Waiting for an excursion. Train tours. Which country is going

Train or plane?

We are all accustomed to the fact that you can easily and quickly get to Europe by plane. But there are people who, given the choice, would prefer a measured train journey, while others are simply afraid to fly. Moreover, the cost of land and airway approximately equal, and sometimes even cheaper by plane. The flight from Moscow to Europe will take two hours, and the journey along the rails will take about a day. Do not forget that, regardless of your mode of travel, you need a Schengen visa to enter Europe.

Features of buying a ticket to Europe

The cost of a train ticket to Europe is fixed in euros, therefore, after conversion, the price in rubles may change significantly. You can get a 40% discount on the ticket if you book it as a group ticket (from six adult passengers).

It is important to know that most formulations international traffic online ticket purchase is not available. You will have to go to the station and contact the international ticket offices long distance. E-ticket can be bought on trains to Helsinki, Tallinn, Prague, Vienna, Nice, Paris and Karlovy Vary.

We have selected for you only direct trains to Europe, which are on the road for no more than two days. The price is everywhere indicated for the summer of 2016 one way, subject to advance purchase. The fare is indicated for one upper seat in the compartment, the lower one will be slightly more expensive.

Ticket for 50-80 euros

The cheapest way is to go to Estonia (Tallinn) and Finland (Helsinki). Average travel time is 15 hours. As a rule, compartment, reserved seat and seating places are available in this direction. Seating will cost on average 30% less than the top bunk in a compartment. Many trains to Central and Western Europe go through Minsk (Belarus) - this is also very beautiful city... Trains travel for 8-10 hours, the price starts from 66 euros.

Ticket for 120-150 euros

A tour to Central and Northern Europe will cost twice as much. Not least because there is no reserved seat here, only a coupe and a SV. Logically, the longer the road, the higher the cost of the ticket, but prices are not always rigidly tied to distance. For example, it takes 15 hours to get to Vilnius (Lithuania) and Riga (Latvia), and to Berlin (Germany), Prague (Czech Republic) and Vienna (Austria) it takes about a day. That is, the distance is much greater, but the tariff is practically the same. It will be a little more expensive to get to Central Europe from St. Petersburg than from Moscow. Also, many trains (to Prague, Paris, Nice and other cities) follow through Warsaw (Poland).

Ticket for 200-250 euros

It takes much longer to get to Western Europe (from one and a half to two days) and more expensive: Nice (France), Milan and Verona (Italy) will cost about 200 euros, and Paris (France) - 243 euros. Of the accommodation options, compartments and SVs are available, but the trains are not branded.

Trains through Southeast Europe

Getting to Southeast Europe by train is now difficult, since the route from Russia through Ukraine is not available. Today, entry to the territory of Ukraine is possible only with a passport, in addition, all males may be denied entry. Better not to risk it and choose a plane.

The flight Moscow - Chisinau (Moldova) has been canceled. Traveling to Sofia (Bulgaria) or Belgrade (Serbia) will turn out to be unreasonably expensive (235 euros), since trains go through half of Europe (bypassing Ukraine) and are on the way for more than two days.

However, traffic is not disrupted from Moscow to Budapest (Hungary) and Bratislava (Slovakia). A ticket there will cost 180-190 euros, and the journey will take a little more than a day. In summer, direct cars run from Moscow to Bar (Montenegro). The train takes two days and six hours, the ticket price is very high - 360 euros. The train goes through Belarus, Poland, Serbia and Slovakia. On all these flights, travel is available only in direct (trailer) cars.

No direct route

There are no direct trains from Russia to Spain, Portugal and parts of the Nordic countries (Denmark, the Netherlands, Sweden and Norway).

Train tours to Europe: cities, resorts, routes and attractions. What you need to know about train tours to Europe. Tour operators.

Even the most incorrigible skeptics cannot resist the excitement that grips the heart at the sight of the station and the train, carried away into unknown distances. Going on a journey by rail, you can extend this pleasure: it is so pleasant, sitting near the window under a warm blanket, drinking scalding tea in a metal cup holder, contemplating successive landscapes, seeing off the sunset and meeting the dawn under the lulling clatter of wheels.

Tour operators have collected a large collection of train tours to Europe, which is constantly supplemented with new programs designed to satisfy the most varied desires and needs of the tourist.

And in our time, in the age of speed and the rapid development of technology, rail travel does not lose popularity and remains one of the most reliable and comfortable. In just a few decades, the network railways entangled the whole of Europe, and this transport is actively used by tourists eager for new discoveries and adventures.

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Variety of directions and programs

Tour operators have collected a large collection of train tours to Europe, which is constantly supplemented with new programs designed to satisfy the most varied desires and needs of the tourist. V summer months the focus is on railway tours to Europe with a focus on beach vacation... Travelers are offered programs with a full-fledged vacation at sea, as well as combined tours, including excursions and beach vacations.

Combined tours

Combined railway tours usually involve a train ride to Brest, and then a transfer to a comfortable bus, following through the territories of transit countries directly to the place of rest. For example, the tour program "Austria-Hungary + rest in Croatia" is designed for 13 days, during the trip you will visit Krakow, Bratislava, walk around Sopron and Ljubljana, enjoy the beauty of Venice and Vienna, and in addition spend 5 unforgettable days on the Adriatic Sea.

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Excursion tours

In the offseason (and, of course, in the period new year holidays) in the course of excursion railway tours to Europe. Most of the tours start in Brest, where tourists arrive by train, then the group changes to a bus and continues the journey. Please note that the cost of such programs usually includes only bus transfers, railway tickets are purchased separately by tourists. In addition, there are also tours by direct train directly to the country of destination. You can get to Berlin by train number 23 "Moscow - Berlin", which departs from Belorussky railway station, you will be delivered to Prague by train No. 21 "Moscow - Prague", and the branded train "Polonez" runs regularly from Moscow to Warsaw.

Winter programs

With the arrival of winter, first the New Year's railway programs become leaders, and then ski tours... Tourists flock en masse to Swiss, French and Austrian winter resorts, tours to Norway, Poland and Finland are not overlooked. Tours to Rovaniemi with a transfer on the Lapland Express direct train, which departs from the Leningradsky railway station in Moscow, are in great demand.

Top destinations for train travel

All articles about railroad tours on "Subtleties"

• In Russia: from Moscow and from St. Petersburg, to the Northern capital, to Anapa, to Kazan, to the Black Sea
• Austria Vienna

If you conduct a survey among Russians on the topic "What type of transport do you prefer to use when going to overseas travel? ", then the plane will definitely be in the lead. It allows you to quickly get to any part of the planet, and in recent years the prices for air tickets have become more than affordable. But, unfortunately, not all people tolerate even short-term flights, for example, to Europe. This could be due to medical indications, phobias or simply dislike for this type of travel. What to do when you want to go on vacation and the plane is not available? In this case, you should consider traveling to Europe by train. Our article is devoted to all the features of such a trip.

Russian Railways: trains to Europe

Residents of Moscow and St. Petersburg are in more advantageous position than Russians living in other regions of the country. After all, it will be much more difficult for the latter to get to Europe, but Muscovites can easily do it by train. Such routes have always existed, but in recent years they are in high demand, and in the summer season Russians are often faced with a lack of tickets to the desired country.

You can travel by train to Europe alone, with your family or with a big noisy company. In any case, you will be provided with comfort and convenience, because there is some special charm in quiet observation of the landscapes passing by under the uniform sound of wheels. This is how many people imagine the ideal vacation.

From Moscow and St. Petersburg by train to Europe, you can get to many countries. Of course, not all routes involve a direct route from one point to another, but experienced travelers consider this a minor inconvenience. In addition, they travel by train to Europe in completely different ways. Russians can go unorganized, that is, on their own, or they can purchase a tour at an agency. Since rail travel abroad is still something unfamiliar to most of our compatriots, we decided to consider these options in more detail.

Travel with travel agencies

Almost all Russian agencies sell package tours to Europe. Over the years, various programs have been developed that can satisfy even the most demanding taste. Moreover, almost all routes are in stable demand. Travel agents praise such trips in every way, listing their advantages. Among them:

• maximum safety;
• low cost;
• the opportunity to get acquainted with different cities in a short period of time;
• ease of movement between countries.

At the moment, tours to Europe are represented by four main programs: summer and winter holidays, combined and excursion.

Beach vacation

Every year, with the onset of warmth, more and more of our compatriots are sent to Europe by train to the sea. Such tours allow you to get acquainted with intermediate settlements along the way and ultimately rest for a few days on the popular European resort... Sometimes the travel program also includes excursion program... Most often, Russians go by sea to the following countries:

• Italy.
• Bulgaria.
• France.

The cost of such a tour ranges from one and a half thousand euros in twelve days (it should be borne in mind that you will spend about a day on the road to Europe).

Winter travelers to Europe

With the onset of the first frosts, Russians rush to the European ski resorts... Of the total number of amateurs extreme sports more than sixty percent travel to Europe by train. And these are pretty good indicators for Russian Railways. Basically, our compatriots go to Poland, Finland and Norway. Some experienced tourists with transfers go to France or Spain.

The cost of such a tour starts from six hundred euros, which is quite inexpensive for an active and comfortable stay.

Combined travel tours

This is a rather difficult type of travel. Usually tourists take a train to Brest, and then from there they pass several European cities by bus. At the end point of the trip, the Russians will have a rest for five to seven days. Such a tour can only be taken by experienced tourists who are ready to spend a long time on the road.

Excursion package tours

Such a vacation is usually in demand in early spring and late autumn, when there is a certain decline in tourist activity in the main directions. In some cases, tourists take the train directly to their destination. Then they can see only one. Another version of such a tour resembles a combined one and has the same scheme with it, the difference is that its price includes excursions in all cities of destination. A similar pleasure costs 700 euros.

Independent travel to Europe by train: general characteristics

If you are not afraid to plan your trips on your own, then going to Europe by train is definitely your option. You can visit almost any European country, because the railway system is very well developed here. It is worth noting that crossing the border, you find yourself in a special world where the most common mode of transport is the train. For a European, such travel is the most convenient, so you will enjoy comfortable and clean cars, polite conductors and a well-developed infrastructure of railway stations.

Train tickets to Europe are mainly bought at the box office, many of them are not sold via the Internet. But on the official website of Russian Railways, you can always see all possible trains in the "International Routes" section, but you will have to pay for the ticket at the station.

In Europe, the situation with train tickets is similar: some of them are sold only through ticket offices, and payment by card will raise the cost by five to twenty percent. Inexperienced travelers often learn this fact from their own sad experience.

I would like to add that both Russian and European trains are very comfortable. You do not have to shake for a day in a crowded wagon with an unpleasant smell. By deciding on a rail trip to Europe, you will discover a completely different world.

How to get to Europe?

If you have never traveled abroad by train, then before buying tickets, you need to find out a few nuances, without knowing which it will be difficult to plan your trip.

Types of wagons

The carriages of international trains are made according to European standards. They are divided into first and second grade. The difference between the two is the number of passengers. In addition, the first class is somewhat more spacious than the second. Also, the difference may lie in the seating comfort. Therefore, it is important not to confuse the class of carriages when buying train tickets at the box office.

Moscow: where can you go by train?

Finland, France, Czech Republic, Holland - these and many other countries you can visit if you choose the railway option and buy a train ticket to Europe from Moscow. Prices, by the way, do not always depend on the distance traveled. For example, you can get from Moscow to Paris for 500 euros, and a trip to Helsinki will cost 100 euros.

Many Muscovites go straight to Helsinki, and then continue their journey across Europe by ferry or other train. This significantly reduces the cost of travel, especially if you take care of the ticket. With its help, you can travel all over Europe in a few days and save at least 200 euros on these movements.

SPb: where do the trains go?

The choice of train from St. Petersburg to Europe is rather limited. Now residents Northern capital can get to Finland, Czech Republic and Tallinn. The fare starts from 250 euros.

You can get to Tallinn in sit-down car, this innovation appeared about a year ago. Of course, this method of travel is not the most comfortable, but the price can completely change your opinion about such trips - 1,300 rubles. Many students take advantage of this great opportunity to get to Europe for symbolic money.

Planning a Rail Trip: Highlights

So you've decided to travel to Europe by train. How to start preparing for your trip? What to look for and how to save on tickets? Let's look at these issues in as much detail as possible.

First of all, you need to work out the travel route itself. Your main goal will be to choose a location in Europe to which you will travel by train. It will be much easier to move further.

Keep in mind that Russian Railways allows tickets to be purchased 60-90 days in advance. At this point, you can purchase the cheapest tickets. In the future, they will be more expensive. Before buying, pay attention to the possible discounts, they are seasonal or targeted. On some routes, the Russian Railways service allows booking a ticket via the Internet, followed by a twelve-hour redemption at the box office.

Once in Europe, calculate how often you plan to travel by train. If there are a sufficient number of such trips, then purchase a single ticket, which is sold at any box office or website. It is of three types:

• for one country;
• for all European countries;
• for a certain number of days.

Keep in mind that there is no single service for buying train tickets in Europe. Each country has its own website.

You can buy a ticket not only via the Internet, but also at ticket offices, shops and special machines. Whenever possible, pay in cash - this significantly reduces its cost.

When buying a ticket, carefully look at the train designation - it can be high-speed and local. The first can travel half of Europe in a matter of hours and practically without stopping, but the second will slow down at every station.

And in conclusion, I would like to tell you one small, but very important secret regarding European trains: the doors to the carriage do not open automatically, for this there is a special button inside and outside. Keep this in mind, otherwise you will not get on the train and your journey through Europe will never begin.

2-seater- hotel accommodation in a double room, 1-seater- hotel accommodation in a single room.

Rail tours - what is it?

In tourism, it is customary to divide excursion tours on bus and rail. The name "walking tours" is rarely used, they usually say " walking tours". "Air Tours" refers to tours abroad. Yes, even tours with such long journeys as to Baikal and Kamchatka, but in Russia, are usually called railway tours.

If you need to travel by train to participate in the tour, the tour will be by train. Even if after the train you change to a bus, the tour will still be a train tour. There are tours where one way you go by bus, and return back by train, the tour is also a railway one. In short, if you buy at least one railway ticket, the tour will be by rail.

The advantage of rail tours

On train tours, we can go much longer than on a bus.
During the trip, you can get up, walk, stretch your legs. It is strictly forbidden to walk on the bus while driving.
There is more space in the carriage, whether it is seated or with sleeping places, you can lie down, drink tea, eat something on the way.
Traveling on a train with a night crossing is more comfortable than on a bus, if, of course, you take a ticket in a carriage with sleeping places.

And there are no traffic jams for the train!

When is the best time to buy train tours?

The sooner the better. There are 2 limiting factors: the seats on the tour and the availability of train tickets. Tickets start selling 60 days before the travel date. But by this time, the places on the tour may run out. Therefore, it is better to buy a tour first, and then wait for the ticket sale to open.

How do I buy a train ticket for a tour?

It is best to buy a train ticket on the official website of Russian Railways
www.rzd.ru

There are no extra charges here, and you can choose a seat in the carriage.

Or buy at railway station(it doesn't matter which one). Only at train stations will train tickets be available without extra charges. In all ticket offices of the city and companies, tickets will be already with a surcharge.

What if there are no train tickets?

This usually happens when you buy a tour for peak dates a short time before the start of the tour.

There is an exit.

• If you have time, you can book an extra day before or after the tour. That is, tickets for the day after the holidays or the day before the start of the holidays are always easier to get.
• Many cities can be reached by regular buses.

Railway tours: from the past to the future

The modern world is so fleeting and noisy. We are forced to live, observing the conditions that he dictates to us. We are constantly in a hurry somewhere, all the time thinking about something that we cannot even afford to relax and breathe in the fresh air of absolute freedom during our rest.

Often, going on a trip, we rush to the airport to buy plane tickets, because this is the most quick way get to your destination in order to quickly plunge into the warm sea or visit interesting places abroad. Thus, we simply fence ourselves off from the beauty of a huge space, rich in charming places and interesting things. We hide all this from ourselves under the thick clouds of the boundless sky, not trying to simply dissolve in time, forget about it and plunge into serenity.

Have you tried at least once just to forget about the rush, problems, fuss and go on a leisurely journey accompanied by the sound of the train wheels? Just imagine: you are lying on the top shelf of a reserved seat carriage, listening to the world around you, looking out the window, behind which are familiar and unfamiliar landscapes floating. First, a picture of small villages and settlements opens before your eyes, followed by endless golden or snow-covered fields, then powerful cities flickering with bright lights, which are replaced by extraordinary colorful rural landscapes. All this unforgettable view from the window, picturesque landscapes, the aromas of mown grass, the lulling swaying of the carriage, your favorite book, delicious hot tea and the rhythmic sound of train wheels evoke romantic feelings, create some kind of extraordinary harmony of serenity and an amazing feeling that an incredible contemplative a journey that will give a lot of positive emotions and precious memories.

Going on a sightseeing tour by train, we have time to reflect on our life, soul and emotions. The hope is reborn that we are about to enjoy a pleasant and exciting journey that will turn into a real unforgettable fairy tale. It is difficult to disagree that all this cannot be felt while sitting in an airplane seat, looking out the small window of the porthole.

High-flown words, of course, are designed for incorrigible romantics who like to relax not only with their bodies, but also with their souls. But those who are pragmatists by their nature, can also easily identify for themselves all the positive aspects of train sightseeing tours:

• This is an opportunity to significantly save money, because train tickets are several times cheaper than plane tickets. And if you plan your trip in advance, then its cost will be reduced by another half - you will have a benefit equal to almost 50% - the rate of early sales of train tickets.
• Railway sightseeing tours are comfortable and very convenient. Modern trains are equipped with everything necessary for a person to feel good and comfortable. They provide not only various amenities and courteous service for the conductors, they even have the Internet and television, there are air conditioners, heaters - you can go on a trip in any weather and at any time of the year.

It should be noted that train sightseeing tours are fashionable and modern. Already in many advanced European countries people have long preferred rail travel instead of water or air. After all, resting in a compartment of a modern carriage is no less comfortable than in the cabin of a liner.

In recent years, railroad tours from Moscow to Russia have become more and more in demand among clients. This is a great option for people who want to get to know our country better. There are many places in Russia to go to.

What are the advantages of train tours in Russia from Moscow in 2019? Let's list a few of them:

1. You do not need to prepare and assemble for a long time a large number of documents. It is enough to choose the suitable option and you can go on a trip. You will not need a foreign passport or admission to the territory of another state.
2. It should be noted the huge number of routes in Russia. You will be able to travel around the country and get a lot of emotions from the trip.
3. The number of programs only increases over time, you will not be limited in your choice.
4. The prices are optimal and you can save money on the trip.

These are just a few of the advantages of touring Russia by train from Moscow. You will not only have the opportunity to get to know our country, you can relax at low cost and get only positive emotions from the trip.

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Tours to Ossetia from our company.

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