Rushing between European cities by plane means missing the continent's true magic. A growing movement advocates for swapping the airport hassle for the romance of rail and the tranquillity of ferry travel, turning the journey itself into a highlight. Here are five popular flight routes you can trade for slower, more scenic adventures.
From Rome to Athens: A Mediterranean Voyage
The typical two-hour flight from Rome to Athens, costing between $90 and $220, is efficient but skips the stunning landscapes below. A far more memorable alternative begins with a train from Rome to Bari. The four-hour-and-15-minute journey glides through idyllic olive groves and orchards before reaching the Adriatic coast, with tickets from $18.
The adventure continues with an overnight ferry from Bari to Patras in Greece. For 16 to 17 hours, you can enjoy a meal on deck as Bari's lights fade. Booking a cabin, costing between $350 and $420, ensures comfort. The cinematic arrival, passing under the epic Rio–Antirrio Bridge with sun-washed mountains as a backdrop, is unforgettable. A final bus and train connection completes the journey to Athens.
London to Madrid: A Bay of Biscay Crossing
Instead of a 2.5-hour flight to Madrid's outskirts, embark on a multi-stage voyage. Start with a 90-minute train from London Waterloo to Portsmouth Harbour, costing $20 to $45. From there, board a Brittany Ferries vessel for a 33 to 36-hour crossing of the Bay of Biscay to Bilbao.
These ships are like mini-cruise liners, featuring restaurants, cinettes, and cabins ranging from standard bunk rooms to ones with balconies. Fares start at $120 for foot passengers. Wake early to watch the rugged Basque coastline unfold at sunrise. Finally, a scenic four-hour train ride through rolling hills and vineyards delivers you to the heart of Madrid for $30 to $90.
Oslo to Bergen: Norway's Spectacular Interior
Flying between Oslo and Bergen in under 1.5 hours misses some of Northern Europe's most dramatic scenery. The slow-travel route is an epic combination of rail and fjord. First, the Bergen Railway winds for up to seven hours across the haunting Hardangervidda plateau, a treeless expanse of frozen lakes and peaks, for $40 to $120.
At Myrdal, switch to the famous Flåm Railway for a 55-minute descent past sheer rock faces and waterfalls ($50-$80). In Flåm, a two-hour ferry sails through the narrow, breathtaking Nærøyfjord, where waterfalls cascade down near-vertical cliffs ($50-$90). A final bus and train leg via Voss completes the journey to Bergen's picturesque coastal setting.
Nice to Mallorca: A Riviera and Mediterranean Sail
Transform a quick one-hour 25-minute flight into a coastal odyssey. Begin with a train journey from Nice to Toulon, hugging the French Riviera for up to three hours. For the best views, sit on the left to see azure bays, superyachts, and the resorts of Cannes. Tickets cost $25 to $60.
In Toulon, an overnight Corsica Ferries service departs past moored warships for Alcúdia in Mallorca. Onboard amenities include restaurants and comfortable cabins. Foot passenger fares start at $40, with cabins from $120. Waking to see Alcúdia's twinkling lights at dawn is a magical start to a Balearic holiday, with easy bus or car connections to Palma.
Stockholm to Helsinki: A Fairytale Archipelago Crossing
Skip the short flight and opt for a hypnotic overnight Baltic Sea crossing. Viking Line or Tallink Silja ferries depart Stockholm in the evening, sailing serenely through the fairytale Stockholm Archipelago. This stunning maze of pine-covered islands and granite cliffs dotted with summer cottages is a sight you'd completely miss from the air.
The 16-hour journey, costing $90 to $180, includes comfortable cabins and onboard restaurants. You'll dock right in the centre of Helsinki the next morning, having turned a simple transit into a serene and scenic voyage.
Embracing slow travel across Europe by train and ferry offers a deeper, more fulfilling connection to the landscape and culture. It transforms the journey from a chore to be endured into an integral and memorable part of the vacation itself.
