How one can Get to Europe With out Flying (+10 Finest Locations to Go)

Whether or not you wish to journey in an environmentally-friendly means, hate the concept of queueing on the airport, or are simply plain fearful of planes, there’s loads of methods to get to and round Europe with out flying — right here’s how.

There are many explanation why understanding easy methods to get to Europe with out flying will be useful. Choosing other ways of travelling will help to scale back our carbon footprint, in addition to avoiding the chaos of airports. However among the best issues for me about travelling overseas with out flying is which you could normally benefit from the journey extra. By embracing gradual journey, you may have scenic highway journeys and prepare journeys, stopping alongside the way in which to see belongings you’d have in any other case missed.

Thankfully, travelling to Europe with out flying is fairly simple from the UK. There are many completely different routes, in addition to a lot of completely different entry factors, making it simple to reach by ferry, prepare, automotive or bus. The listing beneath highlights all of the alternative ways you may get to Europe with out having to fly.

How one can get to Europe by prepare

One of many best (and certainly one of my favorite methods) is to achieve Europe by prepare. That is normally the Eurostar, which connects the UK to completely different cities by way of the Channel Tunnel. It’s a quick and environment friendly method to get there and in just some hours, you’ll end up within the coronary heart of Paris, Brussels, or Amsterdam.

You may also begin off with the Eurostar after which get one other connecting prepare to different main cities, corresponding to Bruges (Brussels), Cologne (Germany) and Good (France).

How one can get to Europe by boat

One other common means of travelling to Europe is by ferry. A number of ferry companies function between the UK and varied European international locations and cities. You may take a ferry from ports like Dover, Portsmouth, or Hull to achieve locations corresponding to Calais (France), Zeebrugge (Belgium), Rotterdam (Netherlands), or Dublin (Eire).

Alternatively, you can additionally go for a cruise vacation, which generally allows you to see completely different cities and international locations on one vacation. A lot of cruises depart from UK ports like Southampton or Liverpool, heading to quite a few European locations corresponding to Scandinavia, the Baltic States, the Mediterranean, and past.

How one can get to Europe by bus or coach

Typically essentially the most budget-friendly choices, travelling to Europe by bus or coach can prevent fairly a bit of cash. It normally takes longer than different modes of transportation although, so that is one thing to remember.

However, it’s an effective way of attending to Europe with out flying and nonetheless having the ability to sit again and loosen up on the journey. A number of coach corporations function companies to numerous European cities, whereas Flixbus and Nationwide Specific are among the hottest and low cost bus choices. For those who select Flixbus, you may as well map out onward journeys utilizing their companies too as they hook up with over 2500+ European locations.

How one can get to Europe with out flying, by automotive

The vast majority of automotive crossing from the UK to Europe are finished by crossing by way of the Eurotunnel Le Shuttle. It runs beneath the English Channel and might switch you from Folkestone (UK) to Calais (France) in simply 35 minutes. It’s not all the time low cost although, so value reserving upfront or trying to find any offers. I’ve additionally received some nice tips about highway journeys overseas to assist make the journey smoother.

1. Paris, France 

Journey time (a technique) from London – 2 hours 16 minutes 

Lowest value return ticket – £120 

The unique Eurostar route; yow will discover your self within the French capital in little greater than two hours from London. It’s one of many best routes to get into the center of Europe, the place you’ll discover iconic landmarks, artwork museums, parks and delightful quaint streets.

Regardless of the proximity to London, Paris couldn’t really feel additional away. Possibly it’s as a result of it’s so well-known, however once you’re in Paris you’ll actually know you’re someplace completely different.

2. Antwerp, Belgium 

Journey time (a technique) from London – 3 hours 24 minutes 

Lowest value return ticket – £252 

As one of many greatest port cities in Europe, Antwerp is traditionally identified for diamond buying and selling. It’s a big metropolis, with a lot of issues to do from procuring to consuming out, and visiting museums and galleries. Even simply wandering round Antwerp, you’ll see a lot of spectacular structure – notably in Grote Market, which is alleged to be the prettiest city sq. in Europe!

The town is well accessible from London by Eurostar, with only one change in Brussels. When you get there, I’d suggest renting a motorbike to get across the metropolis. Antwerp is kind of a inexperienced metropolis and biking routes are a part of that.

3. Bruges, Belgium 

Journey time (a technique) from London – 3 hours 29minutes

Lowest value return ticket – £211 

Bruges is a really stunning medieval metropolis, with cobbled streets, canals and extra castles than every other metropolis on this planet. It’s like stepping right into a fairytale, so simply grabbing a beer in one of many squares or wandering round will really feel sufficient of a vacation. However if you would like issues to see and do, you can head to Groeninge Museum, Belfry of Bruges or Minnewaterpark.

You possibly can journey to Bruges by way of quite a few alternative ways when travelling from the UK. Some of the simple is thru getting the Eurostar from London to Brussels, after which an area prepare to Bruges. Alternatively, you can drive to Folkestone and use the Eurotunnel to cross to Calais. Bruges is a couple of 90-minute drive from Calais, so not too far when you’ve crossed. Another choice is to get the ferry after which a prepare or drive for those who’ve travelled together with your automotive.

4. Amsterdam, Netherlands 

Journey time (a technique) from London – 4 hours 10 minutes

Lowest value return ticket – £115 

Amsterdam is likely one of the hottest locations for Brits – a lot so that they needed to concern a warning to ‘messy’ Brits holidaying there. Nevertheless, it’s nonetheless a terrific metropolis with so many historic and cultural points of interest. It’s one other nice metropolis for biking round, the place it’s some of the iconic cities to seize a motorbike and experience across the vibrant streets with flowers in your bike’s basket. Actually, it’s generally often known as the biking capital of Europe, with over 800,000 bikes in Amsterdam alone!

The town is very easy to get to, and there are a selection of various methods to achieve Amsterdam with out flying. You possibly can go from London by way of the Eurostar, which takes simply over 4 hours. Or, you can take a ferry from Newcastle, which is cheaper (underneath £50) however barely longer at 16 hours 45 minutes.

5. Cologne, Germany 

Journey time (a technique) from London – 4 hours quarter-hour 

Lowest return ticket -£233 

Positioned in Western Germany, you may attain Cologne by prepare from London in simply over 4 hours. Simply reached from London by prepare with a journey time of a bit over 4 hours, Cologne, in western Germany is legendary for its stunning artworks, structure, cathedrals and – after all – beer halls serving Cologne’s well-known Kölsch beer.  It has over 30 museums to go to and 12 Romanesque church buildings, in addition to Altstadt, The Previous City, which has a lot of outdated streets and retailers to browse.

There’s a direct prepare from London to Cologne, which is most definitely the only alternative of easy methods to get to Europe with out flying. Nevertheless, you can additionally go by way of France for those who’re taking a look at various modes.

6. Lyon, France 

Journey time (a technique) from London – 4 hours 56 minutes 

Lowest value return ticket – £145 

Lyon was based by the Romans within the 1st century B.C. and has a historical past relationship again over 2,000 years. The town’s Roman heritage continues to be seen right now within the historic ruins on the hill of Fourvière and the preserved Roman theatre, which hosts the Nuits de Fourvière, a summer time performing arts competition.

It’s additionally a terrific metropolis for meals. Lyon is residence to many high-quality eating places and bistros, often known as “bouchons,” serving native specialities corresponding to quenelles, salade lyonnaise, and quite a lot of sausages. The town can also be identified for its native wines, together with the well-known Beaujolais.

A prepare from London with one change in Paris means you will be within the French metropolis in just below 5 hours, making the south of France extra accessible than ever. 

7. Dublin, Eire

Journey time (a technique) from London – 6 hours half-hour (Practice to Holyhead, Wales after which ferry to Dublin) 

Lowest value return ticket – £143 

Flights to Dublin from the UK are fairly low cost, particularly because of a specific low-cost airline that has its headquarters there. Nevertheless, it’s additionally easy sufficient to get to Dublin with out flying. You will get a prepare from London to Holyhead, Wales after which a brief ferry from there.

Dublin is a good choice for dwell music followers, with Temple Bar (see above) internet hosting dwell people music and DJs all year long. The town can also be well-known for its pubs and breweries and Guinness particularly. The Guinness Storehouse is certainly one of Dublin’s hottest vacationer points of interest, the place you study in regards to the drink and naturally attempt some. However past music and ingesting, there’s tons to see within the Irish capital together with Dublin Fortress, the Ebook of Kells housed at Trinity School Dublin and Dublin Writers Museum.

8. Santander, Spain

Journey time (a technique) from Plymouth – 21 hours quarter-hour

Lowest value return ticket – £130

There are numerous ferry corporations that provide direct journey to Spain from the UK. Brittany Ferries supply their service from each Plymouth and Portsmouth, which takes just below a day whole journey time for a technique. The value varied so much because it relies upon whether or not you’re taking a automotive or your pets and what time of yr you’re planning to sail.

When you attain Santander, you’ll be met with seashores, tapas and spectacular structure. Among the finest issues to do there embrace visiting the Magdalena Palace, enjoyable on the Playa del Sardinero, and feasting within the metropolis’s seafood delicacies. Like most of Spain, Santander has a number of fish dishes, in addition to nice desserts to attempt.

9. Lille, France

Journey time (a technique) from London – 1 hours 22 minutes, OR by way of Eurotunnel from Dover – Calais route

Lowest value one-way prepare ticket – £53

Lots of people routinely head to Paris in the event that they’re excited about easy methods to get to Europe with out flying. Nevertheless, Lille is definitely nearer and presents a number of nice issues to see. It has a captivating outdated city, which has pedestrianised streets and nice eating places, bars, museums and galleries. It’s additionally a great metropolis to stroll round, so for those who’ve chosen the prepare over automotive choice, you may nonetheless get round fairly simply.

By far the quickest and best method to get to Lille for those who’re travelling from London is by the Eurostar. Nevertheless, it’s additionally fairly simple to get there for those who’re driving too. Lille is positioned simply over an hour’s drive from Calais which is the arrival metropolis.

10. Bilbao, Spain

Journey time (a technique) from Portsmouth – 33 hours half-hour

Lowest value return ticket – £199

That is in all probability one of many longer journeys, but it surely’s additionally properly value it. Departing from Portsmouth, ferry corporations can take you to Bilbao within the Basque Nation. Famend for the long-lasting Guggenheim Museum Bilbao, the town has a lot of locations to go to. It’s extra industrial than it’s laid-back seaside vibes, however it’s surrounded by a lot of pure magnificence. Bilbao’s vigorous ambiance, scrumptious pintxos (Basque tapas), and the scenic Nervión River reducing by means of the center of the town make it one of many common locations in Spain.

Travelling to Europe with out flying

As soon as you know the way to get to Europe with out flying, you’ll in all probability do it extra typically. It doesn’t all the time work out cheaper, however you get to see fascinating factors alongside the way in which. It additionally means you don’t have to fret about maintaining your liquids underneath 100ml, ensuring your electrical gadgets are strategically positioned to point out at safety, and getting up at loopy hours to attend round on the airport. Plus, you’ll be doing the earth a favour by minimising air journey.