Trains, Cars, Subways, Buses & Bikes: Our Guide to Getting Around in Europe
Posted: June, 27 2014
In most big European cities, you'll find that many locals don't own cars. Walking, biking, and public transportation are so accessible and easy that owning your own vehicle isn't necessary or even missed. As a tourist though, navigating the many transporation options can be intimidating.
As we mentioned in our last blog post, private transfer companies can provide an elegant and hassle-free way to get anywhere you need to go on your trip, but if you're itching to go at it alone and live more like a local, it can be easily done.
Subway: Most European cities have advanced and intricate subway systems that can take you all over town. Day/Week passes are often sold to provide you even easier access to the system. With a pass, you can ride as many times as you want until the pass date is expired. A foldable subway map or having a subway map bookmarked on your smartphone are also a good idea so you have easy access to all of the routes and stop locations. Also, don't be afraid to ask locals or individuals who work at the subway station to help you find the best route to your destination.
Bus: Public transit via bus is also another way to get around. Like the subway, you can often purchase multi-day passes that give you unlimited access. Stops are also almost always close to popular tourist destinations so you won't ever have to walk too far to get where you need to go. The most difficult part of using the bus system is timing. Buses only come to stops so often, so sometimes you may find yourself waiting awhile for the next bus to come by. Buses also only run until a certain hour of the night, so you need to make sure you get back to your hotel before the last bus runs for the day.
Bicycle: If you're coordinated enough and in good enough shape, a bicycle can be a fun way to get around. In many cities, like Amsterdam for instance, locals utilize bicycles as their primary form of transportation. In Amsterdam, there are actually more bicylces than there are people! There are so many bikes that they have dedicated parking lots for bikes only which you can see in the photo above. Some cities are more well-suited for bicycle travel than others so do a little research beforehand to see if your destination is a good fit for this mode of transportation. Even if you don't want to rely on bikes for all your transporation, it can be a fun activity for a day on your trip.
Train: When traveling between European cities, trains are often the most popular and economical choice. For example, if you're in Rome and want to check out Florence or are in Paris and want to see Versailles, a quick train ride can get you there in a few hours. It's much easier than getting to your destination by car and gives you a few hours to get some rest from all the walking you've likely been doing. Trains are also helpful to get to cities that are further apart as well and give you a great glimpse of the countryside that is often marked by mountains, fields, rolling hills, and quaint little towns. Above you can see a map of Europe's High Speed Rail system and how it can get you to nearly any city in the Union.
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