It doesn't always have to be by plane: Popular holiday locations can also be reached within a few hours by train.
Europe – From May 2023, the Deutschlandticket will enable cheap train travel within the country.
A good reason to warm up with this means of transport and to think outside the box.
Why not take the train on your next trip abroad?
Top holiday destinations that you can reach quickly by train
Sometimes the journey is already the goal: while on the plane you mostly get a bird's-eye view of the cloud cover and the landscape, on the train countless impressions pass you by.
Traveling by rail is also more sustainable.
For example, the train produces around 46 grams of greenhouse gases per person and kilometer over long distances. According to the Federal Environment Agency, traveling by plane produces around six times as much.
With the night train, many places in Europe can be reached while you are asleep.
You don't want to lose too much vacation time by traveling here?
You can reach some countries in a few hours and without having to change trains.
Traveling by train: Netherlands and Denmark
The Dutch capital can be reached from Osnabrück and Cologne in just over three hours by ICE.
The journey time from Frankfurt am Main is a little less than five hours and from Hanover more than four hours.
Amsterdam not only invites you to bike tours along the canals.
There is also the famous Anne Frank House - for those interested in art there is also the Van Gogh Museum or the Rijksmuseum.
And the Netherlands also has a lot to offer away from the capital's tourist magnet.
Visitors can marvel at beautiful tulip fields, browse traditional cheese markets or relax by the North Sea.
The coastal town of Zandvoort can be reached by train from Amsterdam in around 30 minutes.
If you are more drawn to Scandinavia, you can be in Denmark in a short time without a plane or car.
It takes just over three hours from Schleswig and Copenhagen in less than five hours from Hamburg.
There you can stroll along picturesque Nyhavn with a traditional cinnamon bun and admire the city's landmark, the Little Mermaid.
Fast direct connections from Germany:
1) From
Frankfurt am Main
,
Cologne
,
Osnabrück
and
Hanover
to
Amsterdam
2) From
Hamburg
and
Schleswig
to
Copenhagen
3) From
Frankfurt am Main
and
Cologne
to
Brussels
4) From
Karlsruhe
,
Mannheim
,
Stuttgart
and
Frankfurt am Main
to
Paris
5) From
Nuremberg
and
Munich
to
Vienna
6) From
Munich
to
Verona
7) From
Berlin
and
Dresden
to
Prague
By train in a few hours to Belgium and France
The journey from Cologne to Brussels is less than two hours.
From Frankfurt am Main, travelers travel a little over three hours with the ICE.
The Belgian capital is worth a visit for architecture lovers and those interested in politics.
The Grand-Place and the European district also invite you to visit.
Belgium is also known for culinary delights such as waffles and French fries.
Those who love to travel can reach the city of love from Karlsruhe in less than three hours by ICE or TGV.
It's a little over three hours from Mannheim, less than three and a half hours from Stuttgart and under four hours from Frankfurt am Main.
Paris is one of the most popular cities among tourists in Europe.
If you have already found the famous landmarks such as the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre or Notre Dame, numerous picturesque street cafes are recommended.
How about some macarons and a coffee?
Shopping fans can also experience Parisian chic in fashion boutiques.
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On the rails to the holiday destination
© Imago / Eva Blanco
Train travel from Germany: Austria, Italy and the Czech Republic
Following in the footsteps of Mozart, Beethoven and Freud, you can take the ICE from Munich to Vienna in about four hours.
A direct journey with the IC from Nuremberg takes around four and a half hours.
Those interested in culture will get their money's worth in the Austrian metropolis.
Among other things, you can visit imperial palaces such as Schönbrunn Palace or Belvedere Palace.
Away from the hustle and bustle of the city, the mountain landscapes of Austria invite you to hike and relax.
The best way to reach Italy is from Munich.
After about five and a half hours you are in Verona - the scene of Shakespeare's "Romeo and Juliet" with a medieval old town.
Would you prefer an Aperol by the sea?
No problem.
From there you can easily continue by train towards the sea or to Venice.
You can easily explore the land where the lemons bloom on the rails.
The Czech Republic also has a lot to offer and is easy to reach from Germany.
It's particularly fast from Dresden: You can be in Prague in just two and a half hours.
From Berlin it takes about four and a half hours with the EC.
Low prices and beautiful architecture make the hearts of tourists beat faster there.
The city is suitable as a destination for a short city trip, but also as a starting point to explore other places in Central and Eastern Europe.
It should be noted that the train duration varies depending on the departure point.
Particularly comfortable direct connections are listed here.
(Felina Wellner)
List of rubrics: © Imago / Eva Blanco
