a shorter travel time, but are often subject to sudden delays and cancellations. In addition, one bus ticket can only take you from point A to point B, so each leg of your journey must be booked separately, and you’ll have to transfer from one bus stop to another. There are also a limited number of bus services that travel to smaller cities, so this might mean long stopovers or far away drop-off points. 

Most airports are situated outside of the city centre, so you have to take into consideration the cost of airport transfers; out-of-the-way airports to cities are usually pricey. This will also be additional hours to your travelling time that you could’ve spent exploring. Once you arrive at your destination, you’ll, once again, have to wait before getting off the plane, going through customs, finding your luggage, and finally leaving the airport. 

When you travel by train, you’ll have more space to relax in your seat and roam about the cabin. Windows are typically wide and the scenery outside can be enjoyed even if you didn’t get a window seat. You have the choice of deciding between first and second class seats, but some features are standard among most trains, like reclining seats, power sockets, Wi-Fi, and access to refreshments. Tip: if you’re travelling on a night train, you can reserve a bed to make sure you have enough energy for sightseeing the next day.

Although buses can be a cheaper and a faster way to travel, they won’t always be the most comfortable. Your space is limited to your seats, and you don’t have room to stretch or move around because of safety restrictions on the road. Some services may also require you to bring your own child seat if you’re travelling with children, so don’t forget to pack that with you along with food and drinks, which aren’t available onboard. 

First class plane seats are the way to go if you’re looking for comfy plane travel. But if you’re travelling economy class, you can still enjoy reclining seats, but the space is often tight with limited leg room. Some airlines offer Wi-Fi, power sockets, and in-flight entertainment, but you’ll have to pick and choose the airline to get the amenities you want. 

There are generally no luggage restrictions when you travel by train, and if there are, they’re pretty lax. Depending on your train operator, luggage restrictions can be on the bag size, need for a name tag, and luggage contents, such as no firearms and explosives. In terms of how many bags you can bring, there aren’t usually any restrictions because there are plenty of places to store your bags—whether on the standing racks at the end of each carriage or in the overhead rack. But as a general rule of thumb, only bring what you can carry.

Since buses travel a quicker route on roads, there’s a limit to the amount of luggage you can bring. You also won’t be able to have direct access to your suitcases and other big bags because they have to be stored in a separate compartment. Bigger bags you choose to keep with you can also lessen your already limited space, so you’ll want to keep this in mind when you’re packing. 

On airplanes, there are rigid guidelines on the contents, size and weight of luggage you can check in and bring as carry-on. In fact, you’ll either have to pay extra or ship your luggage separately if you happen to exceed these limitations. Most flights also require payment for checked bags, but at least you don’t have to worry about carrying them on your own throughout the airport. 

Now that you’ve gotten an idea of what to expect on each transportation method, it’ll be easier for you to decide whether to travel by train, by bus or by plane depending on their convenience, cost-effectiveness, and comfort.