6 train routes to take in 2026

Three Baltic countries, one train line

It’s now even easier to see the Baltics by rail, thanks to updated train schedules and connections in the region.

From Vilnius, you can ride a single train line north through Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia on the way to Tallinn. The full route takes about 10 hours to complete, so we recommend stopping for a few days in places like Riga, Sigulda and Tartu along the way. 

Not ready for the trip to be over? Once you reach Tallinn, you can switch from train to ferry and sail across the Gulf of Finland to Helsinki. Passholders get a 20% discount on journeys aboard Tallink Silja Line ships. 

A quieter side of Portugal

On this route, you can swap the crowds in Lisbon and the Algarve for northern Portugal’s rocky plateaus and hilltop villages.  

The Beira Alta line, which opened in October 2025, starts in Pampilhosa do Botão, 15 minutes outside the university city of Coimbra. From Coimbra, the train takes travellers across Portugal’s less-visited Beira Alta region, dotted with remote towns that sit in the shadow of the Serra de Estrela mountains. Switch trains in Guarda and end your trip with a train ride to Vilar Formoso, on the Spanish border.  

An iconic long-distance train route, plus a look into rail's future 

Hop on board the new high-speed train from Subotica, on Serbia’s border with Hungary, and travel south to Belgrade, a trip that now takes under 90 minutes. Then, after a few days in Belgrade, take the famous 476-kilomretre train south to Bar, on Montenegro’s coastline. 

Eager to see what lies between Belgrade and Bar? Take the day train (only possible during the summer) and watch the mountains roll by as you cross over the route’s 400 bridges. Otherwise, book a bed or couchette on the night train and arrive in Bar rested and ready for whatever comes next. 

Bonus: The Belgrade to Subotica high-speed line is expected to extend all the way to Budapest later in 2026.

Germany’s Mosel wine region by train

In 2021, devastating flooding damaged the regional train line that connected Trier to Cologne. Now, four years later, the Eifel line linking the two cities is back in action.

Begin in Trier, at the southern end of the Mosel wine region and travel north through western Germany’s forests and hillsides. After three hours, you’ll arrive in Cologne. Check out its colossal cathedral, the city’s most famous landmark—but take time to go deeper into the city’s arts scene, too. We suggest a walk through Ehrenfeld’s muraled streets and catching a show at one of Cologne’s many live music venues. 

See Spain’s most famous cities. And a few not-so-famous ones, too.

Good news for anyone eyeing a train trip in Spain: Iryo trains are now part of the Interrail Pass network, which means you have even more options for travelling Spain with a Pass. 

Not sure where to begin? Make a semi-circle around Spain’s Mediterranean coastline, starting with a few days spent on the beaches of Alicante. Then, take the train inland to Cuenca to admire the hanging houses that loom over the Huecar River. From Cuenca, travel onwards to Madrid and Zaragoza and end your trip back on the coast in Barcelona. 

Slow travel in the south of France 

Speaking of the Mediterranean, we have more news. With the addition of a new regional train line to our Pass network, it's now even easier to travel along the French Riviera from Marseille to Nice. Take time to explore the coastline, and then hop on the Chemins de Fer de Provence, which takes travellers from Nice into Provence.

After winding past the Préalpes d'Azur Regional Natural Park, you’ll arrive in Digne-les-Bains, a laidback place to slow down as you experience the town’s unique blend of Provençal and Alpine cultures.