Best places to visit in Europe by train from the UK
Too often, flying can mean uncertainty, endless lengthy queues and delays. Thanks to the Channel Tunnel (aka the 'Chunnel'), many European beaches are within a day or so's train travel from the UK.
Here, you'll find a selection of destinations popular and lesser-known, nearer and further afield to give you a flavour of what's possible when you ride the rails. Of course, you may also wish to stop at places along the way, making the journey a joyful, rather than painful, part of your holiday.
Where to stay: browse great value accommodation with ALL - Accor Live Limitless*, which has properties in all shapes and sizes across Europe.
Ostend, Belgium
- Travel time: approx 5 hours
- Route: Eurostar from London St Pancras > Brussels > Ostend
Top tip: for a small additional fee (currently £12.50) you can travel to/from any station in Belgium with your Eurostar* ticket; simply select the "Brussels-Midi/Zuid + Any Belgian Station" option.
Ostend's 7 km-long, 80 m-wide sandy beach easily accommodates the many sunbathers and festival goers who flock here on summer days. A bustling 4 km-long promenade separates the sand from the city.
Head south to Mariakerke Beach for quieter stretches and to Langestraat for evening excitement in the city. For a fun day out Bruges is 15 minutes away by train.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maximum daytime temperature °C |  6 |
6 |
 9 |
 12 |
 16 |
 19 |
21 |
21 |
18 |
15 |
10 |
7 |
| Hours of sunshine (daily) | ||||||||||||
| Days with some rainfall |  20 |
 15 |
 17 |
16 |
15 |
14 |
14 |
14 |
15 |
17 |
20 |
19 |
The above guide shows the weather in nearby Bruges, Belgium.
Where to stay: book with Hotel Mercure Oostende* for a central location making it easy to reach the beaches as well as other destinations.
Texel, Netherlands
- Travel time: approx 7 hours 45 minutes
- Route: Eurostar from London St Pancras > Amsterdam (until summer 2025 you'll need to change in Brussels on the way back) > Den Helder > very short taxi or bus ride (#33) to the ferry terminal for your sea crossing to Texel
The western side of this Dutch island of Texel is one long peaceful beach. This is a place that's ideal for those who don't like intense heat because, in summer months, temperatures reach a maximum of 20°C.
There are long walking trails and a national park of vast dunes. As the highest point is just 30 metres above sea level, cycling here is a joy.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maximum daytime temperature °C | 4 |
5 |
8 |
11 |
16 |
18 |
20 |
20 |
18 |
14 |
9 |
6 |
| Hours of sunshine (daily) | ||||||||||||
| Days with some rainfall | 20 |
13 |
17 |
13 |
14 |
14 |
15 |
15 |
17 |
17 |
20 |
20 |
| Sea temperature °C |  6 |
 5 |
5 |
 8 |
 11 |
 14 |
 17 |
 18 |
17 |
14 |
10 |
8 |
The above guide shows the weather in nearby Terschelling, Netherlands.
Where to stay: check into EuroParcs De Koog*, a well-equipped holiday park ideally located on Texel for a beach break.
Biarritz, France
- Travel time: approx 8 hours 45 minutes
- Route: Eurostar from London St Pancras > Paris Gare du Nord > Metro to Paris Gare Montparnasse > Biarritz
Located close to the border with Spain, Biarritz has a wonderfully wide and wild beach where summertime temperatures hit an average high of 24°C.
The sand is washed by surf both mellow and, at times, more gnarly (good for both beginner and more experienced surfers). In town, you'll find elegant architecture, delicious food and a touch of glamour.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maximum daytime temperature °C | 12 |
13 |
14 |
16 |
19 |
 22 |
 24 |
24 |
23 |
20 |
15 |
12 |
| Hours of sunshine (daily) | ||||||||||||
| Days with some rainfall | 17 |
16 |
17 |
18 |
17 |
13 |
 12 |
13 |
12 |
14 |
16 |
16 |
| Sea temperature °C |  12 |
12 |
12 |
13 |
16 |
19 |
 21 |
 22 |
21 |
18 |
16 |
14 |
Where to stay: take your pick of ALL - Accor Live Limitless Biarritz hotels* from Mercure and Ibis to the more luxurious Sofitel; something for all wallets.
Nice, France
- Travel time: approx 10 hours 30 minutes
- Route: Eurostar from London St Pancras > Paris Gare du Nord > Paris Gare de Lyon > Nice
Go in any direction from Nice and you'll come across one of those postcard-perfect Cote D'Azur beaches.
You don't even have to go that far: the city's beach, which curves splendidly around the Bay of Angels, is pretty wonderful and the smaller, stonier yet more stunning beaches of Cap Ferrat are just a 30-minute bus journey away.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maximum daytime temperature °C | 11 |
11 |
13 |
15 |
19 |
22 |
 26 |
26 |
23 |
19 |
14 |
12 |
| Hours of sunshine (daily) | ||||||||||||
| Days with some rainfall |  9 |
9 |
9 |
10 |
9 |
8 |
 5 |
6 |
7 |
9 |
9 |
8 |
| Sea temperature °C | 14 |
13 |
13 |
14 |
17 |
20 |
23 |
 24 |
22 |
20 |
17 |
15 |
Where to stay: set up a home-away-from-home at Eurocamp's Green Park Campsite* at Cagnes-sur-Mer on the French Riviera.
Barcelona, Spain
- Travel time: approx 11 hours
- Route: Eurostar from London St Pancras > Paris Gare du Nord > Metro to Paris Gare de Lyon > Barcelona
There are many reasons to love Barcelona, not least the long stretch of beach waiting for you immediately beside the city.
Barceloneta Beach is perhaps the best and most convenient, but there are 10 other, often quieter, beaches to choose from along this stretch, from Platja de Llevant in the north to Platja de Sant Sebastiá adjacent to the elegant W Barcelona* hotel.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maximum daytime temperature °C | 13 |
14 |
15 |
17 |
20 |
24 |
27 |
27 |
25 |
21 |
17 |
14 |
| Hours of sunshine (daily) | ||||||||||||
| Days with some rainfall | 13 |
11 |
12 |
11 |
11 |
8 |
5 |
8 |
9 |
11 |
11 |
12 |
| Sea temperature °C | 13 |
13 |
13 |
14 |
17 |
21 |
24 |
25 |
24 |
21 |
17 |
15 |
Where to stay: choose from hotels in and around Barcelona for all budgets with ALL - Accor Live Limitless*.
Ventimiglia, Italy
- Travel time: approx 11 hours 40 minutes
- Route: Eurostar from London St Pancras > Paris Gare du Nord > Paris Gare de Lyon > Cannes > Ventimiglia
While Ventimiglia's Old Town is a wealth of historic sights and tempting trattorias, the town's stony beach is lapped by clear water that's shallow enough for children to play in.
Head a little way out of town and you'll be rewarded with the sandy delights of beautiful Bordighera, back towards France there's the narrow sandy strip of Le Calandre beach.
Oh, and the train for Ventimiglia passes through some of the most gorgeous towns on the Cote D'Azur; it's definitely worth stopping off at one or two along the way, such as Menton.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maximum daytime temperature °C | 8 |
8 |
10 |
13 |
16 |
20 |
23 |
23 |
20 |
16 |
11 |
9 |
| Hours of sunshine (daily) | ||||||||||||
| Days with some rainfall | 9 |
9 |
10 |
10 |
10 |
8 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
9 |
10 |
8 |
| Sea temperature °C | 14 |
13 |
13 |
14 |
17 |
21 |
23 |
24 |
22 |
20 |
17 |
15 |
The above guide shows the weather in nearby San Remo, Italy.
Where to stay: why not book some peace and space with a self-catering rental? Choose from the likes of VRBO*, Booking.com* and Belvilla*, which collectively offer a wide selection of properties.
Split, Croatia
- Travel time: approx 42 hours
- Route: Eurostar from London St Pancras > Paris Gare du Nord > Paris Gare de L'Est > Austria's ÖBB Nightjet service to Vienna > EuroNight service to Split
After arriving in Split you'll disembark the train at exactly the point where ferries take you to dreamy Croatian islands such as Vis, Hvar or Korcula.
But do linger in the city for a few hours first, taking in the impressive Diocletian's Palace and celebrating your scenic and stress-free journey with an ice cream from Luka Ice Cream & Cakes.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maximum daytime temperature °C | 8 |
10 |
12 |
16 |
21 |
25 |
 28 |
28 |
25 |
19 |
14 |
10 |
| Hours of sunshine (daily) | ||||||||||||
| Days with some rainfall | 13 |
13 |
13 |
13 |
12 |
13 |
10 |
9 |
10 |
12 |
14 |
14 |
| Sea temperature °C | 14 |
13 |
13 |
14 |
18 |
21 |
24 |
24 |
22 |
20 |
18 |
16 |
Where to stay: find comfort with Suncamp Holidays*, which has a holiday park, Campsite Split-Dalmatia Croatia*, just outside of the city and nearby at Camping Stobrec Split*.
Ready to roll to the beach? Search for train tickets with SNCF Connect*, Rail Europe and Omio before finding the perfect place to stay with ALL - Accor Live Limitless.
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