European Train Reviews

Summer of 2018 and 2023 we rode a number of European trains using our Eurail Pass, and through purchasing point to point tickets through Rail Europe. Some trains were amazing, and some… not so much. Before purchasing our seat reservations, we did some research on the trains themselves to find out what we were getting ourselves, and our families, in to. Unfortunately there isn’t much information on the trains themselves. We found a few sites that showed us the different layouts and train routes, etc, but what we were looking for was how comfortable are these trains? What kind of food do they offer? Is there a big difference between first and second class? Are there outlets available? Is there WiFi available? I needed to know these things!

 

 

Below, I will lay it all out on the line for you. I will review each train we took and give you my most honest opinion. Hopefully this helps you plan your train trips in the future! (Or at least give you a better idea of what you will be riding for multiple hours a day)

 

Renfe

We took the Renfe Euromed 01161 train from Barcelona Sants to Valencia-Joaquin Sorolla station. The Euromed is a high speed train that travels along the Spanish Mediterranean Coast, so expect some beautiful views of the sea! The train starts at Figueres-Vilafant railway station and ends in Alicante railway station.

 

 

The journey took about 2 hours and 45 min. We purchased our tickets (aka seat reservations) through our Eurail Pass which cost us approximately $12. We were traveling with family members who did not have the Eurail Pass, and after waiting in line at the Barcelona-Sants train station for almost 2 hours, it cost them each around $100.

To read more about the Eurail Pass and if it is right for you, click here!

 

 

The train itself is very nice. We were in first class so the seats were comfortable, there were outlets located at each seat, plenty of legroom, and a table in front of us. The seats behind us had tray tables attached to the back of the seat, similar to an airline.

The bathrooms were in working order and fairly clean.

There was a dining car, which I recommend visiting as soon as the train starts moving. About 30 minutes into the trip, the line for food was incredibly long. An hour after the train started going, there was an attendant with a cart selling food so you did not have to leave the comfort of your seat. They offered boxed lunches, small snacks (sweet and savory), soft drinks, and alcoholic beverages. They were also playing a movie. Nice touch! There were signs visible in every car showing the list of stops, and a speaker played with someone telling you which stops were coming up, in multiple languages. These European trains know how to roll.

 

TGV Lyria

 

 

We took the TGV Lyria 4729 from Paris-Gare de Lyon to Geneva (Cornavin) in summer of 2023 and what a train this was! This double decker train connects France and Switzerland in a little over 3 hours, and travels at a speed of 320 km/h (or 199 mph)! The scenic views from this train make it almost impossible to do anything else but stare out the window!

When we first booked our seat reservations, we could not figure out a way to get our party of 6 to sit together, so 2 of us were in a different car. It was not a big deal as the seats are very comfortable, have a ton of leg room, and has an outlet at every seat. There is also free WiFi available on this train. After we took off, the train attendant saw that we were split up, and found us seats, on the second story, for all of us to sit together. We were extremely grateful to her for taking notice, and taking action without having to be asked.

Our new seats were a 4 top table, directly next to a 2 top table. The seats can recline, and still enough leg room without bothering the person behind, or in front of you. There was plenty of space in all of the cars for luggage storage. The bathrooms are well equipped and very clean.

 

 

The dining car on this train was by far our favorite. TGV Lyria has partnered with Michelin star French Chef Michel Roth so every option sounded, and tasted, out of this world! The food also came beautifully presented. My only wish was that the journey was longer so I could have enjoyed more food!

 

Helpful Information

A tip for this train is to book your tickets in advance. If you book 2-6 months in advance, you will receive the lowest possible price! *Your earliest available booking date depends on factors such as what country you are from, whether you are booking with a Eurail Pass, etc. Check out Omio to compare ticket prices and find the perfect route!

 

Trenitalia

We took Trenitalia EC (eurocity) 35 from Geneva, Switzerland to Venice St. Lucia, Italy in 2023. This was an early morning train, and a 7 hour journey. The views from this train were spectacular.

 

 

We were in first class for this trip. The train itself is nice, but a little dated. The seats have seen better days. There was free WiFi available, but it never worked. There were also outlets at every seat, but only 2 out of the 6 seats we occupied worked.

Our train departed at 05:39 am. Since it was so early, there weren’t many food options open yet at the train station, so we figured we would eat on the train. Upon boarding we asked when the dining car would open and we were informed it would open at 07:00 am. By that time we were famished!

The dining car did not open until a little after 8:00 am. As soon as it opened, it was pandemonium. There was only one person working the entire car (taking orders and making the food). We ordered our food and waited for almost 30 min. Once it came out we were missing some items, and when we asked the attendant about those items, he said that they had run out. So we were asked to wait at the back of the line to re order. (And I’m not sure if we ever got a refund for those items). Not fun trying to explain that to a hungry toddler. Once we got our food, it was good, but nothing memorable.

I would take these European trains again, but I think I would opt for a time later in the day, and wouldn’t pay extra for 1st class. 2nd class seemed to look exactly the same. Ticket prices for a 7 hour train ride were very reasonable though.

 

Trenitalia FRECCE

We also took Trenitalia FRECCE around Tuscany. These European trains were free to Eurail Pass holders, as in they did not require seat reservations.

Click here for everything you need to know about the Eurail Pass!

These trains were fast, comfortable, and easy to navigate. They left at multiple times all day long, so it was easy to get off, explore a little, and hop back on to our next destination.

 

 

During our trip through Tuscany, we were actually on a cruise ship. Some of the excursions to various cities cost hundreds of dollars. Because we had the Eurail Pass, we were able to save ourselves a lot of money, and discover the cities at our own pace. It did require a lot more time for planning though, but thankfully that is something my husband is extremely good at.

Click Here to see more cruises in the area!

2018

In 2018, we got to experience many more European trains, due to us having the Eurail Pass for one month. I won’t comment on most of those trains since I am not sure if they are still using the same routes, or if they have been updated since that time. What I will talk about is the sleeper trains! We took 2 different overnight trains during our trip, and had two very different experiences.

The first overnight train was nice, but nothing to write home about. We went from Munich to Zagrab on EN 50463. The journey took about 9 hours.

The room had 2 comfortable beds and sink. The Munich train station has showers you can pay for, so we showered and got ready for bed before we boarded the train.

The second overnight train was amazing. We went from Vienna to Rome on a NightJet train. It was a little over a 14 hour journey. We opted for a deluxe sleeping compartment, which is a private room, with a shower! and bathroom. We are the type of people who like to shower every day. I honestly feel like a zombie if I don’t shower in the morning. We could have saved a few bucks by opting for the room without a shower. There were showers located in each sleeper car, but obviously you had to share. It was so nice not having to stand there and wait for the next person to get out, and then have no hot water.

The beds were comfortable, the rocking of the train definitely helps put you to sleep! We received menu cards to fill out the night before so our wake up call included our breakfast. Definitely a nice way to start your day.

 

In Conclusion

AtlasAdventured recommends doing some research about the European trains you will be taking, especially if you are paying extra for seat reservations. It’s nice knowing what you are getting yourself into before you spend hours on this mode of transportation. We used GetYourGuide, Omio, and RailEurope to search for trains and cheap routes!