Train or plane for a short trip in Europe
Door to door time, night trains, luggage and booking windows: a calm comparison to help you choose the right way to travel for a short break in Europe.
Tool
Weekend Finder
Choose where you start, what you feel like and how long you want to travel. The finder shows trevisit places that fit, with an estimated journey time.
How the finder works
Every place in the finder has a full article behind it, most of them written for a stay of three days. You choose a departure city, a mood and the longest journey you are happy with. The finder measures the straight-line distance and turns it into a rough flight time, with about half an hour added for climbing, descending and taxiing. Short distances are shown as a train or car journey instead.
The times are estimates for comparison, not a timetable. Real journeys depend on routes, connections and the airport you use, so check current schedules before you book. Door to door, add the way to the airport, security and the transfer into town.
Choosing by mood
City brings up the 72 hours series and other city guides. Coast adds sea and islands, from Málaga to the Stockholm archipelago. Nature leans towards walking, forests and the far north. Restore collects spa towns, thermal baths, saunas and quiet forest weekends. Many places carry more than one mood, which is often what makes them good for a short trip.
A good rule for short breaks
For a weekend, journeys of up to about three hours each way keep the trip relaxed. For four days you can go further, to the Lofoten Islands for example, if you accept a connection. When the train is competitive, it often wins on comfort, which is explained in our comparison of train and plane.
Questions
Why do the times differ from my airline’s schedule?
The finder uses the straight-line distance and an average cruising speed, then adds a fixed allowance for take-off and landing. Real routes are rarely straight, and schedules include taxi times and buffers. Use the estimate to compare places with each other, and check the actual schedules for your dates before planning further.
Is my choice saved?
Your departure city is remembered in your own browser, so the home page and the finder show times from the same place next time. Nothing is sent to us or to anyone else, and you can clear it at any time by deleting the site data in your browser settings.
Read more
Articles that go with this tool
When to go: seasons, shoulder months and crowds
Spring and autumn in the south, long June days in the north, festivals that fill a city: how to choose the right month for a short trip, and the right days within it.
How to plan three days without rushing them
One anchor per half day, neighbourhoods in clusters and one evening left open: the method behind the 72 hours series, for short trips that feel generous.