Finally, the guide to traveling by train in the Alps

So, it was a project that was close to my heart and it is now completed. With AlpAddict, my goal for many years has been to help people discover this magnificent territory that is the Alps. At the heart of Europe, at the heart of European history, a crossroads of peoples, merchants, armies and geniuses, the Alps massif is crossed on all sides by roads and railways. This is why I decided to write a guide to train travel in the Alps.

It's with Gwénaëlle Michels et Victor Gerard from the “Voyager en Train” editions, and already authors of two works, one on France, and one on Europe that I co-wrote this work and that the third volume of the collection was able to see the light of day.

This is a book published only in French.

But what exactly is he talking about?

“Traveling by train in the Alps”: the ultimate guide to discovering the Alps.

This book is a guide that describes thirty train routes in the Alps, between France and Slovenia, on a railway network that crosses the seven Alpine countries.

You can discover in its 192 pages, route descriptions, practical advice and a thousand tips for organizing your train holiday through the Alps.

I chose the 30 trails with the same passion I put into writing articles for alpaddict.com. These are 30 itineraries that cross the most beautiful regions of the Alps. Each itinerary is accompanied by a historical note and a brief summary of what not to miss visiting in each of the stages that make up it.

This way, you'll know where to stop, but also what to see. Whether it's a historic monument, a remarkable church, or a simple curiosity, you'll never miss the essentials. Not even the delicacies, when they're typical of the region!

Tips for finding good train travel deals

You will also find lots of advice from Gwénaëlle and Victor, the founders of “Travel by Train” EditionsThey are experts in train travel and have traveled the length and breadth of France and Europe. When it comes to pricing, they know everything. On their website, or through their newsletter, you can stay up to date with all the latest news from the world of trains.

Among the questions you might have, there is a good chance that we find the following.

How do I travel to one of the Alpine countries by train? Which night trains can I take? Are there special passes? Does my child need a ticket? Can I travel with my dog ​​or cat? Am I allowed to travel with my bike, and how much does it cost?

This book answers these questions in a clear and concise manner. Country by country, it explains the best possible choices for traveling in the best conditions. You will learn everything about the railway companies that serve the Alps, discount cards, unlimited passes, and local offers.

So you will have a precise and practical guide that helps you to prepare your trip and which gives you the keys to manage any unforeseen events.

Order this book to make your crazy desire to board the next train to the Alps come true!

Which regions are covered in the “Train Travel in the Alps” guide?

Obviously, it was necessary to sort through the options to keep them within a practical and transportable format, but the essentials are still there. Via historic lines, tourist lines, and panoramic lines, you will cross passes and tunnels on both sides of the Alps.

In France you will go up the Durance towards the Hautes AlpesYou can also cross the length and breadth of the Alpine furrow between Grenoble and Geneva and the mountains of Savoy Country.

In Italy you will cross the Alps of Piedmont, Lombardie, Trentino and you will enter the heart of the Dolomites. Through the Brenner you will meet the South Tyrol and Tyrol before continuing your discovery of the Austrian valleys, or further east, of the Slovenia. The Bavaria is not to be outdone with a star-shaped route from Munich, its capital. Finally, the country of the train, Switzerland.

Du Valais withBernese Oberlands, from Lake Geneva to Lake Lucerne, the Rhone and Rhine valleys, the magnificent landscapes of the Engadine. Nothing is missing from these dream routes, nor their branches towards many other railway adventures.

Without forgetting of course a section on the ski resorts that can be reached by train, without taking a car, taxi, shuttle or bus.

Finally, the Alps tour of records: the oldest line, the highest line, the longest tunnel, etc.

A goldmine of information for Alpine enthusiasts.

An Alpine enthusiast who wrote for other Alpine enthusiasts.

Why travel by train in the Alps?

Taking the train is choosing an art of travel, a philosophy even, which perfectly fits the spirit of the Alps and those who want to discover their landscapes. In an era where every journey counts ecologically, the train stands out as the most more environmentally friendlyOn average, a train journey emits up to 30 times less CO₂ than an equivalent plane journey and four times less than by car. In other words, traveling by train means reducing your carbon footprint without sacrificing comfort or pleasure. In the Alps, where we become aware every day of the fragility of the glaciers and mountain biodiversity, this choice takes on an even greater dimension: it becomes a concrete gesture of preservation of the territory we come to admire.

More travel by train in the Alps, it is also reconnecting with the idea of slow tourismThe rails invite you to slow down, to let yourself be carried away by the rhythm of the landscapes passing by the window. Where the car forces you to concentrate on the road and the plane encloses you in a cloud of anonymity, the train offers a continuous spectacle: green valleys, hilltop villages, deep gorges and snow-capped peaks. Each tunnel opens onto a new perspective, each viaduct suspends time. The journey becomes an integral part of the experience, just like the destination. We rediscover that the journey is a pleasure and not a constraint.

This way of approaching travel also joins a more recent movement: that of the coolcation, those holidays that favor freshness and calm, far from the frenzy of crowded seaside resorts. In this context, the train is the ideal companion: it allows direct access to Alpine resorts, remote valleys, Alpine lakes or large mountain towns, without the stress of traffic or the fatigue of long hours of driving. We embark with a book, a travel diary or simply our thoughts, and we arrive rested, ready to fully enjoy our stay and the freshness of the peaks.

Traveling by train also means finding a friendliness lost. In a compartment or a panoramic carriage, we chat with other travelers, we share advice, we marvel together at a landscape. The train creates encounters that the car isolates and the plane makes impersonal. It's a human journey, where we take the time to encounter stories, accents, cultures.

Finally, there's a practical dimension that shouldn't be underestimated. The Alpine rail networks are among the most developed in Europe, with direct links between major capitals and mountain valleys. By combining day and night trains, regional passes, and cross-border offers, it's possible to cross six or seven Alpine countries with ease, without worrying about parking, tolls, or fatigue. The train frees the mind as much as the body : it removes the stress of driving and offers time for yourself.

Traveling by train, a complete experience

Ultimately, choosing the train means choosing a complete experience: ecological, immersive, human, and relaxing. It's a mode of travel that resonates with our times and, in the Alps more than anywhere else, makes sense. The mountains then reveal themselves in their most beautiful light, slowly, intensely, along the rails.

There are many reasons to order this book. Traveling by train in the Alps » meets a need for a local escape, reducing the environmental impact of tourist travel. It's a guide that describes one of the most beautiful regions in Europe. A region that combines phenomenal cultural heritage and exceptional landscapes, the exhilaration of the peaks and the laziness of the lakeside. A complete guide. All you have to do is order it and plan your next trip.

Order your copy of “Traveling by Train in the Alps” here!

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