Europe by Rail: The Definitive Guide
19th edition
ISBN: 978-3-945225-05-9
Publication date: 22 June 2026
by Nicky Gardner and Susanne Kries
Download a high-resolution image of the book cover.
Research, writing, design and layout by hidden europe editorial bureau (Gardner & Kries GbR) in Berlin, Germany
Published by hidden europe publications
Printed and bound by GraphyCems of Villatuerta (Navarra) Spain
Distribution by CBL Distribution of Birmingham, England. Contact CBL at or call +44 121 608 3950.
Colour maps on inside front and back covers by David McCutcheon FBCart.S. of DVD Maps
Extent: 560 pages (paperback)
Size: 135 x 216 mm with a spine width of 21 mm
Weight: 620 g
UK List Price: £21.99
32 colour images
52 sketch maps of the routes
3 overview maps in full colour (inside front and back covers)
© 2026 Nicky Gardner and Susanne Kries
Looking to cut your carbon footprint and make the most of the great rail renaissance? Keen to relax and just enjoy a fine journey? Interrail, perhaps? In a market where there are many titles on European rail travel, this book stands out from the crowd as the most comprehensive guide on exploring Europe by train. This fully updated and enlarged 19th edition of Europe by Rail: The Definitive Guide has useful tips on journey planning, what tickets to buy and where to stop off along the way.
Europe by Rail has sold over 200,000 copies over 25 years. Literary flair and great storytelling underpin the enduring success of this book, which now includes descriptions of over 47,000 km of itineraries divided into 52 routes. The routes in this book will take you far beyond the Arctic Circle, south to Sicily, from eastern Europe to the Irish hills and from the Black Sea to the Bay of Biscay. With its nicely opinionated style and lots of cameo accounts of travel history, Europe by Rail inspires and informs in equal measure. Perfect for planning short trips or a grand tour and also a delight for armchair travellers.
Nicky Gardner is a Berlin-based writer with a particular interest in slow travel and sustainable tourism. From 2005 to 2023 she was co-editor of hidden europe magazine and she is also The Guardian’s slow travel expert. She has long been a champion of Interrail and long, meandering rail journeys which retain a dash of spontaneity.
Susanne Kries is a Berlin-based editor and consultant with a special interest in slow travel. She has a sharp eye for good design, and from 2005 to 2023 she was co-editor of hidden europe magazine. Susanne knows a thing or two about rail travel and has worked closely with companies across the European rail industry to help them enhance their customer offer.
The 19th edition contains 52 rail routes and 25 Sidetracks. Key features:
The authors, Susanne Kries and Nicky Gardner, can be contacted by email at editors [at] europebyrail [dot] eu or via the website's online contact form. The authors are available for media interviews, and can be approached directly.
