Episode 94 Europe by Train: Real Tips and Highlights from a Three-Week Multi-Country Rail Trip
In episode 94 of the Global Travel Planning Podcast, Tracy Collins talks with Narelle Mather about her three-week multi-country train trip through Europe, travelling through France, Switzerland, Austria, and Poland using a Eurail pass.
Have you ever dreamed of travelling through Europe by train, hopping between countries with nothing but a rail pass and a well-planned route? In this episode, Tracy is joined by Narelle Mather, an Australian traveller who did exactly that – spending three and a half weeks travelling through France, Switzerland, Austria, and Poland with her husband, sister, and a close friend.
Narelle is a self-confessed planner, and she shares how she researched and booked her Eurail pass more than a year in advance, securing a first-class 10-day pass during a November sale for around $750 Australian dollars. From creating QR codes to booking seat reservations so the group could always sit together at a table, she walks through the practical side of making a trip like this work across multiple countries and languages.
Beyond the logistics, this episode is full of wonderful travel moments – cycling the back lanes of Normandy to Omaha Beach on electric bikes, visiting the Australian war memorials in France, taking the scenic train from Zurich down to Interlaken, and spending reflective time at Auschwitz-Birkenau in Poland. Narelle’s biggest advice for anyone considering something similar? Don’t be nervous – and don’t bring big suitcases!
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Episode 94 – What you’ll learn in this episode
In this episode you’ll discover:
- How to buy a Eurail pass at a discount and what to look for when choosing the right pass for your trip
- Why booking seat reservations is worth doing, even when it is not strictly required
- How to navigate train platforms, QR codes, and carriage systems across multiple European countries
- Practical tips for packing light, managing laundry, and finding accommodation close to train stations
- Highlights from France, Switzerland, Austria, and Poland – including some deeply moving historical sites
About Our Guest – Narelle Mather
Narelle Mather is an Australian traveller with a passion for history-rich destinations and a love of detailed trip planning. In 2024 she completed an eight-week trip covering the UK, Ireland, and four European countries, travelling the European leg entirely by rail.
Narelle returns to the UK Travel Planning Podcast in a future episode to share the UK and Ireland portion of her trip.
Useful Links and Resources
Mentioned in this episode:
- Eurail Pass
- Trainline app
- Aggarthi Bed and Breakfast, Bayeux
- LocVélO electric bike hire, Bayeux
- Terres de Memoire battlefield tours (Australian war history, Normandy)
- Bayeux Tapestry Museum
- Rhine Falls, Switzerland
- Eagle’s Nest, Salzburg
- Schindler’s Factory Museum, Krakow
- Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial
Podcasts
- Episode #54 – Top 10 Tips for UK and Europe Train Travel
- Episode #81 Stamped: Sinead – Trains, Travels, and Family Adventures Across 80 Countries
- Episode #85 – Top 10 Most Incredible Train Journeys Around the World for Travel Lovers
Articles
- How to travel by overnight sleeper train
- 8 of the Best Switzerland Scenic Train Trips: a Complete Travel Guide
- Train Travel Guide
- Poland Travel Guide
