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European Highlights Itinerary

Experience Europe's most famous sites by train with the Eurail Global Pass. Breathe in the romance of Paris from the top of the Eiffel Tower and be amazed by Gaudí's masterpiece, the Sagrada Familia church in Barcelona. Discover Venice by gondola and stand within the walls of Rome's ancient Colosseum.

Visit all of Europe's top highlights with the flexible Eurail Pass. Get around on Europe's comfortable trains, arrive in the heart of each city, and have the freedom to choose where and when you go.

 


Click here or on the map to view this route in our Trip Planner

Reservations

Some of the trains that are mentioned in this itinerary require reservations. These are not included in your Eurail Pass, but we can help you book your seats for 95% of the trains in Europe. It's also possible to avoid reservations by traveling with regional trains instead of high-speed trains. 

Paris, France

Visit the world’s most iconic structure of the modern day, the Eiffel Tower in Paris. There are 2 ways to scale the tower. For those after a challenge, climb the 704 steps while enjoying fantastic views across the French capital. For the less sporty, the 3 lifts will whisk you to the top in a flash. Visit by day or night for altogether different experiences. Combine a visit to the iron lattice tower with dinner and a glass of something nice at a restaurant along the River Seine.

Top attractions in Paris: Louvre Museum, Arc de Triomphe, Orsay Museum, Notre Dame Cathedral, Père Lachaise Cemetery, The Moulin Rouge, Sacré-Cœur Basilica.

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Get around Paris by TER regional train with your Eurail Pass.
Eiffel Tower, Paris

From Paris to Versailles

Travel time:

0h12m

Transfer:

0

  • Paris, France

    Gare Montparnasse

  • 0h 12m
  • Versailles, France

    Versailles-Chantiers

Versailles, France

The Palace of Versailles was the main residence of the royal family from 1682 until the French Revolution in 1789. It remains a symbol of the flamboyance of France during that period and many consider it one of the finest achievements of French art. Explore the palace rooms, including Louis XIV's luxuriously-decorated bedroom. Stroll around the well-kept gardens and admire Marie Antoinette's whimsical estate and beloved escape from the ceremony of royal life.

Top attractions in Versailles: The Royal Chapel.

 

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We advise you not to use your Eurail Pass for the short journey Paris-Versailles. Save your precious travel days by purchasing a regular return ticket by TER train (costs are around 6 euros).
Palace of Versailles

From Versailles to Amsterdam

Travel time:

4h27m

Transfer:

2

Reservation needed:

2x

  • Versailles, France

    Versailles-Chantiers

  • 0h 12m

    Reservation required

  • Paris, France

    Gare Montparnasse

  • 0h 55m
  • Paris, France

    Gare du Nord

  • 3h 20m

    Reservation required

  • Amsterdam, Netherlands

    Amsterdam Centraal

Amsterdam, the Netherlands

Step into the Secret Annex of Anne Frank and her family, located in the heart of Amsterdam. The Anne Frank Museum offers interviews of her father Otto, who survived his family, as well as footage of the impact of WWII in the Netherlands. Located on the Prinsengracht, one of Amsterdam’s most beautiful canals, you’ll understand why Anne was so desperate to peek out at Dutch life through the tiny attic window.

Top attractions in Amsterdam: Van Gogh Museum, Rijks Museum, Rembrandt House Museum, Stedelijk Museum, Red Light District, Vondel Park.

Statue of Anne Frank, Amsterdam

From Amsterdam to Berlin

Travel time:

6h28m

Transfer:

0

Reservation needed:

  • Amsterdam, Netherlands

    Amsterdam Centraal

  • 6h 28m

    Reservation required

  • Berlin, Germany

    Berlin Hbf

Berlin, Germany

Checkpoint Charlie was the most well-known border crossing between East and West Berlin for the 28 years that the Berlin Wall divided the capitalist West from the communist bloc in the East. Little remains of the 28-mile (45km) long wall, except Checkpoint Charlie, which serves as a reminder of the Cold War. The Berlin Wall Museum recounts the history of the wall and includes stories of the weird and wonderful ways people tried to escape.

Top attractions in Berlin: East Side Gallery, Brandenburg Gate, Charlottenburg Palace, Reichstag, Holocaust Memorial, Potsdamer Platz, Kunsthaus Tacheles.

Checkpoint Charlie, Berlin

From Berlin to Prague

Travel time:

4h40m

Transfer:

0

  • Berlin, Germany

    Berlin Hbf

  • 4h 40m
  • Prague, Czech Republic

    Praha hl.n.

Prague, Czech Republic

Prague, Czech Republic

A highlight of a visit to Prague is the historic Charles Bridge. It has two distinct personalities: by day it's heaving with crowds and by dawn and dusk it's at its most serene. We recommend you go for the latter to enjoy the fairy-tale views over Castle Hill in peace. The fourteenth-century bridge crosses the River Vltava and connects more modern Prague with the old town. Climb the 138 steps of the Old Town Bridge Tower for a bird's eye view of Charles Bridge.

Top attractions in Prague: Prague Castle, St Vitus' Cathedral, Kafka House.

Charles Bridge, Prague

From Prague to Salzburg

Travel time:

6h25m

Transfer:

1

  • Prague, Czech Republic

    Praha hl.n.

  • 5h 9m
  • Linz, Austria

    Linz Hbf

  • 1h 16m
  • Salzburg, Austria

    Salzburg Hbf

Salzburg, Austria

The Austrian hills are indeed alive with the Sound of Music! Book yourself onto a tour of the key locations of the much-loved Hollywood movie through the breathtaking scenery of Salzburg and its surrounding lake district. Along the way, discover the fascinating facts and fiction of the Von Trapp family. The Sound of Music Museum in the city's center offers interactive displays and memorabilia from the 1965 movie.

Top attractions in Salzburg: Mozart´s Birthplace, Mozart´s Residence, Hohensalzburg Fortress.

Sound of Music Tour, Salzburg

From Salzburg to Füssen

Travel time:

3h50m

Transfer:

1

  • Salzburg, Austria

    Salzburg Hbf

  • 1h 45m
  • Munich, Germany

    München Hbf

  • 2h 5m
  • Füssen, Germany

    Füssen

Füssen, Germany

Visit one of the most photographed castles in the world, Neuschwanstein Castle, built in the nineteenth century by Ludvig II, the King of Bavaria. The castle sits atop a rugged hill, surrounded by thick alpine forest and glistening lakes – the stuff that fairytales are made of. Cross the Mariebrücke Bridge for the most magical view of the castle upon which Walt Disney based his Cinderella castle.

Top attractions in Füssen: Hohenschwangen Castle.

Neuschwanstein Castle, Füssen

From Füssen to Venice

Travel time:

8h35m

Transfer:

3

  • Füssen, Germany

    Füssen

  • 1h 0m
  • Kaufbeuren, Germany

    Kaufbeuren

  • 1h 5m
  • Munich, Germany

    München Hbf

  • 5h 20m
  • Verona, Italy

    Verona Porta Nuova

  • 1h 10m
  • Venice, Italy

    Venezia Santa Lucia

Venice, Italy

If you're in search of an affair of the heart, Venice is sure to reel you in with its artistic setting and labyrinth of enchanting canals. The best way to taste Venice's riches is aboard the iconic gondola. As you're propelled along the Grand Canal – the most ancient water thoroughfare in Venice – admire views of grand Renaissance palaces, and intricate arch bridges and get soaked up in the hustle and bustle that filtrates this Italian city.

Top attractions in Venice: San Marco Basilica, Piazza San Marco, Rialto Bridge, and Campanile (viewing tower).

Gondola ride in Venice

From Venice to Florence

Travel time:

2h5m

Transfer:

0

  • Venice, Italy

    Venezia Santa Maria

  • 2h 5m
  • Florence, Italy

    Firenze S.M.N.

Florence, Italy

Michaelangelo's statue of David is by far one of the most recognized sculptures on the planet and an absolute must-see on a trip to the Renaissance Italian city of Florence. The original is housed in the Galleria dell'Accademia with a replica in Piazza della Signoria. This Renaissance masterpiece represents the biblical hero, David, who is made of marble and stands at an astounding 17 ft (5.17m).

Top attractions in Florence: Il Duomo, Ponte Vecchio (bridge), Galileo Museum, Uffizi Gallery.

Statue of David, Florence

From Florence to Rome

Travel time:

1h30m

Transfer:

0

  • Florence, Italy

    Firenze S.M.N.

  • 1h 30m
  • Rome, Italy

    Roma Termini

Rome, Italy

Rome’s Colosseum was the largest ever built in the Roman Empire and is regarded as one of the greatest examples of Roman architecture. Its outer walls are surrounded by a constant circulation of traffic, so it’s only when you step into the core of the Colosseum that you can really imagine the Roman amphitheater buzzing from the chanting crowds as barbarous fighting between gladiators took place.

Top attractions in Rome: Trevi Fountain, Spanish Steps, Pantheon, Roman Forum.

Colosseum, Rome

From Rome to Vatican City

Travel time:

0h10m

Transfer:

0

  • Rome, Italy

    Roma Termini

  • 0h 10m
  • Vatican

    Roma Vatican

Vatican City

St Peter's Basilica (Basilica Papale di San Pietro) dominates the skyline of the Vatican City – the tiny sovereign city-state situated within Italy's capital, Rome. A visit to the world's largest church guarantees infinite works of art, opulent frescoes, and elaborate glass windows. Climb up to the dome for fantastic views of St Peter's Square and its surroundings. Most Wednesday mornings, the Pope holds the Papal Audience in the main square – book tickets in advance.

Top attractions in Vatican City: Vatican Museums & Sistine Chapel, Vatican Gardens, Castel Sant'Angelo.

 

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Your Eurail Pass is not required for this trip. You can reach Vatican City by Roman public transport or simply by foot - cross the Ponte Sant'Angelo (Angels' Bridge) over the Tiber River and you'll find the Vatican to your left.
St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City

From Rome to Monte Carlo

Travel time:

6h50m

Transfer:

2

  • Rome, Italy

    Roma Termini

  • 4h 20m
  • Genoa, Italy

    Genova Piazza Principe

  • 2h 10m
  • Ventimiglia, Italy

    Ventimiglia

  • 0h 20m
  • Monte Carlo, Monaco

    Monaco-Monte-Carlo

Monte Carlo, Monaco

The Monte Carlo Casino, a key location in a number of James Bond movies, truly signifies the style and glamour that has put Monaco on the map. It provides the main source of income that keeps the House of Grimaldi and the Monaco economy dripping in wealth. It's worth paying the €10 entry fee to see the gaming rooms, richly decorated with frescoes, paintings, and sculptures. Watch over the gaming tables, or even put some money down yourself!


Top attractions in Monaco: Monaco Grand Prix circuit, Oceanographic Museum, Prince's Palace, Monaco Cathedral (resting place of Princess Grace of Monaco).

Monte Carlo Casino, Monaco

From Monte Carlo to Barcelona

Travel time:

9h25m

Transfer:

4

  • Monte Carlo, Monaco

    Monaco-Monte-Carlo

  • 0h 15m
  • Nice, France

    Nice-Ville

  • 2h 40m
  • Marseille, France

    Gare de Marseille-Saint-Charles

  • 1h 10m
  • Avignon, France

    Gare d’Avignon Centre

  • 2h 45m
  • Portbou, Spain

    Portbou

  • 2h 35m
  • Barcelona, Spain

    Barcelona Sants

Barcelona, Spain

Antoni Gaudí's Sagrada Familia is one of Europe's most recognizable architectural masterpieces. It's also the world's most famous unfinished building – work on the Roman Catholic church began in 1882 and continues. Its dazzling façade and complex detail are evidence of Gaudí's unique vision. The structure has been described as "the most extraordinary personal interpretation of Gothic architecture since the Middle Ages."

Top attractions in Barcelona: Las Ramblas, FC Barcelona's Nou Camp stadium, Park Güell, Picasso Museum

Sagrada Familia, Barcelona

Experience this itinerary with the Eurail Global Pass