Europe is a wonderful continent. Culturally & geographically diverse and incredibly easy to navigate from the Arctic to the Mediterranean or even the Atlantic to the Pacific.

The best way to explore the region is by train with a vast network of train tracks criss-crossing the continent, connecting amazing cities and countries. Arm yourself with the European rail timetable and salivate over the possibilities!

I have now undertaken over 200 train journeys outside of the UK since 1987 and over the coming weeks I will share some of my favourite train tours……

Bologna – Venice – Verona – Como – Tirano 

This tour was travelled this June this year taking in North West Italy.

We flew easyJet out (4 hours late, but €500 in compensation later secured) to the delightful city of Bologna.

Bologna to Venice Santa Lucia

Rooftops, Bologna

After a memorable 36 hours in Bologna it was time to make tracks to iconic Venice.

A journey of just over two hours and a half to kick off. The Trenitalia website was a breeze and two singles cost just €11 each for the 10.18 train.

We could have got a different express train taking just under two hours but that would have cost three times as much!

The regional train was smart, modern, uncrowded and punctual. The highlight of the journey was undoubtedly the approach to Venezia as the green countryside made way for lagoons and canals.

Train Tracks, Venice

The sun shone brightly making the waters a lovely pale blue.

We were arriving somewhere special and very different to the norm.

Santa Lucia train station is slap bang in the throng of the action and your immediate sight as you exit is of a thriving canal, a picturesque bridge and vaporetto & private boats buzzing about their business. A wonderful arrival!

Venice, Italy – outside the train station

See my earlier post Venetian Find for a few ideas of what to do in the slowly sinking city.

Venice Santa Lucia to Verona Porta Nuova

Another bargain fare of €8.70 for a train taking just a tad over two hours. Again there were faster options taking just over an hour but again at nearly three times the cost.

Venice Train Station Platforms

We had toyed with the idea of breaking the journey at Padova (Padua). There were left luggage facilities we had determined but common sense prevailed as it would have just cut into our Verona time. In the event it started to rain to further vindicate the decision. With Vicenza on the same route and also said to be worth a visit, we decided that we would be returning one day soon with Bologna as a base.

There was nothing remarkable about the journey, which was again on a very comfortable train. Our peace was shattered at Padova however when a large family group of Californians boarded and did a mighty fine impression of the McCallisters from the film Home Alone!

We were therefore pretty happy to arrive, even though the rain was dampening our spirits somewhat.

Verona was to prove a wonderful destination, especially when the rain stopped soon after we checked in.

Verona Arena, Italy

Verona Porta Nuovo to Como San Giovanni

Another short city break with a vow to return to see an opera at the Arena. We had decided to travel early afternoon to try and see as much as the city relatively crowd free when compared to our arrival day on the Sunday. You can read how we got on by clicking Juliette.

Verona Train Station Platform

The eighty minute leg to Milano Centrale was the most expensive Italian train journey at €22 each, but this was for first class seats (for some reason the same price as standard when we booked), which meant extra wide seats and a free coffee and biscuit. Our train was wonderfully called the Frecciabianca – no idea why but it sounded very suave I thought.

As we approached Como, I looked out for the lake and was disappointed not to see it. There was a very large monastery complex on the outskirts, which looked very interesting but apart from that it was just green countryside.

The train station was actually high up above the lake so it could not be seen. We struggled down a large flight of steps right outside the station but soon found ourselves lake side with a refreshing cocktail. That’s the life – read about our wonderful day and a half by clicking on Como.

Lake Como, Italy

Como San Giovanni to Tirano

Our final train leg in Italy was to take us right to the Swiss border in order to catch the Bernina Express into the mountains of Switzerland.

The €13 train ticket turned out to be just about the bargain of the holiday. First of all we headed back from where we had come towards Milan for a change of trains in Monza, home of the Italian Grand Prix held at the end of August every year.

Monza Train Station Platform, Italy

The journey would take three and a half hours with a thirty minute stop over in Monza. We decided against trying to run around the town taking pictures like paparazzi and instead opted for a relaxing coffee.

We were soon off again, right on time at 10.32 for the 140 minute journey to Tirano. We soon left the Lombardy countryside and picked up the lake again with the train stopping at towns such as Lecco, Varenna, Bellano and Colico. It was a beautiful journey in bright sunshine. The lake was a hive of activity backed by green hills and surrounded by pretty villages, each with lovely looking churches with their proud steeples.

We followed the lake for a very pleasurable hour or so, before the green countryside interspersed with vineyards took over. As we approached Switzerland, the hills turned into mountains capped with snow. All thoughts that I had had to do some writing went out of the window as I gazed at the scenery on offer instead.

It was almost a shame when the journey was over. We however only had a ninety minute lunchtime wait before we would be boarding the Bernina Express, one of the world’s truly iconic train trips.

Coming next – Switzerland

The Bernina Express, Switzerland