Planes get you there fast. But trains let you feel the journey. I decided to travel across Europe by train not because it was the cheapest option, but because I wanted to slow down. I wanted to actually see the land between destinations, not just fly over it.

My itinerary was simple: Paris → Zurich → Vienna → Prague, all in ten days. Some people called it ambitious. Others said I'd be exhausted. They were right on both counts. But I'd do it again in a heartbeat.

1. Paris to Zurich: Learning to Let Go of Speed

Leaving Paris on a TGV Lyria, I sat beside a window for four hours, watching the flat French countryside turn into gentle hills. I had downloaded movies, brought a book, and even planned to catch up on emails.

But I did none of that. Instead, I stared out the window.

It was hypnotic—cows grazing, tiny towns flashing by, an occasional glimpse of the Alps in the distance. There was no turbulence, no rushing to gates, no announcements interrupting the quiet.

And that's when I realized: Slowness isn't always inefficiency. Sometimes, it's presence.

🎫 Ticket Price: ~€70 (standard class)

🕒 Duration: Around 4 hours

2. Zurich: The Unexpected Friendliness of Silence

Zurich was pristine. The trains arrived within seconds of their scheduled time. The trams glided through the streets like clockwork. People were quiet but kind. It's a city that doesn't try to impress you—it just is.

I remember meeting an elderly Swiss man at a café who barely spoke English. We ended up having a 30-minute “conversation” using hand gestures, rough German, and a lot of smiles. It wasn't deep, but it was real.

• You don't need shared language to share kindness

• Quiet cities still hum with energy

• Clean public spaces reflect collective respect

🎫 Zurich Travel Pass: ~€15/day (short trips), discounts for longer stays

3. Zurich to Vienna: When the Train Becomes the Destination

The ride from Zurich to Vienna took nearly 8 hours, through some of the most stunning landscapes I've ever seen—lakes, valleys, tunnels, and alpine towns.

But the magic wasn't just outside the window. It was inside the train.

In my cabin, I met a German couple on their honeymoon, an Italian student heading to a music conservatory, and a Japanese tourist tracing Mozart's footsteps. We talked about food, politics, childhood, and music. No one was in a rush.

It made me wonder: How often do we talk to strangers for more than five minutes these days?

🎫 Ticket Price: ~€60–90

🕒 Duration: 7–8 hours (daytime direct EC train)

4. Vienna: Culture You Can Feel in the Air

Vienna felt like a city painted in classical music. From the metro stations to the bakeries, there was a quiet elegance. At night, I wandered into a free piano concert at Karlskirche and sat next to a family from Hungary who offered me half of their sandwich during intermission.

Vienna taught me that culture isn't just in museums or cathedrals—it's in daily life. How people dress, walk, wait in line, or greet strangers—it all adds up.

🎫 Vienna Pass: €79 for 2 days, includes entry to museums and public transit

5. Vienna to Prague: A Lesson in Beauty That Surprises

The last stretch of the journey was also the most surprising. I had low expectations for the RegioJet train to Prague. It was cheaper and less hyped. But it turned out to be the most comfortable ride of the trip.

They served free tea. The seats reclined almost like airplane business class. The view? Fields, castles, and sleepy towns I had never heard of. There was even free Wi-Fi.

When I arrived in Prague, it was raining. I got lost trying to find my hotel and ended up ducking into a bookstore café. The owner didn't speak much English but offered me a dry seat, a warm coffee, and a map.

• Sometimes low expectations lead to the best surprises

• Rainy days have their own kind of charm

• Kindness often comes without translation

🎫 Ticket Price: €20–30

🕒 Duration: Around 4 hours

What 10 Days Taught Me

You'd think that moving through four countries in ten days would blur everything into one big memory soup. But it didn't.

Because train travel has this strange ability to give you space to process. Every hour on the tracks felt like a moment of reflection—whether about what I'd just seen or where I was going next.

Here's what stuck with me most:

1. Travel isn't always about seeing more. It's about feeling deeper.

2. The journey shapes the destination as much as the place itself.

3. People are still generous, even when language gets in the way.

4. Europe is more connected than we imagine—culturally and physically.

5. Going slower sometimes teaches you more.

Where Would You Go?

If you had 10 days and a train pass, where would you go? Would you rush through big cities or take time in lesser-known towns?

Train travel through Europe taught me more than I expected—not just about culture or geography, but about being a better traveler. A more present one.

So next time you're planning a trip, maybe consider skipping the airport. Take the train. Watch the world pass by. Talk to someone. Get off at a station you didn't plan for.

Because sometimes, the most important things we learn are between the stops.