a 10-day vacation? You don't have to go to the other side of the world or take a plane to get away from it all. In Europe, it's easier than you might think to travel without blowing your carbon footprint for the year. A little bonus: you'll feel even more like you're on an adventure! To help you choose a destination, here are 10 ideas for 10-day plane-free trips.
1- Organize a stay in Corsica
Why go to the ends of the earth when you can have Corsica at your fingertips? It's not for nothing that it's known as the Isle of Beauty! Wherever you are in France, you can easily reach Nice, Marseille or Toulon, beforetaking a ferry to the island. Once there, you'll be spoilt for choice: sublime beaches, hiking, tasting local specialities... or maybe all of the above!
- Our itinerary: take the ferry to Nice for a shorter crossing.
Good to know although the ferry's carbon footprint is lower than that of air travel, it's still high. If you really really time to spare, you can always opt for a sailboat crossing!
The article to read to organize your stay in Corsica.
2- Discover English Cornwall
As you already know, London is one of the quickest destinations to reach by train from France. On a 10-day vacation, don't hesitate to make a short stopover in the British capital, before branching off a little further afield to Cornwall. This Finistère made in England abounds with magnificent landscapes, steep cliffs, charming villages and surf spots. In just 10 days, you'll have plenty of time to take in the sights.
- Our itinerary: if you leave from Lille, allow around 1h25 to reach London by train. It will then take you 3h15 to reach Plymouth, the ideal starting point for your stay. You can either follow the train or spend one or two days in London.
The article to read our itinerary tips for a train tour of Cornwall.
3- Naples and the Amalfi Coast
Italy is one of Europe's easiest countries to visit by train. For a change from the classics of Rome and Venice (and to avoid participating in their over-tourism), we recommend you visit Naples. In 10 days you'll have more than enough time to make the train journey, spend a few days in Naples, visit Pompeii and Herculaneum, discover Amalfi and the islands in the bay, such as Capri. It's very easy and economical to get around the region by train, so don't hesitate!
- Our itinerary: if you leave from Paris, allow 7 hours to reach Milan. Once there, take a train to Naples: you'll arrive in around 4 hours. It's a fairly short journey, but if you want to cut your journey short, don't hesitate to spend a night in Milan to discover the city.
Read more for more information: must-sees in Naples.
4- Where to go for 10 days without flying? Austria
The advantage of travelling toAustria by train is that you can easily take night trains. They may be more expensive than regular trains, but you'll still end up a winner, saving on hotel nights. Once in Vienna, for example, you can travel to Salzburg, then on to Munich and back to France viaGermany. All in all, there are many possibilities open to you.
- Our itinerary: if you're leaving from Lyon, you'll first need to get to Milan. You can either take a direct high-speed train or a regional train via Geneva. Once in Milan, an overnight train will take you to Vienna in 11:30. Time for a nap and breakfast!
Read more on the train: our top night trains in Europe.
5- Visit part of Ireland
In a 10-day vacation, you can easily get to Ireland without taking a plane. Choose your itinerary according to the train/ferry ratio that suits you, and set off for the green lands of Western Europe. You'll have time to visit Dublin and stop off at Temple Bar before heading for Cork, Belfast or the magnificent Cliffs of Moher. And don't forget to discover some of Ireland's most beautiful villages.
- Our itinerary: head for London, then take a 3h50 train ride to Holyhead, from where you can catch a short ferry to Dublin. The crossing takes around 3h15. In France, other ferries are also available from Roscoff or Cherbourg.
Read more for more information: our itinerary tips for getting to Ireland without flying.
6- Getting to Copenhagen
In just over a week's vacation, don't hesitate to head north! The Danish capital promises a holiday of wellness, cycling and cinnamon desserts. To get to Copenhagen by train, you can pass through several German cities. This is the perfect opportunity to organize a multi-destination trip , visiting Hamburg or Cologne at the same time.
- Our itinerary : start in Cologne. It will take you around 3 hours to get there from Paris. Once in Cologne, hop on a train to Hamburg, which will take 4 hours to reach its destination. From Hamburg, it's a 4h45 direct to Copenhagen.
Read more our itinerary tips for getting to Copenhagen without flying.
Good to know german trains are notoriously late. So don't hesitate to take a little extra time for your connections. Why not stop for a day in each city to explore them on the way?
7- Where to go for 10 days without flying? Stockholm
From France, you can reach Stockholm in just two overnight trains. The night train to the Danish capital departs from Berlin, which also gives you the opportunity to spend some time exploring the city. Once in Stockholm, you'll have plenty of time to explore the city and its museums, as well as the archipelago and surrounding countryside.
- Our itinerary: if you're leaving from Rennes, just head for Paris and take an overnight train to Berlin. Spend a few hours in the city before taking a second night train to Stockholm.
Read morestockholm must-sees.
8- Travel to Sicily
Getting to Sicily without a plane is one of the most adventurous itineraries proposed here! You'll have to take an overnight train, which will itself board a ferry to reach the island. Impressive, isn't it? Once there, you can visit Palermo and Syracuse, before tackling the ascent of Mount Etna. At 3,403 meters, Europe's highest active volcano awaits you.
- Our itinerary: if you leave from Lyon, travel to Milan and then take a train to Rome. Allow around 3h30 between the two Italian cities. An overnight train will then take you from Rome to Sicily, where you can take a ferry to the island.
The article to read our itinerary tips for getting to Sicily without flying.
9- Where to go for 10 days without flying? Lapland
Go for the ultimate change of scenery by choosing Lapland for your next vacation by train. To get there, you can first follow the route to Stockholm. If you want to go to Swedish Lapland, the most easily accessible region, take a train to Abisko. It's guaranteed to be one of the most beautiful night trains you'll ever ride. You can also branch off towards Narvik to reach Norwegian Lapland. For Finnish Lapland, you'd better head for Helsinki.
- Our itinerary : follow the itinerary to Stockholm and take an overnight train to Abisko.
The article to read our different itineraries to reach Lapland without flying.
10- Organize a trip to Andalusia
For a wonderful sunny vacation (which we advise you to do out of season!), don't hesitate to organize a tour to discoverAndalusia. You'll find it easy to link Seville, Cordoba, Granada and Malaga. We recommend that you start in Seville, head for Granada and finish in Cordoba, from where you can easily return to Barcelona.
- Our itinerary: if you're leaving from Montpellier, head first for Barcelona (allow around 3h15). From there, you can reach Seville in 6 hours by high-speed train.
Read more on the train: Andalusia's must-sees.
Tempted by our travel ideas? Book your train tickets now to take advantage of the best fares:
