Tips for Train Travel in Europe with kids

A great way to slow your travel is to hop on a cross-country train and observe the different landscapes rushing by. Train travel provides many opportunities when traveling compared to the traditional car road trip. In Europe one can easily get by without the need of a car. A combination of trains, buses, walking and the occasional hitchhiking will get you anywhere you desire to go. 

Public transportation is easily accessible and available for all. In most European countries, kids aged 4 and under can ride for free when traveling with an adult. Above that age children travel at a reduced price, but you will want to know before you go, as each country has its own rules. If you are planning multiple routes on your trip, family passes can save money and increase schedule flexibility, which is especially advantageous when you are traveling with a larger family.

To make travel fun for the little ones, keep the following in mind – things to do and bites to eat are essential for smiles all around. Kids will have more freedom on the train than they do fastened in a car with a seatbelt, so let them stand up, walk around and be themselves.

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Train Traveling Activities for Toddlers

Bring activities that they can carry in their own backpacks. Doing this encourages them to foster responsibility for their belongings. When they are tired of staring out of the window, let them choose something that they have brought along.

Bringing food is great when you sit for long hours. A nibble here and there will keep tempers down and spirits up till you get to your destination. There will likely always be a food cart on the train with chips, candy bars, and fizzy drinks. If you have food sensitivities you know that it is best to bring your own meals.

Family Travel and Quality Time

Take the chance to spend quality time with your kids and refrain from any technology use while on the train. In these modern times when it is all too easy to use the tablet as a distraction, ultimately it is the screen time that distracts from the journey and from being together. A long train ride is a remedy for all those moments you miss when attached to devices of your own.

Choose a train for the nostalgia of traveling with and getting to know other passengers. Take a train because it goes where you want to go. It gives the opportunity to experience a meaningful, slow life together with your family.

Long Train Travel Tips

Some tips to keep in mind, when planning a long train travel trip:

• Buy tickets well ahead of time and try to get facing seats with a table between them. It will make snack time and game playing much easier while providing the family with more leg room.
• Travel light and pack just as much as you need. It is not just the train ride to consider, but the entire journey. If you need to transfer to a bus station, or if the next leg of your journey starts from a train station across the city, you need to decide whether to splurge on a taxi or navigate the public bus or metro system in an unknown place.
• Bring enough water and drinks for everyone. You can buy them on board, but they will come with a price.
• If you are getting off before the final stop, keep your ears attuned for travel cues, if there are any. Most times there won’t be, so don’t be shy to ask others around you or stop a ticket inspector if you are unsure of where you are. With children, it does take time to get everyone and their gear off the train. Be prepared for your stop!
• Print out a travel map with the route your train is taking, so that you can count down the stops. You can practice speaking unfamiliar words and names. Doing this also provides a geography lesson for older kids.
• If you are taking an overnight train and want your privacy (there are 6 berth sleeping cabins commonly available too!), you may need to book an entire cabin for your family.

One of the greatest things about train travel is the unhurried speed. It is something much- appreciated by a slow traveler who understands the importance of his/her ecological footprint as it relates to transportation as well as foot miles. Slow travel is less stressful for all involved. Get your kids on board and let them have the ride of a lifetime, even if it does take 15 hours for the train to get from Budapest to Paris!

What are your thoughts on traveling by train with your toddler? Where has been some of your favorite train ride? What activities have you used with your toddler or kids to keep them occupied while traveling? Please connect with us on Instagram @MapsCookingKids or on Twitter @MapsCookingKids. Until next time, agape, be kind, and happy parenting.

Cheryl is Mom, Editor, Freelance Writer, Audio & Content Developer. Cheryl helps develop content on parenting, simple living, homeschooling, world schooling, wellness, health, and all things organic. Cheryl is passionate about earthing, organic living, and helping people learn to declutter and simplify their lives. She lives her beliefs daily and encourages others to do the same. Cheryl is also an advocate for social responsibility and freedom of education. You can read more about Cheryl and her wonderful family on her website Forestcreekmeadows.com