From France, we're lucky to have plenty of cities to travel to in Europe without flying. To do so, we can rely on trains, night trains, buses, or even boats, and thus travel with a limited carbon footprint.
1. Vienna, Austria, the most beautiful city in Europe in which to travel without a plane
Vienna is brimming with palaces and opera houses, each more beautiful than the last, dating back to the Austro-Hungarian period. The Schönnbrunn Palace and the Hofburg Palace are two of the most beautiful in the world and must not be missed. The latter features a museum on the fascinating Empress Sissi. Vienna is an ideal destination for plane-free travel in summer and winter, thanks to its Prater funfair in summer and its many Christmas markets in winter.
How do I get to Vienna without flying?
There's nothing very complicated about getting to Vienna in an eco-friendly way: all you have to do is take the direct night train from Paris. This train, called NightJet, departs from Paris Gare de l'Est at 7pm. With barely enough time to eat your sandwich and sleep in your couchette, you'll wake up the next morning at 10 a.m. in Vienna, after a 15-hour train journey. You can also take the same night train direct from Strasbourg.
If you prefer to put your legs to the test, you can also reach Vienna by bike. To do so, you'll need to take EuroVélo 6 from Nantes, Tours, Orléans or Besançon. You'll have a superb cycling trip in France before reaching Austria.
2. London, the best Christmas destination
With its many museums, cutting-edge designers, architecture and trendy restaurants, London is a superb year-round destination. Yet it has that extra something at Christmas. The British capital is one of Europe's most fly-free cities, with the most beautiful Christmas illuminations, not to mention the many musicals that liven up the festive season. Take the opportunity to visit the Royal Gardens of Kew, the world's most prestigious botanical garden, which lights up for the occasion, and to twirl on the ice rink at the Natural History Museum. What to do in London in 3 days? Discover our itinerary tips!
How do I get to London without flying?
Once again, it couldn't be simpler: for a sustainable trip to London, simply hop on the Eurostar. Just hop on at Gare du Nord in Paris, Gare de Lille Europe in Lille or, from Belgium, Gare de Bruxelles Midi. You'll need just 2 h 30 to reach London from Paris, 1 h 30 from Lille, and 2 h from Brussels.
3. Berlin, the best party destination
Berlin, indomitable and trendy, is alive day and night. By day, visit the many museums that tell the horrors of the Second World War, pay a visit to the Berlin Wall, pass by Checkpoint Charlie and the Brandenburg Gate. When night falls, put on your best clothes and head for some of Europe's best nightclubs. Berlin is also very ecologically minded, and is one of Europe's greenest destinations, as it's easy to find sustainable restaurants and hotels.
How do I get to Berlin without flying?
To get to Berlin, all you have to do is take the NightJet. You'll leave Paris Gare de l'Est at around 7 p.m. and arrive in the German capital at 8:30 a.m. the following morning, after a 13-hour journey. Again, you can also catch this train directly to Strasbourg at 11:40 pm.
4. Barcelona, the sea just a few hours away by train
After just a few hours on the train, you can enjoy a glass of vermouth in the shade of the Sagrada Familia, stroll along the famous Ramblas, and climb the steps of Parc Güell. When it comes to museums, you're in for a treat. In Barcelona, admire the works of art at the Picasso Museum or the one dedicated to Miró, before ending the day with a nice plate of tapas. Discover our dedicated article"What to do in Barcelona in 3 days? Itinerary tips".
How to get to Barcelona without flying?
There are direct trains to Barcelona from many French cities, including Paris, Valence, Nîmes, Montpellier, Perpignan and Lyon. From the west of France, you can easily reach Barcelona by train, with a stopover in Paris.
By bike, you can also reach Barcelona by taking the Eurovélo8 from Nice or Montpellier.
5. Amsterdam, the most cultural city in Europe to travel without a plane
As soon as you leave the station for this low-carbon journey, the change of scenery is immediate: the tracks skirt the canals, and the station is located on an island. And that's just the beginning: Amsterdam is made up of almost 1,500 bridges! It's easy to see why Amsterdam has inspired so many artists, and we're off to one of the city's many museums: the Van Gogh, Anne Franck, Rembrandt and Rijksmuseum, to name but a few.
How do I get to Amsterdam without flying?
From Paris, you'll need just 3 h 30 to reach Amsterdam, aboard a Eurostar (formerly Thalys) train from Gare du Nord station. From Brussels, take the same train, and you'll need just 2 h!
6. Ajaccio, just a ferry ride away
A mountain range isolated from the sea and carpeted with Mediterranean vegetation, the Isle of Beauty lives up to its name. To the west lies beautiful Ajaccio, the island's largest city, which enjoys a pleasant climate in both summer and winter. The city was deeply influenced by one of its most illustrious figures, Napoleon, and therefore offers a good compromise between history and nature.
How to get to Ajaccio without flying?
Corsica Linea offers a ferry crossing every other day from the port of Marseille. Allow 12 hours on board.
7. Istanbul, a long journey, entirely by train!
Who would have thought that the Turkish city was a place to travel in Europe without a plane? Well, not just in Europe, because for this sustainable trip, all you have to do is cross the Bosphorus Canal, on foot, by metro or by boat, to find yourself in Asia! Istanbul will captivate you with its meeting of East and West, its endless sunsets, some of the world's most beautiful mosques, such as Saint Sophia, its Galata Tower, and its succulent cuisine.
How do you get to Istanbul without flying?
You'll needthree overnight trains to reach the Turkish city. First, take the night train mentioned above to Vienna. Then head for Romania, on a sleeper train to Bucharest. Finally, board the last train, the Bosphorus Express, to Istanbul. Please note that tickets for this last train can only be purchased at Bucharest station, not online. Watching the sun rise over the Istanbul skyline in the early hours of the morning will be a travel memory engraved in your mind!
8. Cork, the Irish cruise
Ireland's second-largest city bustles with pubs, art galleries, museums, universities, department stores and, of course, the harbor. As the locals will tell you over a Murphy's beer, Cork is the real capital of Ireland. Far from being a destination built by tourism, Cork is, on the contrary, a young and lively city, perfect for a weekend with friends.
How to get to Cork without flying?
Brittany Ferries operates the ferry service from Roscoff in Brittany. There are a maximum of two crossings per week. Allow 15 hours to reach Cork.
9. Venice, the most romantic city in Europe to travel to without a plane
Venice is far from being a mass tourism destination, but the city of the Doges continues to impress with its gondola rides along canals lined with churches, cathedrals and palaces. Beyond the Doge's Palace and the Grand Canal, the real magic of Venice lies in its ability to keep entire neighborhoods almost to yourself. Visiting Venice differently is, in fact, still possible!
How to get to Venice without flying?
From Paris, hop on a train that takes you to Stuttgart in just 3 hours 30 minutes. From there, take a night train from Stuttgart to Venice. Another easy option from many French cities, such as Lyon, is to take a train to Milan, from where you can catch a direct train to Venice.
10. Lisbon, just a bus ride away
With 260 days of sunshine a year, Lisbon is one of Europe's best destinations for filling up on vitamin D and practicing slow travel. Nestled on the Tagus estuary, spanned by the monumental Vasco de Gama bridge, the city retains an incomparable charm and authenticity. The old yellow streetcars that climb the steep streets of the city, the notes of fado that escape from the few bars at night, and the passers-by biting into a pastel de nata are just a few illustrations.
How to get to Lisbon without flying?
The Flixbus bus company offers a daily departure to Lisbon from Hendaye, in the French Basque country. It will take you 16 hours to reach Portugal's capital, with possible stopovers in Spain. To reach Hendaye from Paris, take a direct bus with Flixbus, or hop on a TGV. You can make the same journey from many other cities, such as Toulouse or Bordeaux.
