Green Traveller's Guide to taking the train from London St Pancras International Railway Station to Turin, Italy. Important: The Paris–Turin-Milan line has been blocked due to a landslide in the French Alps and is likely to remain so until Spring 2025. An alternative route is to go from Paris via Switzerland (changing at Geneva, Lauranne, Basel or Zurich) to Milan. If you leave on one of the early Eurostar departures from London St Pancras you can get to Turin the same day. Turin at night. Photo: Wix Media Journey Time: from 10 hours 40 minutes Sample timetable: Depart London 9.22am, arrive Milan 9.50pm Changes: 1 Transfer: Paris Gare du Nord to Paris Gare de Lyon Frequency of Departures: 23/day Carbon emissions: 18 .51kg (flight would be 243.9kg)* Tickets provided by Trainline, which allows you to buy tickets for multiple train operators in multiple European countries. It does charge a small booking fee, but offers several useful facilities, such as a free email alert service to let you know as soon as bookings open for your chosen route so you can snap up the cheapest tickets when they become available. How to book train tickets as part of a package with accommodation If you want someone to book the whole journey for you or combine it with staying in hotels en route, get in touch with the travel agent Byway through its page for booking enquiries . What's the journey like? You have to change stations in Paris from Gare du Nord to Gare de Lyon, which can take about half an hour on the Paris RER line (it's only two stops, though we recommend you leave at least 50 minutes for the entire transfer - you have about an hour and a quarter to get the connection). See our guide to How to transfer between train stations across Paris . At Gare de Lyon, you board a TGV high speed train to 'Torino Porta Susa' station. Stopover hotels to break the journey in Paris If you want to break the journey and stay overnight to see a bit more of Paris while you're travelling through, there are lots of lovely places to stay near both Gare du Nord and Gare de Lyon. Here are some examples of hotels that are conveniently near these stations: Hotels near Gare du Nord Hotels near Gare de Lyon Miss your connection in Paris? Don’t panic. Railteam’s ‘Hop on the Next Available Train’ service means that if you have missed your connection between high speed trains because of a delay on the preceding leg of your journey, you’ll automatically be put on the next available high-speed TGV train. NB Remember to get your ticket stamped by your Train Manager. Whenever you’re connecting, always remember to validate your onward train ticket at the machine on the platform before departing (these are often coloured yellow). For more train routes to Europe, see our Flight-Free Train/Ferry Journey Planner On arrival at Torino Porta Susa station Benvenuto a Torino! Turin is at the foot of the western Alps, and is one of Italy's greenest cities – alongside the Po river it has over 300km of tree-lined streets, lots of public parks and historic gardens. If you're looking to stay near to the station, at least for the first night, there are plenty of hotels within walking distance, see below: Hotels near to Torino Porta Susa train station Turin has many public green spaces: one of the best known is Parco del Valentino and the 18th century Botanical Garden on the banks of the River Po. Another green space it at Pellerina in the north-west of the city on the banks of the Dora Riparia. For more information about green travel in Turin see: Torino Green City . Like many European cities, Turin has lots of places to hire bikes. For example, Turin Bikes is just two minutes from the Porta Nuova train station. Buon Viaggio! * Data for carbon emissions

Green Traveller's Guide to taking the train from London St Pancras International Railway Station to Toulouse Matabiau, which is conveniently located in the centre of Toulouse. It is possible to travel by train from London to Toulouse in less than 8 hours if you take the Eurostar from London St Pancras to Paris Gare du Nord and change to Paris Gare Montparnasse to catch the train to Toulouse. Sunset on the River Garonne, Toulouse. Photo: DAT Vo/Unsplash The university town of Toulouse, known as 'La Ville Rose' for its distinctive pink buildings, is the gateway to the French Pyrenees. France’s pink city has a unique character, sunny and Spanish-flavoured, it’s a world away from much of the rest of the country. A largely unsung destination, its bustling historic centre is lined with warm brick buildings, in every shade of red, pink and ochre. Flight-free travel from London to Toulouse: Journey Time: fastest from 7 hours 48 mins; average 9 hours 30mins Sample timetable: Depart London 12.24pm, arrive Toulouse 9.17pm Changes: 1 Transfer: Paris Gare du Nord to Paris Gare Montparnasse Frequency of Departures: 16-18/day Carbon emissions: 14 .04kg (flight would be 83.86kg)* Car hire at Toulouse Railway Station: Yes Tickets provided by Trainline, which allows you to buy tickets for multiple train operators in multiple European countries. It does charge a small booking fee, but offers several useful facilities, such as a free email alert service to let you know as soon as bookings open for your chosen route so you can snap up the cheapest tickets when they become available. How to book train tickets as part of a package with accommodation If you want someone to book the whole journey for you or combine it with staying in hotels en route, get in touch with the travel agent Byway through its page for booking enquiries . What's the journey like? You have to change stations in Paris from Gare du Nord to Montparnasse, which can take about half an hour on the Paris metro (though we recommend you leave at least 50 minutes for the entire transfer). See our guide to How to transfer between train stations across Paris . Stopover hotels to break the journey in Paris If you want to break the journey and stay overnight to see a bit more of Paris while you're travelling through, there are lots of lovely places to stay near both Gare du Nord and Gare Montparnasse. Here are some examples of hotels that are conveniently near these stations: Hotels near Gare du Nord Hotels near Gare Montparnasse Miss your connection? Don’t panic. Railteam’s ‘Hop on the Next Available Train’ service means that if you have missed your connection because of a delay on the preceding leg of your journey, you’ll automatically be put on the next available high-speed train. NB Remember to get your ticket stamped by your Train Manager. Whenever you’re connecting, always remember to validate your onward train ticket at the machine on the platform before departing (these are often coloured yellow). See our Flight-Free Train/Ferry Journey Planner On arrival Bienvenue à Toulouse! The city's many squares buzz with life and it is littered with architectural gems, including a grand main square (Place de la Capitole), Europe’s largest Romanesque church, a lovely waterfront, and numerous hôtels particuliers, or merchants’ palaces. Now France’s fourth city, Toulouse is forward-looking, metropolitan, and dynamic, with a huge student population: and it has a busy bar, restaurant and art scene to match. Immerse yourself in its lifestyle, wander its museums, and linger over its hearty cuisine: Toulouse has a lot for you to enjoy. There are lots of places to stay close to the main railway station, see below: Getting around Toulouse Toulouse-Matabiau is the city’s main railway station and almost all mainline services arrive here. Located just to the north-east of the city centre, it is on metro line A (and future line F), and has good bus connections. Here's an excellent visitor guide to Toulouse public transport . Whilst the centre of Toulouse, and particularly the historic core, is very walkable, for longer journeys the city has a metro system complemented by a tram and buses. Tisséo operates the public transport network for the Toulouse area, and their site is available in English. The metro consists of three lines, A, B, and C, however only A and B run through the centre of the city (in roughly an X-shape) and are likely to be of use for visitors; future extensions to the network are in the pipeline. Tramline T1 (the only tram line for the moment) runs through the west of the city, connecting with metro lines A and C at Arènes: here is a map of Toulouse metro and tram network . Whilst you are unlikely to need to take buses often, you can also find a map of the Toulouse area bus network on the Tisséo website. Tickets are valid on buses, trams and the metro, for up to three changes in a total of one hour, multi-trip tickets and passes for one, two, and three days are also available: here is a full breakdown of tickets and fares for public transport in Toulouse . If you intend to make much use of the transport network, and will be visiting several attractions in the Toulouse area, you may want to consider getting hold of a Pass Tourisme, which offers unlimited travel plus free or discounted entry to various attractions for a period of 24, 48, or 72 hours. Toulouse is a relatively flat city, so cycling is also a viable option for making short hops or a lazy ride along the Canal du Midi – it also has a self-service bike share scheme, meaning you can pick up a bike at one docking station and drop it off later when you reach your destination: called simply Velo Toulouse, the website is only in French but does have a handy map of Toulouse cycle station locations . Bon Voyage! * Data for carbon emissions

Green Traveller's Guide to taking the train from London St Pancras International Railway Station to Nice in the South of France. The waterfront at Nice. Photo: Constantin/Unsplash on Wix Taking the sleeper train to Nice is worth it just to be woken up by the sun as you hit the Cote d'Azur. Wake up early so that you can follow the coast as the sun comes up, admiring the rich and famous' back gardens as you head to Nice. The Grande Dame of the French Riviera, Nice enjoys a fine, sun soaked Mediterranean climate and spectacular setting between the Alps and the sea. The famous sweep of its Baie des Anges has been drawing tourists for centuries and it is still a prime spot to come and experience the highlife of ritzy hotels, chic bars, fine dining, gambling, sunbathing and more. But Nice isn’t all glamour: it has a rich history and cultural heritage, boasting everything from Roman ruins to museums of the work of Matisse and Chagall; the old centre is well-preserved and atmospheric, and it is very much a bustling, diverse, 21st century port city. When you’ve had enough of city life, you can head to the spectacular beaches that spread out in both directions along the coast. Journey Time: from 8 hours 53 minutes Sample timetable: Depart London 9.22am, arrive Nice 8.07pm Changes: 1 Transfer: Paris Gare du Nord to Paris Gare de Lyon Frequency of Departures: 14/day Carbon emissions: 15 .51kg (flight would be 97.24kg)* Bike hire at Nice-Ville Railway Station: Yes Tickets provided by Trainline, which allows you to buy tickets for multiple train operators in multiple European countries. It does charge a small booking fee, but offers several useful facilities, such as a free email alert service to let you know as soon as bookings open for your chosen route so you can snap up the cheapest tickets when they become available. How to book train tickets as part of a package with accommodation If you want someone to book the whole journey for you or combine it with staying in hotels en route, get in touch with the travel agent Byway through its page for booking enquiries . What's the journey like? You have to change stations in Paris from Gare du Nord to Gare de Lyon, which can take about half an hour on the Paris RER line (it's only two stops, though we recommend you leave at least 50 minutes for the entire transfer - you have about an hour and a quarter to get the connection). See our guide to How to transfer between train stations across Paris . At Gare de Lyon, you board a TGV high speed train to Nice-Ville station. Stopover hotels to break the journey in Paris If you want to break the journey and stay overnight to see a bit more of Paris while you're travelling through, there are lots of lovely places to stay near both Gare du Nord and Gare de Lyon. Here are some examples of hotels that are conveniently near these stations: Hotels near Gare du Nord Hotels near Gare de Lyon Miss your connection in Paris? Don’t panic. Railteam’s ‘Hop on the Next Available Train’ service means that if you have missed your connection between high speed trains because of a delay on the preceding leg of your journey, you’ll automatically be put on the next available high-speed train. NB Remember to get your ticket stamped by your Train Manager. Whenever you’re connecting, always remember to validate your onward train ticket at the machine on the platform before departing (these are often coloured yellow). See more overland journeys by train to France in our Flight-Free Train/Ferry Journey Planner On arrival at Nice-Ville station Bienvenue à Nice! International and intercity trains pull into Nice-Ville, the city’s main railway station, on the northern edge of the city centre. Served by the city’s tramline, it is also a hub for many bus services. The old centre of Nice is relatively compact and walkable, but for the rest of the city (including the cultural district of Cimiez in the northern hills), and the surrounding area (including the neighbouring beach resorts), there is a good network of buses, as well as a tram and rail services. Hotels near Nice Ville railway station Just a few minutes walk from the station is Hotel Florence Nice , one of the first hotels to gain the European Ecolabel, it's a great place for a green stay - don't miss the honey that's produced from the hotel's 3 rooftop hives where thousands of bees produce an average of 40kg of honey a year! If you want to spend some time in Nice, you can use the city's hire bikes (there's a stand close to the hotel) or you can also rent bikes near the hotel from Holland Bike and HOLIDAY Bikes . There are plenty of other hotels within walking distance of the station, see below: Getting around Nice Nice’s ultramodern tram service currently consists of one line, looping from the north-west, past Nice-Ville station, through the centre and up to the north-east. Three further lines are either planned or under construction, and you can find more information on the Nice tramway website (in French), and here is a map of the Nice tram network (the tram line is in red). Both the tram and the buses are covered by the same tickets (1,50€) - you can find out more information in English on the city’s tourist website. You can also purchase a French Riviera Pass for unlimited travel in the Nice Côte d'Azur Metropolis, as well as discounts and free entry at a variety of attractions. Lignes d’Azur also offers information on public transport across the Nice area in English, including a zoomable map of bus routes and other transport across the city; and the tourist board’s website has information on useful train services for tourists around Nice. An alternative to buses, particularly if you’re not heading up into the surrounding mountains, is to travel by bike: enabling you to feel the fresh sea breezes and sun on your skin as you take in the city. Like many cities, Nice has a self-service bike sharing scheme, called VéloBleu (site is in English and French), which allows you to pick up a bike at one docking station and return it to another at your destination: the 1st half hour is free. There are VéloBleu bike stands throughout the city as well as in the areas of Saint-Laurent-du-Var and Cagnes-sur-Mer. You can also hire electric bikes with E- VéloBle . Nice also has an electric car sharing service called Auto bleue , which works on a similar system to the bike hire. You'll need a valid driving license and there are currently four kinds of car available: Renault Zoe, Peugeot iOn, Citroën and Mia. The cars are available to hire 24/7 from nearly 70 self-service stands. There are two ways to hire it: on a 'flex' system where you can return the car at another station other than where you originally hired it (the hourly rate is higher, but you can return it sooner) or the 'zen' system where you have to return the car at the station where you hired it. Bon Voyage! Cafe culture in Nice. Photo: Paul Rysz/Unsplash on Wix * Data for carbon emissions

Green Traveller's Guide to taking the train from London St Pancras International Railway Station to Nantes in the north west of France. Les Anneaux de Burren. Photo: Richard Hammond It is possible to travel from London to Nantes in just over 5 hours from London if you take the Eurostar from London St Pancras to Paris Gare du Nord and change to Paris Gare Montparnasse for the train to Nantes. Nantes is the capital of the Pays de la Loire and is a fascinating historic city - it once rivalled Rennes as capital of the old Duchy province of Brittany. It is now one of the most artistically creative cities in France and has a wonderfully joined-up public transport network, including trains, trams and a comprehensive city bike hire scheme. Flight-free travel from London to Nantes: Journey Time: from 5 hours 17 minutes Sample timetable: Depart London 7.55am, arrive Nantes 2.19pm Changes: 1 Transfer: Paris Gare du Nord to Paris Gare Montparnasse Frequency of Departures: 20/day Carbon emissions: 10.8kg (flight would be 133.4kg)* Tickets provided by Trainline, which allows you to buy tickets for multiple train operators in multiple European countries. It does charge a small booking fee, but offers several useful facilities, such as a free email alert service to let you know as soon as bookings open for your chosen route so you can snap up the cheapest tickets when they become available. How to book train tickets as part of a package with accommodation If you want someone to book the whole journey for you or combine it with staying in hotels en route, get in touch with the travel agent Byway through its page for booking enquiries . What's the journey like? You have to change stations in Paris from Gare du Nord to Gare Montparnasse, which can take 20-30 minutes on the Paris metro (14 stops), but we recommend you leave at least 50 minutes for the entire transfer. See our guide to How to transfer between train stations across Paris . At Gare Montparnasse, you board an intercity train to Nantes station. Remember, whenever you’re connecting trains in France, always remember to validate your onward train ticket ('c ompostez votre billet ') at the machine on the platform before departing (these are often coloured yellow). Stopover hotels to break the journey in Paris If you want to break the journey and stay overnight to see a bit more of Paris while you're travelling through, there are lots of lovely places to stay near both Gare du Nord and Gare Montparnasse. Here are some examples of hotels that are conveniently near these stations: Hotels near Gare du Nord Hotels near Gare Montparnasse See more overland routes to France in our Flight-Free Train/Ferry Journey Planner On arrival at Nantes station Bienvenue à Nantes! At the station, there are tram and bus connections, including the terminus of the Navibus service that goes to the University of Nantes. There are lots of hotels near to the railway station, see below. Hotels near Nantes train station Nantes may often be overlooked by holidaymakers heading to the more famous cities of France, but it's a great place to go, especially for a city break by train, as it's less than six hours from London. Nantes is on the confluence of the Loire, Erdre and Sèvre rivers, 55km from France's Atlantic coast. Here are some impressive green statistics about the city: All its residents live within 300 metres of a green area in the city 57 squared metres of green space per person 100,000 trees in the city 15% of daily travels are made using public transport 60% of land area is either agricultural or a natural or official green area Four Natura 2000 sites and 33 natural zones of floral, faunal or ecological interest Nantes is a wonderful city, but don't take our word for it, go see for yourself! For information about where to eat and sleep as well as things to see and do in the city, see our Green Traveller's Guide to Nantes . Bon Voyage! * Data for carbon emissions

Green Traveller's Guide to taking the train from London St Pancras International Railway Station to Central Station Munich, Germany. Oktoberfest. Credit: Wix Media Journey Time: from 8 hours 48 minutes Sample timetable: Depart London 10.24am, arrive Munich 21.52pm Changes: 1 Transfer: Paris Gare du Nord to Paris Gare de L'Est Frequency of Departures: 14/day Carbon emissions: 6.13 kg (flight would be 145.41kg)* Car hire at Central Station Munich: Yes Tickets provided by Trainline, which allows you to buy tickets for multiple train operators in multiple European countries. It does charge a small booking fee, but offers several useful facilities, such as a free email alert service to let you know as soon as bookings open for your chosen route so you can snap up the cheapest tickets when they become available. How to book train tickets as part of a package with accommodation If you want someone to book the whole journey for you or combine it with staying in hotels en route, get in touch with the travel agent Byway through its page for booking enquiries . What's the journey like? You have to change stations in Paris from Gare du Nord to Gare de L'Est, though it's just a short 10-minute walk: exit Gare du Nord, turn left then at the main intersection turn right (slightly downhill) along Rue du Fauberg Saint-Denis for about 400m then left along Rue de Chabrol to Gare de L'Est. Alternatively it is one stop on the metro line - from the Eurostar arrival platform, turn left, walk down the stairs and follow the signs for Metro line M4 to Gare de L'Est (which is signposted 'direction Porte d'Orléans'). See our guide to How to transfer between train stations across Paris . At Gare de L'Est, you board a TGV high speed train to Central Station Munich station. Stopover hotels to break the journey in Paris If you want to break the journey and stay overnight to see a bit more of Paris while you're travelling through, there are lots of lovely places to stay near both Gare du Nord and Gare de L'Est. These hotels get good reviews: Hotels near Gare du Nord/Gare de L'Est Miss your connection in Paris? Don’t panic. Railteam’s ‘Hop on the Next Available Train’ service means that if you have missed your connection between high speed trains because of a delay on the preceding leg of your journey, you’ll automatically be put on the next available high-speed TGV train. NB Remember to get your ticket stamped by your Train Manager. Whenever you’re connecting, always remember to validate your onward train ticket at the machine on the platform before departing (these are often coloured yellow). For more rail routes in Germany and elsewhere in Europe, see our Flight-Free Journey Planner On arrival at Central Station Munich Willkommen in München! There are lots of hotels near to the station for that first night, see below: Hotels near Munich Central Station: For more information on where to stay elsewhere in Germany, as well as restaurants and other things to see and do, see our Green Traveller's Guide to Germany : * Data for carbon emissions

Green Traveller's Guide to taking the train from London St Pancras International Railway Station to Marseille St Charles, which is conveniently located in the centre of Marseille and close to the port. Photo: Wix Media A city without too many airs, Marseille has a life and energy that more manicured destinations lack. The spectacular old port at its centre is surrounded by pavement cafes, restaurants and bars, and overlooked by an iconic hilltop church. Detour into the old quarter of Le Panier or the hippyish Cours Julien and you’ll find atmospheric architecture, bustling markets and some of the country’s most down-to-earth inhabitants. Flight-free travel from London to Marseille: Journey Time: fastest from 6 hours 19 mins Sample timetable: Depart London 11.04am, arrive Marseille 6.49pm Changes: 1. In the summer there is a direct train, see Direct Train London to Marseille Transfer: Platform change at Lille Europe Frequency of Departures: 21/day Carbon emissions: 16.22kg (flight would be 94.73kg)* Tickets provided by Trainline, which allows you to buy tickets for multiple train operators in multiple European countries. It does charge a small booking fee, but offers several useful facilities, such as a free email alert service to let you know as soon as bookings open for your chosen route so you can snap up the cheapest tickets when they become available. How to book train tickets as part of a package with accommodation If you want someone to book the whole journey for you or combine it with staying in hotels en route, get in touch with the travel agent Byway through its page for booking enquiries . What's the journey like? There's just a quick same-station change of platform at Lille Europe station to catch the onward connection. From the Eurostar platform arrival, go up the stairs (or lift) to the main concourse from where the onward TGV trains depart. Stopover hotels to break the journey in Lille If you want to break the journey and stay overnight to see a bit more of Lille while you're travelling through, there are lots of lovely places to stay near the station. Here are some hotels that are conveniently nearby: Hotels near Lille Europe train station Miss your connection in Lille? Don’t panic. Railteam’s ‘Hop on the Next Available Train’ service means that if you have missed your connection because of a delay on the preceding leg of your journey, you’ll automatically be put on the next available high-speed train. NB Remember to get your ticket stamped by your Train Manager. Whenever you’re connecting, always remember to validate your onward train ticket at the machine on the platform before departing (these are often coloured yellow). See more overland routes to France, see Green Traveller's Flight-Free Train/Ferry Journey Planner On arrival at Marseille St Charles station Bienvenue à Marseille! A city without too many airs, Marseille has a life and energy that more manicured destinations lack. The spectacular old port at its centre is surrounded by pavement cafes, restaurants and bars, and overlooked by an iconic hilltop church. Detour into the old quarter of Le Panier or the hippyish Cours Julien and you’ll find atmospheric architecture, bustling markets and some of the country’s most down-to-earth inhabitants. There are lots of hotels near to the station, see below: Hotels near Marseille Train Station (Marseille Saint-Charles): Various eco-districts are also in development across the city, with renewable energy, greywater recycling schemes, tree planting projects and bike paths part of the plans. The most high profile of these lies within the Euroméditerranée district; a 480-hectare urban renewal project between the commercial harbour, the Vieux Port (Old Port) and the TGV station. The city is gradually moving towards a more sustainable future. With an average of 300 days of sunshine a year, many public buildings in the city are being equipped with solar panels; it's said there are more roofs here than in any other city in France. The Calanques nature reserve, near to Marseille. Photo: Wix Media Getting around Marseille Marseille has an excellent public transport network. From Marseille Saint Charles train station there are trams, metro and buses that take you around the city centre and to the main harbour and port, see: Marseille public transport timetables and routes (French only). Marseille’s handy City Pass is an allin package including free entry to many of the city's museums, a boat trip to the Château d'If, a trip on the Petit Train, reductions on certain other excursions, and unlimited travel on the buses, metro and trams. It is valid for one (€22) or two (€29) days. See Marseille Tourism for more information. From outside the station, you can pick up a bike from the city’s bike hire scheme Le Vélo . For more information about where to stay and eat in Marseille, as well as local attractions and other things to do in the city, see Green Traveller's Guide to Marseille . Bon Voyage! * Data for carbon emissions

Green Traveller's Guide to taking the train from London St Pancras International Railway Station to Basel, Switzerland. Photo: Richard Hammond It is possible to travel from the UK to Interlaken by train in under 9 hours if you take the Eurostar from London St Pancras to Paris Gare du Nord and then change to Paris Gare de Lyon to take the train to Basel and from there to Interlaken. Between the alpine lakes Brienz and Thun, and overlooked by the mighty Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau mountains, Interlaken is a great base for exploring the region - it is now the starting point for the Jungfrau Marathon, which climbs to 5,960 feet, and is a great place to go for watersports on the lakes or hiking and cycling to the impressive waterfalls in the surrounding mountains. Train routes from London connecting with TGV Lyria rail services in Switzerland: Map courtesy of Eurostar Flight-free travel from London to Interlaken: Journey Time: about 11 hours Sample timetable: Depart London 07.01am, arrive Interlaken Ost 5.59pm Changes: 3 Transfers: Paris Gare du Nord, Paris Gare de Lyon, Basel SBB Frequency of Departures: 4/day Carbon emissions: 12 kg (flight would be 261.6kg)* Tickets provided by Trainline, which allows you to buy tickets for multiple train operators in multiple European countries. It does charge a small booking fee, but offers several useful facilities, such as a free email alert service to let you know as soon as bookings open for your chosen route so you can snap up the cheapest tickets when they become available. How to book train tickets as part of a package with accommodation If you want someone to book the whole journey for you or combine it with staying in hotels en route, get in touch with the travel agent Byway through its page for booking enquiries . What's the journey like? You have to change stations in Brussels Midi where you then board an intercity express train (ICE) to Cologne where you change to a similar ICE train to Basel for the final leg to Interlaken Ost station. Stopover hotels to break the journey in Brussels If you want to break the journey and stay overnight to see a bit more of Brussels, Cologne or Basel while you're travelling through, there are lots of lovely places to stay near their stations. Here are some examples of hotels that are conveniently near these stations: Hotels near Brussels Midi Hotels near Cologne Hbf Hotels near Basel SBB Miss your connection in Brussels or Cologne? Don’t panic. Railteam’s ‘Hop on the Next Available Train’ service means that if you have missed your connection between high speed trains because of a delay on the preceding leg of your journey, you’ll automatically be put on the next available high-speed TGV train. NB Remember to get your ticket stamped by your Train Manager. Whenever you’re connecting, always remember to validate your onward train ticket at the machine on the platform before departing (these are often coloured yellow). For more overland journeys in Switerland, see our Flight-Free Train/Ferry Journey Planner On arrival at Interlaken station (Interlaken Ost) Bienvenue à Interlaken! The city is small enough to cover on foot. Local buses are regular and hotel guests receive a visitor's card on arrival that allows free rides within the town on buses and trains. You can also use bus No. 105 from Interlaken Ost station to Wilderswil (every half hour, journey time 9 mins) for all mountain-bound trains. The visitors card also includes discounts at various area attractions. There are lots of hotels near the main train station, see below: Hotels near Interlaken Ost train station Things to do in and around Interlaken The impressive Lake Brienz is deep blue stretch of water ringed by snowcapped mountains above and sleepy alpine villages below, and is a wonderful place to explore throughout the year. Nearlby are the Giessbach Falls, which tumble down 500m into Lake Brienz in 14 tiers – a path leading to the falls was created in the 19th century and allows you to get right under the falls. You can also take the train to the ‘Top of Europe’ – at 3454m, Jungfrau railway station is Europe’s highest, and is a definite highlight for anyone visiting the area. Alternatively, you could go hiking in the Bernese Oberland, which has a dense network of trails and routes. Tinkling cowbells, picturesque picnic spots, and myriad paths and trails that meander through wildflower meadows and valley bottoms – hiking in this corner of the Alps isn’t technical or particularly strenuous, and cable cars can take the strain if the going gets tough. There is also the Three Waterfalls Trail – a 6 km route which hugs the lake all the way from Bönigen, (a kilometre or so east of Interlaken), to Iseltwald (a picture-perfect Swiss alpine village). It’s an easy 2-hour hike, and takes in some lovely waterfalls and beautiful lake views. You can then hop on a boat back to Bönigen. For more ideas of what to do in and around Interlaken, see Green Traveller's Guide to Interlaken . Gute Reise! * Data for carbon emissions

Green Traveller's Guide to taking the train from London St Pancras International Railway Station to Geneva, Switzerland. It is possible to reach Geneva by train from London in less than 7 hours if you take the Eurostar from London St Pancras to Paris Gare du Nord then change to Paris Gare de Lyon for the onward train to Geneva (see details below). Aerial view of Geneva. Photo: Switzerland Tourism/Stephan Engler Internationally famed for diplomacy, banking, watches, and chocolate, Geneva is a tiny city that casts a massive shadow. With the fine restaurants, great shopping and international vibe that you would expect in a compact city centre, the heartland of Protestantism has hustle and bustle and yet a wonderfully relaxed, open feel. Train routes from London connecting with TGV Lyria rail services in Switzerland: Map courtesy of Eurostar Flight-free travel from London to Geneva: Journey Time: from 6 hours 37 minutes Sample timetable: Depart London 09.22am, arrive Geneva 5.29pm Changes: 1 Transfer: Paris Gare du Nord to Paris Gare de Lyon Frequency of Departures: 19/day Carbon emissions: 18 .9kg (flight would be 200.7kg)* Car hire at Geneva Cornavin Railway Station: Yes Tickets provided by Trainline, which allows you to buy tickets for multiple train operators in multiple European countries. It does charge a small booking fee, but offers several useful facilities, such as a free email alert service to let you know as soon as bookings open for your chosen route so you can snap up the cheapest tickets when they become available. How to book train tickets as part of a package with accommodation If you want someone to book the whole journey for you or combine it with staying in hotels en route, get in touch with the travel agent Byway through its page for booking enquiries . What's the journey like? You have to change stations in Paris from Gare du Nord to Gare de Lyon, which can take about half an hour on the Paris RER line (it's only two stops, though we recommend you leave at least 50 minutes for the entire transfer - you have about an hour and a quarter to get the connection). See our guide to How to transfer between train stations across Paris . At Gare de Lyon, you board a Lyria high speed train to 'Geneva Cornavin' station. Stopover hotels to break the journey in Paris If you want to break the journey and stay overnight to see a bit more of Paris while you're travelling through, there are lots of lovely places to stay near both Gare du Nord and Gare de Lyon. Here are some examples of hotels that are conveniently near these stations: Hotels near Gare du Nord Hotels near Gare de Lyon Miss your connection in Paris? Don’t panic. Railteam’s ‘Hop on the Next Available Train’ service means that if you have missed your connection between high speed trains because of a delay on the preceding leg of your journey, you’ll automatically be put on the next available high-speed Lyria train. NB Remember to get your ticket stamped by your Train Manager. Whenever you’re connecting, always remember to validate your onward train ticket at the machine on the platform before departing (these are often coloured yellow). See more overland routes in Green Traveller's Train/Ferry Journey Planner On arrival at Geneva Bienvenue à Genève! Lake Geneva meets the Rhone in the heart of the city, and the towering jet d’eau fountain forms a spectacular centrepiece, whilst the city is shouldered by mountains on both sides: the Jura to the north, and the dramatic Alps to the south. With fresh air, beaches, parks and a lovely historic centre – there’s far more to Geneva than just international business and politics. There are plenty of hotels close to the station, see below: Hotels near Geneva's train station (Gare de Cornavin) We link to this reservation service for checking availability and booking a stopover hotel because you can read hundreds of reviews from people who have recently stayed in these hotels, slept in the rooms and eaten in the nearby restaurants. We've tried it out ourselves and found it makes choosing and booking a stopover hotel a doddle. We hope you do too. Getting around Geneva To book tickets on Switzerland's impressively well organised network of over 20,000 km of rail, bus and boat routes go to: Travel by train in Switzerland . Almost all mainline international train services to Geneva arrive at the city’s Gare de Cornavin, on the northern edge of the city centre, with great bus, tram and suburban rail connections across the city and surrounding area. Some international trains (from France) pull into Gare des Eaux-Vives, just to the south-west of the centre, which also has good bus connections. A compact metropolis, central Geneva is extremely walkable, but for longer journeys you can make use of extensive bus, tram, and suburban rail networks. TPG, the city’s transport operator, offers various downloadable maps of the Geneva transport networks (page in French), as well as a handy English language journey planner. Wikipedia also has a map of the Geneva tram network. The city’s transport is integrated, offering a range of tickets usable on all public transport in Geneva (transport zone 10): a single ticket is valid for an hour, or get a day pass. Another transport option to consider is a bike: with miles of segregated cycling lanes and great cycle provision, outside of the icier winter months cycling is a great option for getting around. The Geneva tourist website offers information on cycling for visitors, and between April and October, the Genève Roule bikesharing scheme offers free cycle loans (you have to leave a deposit of 20 swiss francs) from six different pick up points across Geneva, for up to four hours. Bon Voyage! * Data for carbon emissions

Green Traveller's guide to taking the train from London St Pancras International Railway Station to Brive in the centre of France. Hotel La Réserve de Brive is a ten-minute walk from the railway station. Photo: Richard Hammond Journey Time: from 7 hours 28 minutes Sample timetable: Depart London 9.22am, arrive Brive 7.00pm Changes: 1 Transfer: Paris Gare du Nord to Paris Gare de Austerlitz Frequency of Departures: 11/day Carbon emissions: 18 .3kg (flight would be 247.2kg)* Car hire at Brive Railway Station: Yes Tickets provided by Trainline, which allows you to buy tickets for multiple train operators in multiple European countries. It does charge a small booking fee, but offers several useful facilities, such as a free email alert service to let you know as soon as bookings open for your chosen route so you can snap up the cheapest tickets when they become available. How to book train tickets as part of a package with accommodation If you want someone to book the whole journey for you or combine it with staying in hotels en route, get in touch with the travel agent Byway through its page for booking enquiries . What's the journey like? You have to change stations in Paris from Gare du Nord to Gare de Austerlitz, which can take 20-30 minutes on the Paris metro (9 stops), but we recommend you leave at least 50 minutes for the entire transfer. See our guide to How to transfer between train stations across Paris . At Gare de Austerlitz, you board an intercity train to 'Brive-La-Gaillarde' station. Remember, whenever you’re connecting trains in France, always remember to validate your onward train ticket ('c ompostez votre billet ') at the machine on the platform before departing (these are often coloured yellow). Stopover hotels to break the journey in Paris If you want to break the journey and stay overnight to see a bit more of Paris while you're travelling through, there are lots of lovely places to stay near both Gare du Nord and Gare de Austerlitz. Here are some examples of hotels that are conveniently near these stations: Hotels near Gare du Nord Hotels near Gare de Austerlitz For more overland train routes in France, see our Flight-Free Train/Ferry Journey Planner On arrival at Brive-La-Gaillarde station Bienvenue à Brive! At the station, there are onward train connections to several large French cities, including Limoges, Périgueux, Clermont-Ferrand, Bordeaux and Toulouse, as well as several regional destinations. Brive is a market town in the farming department of Corrèze (hence there are lots of weekly farmers markets). In particular, there's a weekly food market at the Georges Brassens market hall on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday mornings. There are a number of fine 15th and 16th century houses and mansions, including Maison Cavaignac, Maison Treilhard and the Tour des Echevins. Brive is also a great base for exploring the upper reaches of the Dordogne and the department of Correze. There are plenty of hotels close to the railway station, we stayed at Hotel La Réserve de Brive , which is a 10-minute walk, but there are many others, see below: For more information about where to stay, local restaurants, and what to see and do in the region, see our Green Traveller's Guide to Nouvelle-Aquitaine Bon Voyage! * Data for carbon emissions

Green Traveller's Guide to taking the train from London St Pancras International Railway Station to Bordeaux St Jean, which is conveniently located in the centre of Bordeaux. Graceful and beguiling, Bordeaux is a city relishing its joie de vivre – years after the restoration of its centre restored the original golden hues of its buildings, residents and visitors alike are exploring its UNESCO-protected historic centre and sipping coffees in its numerous cafés. With first-rate museums and galleries (including the CAPC museum of contemporary art), splendid architecture and a wealth of restaurants, squares, and shops, Bordeaux is a pint-sized rival to Paris: but with its own distinct charms and without the capital’s tourist hordes. And who could forget the wine? It is, of course, everywhere – and it’s delicious – with the Cité des civilizations du vin and the Musée du vin et du negoce offering an introduction to the world and culture of the city’s most famous export. Photo: Clovis Wood Photography/Unsplash on Wix Media Flight-free travel from London to Bordeaux: Journey Time: fastest from 5 hours 25 minutes Sample timetable: Depart London 10.24am, arrive Bordeaux 5.56pm Changes: 1 Transfer: Paris Gare du Nord to Paris Gare Montparnasse Frequency of Departures: 18/day Carbon emissions: 12.71kg (flight would be 70.43kg)* Train tickets provided by Trainline: Tickets provided by Trainline, which allows you to buy tickets for multiple train operators in multiple European countries. It does charge a small booking fee, but offers several useful facilities, such as a free email alert service to let you know as soon as bookings open for your chosen route so you can snap up the cheapest tickets when they become available. How to book train tickets as part of a package with accommodation If you want someone to book the whole journey for you or combine it with staying in hotels en route, get in touch with the travel agent Byway through its page for booking enquiries . What's the journey like? You have to change stations in Paris from Gare du Nord to Montparnasse, which can take about half an hour on the Paris metro (though we recommend you leave at least 50 minutes for the entire transfer). See our guide to How to transfer between train stations across Paris . Stopover hotels to break the journey in Paris If you want to break the journey and stay overnight to see a bit more of Paris while you're travelling through, there are lots of lovely places to stay near both Gare du Nord and Gare Montparnasse. Here are some examples of hotels that are conveniently near these stations: Hotels near Gare du Nord Hotels near Gare Montparnasse Miss your connection in Paris? Don’t panic. Railteam’s ‘Hop on the Next Available Train’ service means that if you have missed your connection because of a delay on the preceding leg of a high speed journey, you’ll automatically be put on the next available high-speed train. NB Remember to get your ticket stamped by your Train Manager. Whenever you’re connecting, always remember to validate your onward train ticket at the machine on the platform before departing (these are often coloured yellow). For more overland train routes to France, see our Flight-Free Train/Ferry Journey Planner On arrival at Bordeaux St Jean train station Bienvenue à Bordeaux! There are lots of hotels near to the station, see below: Hotels near Bordeaux St Jean train station Getting around Bordeaux Bordeaux’s main railway station, the Gare St Jean, gateway for train travellers, is located a little to the south of the city centre. It is on line C of the tram network, which will whisk you to all points central in a few minutes. The ultra-modern, fast and sleek tram system is the showpiece of Bordeaux’s transport network. Three lines (A, B and C) cross the city, and most of the city centre is within a few minutes’ walk of a stop: the tram network map is clear and colour-coded. Like the trams, buses are operated by TBC who offer useful bus information, routes and timetables in English (TBC tram information) and also offer a map of central Bordeaux featuring the useful bus and tram routes for visitors. Fares for buses and trams start at €1,40 for a single journey, with a range of multi-trip and day/week tickets available: TBC offers full Bordeaux transport ticket and fare information. The centre of Bordeaux is not enormous, and many streets have been pedestrianised, making walking a great option for getting around, taking in the architecture and lifestyle and discovering hidden corners as you cross the city. The terrain is largely flat, making cycling also an appealing option: the Vcub network offers self-service bike sharing across Bordeaux (map of stations; the site is in French only) – hire a bike from one docking station and drop it off at another close to your destination. Bon Voyage! * Data for carbon emissions

Greentraveller's Guide to taking the train from London St Pancras International Railway Station to Bayonne in the Basque Country region of southwest France. The waterfront at Bayonne. Photo: Hans-Jürgen Weinhardt at Unsplash It is possible to travel by train from London to Bayonne in just over 7 hours if you take the Eurostar to Paris and then change stations to Paris Gare Montparnasse and continue the journey by train to Bayonne. Bayonne is in the southwest of France close to the Spanish Border where there are a range of wonderful places to visit including Vauban's ramparts, Saine-Marie Cathedral, Le Petit Bayonne and the Saint-André trinquet, and the Basque Museum. Journey Time: fastest from 7 hours 15 minutes Sample timetable: Depart London 11.31am, arrive Bordeaux 7.47pm Changes: 1 Transfer: Paris Gare du Nord to Paris Gare Montparnasse Frequency of Departures: 12/day Carbon emissions: 12.71kg (flight would be 70.43kg)* Car hire at Bayonne Railway Station: Yes Train tickets provided by Trainline, which allows you to buy tickets for multiple train operators in multiple European countries. It does charge a small booking fee, but offers several useful facilities, such as a free email alert service to let you know as soon as bookings open for your chosen route so you can snap up the cheapest tickets when they become available. How to book train tickets as part of a package with accommodation If you want someone to book the whole journey for you or combine it with staying in hotels en route, get in touch with the travel agent Byway through its page for booking enquiries . What's the journey like? You have to change stations in Paris from Gare du Nord to Montparnasse, which can take about half an hour on the Paris metro (though we recommend you leave at least 50 minutes for the entire transfer). See our guide to How to transfer between train stations across Paris . Stopover hotels to break the journey in Paris If you want to break the journey and stay overnight to see a bit more of Paris while you're travelling through, there are lots of lovely places to stay near both Gare du Nord and Gare Montparnasse. Here are some examples of hotels that are conveniently near these stations: Hotels near Gare du Nord Hotels near Gare Montparnasse Miss your connection in Paris? Don’t panic. Railteam’s ‘Hop on the Next Available Train’ service means that if you have missed your connection because of a delay on the preceding leg of a high speed journey, you’ll automatically be put on the next available high-speed train. NB Remember to get your ticket stamped by your Train Manager. Whenever you’re connecting, always remember to validate your onward train ticket at the machine on the platform before departing (these are often coloured yellow). For more overland train journeys, see our Flight-Free Train/Ferry Journey Planner On arrival at Bayonne train station Bienvenue à Bayonne! There are lots of hotels near to the station, see: Hotels near Bayonne train station or click on the map below: Bon Voyage! * Data for carbon emissions

Green Traveller's Guide to taking the train from London St Pancras International Railway Station to Basel, Switzerland. The Middle Rhine Bridge, Basel. Photo: Switzerland Tourism/Andreas Gerth With over forty museums dedicated to history, art and architecture, Basel is the cultural capital of Switzerland. On the border with both Germany and France, in the north of the country, Basel is much more cosmopolitan than Zurich, not as spick and span, yet more laid back. It is also one of the country's greenest cities - the city's entire energy supply comes from renewable sources and the local government has long promoted the idea of a '2000 watt society', aiming to reduce the population's overall energy use from 6,000 to 2,000 watts. Journey Time: from 6 hours 25 minutes Sample timetable: Depart London 09.31am, arrive Basel 5.26pm Changes: 1 Transfer: Paris Gare du Nord to Paris Gare de Lyon Frequency of Departures: 21/day Carbon emissions: 12 .1kg (flight would be 190.3kg)* Tickets provided by Trainline, which allows you to buy tickets for multiple train operators in multiple European countries. It does charge a small booking fee, but offers several useful facilities, such as a free email alert service to let you know as soon as bookings open for your chosen route so you can snap up the cheapest tickets when they become available. How to book train tickets as part of a package with accommodation If you want someone to book the whole journey for you or combine it with staying in hotels en route, get in touch with the travel agent Byway through its page for booking enquiries . What's the journey like? You have to change stations in Paris from Gare du Nord to Gare de Lyon, which can take about half an hour on the Paris RER line (it's only two stops, though we recommend you leave at least 50 minutes for the entire transfer - you have about an hour and a quarter to get the connection). See our guide to How to transfer between train stations across Paris . At Gare de Lyon, you board a TGV high speed train to Basel station. Stopover hotels to break the journey in Paris If you want to break the journey and stay overnight to see a bit more of Paris while you're travelling through, there are lots of lovely places to stay near both Gare du Nord and Gare de Lyon. Here are some examples of hotels that are conveniently near these stations: Hotels near Gare du Nord Hotels near Gare de Lyon Miss your connection in Paris? Don’t panic. Railteam’s ‘Hop on the Next Available Train’ service means that if you have missed your connection between high speed trains because of a delay on the preceding leg of your journey, you’ll automatically be put on the next available high-speed TGV train. NB Remember to get your ticket stamped by your Train Manager. Whenever you’re connecting, always remember to validate your onward train ticket at the machine on the platform before departing (these are often coloured yellow). For more overland routes in Europe, see Green Traveller's Flight-Free Train/Ferry Journey Planner On arrival at Basel station Bienvenue à Basel! There are lots of great hotels near to the arrival railway station, see below. Hotels near Basel Railway Station We recommend hotel this reservation service for checking availability and booking a stopover hotel because you can read hundreds of reviews from people who have recently stayed in these hotels, slept in the rooms and eaten in the nearby restaurants. We've tried it out ourselves and found it makes choosing and booking a stopover hotel a doddle. We hope you do too. For more information on where to stay, local restaurants, and things to see and do, see our Green Traveller's Guide to Basel Bon Voyage! The beautiful cityscape of Basel. Photo: Switzerland Tourism/Andreas Gerth * Data for carbon emissions

Green Traveller's Guide to taking the train from London St Pancras International Railway Station to Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain. Barcelona is now reachable within a day from London by train. Photo: Wix Media Barcelona, the proud Mediterranean metropolis, is a city of many faces: from the gracious avenues of Gracia with their chic boutiques, to the atmospheric, winding lanes of the Barri Gotic, the city’s patchwork of neighbourhoods entices visitors with their distinct characters. Its cultural offer includes the Sagrada Familia and Parc Guell, as well as Miró and Picasso museums, these are complimented by any number of hole-in-the-wall bars to enjoy tapas and drinks with the locals. Part beach resort and party town, part art collection, sprinkled liberally with the modernista masterpieces of Gaudi and other architects, Barcelona is a city to see, eat, drink, explore, and enjoy. Flight-free travel from London to Barcelona: Journey Time: from 10 hours 10 minutes Sample timetable: Depart London 10.24am, arrive Barcelona 9.46pm Changes: 1 Transfer: Paris Gare du Nord to Paris Gare de Lyon Frequency of Departures: 15/day Carbon emissions: 56.7 kg for train (flight would be 242.1kg)* Tickets provided by Trainline, which allows you to buy tickets for multiple train operators in multiple European countries. It does charge a small booking fee, but offers several useful facilities, such as a free email alert service to let you know as soon as bookings open for your chosen route so you can snap up the cheapest tickets when they become available. How to book train tickets as part of a package with accommodation If you want someone to book the whole journey for you or combine it with staying in hotels en route, get in touch with the travel agent Byway through its page for booking enquiries . What's the journey like? It is possible to travel from London to Barcelona in a day by train. You have to change stations in Paris from Gare du Nord to Gare de Lyon, which can take about half an hour on the Paris RER line (it's only two stops, though we recommend you leave at least 50 minutes for the entire transfer - you have about an hour and a half to get the connection, though you could get an earlier train and spent a bit more time in Paris, e.g. have lunch at the wonderful Train Bleu Restaurant in Gare de Lyon). See our guide to How to transfer between train stations across Paris . At Gare de Lyon, you board a TGV high speed train to 'Barcelona Sants' station. Stopover hotels to break the journey in Paris If you want to break the journey and stay overnight to see a bit more of Paris while you're travelling through, there are lots of lovely places to stay near both Gare du Nord and Gare de Lyon. Here are some examples of hotels that are conveniently near these stations: Hotels near Gare du Nord Hotels near Gare de Lyon Miss your connection in Paris? Don’t panic. Railteam’s ‘Hop on the Next Available Train’ service means that if you have missed your connection between high speed trains because of a delay on the preceding leg of your journey, you’ll automatically be put on the next available high-speed train. NB Remember to get your ticket stamped by your Train Manager. Whenever you’re connecting, always remember to validate your onward train ticket at the machine on the platform before departing (these are often coloured yellow). For more overland routes to Spain, see Green Traveller's Flight-Free Train/Ferry Journey Planner On arrival at Barcelona Sants station Benvingut a Barcelona! Bienvenido a Barcelona! Barcelona-Sants station is to the south-west of Barcelona's city centre, which is on lines 3 and 5 of the metro, as well as suburban train routes. There are plenty of hotels close to Barcelona Sants station, see below. NB There are two other train stations in Barcelona: Barcelona- Estació de França , on the edge of the old town, to the east of the centre, which is on line four of the metro, and is a terminus for some suburban train lines; and Barcelona-Passeig de Gràcia , just north of the centre, on the main Passeig de Gràcia boulevard, which is on lines two, three, and four of the metro, plus suburban rail lines. Bus services are available from all three train termini. Hotels near Barcelona Sants Train Station Getting around Barcelona The easiest mode of transport for visitors in Barcelona is the metro , which consists of eight colour coded lines – take a look at the metro network map. The metro is supplemented by three suburban rail lines, part of the wider Catalan rail network (FGC), they are of limited use to visitors unless you are making trips outside of the city; the city also boasts two modern tram lines. In addition, there is of course a network of buses covering both the city and metropolitan area of Barcelona – like the metro, they are run by TMB (Transports Metropolitans de Barcelona), you can access a map and bus route timetables on the TMB website (information in English). A range of different fares and passes for the public transport network is available; the TMB information offers full Barcelona transport ticket and fare information. Additionally, Hola BCN travel cards give unlimited travel for periods of between one and five days across Barcelona; and the Barcelona card offers unlimited travel plus free entry and discounts at many major attractions in the city. If you prefer to stay out in the open air, you could travel around Barcelona by bike – the city has a network of segregated cycle lanes, and the official tourism website recommends bike rental providers . As with many major European cities, Barcelona has a bike sharing scheme, where you can pick up a bike at a docking station near the start of your journey and return it to another station at your destination. A bit more about Barcelona Barcelona is the largest city and capital of Catalonia. The Catalans are a proud people. Proud of their language, history, cuisine, wine, their natural and cultural heritage. It’s no surprise: there’s so much to be proud of in this extraordinarily diverse land. That love of the region translates not just into a warm welcome for visitors, encouraged to explore the sights, smells, tastes and sounds of the cities, mountains and coasts. It’s also reflected in a respect for the environment: Catalonia has been designated the first whole-region Unesco Biosphere Destination, reflecting its dedication to sustainable tourism, along with sites including Barcelona, Sitges and the Terres de l’Ebre. From the Pyrenees in the north to bird-bustling wetlands in the south, dramatic gorges and vine-striped highlands and sandy shores, the range of activities, culture and cuisine is astonishing. For information about where to travel in Catalonia, see our Green Traveller's Guide to Catalonia . Video of our summer trip to Catalonia: * Data for carbon emissions

Green Traveller's Guide to taking the train from London St Pancras International Railway Station to Avignon in the South of France. Avignon's famous bridge. Photo: Wix Media Avignon is the gateway to Provence - it's an atmospheric mediaeval city of honey-coloured buildings and winding streets, crowned by the dramatic Papal Palace. Its compact centre nestles between intact city walls, and the famous bridge still juts halfway out into the Rhône. This is the dream of France – quiet squares to relax in a café, delicious provençal cuisine, fine local wines; and many a place to buy a baguette and wander around the ancient streets – with all the joys of Provence on the doorstep. Journey Time: fastest from 5 hours 44 mins Sample timetable: Depart London 11.04am, arrive Avignon 6.11pm Changes: 1 Transfer: Platform change within Lille Europe station Frequency of Departures: 20/day Carbon emissions: 15kg (flight would be 87kg)* Tickets provided by Trainline, which allows you to buy tickets for multiple train operators in multiple European countries. It does charge a small booking fee, but offers several useful facilities, such as a free email alert service to let you know as soon as bookings open for your chosen route so you can snap up the cheapest tickets when they become available. How to book train tickets as part of a package with accommodation If you want someone to book the whole journey for you or combine it with staying in hotels en route, get in touch with the travel agent Byway through its page for booking enquiries . What's the journey like? There's just a quick same-station change of platform at Lille Europe station to catch the onward connection. From the Eurostar platform arrival, go up the stairs (or lift) to the main concourse from where the onward TGV trains depart. Stopover hotels to break the journey in Lille If you want to break the journey and stay overnight to see a bit more of Lille while you're travelling through, there are lots of lovely places to stay near the station. Here are some hotels that are conveniently nearby: Hotels near Lille Europe train station Miss your connection in Lille? Don’t panic. Railteam’s ‘Hop on the Next Available Train’ service means that if you have missed your connection because of a delay on the preceding leg of your journey, you’ll automatically be put on the next available high-speed train. NB Remember to get your ticket stamped by your Train Manager. Whenever you’re connecting, always remember to validate your onward train ticket at the machine on the platform before departing (these are often coloured yellow). For more overland routes to France, see Green Traveller's Flight-Free Train/Ferry Journey Planner Shuttle bus from Avignon TGV station into Avignon town. Photo: Richard Hammond On arrival at Avignon TGV station Bienvenue à Avignon! The TGV direct train from London arrives at Avignon TGV, which is a few miles outside the town . Thankfully, the station is linked to the city centre by the ‘TGV Navette’ bus (right), which costs 1,80€ (free for Eurostar ticket holders). This drops you off in front of the city’s downtown station, Avignon-Centre. From here, all points central are walkable, but it is a hub for transport around the city and the sights of the surrounding area. [ Photo: Green Traveller ] Hotels in Avignon Getting around Avignon The compact centre of Avignon lies within its ancient city walls, and is easily walkable, with only limited traffic. If you do need or want to take a longer journey, or to one of the outlying towns, villages, and attractions, there is a good local bus network and a new tram system opened in 2019. Transport in Avignon is operated by ORIZO, their website is in French only, however it does feature detailed information about the Avignon transport network . Tickets for a single journey cost 1,30€ (valid for one hour), with a ‘carnet’ of ten tickets for 10,50€ and a day pass at 4€. The Avignon area boasts 110km of segregated cycle paths – impressive for the city’s small size – and there is also a self-service bike sharing scheme called Vélopop operating across Avignon. You can take a bike from one docking station and return it to another when you reach your destination – for only 1€ per day (0,50€ for each half-hour of usage); here's a useful map of vélopop stations . You can also hire bikes at Provence Bikes on Boulevard St Roch or pre-order to pick up bikes at the TGV Avignon station (3km outside of the town) from Holiday Bikes. For more information about where to stay in Avignon, restaurants and things to do, see our: Green Traveller's Guide to Avignon Bon Voyage! * Data for carbon emissions

Greentraveller's Guide to taking the train from London St Pancras International Railway Station to Antwerp, Belgium. Photo: Wix Media It is possible to travel by train from London to Antwerp in less than 3 hours if you take the Eurostar train to Brussels and change to a local train to Antwerp. Antwerp is Belgian’s second city and is an effervescent fashion centre that's is great for a weekend’s shopping break. Before heading into town, it’s worth admiring the late 19th century train station, one of the city’s main landmarks. On the Meir, there’s a wide range of shops and many more chi-chi boutiques on Schutterhofstraat and Nationalestraat, including the famous Antwerp fashion designers Dries Van Noten and Ann Demeulemeester. Head to Kloosterstraat for antiques and galleries and stroll along the river to the contemporary art museum, Muhka. The museum in the mansion where Rubens lived  between 1610 and his death in 1640, at Wapper 9-11 has 10 of the artist's works and gives an absorbing insight into Flemish fine living in the 17th century. Flight-free travel from London to Antwerp: Journey Time: from 2 hours 56 mins Sample timetable: Depart London 08.16pm, arrive Antwerp 12.27pm Changes: 1 Transfer: Quick same-station change of platform within Brussels Midi station Frequency of Departures: 20/day Carbon emissions: 7.1kg (flight would be 115.3kg)* Car hire at Antwerp Railway Station: Yes Tickets provided by Trainline, which allows you to buy tickets for multiple train operators in multiple European countries. It does charge a small booking fee, but offers several useful facilities, such as a free email alert service to let you know as soon as bookings open for your chosen route so you can snap up the cheapest tickets when they become available. How to book train tickets as part of a package with accommodation If you want someone to book the whole journey for you or combine it with staying in hotels en route, get in touch with the travel agent Byway through its page for booking enquiries . What's the journey like? Take the Eurostar to Brussels Midi station where there's an easy same-station platform change to board the intercity train to Antwerp. Keep an eye out on the platform at Brussels for the handy guide to the layout of incoming trains, which shows you where your carriage will arrive into the station so you can make your way to the correct part of the platform before the train arrives.   Stopover hotels to break the journey in Brussels If you want to break the journey and stay overnight to see a bit more of Brussels while you're travelling through, there are lots of lovely places to stay near Brussels Midi. Here are some examples of hotels that are conveniently nearby: Hotels near Brussels Midi For more overland train (and ferry) routes across Europe, see our Flight-Free Journey Planner . On arrival Welkom in Antwerpen! International rail services and mainline trains from across Belgium stop at Antwerp Central Station: this spectacular piece of architecture is not only an auspicious gateway to the city, but also well located – just east of the centre, it is on numerous tram and bus routes. There are plenty of places to stay near to the main railway station, see below: Hotels near Antwerp Central Station: You could easily walk around much of central Antwerp, but the city is also served by a huge network of trams and buses, co-ordinated by De Lijn. Perhaps the easiest to use part of the transport network is the ‘pre-metro’, an underground section of the tram system that runs through the city centre – wikipedia has a map of the premetro, and you can see a map of all the transport routes in the inner city on the De Lijn website. The city’s official tourist website offers more information on public transport for visitors to Antwerp, including tickets and fares. Antwerp is flat and compact, so a good option for getting around is by bike: the city has joined the ranks of metropolises boasting a self-service bike sharing scheme. Velo Antwerpen has docking stations all over the city (map), and a range of different passes are available, allowing you to pick up a bike near your starting point and drop it off by your destination with only a minimal amount of effort. For more information about where to stay and eat and things to to in the city, see our: Green Travel Guide to Antwerp Bon Voyage! * Data for carbon emissions

Here is Green Traveller's Guide to taking the train and ferry from England to northern Spain as a foot passenger . If you want to experience the wonderful coastline of northern Spain, but you don't want to fly or endure a long drive through France, this is the trip for you. One of the beautiful beaches of Asturia. Photo: Chris Willan It is possible to travel from southern England to northern Spain overnight on the ferry service run by Brittany Ferries. These luxurious ferries are like going on a mini-cruise, the dining is first-class, there are lots of facilities to keep the kids happy and you may see whales and dolphin on the crossing - the Bay of Biscay is one of the best places in Europe to spot these magnificent marine animals. Flight-free travel from the UK to Northern Spain: Routes: Portsmouth or Plymouth to Santander Journey Time: 20-24 hours Sample timetable: Changes: Train to Portsmouth or Plymouth then transfer to ferry terminal for overnight ferry to Santander Frequency of Departures: Portsmouth-Santander 2 per week (journey time is 24 hours); Plymouth-Santander 1 per week (this is the fastest service - takes 20 hours) Carbon emissions (as foot passenger): 15 kg (flight would be 311.1kg)* Car hire at Santander: Yes Ferry tickets provided by Brittany Ferries (to book as a foot passenger, choose the 'on foot' option from the vehicle selection drop-down selection on step 1 of the ferry booking process). How to book ferry tickets as part of a package with accommodation If you want someone to book the whole journey for you or combine it with staying in hotels en route, get in touch with the travel agent Byway through its page for booking enquiries . How to travel to Portsmouth ferry terminal By Bus: The easiest way for foot passengers to reach the harbour is to take a National Express coach (e.g. from London Victoria), which stops right outside the ferry departure building. The closest train station to Portsmouth ferry terminal is 'Portsmouth Harbour' (it's a 20-minute walk from here to the ferry check-in or a 10-minute taxi ride (costs about £5). There are also local bus services to Portsmouth ferry terminal operated by Stagecoach (bus 20) and First Bus (buses 8, X4 and X9). By train: Train services London Waterloo to Portsmouth Harbour take 85 minutes and there are also services from London Victoria and Cardiff. NB between May and September, there is a shuttle bus from 'Portsmouth & Southsea ' railway station to the ferry terminal. Book a train to Portsmouth >> (train tickets provided by Trainline) Portsmouth Harbour facilities: Bar, café, shop, bureau de change, internet access point. How to travel to Plymouth ferry terminal By Bus: National Express runs coach services from London's Victoria coach station to Plymouth coach station. By Train: There is a good rail service from major railway stations in the UK to Plymouth train station. It takes 3-4 hours from London Paddington to Plymouth. It takes about 20 minutes to walk from both Plymouth bus station and Plymouth train station to the Plymouth ferry terminal. Book a train to Plymouth >> (train tickets provided by Trainline) Plymouth Port facilities: Baby changing, bureau de change, café, disabled access. On arrival at Santander ferry terminal: Bienvenido a Santander! The ferry terminal lies just one block along Avenida Castilla to Santander's main train station - if you have too much to carry, it's just a minute in a taxi. Santander's train station is well connected to the Spanish rail network, with trains running to major centres in the region and the rest of the country. Santander is the capital of Spain's verdant Cantabria region (part of the wider 'Green Spain' region, along with the Basque Country, Asturias and Galicia), with rugged mountain ranges and a beautiful stretch of coastline including the stunning Picos de Europa mountains. For ideas of where to stay, great locally run restaurants, heritage attractions and activities: Green Traveller's Guide to Green Spain See more flight-free journeys in our Rail and Ferry Journey Planner >> Seafront at Santander. Photo: Wix Media * Data for carbon emissions

Green Traveller’s guide to getting to Morocco without setting foot on a plane – instead travelling overland by train and ferry from London St Pancras via Barcelona and Algeciras to Tangier. Marrakesh market. Photo Wix Media Summary: Train via Paris, Barcelona and Madrid to Algeciras in southern Spain then catch the ferry across the Straits of Gibraltar to Tangier Journey Time: about 48 hours Approximate cost (one way): Eurostar to Paris from £52 Train from Paris to Barcelona from €39 Train from Barcelona to Algeciras via Madrid from €51 Ferry from Algeciras to Tangier from €25 Tickets provided by Trainline, which allows you to buy tickets for multiple train operators in multiple European countries. It does charge a small booking fee, but offers several useful facilities, such as a free email alert service to let you know as soon as bookings open for your chosen route so you can snap up the cheapest tickets when they become available. Ferry tickets provided by Ferry Hopper, which allows you to search and compare prices for the different operators and routes from the mainland ports in southern Spain (and France) to Morocco. How to book train tickets as part of a package with accommodation If you want someone to book the whole journey for you or combine it with staying in hotels en route, get in touch with the travel agent Byway through its page for booking enquiries . What's the journey like? Take the Eurostar, the UK’s international high-speed rail service that runs from the magnificently renovated London St Pancras International Railway Station. On board, there’s no weight limit for your luggage, but you should be able to carry and lift your bags safely. To get to Barcelona on the same day, take an earlyish Eurostar, e.g. the 9.24am departure, arriving Paris just before 1pm, in order to catch the mid-afternoon train down to Barcelona to arrive early evening. In Paris, you change stations from Gare du Nord to Gare de Lyon to take the train south to Barcelona. Crossing Paris to change stations is only two stops on the Paris RER D line, though we recommend you leave at least 50 minutes for the entire transfer. See our guide on How to transfer between train stations across Paris . Stopover hotels to break the journey in Paris If you want to break the journey and stay overnight to see a bit more of Paris while you're travelling through, there are lots of lovely places to stay near both Gare du Nord and Gare de Lyon. Here are some examples of hotels that are conveniently near these stations: Hotels near Gare du Nord Hotels near Gare de Lyon Miss your connection in Paris? Don’t panic. Railteam’s ‘Hop on the Next Available Train’ service means that if you have missed your connection between high speed trains because of a delay on the preceding leg of your journey, you’ll automatically be put on the next available high-speed train. NB Remember to get your ticket stamped by your Train Manager. Whenever you’re connecting, always remember to validate your onward train ticket at the machine on the platform before departing (these are often coloured yellow). Onward to Barcelona, Madrid and Algciras At Gare de Lyon, board a TGV high-speed train to Barcelona Sants station. The best thing about overland train travel is that you have the time and space to walk around the train, visit the buffet carriage, play cards, read the newspaper or a book, catch up on emails and text, watch a film, enjoy a meal, or just gaze out of the window and enjoy the views out of the large windows as the train whizzes across the picturesque French and Spanish countryside. You’ll arrive in to the heart of Barcelona, so no need to take a transfer from an out-of-the-way airport to the city centre; and fortunately there are many hotels very close to the railway station. Stay overnight in Barcelona – it’s a proud Mediterranean metropolis and a city of many faces. From the gracious avenues of Gracia with their chic boutiques, to the atmospheric, winding lanes of the Barri Gòtic, the city’s patchwork of neighbourhoods entices visitors with their distinct characters. Hotels near Barcelona Sants Train Station The following morning take the high-speed AVE train to Madrid (it leaves about 11am and arrives at about 1.45pm) from where you take the train down to Algeciras in southern Spain (it leaves about 3pm and arrives at about 8.30pm). It’s a glorious journey that gives you an appreciation of how southern Spain becomes progressively Moorish as you whizz down across the mountains to Cordoba and onward to the southern end of the Iberian Peninsula. For more overland routes to Spain, see Green Traveller's Flight-Free Train/Ferry Journey Planner Bus from Algeciras to Tarifa then Ferry from Tarifa to Tangier Stay overnight in Algeciras (there are some lovely tapas bars that open late), then in the morning walk over to the modern ferry passenger terminal where the fast ferry company FRS provides a free transit bus to its ferry terminal departure in the nearby town of Tarifa (it’s about a 30-minute drive). Here, you take the ferry across the Straits of Gibraltar to Tangier, a journey of about an hour. It’s an epic journey; look left from the ferry as you pass the awesome Rock of Gibraltar, and then ahead of you looms the continent of Africa. Arriving in Tangier The ferry conveniently arrives in the heart of Tangier’s old town – you’ll be met off the ferry by lots of taxi drivers but you’re only a few minute’s walk to Tangier’s railway station and the medina. For onward trains to Meknès, Fez, Rabat, Casablanca and Marrakech, see: oncf-voyages.ma. There are plenty of places to stay in Tangier, see below: Hotels in Tangier: ( booking provided by booking.com ) There's an excellent description of this trip by Kevin Rushby in the Guardian, see: My epic three-day trip from London to Morocco by train and ferry

Green Traveller's Guide to taking the train from London St Pancras International Railway Station to Igoumenitsa or Patras on the west coast of Greece. On board the ferry from Bari across the Adriatic. Photo: Richard Hammond Summary: Train via Paris to Milan and Bari in Italy then ferry across the Adriatic to the west cost of Greece - Igoumenitsa (for Thessaloniki) or Patras (for Athens) Journey Time: about 48 hours Carbon emissions: train to Bari is approx 65 kg (flight would be approx 480kg)* Tickets provided by Trainline, which allows you to buy tickets for multiple train operators in multiple European countries. It does charge a small booking fee, but offers several useful facilities, such as a free email alert service to let you know as soon as bookings open for your chosen route so you can snap up the cheapest tickets when they become available. Ferry tickets provided by Direct Ferries, which allows you to search and compare prices for the different operators and routes from the mainland ports in Italy across to Greece. How to book train and ferry tickets as part of a package with accommodation If you want someone to book the whole journey for you or combine it with staying in hotels en route, get in touch with the travel agent Byway through its page for booking enquiries . What's the journey like? In Paris, you change stations from Gare du Nord to Gare de Lyon, which can take about half an hour on the Paris RER line (it's only two stops, though we recommend you leave at least 50 minutes for the entire transfer - you have about an hour and a quarter to get the connection). See our guide to How to transfer between train stations across Paris . At Gare de Lyon, board a TGV high speed train to 'Milan Centrale' station. Stay overnight in Milan, then the following morning take the high speed train to Bari to catch the overnight ferry to either Igoumenitsa or Patras on the west cost of Greece, arriving just after midday. Stopover hotels to break the journey in Paris If you want to break the journey and stay overnight to see a bit more of Paris while you're travelling through, there are lots of lovely places to stay near both Gare du Nord and Gare de Lyon. Here are some examples of hotels that are conveniently near these stations: Hotels near Gare du Nord Hotels near Gare de Lyon Miss your connection in Paris? Don’t panic. Railteam’s ‘Hop on the Next Available Train’ service means that if you have missed your connection between high speed trains because of a delay on the preceding leg of your journey, you’ll automatically be put on the next available high-speed TGV train. NB Remember to get your ticket stamped by your Train Manager. Whenever you’re connecting, always remember to validate your onward train ticket at the machine on the platform before departing (these are often coloured yellow). On arrival at Milan Centrale station Benvenuto a Milano! If you’re arriving on an international train service, you will probably arrive at Milano Centrale, the city’s main rail terminus – however various intercity services also serve Cardona and Garibaldi stations: all three are connected to Milan’s metro and bus services for onward travel around the city. There are plenty of hotels close to the station, see below: Hotels near Milan's train station (Milan Centrale): Milan has one of Italy’s best developed public transport systems, consisting of a metro network, trams, buses, and a suburban rail system (the latter is unlikely to be of use to visitors). Whilst many of the city centre’s main sights are within walking distance of one another, you’ll probably end up using public transport at some point during your stay. The metro consists of four lines, with a fifth under construction; there are seventeen tram lines crossing the city – trams are emblematic of travel in Milan; and numerous bus services, they are co-ordinated by ATM. You can find maps of the metro and suburban rail network on ATM’s website - see Milan Journey Planner , as well as a breakdown of the different tickets (including useful tickets for tourists), and a journey planner for transport within the Milan urban area. Like many European cities, Milan has a bike sharing scheme, allowing you to hire a bike from numerous points across the city and then return it to a different docking point when you have completed your journey: for more information, and maps, check out BikeMi (information in English). On arrival at Bari Railway Station From the station, you'll need to take a bus to the port to catch the ferry. The buses leave from just outside the railway station. Bari is a lovely city so it's worth spending some time here if you can, but if you only have a few hours and want to have a pizza, then I recommend Solho (see photos below), which is just a few hundred yards from the railway station. Solho Gourmet Pizza and Apulian food is just a few hundred metres from Bari railway station. Photos: Richard Hammond Bus from Bari Railway Station to Bari Port The buses depart from just opposite the railway station exit. Buy your ticket from the ticket booth and then board the 50 bus to the port. On arrival at the departure terminal of the port, you'll then need to take a transit bus to the ferry check-in terminal. Once you've checked in, you then take the transit bus back to the departure terminal. Do make sure you check-in at the check-in desk ( not at the ferry departure terminal) as you won't be allowed on without doing so. Left: Bus No. 50 goes from the Bari Centrale to the port. Right: Bus ticket booth opposite the station. Photos: Richard Hammond Left: The transit bus takes from the port departure terminal to the check-in desk (Right) Photos: Richard Hammond Ferry from Bari to Igoumenitsa or Patras on the west cost of Greece If you're looking to travel onwards to Thessaloniki then take the ferry to Igoumenitsa, if you're going to Athens, take the crossing to Patras. Left: Boarding as food passenger for the ferry from Bari across the Adriatic. Centre: Sunset from the Muster station. Right: four berth cabin. Photos: Richard Hammond Onward travel from Igoumenitsa or Patras At Igoumenitsa, it's just a short 5-10 minute walk from the port to the bus station from where it takes 4 hours by bus to Thessaloniki. For information timetables, see ktelmacedonia.gr At Patras, you'll need to take a bus to town centre bus station (it takes 15-20 minutes) to board the bus to Kiato railway station from where there are trains to Athens. For more information on timetables, see: hellenictrain.gr Kaló Taxídi! For other overland routes to Europe, see our Flight-Free Train/Ferry Journey Planner See our Green Traveller Guides to the following places in Greece: West Macedonia and Thessaloniki | East Macedonia and Thrace | Athens | Central and Southern Peloponnese | Pelion | Naxos and the Small Cyclades | Lesvos and Chios * Data for carbon emissions

Green Traveller's Guide to travelling overland by train and ferry from the UK to the island of Formentera, Spain. Formentera doesn't have an airport, so in fact the only way to reach it is by boat. There are direct ferries to Formentera from Barcelona and Denia , or you can take a ferry from Barcelona, Valencia or Denia to Ibiza from where you catch the 30-minute inter-island ferry to Formentera . Journey Time from London: approx 24-36 hours Sample timetable: Depart London St Pancras early morning, arrive Barcelona in late afternoon, catch overnight ferry to arrive the following morning in Formentera Changes: 2 Transfer: Paris Gare du Nord to Paris Gare de Lyon, then Barcelona Sants railway station to Port de Barcelona Carbon emissions: 62.4 kg for train and ferry (flight would be 242.1kg)* Train tickets provided by Trainline, which allows you to buy tickets for multiple train operators in multiple European countries. It does charge a small booking fee, but offers several useful facilities, such as a free email alert service to let you know as soon as bookings open for your chosen route so you can snap up the cheapest tickets when they become available. Ferry tickets provided by Direct Ferries, which allows you to search and compare prices for the different operators and routes from the mainland ports in Spain across to Ibiza and Formentera. How to book train tickets as part of a package with accommodation If you want someone to book the whole journey for you or combine it with staying in hotels en route, get in touch with the travel agent Byway through its page for booking enquiries . What's the journey like? Thanks to the new high speed line in Spain, it is possible to travel from London down to Barcelona in a day by train. You have to change stations in Paris from Gare du Nord to Gare de Lyon, which can take about half an hour on the Paris RER line (it's only two stops, though we recommend you leave at least 50 minutes for the entire transfer - you have about an hour and a half to get the connection, though you could get an earlier train and spent a bit more time in Paris, e.g. have lunch at the wonderful Train Bleu Restaurant in Gare de Lyon). See our guide to How to transfer between train stations across Paris . At Gare de Lyon, you board a TGV high speed train to 'Barcelona Sants' station. Stopover hotels to break the journey in Paris If you want to break the journey and stay overnight to see a bit more of Paris while you're travelling through, there are lots of lovely places to stay near both Gare du Nord and Gare de Lyon. Here are some examples of hotels that are conveniently near these stations: Hotels near Gare du Nord Hotels near Gare de Lyon Miss your connection in Paris? Don’t panic. Railteam’s ‘Hop on the Next Available Train’ service means that if you have missed your connection between high speed trains because of a delay on the preceding leg of your journey, you’ll automatically be put on the next available high-speed train. NB Remember to get your ticket stamped by your Train Manager. Whenever you’re connecting, always remember to validate your onward train ticket at the machine on the platform before departing (these are often coloured yellow). Option 1: Direct Ferry from Barcelona to Formentera Benvingut a Barcelona! Bienvenido a Barcelona! Barcelona-Sants station is to the south-west of Barcelona's city centre, which is on lines 3 and 5 of the metro, as well as suburban train routes. There are plenty of hotels close to Barcelona Sants station, see below. NB There are two other train stations in Barcelona: Barcelona- Estació de França , on the edge of the old town, to the east of the centre, which is on line four of the metro, and is a terminus for some suburban train lines; and Barcelona-Passeig de Gràcia , just north of the centre, on the main Passeig de Gràcia boulevard, which is on lines two, three, and four of the metro, plus suburban rail lines. Bus services are available from all three train termini. Hotels near Barcelona Sants Train Station Transfer from Barcelona Sants to Port de Barcelona It's about 2.5 miles (4k) from Barcelona Sants railway station to the port, about 10-12 minutes in a taxi but you can get there easily by metro in about 15 minutes, taking the L3 (green) line from the metro station at the station (known as 'Sants Estació') to Drassanes from where it's a couple of minutes walk to the ferry's check-in desk. More on getting around Barcelona The easiest mode of transport for visitors in Barcelona is the metro , which consists of eight colour coded lines – take a look at the Barcelona metro network map . The metro is supplemented by three suburban rail lines, part of the wider Catalan rail network (FGC), they are of limited use to visitors unless you are making trips outside of the city; the city also boasts two modern tram lines. In addition, there is of course a network of buses covering both the city and metropolitan area of Barcelona – like the metro, they are run by TMB (Transports Metropolitans de Barcelona), you can access a map and bus route timetables on the TMB website (information in English). A range of different fares and passes for the public transport network is available; the TMB information offers full Barcelona transport ticket and fare information. Additionally, Hola BCN travel cards give unlimited travel for periods of between one and five days across Barcelona; and the Barcelona card offers unlimited travel plus free entry and discounts at many major attractions in the city. If you prefer to stay out in the open air, you could travel around Barcelona by bike – the city has a network of segregated cycle lanes, and the official tourism website recommends bike rental providers . As with many major European cities, Barcelona has a bike sharing scheme, where you can pick up a bike at a docking station near the start of your journey and return it to another station at your destination. A bit more about Barcelona Barcelona is the largest city and capital of Catalonia. The Catalans are a proud people. Proud of their language, history, cuisine, wine, their natural and cultural heritage. It’s no surprise: there’s so much to be proud of in this extraordinarily diverse land. That love of the region translates not just into a warm welcome for visitors, encouraged to explore the sights, smells, tastes and sounds of the cities, mountains and coasts. It’s also reflected in a respect for the environment: Catalonia has been designated the first whole-region Unesco Biosphere Destination, reflecting its dedication to sustainable tourism, along with sites including Barcelona, Sitges and the Terres de l’Ebre. From the Pyrenees in the north to bird-bustling wetlands in the south, dramatic gorges and vine-striped highlands and sandy shores, the range of activities, culture and cuisine is astonishing. For information about where to travel in Catalonia, see our Green Traveller's Guide to Catalonia . Departing from Barcelona to Formentera The direct ferry service from Barcelona to Formentera is an overnight service (it takes about 11.5 hours), departing late evening (usually about 22:00) and arriving in to Formentera at a very civilised time the following morning, about 09.30. There are cabins on board so you can have a decent night's sleep, and there's no weight limit on baggage. Option 2: Direct Ferry from Denia to Formentera Denia is about 290 miles (460 km) south of Barcelona (it's between Valencia and Alicante and takes 6–7 hours by train from Barcelona), but can be a good option if you prefer a shorter ferry journey to Formentera - the crossing is just 2-3 hours. Option 3: Ferry via Ibiza from Barcelona, Valencia or Denia There are ferry services from the Spanish mainland – from Barcelona, Valencia and Denia – to Ibiza from where you can then take the 30-minute inter-island ferry across to Formentera. The ferry from Barcelona is an overnight service and takes 8-9 hours. The ferry from Valencia is about 5 hours (Valencia is about 220 miles (350km) south of Barcelona and takes 3-4 hours by train). The ferry from Denia is just 2-3 hours (Denia is 6–7 hours by train from Barcelona). Inter-island ferry between Ibiza and Formentera The crossing from Ibiza to Formentera takes just 30 minutes on the inter-island Aquabus ferry. It departs once every 30 minutes throughout the day, with the first leaving at 7am and the last at 8.30pm. For the return journey, the first ferry is also at 7:00 and the last departure is at 10pm so you can make the most of our final day on the island. The ferry departs from the Port of Ibiza in Ibiza Town (where the ferries from Barcelona, Denia and Valencia arrive, so it's an easy transfer to the inter-island ferry) and arrives in Formentera at La Savina. For more information about the ferry, including the schedule, see aquabusferryboats.com Balearia runs ferries from the Spanish mainland to Ibiza and Formentera. Photo: Direct Ferries For more overland routes to Spain, see Green Traveller's Flight-Free Train/Ferry Journey Planner * Data for carbon emissions

Green Traveller's Guide to travelling from the UK to the island of Ibiza, Spain without flying. Ibiza port. Photo: Wix Media It is possible to travel from London to Ibiza in about 36 hours if you take the Eurostar from London St Pancras to Paris and then change trains down to Barcelona and then take the ferry across to Ibiza. There are two ways to do this (both require an overnight stay in a hotel), either: a) take train from London to Barcelona (arrives same day), stay overnight in Barcelona, then spend the day in Barcelona and catch the overnight ferry to Ibiza. b) take train from London to Paris, stay overnight in Paris, then take the train down to Barcelona in time to catch the overnight ferry to Ibiza. Flight-free travel from London to Ibiza: Journey Time: from 36 hours Sample timetable: a) Depart London 10.24am, arrive Barcelona 9.46pm; overnight in Barcelona then evening ferry departing that evening at 10pm across to Ibiza, arriving 7am the following morning, OR b) Depart London 3.31pm, arrive Paris 6.52pm; overnight in Paris then take the 10.14am train down to Barcelona arriving at 4.53pm in time to catch the evening ferry departing 10pm across to Ibiza, arriving 7am the following morning, Changes: 2 Transfer: Change of train in Paris (Paris Gare du Nord to Paris Gare de Lyon) to Barcelona and transfer from train to ferry within Barcelona for onward ferry to Ibiza. Frequency of Departures: 15/day trains to Barcelona, 6-7/week overnight ferries to Ibiza Carbon emissions: train leg is 7 kg (flight would be 180kg)* Car hire at Ibiza ferry terminal: Yes Tickets provided by Trainline, which allows you to buy tickets for multiple train operators in multiple European countries. It does charge a small booking fee, but offers several useful facilities, such as a free email alert service to let you know as soon as bookings open for your chosen route so you can snap up the cheapest tickets when they become available. How to book train tickets as part of a package with accommodation If you want someone to book the whole journey for you or combine it with staying in hotels en route, get in touch with the travel agent Byway through its page for booking enquiries . What's the journey like? It is possible to travel from London to Barcelona in a day by train from where you can stay overnight then catch the ferry as a foot passenger across to Ibiza the following evening. You have to change stations in Paris from Gare du Nord to Gare de Lyon, which can take about half an hour on the Paris RER line (it's only two stops, though we recommend you leave at least 50 minutes for the entire transfer - you have about an hour and a half to get the connection, though you could get an earlier train and spent a bit more time in Paris, e.g. have lunch at the wonderful Train Bleu Restaurant in Gare de Lyon). See our guide to How to transfer between train stations across Paris . At Gare de Lyon, you board a TGV high speed train to 'Barcelona Sants' station. Stopover hotels to break the journey in Paris If you want to break the journey and stay overnight to see a bit more of Paris while you're travelling through, there are lots of lovely places to stay near both Gare du Nord and Gare de Lyon. Here are some examples of hotels that are conveniently near these stations: Hotels near Gare du Nord Hotels near Gare de Lyon Miss your connection in Paris? Don’t panic. Railteam’s ‘Hop on the Next Available Train’ service means that if you have missed your connection between high speed trains because of a delay on the preceding leg of your journey, you’ll automatically be put on the next available high-speed train. NB Remember to get your ticket stamped by your Train Manager. Whenever you’re connecting, always remember to validate your onward train ticket at the machine on the platform before departing (these are often coloured yellow). For more routes acroos Europe, see our Flight-Free Train/Ferry Journey Planner On arrival at Barcelona Sants station There are plenty of hotels close to the station, see: Hotels near to Barcelona Sants train station . See our guide to travelling by train from London to Barcelona for more information about how to. get around Barcelona by metro and bike. Ferry from Barcelona to Ibiza There are two well-established ferry companies that run overnight ferries from Barcelona to Ibiza - Trasmediterranea and Balearia (NB. neither run day time ferry services from Barcelona to Ibiza). The overnight journey takes approximately 9 hours arrive about 6.30/7am at Ibiza's main harbour. Ferry tickets for both operators can be booked through Direct Ferries, which allows you to search and compare prices for the different operators and routes from the mainland ports in Spain to Ibiza . The crossing from mainland Spain to Ibiza. Photo: Baleria * Data for carbon emissions

Green Traveller's Guide to taking the train from London St Pancras International Railway Station to the south of France and then ferry across to the island of Corsica. The port at Bonifacio, Corsica. Photo: Richard Hammond It is possible to travel from London to Corsica by train and ferry in about 24 hours if you take the Eurostar from London St Pancras to Paris and then change to a train south to Marseille (or Nice) and catch the ferry the following morning to Corsica. Corsica is one of the 18 regions of France and the fourth largest island in the Mediterranean that's famous for its beaches and mountains, including the epic GR20 long distance hiking trail that heads high up across this spectacular island. Train and Ferry from London to Corsica: Routes: Train from London to either Marseille, Toulon or Nice, then ferry across to Corsica Journey Time: About 24 hours Sample timetable: Depart London 7.19am, arrive Marseille at 2.45pm then overnight ferry departs from Marseille at 7pm, arrives Ajaccio, Corsica at 06.15 Changes: Change in Paris or Lille for Marseille or Nice then transfer to ferry terminal for overnight ferry to Corsica Frequency of Departures: 3-4 times per week Carbon emissions (train leg): 15 kg (flight would be 311.1kg)* Car hire at Marseille St Charles station: Yes Tickets provided by Trainline, which allows you to buy tickets for multiple train operators in multiple European countries. It does charge a small booking fee, but offers several useful facilities, such as a free email alert service to let you know as soon as bookings open for your chosen route so you can snap up the cheapest tickets when they become available. How to book train tickets as part of a package with accommodation If you want someone to book the whole journey for you or combine it with staying in hotels en route, get in touch with the travel agent Byway through its page for booking enquiries . What's the journey like? Take the Eurostar train from London St Pancras International Railway Station to Paris (Gare du Nord) or Lille then change for Marseille St Charles station – in Lille, the train for Marseille leaves from the same station that you arrived whereas in Paris you have to change from Gare du Nord to Gare de Lyon (see our How to Transfer Across Train Stations in Paris ) . On board Eurostar, there’s a bar-buffet carriage that sells a range of hot and cold, alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks, including champagne, as well as snacks and wholesome, hearty dishes. For those with standard premier tickets, light refreshments are served at your table, including a fresh, light, healthy meal, tea, coffee and soft drinks, and a glass of wine or beer. It’s about 30 mins from London to the Channel Tunnel, then, after about 20 minutes, you emerge for the onward journey whizzing down through the beautiful countryside of France, passing picturesque French villages and along the Rhône Valley to Marseille. This service is a fast and efficient way to travel from London to Marseille. For other routes within France and elsewhere in Europe, see our Flight-Free Journey Planner On arrival at Marseille St Charles station Bienvenue à Marseille! A city without too many airs, Marseille has a life and energy that more manicured destinations lack. The spectacular old port at its centre is surrounded by pavement cafes, restaurants and bars, and overlooked by an iconic hilltop church. Detour into the old quarter of Le Panier or the hippyish Cours Julien and you’ll find atmospheric architecture, bustling markets and some of the country’s most down-to-earth inhabitants. There are lots of hotels near to the station, see: Hotels near Marseille St Charles train station . Various eco-districts are also in development across the city, with renewable energy, greywater recycling schemes, tree planting projects and bike paths part of the plans. The most high profile of these lies within the Euroméditerranée district; a 480-hectare urban renewal project between the commercial harbour, the Vieux Port (Old Port) and the TGV station. The city is gradually moving towards a more sustainable future. With an average of 300 days of sunshine a year, many public buildings in the city are being equipped with solar panels; it's said there are more roofs here than in any other city in France. Getting around Marseille Marseille has an excellent public transport network. From Marseille Saint Charles train station there are trams, metro and buses that take you around the city centre and to the main harbour and port, see: Marseille public transport timetables and routes (French only). Marseille’s handy City Pass is an allin package including free entry to many of the city's museums, a boat trip to the Château d'If, a trip on the Petit Train, reductions on certain other excursions, and unlimited travel on the buses, metro and trams. It is valid for one (€22) or two (€29) days. See Marseille Tourism for more information. From outside the station, you can pick up a bike from the city’s bike hire scheme Le Vélo . Ferry from Marseille to Corsica Corsica Linea operate an overnight ferry service from Marseille to Ajaccio, departing at 7.15pm. You can book either a seat or a cabin with beds. The journey takes 11 hours and you'll arrive at Ajaccio at 6.15am. Ferry tickets provided by Direct Ferries, which allows you to search and compare prices for the different operators and routes from the mainland ports in France to Corsica. For more information about travelling as a foot passenger, see our guide to how to travel as a ferry foot passenger from the UK to Europe Bon Voyage! * Data for carbon emissions

Green Traveller's Guide to taking the train from London St Pancras International Railway Station to the beautiful city of Venice, Italy. Photo: Wix Media Here are two options for travelling to Venice: you could go via Paris (which requires changing stations in Paris for the onward journey via Turin) or if you prefer an easier change of train, you could go via Lille where you change train within the station for the onward journey via Lyon and Turin. Both routes require an overnight stay - you could do that either in Paris, Lyon or Turin (or if you wanted to continue to Milan, you could stay overnight there and take the train down to Venice). Flight-free travel by train from London to Venice: Journey Time: Overnight Changes: 2 Transfers: Option 1 (via Paris): Change from Paris Gare du Nord to Paris Gare de Lyon, then take the train to Torino Porta Susa (or Milan) and stay overnight and take the high-speed train the following morning to Venice Option 2 (via Lille): Change at Lille for train to Lyon where you stay overnight then take high-speed train the following morning to Venice Sample timetable: Option 1: Depart London 7.55am, arrive 11.17am Paris Gare du Nord, depart Paris Gare de Lyon at 12.46, arrive Turin 6.15. Overnight in Turin then catch 10am train to Milan Centrale arriving at 11.02am then take 11.45am train from Milan Centrale arriving Venice Santa Lucia at 2.12pm. Option 2: Depart London 11.04am, arrive 1.26pm Lille Europe, depart Lille Europe at 2.03pm, arrive Lyon at 5.02pm. Overnight in Lyon, then take 8am train to Turin, arriving 12.25pm, then take the 1pm train to Milan arriving 2.30pm, and then the 2.45pm train from Milan arriving Venice Santa Lucia at 5.12pm. Frequency of Departures: 19/day Carbon emissions: 36.4 kg (flight would be 270.9kg)* Tickets provided by Trainline, which allows you to buy tickets for multiple train operators in multiple European countries. It does charge a small booking fee, but offers several useful facilities, such as a free email alert service to let you know as soon as bookings open for your chosen route so you can snap up the cheapest tickets when they become available. How to book train tickets as part of a package with accommodation If you want someone to book the whole journey for you or combine it with staying in hotels en route, get in touch with the travel agent Byway through its page for booking enquiries . What's the journey like? Option 1: you have to change stations in Paris from Gare du Nord to Gare de Lyon, which can take about half an hour on the Paris RER line (it's only two stops, though we recommend you leave at least 50 minutes for the entire transfer). See our guide to How to transfer between train stations across Paris . At Gare de Lyon, you board a TGV high speed train to Torino Porta Susa where you stay overnight and then take the morning train over via Milan to Venice. Option 2: it's just a simple change of train within Lille Europe to catch the train to Lyon where you overnight (there are plenty of hotels near to the station, see below). Then the following morning you take the high speed train from Lyon to Italy. Buon Viaggio! Stopover hotels to break the journey in Paris, Lyon, Turin and Milan There are lots of places to stay near the stations en route to Venice: Hotels near Gare du Nord | Hotels near Gare de Lyon | Hotels near Lyon Part Die u | Hotels near Turin Porta Susa | Hotels near Milan Porta Garibaldi | Hotels near Milan Centrale Miss your connection? Don’t panic. Railteam’s ‘Hop on the Next Available Train’ service means that if you have missed your connection between high speed trains because of a delay on the preceding leg of your journey, you’ll automatically be put on the next available high-speed train. NB Remember to get your ticket stamped by your Train Manager. Whenever you’re connecting, always remember to validate your onward train ticket at the machine on the platform before departing (these are often coloured yellow). On arrival at Venice Santa Lucia station Benvenuto a Venizia! There are plenty of hotels close to the station, see below: Hotels near to Venice main train station (Venice Santa Lucia) Piazza San Marco, Venice. Photo: Wix Media For more overland train routes to Italy, see our Flight-Free Train/Ferry Journey Planner * Data for carbon emissions

Green Traveller's Guide to taking the train from London St Pancras International Railway Station to Gothenburg, West Sweden. Sarah Baxter took the train from London to Gothenburg. Photo: Richard Hammond It is possible to travel overland by train from London to West Sweden in about 36 hours if you take the Eurostar from London St Pancras to Brussels and change for trains to Cologne, Hamburg, Copenhagen and then on to Gothenburg in West Sweden. Below is a snapshot of how we travelled to West Sweden for our Guide to Climate Smart Holidays in West Sweden . Flight-free travel by train from London to West Sweden: Journey Time:  about 36 hours Sample timetable:  Depart London just after 11am, arrive Gothenburg at 6.20pm the following afternoon Transfers:  Four (all are convienient same-station platform changes, ie they don't require you have to cross the city) in Brussels, Cologne, Hamburg (where you stay overnight) and Copenhagen Carbon emissions: 42 k g (flight would be 165. 7k g )* Tickets provided by Trainline, which allows you to buy tickets for multiple train operators in multiple European countries. It does charge a small booking fee, but offers several useful facilities, such as a free email alert service to let you know as soon as bookings open for your chosen route so you can snap up the cheapest tickets when they become available. How to book train tickets as part of a package with accommodation If you want someone to book the whole journey for you or combine it with staying in hotels en route, get in touch with the travel agent Byway through its page for booking enquiries . What's the journey like? Take an early morning Eurostar to Brussels Midi station where there's an easy same-station platform change to board the high-speed Thalys or ICE trains to Cologne where again there's an easy same-station platform change you take another train to Hamburg where you stay overnight (we recently stayed at CAB 20 , which is Level 3+ on Booking.com 's Travel Sustainably initiative, it's about a 10-minute walk from the station). In the morning, catch the train to Copenhagen where you change trains for the final leg to Gothenburg, arriving at 6.20pm. Keep an eye out on the platform at Brussels, Cologne and Hamburg for the handy guide to the layout of incoming trains, which shows you where your carriage will arrive into the station so you can make your way to the correct part of the platform before the train arrives.   Stopover hotels to break the journey in Brussels, Cologne or Hamburg If you want to break the journey and stay overnight to see a bit more of Brussels, Cologne or Hamburg while you're travelling through, there are lots of lovely places to stay near Brussels Midi, Cologne and Hamburg railway stations. Here are hotels conveniently nearby: Hotels near Brussels Midi ;  Hotels near Cologne Central station ; Hotels near Hamburg station. Hotels near Hamburg's train station Miss your connection? Don’t panic. Railteam’s ‘Hop on the Next Available Train’ service means that if you have missed your connection on a high-speed train because of a delay on the preceding high-speed leg of your journey, you’ll automatically be put on the next available high-speed train. For more train routes in Europe, see Green Traveller's Flight-Free Train & Ferry Journey Planner On arrival in Gothenburg There's a wonderful hotel opposite the railway station - Hotel Eggers . For other places to stay as well as lots of information on travelling around West Sweden, see our Green Traveller's Guide to West Sweden and our guide to Climate Smart Holidays in West Sweden . Some of the wonderful places to stay in West Sweden * Data for carbon emissions

Green Traveller's Guide to taking the train from London St Pancras International Railway Station to the island of Sicily, Italy. The coastal village of Scopello, northwest Sicily. Photo: Wix Media Journey Time: approx 48 hours Changes: Option 1 : 3; Option 2 : 2 Transfer: There are two options: Option 1: Paris Gare du Nord to Paris Gare de Lyon then train to Milan (stay overnight) and take train to Naples the following day where you change to the train to Sicily Option 2 : Paris Gare du Nord to stay overnight in Paris then following morning take the train from Paris Gare de Lyon to Milan to catch sleeper from Milan to Sicily Sample timetable: Option 1: Depart London 9.31am, arrive Paris Gare du Nord at 12.47, then take train from Gare de Lyon at 2.43pm, arriving Milan Porto Garibaldi at 9.49pm. The next day take the 8.30am train from Milan Centrale, arriving Naples Centrale at 1.10pm then change trains to catch the 1.45pm to Palermo arriving 11.05pm Option 2: Depart London 4.31pm, arrive Paris 7.56pm, overnight in Paris then the following day take the 06.46 train from Gare de Lyon arriving Milan at 1.49pm (there are laters trains to Milan but they require a change of train, e.g. the 07.22 requires changing in Basel and arrives in Milan at 3.55pm). Then board the sleeper from Milan which departs from Milano Centrale at 7.40pm and arrives in at Palermo Centrale at 4.55pm the following day. Frequency of Departures: 23/day Carbon emissions: 18 .51kg (flight would be 243.9kg)* Tickets provided by Trainline, which allows you to buy tickets for multiple train operators in multiple European countries. It does charge a small booking fee, but offers several useful facilities, such as a free email alert service to let you know as soon as bookings open for your chosen route so you can snap up the cheapest tickets when they become available. How to book train tickets as part of a package with accommodation If you want someone to book the whole journey for you or combine it with staying in hotels en route, get in touch with the travel agent Byway through its page for booking enquiries . What's the journey like? Option 1: You have to change stations in Paris from Gare du Nord to Gare de Lyon, which can take about half an hour on the Paris RER line (it's only two stops, though we recommend you leave at least 50 minutes for the entire transfer - you have about an hour and a quarter to get the connection). See our guide to How to transfer between train stations across Paris . At Gare de Lyon, you board a TGV high speed train to 'Milan Porta Garibaldi' station in Milan. The departing train to Naples Centrale the following day departs from Milan Centrale (about 30 minute walk away) so choose to stay overnight next to either of those stations. In Naples, you then change trains in the same station (Naples Centrale) to take the high speed train all the way to Sicily. Option 2: On arriving in Paris at Gare du Nord, you will stay overnight in Paris then the following morning make your way to Gare de Lyon where you board a TGV high speed train to 'Milan Porta Garibaldi' station in Milan. The departing sleeper train to Sicily the following day departs from Milan Centrale (about 30 minute walk away - or you could take a taxi) and arrives late afternoon the following day. Stopover hotels to break the journey in Paris, Milan and Naples There are plenty of hotels near to Gare du Nord and Gare de Lyon in Paris as well as near both stations in Milan and the main station in Naples. Here are some examples of hotels that are conveniently near these stations: Hotels near Gare du Nord | Hotels near Gare de Lyon Hotels near Milan Porta Garibaldi | Hotels near Milan Centrale | Hotels near Naples Centrale . Miss your connection in Paris, Milan or Naples? Don’t panic. Railteam’s ‘Hop on the Next Available Train’ service means that if you have missed your connection between high speed trains because of a delay on the preceding leg of your journey, you’ll automatically be put on the next available high-speed TGV train. NB Remember to get your ticket stamped by your Train Manager. Whenever you’re connecting, always remember to validate your onward train ticket at the machine on the platform before departing (these are often coloured yellow). On arrival in Sicily Benvenuti in Sicilia! If you’re arriving on the train from Naples you'll arrive at Palermo Central Station close to where many of the ferries arrive. There are plenty of hotels close to the station, see below: Hotels near Palermo train station, Sicily Palermo is the main city on Sicily. Photo: Wix Media Buon Viaggio! For more overland routes to Italy, see Green Traveller's Flight-Free Train/Ferry Journey Planner * Data for carbon emissions

Green Traveller's Guide to taking the train from London St Pancras International Railway Station to Rome, Italy Photo: Wix Media Once the centre of the world’s most powerful Empire, today Rome - the Eternal City - remains Italy’s capital and largest city, a place where millennia of history blend with contemporary life. Where else can you stroll through (surprisingly intact) ancient ruins to a piazza designed by Michelangelo and down into a UNESCO-protected historic centre boasting baroque fountains and churches, and intimate squares where neighbourhood life seems unchanged by the modern world, all nestling between some of the world’s most famous sights, monuments, and museums? Wonderfully walkable, Rome’s compact heart is a treasure trove: and let’s not forget the tantalising, fresh cuisine – far more than just pizzas. You could come for history and culture, or just to while away your time in a café with a cappuccino or a Campari soda, and enjoy the famous dolce vita. Flight-free travel by train from London to Rome: Journey Time: Overnight Transfers: Option 1 (via Paris): Change from Paris Gare du Nord to Paris Gare de Lyon, then take the train to Torino Porta Susa (or Milan) and stay overnight and take the high-speed train the following morning to Rome. Option 2 (via Lille): Change at Lille for train to Lyon where you stay overnight then take high-speed train the following morning to Rome. Sample timetable: Option 1: Depart London 7.55am, arrive 11.17am Paris Gare du Nord, depart Paris Gare de Lyon at 12.46, arrive Turin 6.15pm. Overnight in Turin then catch 10am train directly to Rome, arriving Roma Termini at 2.49pm. Option 2: Depart London 11.04am, arrive 1.26pm Lille Europe, depart Lille Europe at 2.03pm, arrive Lyon at 5.02pm. Overnight in Lyon, then take 8.35am train to Turin, arriving 12.45pm, then take the 1.50pm train to Rome arriving Roma Termini at 6.10pm. Frequency of Departures: 19/day Carbon emissions: 49.2kg (flight would be 410kg)* Tickets provided by Trainline, which allows you to buy tickets for multiple train operators in multiple European countries. It does charge a small booking fee, but offers several useful facilities, such as a free email alert service to let you know as soon as bookings open for your chosen route so you can snap up the cheapest tickets when they become available. How to book train tickets as part of a package with accommodation If you want someone to book the whole journey for you or combine it with staying in hotels en route, get in touch with the travel agent Byway through its page for booking enquiries . What's the journey like? Option 1: You have to change stations in Paris from Gare du Nord to Gare de Lyon, which can take about half an hour on the Paris RER line (it's only two stops, though we recommend you leave at least 50 minutes for the entire transfer). See our guide to How to transfer between train stations across Paris . At Gare de Lyon, you board a TGV high speed train to Torino Porta Susa where you stay the night and then in the morning take the high speed train over to Rome. Option 2: it's just a simple change of train within Lille Europe to catch the train to Lyon where you overnight (there are plenty of hotels near to the station, see below). Then the following morning you take the high speed train from Lyon to Italy. Stopover hotels to break the journey in Paris If you want to break the journey and stay overnight to see a bit more of Paris while you're travelling through, there are lots of lovely places to stay near both Gare du Nord and Gare de Lyon. Here are some examples of hotels that are conveniently near these stations: Hotels near Gare du Nord Hotels near Gare de Lyon Miss your connection in Paris? Don’t panic. Railteam’s ‘Hop on the Next Available Train’ service means that if you have missed your connection between high speed trains because of a delay on the preceding leg of your journey, you’ll automatically be put on the next available high-speed train. NB Remember to get your ticket stamped by your Train Manager. Whenever you’re connecting, always remember to validate your onward train ticket at the machine on the platform before departing (these are often coloured yellow). On arrival at Rome Termini station Benvenuto a Roma! Whilst there are several railway stations in Rome, almost all major international and intercity trains arrive into the enormous Stazione Termini, on the south-eastern edge of the city centre. There are plenty of hotels close to the station, see below: Hotels near to Rome's main train station (Rome Termini) Getting around Rome Termini Station is also the point of intersection for Rome’s two metro lines (constant archaeological discoveries have prevented any rapid expansion of the network), which skirt the centre in an X-shape: here is the Rome metro map. The metro can be handy for sights such as the Vatican and Colosseum, however if you are staying in central Rome it is unlikely to be of regular use. The centre of Rome is relatively compact, and walking its narrow, historic streets is a real pleasure. Happily though, there is a comprehensive network of buses (find useful bus routes for you on ATAC Roma's website) and trams (the latter are largely confined to the periphery of the city, as are the suburban trains, which you will only use if you head to outlying attractions), and ATAC Roma provides a useful journey planner on their website. The hub of Rome’s bus network is located just in front of the Stazione Termini: there is an information kiosk to help you navigate it. Here you can find ATAC's maps of buses, trams, suburban trains and the metro across central and greater Rome. Tickets are the same for all modes of transport in Rome, and are valid for 75 minutes after validating, including any interchanges. As well as single tickets, you can purchase, one-day, three-day and week tickets, for ATAC Roma offers more detailed transport ticket information. If you are staying in Rome for three or more days, and intend to visit some of the major sites, the Roma Pass could be worth considering: for 34€, you gain free admission and discounted entry to various major museums and sites, as well as three days unlimited use of public transport. If you fancy exploring Rome on two wheels, there is a bike-sharing scheme similar to those in many other European cities, allowing you to hire bikes at one station and then drop them off at another later (not much of the site is available in English); and there are also various companies offering bike hire (and tours) across the city. Buon Viaggio! For more overland train routes to Italy, see our Flight-Free Train/Ferry Journey Planner * Data for carbon emissions