When I started brainstorming routes for my upcoming Eurail trip, I knew I wanted something different. My typical style is to spend a great deal of time in each location to learn about and absorb as much as possible. This trip I wanted to do just the opposite.

I wanted the journey to be as important as the destination. Europe and trains go together like ham and baguettes for me. There’s no other way I’d like to travel around this continent.

So I planned it: an exciting, diverse, and fast-paced rail adventure through Europe with a Eurail Global Pass with the intent of showcasing the geographic and cultural diversity of Europe.

In the past I have traveled with the freedom of not making reservations. For this trip, I’m redefining freedom. With the added peace of mind from extensive beforehand planning, I’ll have the freedom of not worrying about any logistical travel details and will be able to fully immerse myself (albeit, only a few hours) in each place. Most of my expected trains do not require reservations, but with a bit of online research, I’ll know all the schedules.

I’m also planning to ride some of Europe’s most scenic train routes: the Rauma line in Norway, the Golden Pass in Switzerland, the Mosel Vally in Germany, the Semmering Bahn in Austria, as well as the Alps Scenic Route from Innsbruck to Verona.

Another objective of this Eurail adventure is to go to places and countries I’ve never been: small countries I’ve missed like Luxembourg, Liechtenstein, and San Marino, as well as others countries I’ve never been: Hungary, Romania, Slovenia, and Croatia. Other stops along the way are to catch up with old friends who live in Oslo, Brussels, and Geneva.

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Route Details:

Start: Oslo, Norway

The Rauma Line Scenic Route of Norway (Dombås to Åndalsnes)

Trondheim, Norway

Aarhus, Denmark

Amsterdam, the Netherlands

Brussels & Bruges, Belgium

Luxembourg

Mosel River scenic route (Trier and Cochem) Germany

Geneva, Switzerland

Golden Pass Scenic Route (Montreux to Luzern via Interlaken) Switzerland

Zurich, Switzerland

Liechtenstein

Feldkirch, Austria

Arlberg Line Scenic Route (Bludenz to Innsbruck, Austria)

Alps Scenic Route (Innsbruck to Verona)

San Marino (Italy)

Semmering Scenic and World Heritage Railway, Austria

Graz, Austria

Ljubljana, Slovenia

Zagreb, Croatia

End: Budapest, Hungary

Have you traveled with a Eurail Pass? What were your favorite routes or stops?