It’s another of those it depends questions.
For those planning a trip to Europe, with multiple destinations it is a question that really needs an expert opinion, not a Facebook answer from someone who once got annoyed by trains in a different country to where you are headed.
Of course, you can pay me to answer that question. I am always open to more bookings.
But let me try to help you figure out the answer for yourself, for your trip, for your specific circumstances.
TL;DR – Travel by train for the majority of the time and rent a car for the day or days you need one. Mix and Match.
Are Cars or Trains better for traveling in Europe?
For people visiting one destination this question could be answered easily, but Europe is a large area, littered with different transport cultures and histories.
Where you are traveling, how long for, and what your fitness levels, expectations, and luggage requirements are all combine to help you towards a decision.
Rail travel might have been invented in England, but the recent governments have allowed the services to deteriorate. Similarly, Autobahns in Germany seem to have become as unfashionable as other aspects of the Nazi regime that built them.
Let’s discuss the types of travel, the pros and cons of each and hopefully, you will manage to get an answer.
My individual country guides also have some pointers on this subject if you are staying in just one part of Europe.
People think this will make or break their trip. However, it is really only a minority of people who will make the wrong decision.
Most of Europe has good public transport, and getting around by rail is easy.
Similarly, good expressways (motorways, Autobahns, Autostrade, etc) link all the major cities and excluding rush hour and long weekends, travel by private car is generally quick and efficient.
Only at the extremes can you choose the wrong type of transport. A week exclusively in Paris would render cars useless, or a trip to the mountains would be almost impossible by train.
Factors That Affect Your Decision
The most important things to keep in mind are the following:
- How long you will be traveling
- Your Budget
- Where you travel – Cities or Countryside
- What your plans for each destination are
Advantages of Renting a Car
Generally travel by car is more expensive but there are some benefits.
Flexibility and Freedom
With a rental vehicle, you are not dependent on timetables. If you want to go somewhere different right now, you can.
The ability to change your mind halfway is good. Often, European countries have “cultural” road signs that might suggest an interesting old town or castle just off the road. Cars offer the freedom to take a detour.
You can take the scenic route with a rental car. While some trains have stunning views, quite often, the small back roads offer equally amazing scenery and also a glimpse into where the locals live. Just seeing how they stack firewood outside their houses can be interesting.
Reaching Remote Locations
Obviously, the most important aspect of a rental car is that it can go where trains can’t. It isn’t limited to the rails.
Rail lines are generally fixed between high-population-density areas. While you can get a bus (you will need one or two if you travel by rail), bus schedules are often lacking in rural areas with small populations.
Swiss trains might be the exception, but across most of Europe, areas of natural beauty are often quite remote and getting there by car is infinitely easier.
Convenience for Group Travel
If you have a larger group, like six people, sharing the costs can make car rental much more affordable.
Similarly, sharing the driving can allow you to arrive at your destination somewhat rested.
When it comes to families, where some people (those in buggies) might have extra luggage but also carry less than others, the car offers a clear advantage.
There is, of course, more to the argument for a rental car or for a train, but if these really apply to your travel style, then you should already have an answer.
Disadvantages of Renting a Car
There’s a flip side to any discussion. Cars aren’t just benefits. Even if you value your freedom and want to visit out-of-the-way places, a rental car might not be the perfect fit.
The biggest disadvantage is that you cannot bring a rental from Paris and drop it off in Munich. Rental cars require a return in the country of rental. The exception to this is Hertz or another multinational chain, but they charge excessive out of country fees.
To qualify this, you can drive to other countries for a minor fee (about €10), but dropping off a rental in a new country is expensive.
Parking Challenges in Cities
If you are spending a lot of time in larger cities, you will find parking an issue.
If you get a central hotel you will pay a fortune to your hotel for overnight parking and during the day you will probably walk everywhere. Most European cities are compact and have the main sights in the center.
In 3 days in Florence, I wouldn’t use a car, and maybe once, I might get a taxi home if my feet were tired. That would be three days of unnecessary car rental.
Driving Rules and Regulations
If you are going to the UK or Ireland, you could be driving on the ‘wrong’ side of the road. Are you comfortable with this?
Maybe other road rules have you confused. Given the narrower roads across most of Europe compared to the US or Australia, will you be happy driving, or will it tire you out too much to enjoy your trip?
Driving conditions vary across the continent but are, for the most part relatively civilized.
As always, your comfort with the conditions depends on you. Remember plenty of people have very successful trips to Europe by rental car.
Environmental Impact
Per kilometer and per person, the use of a car has a much higher impact on the environment than rail travel.
Whether or not this bothers you needs to be factored into your decision.
I would love it if everybody traveled by rail, but I often hire a car myself when I travel so it would be hypocritical to suggest that others should stick to rail travel.
Advantages of Train Travel
If you haven’t decided yet what suits you most, let’s dig into rail travel’s advantages.
The biggest advantage is the ability to cross borders. One-way rentals across EU borders have only recently become possible. The costs are excessive compared to dropping off the car in the country of rental.
Efficiency of High-Speed Rail
Not all Europe’s rail services are high-speed. However, what we call ‘medium speed’ is what the US calls high speed. At the lower medium speed average of 100 miles per hour, rail travel is much quicker than traveling by car.
Driving time from Paris to the South of France is about 8 hours. By TGV, France’s high-speed trains, it is 4 hours, depending on your destination.
For the most part, traveling by train is quicker because you avoid traffic. Getting into and out of large cities can take a significant time. Frankfurt to Cologne is 2 hours by car and 1 hour by train.
This is center to center, but as a visitor, most of what we want to see is in the city centers, so it is a fair comparison.
Comfort and Relaxation
Travel across Europe is easy on trains. You don’t have to navigate, and you don’t have to concentrate on other road users. You can even take a nap if you like.
Arriving in a new city relaxed and ready to explore is great. While you might take the whole morning to drive between two cities and the whole morning to get to your new city by rail, the difference in your energy levels in the afternoon is immense.
Being able to relax while traveling is important, and that afternoon will be so much more memorable if you arrive stress-free and energetic
Easy Access to City Centers
I already mentioned this, but it cannot be overstated. Long-distance train stations are, for the most part, in the city center.
Quite often in old towns, there is no parking. Sometimes you have to park away from your accommodation or get accommodation out of town when you travel by car.
A 30-minute walk to the city is a bit much when you are going to spend all day on your feet exploring.
Even if your accommodation and train station aren’t next to each other (common in Italy where stations are often a bit away from the city center), a simple taxi ride or Uber to your hotel will be more efficient than navigating the streets, which often have confusing one-way systems.
Disadvantages of Train Travel
As I already indicated with the advantages of rental cars, rail travel is not without its disadvantages.
Limited Reach to Rural Areas
This is probably the biggest disadvantage of rail travel in Europe. Small villages, hilltop towns and beautiful mountains are not well served by trains.
One can always get a bus from the nearest station, but often, because of the low population, these buses don’t run very often.
The obvious exception is Switzerland, where rail engineers have linked some amazingly hard to reach villages to the train network.
One important part of travel is the ability to explore, and being limited in where you can go might be frustrating.
Costs for Last-Minute Tickets
Rail travel in Europe can be cheap. Most companies offer advance booking for 25% or less of the standard price, but with conditions.
If you need to stay flexible and book tickets for ‘Any-Train at Any-Time’, then tickets can be expensive. Booking a couple of days in advance can be excessively expensive compared to a week or two earlier.
Potential Crowds During Peak Times
Similarly, travel in the morning or evening rush hours can be more expensive than around lunchtime.
Worse is the crowds that can be on trains and in stations at this time.
For someone who knows their local station, this isn’t an issue, but for visitors who are trying to navigate an unfamiliar concourse, it can be stressful.
Restricted Luggage Allowance
Generally, luggage is not restricted on European trains.
The main exception is the TGV Ouigo in France. They limit your luggage so that they can fit in a few extra seats, which helps keep prices low.
The big restriction is you. How much can you carry when you have to lug everything on and off trains?
While traveling light is a great rule, it isn’t always possible. Older people have a different idea of what light is, as do parents whose kids are too young to carry much. If the minimum luggage you need is ‘heavy’, then maybe a train is not the best option.
When to Choose Car Rental Over Trains
I think, for the most part, you will have figured that out by now.
To recap, you should probably choose a rental car over a rail trip for the following:
- If you are exploring rural areas or the mountains
- If you are traveling as a group or family
- If flexibility and spontaneity are important to you
- If you travel to Ireland
Remember, you can get a car for a day if you need one.
When to Choose Trains Over Car Rental
Conversely, if any of the following apply, you will most likely be better off traveling by train:
- If you will be spending a lot of time in large cities
- If you are traveling longer distances each time you change cities
- If you are concerned about your environmental footprint
- If you go to Switzerland
Travel with Rental Cars and Trains
We started with the question, “Which is better, rental cars or trains in Europe?” and answered it with “it depends”.
Now that you have read my article, you probably understand why I said that.
However, I think there is a correct answer. It is quite simple; neither is better. You need to use both.
We don’t build a house out of stone or timber. We use both. We don’t stay warm with jackets or hats. We use both.
To really have the best experience in Europe, I recommend taking advantage of the excellent rail networks and renting a car to augment your experience.
Trains for Long Distances and Cars Locally
So travel between cities by train. This saves money if you book in advance, but more importantly, saves a lot of stress on the highways.
When you reach a destination that has limited public transport, then hire a car. A lot of train stations in Europe have car hire offices nearby.
The small to medium size cities might have fewer rental options, but by booking in advance, you will get what you need.
Working Example of Cars and Trains
My Introductory Italy Itinerary is a great example of when to use cars and trains together on one trip.
The basic itinerary suggests using train travel, as there are direct trains from city to city.
Traveling from Rome to Venice by train is the most efficient use of time and money for the majority of travelers.
This itinerary is 10 days to see the classic cities of Italy. However you might like to improve the itinerary with a bit more time in Tuscany.
The solution is to hire a car in Florence for a day trip or for two days. Head out to the countryside by car, maybe to Pisa and back via San Gimignano.
Similarly, if you want to stay longer in Verona, you could hire a car to explore Lake Garda and the nearby wine regions.
Summary
Even large cities in Europe can be explored on foot. Use the metro or subway systems as a supplement.
When you leave the city, hire a car if you want to explore the local area or get a train to your next destination.
For travel between medium-sized cities, rail travel is almost always the best option. For one-way travel between countries trains are almost necessary, unless you like excessive one-way rental fees.
When you are exploring rural areas, you will probably need a car. Keep in mind that you can hire a car for just a portion of the trip.
Happy Travels. If you are overwhelmed by the ideas of rail travel in Europe, check out my online travel classes to see if one suits you.
