Train-hopping through Europe has grown in popularity over the past few years. Now, SJ is releasing maps that, among other things, show how far you can get in a day if you start with the night train to the hub of Hamburg in northern Germany.
You can get to almost all of Europe on the first day of your vacation. You get on the night train after work, wake up in Hamburg in the morning, and you can already reach Rome, northern Britain, or Budapest the same day, says Olofsson.
Both SJ and Snälltåget have night trains to Europe that start in Stockholm. If you live in northern Sweden and don't want to travel through the country to the continent, a trip via Finland is a good alternative.
Beach or city pulse?
Many people buy Interrail cards that give free access to most trains in Europe. However, if the goal is Eastern Europe, Dan Olofsson emphasizes that it can be cheaper to buy separate tickets.
Planning, he says, is a blow to minimize. Even if it works, booked accommodations and trains can be stressful moments.
Everything you don't have to plan – forget it. Then you take it as it comes and then you can never be disappointed, because then there is no plan that can fail.
On the other hand, it can be good to plan what type of trip you want: do you expect beaches, mountain climbing, or city pulse? A rough plan for the route can be relevant, as well as deciding on high or low season.
Don't compare with flying
SJ wants to lower the barriers with the new maps and make changes, time aspects, and routes clearer. Dan Olofsson doesn't think you should be afraid to miss a train change, as many companies cooperate to book customers' tickets.
Here (in the map) there are margins. But you will still need a plan B. In Europe, there is at least one train per hour on most destinations.
If you're a first-time traveler, Olofsson thinks you shouldn't be away for too long, or have destinations on the other side of Europe.
Many compare it to how they have traveled before, which is often by plane. Then you see that this is more complicated and expensive, but think instead that on this vacation you get to see two or three places, then suddenly things start to open up where the train is unique.
+Pack so that you can easily carry your luggage if you need to walk around for a few hours. A guideline is around seven kilograms and a backpack.
+Spend on a pair of shoes that are comfortable to walk in for a longer period.
+If you travel during peak season, you should book night trains in advance as it quickly becomes fully booked. Also, book fast trains in France and trains to Britain in advance.
+If hotel prices rise on the place you plan to stay, you can travel to a suburb or a nearby town.
+Check what the different trains offer and think if a packed lunch is needed. Some trains have no food sales while it is common in Eastern Europe to have well-stocked restaurant cars.
+In the app DB Navigator from the German train operator Deutsche Bahn, you can see all trains in Europe. With the Interrail app Railplanner, you can have the timetable offline. If you want to make a place booking, it is often cheapest to book directly with the operator of the country.
Source: Dan Olofsson, SJ's train-hopping expert
