European rail holidays make the journey part of the experience, combining scenery, comfort and convenient city-centre arrivals.
There’s something quietly special about watching Europe unfold from a train window.
One moment it’s the patchwork fields of northern France, the next it’s the first suggestion of the Alps on the horizon. Strasbourg’s cathedral spires appear between the trees, while vineyards, rivers and rolling countryside glide past your window as the train speeds south.
Rail tours have always had a place in what we do at Travel Editions, but in recent years they’ve become one of our most in-demand collections. For 2026/7, we’ve put together our largest ever programme, and departures are already filling fast. It’s easy to see why.
The journey isn’t just transport — it’s part of the holiday
One of the things we hear time and again from our travellers is how different it feels to arrive by rail. You step off the train straight into the heart of a city — not an airport on the edge of town — already relaxed, already oriented, and already having seen so much of the landscape you’re about to explore.
All our European rail holidays from the UK begin on the Eurostar, and we’ve worked hard to take the stress out of the logistics. Through our partnership with The Baggage Man, your luggage can be collected from your home before you depart and delivered directly to your first hotel. You travel light, hands-free, and completely unburdened — with Travel Editions clients receiving an exclusive 10% discount.
From there, you’re accompanied by one of our experienced Tour Managers throughout. They handle the details — connections, transfers, timings — so you don’t have to. Your only job is to enjoy the journey.
Where Our European Rail Holidays Can Take You
This year’s collection spans some of Europe’s most rewarding regions, with several new itineraries we’re especially excited to share.
France, as ever, plays a leading role — and for good reason.
- Albi, Carcassonne and the Tarn Countryside brings together the medieval citadel of Carcassonne, Albi and its Sainte-Cécile Cathedral, the hilltop town of Cordes-sur-Ciel and a Gaillac wine experience.
- Our Auvergne by Rail tour reveals a lesser-known central France of volcanic landscapes and quiet authenticity — a part of the country many British visitors have never seen.
- The Brittany by Rail tour explores standing stones at Carnac, the dramatic Atlantic coastline, and a region with a character entirely its own.
For something more Alpine and contemplative, our Lake Annecy by Rail holiday is centred around one of Europe’s most beautiful lakes. From Annecy itself to Chamonix and Mont Blanc, the medieval charm of Yvoire, and the spa town of Évian, this is a journey shaped by scenery that invites you to slow down and simply take it in.
Crossing into Germany, Alsace and the Black Forest by Rail blends Strasbourg’s old town with Alsace’s timber-framed wine villages and the refined elegance of Baden-Baden — an itinerary where borders blur and every day feels distinct.
Art lovers can follow Van Gogh from Montmartre and Auvers-sur-Oise to the landscapes of Provence on Van Gogh from Paris to Provence. In Belgium, The Flemish Masters Tour explores the work of Van Eyck and other Flemish masters in Ghent, Bruges and Brussels, including a private out-of-hours viewing of the restored Mystic Lamb altarpiece
Further afield, Lake Iseo – Italy’s Hidden Lake by Rail travels from Turin to the shores of Lake Iseo, with a private lake cruise, Bergamo’s historic upper town, lakeside villages and a Franciacorta wine experience.
And for something truly seasonal, Christmas in the Savoie by Rail takes you deep into the French Alps in December — where snowy peaks, festive markets and mountain villages deliver exactly the atmosphere you’d hope for.
